Lions Roar: Series Clinched in Controversial Thriller
The British and Irish Lions pulled off an insane comeback against the Wallabies last Saturday, flipping an 18-point deficit into a nail-biting 29-26 win to lock up the series. The whole thing went down at the MCG in front of a packed house—like, 90,000 people showed up, which is wild for a rugby match.
It all came down to the final seconds when Hugo Keenan crashed over for the winning try. But of course, nothing's ever simple—the Wallabies were fuming about some sketchy cleanup work by Jac Morgan right before the score. The ref and the video booth took a long look at it, but in the end, the try stood. You could feel the tension in the air, like everyone knew this was gonna be one of those games people talk about for years.
Man, this is a big deal. Australia hasn't lost a two-game series since way back in 1966, so you know the Lions just pulled off something special. The Wallabies had their work cut out for them, that's for sure. Now with the Tom Richards Cup locked up, the Lions get to celebrate in Sydney. And get this - they're not done yet. They're talking about going for the full sweep in that last Test match, which just makes the whole thing even more interesting. Who knows how it'll all play out.
Lions coach Andy Farrell gave a shoutout to the guys who came off the bench—Tom Curry, Huw Jones, Tadgh Beirne—saying they totally turned things around when it mattered. He was pumped about the series win, calling it the kind of thing you fantasize about. On the other side, the Wallabies were fuming. Players and coaches were seriously ticked off about that iffy try, and one Aussie legend straight up called for the ref to face consequences after the Jac Morgan thing. The Wallabies didn’t hold back, complaining to the ref right away, and one former player went off on the officials, calling them soft. Michael Hooper told his team they needed to just sit with the loss for a bit, which says a lot about how gutted they were. Even now, there’s still debate—coaches like Farrell and Joe Schmidt can’t agree on whether the ref made the right call. And Jac Morgan? Yeah, he admitted he was sweating bullets watching those replays.
Man, that controversial call at the end of the game is gonna light a fire under the Wallabies for the next match. You know they're not just gonna roll over after that kind of heartbreak. What could've been a meaningless final game now has way more on the line - pride, redemption, all that good stuff.
And man, the refs are gonna be under a microscope after this mess. Every close call in the next game is gonna get picked apart, which could totally change how the whole thing plays out.
No matter how the last match turns out, people are gonna remember this series for that one crazy call more than anything else. It's the kind of thing that'll still be debated years from now when rugby fans are swapping stories.
Coach Andy Farrell really nailed it when he talked about how big of a deal the bench was in that second Test. It's wild how much of a game-changer it is to have fresh legs coming in who can actually make plays, like Beirne scoring that try. These days, the guys who finish the game are just as important as the starters, and that's totally changing how teams think.
It's not just about having a killer starting 15 anymore. The best teams are all about building a full 23-man squad where anyone can step up and deliver. That means recruiting differently, training differently, and making smarter subs during the game. If you don't have depth, you're basically playing with one hand tied behind your back at this level. The game's just moving that way.
Here is a summary of the British & Irish Lions vs. Wallabies 2025 Series Results:
Currie Cup Clashes: Bulls Stampede Western Province, Lions Roar
The Blue Bulls absolutely crushed it in the South African Currie Cup last Saturday, taking down Western Province 48-23 in a game that started just after 4 PM. Everyone was talking about how stacked the Bulls were, and they totally lived up to the hype with some serious muscle up front. Western Province put up a fight, but the Bulls were just too much.
Same day, the Golden Lions had their own moment, smashing the Sharks XV 46-5 in an early afternoon match. Word is they came out swinging and never let up, making it clear they’re not messing around this season.
And hey, don’t sleep on the Griffons—they pulled off a wild win to grab the First Division title, capping off a pretty epic weekend of rugby.
The Bulls came out swinging early in the Currie Cup, and man, did they make a statement. That kind of hot start isn't just about racking up wins—it's about setting the vibe for the whole season. When a team shows up like that right out the gate, it does something to the locker room. Guys start believing, other teams take notice, and suddenly you've got this momentum that's hard to stop.
The way they played, it's no surprise people are already talking about them as title contenders. One big win can be luck, but when you keep hearing about how dominant they looked? That's different. The Bulls seem to have that special something early on, and in a tough league like this, that early edge could mean everything come playoff time.
Here are the recent Currie Cup results from July 26, 2025:
A Fond Farewell: Rugby League Mourns Ray French
The rugby community is feeling the loss today with the passing of Ray French. That guy was basically the soundtrack of rugby league for so many fans, with his iconic voice calling games for the BBC. He was 85, and had been dealing with dementia these past few years. The news just came in earlier today, so it's still pretty fresh for everyone who grew up listening to him. What a legend.
This guy spent more than thirty years with the BBC, calling rugby league games like a total pro. He took over from Edding Waring back in 1981 and just kept going for 38 straight years. Fans knew his voice as well as they knew the game itself. But he wasn’t just some guy in a booth—he actually played at the highest level too. Four caps for England in rugby union back in '61, then switched to rugby league, repping his hometown club St Helens and even helping them snag a Challenge Cup win. Played a handful of games for Great Britain in '68 too, plus some time with Widnes. Oh, and he taught rugby at Cowley High School on top of all that. Dude was everywhere. They gave him an MBE in 2011, which honestly? Well deserved. The man bled rugby.
People from all over the rugby world have been sharing their memories, showing just how much he meant to the sport. Over on BBC Sport’s social media, they posted a heartfelt message and said they’d replay that 2016 Rugby League Heroes episode with him in it, which says a lot about the mark he left behind. RL Cares, the charity he was involved with, plus his replacement Dave Woods and old-school players like Jonathan Davies and Barrie McDermott, all had something to say too. They called him a total class act—super kind, down-to-earth, and basically a legend in the game. Everyone kept talking about how much energy and heart he brought to his commentary, and honestly, it’s gonna be weird not having that around anymore.
This isn't just about someone passing away. It's about losing a voice that defined rugby league for so many fans over the years. That voice was there for all the big moments, the kind that stick with you long after the game ends. It's funny how a commentator can become such a big part of how we remember the sport, like they're right there with us in those memories.
It makes you realize how much these broadcasters actually shape the game, way more than just calling plays. They're the ones who turn a match into a story, who make you feel it in your gut. And when someone like French is gone, it's not just about missing the play-by-play. It's like losing a piece of the sport itself, something that made it feel bigger than just a game.
Not many people stick around long enough to become that kind of legend. It takes years, passion, and a real love for the sport. And when they're gone, you realize just how much they meant.
Major League Rugby's Game-Changing ESPN Deal
Major League Rugby just dropped some big news about teaming up with ESPN starting in 2025. It's a pretty huge deal for pro rugby here in the States. Games will be airing on ESPN+ and ESPN2, which means way more folks will get to check out the action. For a league that's still growing, this kind of exposure is exactly what they need to get more people into the sport. The announcement just came through, so it's fresh off the press.
This new deal is seriously shaking things up for rugby, with plans to get more people around the world into the sport, especially in places like Sub-Saharan Africa. It’s not just about the US—they’re thinking bigger. The timing’s no accident either, since the 2025 MLR season is right around the corner with 11 teams gearing up to battle it out.
Speaking of MLR, they’ve been handing out some big awards lately. New England Free Jacks’ Paula Balekana snagged Player of the Year, and MLR ref Lex Weiner got the call to officiate at the World Rugby U20 Championship. So yeah, the league’s staying busy and getting some well-deserved recognition.
So MLR just locked down this huge ESPN deal starting in 2025, which means their games will be on ESPN+ and ESPN2. That's a pretty big deal because ESPN is one of the major players in sports broadcasting. More airtime on a platform like that means more people checking out MLR and rugby in general here in the US, where the sport's still growing.
What's interesting is they're not just focusing on the US market - they're talking about using this partnership to get rugby more popular worldwide, especially in places like Sub-Saharan Africa. It feels like rugby's trying to expand its reach beyond the usual hotspots.
This whole thing kinda shows that big networks are starting to see potential in rugby where they might not have before. And it looks like there's some real strategy here - growing the game in America while also pushing it globally. It's not just about one market anymore, but building up the sport's fanbase and talent pool all over.
Other Key Updates from Around the Rugby World
Big news for rugby league fans – the Betfred Super League is heading back to Paris in 2026. Catalans Dragons will take on Wigan Warriors at Stade Jean Bouin on June 6th. They just announced this today, so it's fresh off the press.
It's a pretty special moment too, marking 30 years of the Super League and 20 years since Catalans Dragons joined the mix. Remember when they played in Barcelona back in 2019 and smashed attendance records? Feels like they're trying to capture that magic again while growing the game in new places. Should be a cool way to celebrate how far the league's come.
Man, Zimbabwe just did something huge in African rugby. After 34 long years, they finally made it back to the Rugby World Cup. That's a big deal, you know? It's the kind of win that could really get more people into the sport across the region. And Namibia's not sitting this one out either - they're fighting hard to get back in the mix too. It's cool to see African teams stepping up and making some noise on the world stage. The whole continent's starting to show what they can do in rugby, and it feels like things are just getting started.
So there's been some rugby news making the rounds lately. Pedro Rubiolo from Argentina got hit with a disciplinary update in the Sevens World Series, which just shows how seriously they're taking player conduct these days. Over in Europe, JJ Hanrahan is back with Munster, which is pretty big for their squad.
Meanwhile, word is some deep-pocketed Premiership club might be chasing an All Blacks player who just missed out on the World Cup win. That whole transfer scene never really slows down, does it.
On a sadder note, the Boland community lost one of their players after a club match. Stuff like that really puts things in perspective about what matters.
Up in Canada, two players from Victoria are England-bound with their World Cup squad, which is awesome for growing the game there. And get this - four young players from Okotoks made the Canada Summer Games team. Always cool to see new talent coming through the ranks.
Rugby isn't just about the big teams or the flashy leagues everyone talks about. There's so much more happening all over the world, from small local clubs to rising nations making their mark. Take Zimbabwe qualifying for the World Cup—that's the kind of story that gets people excited in places where rugby's still growing. Then you've got moves like the Super League playing games in Paris, trying to pull in new fans and make the sport bigger. Even the tough stuff, the sad news, shows how much people care about this game and the communities around it. All these different pieces—the wins, the losses, the big plans—they're what keep rugby alive and growing. It's not just stuck in its usual spots anymore. The game's spreading, changing, and honestly, that's what makes it interesting.