Match Results
The British & Irish Lions managed to edge out Australia 29–26 in Melbourne, taking the series 2–0. Hugo Keenan’s late try proved decisive, sealing both the match and the series lead. With one final test left in Sydney, the Lions now have a chance to finish the tour unbeaten.
As for rugby league, there haven’t been any significant results in the last eight hours.
Transfers / Signings
In rugby union, Joe Marchant is staying put in France for the 2025/26 season. The 29-year-old England centre had been considering a return home, which would have reinstated his eligibility for the national team, but those plans didn’t materialize. Instead, he’ll see out the final year of his contract with Stade Français.
Over in rugby league, Dane Gagai isn’t done just yet. The 34-year-old Australian fullback, a seasoned international, has signed another one-year deal with the Newcastle Knights. This extension means he’ll still be in the NRL mix in 2026, adding to his already impressive tally of 309 first-grade appearances over 15 seasons. Newcastle’s recruitment team highlighted his leadership and adaptability as key reasons for keeping him on board. Come next year, he’ll be starting his 16th season in the league.
Injuries
The Warriors will be without James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, and Chanel Harris-Tavita for their upcoming match. Fisher-Harris is dealing with a calf issue and is expected to miss at least two games. Harris-Tavita is also sidelined with a calf injury but should return in about a week. Egan is out due to concussion protocols after taking a head knock in the last round.
On the Sea Eagles' side, Haumole Olakau’atu’s season is over. The back-rower dislocated his shoulder again in Round 21, the same one he had injured before. He’ll need surgery and won’t be back until 2026. It’s a tough break for Manly—losing him for the rest of the year is a big blow.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are still dealing with a lengthy injury list. Latrell Mitchell, their star fullback, remains out with a quad issue. Cody Walker, the team's primary playmaker, is also sidelined due to a hamstring problem. Neither player has been available for recent matches, and their recovery timelines remain uncertain. The absence of these two key figures continues to test the squad's depth and performance.
Other News
Dan Biggar, the former Lions fly-half, had some thoughtful words about the recent series. He spoke highly of Andy Farrell's coaching decisions, suggesting they were justified by the team's success. The comparison to Warren Gatland wasn’t surprising—Farrell's approach clearly worked.
Biggar also mentioned Tom Curry. The England flanker stood out not just for scoring when it mattered, but also for his defensive work. It wasn’t hard to see why Biggar thought Curry deserved recognition as the series’ standout player. The effort was there, and so were the results.
South African coach Rassie Erasmus addressed the contentious ending of the match with measured pragmatism. He acknowledged the referee's decision as borderline but emphasized the need to respect World Rugby's final assessment. Erasmus pointed out that since the governing body had reviewed Hugo Keenan's try against Australia and let it stand, there was little room for further debate. His tone suggested reluctant acceptance rather than enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Australia’s camp held a different view. Coach Joe Schmidt openly labeled the call a mistake, while Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh hinted at pursuing some form of recourse. Their dissatisfaction was palpable, yet the result remained unchanged.
In a separate development, Carl Hall, CEO of Doncaster RLFC, voiced mixed feelings about Super League's planned expansion. While supportive of increasing the competition to 14 teams by 2026, he took issue with the selection criteria for the additional spots. Hall contended that sporting merit should determine qualification—specifically through Championship standings and playoff results—rather than an arbitrary application process. His stance reflected a broader concern about maintaining competitive integrity in the sport’s governance.