Match Results
The third Test of the Lions Tour saw Australia clinch a 22-12 victory over the British & Irish Lions in Sydney, securing the series 2-1. The Wallabies’ tries came from Dylan Pietsch, Max Jorgensen, and Tate McDermott off the bench.
In women’s rugby, South Africa’s Springbok Women delivered a strong performance, defeating a New Zealand Black Ferns XV side 41-24 in Cape Town. The series ended level at 1-1 after the Black Ferns XV took the opening match. Despite New Zealand crossing the line four times, South Africa’s dominance in the lineout mauls proved decisive. Meanwhile, England’s women ran rampant in a World Cup warm-up, thrashing Spain 97-7 in Leicester, though their captain, Marlie Packer, was shown a late red card.
Elsewhere, Wales and Australia split their two-match series 1-1. Ireland’s next fixtures will come in the upcoming Rugby Nations Championship.
Player News
The All Blacks have taken a hit ahead of the Rugby Championship, with Cameron Roigard ruled out for the opening matches due to a stress fracture in his foot. Noah Hotham’s long-term absence further complicates matters at halfback, potentially creating opportunities for Cortez Ratima or Folau Fakatava to step in. The squad announcement is set for August 4.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies are adjusting to life without Nic White, who retired from international rugby after the Lions Test. Jake Gordon’s injury has opened the door for Ryan Lonergan, whose Super Rugby performances have impressed teammate Tom Wright. Wright believes Lonergan’s Test debut is inevitable.
In women’s rugby, England captain Marlie Packer faces disciplinary action after being sent off for a dangerous clearout against Spain. Her availability for upcoming matches is now uncertain following the 97-7 victory.
Dan Sheehan, the Irish hooker playing for the Lions, has been cited for a dangerous clearout during the match against Australia. The incident involved a high hit on Australian fly-half Tom Lynagh late in the game, which left Lynagh unconscious. Video footage clearly captured the moment. The independent foul-play committee will review the case on August 3 to determine the appropriate course of action.
It’s a serious situation, and these kinds of tackles always spark debate about player safety. The disciplinary process will likely weigh intent, impact, and precedent. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what the committee decides.
League Updates
The Chiefs in New Zealand have added young wing Kyren Taumoefolau to their squad on a two-year deal. He’s coming off a solid stint with Moana Pasifika, where he crossed the line 12 times in 21 appearances. With Shaun Stevenson moving on, Taumoefolau fills that gap nicely. Under World Rugby’s eligibility rules, he could be available for the All Blacks by 2027 if things go his way.
Over in England, Newcastle Falcons have been busy reinforcing their forward pack. They’ve just brought in Freddie Clarke, a lock and No. 8 from Gloucester, on a one-year contract. At 32, Clarke brings plenty of experience after nine seasons with his former club. He’s the latest addition after Newcastle secured hooker George McGuigan and Scottish lock Jamie Hodgson. There’s also talk of a possible Red Bull takeover, which could mean more signings down the line.
Elsewhere, things have been quiet. The United Rugby Championship and France’s Top 14 haven’t seen any major player movements in the past eight hours. The off-season shuffle continues, but without much noise for now.
Other Developments
World Rugby has introduced a biennial Rugby Nations Championship, effectively replacing the traditional end-of-year tours. As part of this new setup, Ireland is scheduled to visit Australia in 2026 for the competition's first edition. Reports indicate Ireland will compete in a "Europe Conference," facing off against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, the latter forming part of a SANZAAR/Rest-of-World grouping.
Meanwhile, former Racing 92 coach Stuart Lancaster, now with Connacht, recently reflected on his time in France. He admitted to growing increasingly frustrated with a core group of senior players at Racing who, in his view, lacked the ambition to excel. Their attitude, he said, was maddening. Lancaster tried unconventional team-building methods to shift the squad’s mentality, though it’s unclear how effective those efforts were.
The Sydney Test sparked heated debates among rugby fans, particularly around Andrew Porter’s scrummaging technique. Social media erupted with criticism after an aerial photo circulated showing the Lions prop binding at what appeared to be a 90-degree angle. Some comments went as far as labeling his technique criminal, questioning how such binding could be permitted.
Nigel Owens, the respected former referee, offered a more measured perspective. He suggested that judging Porter’s actions required seeing the entire scrum sequence rather than relying on a single image. The debate didn’t linger too long in practical terms—Porter was replaced at halftime by Ellis Genge, who promptly won a scrum penalty for the Lions. The shift in performance only added fuel to the discussion about what had gone wrong in the first half.