5:59 AM BST Former Wallabies star Quade Cooper won’t be able to sidestep any citizen application requirements with Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews steadfast on the rejection. Cooper says his application for Australian citizenship has repeatedly been knocked back despite playing 70 Tests. Born in Auckland, Cooper moved to Australia with his family aged
Rugby
2:09 PM BST France on Tuesday night dished out multiple Test rugby lessons to a Wallabies team that continues to learn things the hard way, paving the way for a thrilling finale to the series in Brisbane this weekend. Denied a drought-breaking win on Australian soil last week, the French were thoroughly deserving of their
12:32 PM BST Ireland will host New Zealand in one of four international tests announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union for Andy Farrell’s squad in October and November. The Irish will face the All Blacks at Aviva Stadium on Nov. 13 for the first time since losing to the New Zealanders in the quarterfinals
10:05 AM BST ESPN staff Quade Cooper played 70 Test for the Wallabies, but that apparently is not enough to earn you Australian citizenship. The New Zealand-born Cooper took to Twitter on Tuesday to detail his latest failed attempt, calling out the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs and the attending public servant, Shannon. “Awkward
6:09 PM BST South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and flyhalf Handre Pollard could both return to the squad after COVID-19 infections in time for the Springbok’s first test against the British & Irish Lions, South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus said on Monday. Both are among a group of six players who remained behind
1:39 PM BST The British & Irish Lions will make a decision on whether Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones will re-join the squad in South Africa in the next 24 hours after coach Warren Gatland described his recovery from a dislocated shoulder as “remarkable.” Jones has been training with Wales in the last few days
10:01 AM BST Warren Gatland has made 12 changes to the British & Irish Lions side that beat the Sharks 71-31 on Saturday, with Anthony Watson, Chris Harris and Dan Biggar the only players retained. “We’re pleased to have arrived in Cape Town as we near the halfway stage of the Series,” Gatland said in
10:49 AM BST South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has tested positive for the coronavirus, along with five other players in the squad, ahead of the three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions. The South African team will resume training on Sunday after six rounds of COVID-19 testing and a six-day preventative self-isolation period cleared
9:49 PM BST Hooker Ronan Kelleher grabbed four tries and Ireland capped eight new players as many of their younger fringe men seized the opportunity to impress in a 71-10 thrashing of the United States at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Having weathered a Japanese attacking blitz last week, Andy Farrell’s men were equally lethal
5:30 PM BST Debutant winger Adam Radwan and hooker Jamie Blamire, on his first start, both scored hat-tricks and it was a special day for flyhalf Marcus Smith as a shadow England team racked up 10 tries in a 70-14 demolition of Canada at Twickenham on Saturday. Joe Cokanasiga, who scored two last week, added