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The Wallabies first loss to Italy last night was of course bitterly disappointing, even though the Italians have improved dramatically from being the perennial…
What an epic Test match the Wallabies played against France in Paris this weekend, with the last-minute, one-point loss being all the more painful…
The try by James Slipper yesterday was a thing of beauty. In reality it could have been called the “tight forward’s try” for the…
Wallaby lock Darcy Swain has copped a right royal schlocking in the media and online for his foul play against Quinn Tupaea in Bledisloe…
I have spent my Sunday like most diehard Aussie rugby fans, darkly mulling over the Wallabies' 40-14 flogging at Eden Park. Three events stick…
The Wallabies may have been pipped at the post by the All Blacks again in the Bledisloe Cup in 2022, but nobody can say…
It is no secret on The Roar that I am an unabashed fan of Matt To’omua as a fly-half. Plenty do not agree with…
The Wallabies have bounced back from a bad loss in Argentina to achieve an excellent win against the world champion Springboks in Adelaide, emphatically…
Nick Bishop’s recent article provided insightful analysis about the “Australian way” of multi-phase attack. The challenges that Dave Rennie’s team faced in the recent…
I do not know whether Rugby Australia CEO, Hamish McLennan, is serious about Australia going it alone in Super Rugby, but after some consideration,…
Friday evening was the last home regular-season match at Suncorp Stadium for the Queensland Reds, with a worthy opponent in Moana Pasifika, who have…
The first inkling that I had during Friday night’s Queensland Reds game against the Waikato Chiefs that something was wrong with blockbusting prop Taniela…
Wayne Smith wrote an article in the Brisbane Times on 12 April titled “'I’d be honoured to coach the Wallabies': Thorn puts hat in…
The vibe amongst the crowd at the Reds versus Brumbies game on Saturday night was one of the more bellicose that I had experienced…
It was great to be back at Suncorp Stadium to watch the Reds play the Waratahs on Saturday, despite having to enduring a torrential…
So, it turns out that Fraser McReight can pass from left to right, which is good because he couldn’t reliably do so at the…
The talk of 2021 was the return of Quade Cooper to the Wallabies 10 jersey, which was key to the success against the Springboks…
The news that Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon will not be travelling to Europe with the Wallabies this year is disappointing for…
I got down from Brisbane to Cbus Super Stadium with my brother on Saturday to watch the Rugby Championship double-header, the two-for-one tickets making…
Reflecting on the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship gives us cause to think about what Aussie rugby’s annual trial at the hands against New…
A good bloke who was let down by the soft, entitled culture of NSW rugby. For a state that sees itself as the centre of Australian rugby, last place is a disgraceful result. An example must be made of this failed player group, no Waratah deserves Wallabies selection in 2024.
As a coach Darren Coleman got the wooden spoon, as a bloke he's a bloody legend
I’d say Kearns put this out there on behalf of RA, with a certain Andrew Forest being the target audience. I.e. give us some money or we might cut your team. Just the usual bit of early season bluster, just ignore and enjoy the rugby.
'Our talent is spread too thin': Ex-Wallabies captain urges Rugby Australia to cut Super teams
What an insufferably arrogant man McClennen is, now he is trying to emotionally blackmail the board, by inferring that they are cowards if they don’t back him. I hope they see that if they don’t sack him, that they will have put themselves in a position of being absolutely subservient to him.
'What a shame': McLennan GONE as Rugby Australia name World Cup-winner chairman to bookend wild year
McClennen goes now or he goes eventually anyway, the only decision those who are sitting on the fence have is how many more of his stuff ups they want to endure until the inevitable happens.
'I won't back down': McLennan set to dig in as embattled RA chair calls on EGM to 'clear this up once and for all'
Why would an organisation having to meet the expectations of its membership be of any concern? As far as I am concerned the states haven’t had enough to say on all the balls ups in by Rugby Australia/ARU over the years, I am heartened that they are finally sticking up for themselves and the fans.
All that the new Chair needs to do is to remember who he or she works for and do a good job, that is not too much to ask.
Exclusive: Embattled chair asks for extension, Rugby Australia meet AGAIN as civil war breaks out
Time to start a rival administration and transfer the super teams except for the Tahs over, like the Super League war. Twiggy can get it going, like he did with GRR.
Buying the players shouldn’t be too hard, because RA will go broke sooner rather than later. When that happens the new league can reconstitute the Wallabies under its auspices and reconnect with World Rugby.
Then McClellan can go to buggery and not a moment too soon.
'Always knew it would get really ugly': RA chief's strange admission as World Cup budget blow out revealed
My theory is that association with rugby is a status symbol amongst blue-bloods in Australia, so every clown in a senior role, takes the opportunity to bignote him or herself.
'Always knew it would get really ugly': RA chief's strange admission as World Cup budget blow out revealed
It will take until they are broke to change, so not long now.
'Always knew it would get really ugly': RA chief's strange admission as World Cup budget blow out revealed
Unless PR in this instance is the medical abbreviation.
'Always knew it would get really ugly': RA chief's strange admission as World Cup budget blow out revealed
And the considered temperament and clear vision of one too.
'Always knew it would get really ugly': RA chief's strange admission as World Cup budget blow out revealed
I sent an email to Rugby Australia before Xmas last year, suggesting that Jones coach the Wallaroos for the year until Rennie had finished the job in 2024, then took over in 2025. The RA email portal doesn’t give a copy of the email, so people can take my word for it or not, it is up to them.
This was before I knew about the extent of the ratbaggery that RA was engaging in, the suggestion would have made use of both coaches that RA was paying and theoretically given women’s rugby a boost. On reflection I wish I had written an article to that effect, as it would have highlighted the money that RA were wasting changing men’s coaches, while the women’s game remains impoverished.
Live and learn.
Read it and weep: Eddie made Wallabies fans 'eat s--t' for 10 months - here's every bit of BS he uttered
Hamish McClennen might care about rugby but I don’t think he cares about it nearly as much as he cares about himself, or he would resign. He appears to be treating this gig primarily as an opportunity to advance his own reputation in the corporate world and there is nothing wrong with that, if he could be trusted to act in Rugby’s interests at the same time.
However, while he has done some good things in this key role, he has amply demonstrated over the last year that he lacks the judgement to be trusted. Aside from the World Cup stuff up, that the private equity investors that he was courting to finance his plans ultimately opted out, is the best evidence of that.
What other enormous stuff ups is he going to make if he stays in the role, which completely derail all the hard work of those working in rugby, both paid and volunteer staff? None of us know but what we do know is that Australian rugby cannot afford to indulge this man’s ambition, which drastically overshadows his ability or commitment to the game, any longer.
'I'm not a quitter': Under-siege RA chair won't follow Jones, blames 'broken system' for chaos
I have no sympathy for Jones.
He has shown that is a selfish little man who has had more opportunities to win a World Cup than most, but had to white-ant another good man’s first shot at it, because Jones knew he was on the nose in England. It was a lousy thing to do.
Jones then completely stuffed up Australia’s World Cup bid, ruining the experience for his players and the fans, many of whom had paid tens of thousands of dollars to travel to France to support the team. Whatever he has done in Rugby, this will be his legacy now.
Through all the ups and downs over the years I have remained positive about that Australian rugby can recover its former glory. However, this disgraceful episode of men with massive egos making the game about themselves instead of the team and the fans, has for the first time led me to fear that Australia will never recover our genuine first tier status.
I hope that the uber arrogant, entitled toffs who run the game will be displaced by sensible people and that Australia will have a chance to crawl its way back. However, they seem to be as good at preserving their own privilege as they are bad at administering Australian rugby, so I am not getting my hopes up.
Pox on Eddie Jones’s house, pox on Hamish McClennen and his weak kneed board’s houses, and pox on all the houses of those who contributed to this utter balls up.
Eddie Jones quits as Wallabies coach - 'Sometimes you have to eat s--t for others to eat caviar'
The whole board should go for letting McLennen get away with this and there should be a complete rework of RA governance, to get rid of the overwhelming influence of the Sydney toffs.
Eddie Jones quits as Wallabies coach - 'Sometimes you have to eat s--t for others to eat caviar'
It makes no sense that 333 million Americans can’t play rugby either, but there you have it.
'It will kill rugby': Minnows feel shafted as World Rugby hails 'historic' revamp with exclusive Nations Championship
Tell us how it goes 😁
Eddie digs in as he flies home - AGAIN denying he wants to quit to coach Japan, while revealing next step
“exit choreography”
Sounds like some sort of nasty medical procedure.
Eddie digs in as he flies home - AGAIN denying he wants to quit to coach Japan, while revealing next step
The fact is that what will pay for any third tier competition (and everything else in Australian Rugby) is the Wallabies. If the Wallabies remain uncompetitive then fans won’t fork out 200 bucks for tickets and there will be no money flow down to anybody below. So the whole of Australian rugby including the third tier needs to be focused on getting the Wallabies out of the doldrums, or these clubs are going to have to run a lot of sausage sizzles to keep their super club competition running.
COMMENT: 'Making a choice' - the key issue facing Australia’s third tier
I am pretty sure that Eddie cares, probably a few other people too.
'Disaster': Wallabies hammered by Boks as Eddie Jones' return falls flat
Trial game? It is the first game of tue Rugby Vhampionship, with ony four to go until the World Cup.
'Disaster': Wallabies hammered by Boks as Eddie Jones' return falls flat
Trial game? It’s the first game of the Rugby Championship, if they are losing by 31 points with only four more games until the World Cup, the Wallabies are stuffed.
'Disaster': Wallabies hammered by Boks as Eddie Jones' return falls flat
So wasting Dave Rennie’s salary for the year to bring in Jones was totally worth it then. Nice one McHamish.
'Disaster': Wallabies hammered by Boks as Eddie Jones' return falls flat
Ehmed looks like Tackleberry from Police Academy in this photo.
'Clean slate': Tahs hope Eddie effect fires players up, 10 battle explained, schoolboy prodigy impresses
This is an excellent article Christy, really challenging rugby in Australia to do better. Well done.
'I sat there bewildered': High Performance guru on the tricks RA missed - and how they must fix the game
No points for trying.
As a coach Darren Coleman got the wooden spoon, as a bloke he's a bloody legend