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☆ Billy Guyton: First New Zealand professional rugby union player confirmed to have died with CTE
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A former professional rugby union player, who who died in 2023 at the age of 33, has become the first in New Zealand to be formally diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – the neurogenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma. Billy Guyton died of a suspected suicide last year, CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported, and his family subsequently donated his brain to Auckland’s Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank which made the CTE diagnosis. CNN has contacted New Zealand Rugby for comment. Around the world, players are grappling to deal with the impact of head injuries sustained during their rugby careers. In the UK, some 450 current and former rugby players have now joined lawsuits to take legal action against global governing body World Rugby and the national governing bodies of England and Wales, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Rugby Football League Limited, International Rugby League Limited and British Amateur Rugby League Association.

Persons: CNN —, Billy Guyton, Maurice Curtis, John, RNZ, “, ”, Billy, That’s, Australia – Guyton, ” John Guyton, Michael Buckland, Curtis Organizations: CNN, rugby, Radio New Zealand, Neurological, Brain, Auckland Brain Bank, Super Rugby, Australia, Nelson Weekly, New Zealand Rugby, Australian Sports Brain Bank, World Rugby, Rugby Football Union, RFU, Welsh Rugby Union, WRU, Rugby Football League Limited, International Rugby League Limited, British Amateur Rugby League Association . Lawyers, University of Glasgow, Boston University, University of Sydney, Prevention, Befrienders Locations: New Zealand, Auckland, England, Wales

☆ McLennan replaced by Herbert as Rugby Australia chairman in boardroom coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

New Australia rugby union coach Eddie Jones poses with Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan and CEO Andy Marinos after his first news conference since his reappointment, which was held at Matraville Sports High School, in Sydney, Australia January 31, 2023. REUTERS/Nick Mulvenney/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Hamish McLennan was replaced as chairman of Rugby Australia (RA) by former Wallabies centre Dan Herbert late on Sunday as the fallout from the country's early World Cup exit continued to reverberate. McLennan, a successful businessman who had overseen the hiring of Eddie Jones to run the ill-fated World Cup campaign, immediately resigned from the board. "Australia will host the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, the Men's 2027 Rugby World Cup and the Women's 2029 Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Olympic Games," he added. RA paid tribute to McLennan's role in helping the game get through the COVID pandemic, which brought the governing body close to bankruptcy, and in securing the hosting of the men's and women's World Cups.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Hamish McLennan, Andy Marinos, Nick Mulvenney, Dan Herbert, McLennan, Herbert, Jones, Dave Rennie, Phil Waugh, Rugby Australia's, Toby Davis Organizations: New Australia rugby, Rugby Australia, Matraville Sports High School, REUTERS, Rights, Wallabies, Australia, New South Wales Rugby Union, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Super Rugby, Irish Lions, Rugby, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, England, Queensland

☆ Australia reform drive gets NSW backing, other states sceptical
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The reforms will push Australia closer to the centralised models of New Zealand and Ireland, where provinces answer to the national body on high performance decisions affecting test rugby. On Tuesday, RA said the New South Wales Waratahs and the NSW Rugby Union (NSWRU) had become Australia's first Super Rugby club and member union to formally commit to the integration plan. However, other member unions have pushed back on handing over commercial control. No Australian team has won a Super Rugby title since the Waratahs in 2014. RA have yet to decide who will run the integrated high performance programme or take over the Wallabies from Jones.

Persons: Phil Waugh, Waugh, Eddie Jones, Jones, Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: MELBOURNE, Rugby Australia, Wallabies, New South Wales Waratahs, NSW Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs, Australian Capital Territory Rugby Union, Brumbies, Rugby, Irish Lions, Thomson Locations: New South Wales, NSW, Australia, Zealand, Ireland, Sydney, rugby, France, Melbourne

☆ Argentina face tough challenge to get back to World Cup heights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Argentina finished the Rugby World Cup the way they started it, with a defeat against England, who took the bronze medal and left the Pumas with a major task to get to that stage in the next edition of the competition. "Many boys made their debuts at this World Cup and did so in a spectacular way. Argentina have not determined who will be part of the next cycle, with several players yet to decide their future. "It was a very important game for the team, and I didn't think about personal situations. "When I arrived in 2022, it was clear we were going for two years, for the World Cup.

Persons: Julian Montoya, Tom Curry's, Montoya, Mateo Carreras, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Pedro Rubiolo, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Scrumhalf Tomas Cibelli, Felipe Contepomi, Cheika, Will, Felipe, Julien Pretot, William Mallard Organizations: Rugby, England, Pumas, rugby, Super Rugby, Super Rugby Pacific, Bulls, Sharks, Europe's, Argentine, Superliga Americana, Argentine Rugby Union, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Stormers

☆ Uruguay bask in short-lived glory
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | トムソンロイター | Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LYON, France, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Uruguay savoured their victory over Namibia on Wednesday all the more as they were well aware the opportunity to add another World Cup success might not come any time soon. Uruguay has only had three wins in the World Cup, the fourth win was really important. "Now we are going to enjoy the week and then play the best team in the world (New Zealand on Oct. 5). We don't know if we will have a chance to play in the World Cup again." Uruguay coach Esteban Meneses said his team had prepared to make history.

Persons: Andres Vilaseca, Vilaseca, Esteban Meneses, Julien Pretot, Ed Osmond 私 Organizations: Namibia, New Zealand, Italy, Super Rugby Americas, Uruguay's Penarol, Rugby Locations: LYON, France, Uruguay, Italy, Namibia, Zealand, South America

☆ Fiji prop Koroiduadua ruled out of World Cup, Tuqiri in
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LYON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Fiji prop Jone Koroiduadua has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup by injury and will be replaced in the squad by the uncapped Emosi Tuqiri, the team said on Sunday. Koroiduadua, who plays in Super Rugby Pacific for the Fijian Drua, made his debut off the bench in the warm-up loss to France in Nantes last month. The 26-year-old also featured in Fiji's warm-up win over England but missed out on selection for the first two matches of the tournament proper, the narrow loss to Wales and Fiji's first win over Australia in 69 years. Born in Fiji and raised in Australia, Tuqiri is a big, ball-carrying prop who also plays for the Drua and is a cousin of former Wallabies Lote Tuqiri and Tevita Kuridrani. The 22-year-old former Fiji under-20 international will arrive in France later this week and join the squad as it prepares for the Pool C clash against Georgia next Saturday.

Persons: Jone Koroiduadua, Tuqiri, Koroiduadua, Fiji's, Wallabies Lote Tuqiri, Nick Mulvenney, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Super Rugby Pacific, Fijian, England, Wales, Australia, Wallabies, Georgia, Thomson Locations: Fiji, France, Nantes, Australia

☆ How Fiji’s historic Rugby World Cup victory left Australia facing the prospect of early elimination
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Frank Lomani’s game-ending kick may have drifted wide of the posts, but that mattered little for Fiji’s players. As the final whistle blew on the Rugby World Cup group stage match, they could now celebrate beating Australia for the first time in the tournament’s history – and a first victory against the Wallabies since 1954. Soon after, the players huddled together and – as is a tradition for Fijian rugby teams – sang a hymn to give their thanks to God. Fiji's players form a circle after defeating Australia for the first time in 69 years. Two-time champion Australia could now be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup group stages for the first time.

Persons: CNN — Frank Lomani’s, Fijian rugby teams –, ”, Josua Tuisova, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Samu Kerevi, Olivier Chassignole, Suli Vunivalu’s, Simon Raiwalui, “, Sunday’s, Chris Hyde, Raiwalui, –, we’ve, they’ve, Waisea Nayacalevu, Francis Bompard, Fiji’s, Seremaia Bai, Bai, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Rugby World, Wallabies, Fijian rugby teams, Wales, Australia, Getty, Georgia, Fiji, England, Rugby, “, South, Super Rugby, New, ” Locations: Australia, Fiji, AFP, ”, rugby’s, South Africa, Portugal, Fijian, New Zealand, Argentina, Zealand, –

☆ Springboks’ ‘Mr Versatility’ is a rare breed in modern rugby
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Nick Said | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Fourie has a rare talent in the modern game, he can play in both the front and back row of the scrum, oftentimes in the same game. He last played hooker for Lyon in 2018 but is in the Bok World Cup squad as the third option for coach Jacques Nienaber, while also being a candidate for the loose trio. "I’ll cover both positions, we’ll see what happens in the game," Fourie told reporters on Tuesday. "I have not played hooker at test match level, but I have been training there with the Boks for two years. "I played hooker in the first year in France, second year I was flank and then third year I was hooker again, before I moved back to flank."

Persons: Deon Fourie, Fourie, Jacques Nienaber, I’m, Nick Said, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Wales, Romania, Lyon, Super Rugby, Melbourne Rebels, Currie, Thomson Locations: TOULON, France, South, Bordeaux, Western Province, Lyon

☆ England hit rock bottom with first-ever defeat by Fiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - England slumped to a 30-22 loss against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday to record their first-ever defeat by the visitors, leaving them in utter disarray ahead of the World Cup which kicks off next month in France. But winger Selestino Ravutaumada capped a scintillating display with a swerving run to send replacement Simione Kuruvoli over for the decisive score that sealed their victory and left England looking utterly broken. This win is for all the people back home in Fiji," Ravutaumada said as Fijian supporters gathered in a corner of Twickenham sang and waved their national flags in celebration of their historic win. Fiji meanwhile can look forward to a possible World Cup quarter-final or better if they can repeat Saturday's mature performance at the tournament in France. England meanwhile have just two weeks to find some kind of cohesion before an opening fixture against the dangerous Argentina on Sept. 9.

Persons: Jonny May, Ollie Lawrence, Manu Tuilagi, Habosi, Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ravutaumada, Wonderwall, George Ford, Steve Borthwick, Eddie Jones, Lawrence White, Ken Ferris Organizations: Fiji, Twickenham, Pacific Islanders, England, Saturday, Fijian Drua Super Rugby, Wales, Thomson Locations: England, France, Fiji, Argentina

☆ Savea ties Super Rugby try-scoring record but Drua stun Canes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

May 6 (Reuters) - Julian Savea crossed twice to equal Israel Folau's Super Rugby record of 60 tries but it was not enough to stop the Fijian Drua adding the Wellington Hurricanes to their list of victims in Suva on Saturday. A noisy crowd at HFC Bank Stadium erupted in delight as replacement back Kemu Valetini kicked two penalties in the last five minutes to give the Drua a 27-24 win, a fourth victory in their second season in Super Rugby Pacific. "The Drua came out to play and they played the whole 80 and put us under a lot of pressure ... Flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi then gave the Hurricanes a 24-14 lead with a converted try under the posts but the Drua would not lie down. Savea, who was playing in his 150th Super Rugby match in his final season with the Hurricanes, was still appreciative of having matched former Wallabies fullback Folau's tally.

☆ DMac ignites another All Blacks flyhalf debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

May 3 (Reuters) - New Zealand could be gearing up for another heated flyhalf debate heading into the World Cup with Damian McKenzie staking a strong claim to the All Blacks number 10 shirt with his form for the high-flying Waikato Chiefs. Three-times World Player of the Year Dan Carter, when fit, killed the debate for the best part of a decade until he retired after New Zealand won their third World Cup in 2015. The return of McKenzie from Japan at the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season, however, threatens to send the debate into overdrive. "He's shown a lot of maturity in his decision making," All Blacks coach Ian Foster told Stuff media recently. "I think he would say that he's still not the finished product, but I think he's had a major impact on the competition.

☆ Super Rugby finally rolls into the post-COVID era
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SYDNEY, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Finally freed of the COVID travel restrictions that sounded the death knell to the intercontinental edition and fragmented and disrupted the rump competition, Super Rugby returns in its full new normality on Friday. The second season of Super Rugby Pacific will be played with a host of law variations aimed at making the game more attractive to fans but one aspect of the competition is highly unlikely to change -- New Zealand supremacy. The Canterbury Crusaders dominated Super Rugby in the years pre-pandemic and have proved just as hard to beat with or without fans in the stadiums, through lockdowns, biosecurity protocols and in competition hubs. Despite optimistic noises coming from across the Tasman Sea in Australia, the biggest challenge to the Crusaders is likely to come from the North Island of New Zealand. The forgiving and sometimes derided playoff system that offers knockout rugby to eight of the 12 teams will give hope to all but the most hapless outfits.

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