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☆ The 'World's Ugliest Lawn' winner says the animals that visit every day 'think it's beautiful'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An Australian woman won a Swedish competition for the "World's Ugliest Lawn." AdvertisementNot everyone would consider it a compliment, but an Australian woman is thrilled after an international panel gave her the "World's Ugliest Lawn" award. As a prize, the Swedish competition awarded Kathleen Murray of Tasmania with a "Proud owner of The World's Ugliest Lawn" t-shirt. The press release noted that all contestants had "a lot of ugliness to be proud of" in their dry yards. For that, the planet, and its dwindling stockpiles of life-giving liquid, thanks you, Kathleen," the press release said.

Persons: Kathleen Murray, —, –, Kathleen Murray of, Kathleen Murray's, Kathleen, Murray, bandicoots Organizations: Service, Washington Locations: Australian, Swedish, Gotland, Ireland , New Zealand, Australia, Kathleen Murray of Tasmania

The plane was registered to an Oakland-based company called Winged Wallabies, Inc., according to Federal Aviation Administration records. He said it was “traumatic” to know the plane he had spent so much time on had crashed with people on board. Like commercial aircraft, all home-built planes are required by the FAA to be inspected annually for air worthiness. Cozy aircraft have the same safety record as commercially built planes of similar size, said aeronautical engineer Marc Zeitlin, who consults with the National Transportation Safety Board on crash investigations involving Cozy aircraft, including this one. “You buy foam, you buy fiberglass, you buy metal parts from all the manufacturers.

Persons: Mark IV, Thane Ostroth, Ostroth, “, I’ll, ” Ostroth, Marc Zeitlin, Zeitlin, ”, Zeitlen, Emma Willmer, John Antczak Organizations: ANGELES, Wallabies, Inc, Federal Aviation Administration, Authorities, Cozy, FAA, National Transportation Safety Board, Burnside Aerospace, San, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, U.S . Coast Guard, San Mateo County Coroner’s, The National Transportation Safety Board, Associated Press Locations: California, San Francisco, Oakland, Thane, Australia, Michigan, Florida, Ross, San Mateo County, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Best travel destinations to visit in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Cnn Travel Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +32 min

cdwheatley/iStockphoto/Getty Images Angola: Beyond the capital city of Luanda, pictured, Angola has some jaw-droppingly spectacular scenery and cultural treats. David ChiaFF/Alamy Stock Photo Mérida, Mexico: Yucatán state's capital city showcases a blend of Mayan and colonial heritage. Pavel Tochinsky/The Image Bank RF/Getty Images Morocco: This North African country is home to nine UNESCO sites, including the historic city of Meknes, pictured. Panama City is also the only world capital with a tropical rainforest within its city limits. And a historic city forever entwined with the famed Camino de Santiago.

Persons: you’d, Tengguo Wu, Gabriele Thielmann, Turkey's, Gary Ennis, Matevz, Bill Bachman, Christian Kober, Gonzalo Azumendi, David ChiaFF, Pavel Tochinsky, Terry Kelly, Raul Rodriguez, iStock, Anton Petrus, –, — Karla Cripps Turkey’s, — Barry Neild, Mana Kaasik, — Maureen O’Hare, — Maggie Hiufu Wong, Deb Snelson, Glen Arbor, Marnie Hunter, — Forrest Brown, — Forrest Brown Angola Cristo, Eric Lafforgue, it’s, King, Eric Carr, John’s, Saint John, New Brunswick —, —, Tuul, Bruno Morandi, — Julia Buckley, Groenewald, Alamy, — Lilit Marcus, Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon, — JB, Bogdan Lazar, — Tamara Hardingham, Gill, Hercules, Francesca, Lazarus, ”, David Casanova, Megan Sequeira Casanova, “, Kuka y Naranjo, medina, Gordon Sinclair, Yvette Cardozo, — FB, Pierce Ingram, Stefan Tomic, Fujairah, who’ve, Samarkand —, It’s Organizations: CNN, United, CNN Travel, Getty Images, Town, Getty, Northwest, Saint, New Brunswick Tourism, UNESCO, Heritage, Alamy, Parque Nacional Volcán Barú, Galicia, Tercera Orden, Parque, Bank, Wakulla Springs, Texas, United Arab Emirates, AP, Rock, of Culture, Estonian National Museum, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest Michigan, Bear, Farm, Riders, Lubango, — BN Saint John, Canada Tourists, St, Saint John City Market, Historic, Saint John Arts Centre, Carnegie, Carnegie Library, — KC, Korea, Folk, Netflix, South Korea, Adriatic, Nacional Glaciares, Australian Sea Lions, Panama, Spain Santiago de, Spain Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Islas, Camino, Mexico People, YouTube, US State Department, Morocco, Regis Hotels, Resorts, — FB Texas, Travel Texas, Krause, Gruene, Fujairah, Icefjord, FS, Tuul, ” Locations: United States, Sumba, Indonesia Sumba, Indonesia, Bali, Getty Images Tartu, Estonia, Tartu —, European, Tainan, Taiwan, Northwest Michigan, Traverse City, Lake Michigan, iStockphoto, Western Balkans, Culebra , Puerto Rico, Flamenco, Culebra, cdwheatley, Angola, Luanda, , New Brunswick, Fundy, New Brunswick, New Brunswick Tourism South Korea, Korea Albania, Albania, Chile, mauritius, Western Australia, Greece, Macedonia, American, Panama, Spain, Camino, Santiago, St, John's, Mexico, Parque Hidalgo, Morocco, Meknes, Florida, Spicewood, Anton, Greenland, Denmark, AP Uzbekistan, Bukhara, Indonesian, Sumela, Turkey's, — Barry Neild Tartu, Estonia Tartu, of Culture Tartu, Tartu, “, Baltics, — Maureen O’Hare Tainan, Taiwan Tainan, Taipei, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest, Lake, Traverse, Leland, Glen, perusing, Balkans, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, transdinarica.com, —, Puerto Rico, It’s, — Forrest Brown Angola, Lubango, Barra, Cabo Ledo, — BN Saint John , New Brunswick, Canada, Hopewell, Newfoundland, Saint, Canada’s, Korea Andong, South Korea, Sanga, Korea, Seoul, Busan, Andong, Albania Albania, Berat, Montenegro, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, — Julia Buckley Chile, Atacama, Patagonia, Coral Coast, Geraldton, — Lilit Marcus Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece's, Hemis, Athens, Vergina, Veria, Naousa, Greece’s, Thrace, Philippi, Kavala, Panama . Panama City, Gill Galicia, Spain Santiago, Spain Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Galicia’s, Santiago de Compostela, Cabo, Fisterra, Galicia —, Singapore, John’s, Paseo, Montejo, Mérida, Yucatán, getaways, there’s, Marrakech, Rabat, Fes, Resorts Morocco, Wakulla, Ginnie, Fredericksburg, Texas, Marble Falls, Meanderers, New Braunfels, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Wadi, Nuuk, Ilulissat, West, FS Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, China, India, Khiva, Uzbek, Sentob, Tashkent

☆ Planting 'koala corridors' to save Australia's endangered marsupial
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Jill Gralow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BANGALOW, Australia, Nov 22 (Reuters) - When Lucy was rescued from a rural property in New South Wales two years ago, she was suffering from chlamydia, a disease widespread among koalas. Today, she's one of the lucky residents of tree corridors in the Australian state dedicated to protecting the marsupial by preserving its rapidly shrinking habitat. "Our corridors are actually trying to get them away from humans, from cars, from dogs," said Linda Sparrow, president of Bangalow Koalas. [1/5]Lucy, an adult female Koala sits in a eucalyptus tree planted by Bangalow Koalas, in Bangalow, Australia in this undated image. Saul Goodwin/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsFounded in 2019, Bangalow Koalas has planted over 336,000 trees on 119 properties, contributing to koala conservation and boosting the local ecosystem.

Persons: Lucy, Linda Sparrow, Bangalow, Bangalow Koalas, Saul Goodwin, Handout, Sparrow, Lindy Stacker, Jill Gralow, Alasdair Pal, Miral Organizations: Australia, REUTERS Acquire, Australian Koala Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Thomson Locations: BANGALOW, Australia, New South Wales, Northern Rivers, Bangalow, Northern, Queensland

☆ 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

☆ RA chairman says no shortage of replacements for ex-Wallabies coach Jones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: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. McLennan said an Australian coach's knowledge of grass-roots rugby in the country would be of value but added that Rugby Australia (RA) wanted the best person for the job. I can tell you, there’s no shortage of high-quality coaches that want to come and coach the Wallabies." Former ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar, now coaching in England, is seen as among the strongest candidates to replace Jones, along with current Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. McLennan was instrumental in appointing Jones, who replaced Dave Rennie after the New Zealander was sacked as Wallabies coach in January.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Hamish McLennan, Andy Marinos, Nick Mulvenney, McLennan, Zealander Robbie Deans, Dan McKellar, Jones, Stephen Larkham, Dave Rennie, we’ve, Ian Ransom, Gerry Doyle Organizations: New Australia rugby, Rugby Australia, Matraville Sports High School, REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Wallabies, Sydney Morning Herald, Zealander, Australia, Panasonic Wild Knights, Former ACT Brumbies, Brumbies, New Zealander, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Australian, Brisbane, England, Melbourne

☆ Jones' exit is the 'sensible' outcome: Australia boss
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Eddie Jones' resignation as Wallabies coach was the "sensible outcome" in the wake of the nation's disappointing World Cup run, Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh said on Tuesday. Jones revealed over the weekend he had agreed to terms with Rugby Australia (RA) regarding his exit, less than one year into a contract spanning the 2027 World Cup on home soil. "Eddie's put a lot into 2023 and into the (World Cup) campaign and the performances weren’t where they need to be," he continued. Waugh said that he took Jones at his word and that the reports had not been a factor in his exit. The team has the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 and the 2027 World Cup on home soil.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Phil Waugh, Jones, Waugh, Eddie's, we’re, I've, Ian Ransom, Gerry Doyle Organizations: MELBOURNE, Wallabies, Rugby Australia, Nine Network, British, Irish Lions, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, England, France, Japan, Melbourne

☆ World Cup 2023: Previous World Cup finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

PARIS, Oct 25 (Reuters) - On Saturday, New Zealand take on South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France, with both teams hoping to win a record fourth title. Mapimpi scored the first try in the 66th minute, becoming the first Springbok to score a try in a World Cup final, despite South Africa having won two previous titles. The teams had met in the pool stage with South Africa winning 36-0. Fullback Jonathan Webb scored two penalties for England, whose decision to ditch their forward-reliant tactics for an expansive running game backfired. 1987 - NEW ZEALAND 29 FRANCE 9 (AUCKLAND)The All Blacks laid down the marker in the first World Cup final, dominating from start to finish as flyhalf Grant Fox's kicking helped his team gain territory time and again.

Persons: Makazole, Cheslin Kolbe, Handre Pollard, Mapimpi, Richie McCaw, Flyhalf Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett's, Tony Woodcock, Stephen Donald, Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn, Alain Rolland's, Mark Cueto, England's Jonny Wilkinson, Australia's Elton Flatley, Wilkinson, Matt Burke, Ben Tune, Owen Finegan, Nelson Mandela, Jonah Lomu, Joel Stransky's, Webb Ellis, Tony Daly, Michael Lynagh, Fullback Jonathan Webb, flyhalf Grant Fox's, Michael Jones, David Kirk, John Kirwan, Pierre Berbizier, Rohith Nair, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Stade de France, England, Springbok, South, Blacks, Wallabies, Springboks, South Africa, ZEALAND, Fullback, Fox, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, South Africa, ENGLAND, YOKOHAMA, Japan, AUSTRALIA, TWICKENHAM, FRANCE, AUCKLAND, France, PARIS, England, SYDNEY, CARDIFF, Australia, JOHANNESBURG, Bengaluru

☆ Australia-based Wallabies lacked work ethic at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Australia-based players in the Wallabies squad for the disappointing World Cup campaign lacked the ability to train at the same level as their team mates at European clubs, according to assistant coach Pierre-Henry Broncan. "The team's youth did not work at this World Cup, it did not lack experience but collective experience," he told French sports newspaper L'Equipe. "We lost the World Cup the week we lost Tupou and Skelton. They have been preparing for this World Cup for four years. "If he senses a real desire from Rugby Australia to create a high-performance environment, I think he will be there."

Persons: Siphiwe, Pierre, Henry Broncan, Eddie Jones, Will Skelton, Richie Arnold, that's, Jones, Skelton, Taniela Tupou, Tupou, Frenchman, Fabien Galthie, Broncan, Eddie, Nick Mulvenney, Ed Osmond Organizations: Australia Wallabies, St Peter’s, Rugby, South, REUTERS, Rights, Wallabies, Castres, Australia, French, L'Equipe, Fiji, Rugby Australia, Thomson Locations: Sunninghill, South Africa, Pretoria, Australia, France, Fiji

☆ Kickers worth their weight in gold at Rugby World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Nick Said | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

There have been 14 tries scored in the previous eight World Cup finals, less than two per match, with 73% of the points in those deciding games coming from kicks at poles. The tournament in France has already shown that when two heavyweights collide it is the boot that makes the difference. The Wallabies scored two tries to one in that match but it was kicks at poles that took Fiji to the win. The conditions so far in the tournament have been made for kickers with warm weather and the particular balls used. Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Ramos, Richie Mo’unga, George Ford, Emiliano Boffelli, Opta, Nick Said, Ken Ferris Organizations: Ireland, South Africa, Springboks, New Zealand, Blacks, Fiji, Australia, Pacific Islanders, Wallabies, Argentina, Samoa, Nations, Rugby, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Paris, Fiji, Portugal, Georgia

We'll guide you through options to watch free Wales vs. Australia live streams. If you don't have a proper watch option in your country, we'll show you how to watch the Rugby World Cup live streams for free using a VPN. Where to watch Wales vs. Australia Rugby World Cup live streams free from anywhereYou can catch all of the Rugby World Cup action, including Wales vs. Australia, using the free ITVX live stream in the United Kingdom, which offers up every match of this year's Rugby World Cup. How to watch Wales vs. Australia in the USANBC is the exclusive broadcast partner for the Rugby World Cup in the United States. Shop at SlingRugby World Cup scheduleBelow is a full schedule of upcoming Rugby World Cup games that will run through the October 28 final.

Persons: you'll, Eddie Jones, it's, ExpressVPN, You'll, Peacock Organizations: Wales, Rugby, Fiji, Nations, Wallabies, Australia Rugby, ITV1, ITV3, ITV, Rugby World, Australia, USA NBC, CNBC, ., Samoa, Zealand Locations: Australia, United Kingdom, UK, USA, United States, Tonga, ITVX, Wales, Uruguay, Namibia, Japan, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Fiji, Georgia, Scotland, Romania, Portugal, South Africa, France, . Georgia, England, Ireland

☆ 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

☆ Argentina grind out 19-10 win over Samoa
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | 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: +3 min

SAINT-ETIENNE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Fullback Emiliano Boffelli scored 16 points in a man-of-the-match performance as Argentina got their World Cup campaign back on track with a hard fought 19-10 victory over a committed Samoa on Friday. That set up a frenetic finale but Nicolas Sanchez, coming off the bench to win his 99th cap for Argentina, lashed over a final penalty from just inside the Samoa half to make the game safe and deny Samoa a losing bonus point. "It's pretty tough to win a test match, especially against a team of the calibre of Argentina with 40% possession," said Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua. England lead Pool D with nine points from two games, four points ahead of Samoa, who beat Chile 43-10 in their opener, and third-placed Japan with Argentina in fourth place on four points. Argentina laid siege to the Samoan try line at the start of the second half and finally came away with some points when Boffelli kicked his third penalty in the 53rd minute.

Persons: ETIENNE, Emiliano Boffelli, Boffelli, Michael Cheika, Christian, Sama Malolo, Nicolas Sanchez, Seilala Mapusua, Duncan Paia'aua, Alai D'Angelo Leuila, Manu, Nick Mulvenney, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Pumas, Wallabies, Samoa, Chile, England, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Samoa, Argentine, England, Japan, Saint Etienne

☆ 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, –

☆ Slipper returns to replace Tupou in Wallabies team to face Fiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | 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

"Fiji is the most important match of our Rugby World Cup campaign," coach Eddie Jones said in a news release. "It's another big opportunity for our young side to keep getting better and we'll be ready on Sunday." The experienced Nic White will instead partner flyhalf Carter Gordon at halfback with rookie Issak Fines-Leleiwasa set to win his second test cap from the bench. Hooker Jordan Uelese has also recovered from injury and will back up starting rake David Porecki from the bench. Ben Donaldson, man of the match against Georgia after being brought into the side primarily for his place-kicking, retains the fullback spot ahead of Andrew Kellaway.

Persons: James Slipper, Andrew Boyers, ETIENNE, George Gregan, Adam Ashley, Cooper, Taniela Tupou, Stade Geoffroy, Eddie Jones, Jones, Tate McDermott, Nic White, flyhalf Carter Gordon, Issak, Rob Valetini, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Lock Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Hooker Jordan Uelese, David Porecki, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway, Jordan Petaia, Carter Gordon, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Angus Bell, Jordan Uelese, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Lalakai Foketi, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Rugby Union, Wales, Evergreen Wallabies, Fiji, Georgia, Stade, Rugby World, Thomson Locations: Australia, Cardiff, Wales, Britain, Australian, Taniela, Fiji

☆ Samoa name former Australia star Leali'ifano to start against Chile
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Rules change means former Wallabies flyhalf eligibleSamoa target Chile clash as most winnable Pool D gameFormer All Blacks Luatua and Sopoaga also featureTOULOUSE, France, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Samoa have selected 35-year-old Christian Leali'ifano, who scored the most points for Australia at the 2019 World Cup, as flyhalf in their opening Pool D clash against Chile in Bordeaux on Saturday. Samoa are taking advantage of a relaxation in World Rugby's eligibility rules, which means players who stand down for three years from appearing for one country can then play for another for which they qualify. That means they can also field former All Blacks Steven Luatua, who starts at number eight, and the versatile Lima Sopoaga as a replacement back. Former Highlanders and Wasps player Sopoaga can play at flyhalf or fullback and, while New Zealand-born, qualifies for Samoa through his family background. Samoa will target Chile, the lowest ranked team at the tournament, as their most winnable game in a pool also containing England, Argentina and Japan as they look to progress from the pool stage for the first time since 1999.

Persons: Sopoaga, Leali'ifano, Blacks Steven Luatua, Theo McFarland, James Lay, Seilala Lam, Michael Alaalatoa, Chris Vui, Agaese Seu, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Jonathan Taumateine, Nigel Ah, Danny Toala, Duncan Paia'aua, Jordan, Paul Alo, Emile, Sam Slade, Sa Jordan, Ed Fidow, Lawrence White, Ken Ferris Organizations: Wallabies, Blacks, Australia, Chile, Saturday, Samoa, Lima, Former Highlanders, Wasps, flyhalf, The Pacific Islanders, English, Saracens, Manu, Junior, Jordan Lay, Lima Sopoaga, Thomson Locations: Samoa, Chile, TOULOUSE, France, Bordeaux, New Zealand, England, Argentina, Japan, Fiji, Lima

☆ Australia's Tupou suffers hamstring strain ahead of Fiji clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | 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: +1 min

Nicknamed the Tongan Thor, tighthead Tupou has been one of Australia's best performers this season and had a major impact on the 35-15 Pool C win over Georgia last weekend. Zane Nonggorr replaced Tupou for the last 10 minutes of the Georgia match in his fourth test and the other tighthead in the squad, Pone Faamausili, has also been struggling with a calf problem. Australian media reports said coach Eddie Jones was considering switching the experienced and versatile loosehead prop James Slipper to the other side of the front row for the Fiji match. The Wallabies, who snapped a five-match losing streak against the Georgians, could all but secure a spot in the quarter-finals with a win on Sunday. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis, Taniela Tupou, Stephanie Lecocq, Tongan Thor, tighthead Tupou, Zane Nonggorr, Tupou, Pone Faamausili, Eddie Jones, James Slipper, Jason Ryles, Nick Mulvenney, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Georgia, Stade de France, Saint, Fiji, Sunday, Wallabies, Georgians, Thomson Locations: Australia, France, ETIENNE, Saint Etienne, Tongan, Georgia

☆ World Cup off to a flier after memorable weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MARSEILLE, France, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Rugby World Cup organisers hoped for a blockbuster opening weekend and they certainly got one, starting with host France's uplifting Friday night win and ending with a huge "what if?" moment in Sunday's classic Wales v Fiji encounter. "As the first weekend of the tournament comes to a close, the France 2023 Organising Committee would like to thank the French and international fans present across the country who kicked off the 10th Rugby World Cup," the hosts said in a statement on Monday. George Ford stunned the Pumas with three drop goals as he kicked all the points in a dominant 27-10 victory. The highlight of another packed weekend programme looks to be Australia v Fiji in St Etienne.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Tom Curry, George Ford, Mitch Phillips, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Rugby, Fiji, Blacks, Australia, Pumas, Wales, Wallabies, England, Romania, Marseille, New, Namibia, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Sunday's, Wales, Rugby, Namibia, Italy, Romania, Georgia, Marseille, England, Argentina, Velodrome, Chile, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Bordeaux, Fiji, Ireland, Uruguay, New Zealand, St Etienne

☆ Donaldson shines as Australia down Georgia to snap losing streak
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | 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: +3 min

Donaldson, a surprise selection brought into the side primarily for his place-kicking, added 15 points from the tee with three penalties and three conversions. "There is a real feeling this team could do something," Eddie Jones said after the first victory of his second reign as Australia coach. "We've got a young team, it's a great learning experience for them. Georgia never looked like adding another top tier victim to their tally after wins over Italy and Wales in the last 13 months but battled to the bitter end and scored tries through Luka Ivanishvili and Beka Gigashvili. Australia head south for their second Pool C match in St Etienne on Sunday against a dangerous Fiji side who recently beat England.

Persons: Australia's Ben Donaldson, Livewire, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Donaldson, Eddie Jones, We've, it's, Luka, Nawaqanitawase, Mirian Modebadze, flyhalf Luka Matkava, Davit Niniashvili, Taniela Tupou, flyhalf Carter Gordon, Akaki Tabutsadze, Gigashvili, Levan Maisashvili, Nick Mulvenney, Hugh Lawson, Ed Osmond Organizations: Georgia, Wallabies, Stade de France, Luka Ivanishvili, Blacks, Australia, Petaia, Georgians, flyhalf, Australians, Portugal, Sunday, England, Thomson Locations: Australia, Georgia, Italy, Wales, St Etienne, Fiji

☆ Moody misses out on NZ squad for World Cup, Retallick included
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rugby Union - 2018 Bledisloe Cup Rugby Championship - Australia v New Zealand - Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand - August 25, 2018 - New Zealand's Joe Moody celebrates with teammates after scoring a try. "But with the compilation of his time off and our programme, having to go into the first part of this World Cup fully loaded, we just want him to go and get some game time. "So whether it'll be round one, round two of the World Cup, we're not sure. Retallick's frequent second-row partner Sam Whitelock was selected for his fourth World Cup. The All Blacks will play the Springboks at Twickenham in London on Aug. 25 and start their World Cup campaign against hosts France in Paris on Sept. 8.

Persons: Joe Moody, Ross Setford, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Loosehead Moody, Ian Foster, We've, he's, Retallick, Josh Lord, Foster, we're, Sam Whitelock, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Finau, scrumhalf Brad Weber, George Bell, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Nepo, Ofa, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Shannon Frizell, Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Anton Lienert, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Mark Telea, Will Jordan, Nick Mulvenney, Jamie Freed Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, REUTERS, All Blacks, Australia, Braydon, Wallabies, last, South, Blacks, Springboks, Twickenham, France, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Eden, Auckland , New Zealand, France, Hawkes Bay, New, Dunedin, Europe, South Africa, London, Paris, Lincoln

☆ Foster sweating on duo ahead of All Blacks' World Cup squad announcement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 6 (Reuters) - All Blacks coach Ian Foster faces concerns over the fitness of experienced second row forward Brodie Retallick and centre Braydon Ennor ahead of naming his squad for the Rugby World Cup on Monday. The pair suffered knee injuries during their 23-20 win over Australia in Dunedin on Saturday, leaving Foster in doubt over their availability with less than five weeks until New Zealand's World Cup opener against France on Sept. 8. The All Blacks have a perfect record so far in 2023 and face South Africa in a World Cup warm-up on Aug. 25 at Twickenham before taking on the French in their tournament opener. New Zealand have also been drawn to face Italy, Uruguay and Namibia in the group phase of the World Cup as they seek to win the title for a fourth time. "The overall objective was to win this test but also get this squad to the starting line of the World Cup all in a good space."

Persons: Ian Foster, Brodie Retallick, Foster, We've, Richie Mo'unga, Michael Church, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Blacks, Rugby, Australia, New, France, Twickenham, All Blacks, Wallabies, Thomson Locations: Dunedin, South Africa, Zealand, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia, Melbourne, New

☆ 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.

☆ Wallabies will back whoever Jones picks as skipper - Slipper
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, May 3 (Reuters) - James Slipper, Australia's incumbent test skipper, says the Wallabies will back whoever coach Eddie Jones chooses as captain for the Rugby Championship and World Cup. Hooper has since returned to the game and the Wallabies squad but Jones has yet to announce who will lead the side when the test season starts in July, only suggesting that he might pick more than one. "Eddie made it clear he's just going to pick the right man for the job so whoever that is, mate, we'll just bide behind," Slipper told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. Jones has not always followed the expected path with his captains, most notably when he named New Zealand-born hooker Dylan Hartley as England skipper in 2016. "I feel I have got a couple of good years left in me, so we'll see what happens."

☆ New AFL boss steals spotlight from Jones's Wallabies pitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Australia rugby union coach Eddie Jones poses with a ball, flanked by Wallabies players Andrew Kellaway and Reece Hodge at a news conference, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne, Australia, May 1, 2023. Whether the AFL’s late press call was by coincidence or design, Rugby Australia officials were left fuming as the spotlight shifted away from their global sport to the homegrown game popular in only the nation's southern states. Appointed in January, Jones's second stint in charge of the Wallabies sees them much diminished from his first when he took them to the final of the 2003 World Cup on home soil. In 2002, Jones was the last Australian coach to win the Bledisloe Cup, the annual series against New Zealand. Rugby Australia will hope Jones can deliver Rugby Championship wins along with his sharp wit and penchant for a sound bite to help build more buzz around the fallen twice World Cup winners.

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