Author: Reg Roberts

The NSW Country Eagles shape as being the leading NSW contender for season 2016. The Eagles have been consistently the better performing of the four NSW based teams in the NRC, and this year have been merged with the Sydney Stars (who were finalists last year). The new streamlined NRC has meant that one of the NSW clubs had to go, the the Stars-Eagles merger has meant a stronger Eagles side without doubt. History: The Eagles finished the inaugural NRC back in 2014 in second position just dropping the two games in their regular season. Unfortunately they would lose their…

Brisbane City enter season 2016 as the only team to ever win the infamous Buildcorp NRC toaster trophy, doing so undefeated in 2015. They also finished last year as the holders of the inaugural Horan Little Shield to control all the current silverware in the NRC (including the Andy Purcell Cup, won by defeating QLD Country). But they enter season 2016 without three key components to their recent success. Lock Cardeyrn Neville was almost unstoppable for Brisbane last year and will miss this year after shoulder surgery; Liam Gill was phenomenal in 2015 but will be spending August and September readying himself…

While we are obviously well and truly focused on the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday night, the 2016 Buildcorp NRC kicks off next weekend in a refined format that runs for just seven weeks prior to the finals. The NRC, now in its third year, has continued to build slowly in terms of profile within a busy sporting climate. There’s no denying the rugby is damn entertaining and this year’s tournament should provide a wonderful antidote to what was a pretty dire Super Rugby season, at least by the Australian teams. Before the season commences, I’ve done my best at identifying (and answering?)…

Following the gold medal win by our Australian Women’s 7s team at the Rio Olympic Games, I hope two things are happening. Firstly, I hope the squad (players, coaches and support staff) are having the times of their lives in the Olympic village and soaking up the experience as best they can. Secondly, I hope the ARU are in absolute action stations working out how they can build a strong legacy for the game from this success. Opportunities such as this don’t come around too often. The ARU probably really missed the boat on ‘future proofing’ the game following our…

The Australian Men’s 7s Olympic campaign has ended in Rio over night when they shared a two match ‘mini-series’ 1 all with South Africa. Australia surprised most by pulling off a fantastic last pool round win to beat South Africa earlier in the day (our night) and with results going our way, we qualified to make the quarter finals where we would once again meet the Boks. AUSTRALIA 12 defeated South Africa 5 (Pool Game) Starters: 2 Jesse Parahi 3 Henry Hutchison 5 James Stannard 6 Con Foley 7 Cameron Clark 9 Ed Jenkins 12 Tom Cusack Substitutes: 1 Nick Malouf…

The Australian men’s 7’s team had a tough day at the office on the opening day of the Rio Olympic 7s overnight.  There were hopes that the euphoria of the women’s Gold Medal winning performance may have been enough to spur the men on to more glory. The opportunities were there for them as they were to face two teams lower than them on the rankings. But things didn’t got their way. AUSTRALIA 14 Lost to France 34 Starters: 2 Jesse Parahi 3 Henry Hutchison 4 Lewis Holland 5 James Stannard 6 Con Foley 7 Cameron Clark 9 Ed Jenkins Substitutes: 1 Nick Malouf…

The Australian Women’s 7s team have capped off an amazing year of success on the international circuit with an historic victory over New Zealand to claim Gold in this mornings final of the Rio Olympics 7s competition. The Aussies ran out victors 24-17 against their neighbours, and traditional rivals, in a match that bore all the intensity of a Bledisloe Cup encounter. The nerves were apparent early, following two emotional anthem renditions, and the kiwis had the Aussies under all sorts of pressure in the opening quarter. That pressure paid off soon enough with Kayla McAlister finding her way across…

The Australian Women’s 7s team battled hard on day 2 of competition at the Rio Olympic Games overnight, but now progress to the medal round as they take on Canada tonight (Monday night/Tuesday morning) at 3:30am (AEST). The competition was tougher than what they encountered on the first day and the Aussies were made to work hard in both matches.  It all comes down to tomorrow now to determine who takes home the first ever Women’s Rugby Gold Medal. Australia 12 drew with USA 12 Starters: 1 Shannon Parry 5 Emma Tonegato 6 Evania Pelite 7 Charlotte Caslick 8 Chloe Dalton 10 Alica Quirk…

The Australian Women’s 7s team have made a strong statement as to their Gold Medal claims on the first day of the Rio Olympic Games overnight.  The Aussies have not conceded a point in their two games so far and racked up plenty of their own on the back of big wins over Colombia and Fiji. Australia 53 defeated Colombia 0 Starters: 1 Shannon Parry 2 Sharni Williams 5 Emma Tonegato 7 Charlotte Caslick 8 Chloe Dalton 10 Alica Quirk 11 Emilee Cherry Substitutes: 3 Nicole Beck 4 Gemma Etheridge 6 Evania Pelite 9 Amy Turner 12 Ellia Green Scorers: Charlotte Caslick…

This weekend sees the culmination of the Queensland Premier Rugby competition as the University of Queensland (Minor Premiers) take on Brothers in a replay of the Major Semi Final just two weeks ago. On that occasion a Taniela Tupou inspired Brothers outfit upset the Red Heavies with a 18-10 victory. UQ’s win over Sunnybank, 32-31, last week sets what should be an epic encounter this Sunday afternoon at Ballymore. The QPR in season 2016 has once again been a tremendous competition and all teams are to be congratulated on their contributions. In a season of disappointment and  disillusionment with Queensland Rugby,…

It has been rumoured for a while now, but the Brisbane Global Tens tournament, set for Suncorp Stadium next February, was officially launched today. The event is the brainchild of the same crew behind the NRL Auckland Nines tournament and has been confirmed to run for the next four years. Held the week after the Sydney leg of the World Sevens Series, the Global Tens tournament will feature the ten professional franchises of Australia and New Zealand, plus Toulon from France, the Panasonic Wild Knights from Japan, the Blue Bulls of South Africa and the Samoan international team. The tournament…

The Rugby experience can be an immensely personal one. Whilst the game is a fantastic unifier, the experience and perception of that experience can vary dramatically from one fan to another. This web site, and the attached forum, is a wonderful case study of this as a game (or even a moment in a game) can result in any number of reactions from any number of people. I know personally I have a great passion for the game. This passion extends to both the Queensland Reds and the Australian Wallabies. I know that my passion for them can sometimes get…

A dream brewing since October 2009 has come true for a history making collection of Australian Rugby Union players.  It was then, almost seven years ago now, that Rugby 7s got the tick of approval to be added to the Summer Olympic program and would make its debut at the Rio Olympic Games. Well that dream became a reality for 24 of our hardest working rugby players as our Men’s and Women’s Rugby Olympic Games 7s teams were announced for the Games which kick off on 5 August. Coaches Tim Walsh (women’s team) and Andy Friend (men’s team) have both picked…

I’ve read suggestions on the forum and social media of people believing the Chiefs might be vulnerable this game as they cruise into the end of their season. That doesn’t make sense to me as, despite sitting on top of the log, they are only three points in front of the 4th placed kiwi team (the Hurricanes). So this becomes a critical encounter for the Chiefs as they target a bonus point win to put some space between them and the chasers. I do expect the Reds to be as determined as they have been at anytime this season. Despite what can only be…

The 2016 National Rugby Championship (NRC) season kicks off in just eight weeks time and the competition is set to be more intense than ever.  With the Sydney Stars no more and last year’s North Harbour Rays now the Sydney Rays, the eight team competition will now be run over a jam-packed, action-filled seven weeks prior to the finals. Buildcorp continue their support of the competition as naming rights partner and the clubs certainly seem to be ahead of the curve this season. We are particularly excited to hear whispers that NSW Rugby will be lending a lot more support…

Women’s Rugby has undoubtedly received a boost in profile of late on the back of the success of our Australian Women’s 7s team and their march towards a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Whilst the the 7s variation of the game has proven to be both a showcase international event and a key recruitment strategy, the place of the traditional XVs game has been somewhat blurry. With the Buildcorp National Women’s XVs Championships kicking off in Sydney tomorrow (Friday), and a commitment from the Australian Rugby Union to bring back the event on an annual basis (rather than timing…

Well that was all a little unexpected wasn’t it? I mean given our performances at the Rugby World Cup. Given England’s performances at the same tournament, for that matter. Yeah sure our Super Rugby season hasn’t been crash hot, but that man Cheika would be able to bring us together. Surely? Things haven’t quite panned out as planned (well, at least how WE planned) and the Wallabies are down two – zip despite dominating possession (68% over the two games) and territory (70% over the two games). The English have now won the series, and deservedly so. We move to…

I don’t want to overstate things here, but does anyone else feel this is a little like a Lions tour?  I’m guessing we’re not going to be inundated with white walkers from the north throwing their pounds around like we get when the Lions come to town every 12 years. And perhaps I’m just trying to find some sort of replacement for that mentally scarring official Lions tour of 2013 (just nine more years until retribution). However as Dennis Denuto once said – it’s the vibe. So this is the first time ever that the Wallabies have taken on the…

In this GAGR podcast special, I speak to some Wallaby legends about their memories of two great Australia v England test matches 25 years ago in 1991. Whilst the Rugby World Cup Grand Final win against the Poms at Twickenham is one of the great Wallaby moments, the victory over the old enemy four months earlier at the Sydney Football Stadium set us on the path to the World Championship. Joining us on this bonus podcast are World Champion Wallabies Nick Farr-Jones, Michael Lynagh, Simon Poidevin and Rob Egerton as they talk us through this two amazing victories and how…

The Reds players were rightly thrilled with when the full-time whistle blew last week and they had secured only their second win of the season, a 30-17 victory over the Cheetahs. Reality would have no doubt hit soon after as the challenge set before them, to secure their first back to back victory since round 17 of 2014, was looming large. The Crusaders have been steamrolling their opponents having bounced back from an opening round loss to record seven wins in a row. This mighty Crusader franchise hasn’t done that since 2008 which says much about the quality of this…