Author: Nick Wasiliev

Monday’s Rugby News sees the results from the weekend just gone, the Super W off to a flyer, Higgers on the road and the latest from the Sevens. [one_half last=”no”] ICYMI It was a busy weekend of rugby, both on the domestic and international front. Starting in Super Rugby, the Highlanders made light work of the Stormers, winning 33-15 to heap more pain on the visitors tour. They will return to South Africa with no wins to face the Blues. The Rebels made light work of the Brumbies, winning 33-10 to go top of both the Australian conference and of the…

Friday’s Rugby News sees all of the squads for the weekend, other upcoming fixtures at home and overseas, Rugby Australia establishing a new national ID program, and Poey’s return date confirmed! [one_half last=”no”] Squad’s In Starting off in Super Rugby, the squads for three of the Aussie teams are out and there’s plenty to talk about. Beginning with the derby, the Rebels have had to make one big change, with skipper Adam Coleman out due to sternum soreness. However, they do have a solid replacement in Ross Haylett-Petty, who will join Matt Philip in the second row. Tom English has been handed the…

Sekope Kepu has used the last couple of months to reflect on life on the sideline and manage the frustration of not being part of the on field action. He is a free man this week after sitting out a three-match ban for a dangerous shoulder charge on Scotland’s Hamish Watson in the Wallabies’ loss to Scotland at Murrayfield last November. The suspension resulted in him missing the start of the NSW Waratahs’ 2018 campaign, including pre-season match against the Melbourne Rebels at Brookvale Oval and more importantly, the opening rounds of Super Rugby matches against the Stormers at home…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees changed up rules for Twiggy’s World Series, some big news out the Rebels and Brumbies, the Queensland Super W team naming their squad, and Giteau reflecting. [one_half last=”no”] Hybrid Rugby Twiggy brought a smile to the face of many a rugby fan with his announcement of the Force’s return on Tuesday. With it came a series of exhibition matches the team would play, which he dubbed ‘World Series Rugby,’ the new name for the IPRC. But outside of the fixtures and the plan for this year, not much is known about WSR. With plans to kick off…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees a whole lot of news out of the west, Tuttle keen to stay on at the Reds, and the Tahs focusing on Ledesma. [one_half last=”no”] Only two months to wait… Until yesterday, many rugby fans (especially those over in the West) had been wondering what would be happening with the Force in 2018. Will their competition get off the ground? Will it be supported by Rugby Australia? Will they even take the field again? The answer now is a resounding yes. In fact, the Force will be back in less than two months. In a monster…

The Green and Gold Rugby Show is back for another week, with Matt, Hugh and Brett McKay here to talk all the latest topics in Australian rugby. The Five Burning Questions: 1. What was the best and worst performance from round 3? 2. Three rounds in, are there are any Aussie contenders that could win Super Rugby? 3. Will the new Western Force squad be competitive in 2018? 4. Raelene’s Rugby Australia: has it been a step in the right direction or is it more of the same? 5. What are our predictions for round 4?

Tuesday’s Rugby News has a genius idea, the results from the Las Vegas Sevens, Sefo stepping up in Super W, and Thorn being Thorn. [one_half last=”no”] An Overseas Aussie club? We start todays news with something a little more left-field. Last week, New Zealand Rugby announced that it had entered into a partnership with English club heavyweights Harlequins, which is a big move for both parties. New Zealand Rugby has been pretty vague on the promises with the whole arrangement, but it seems clear that there will be what Guardian columnist Bret Harris calls a “mutually beneficial exchange of coaches, players and ideas.”…

Monday’s Rugby News sees the results from the past weekend,  where all the Super Rugby coaches see where their team is at, and a old friend returning to the fray. [one_half last=”no”] The Other Stuff… It was a busy weekend in Super Rugby, so we’ll start on the international front for the week. Starting in Auckland, the Chiefs made it 13 games without a loss over the Blues, when they knocked over their northern rivals 21-27. It was a particularly bitter loss for the hosts, as they led for a decent chunk of the match and were coming up against a…

The boys are all back together to discuss round 2 of the Super Rugby. WARNING: May contain swearing

Friday’s Rugby News sees more on the Super Rugby squads, other matches for the upcoming weekend, Maddocks aiming high and a whole lot of news out of (and about) Ballymore. [one_half last=”no”] Squads Out, Young Guns Out The rugby gets back underway again tonight, and all of the Aussie teams have unveiled their squads for what should be an interesting weekend of rugby. Last week Aussie teams went two from two against international opposition, while the Rebels made light work of the Reds. Starting out at Suncorp, the Reds will be looking to grab a much needed first win for the…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees the Reds turning to the future, the Brumbies not getting complacent, Staniforth keen to make his mark, and another Kiwi heading overseas. [one_half last=”no”] Look to the Future The Reds have unveiled their squad to take on the Brumbies on Friday night. I’ll definitely agree with Rugby Reg here when he says that it looks like a bloody young squad, particularly the bench. The big inclusions in this squad is rookie back rower Liam Wright, who has been drafted into the starting lineup following his debut last week against the Rebels. The other inclusion is a name…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees legends calling it quits, Tui heading for a timeout, the calming presence of Christian, and some good news for Washington rugby fans. [one_half last=”no”] Ready for Retirement Starting off today’s news, Irish No 8. Jamie Heaslip and All Black prop Wyatt Crocket have officially announced their retirement from the game this year. Heaslip was the the first to announce his retirement, effective immediately. With 95 Irish caps to his name, he toured twice with the British and Irish Lions while also enjoying incredible success with his club Leinster, winning three Heineken Cups, a Challenge Cup and three Pro12/Celtic…

The tin-foil hats have been dusted off, and the Green and Gold Rugby Show is finally back for another year. With Super Rugby kicking back off this weekend for the Aussie teams, Rugby Reg, Matt and Nick are all in the chair to talk about all the latest topics in Australian rugby. The Five Burning Questions – 1. What was the most impressive individual/team performance of the round? 2. What was the least impressive performance of the round? 3. Were the refs too influential on Round 2? 4. Has the English slide commenced? 5. What could we expect from Round 3?

Tuesday’s Rugby News sees more fallout from the Reds loss, more fallout from the referees, Sio out at the Brumbies and Wessels demanding more. [one_half last=”no”] Red Faced Last Friday was a tough night for Queensland fans, as the Reds were comprehensively outplayed by the Rebels down in Melbourne. But, as many angry viewers took to social media, it could be widely agreed that it wasn’t just the Rebels that made the loss so convincing. There was also the problem of ill-discipline, which seem to go together with the Reds at the moment like bacon and eggs. For the last few…

No Dick this week, Blake and James talk the first round of the Super Rugby , the march of the Australian sides, and Theodore Flanigan. WARNING – contains swearing

Monday’s Rugby News sees the results from the weekend, the Rebels Super W squad finally announced, the latest from the Waratahs, and some brutally savage irony. [one_half last=”no”] In case you missed it… Super Rugby is finally back, and it was a refreshingly happy weekend of rugby for Aussie fans (except if you’re from Queensland). The Waratahs and the Brumbies grabbed gritty wins against the Stormers and Sunwolves respectively, and the Rebels showed a whole lot of class in dispatching an ill-disciplined Reds outfit down at AAMI Park. Here’s a fact for you: the last time Aussie teams won two matches against…

Friday’s Rugby News sees Super Rugby questioning it’s future, pressure on the Aussie teams to perform, the squads for round one, and other rugby on the international front. [one_half last=”no”] Super Confused Well, as all the teams get stuck in for Round 2 of Super Rugby, already talk is beginning to swell around whether the newly contracted competition should consider future changes. SANZAAR has already got to work with coming up with a plan to formulate what the competition will look like in the future, with a draft proposal being approved by the Rugby Australia board last week. It also has…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees a legend getting a fitting farewell, some troubling stories out of Sydney’s west, Rodda back for the Reds and even more Force signings. [one_half last=”no”] Sir Nick gets a fitting farewell Starting in Sydney, Sir Nicholas Shehadie was farewelled with a memorable funeral service at St. James Church yesterday. The legendary Wallaby skipper and former Sydney mayor was a well regarded member of the international rugby community, and of New South Wales in general. Among the many folks who attended the ceremony included former Prime Ministers Paul Keating, John Howard and Tony Abbott, former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika,…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees Higgers taking the reins, Macqueen concerned over rugby laws, more Beale goss, and some trouble brewing in the west. NOTE: Sorry folks, but unfortunately we were unable to do the podcast for this week. However, we’ve got a GAGR favourite locked in for next week, so we’ll be back right as rain then to kick off the new year with a solid pod then. [one_half last=”no”] Skipper duties Scotty Higginbotham is the new skipper for the Reds, and will lead the Sunshine State onto the field on Friday night against the his old club, the Rebels. In what is a pretty…

Tuesday’s Rugby News sees Karmichael in the clear (possibly), Fiji calling for a Super Rugby side (again), more news on the Rebels and Force front, and a big loss for the Reds. [one_half last=”no”] Kar-mon-icheal Karmichael Hunt has basically taken on the role of the new James O’Connor in Australian rugby. The only difference between them is James’ multiple awful hairstyles, and their choices of finding themselves in hot water.  One liked being thrown out of airports and breaking team curfew, while the other keeps getting arrested due to possession of cocaine. Well, hopefully Karmichael can now leave it all behind, now that is…