Rugby Championship news: Springboks to conquer All Blacks, vanquish Eden Park record
Both Rassie Erasmus and Scott Robertson have backed experience and poise in their team selections for the most highly-anticipated international rugby clash of the year: the All Blacks’ hosting of the Springboks at Eden Park in Auckland.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo looks ahead to the colossal clash.
Rugby Championship news: Game management key as Handre Pollard carries Springboks to much-needed win
After a 38-22 defeat to the Wallabies at Ellis Park in round one of the Rugby Championship, the Springboks bounced back to claim a 30-22 win at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Fly-half Handre Pollard was the key catalyst in the Boks’ return to winning ways, cementing his status as Rassie Erasmus’s first-choice pivot.
His kicking game, control, and game management, along with his consistent ability to bring calmness to the backline, were vital to the Boks’ round two success, earning him the Man of the Match award.
Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo assesses the reaction to the round two encounter.
Rugby Championship news: Rassie Erasmus goes for all-out attack as Springboks welcome Wallabies
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has named his side to face the Wallabies at Ellis Park in Johannesburg a day earlier than usual in a move that suggests he sees little threat from the visitors.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo previews the first Rugby Championship encounter between the Springboks and the Wallabies.
Rugby Championship 2025 news: What is the Rugby Championship? Who plays in it and when will it take place?
In the aftermath of the Lions’ successful tour of the Land Down Under, rugby fans worldwide will now set their eyes on the next major tournament: The Rugby Championship.
The Rugby Championship takes centre stage next weekend when it starts on Saturday, August 16.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo takes a look at everything you need to know regarding the 2025 Rugby Championship.
British & Irish Lions news: Last-gasp Hugo Keenan try secures series victory over Wallabies at MCG
The British & Irish Lions secured a 29-26 victory over Australia in Melbourne on Saturday to seal a series victory, with an enthralling Test match witnessing a moment that will be etched in the history of one of the most iconic teams in world sport.
Here, Sports News Blitz rugby union writer Jacob Garrett gives his assessment of the game.
British & Irish Lions news: Andy Farrell’s side clinches first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane
After four long years following a COVID-19-impacted British and Irish Lions tour, saw empty crowds and eerily quiet stadiums in South Africa, the return of top-level Lions Test matches was witnessed on Saturday, July 19.
After plenty of discourse surrounding selection, tactics and game plan, the Lions came out firing in the opening 40 minutes, going in at the half 17-5 up.
Perhaps the second half saw Farrell’s side take their foot off the gas, allowing Australia back into the game, providing the opportunity for a fragmented Wallabies side to bounce back this weekend in Melbourne.
Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett discusses.
British & Irish Lions news: 2025 tour of Australia – Test series preview, betting odds and predictions
The highly anticipated start of the British & Irish Lions vs Australia Test series kicks off on Saturday, July 19.
But what are the intriguing talking points and potential match-winning moments, and who are the players that you should look out for over the course of the series?
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo previews the Test series Down Under, provides the series odds, and offers his predictions.
British & Irish Lions news: Lions deliver professional performance against star-studded AU-NZ Invitational side
Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad topped off their warm-up section of the tour with possibly their best performance to date.
Beating a team filled with New Zealand and Australian stars, Farrell’s side scored 48 unanswered points.
So, was this the best performance of the tour thus far, with the Test series just around the corner?
And which players gave Farrell and his fellow coaches a few last-minute selection headaches?
Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett weighs in on these questions ahead of the Test series against the Wallabies.
British & Irish Lions news: Complete fixture list and opposition breakdown for Australia tour
The British & Irish Lions are set to play 10 games as part of their 2025 tour to Australia, with nine of those taking place Down Under.
Ahead of the much-anticipated tour, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliot takes a look at the fixture list and breaks down each opposition team.
British & Irish Lions news: Six Wallabies to look out for on the eagerly awaited tour to Australia
With the British and Irish Lions squad officially confirmed by Head Coach Andy Farrell and his team, it’s time to look forward to the team in gold and green looking to crush the hearts of stalwart Lions supporters.
After a turbulent couple of years for Australian rugby, the appointment of Joe Schmidt in that team has galvanised the national outfit and aided in steadying the ship.
With the Wallabies going from strength to strength, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett assesses six of the national team’s most relentless players to look out for on tour.
British & Irish Lions news: The top five Lions players of all time
Since their inception in 1888, the British & Irish Lions have gone down in rugby folklore, with every player to have ever donned the famous jersey being etched in the history books forever.
Yet, while all Lions players can be considered legends of the game in their own right, some will be remembered particularly fondly.
Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott takes a look at the top five Lions players of all time.
British and Irish Lions news: A look at the last three tours to Australia
The British and Irish Lions tours have become a staple every four years, with the best from the Home Nations heading to the southern hemisphere to battle it out with some of the finest national teams in World Rugby.
In recent years, the touring side has gone to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia every four years, meaning that it is a 12-year turnaround before facing each nation again.
This long gap means it’s been quite a while since the Lions last clashed with the Wallabies, who they play in the 2025 edition.
There have only been three tours in which these two have solely played each other in the Test series, with the tour going to New Zealand and Australia together before 1989.
In this article, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott revisits those three iconic Lions tours Down Under.
British & Irish Lions news: A guide to the history and cultural significance of the Lions
The British & Irish Lions are a prestigious and historic touring rugby union team that represents the four Home Nations of the British Isles, namely England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott offers a rundown of the history and cultural significance of the Lions.
British & Irish Lions news: Lions pass their hardest test so far against the Brumbies
This week saw the match-ups between Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions and the Australian franchises come to an end after a 36-24 triumph over the ACT Brumbies on July 9.
The Lions finished with a perfect record in these warm-up games.
The Lions now go on to face the Australian–New Zealand Invitational squad – which, despite being filled with some Southern Hemisphere stars, should be a much more disjointed squad, similar to a Barbarians-esque set-up.
So, with the Brumbies being the best Australian team in Super Rugby Pacific, what did Farrell and his coaches learn from this game, and the games against all of the other Australian franchises?
Here, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett discusses the road ahead for Farrell and the Lions.
Rugby union news: South Africa vs Italy — Springboks triumph over gutsy Azzurri
The Springboks triumphed over Italy 42-24 in the first of two Test matches on Saturday, July 5, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The Azzurri’s grit gave Rassie Erasmus’ men problems at different points in the encounter, with the Boks showing moments of magic, but also signs of frailty that left them with plenty to work on ahead of the second Test.
Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo looks back on the events of the first Test in Pretoria.
British & Irish Lions news: Alex Mitchell, Huw Jones seal hard-fought win over tough Waratahs
The most recent fixture of Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions tour Down Under saw them take on the iconic New South Wales Waratahs.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Garrett takes a look at how the Waratahs created such a tight encounter and considers which players showed good signs during the most competitive game thus far.
Rugby union news: Springboks vs Italy – Bok powerhouses return to overpower Azzurri
The Springboks’ heavy hitters have returned to the match-23 ahead of the official start of their international season when they take on Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, July 5.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Aidan Leo previews the massive clash.
British & Irish Lions news: Tourists crush Reds in Brisbane, call up Owen Farrell for injured Elliot Daly
Tuesday saw Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions team convincingly beat another Australian Super Rugby Pacific side in the form of the Queensland Reds.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Garrett takes a look at the standout aspects of the Lions’ victory and considers which players put their hands up for the first Test.
Rugby union news: Springboks vs Barbarians - Rusty Boks run rampant over BaaBaas
A rusty, makeshift Springbok side ran a second-half clinic over the Barbarians, decimating their challengers 54-7 on a cold and wet night at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, June 28.
Rassie Erasmus’ men comprised a mixture of World Cup winners along with promising prospects.
Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo reviews the Springboks’ dominant showing against the BaaBaas.
British and Irish Lions news: Lions crush Western Force with second-half onslaught
After a tasty introduction in Dublin against Argentina, Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions took on the quality and iconic Perth-based Western Force on Saturday, June 28.
In the aftermath of the tour-opener in Dublin there were certainly more questions than answers for Farrell and his coaching team.
A lot was made of the lack of directness and poor cohesion in the loose and in the set piece in the side’s first outing against the Pumas.
Sports News Blitz’s rugby writer Jacob Garrett gives his assessment on what we learned from the opener Down Under.