Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

David Nucifora will take up a role with Rugby Australia

Nucifora to take up advisory role with Rugby Australia

Outgoing IRFU director of high performance David Nucifora is returning home to take up an advisory role with Rugby Australia.

Rugby • 22 Dec 23

Australia failed to get out of their World Cup pool

Rugby Australia moves closer to centralised system

Rugby Australia have secured agreement from New South Wales to take over the provincial union's high performance programme as part of a "strategic reset" but have work to do to convince the other states to sign up.

Rugby • 17 Nov 23

Plenty of candidates for coach role - Rugby Australia

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said that there is plenty of interest in the Wallabies' head coaching role after Eddie Jones' exit and that the position will be open to foreign candidates.

Rugby • 01 Nov 23

Eddie Jones won two Tests from nine in his time in charge

Aussie rugby boss won't quit after Jones 'situation'

The chairman of Rugby Australia has said he will not quit following the resignation of coach Eddie Jones.

Rugby • 30 Oct 23

Israel Folau will join Japan side NTT Communications Shining Arcs

Folau links up with ex-Munster coach Penney in Japan

Dual-code international Israel Folau, who was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 for saying "hell awaits" gay people, will play club rugby in Japan next season, it was announced Monday.

Rugby • 05 Jul 21

Australia has offered to host the Lions tour

Rugby Australia chief confirms Lions tour proposal

Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos has confirmed the organisation has offered to host this summer's Lions series against South Africa.

Rugby • 01 Feb 21

Marinos was capped eight times for Wales in 2002-03

Ex-Wales centre Marinos takes over at Rugby Australia

Andy Marinos, who has led regional administrative body SANZAAR for the last five years, was appointed Rugby Australia chief executive on Wednesday.

Rugby • 23 Dec 20

Australia and New Zealand will clash on 31 October

Rugby C'ship to start early after All Blacks' worries

Hosts Rugby Australia (RU) and organisers SANZAAR have revealed a revised schedule for the 2020 Rugby Championship after bowing to pressure from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), with the competition now set to kick off a week earlier.

Rugby • 08 Oct 20

Qantas had held the naming rights for the Wallabies since 2004

Wallabies blow as 30-year sponsorship partnership ends

Rugby Australia's brittle finances suffered a major blow when naming sponsor Qantas announced they would be ending their 30-year association with the game at the end of this year.

Rugby • 23 Sep 20

Australia are the front-runners to host a World Cup outright for the first time since 2003

Aussie fears that rugby could end up third-tier sport

Australian rugby could become a "third-tier sport" unless the Wallabies host the World Cup in 2027, according to two-time tournament winner Phil Kearns.

Rugby • 05 Aug 20

The NZR Board have pointed out the success of the Super Rugby Aotearoa

New Zealand Rugby looks to establish new competition

The board of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has committed to establishing a new professional team competition in 2021 with eight to 10 sides, including a Pacific Island squad.

Rugby • 17 Jul 20

Australian rugby continues to battle financial woes

Rugby Australia lays off one third of its workforce

Rugby Australia (RA) has laid off a third of its full-time staff as well as dozens of contractors and casual workers as part of restructuring efforts to alleviate the financial pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rugby • 01 Jun 20

Izack Rodda in action for Australia against Ireland in 2018

Reds trio terminate contracts after rejecting pay-cuts

Wallabies lock Izack Rodda and two other players who declined to accept pay-cuts for the duration of the Covid-19 shutdown have terminated their contracts with Rugby Australia and Queensland Rugby Union.

Rugby • 22 May 20

Former Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle

Rugby Australia blame 'dark forces' as CEO Castle quits

Rugby Australia's chairman Paul McClean said today that the "dark forces" of online criticism had made life miserable for the organisation's first female CEO, Raelene Castle, who has stepped down after a spell of intense pressure.

Rugby • 24 Apr 20

'Australia's professional players will play a central role in the short–term preservation of the game'

Australian rugby players agree to 'significant' pay cut

Australia's professional rugby union players have agreed to take a "significant" pay cut after weeks of negotiations with governing body Rugby Australia (RA), the players union said on Monday.

Rugby • 20 Apr 20

Australian rugby officials have been meeting with the Rugby Union Players Association to hammer out a deal

Rugby Australia: Players accept 'burden must be shared'

An emergency pay deal for Australia's leading rugby union players has moved a step closer following talks related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rugby • 05 Apr 20

ANZ Stadium lies deserted as rugby Down Under enters a dormant period

Rugby Australia slashes jobs as coronavirus bites

Rugby Australia has stood down 75% of its workforce for the next three months and offered the remaining staff significant salary reductions or reduced hours.

Rugby • 31 Mar 20

Ireland were hoping to repeat their Tour victory of 2018

Ireland summer Tests in Australia now 'highly unlikely'

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said home Tests against Ireland and Fiji in July were "highly unlikely" to go ahead, while November fixtures in Dublin and elsewhere in Europe could also be sacrificed to complete Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 30 Mar 20

The Brumbies and Waratahs will continue to compete behind closed doors

World Rugby postpones and cancels more events

World Rugby has postponed several tournaments and World Cup qualifiers due to the coronavirus outbreak, while June's Olympic qualifiers are under review.

Rugby • 20 Mar 20

Israel Folau has started training with the Catalans Dragons

Catalans Dragons chairman to explain Folau decision

Israel Folau has begun training with his new team-mates in the south of France as Catalans Dragons chairman Bernard Guasch prepares to face the music over the controversial signing.

Rugby • 04 Feb 20

Michael Cheika had 'no relationship' with Rugby Australia's top brass

Wallabies review highlights coaching issues

A panel reviewing the Wallabies' 2019 season has highlighted the nation's dearth of elite coaches and called for better alignment between the team and Rugby Australia after a year of off-field friction and one of their worst performances at a World Cup.

Rugby • 19 Dec 19

Hodge extends Wallabies contract

Utility back Reece Hodge has extended his Wallabies contract through to the 2023 World Cup in France, Rugby Australia have confirmed.

Rugby • 18 Dec 19

Israel Folau reached a settlement with Rugby Australia

Folau settlement was a 'commercial decision' - RA boss

Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has defended the governing body's settlement with Israel Folau as a "commercial decision" and necessary to avoid the cost and distraction of testing its inclusion policy in court.

Rugby • 05 Dec 19

Israel Folau has settled his case with Rugby Australia

Israel Folau settles legal claim with Rugby Australia

Former Australian rugby union player Israel Folau has settled his legal dispute with Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby Union after his dismissal for a homophobic social media post.

Rugby • 04 Dec 19

Juventus player Paulo Dybala is being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United

Recap: Your morning sports updates

Read back on how all the latest sports news unfolded this August Thursday morning.

Other sport • 01 Aug 19