Today's rugby news as star announces shock retirement after Lions series and All Black makes damning claim

Here are your rugby headlines for Tuesday, August 5.

Wallabies star Porecki announces shock retirement

Wallabies hooker David Porecki has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect after the conclusion of the Lions series.

The 32-year-old has called time on a career that saw him represent Australia 21 times and captain his country at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

Born and raised in Sydney, the NSW Waratahs man’s journey to the top level was anything but conventional. After making just one appearance for the Waratahs in 2015, he spent five years in England with Saracens and London Irish before returning to Australia in 2021. His Wallabies debut came the following year in a victory over England in Perth, becoming Wallaby No. 952.

Porecki was widely respected for his work at the set piece, defensive grit and leadership qualities. When Will Skelton was ruled out of the World Cup through injury, Porecki stepped in to captain Australia in three of their four pool matches.

A heel injury sidelined him for most of the 2024 season, but he recovered in time to start in this year’s opening Test against Fiji. His final appearance in Wallaby gold came against the British & Irish Lions at the MCG, with a cut sustained in training ruling him out of last weekend’s final Test.

Reflecting on his decision, Porecki said: “To wear the Wallaby gold and Waratahs blue was a dream of mine as a boy growing up in Manly, and to be able to say I did both is something I’m incredibly proud of.

“Rugby has given me so much to be thankful for and has been such a massive part of my life for so long, but it feels like the right time to turn the page and start a new chapter.

“I’m especially looking forward to spending more time with my wife Shani and kids Luca, Charlie and Billie. I look forward to continuing to support the game away from the field in this next stage of my life.”

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt paid tribute to Porecki’s quiet leadership and professionalism: “Porky is the ultimate professional and quiet achiever. He doesn’t say a lot, preferring to get on with the job and lead by example. On behalf of everyone in the team, we wish him and his family all the best for what comes next.”

Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar added: “It’s a sad day when any player retires. I’ve worked closely with Porky for a number of years and have huge respect for what he brings on the field—his toughness, set-piece excellence, and physicality.

He’s always played well above his weight and is a genuine family man off it. He’ll be missed at the Waratahs, but he’ll always be welcome here. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.”

All Black makes damning Lions claim

Former All Blacks star Murray Mexted has launched a scathing assessment of the 2025 British and Irish Lions, claiming not a single player from the squad is worthy of a place in a current World XV.

The Lions, under head coach Andy Farrell, won the Test series in Australia 2-1 but fell short of a historic whitewash after losing the final match in Sydney. Despite the series win, Mexted believes the side lacked true world-class quality — and even said a 3-0 result would have been “a bloody disgrace” for Australian rugby.

“The Wallabies won 60 minutes of the second Test, and they looked the better side [in the third],” Mexted told the DSPN podcast. “I actually don’t think this Lions team is very good. People are trying to sell to us that they are… had they won 3-0, it would have been a bloody disgrace for Australian rugby, quite frankly.”

Mexted, 71, dismissed any suggestion that standouts such as Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Dan Sheehan or Tadhg Beirne could break into a combined global side, claiming the Lions’ lack of competition from a struggling Wallabies outfit distorted perceptions.

“If you named a World XV that included players from South Africa and New Zealand… how many of those Lions players would make it?” he asked. “I’ve looked at the team two or three times and I can’t see one of them.”

When challenged on Itoje’s credentials, Mexted was unmoved. “In the second Test, you didn’t see him in the first half. Third Test, we didn’t see him — he went off early. He’s not in the same category, quite frankly, as [Scott] Barrett, [Sam] Whitelock, [Brodie] Retallick, or four of the top South African locks.”

Despite his criticisms, Mexted praised the broader impact of the Lions tour, saying it had re-energised Australian rugby and fans alike. “You can’t say this Lions tour hasn’t created an incredible environment in Australia,” he added.

The Lions, who haven’t completed a 3-0 series clean sweep since 1974, now look ahead to their next tour in 2029 to New Zealand.

Rees-Zammit ‘can’t wait’ for Wales return

Louis Rees-Zammit has said he “can’t wait’ to return to rugby after his shock decision to quit his NFL dream.

The Welshman stunned the rugby world last week when he announced he would turn his back on his dream of making it Stateside, instead opting to return to the game he left last year.

And there appears to be a number of clubs lining up to take the former Gloucester wing on, with teams in the Gallagher Prem thought to be circling, while the breakaway Rebel League R360 have also been linked.

On an Instagram post from the Welsh Rugby Union, sharing a video of one of his 14 tries for Wales, the 24-year-old stated that he couldn’t contain his excitement to take to the rugby field again.

“Can’t wait to get back at it,” he wrote on his Instagram story.

Quite what the next steps look like for the wing remains to be seen. Speaking on Sky Sports last week, he said: “Obviously I can’t name teams, we’ve had a load of interest, which is unbelievable, I’m very grateful for that,” he added.

“We are still going through what the full plan is for me, obviously the season starts pretty soon, it’s about finding the right team for me, in terms of location, how quick I’ve got to get into camp, because the season is right around the corner, all these things are going to happen pretty sharpish.”

All Blacks wing on the move

The Western Force have secured the signature of former All Blacks winger George Bridge, bringing him back to Super Rugby following a three-season spell in France with Montpellier.

The 30-year-old, who earned 19 caps for New Zealand, has penned a two-year contract with the Perth-based side as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Bridge rose to prominence with the Crusaders, making 82 appearances between 2017 and 2022 and winning a Super Rugby title in every season during his time in Christchurch. His form earned him an All Blacks debut in 2018, and he was selected for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, where he took over the No. 11 jersey from Rieko Ioane.

However, a combination of the Covid-19 disruption, injuries, and the rise of Caleb Clarke curtailed his Test career, prompting a move to the French Top 14 in 2022. He made 33 starts in 39 appearances for Montpellier before deciding to return to the southern hemisphere.

Western Force head coach Simon Cron welcomed the signing, praising Bridge’s experience and versatility.

“George is well known to a number of people on our staff, and they can’t speak highly enough of his professionalism, approach to the game and rugby knowledge,” Cron said.

“He’s got a massive left foot kick, can play multiple positions and brings amazing talent. He’ll add real depth to our squad and help us push deeper into Super Rugby finals. A few New Zealand franchises were after him, but he wanted to be here. Perth is where he and his family want to call home.”

Bridge said the Force’s direction and familiar faces played a big part in his decision.

“I’m excited to be moving to WA and joining the Western Force,” he said. “They’re a club heading in the right direction, and I’m keen to take on the new challenge and contribute to the club’s success.

“I’ve always enjoyed my time in Perth, and with friends and good connections among the staff and players, it felt like the right fit.”

Today’s rugby news as star announces shock retirement after Lions series and All Black makes damning claim

Tags: