Welcome to an abbreviated Friday’s Rugby News and thanks to Ally Oz for another sterling article contribution.
‘If I could be half as good as Hoops, I’d be happy’.
‘Nobody’ likes Beaver.
The 2026 John ‘Nobody’ Eales Medal has been awarded, with Fraser ‘Beaver’ McReight winning by 816 votes (probably). Beaver joins a long list of wan flankers to win the prestigious award and is the 5th wan flanker in the past seven years to win the gong.
Beaver went on to say it was time for him to ‘carve my own path’ and probably also said, ‘because Michael Hooper was just so frigging awesome and possibly the best 7 Australia has ever produced’.
Well done Fraser.
Winners are grinners.
Everybody loves Faitala.
Records were also broken on the night by young Wallaroos sensation, Fatala Moleka, when she was named Player of the Year, and in doing so, became the youngest winner ever.
Moleka turned 21 at the start of the year and to win an award voted for by her peers, speaks volumes for her ability on the field and her maturity off it.
Well done Faitala
‘Think I’ll go eat worms’
Not Happy Dan!
RA have seemingly doubled down on their positions with RUPA, regarding the CBA (which expires tomorrow). And I, for one, applaud them.
The short story is: the cattle want more feed via a new CBA. To which the farmers have essentially said, you want more, win more (well, win anything really). In response RUPA are threatening all forms of possible toys out of the cot activities, similar to that threatened by their gaol ball counterparts previously: no media interviews pre, or post game, not attending sponsors events, possibly ‘taping over’ RA logos on jerseys and the like. This writer has been unable to verify if said cattle would still accept copious amounts of free RM stuff, MJ Bale clothing, business class flights, free training and playing clobber, free accommodation, free meals and use of Land Rover vehicles (with tow truck towing vouchers provided), or refuse for RA to fly loved ones to games around the country / world, during any planned ‘industrial’ action. But I am sure they would turn down any and all perks associated with the expired CBA, on principle alone. Maybe.
The existing CBA expires tomorrow. This could be fun.
‘If I was playing I’d probably score 7 tries this time’
Glorified training run: 2.0
United States of America v Australia A at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday 31 October at 11:00am AEDT on Stan
Australia A: 1. Tom Lambert, 2. Matt Faessler (c), 3. Zane Nonggorr, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Toby Macpherson, 6. Will Harris, 7. Luke Reimer, 8. Joe Brial, 9. Kalani Thomas, 10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 11. Lachie Anderson, 12. Kadin Pritchard, 13. Zac Lomax, 14. Corey Toole, 15. Mac Grealy.
Reserves: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Lington Ieli, 18. Edwin Langi, 19. Eamon Doyle, 20. Rory Scott, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Tane Edmed, 23. Tim Ryan.
The Western Rebels?
Fortescue Force funding furore?
Rumblings from the West, and for a change it’s not just massive earth moving equipment destroying heritage listed, sacred sites, but news that Mr Twiggy has allegedly closed his cheque book on the Western Force. To be fair, he has contributed a rumoured $90,000,000 to the club since 2017, which equates to almost three weeks earnings for selling chunks of Australian rocks to the Chinese.
The SMH reports that there is a level of anxiety amongst players and fans, even after a ‘townhall’ meeting earlier in the week which left many with more questions than answers. No doubt a few emotions also exacerbated by the announcement of the departure of Force security blanket, and all round legend, Matt ‘Hodgo’ Hodgson. Hodgson will depart the club after nearly 20 years of personal blood, sweat and tears investment.
It is believed Fortescue will hand the Force license back to rugby WA, but that in doing so, it would ‘unlock’ potential funding from the WA government (no doubt by using east coast GST monies), reportedly worth $15m over 4 years. The SMH also reports ‘rumours’ that Forrest will match the WA governments contribution dollar for dollar until 2030, when Fortescue will return from whence it came: wholesale environmental and a heritage site degradation across WA. So that’s nice.
Rugby brains at last?
Intelligent life found?
Despite all evidence to the contrary, intelligent life forms have finally been discovered in NZ, with Reuters reporting NZR chief (copyright NZR and not those uppity PNG NRL types) apparently opening the door for NZ players to play for Oz SR sides. Lancaster goes on to tell Reuters:
“We’re aligned with Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby clubs that we need people who wake up every day focused on engaging fans, growing revenue and working with broadcasters and the media,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“We’re open to working on things like player movement, a competition-wide salary cap and centralising commercial assets across the key markets.
“Those are conversations we will now have with Rugby Australia, the Rugby Players Association and the Super Rugby clubs.”
This can only be a good thing. You can tell NZR big wig Dave Kirk spent a heap of time in Australia, their decisions are now smarter, much smarter.
Until next week.
Hoss – out
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