Rugby News: Jones turns to Reds, Forrest backs RA in Super fight with NZ, Ireland at the top
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The Queensland Reds’ second-line stake has been restored with key acquisition of Luke Jones’s Tes until 2025.
The 31-year-old, who played the last of his six Tests in 2019, will return to Australian rugby from a second stint in France to effectively replace England-bound Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
Jones played 89 Super Rugby matches between 2010-20 for the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels and has just started a stint with Kurtley Beale at Racing 92 in the French Top 14.
Offering experience playing against current Reds coach and former All Blacks key Brad Thorn, Jones’ pedigree is welcome given the defeats of Salakaia-Loto and prostitute Alex Mafi (Melbourne Rebels) in the off-season.
“It’s great to bring home another Wallaby at the Reds,” said Reds football boss Sam Cordingley of the Sydney product.
“Luke is a great addition to our squad. He is a very experienced key with a high work rate, the ability to lead the lineout and the versatility to play at the back.”
Wallabie attacker Luke Jones. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Forrest supports RA in Super bunfight with NZ
Rugby Australia is one step closer to going it alone without a New Zealand team after receiving support from billionaire entrepreneur Andrew Forrest and broadcaster Stan to split from their Trans-Tasman partner.
The faltering alliance between RA and RNZ is getting closer to breaking point with Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that Forrest, whose company funds Western Forces, and Stan both told Australian officials to part with the Kiwis if that was the best option.
Australian and New Zealand officials have been at odds over the distribution of broadcast rights funds and they are in the process of discussing the terms of a deal for Super Rugby beyond next season.
Forrest said “I fully support it” when asked if RA should go it alone if it’s better for sport in Australia.
“I’m not worried about not having much choice if I decide to go it alone,” he told SMH.
“New Zealand is the best team sport in the history of football and there is no doubt that part of that is the loyalty, passion and natural talent that comes from there. But also part of it is money and they can invest in the game and their fans. Australia must have equal opportunities if it is to truly grow on an equal footing.
“I’m a person who relies on fairness in any business judgment I make and I’m also a person who loves New Zealand but I’m out of oranges for Australia.”
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has been optimistic about doing the best possible deal for Australia rather than pandering to the Kiwis.
McLennan has described RNZ as “not a good partner” and he has repeatedly said the RA will honor its commitments for 2023 but all bets are off once the agreement expires.
All black legend Sir John Kirwan denounced McLennan’s stance and said it would be “the stupidest political decision they could make” if they split from RNZ.
With the men’s World Cup set to be played in Australia in 2027 and the women’s tournament to follow two years later, RA’s coffers will get some much-needed additional funding.
Ireland celebrate after their Test against the All Blacks. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Ireland to the top spot in the ranking
Ireland have climbed to the top of the men’s world rugby rankings after their stunning Test series win against New Zealand.
Andy Farrell’s team pulled off a three-game draw following a 32-22 win over the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.
And they have swapped places with France to take the top spot for only the second time since World Rugby launched its ranking system 19 years ago.
Ireland have also broken the 90-point ranking mark for the first time, standing at 90.03, with France 0.62 behind.
Ireland previously led the rankings for two weeks in September 2019.
World champions South Africa remain in third place, with New Zealand fourth, while England remain fifth, just 0.68 adrift of New Zealand.
Then there is a 4.08 point gap with Australia in sixth, with Scotland seventh, Wales eighth, Argentina ninth and Japan 10th.
Porter cited for high tackle
Andrew Porter, the Irish prop, was quoted after the incident during the Test-earning series win over New Zealand in Wellington.
Porter was yellow carded by referee Wayne Barnes following a high tackle on the All Blacks second row Brodie Retallick.
Match citing commissioner James Sherriff has now reported Porter, who faces a disciplinary hearing via video link on Tuesday.
Retallick has fractured his cheekbone and is expected to be out for at least six weeks.
World Rugby said: “Irish player Andrew Porter will attend an independent disciplinary hearing after being cited by commissioner James Sherriff (Australia) for an offense against Law 9.13 (a player may not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerous) during the Ireland Test match against New Zealand on July 16th.
“The player will attend the hearing via video link before an independent judicial committee chaired by Adam Casselden (Australia), joined by former international Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) and former international coach Frank Hadden (Scotland).”
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