Australia have wrapped up the Commonwealth Rugby Sevens gold medal in a 22-12 win over Fiji in a dominant display.
It’s redemption for the Aussies after a heartbreaking loss at the previous Commonwealth Games in Australia.
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Australia lost an epic final in 2018 on the Gold Coast, down 17-12 in extra-time to New Zealand.
But after edging past the Kiwis in a dramatic semi-final and losing a pool game to Fiji, Australia made no mistake in the final.
Faith Nathan scored a first half double as well as a try to Madison Ashby opened up a massive 17-0 lead at halftime.
The Aussies then scored immediately after the half through Maddison Levi, making it a 22-0 lead.
Although the Fijians finally got a pass to stick and scored a try as well as a consolation two minutes after full-time, it was nowhere near enough as the Aussies claimed the gold medal.
It had been the one medal Australia had been missing, having won in Rio in 2016, and coming into the tournament as the reigning Rugby Sevens women’s world champions after winning four of the six tournaments in the 2021-22 World Series.
Aussie star Charlotte Caslick said it was nearly a perfect performance from gold medalists.
“I think in those physical contests, we dominated nearly every single one of those and that’s what we had to do,” Caslick said after the match.
“I wouldn’t say it was perfect (performance) but it was close to.
“We’ve had an amazing World Series and been dominant year so to be rewarded in front of an awesome crowd is pretty special.”
And it was more redemption after Australia was bundled out of the Tokyo Olympics in a 19-0 quarterfinal thrashing by Fiji.
While the women’s side will bring home the extra baggage of the gold medals, the men couldn’t follow suit.
After a semi-final loss to South Africa earlier in the day, the Aussies fell 26-12 to New Zealand in the bronze medal match to miss the podium.
It was a tough break for Australia who are second on the World Series ladder behind South Africa with one tournament left in Los Angeles in late August.
South Africa broke to the men’s title in a 31-7 obliteration of Fiji.
Brandon Smith has missed out on more than just game time after receiving a three-week suspension, with the Storm star revealing he was banned from training with his teammates.
Smith had been handed the suspension after he called Adam Gee a “cheating bastard” during the Storm’s shock loss to the Sharks last month.
The 26-year-old was immediately sent for 10 minutes in the bin, and later pled guilty to the charge of contrary conduct.
But the punishment from the NRL wasn’t the end of it for the New Zealand Test rake, who has had to train away from the main squad since.
The unusual banishment has been seen Smith train with the fitness coach for the entirety of the ban.
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Smith’s ref slur caught on mic | 00:36
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“No, that’s not the norm, that’s quite special,” Smith said on Tuesday.
“I think it was just a sort of just getting punished for not putting the team first.
“It’s been pretty hard and a bit of a grind.
“Waking up early and training by yourself, it gets pretty boring.
“But just being able to hang out with the boys now makes me a lot more grateful for being in a team sport.”
Smith believes that the club were trying to send him a message by banning him from training for those three weeks.
After being isolated from the squad for so long, the Kiwi international reflected on what the time away from the main squad had taught him.
“Just making you feel guilty for your actions by taking away what you love most,” he said.
“And for me with footy that’s playing with my mates and my friends and enjoying it.
“They kind of took that away from me and it sucks.
“I got to hang out with the fitness coach and he’s not that much fun either.”
Smith is available to return for Melbourne in their crucial Friday night clash with the Gold Coast Titans at AAMI Park.
Melbourne beat the Warriors in Auckland last Friday, and ended a four-match winless streak to boast.
Cheese sin-binned, held back from fans! | 00:51
The Storm are sitting inside the top four after the win, but are equal on points with both the Broncos and sixth-placed Eels.
“It’s been a weird old year for all of us, we’ve got heaps of injuries.
“It’s no surprise it’s going to be a little bit of a hard one this year.
“We’ve lost Welchy (Christian Welch), Reimis (Smith), George (Jennings) and Paps (Ryan Papenhuyzen) for the season and that’s four of our best 13.
“We’ve got numerous other injuries coming through and they are excuses, but I’m willing to make those excuses now as we’ve had like 16 pretty bad injuries this year and we’ve only got like a 26-man squad.
“We’re still fourth, which is the crazy thing that we’ve been able to keep ourselves in the fight.”
LIVE: Emma McKeon has cruised into another final as the Australian swim sensation continues her assault on the history books on Day Four of the Commonwealth Games.
On Day 3, McKeon broke the Commonwealth Games record with a stunning 11th career gold medal, and her meet isn’t finished yet with more medals still up for grabs.
In the swim finals scheduled for Tuesday morning (AEST), McKeon heads a raft of Australians including Kyle Chalmers, who withdrew from one event to prioritize the massive 100m freestyle final.
Follow all the action from Day Four at the Commonwealth Games in our LIVE BLOG below! See the full schedule at the bottom.
Medal Tally: Aussie gold rush continues as Women’s 7s erase Tokyo pain
McKeon was back in the pool – and is now back in another ending.Source: Getty Images
McKeon once again hit the pool on Day Four in the women’s 100m freestyle heats, with fellow Aussies Shayna Jack and Mollie O’Callaghan also successfully qualifying for the semi-finals.
O’Callaghan qualified first in 54.28s, ahead of Jackthird in a comfortable 54.28s.
“I was definitely trying to hold back,” Jack said after her race.
McKeon only managed third-fastest in her heat and sixth-fastest overall as she cruised to the finish in 55.36s.
The 28-year-old won the same event at the Tokyo Games last year and is a massive chance of doing the same in Birmingham.
Read more on the rest of the swimming results below, or skip to the morning finals’ schedule at bottom.
ALL-TIME COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT
Australia’s men’s triples lawn bowls team came within an inch of pulling off one of the all-time great comebacks only to fall just short in a gold medal heartbreak.
Barry Lester, Carl Healey and Ben Twist – all sporting brilliant gold-dyed haircuts – were down by as many as 12-1 to England’s team of Louis Ridout, Nick Brett and Jamie Chestney.
But the Aussies charged back into the fight as the home side began to fall apart, with Australia snagging four in the 12th end en route to tying the scores up at 12 apiece.
England didn’t score from the ninth end until the 16th, but claimed a single on that second-last leg and then did the same on the last leg – after Australia missed a host of chances at the death.
DIAMONDS DEMOLISH SA… BUT COP BIG BLOW
In easily their toughest test of the Commonwealth Games so far, the gold-medal-favorite Diamonds went up a gear to defeat South Africa 74-49.
From the start, the Diamonds were in fine form, shooting with outstanding accuracy and harrying the South Africans all over the court with exceptional pressure.
Australia is undefeated after three Pool A games. They play Wales tomorrow before a huge match with more-than-dark-horses Jamaica.
But a calf injury to Paige Hadley, who had played just 15 minutes in the second game after missing the opener, looms as a potentially defining moment in their campaign.
FULL STORY.
Diamonds’ dream run soured as star sidelined with calf injury
Kyle Bruce nearly claimed an incredible gold medal with this lift.Source: Channel 7
AUSSIE ROBBED IN WILD HEARTBREAK
Kyle Bruce has been controversially robbed of a gold medal in the men’s 81kg weightlifting after a heartbreaking judges’ decision.
23-year-old Bruce was a gifted rugby flanker who only entered the gym to improve his ability on the field, before swapping to weightlifting full time and going on to claim a silver medal four years ago.
This time around, I have finished second in the snatch portion of the competition by lifting 143kg before twice failing to lift 147kg.
He successfully lifted 180kg in the clean-and-jerk portion for a stunning total of 323kg which had him in a second. Then, with the gold medal on the line, he attempted to lift 183kg on his final attempt.
He struggled with the lift and was wobbling, but was initially given three green lights from the judges to indicate a successful lift… only to have it overturned almost immediately afterwards by the jury, who spotted a small movement of Bruce’s left elbow.
That relegated him to a silver medal, behind England’s Chris Murray in a Games Record 325kg total.
He said: “It got overruled for a press-out. I haven’t seen the video so I’m not sure. But sometimes this is how sport goes and you know, congratulations to Chris on winning it
“He was the good lifter on the day and I just got a bit unlucky there, but it is what it is, I’m humble in defeat and I’m happy.”
He adds: “Coming away with a silver, not gonna lie, is quite disappointing… I’ll be ready for 2026. I’ll come back and I’ll have some redemption.”
FULL STORY: ‘Devastated’ Aussie in tears after gold ‘stolen away’
Meanwhile, Sarah Maureen Cochrane competes in the women’s 64kg final at 11pm AEST.
Resilient Chalmers sets Games record | 00:27
CHALMERS WITHDRAWS AS AUSSIES SURGE INTO MORE FINALS
Kyle Chalmer has withdrawn from the 100m butterfly so that he can focus on his 100m freestyle final in the evening session.
His scintillating semi-final swim last night (local) has him the firm favorite to claim gold in his favored event, and it’s no surprise he’s going all-in.
Teammate Cody Simpson qualified fifth for the semi-finals in 52.47s, just behind fourth-placed Matt Temple, the Australian record holder touching in 52.28s.
“It’s a great heat swim for him,” Ian Thorpe declared on Channel 7 of Temple.
Simpson has already won a gold medal for his involvement in the first heat of the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay, although he did not swim in the final.
FULL STORY: Legends not surprised as Chalmers pulls out of event at last minute
Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers won his 100m freestyle semi final. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Meanwhile, Kaylee McKeown qualified fastest for the 200m backstroke final (2:10.95s), with fellow Aussie minna atherton also making it through in third (2:11.38s)
McKeown won the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the recent 2022 World Championships in Budapest.
She also reached the final of the women’s 200m individual medley, qualifying behind Abbey Harkin in equal fourth with 2:13.24 and Ella Ramsay in km in 2:14.03. McKeown was seventh in 2:14.23s.
All three Aussies also qualified for the Women’s 100m Breaststroke semi-finals: Chelsea Hodge fourth in 1:07.68, Jenna Strauch fifth in 1:07.80, and Abbey Harkin sixth in 1:07.85.
debutante Grayson Bell qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s 50m breastroke in fifth after winning his heat in a personal best 27.63s. Sam Williamson won his own heat in 27.20s to qualify third-fastest. Joshua Young also qualified with his 27.96s.
Recent world championships silver medalist Lani Pallister qualified first for the final of the women’s 800m freestyle with a strong 8:32.67s. Ariarne Titmus qualified second-fastest with a very measured 8:36.17. Kiah Melverton was fourth-fastest in 8:40.29. Could we see another podium sweep?
MORE COVERAGE
Day 3 Wrap: ‘Extraordinary’ Aussies break world record, McKeon makes history
‘It is shocking’: Thorpe stunned as England world record holder toppled in ‘unbelievable’ boilover
AUSSIES SET TO RACK UP LAWN BOWLS MEDALS
Australia’s day has started in sensational style in the Lawn Bowls, with three teams all winning their semi-finals.
Carl HealeyBarrie Lester and Ben Twist are into the men’s treble final (9pm AEST) after beating Fiji 26 – 13. They will face England, who beat Wales 15-5 in the other semi-final.
Damian Delgado and Chris Favel are into the men’s pairs B6-B8 final after beating England 17-4.
And serena bonell and Cheryl Lindfield are into the women’s pairs B6-B8 final after seeing off South Africa 19-12 in their own semi. Both Para Pairs B6-B8 Finals take place on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Aussie Ellen Ryan competes in the finals of the women’s singles at 1.30am AEST on Tuesday.
Ellen Ryan of Team Australia is into the women’s singles final.Source: Getty Images
SIX-TIME COMPETITOR LEADS AUSSIE BRONZE
Australia’s six-time Commonwealth Games competitor Jian Fang Lay has led the Aussie team to bronze in the women’s table tennis.
She won the opening doubles with yangzi liu, who won her own singles game before Jian Fang Lay sealed the 3-0 over Wales with a singles victory of her own.
Jian Fang Lay now has eight minor medals to her name.
minhyung jee was the other member of the team.
Jian Fang Lay led the Aussies to bronze in table tennis!Source: Getty Images
KEY OVERNIGHT EVENTS
SWIMMING
In the morning session (4am AEST Tuesday), medals are on offer in the:
– men’s 100m freestyle final (Kyle ChalmerWilliam Xu Yang, Zac Incerti)
– women’s 200m backstroke final (Kaylee McKeown, Minna Atherton)
– women’s 200m individual medley final (Kaylee McKeown, Abbey Harkin, Ella Ramsay)
– men’s 50m freestyle S7 final (Matthew Levy, Joel Mundie)
– women’s 100m breastroke SB6 final (Isabella Vincent, Ella Jones)
– men’s 50m backstroke final (Ben Armbruster, Andrew Jeffcoat, Bradley Woodward)
– women’s 50m butterfly final (Alex Perkins, Emma McKeon, Holly Barratt)
– men’s 4x200m freestyle relay final (Australian team)
HOCKEY: The Kookaburras play their second game of the Games – facing NZ at 6am AEST.
JUDO: Aussie judoka Joshua Katz (60kg) and brother Nathan (66kg) are both competing for bronze medals overnight.
DAY FOUR SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES AEST)
Lawn Bowls and Para Lawns Bowls, 5.30pm
Hockey, 6:00 p.m.
Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis, 6.30pm
Weightlifting, 6.30pm
Judo, 7.00pm
Swimming and Para Swimming, 7.30pm
Badminton, 8:00 p.m.
Boxing, 9:00 p.m.
Netball, 9:00 p.m.
Squash, 9.00pm
Artistic Gymnastics, 10.00pm
Track and Para Track Cycling, 11.00pm
Hockey, 11:00 p.m.
Weightlifting, 11.00pm
Beach Volleyball, 11.30pm
Boxing, 3:30 a.m.
Weightlifting, 3.30am
Hockey, 4:00 a.m.
Swimming and Para Swimming, 4.00am
Beach Volleyball, 4.00am
Basketball 3×3 and Wheelchair Basketball 3×3, 4.30am
Follow all the action from Day 4 of the Commonwealth Games in our LIVE BLOG below!
New Zealand’s borders fully reopened to visitors from around the world on Monday, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic closed them in March 2020.
Key points:
New Zealand will welcome all international travelers from July 31
Jacinda Arden says the final stages included welcoming back those on student visas and letting cruise ships and foreign yachts dock in the country
The country imposed some of the world’s strictest border controls when COVID-19 first hit
The country started reopening in February, first for New Zealanders returning home, and restrictions have progressively eased.
The process of reopening the borders ended last night with visitors who need visas and those on student visas now also allowed to return.
New Zealand is now also letting cruise ships and foreign recreational yachts dock at its ports.
International students were a significant contributor to New Zealand’s economy and educational providers are hoping the reopening of the borders will again provide a boost to schools and universities around the country.
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New Zealand’s border opening plan revealed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday during a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland that the final staged opening of the borders had been an enormous moment.
“It’s been a staged and cautious process on our part since February as we, alongside the rest of the world, continue to manage a very live global pandemic, while keeping our people safe.”
Opening provides relief for Australia
Pre-COVID, Australia and New Zealand citizens had enjoyed free movement between the two countries since the 1920s.
But for the past two years, New Zealand imposed some of the world’s strictest border controls, which led to headaches for the hundreds of thousands of NZ citizens living in Australia.
As of mid-2018, there were an estimated 568,0000 New Zealand-born people residing in Australia — representing the fourth-largest migrant community.
Economically, tourism was New Zealand’s largest export industry and a huge proportion of their tourists were Australians before the pandemic hit.
Some four in 10 visitors to NZ are from Australia.(Pixabay: Michelle Rapon)
Almost one in 10 New Zealanders were directly employed in tourism and there were 1.5 million arrivals from Australia — accounting for 40 per cent of international visitors to NZ in 2019 — who spent some $NZ2.7 billion ($2.5 billion).
And it went both ways — New Zealanders were the second largest market for visitor arrivals into Australia in 2019.
New Zealand has been slowly reopening, first to Australians in March and then to tourists from the US, Britain and more than 50 other countries in May.
Australian cycling star Matthew Glaetzer was robbed of a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in a decision labeled a “travesty”.
Glaetzer, who was made to sweat for over an hour while officials reviewed footage, had his bronze medal taken off him in a decision widely condemned by the cycling community.
The lengthy review deemed Glaetzer impeded Scotland’s Jack Carlin during the bronze medal sprint, a ruling which was slammed by Aussie cycling royalty Kathy Bates.
Bates, commenting for Channel 7, called the officials’ decision “a poor interpretation”.
“I don’t agree,” Bates said. “If they are going to be that picky they need every camera angle and they sure need a super zoom.
“I’m having nothing of it. The any time limit contact is when Jack Carlin swung back up the track and even touched Matt Glaetzer. If anyone got impeded it was Matt Glaetzer. But the judges, you have to respect their decision. I’m not sure I respect this one to be honest.
“I want to because I think rules are rules but I think this is a pretty crappy decision. I’m devastated for Matt Glaetzer. I don’t see how the Australians will accept this and don’t feel robbed. This is an absolute travesty in my mind. I don’t even think Jack Carlin will be pleased at that turnaround. You want to win fair and square, and that is the most ridiculous relegation I have ever seen.
“I’m very devastated for Matt Glaetzer. And I think it is a poor interpretation.”
Footage showed a distraught Glaetzer when the verdict was announced, while teammate Matthew Richardson celebrated his gold medal.
“You can see it in his face. This decision has just broken him, it is not fair in my estimation,” Bates said.
“He doesn’t have a right of appeal. It is probably why the decision has been taken so long because they were deliberating it, and certainly Australians were arguing as hard as they could and fighting the case for Matt Glaetzer.
“This is just absolute heartbreak for him. The look on his face from him, guys, there have been a lot of tears tonight at the velodrome for happy reasons and now sad ones.
“I won’t give my opinion. But I think what everyone in Australia is thinking right now and I think the same as that man on our screens. We are absolutely devastated having the bronze medal taken from him after the superhuman efforts of the last couple of days. Totally devastated.”
6:03PM FIVE ATHS STARS TO WATCH
Athletics starts at the Commonwealth Games today. Here is who to keep an eye out for—including an Aussie star.
WOMEN Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) – Javelin The 30-year-old seemed set fair to finally land a Commonwealth Games gold — having taken bronze and silver in the last two editions — after she retained her world title.
The Olympic bronze medalist, though, contracted Covid-19 shortly after her world triumph but the team insisted she would make it to Birmingham.
Barber can take heart that her compatriot Jessica Stenson finally won the marathon title on Saturday despite having Covid less than a month before the Games
Keely Hodgkinson (ENG) – 800m
The 20-year-old should be the hottest of favorites to be crowned Commonwealth Games champion. She took silver in last year’s Olympics behind Athing Mu and then lost out by the barst of margins (0.08sec) to the American in the world final.
That defeat left her bristling.
“I’m definitely a little bit annoyed,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for her but I’m obviously gutted. I came here to win the gold and it didn’t happen.” After her silver de ella in Tokyo, Hodgkinson, who has put studying for a criminology degree on hold, was rewarded by a sponsor with a spin in an Aston Martin.
She felt that her Eugene performance did not merit a repeat but gold in Birmingham should be good enough for a second outing.
MEN Ferdinand Omanyala (KEN) – 100m
The African 100 meter champion could gain compensation at the Games after his world title challenge was shattered by only obtaining a visa to enter the United States at the last minute.
The 26-year-old bowed out in the semi-finals but said he had no regrets and was looking forward to competing in Birmingham.
“The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter,” he tweeted. “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems. No matter how much falls on us, we keep moving.”
Jake Wightman (SCO) — 1500m One of the surprises of the world championships when he took gold in a race being commented on in the stadium by his father and coach Geoff.
The 28-year-old became Britain’s first 1500m world champion since Steve Cram in 1983 and is keen to use it as a springboard for Commonwealth gold and then the European 800m crown in Munich later this month.
“It’s crazy. The time frame between coming back from the worlds and then going into the Commonwealths,” he said.
“It’ll be tough to kind of get myself back up, which is why I need to let myself chill out for a few days to get ready for the tough rounds again and get back into that championship environment.”
Emmanuel Korir (KEN) – 400m
The 27-year-old is the undoubted king of the 800m having added world gold to his Olympic crown.
Eyebrows may be raised as to why he would not attempt to make it a triple of 800m titles in Birmingham.
However, he is extremely confident in his abilities at 400m. He said after the world final that he knew he would win as with a slow first lap he was the best 400m runner in the field.
A further aid to his hopes is he is pretty fresh having only started his season at the end of June.
MUM’S BOOZY 6AM CELEBRATION
On the Gold Coast, in the early hours of Monday morning, a bottle of champagne was popped and passed around – punctuated by some swear words – to signify the arrival of a new sporting superpower.
As sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi stepped forward to accept their Commonwealth Gold, mum Richelle was uncorking the bubbly and getting ready for a big day of celebrating.
Her daughters had helped Australia to an upset semi-final win over New Zealand, and then a trouncing of Fiji in the final to secure gold.
It was a revival of the team’s 2016 Olympic triumph and ushered in a new era of Sevens superstars.
But before all of that? There was a euphoric celebration in the southern hemisphere that may not only have woken up a decent chunk of Queensland’s east coast, but also would’ve made mother Mary blush.
“Mum had a bottle of champagne ready at 6 in the morning — she was ready to celebrate and I think she’ll be on it all day celebrating,” a jubilant Maddison Levi said after Australia’s historic maiden Sevens gold medal win over Fiji.
“I don’t know if I can say it on camera (what mum said) but they were definitely happy.
There were tears of joy. It was a pretty emotional rollercoaster…. they’ve been with us through the highs and lows and to have two kids standing on that podium is pretty awesome.
“They definitely had tears. But lots of swearing, I can confirm.”
Maddison might have undersold the party going back home.
Richelle told Channel 7 later in the morning she was already two bottles of champagne down before 9am.
“Two bottles of champagne already done,” she said.
She was joined by at least one supporter wearing pajamas for a live cross on Channel 7 as the party raged into the morning.
Maddison and sister Teagan are the new face of women’s rugby in Australia, following the path trodden by teammates Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Williams, and earlier Ellia Green and Emilee Cherry.
Powerful, pacey, skilful. There’s a reason they’re among the most in-demand female athletes in the country – with AFLW and NRLW clubs lining up to steal them from rugby union.
“We got to stand next to each other, so it was pretty sentimental. We’ve achieved a Commonwealth Games medal, not many people can do that in their lives let alone have their sister side-by-side,” Maddison said.
But judging by smiles that lit up Coventry Arena stadium on Sunday night, the Levi clan is comfortable in rugby union right now.
“When I first started I aspired to be like Charlotte Caslick and the likes of Ellia Green and now that I’m in this role I’d love to inspire the younger generation because I think it’s such a great sport,” Maddison explained.
“The opportunities you get you can’t get with most sports. And to have younger girls look up to me and hopefully one day be standing side-by-side with girls you call your sister and be celebrating this moment is pretty monumental.”
Tolu Latu is once again a Waratah, and the hooker could yet emerge as a player of national interest should he keep on the straight and narrow over the next 16 months.
After weeks of negotiations with the Waratahs, the 21-Test hooker signed a one-year deal with the Super Rugby franchise last week.
By doing so, Darren Coleman has opted for the immense capability of Latu over rising hooker Tom Horton to compete with Wallabies incumbent hooker Dave Porecki and Mahe Vailanu.
It can be revealed Horton, 25, will instead join up with England Premiership champions Leicester, who are coached by Eddie Jones’ former right-hand man Steve Borthwick.
Tom Horton is heading to Leicester and won’t return to the Waratahs for 2023 after Tolu Latu signed with Darren Coleman’s men. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
With Argentine international Julian Montoya unavailable, Tom Youngs retired and Sydney-born England squad member Nic Dolly injured, Borthwick needs a hooker and Horton will compete for the role once his visa is approved and he touches down in the region.
The short-term deal is the perfect opportunity for Horton to grow after a frustrating few years where injuries have slowed his development.
But the Sydney Uni hooker need only look at his former teammate Porecki for inspiration, with the 29-year-old plying his trade in England for years before an opening popped up back at the Waratahs last year. Porecki’s Wallabies debut was delayed by a year because of an injury, but the experienced rake was one of Dave Rennie’s best players against England in July.
Latu’s return is hardly surprising.
He has been linked to a return with the Waratahs ever since he was let go by Stade Francais earlier in the year.
The Waratahs will have two Test hookers at the franchise with Tolu Latu joining Dave Porecki. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
His departure from the Paris-based Top 14 outfit came after more ill-discipline off the pitch and reckless moments on it, which ultimately saw the 21-Test hooker farewelled.
But his incredible potential, where he is one of the best in Australian rugby over the ball and at the scrum, has seen Australian rugby give the cat with nine lives another chance.
It shapes as his last, with Latu to be shown the door if he puts one foot wrong given his history.
Wallaby Tolu Latu has been handed a lifeline by the Waratahs. Photo: AAPSource: AAP
Latu has joined on a contract worth barely six figures, but if he manages to keep on the right side of the boot greater riches lay ahead.
He is unlikely to come into the reckoning for the Wallabies this year unless a number of injuries, but given his outstanding World Cup campaign in 2019 he is a bolter for next year’s tournament in France.
He will compete with Porecki, Folau Fainga’a and Lachlan Lonergan – all three of whom are in Argentina ahead of the Wallabies’ opening Rugby Championship fixture against Michael Cheika’s Los Pumas in Mendoza on Sunday (AEST).
Argentina’s Australian coach Michael Cheika looks on before the series-deciding international against Scotland at the Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
Sunday’s Test shapes as a season defining one, especially with the All Blacks fighting fires on a number of fronts.
Not only do the All Blacks have the immense challenge of taking on the Springboks twice in South Africa, they are likely playing for coach Ian Foster’s future.
Foster, unlike two of his assistants, might have been spared the ax following their first series loss on home soil since 1994, but New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson hardly filled him with confidence when he stopped short of saying he would lead the All Blacks through to next year’s World Cup.
“He’s certainly the person to lead the team to South Africa, and we’re making sure they’ve got everything possible in the way of resourcing and support to make sure that’s successful,” Robinson told Newstalk ZB from Birmingham.
Robinson’s comments came after former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said relations between the New Zealand Rugby board and the players were at their lowest ebb.
“The relationship between the board and the [executive] with the players at the moment is probably the worst it’s ever been,” he said on local radio.
“I don’t think they’re doing their job right at the moment.”
While former NZR boss David Moffett called for Robinson to stand down.
The rumblings in the front office, and the lingering feeling the All Blacks have the wrong man coaching with Scott Robertson waiting in the wings, have left the feeling the All Blacks are at their most vulnerable in two decades ahead of the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup .
Rather than receiving a silver medal for her efforts in the team pursuit, New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews was instead given an unusual prize — a AU$300 fine.
The Kiwi cyclist was a late addition to the New Zealand team who claimed silver in yesterday’s final at Lee Valley VeloPark, having ridden to the rescue following Ally Wollaston’s wrist injury, the NZ Herald reports.
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The highly fancied pursuit team needed four women on the start line to compete at these Commonwealth Games and, with no reserves in the squad, Andrews added to her busy schedule by filling the void.
With the team sprint her main focus on Saturday — an event in which she would later win gold — Andrews immediately dropped away from the quartet in both qualifying and the final against Australia, leaving her teammates to compete as a trio.
Michaela Drummond, Emily Shearman and Bryony Botha did a pretty good job of that, earning themselves and Andrews a silver medal that the sprint rider would have never expected before Birmingham.
And now it’s been revealed it’s one she will never get.
New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews. Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFPSource: AFP
With her sprint duties taking obvious precedence, Andrews didn’t attend the medal ceremony when the Kiwis received their silver, and fell afoul of a bizarre UCI ruling.
According to an official communication released by the Commonwealth Games, Andrews has been punished for her absence with a fine of 200 Swiss francs, a loss of her silver medal and docking of any UCI points.
While the result will remain on Andrews’ record and she will still be known as a silver medalist in the team pursuit, she won’t have the shiny piece of metal to show for her efforts.
The 22-year-old will instead have to content herself with the team sprint gold she won yesterday — and any further medals the talented rider claims in her three individual events.
This article originally appeared on the NZ Herald and was reproduced with permission
Rather than receiving a silver medal for her efforts in the team pursuit, New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews was instead given an unusual prize — a AU$300 fine.
The Kiwi cyclist was a late addition to the New Zealand team who claimed silver in yesterday’s final at Lee Valley VeloPark, having ridden to the rescue following Ally Wollaston’s wrist injury, the NZ Herald reports.
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The highly fancied pursuit team needed four women on the start line to compete at these Commonwealth Games and, with no reserves in the squad, Andrews added to her busy schedule by filling the void.
With the team sprint her main focus on Saturday — an event in which she would later win gold — Andrews immediately dropped away from the quartet in both qualifying and the final against Australia, leaving her teammates to compete as a trio.
Michaela Drummond, Emily Shearman and Bryony Botha did a pretty good job of that, earning themselves and Andrews a silver medal that the sprint rider would have never expected before Birmingham.
And now it’s been revealed it’s one she will never get.
With her sprint duties taking obvious precedence, Andrews was missing from the medal ceremony when the Kiwis received their silver, and fell afoul of a bizarre UCI ruling.
According to an official communication released by the Commonwealth Games, Andrews has been punished for her absence with a fine of 200 Swiss francs, a loss of her silver medal and docking of any UCI points.
While the result will remain on Andrews’ record and she will still be known as a silver medalist in the team pursuit, she won’t have the shiny piece of metal to show for her efforts.
The 22-year-old will instead have to content herself with the team sprint gold she won yesterday — and any further medals the talented rider claims in her three individual events.
She told TVNZ she was not fussed about missing out.
“I’m really glad I could help them continue their race,” she said.
“I’m really really glad that they were able to get off the line.
“The three girls are the ones that did the work so I’m really proud they were able to get up there and get their silver medal.”
This article originally appeared on the NZ Herald and was reproduced with permission
Controversial Australian band Sticky Fingers frontman Dylan Frost admitted he “lost control” when the lead singer sensationally stormed off in the middle of a concert last night in Melbourne.
The band was seven songs into its set when Frost appeared to become upset onstage. Video footage captured by a concertgoer and uploaded to social media shows Frost striking the microphone and throwing his guitar to the ground.
The rest of the band – Paddy Cornwall, Seamus Coyle, Beaker Best and Freddy Crabs – then followed him offstage.
According to the Herald Sun, a faulty microphone may have triggered the tantrum during the song “Not Yet Done”. Boos could be heard from the crowd.
Another 10 minutes passed before it was announced that the show had been cancelled.
On Sunday afternoon, Frost posted a statement to Facebook apologizing to fans.
“I’m really sorry for last night in Melbourne,” he said.
“I’ve been working hard on myself and will continue to prioritize my health, but I still let a lot of you down.
“I want to apologize to the fans and my band, our crew and venue staff.
“The tour has been amazing so far and we wanted to end it big, but I just didn’t have it last night and I lost control. We’re working on a new date to make it up to everyone or refunds for those who want them and we will let you know plans soon.”
The Saturday night Festival Hall gig was the last performance of Sticky Fingers’ Australian tour. The band had played on Friday night in Melbourne without drama. It’s expected the band will still perform in New Zealand next month.
An audience member told the Herald Sun, “The atmosphere at the gig initially was great. But then we only got three songs in and Frosty cracked the s**ts, stormed off and cancelled.”
Other concertgoers took to Facebook to express their annoyance.
for the Herald Suna fan named Jordan Patrick wrote on social media, “Unbelievable, I’ve been waiting for tonight for years, was so excited and absolutely devastated they ditched the show like that.
“So disrespectful to the fans who have stuck by them and waited to see them after such a long time.”
Other fans said they had flown to Melbourne specifically for the show.
Sticky Fingers was previously engulfed in scandal when Indigenous artist Thelma Plum Frost allegedly had in 2016 racially abused and threatened her. The accusation sparked a raft of boycotts.
Frost and the band denied the allegations but later issued a mea culpa around unspecified “unacceptable” behaviors and claimed that alcohol addiction and mental health issues were contributing factors.
Frost wrote in 2016 that he would seek therapy and rehabilitation and that he was “truly sorry to the people who have been affected by my behaviour” and that he hoped to “one day make amends for my actions”.
Frost isn’t the only band member to be embroiled in public spectacles. Bassist Cornwall had to issue an apology for 2019 rantings against ABC’s youth station, Triple J.
He initially said in an expletive-laden video posted to social media, “Triple J, f**k you and your f**king artist repertoire. We don’t f**king need you. We don’t want you because you play your f**king bullshit and you’re a bunch of f**king maggots.”
A year later, Cornwall apologized for his words. I have conceded that the relationship between Sticky Fingers and Triple J had fractured due to his actions.
He said in May 2020, “I was outta my head, not dealing with personal battles of my own, I’m sorry to the people I hurt at the station, as well as my own team.
“I ain’t the same derailed, angry person you saw last year. I’m not where I want to be yet but I’ve been doing a lot better, dealing with my demons. I hope sharing this helps find a resolve on the situation.”
In 2019, Frost and Cornwall were arrested for a violent punch-up between the pair at Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney. It occurred after the band members had been drinking for six hours.
Cornwall was in 2021 sentenced to 18 months, to be served in the community.
News.com.au contacted Sticky Fingers’ management for comment.
