Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i Rugby World

ARGENTINA’SMEN and New Zealand’s women will head to the HSBC SVNS World Championship as 2024-25 league series winners. After six regular-season rounds, both retained their league titles following the final leg in Singapore, which was won by Fiji men and the New Zealand women respectively. The World Championships will take place in Los Angeles on 3-4 May as the top eight men’s and women’s sides battle it out for the title. Joining Argentina in the men’s draw will be Olympic champions France, South Africa, Great Britain, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Spain. The women’s competition sees Canada, Japan, Great Britain, Australia, France, USA and Fiji join New Zealand. The bottom four sides from this year’s series will battle it out in a promotion-relegation play-off with teams from the second-tier Challenger…

What’s the club called? Aldwinians RUFC. Where is home? Audenshaw Park, Droylsden Rd, Audenshaw, Manchester, UK, Earth, The Universe. M34 5SN. Who do we have to thank for this club? It all started on the playing fields of Audenshaw Grammar School, formed in 1932. As the first intake of students reached leaving age, headmaster John Lord wanted to retain the fellowship built at Audenshaw and so the Old Aldwinians Association was born. The first AGM was held on 16 September 1936. What teams do the club boast? Mini Winnies (Age 3-5, training and rugby fun only), then all age groups from U7 to U16, junior/senior colts, girls rugby (U12, U14, U16 and U18), mixed abilities (Winnies Warriors), ladies’ senior XV, three men’s senior XVs and, most important, Aldwinians Vets. What…

OH HOW Leinster fans would love for it to be the summer of 2012 again. Halcyon days for those who admire the boys in blue. For the third time in four years, captain Leo Cullen lifted the Heineken Cup aloft to confirm Leinster as the best side in Europe yet again. From the media seats of Twickenham, the BBC asked the question: “So are Leinster now the greatest Heineken Cup team of all time?” Among the comments were people lauding this team for being clear of fellow giants Leicester Tigers and Toulouse. After all, they had just watched their side romp to a 42-14 victory against Ulster, still the biggest win in a European Cup final. Even chosen son Brian O’Driscoll was recognising the power of this side, stating at…

IN SMITH is a student of our game. He’s mad for it, a self-confessed rugby nause. As a teenager, he’d wake up early on a Saturday to digest Super Rugby on Sky Sports and he watched on in awe when Dan Carter and Co appeared on the small screen. “It was when Quade (Cooper) and (Will) Genia were at the Reds together,” he tells Rugby World. “The streets won’t forget; they were sick. That was still the time when the Crusaders were the guys. I used to love Israel Dagg, I thought he was unreal.” Not bad people to learn off. This insatiable appetite for rugby was nurtured at home by dad Andrew, in tandem with elder brother Angus. “I grew up in a rugby-mad house. My dad is the…

WHETHER IT’S rugby union newbie Jason Robinson being jetted into the 2001 tour to Australia or an uncapped Will Greenwood travelling to South Africa in 1997, a British & Irish Lions tour only feels right if there are one or two bolters in the squad. It’s one of the traditions that makes the Lions tour what it is! When Andy Farrell names his squad for this year’s journey Down Under, the majority of those on the plane will be obvious picks. But one or two will have come from left field. We’ve picked 12 such players who could fit the mould… NICKY SMITH Wales Most observers will agree that Ireland’s Andrew Porter and England’s Ellis Genge are the first two loosehead props on the plane to Australia this summer. The…

WARM WEATHER, delicious food and top-tier rugby – what more could you ask for in a day out? Nestled along the stunning shores of the French Riviera, Toulon is a coastal gem that shines just as brightly off the pitch as some of the rugby played on it. With its picturesqu bay, Mediterranean charm and Provençal architecture dating back to the 17th century, this vibrant city has far more to offer than what meets the eye. Located less than an hour away from Marseille, Toulon is tucked away in the heart of Provence, a region renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rolling lavender fields and world-famous rosé wine. Bordered by the cliffs of the Mont Faron and a series of limestone hills scattered across the waterfront, the town provides a spectacular…

PICKING THREE full-backs for the Lions was relatively easy because for me there’s a clear first and second choice. But a lot can change, even in a week or two, with some huge European matches potentially deciding the fate of some players. Key for me is that the full-back is solid defensively, has strong aerial skills and brings a lot to the attack, whether on the counter with their running game or adding as a playmaker to the back-line. Here are my three for Australia… 1 BLAIR KINGHORN Blair Kinghorn is my No 1 and he has clearly elevated his game since going to Toulouse. The Scot has always been a gifted player but his offloading and influence in attack has grown considerably. An example of that was this counter-attack…

THE LAST time Rugby World had a major redesign, it was 2017 and Rassie Erasmus was handing Test debuts to Ox Nché and Kwagga Smith in his first game as the Springboks’ head coach. So this overhaul of how the mag looks and feels is overdue. We’ve updated our fonts, refreshed the colours and reimagined some of our regular features with an emphasis on readability and modernity. Still the same is our dedication to bringing you the best names and stories from around the sport. This month’s cover star, Fin Smith, is as big as they get at the moment. The England fly-half talked to us exclusively about his breakthrough Six Nations and British & Irish Lions tour dream. Confident, interesting and funny, we think Fin is going places and…

“I FINISHED with Western Force in 2010 – I was contracted in 2011 but was injured and didn’t really play. “Before I got to the Brumbies, in the late 1990s, I had started a business degree and whilst there I went to University of Canberra for a year. A few of us did but we couldn’t get to lectures because of the training commitments. “But we had an education adviser and she put some of us into University of Queensland and we all got our degrees. I finished that before I went to Europe, but you couldn’t work there because the schedule was so busy. “When I got back to Perth in 2010, I said to Western Force: ‘I’ll come and play for you if you help me get a…

“THE BARMAN WALKED OVER WITH CHAMPAGNE AT 10.30AM WHEN I MADE THE LIONS!” IT’S A weird day, the Lions squad announcement. It’s nice for the captain because he finds out beforehand but everyone else finds out at the same time, so it’s harder for the players that miss out to prepare themselves for what really is a devastating blow. During my professional career, there were four Lions tour announcements. In 2009, Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees from the Scarlets got selected. I saw their elation. Some players in that Scarlets squad thought they’d be there or thereabouts but didn’t make it and I saw their disappointment too. That was the first time I realised the true emotions that come with the Lions. In 2013, I thought I had an outside…

CAMERON HANEKOM has become a serious contender to claim a place in South Africa’s vaunted back row, earning plaudits for his game-changing contributions. Most notably, he combines strong ball-carrying with the grit and guile of a specialist fetcher. At 22, the Bulls loosie has already made a mark on the Test stage, making his debut against Wales last autumn. It’s a rise that has been as meteoric as it has been methodical, drawing comparisons to some of the Springbok greats while carving out his own identity. His journey to the Boks jersey was never a given. There were raised eyebrows when Bulls DoR Jake White picked the youngster to start in the URC last season. After all, the franchise boasted a formidable loose-forward contingent including Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw, Marco…

THE WILLINGNESS of the second biggest sports manufacturer in the world to open their doors wide to the Black Ferns and give them the VIP treatment is a good indicator of how women’s rugby has grown. The fact Adidas also let Rugby World come along for the ride was just an added bonus. We made the trip to Adidas’ global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany to not only have a nosy around the campus and archive, but to find out what the manufacturer does for its partners and the technology it is pushing to find that sporting edge. The taxi ride over from our hotel in Nuremberg, the nearest city and airport, took around 20 minutes. The grand structures and entrances are quite a sight when you arrive, they do call…

“ MY FIRST big memory of Leinster is going to that 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final with my cousin,” Andrew Porter recalls. “You could feel the energy all across that stadium and the sense of rivalry. The roof lifted when Brian O’Driscoll intercepted that pass from Ronan O’Gara to score his try. From that game on I knew – this life was for me. It was just a matter of getting there.” The sun is shining across the rugby and cricket pitches in Clontarf when Porter takes his seat for a chat. A photoshoot has wrapped and, next, Porter will head down to the pitch with a player from Clontarf rugby club, tossing passes and cutting lines for some video content. The Leinster and Ireland loosehead pulls a draught from his…

“LA HAS a magic quality to it.” Pete Sickle knows a thing or two about Los Angeles. He was raised there during the Lakers Showtime era and brought pro rugby back to the city last year. Immediately you think about Phil Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy three years running, the LA Rams hoisting the Lombardi trophy or David Beckham donning LA Galaxy white. Now RFC Los Angeles have their place as the 15th major sports team in the City of Angels. Ahead of the 2025 Major League Rugby season, the team made waves with the signing of Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou and dual-nation international fly-half Christian Leali’ifano as they look to improve on their bottom-place finish in the Western Conference. Adding to a squad that already…

First rugby memory? Playing RUGBY 08, THE COMPUTER GAME. That was my thing growing up! Everyone was playing that. You watched guys on the TV and then played with them on the PlayStation as well. Who did you like playing with on the game? BRYAN HABANA was the star. Jason Robinson as well, of course. With those two, you could run around everyone! First rugby hero? When I was growing up, it was Habana and JP PIETERSEN. Those were the guys I looked up to for their speed, agility and ability under high balls. They were almost the perfect wingers. Jason Robinson was another because he was rapid and scored plenty of tries. First position? I wasn’t always a winger, I played FULL-BACK as well and did quite a lot…

1 IRELAND Paul O’Connell will be head coach for Ireland’s two-match summer tour. The team will play Georgia in Tbilisi’s Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on 5 July (6pm Irish time) and Portugal at Estadio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon on 12 July. Former Lions captain O’Connell (below), who joined the national set-up as forwards coach in 2021, will be assisted by Denis Leamy, Mike Prendergast and Colm Tucker. The playing squad will be announced in mid-June. 2 USA USA are pushing the boat out, with 12 Tests on American soil in 2025. It starts with the women facing Japan and Canada before the men meet Netherlands (5 July) and Spain (12 July) in Charlotte, North Carolina. A Washington double header follows on 19 July as the women play Fiji and the…

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on the pitch? There’s been a few face plants. That’s quite funny. I’m pretty sure Pip Hendy face-planted last season and that was pretty funny. Although maybe not for her! Do you have any phobias? Not outright. I’m not a big fan of insects, maybe that would be my phobia. I wouldn’t be good on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! What really annoys you? When you’re having a conversation with someone and they’re not listening to you. If your house was on fire, what one item would you save? It’s a bit embarrassing but I still have this soft toy from when I was a kid: Ruby Rabbit. I’d probably bring her! What’s the best thing you’ve ever bought? It’s not a big…

1 BEN COEN AGE 20 (11 JAN 2005) // BORN BRISTOL // POSITION FLY-HALF CHIEFS // COUNTRY ENGLAND // CLUB EXETER When did you start rugby? I started at around U7s at my local club Teignmouth in South Devon. What attracted you to the sport? It’s always been in the family. My dad played for Worcester but before they were a professional side. Did you play other sports? Loads. I was a cricketer, a fast bowler who came in at seven. I played hockey but my main thing was surf life-saving. You would go in the sea and race on the boards that lifeguards use. I did that a lot growing up and was national champion for two years in a row. When I was 16, I also trained as…

CAPPED BY two countries and a Barbarian on several occasions, Steven Luatua has a pretty glamorous rugby CV. However, his rugby journey in the northern hemisphere began in far more humble surroundings when he joined Bristol in the RFU Championship ahead of 2017-18. Pat Lam had coached Luatua in Super Rugby with the Blues and convinced him to buy into his long-term vision at Ashton Gate. A 15-time All Black, Luatua was soon heading on trips to Jersey and Cornwall and his first season included a win over Rotherham in a blizzard with dire visibility. For many it would have been pretty grounding and might have taken some getting used to, but Wales scrum-half Rhodri Williams – who spent that year with Luatua in the second tier – insists he…

Interviews with the game’s biggest names to hard-hitting opinion on the major talking points in the sport from our columnist. plus, there is behind-the-scenes insight, with technical analysis as well as advice from pro players coaches Choose your package PRINT & DIGITAL Print & digital • 6 months for JUST £16.50* • FREE DELIVERY straight to your door • NEW Full digital access to 120 + back issues when you subscribe to print!** SAVE 50% DIGITAL ONLY Digital magazine ONLY • 6 months for JUST £13.20* • SAVE money on the shop price • PLUS instant access anytime, anywhere Subscribe today www.magazinesdirect.com/yrw/DH44G or call 0330 3331113 and quote DH44G (Lines are open Monday-Friday 8:30am-7pm, Saturday 10am-3pm UK Time) Offer closes 1st September 2025. Price is guaranteed for the first 6…

WHEN GIACOMO Da Re moved on from Treviso last summer, he was leaving behind much more than a team. The city’s stunning squares and waterways were pretty much all he had known in his then 25 years, while Benetton had been at the heart of his rugby story since the age of six. It was in the club’s much-vaunted youth set-up that Da Re had developed into a fly-half/full-back of rare flair and precision, his ability to play flat to the line dovetailing nicely with a strong kicking game. He was brought into the Italian federation’s national academy and turned out for Mogliano and Rovigo at the top end of the club game before returning to the Stadio di Monigo as part of the first-team squad. Initially, things happened quickly.…

DIFFERENT RULES I’ve recently read about Junior Kpoku (April 2025), a talented young player who plays in France for Racing and for England U20. My question is: how are U20s allowed to play abroad and for England when senior players, such as Jack Willis, are not allowed to ply their trade abroad if they wish to play for England? Paul Williams Sigglesthorne, East Yorkshire EUROPE MALAISE As we celebrate 30 years of European Cup rugby, I cannot help but think the competition is in the worst state it’s ever been. The Round of 16 stage saw an average of 67.75 points per game and only two competitive fixtures. The knockout stage seeding gives too much of an advantage to the best teams from the pool stages and the fact that…