Rugby Archives - Marking The Spot

Hansen grabs hat-trick as Ireland hammer Australia

Mack Hansen scored a superb first-half hat-trick to help lift Ireland to a comprehensive win over Australia in an entertaining Test at Aviva Stadium. Starting an Ireland game at full-back for the first time, Canberra-born Hansen starred in a slick Irish attack on his return from a foot injury with three tries inside the opening 30 minutes. The Wallabies – coached by former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt – stayed in touch at half-time thanks to Len Ikitau and Fraser McReight tries.

Match Report Rugby

New Zealand turn on style to overcome Ireland

November 1, 2025 admin 0 Comments All Blacks, Andy Farrell, Andy Farrell Ireland, Andy Farrell IRFU, Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Chicago, Ireland 13-26 New Zealand, Ireland Rugby, Ireland Rugby news, Ireland Rugby team, Irish Rugby, Irish Rugby Football Union, Irish rugby injury news, Irish Rugby news, Irish Rugby Squad, Irish rugby team, Jack Crowley, Jordie Barrett, New Zealand, New Zealand national team, New Zealand Rugby, New Zealand Rugby news, New Zealand v Ireland, Pierre Brousset, Rugby, Rugby news, Scott Barrett, Scott Robertson, Soldier Field, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Tamaiti Williams, The All Blacks, Wallace Sititi

New Zealand’s All Blacks earned their Chicago revenge on Saturday with a 26-13 victory at Soldier Field after a highly controversial Tadhg Beirne 20-minute red card. Beirne was dismissed for a third-minute high tackle on Beauden Barrett, for which he was shown yellow on the field of play but saw it surprisingly upgraded to red after a bunker review. Andy Farrell’s side initially responded superbly but a second half fightback turned the game on its head.

Rugby

Leading nations issue international ban on R360 players

October 7, 2025 admin 0 Comments Australia, breakaway league, eligibility rules, England, France, global rugby, International rugby, Ireland, Italy, joint statement, leading nations, Mike Tindall, national teams, New Zealand, player bans, R360, R360 League, Rugby, rugby governance, Rugby news, rugby regulations, rugby union, Scotland, South Africa, Test rugby, World Rugby

Rugby’s leading nations have united to announce a blanket ban on playing international matches for recruits to the proposed breakaway R360 league. England, New Zealand, Ireland and France are among those who currently either favour or exclusively pick players from their domestic competitions. That meant signing up to the globe-trotting R360 itinerary was always set to put their players’ Test careers on hold.

Rugby The Lions

Australia outplay the Lions to avoid series whitewash

August 2, 2025 admin 0 Comments Andy Farrell, Brisbane, British and Irish Lions Tour 2025, Carlo Tizzano, Dan Sheehan, Finn Russell, Hugo Keenan, Huw Jones, Jake Gordon, James Slipper, Joe Schmidt, Joe Schmidt Australia, Lions Tour 2025, Lions Tour of Australia, Marcus Smith, Max Jorgensen, Rugby, Rugby news, Sione Tuipulotu, Stadium Australia, Suncorp Stadium, Sydney, Tate McDermott, The British & Irish Lions, The British and Irish Lions, The Lions, The Lions Rugby, The Lions Rugby news, The Lions v Australia, Tom Curry, Tom Lynagh, Tom Wright, Tommy Freeman

On a foul night of torrential rain and threats of lightning strikes in Sydney that forced play to be suspended for 40 minutes, the Wallabies shocked the British and Irish Lions and won a riotous victory in the third and final Test at Stadium Australia. The hosts, and underdogs, were dominant for much of a dramatic evening, outscoring the Lions by three tries to two. They led the Sydney slugfest 8-0 through a Dylan Pietsch try and a Tom Lynagh penalty at the end of an intense first half.

Rugby The Lions

Keenan the hero as Lions seal series with epic comeback

July 26, 2025 admin 0 Comments Andy Farrell, Brisbane, British and Irish Lions Tour 2025, Carlo Tizzano, Dan Sheehan, Finn Russell, Hugo Keenan, Huw Jones, Jake Gordon, James Slipper, Joe Schmidt, Joe Schmidt Australia, Lions Tour 2025, Lions Tour of Australia, Marcus Smith, Max Jorgensen, Rugby, Rugby news, Sione Tuipulotu, Suncorp Stadium, Tate McDermott, The British & Irish Lions, The British and Irish Lions, The Lions, The Lions Rugby, The Lions Rugby news, The Lions v Australia, Tom Curry, Tom Lynagh, Tom Wright, Tommy Freeman

Hugo Keenan wrote himself into the history books of the Lions, the Ireland and Leinster full-back’s try with the final play of the game sealing the 29-26 win and the series, and completing an incredible 18-point comeback against Joe Schmidt’s Australia side.

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