News about Semi Radradra

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: The Lions are in talks about facing a combined Pacific Island XV in Melbourne next year, in a potentially blockbuster tour fixture between the first and second Tests against Australia. Following the collapse of the Rebels franchise, which had been based in the state capital of Victoria, officials from Rugby Australia and the Lions have been contingency planning to establish alternative opposition options for the game on July 22, 2025 at Marvel Stadium. Initially, there were indications that an invitational side would be created under the banner of Australia 'A' or Melbourne, based on a squad of Australian players, but the focus has now shifted to an imported solution. Mail Sport understands that talks were due to take place today (Thursday) in Paris, between RA and Lions board members, with the fixture change among several items on the agenda. Sources have revealed that the latest scenario being discussed is for a Pacific Islanders team to take on the Lions - armed with leading Test players from each of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, subject to co-operation from the unions in those countries.

Since Matildas ace Mary Fowler and NRL actor Nathan Cleary revealed their new union in public, Australians are raving over sport's hottest romance. As the Matildas played Olympic qualifying matches in Perth, Australia exclusively published photos of the footy champion and soccer star spending time together, including cosying up in a Perth park. One sports fan wrote: "I just want someone to look at me the way Nathan Cleary looks at Mary Fowler." Meanwhile, soccer fans in Cleary would not be able to understand the ranks of England's most exciting WAGs, while Fowler plays for Manchester City.

Cleary and Fowler were an item in August, the same month that the NRL actor made some rather revealing remarks about his future. On Wednesday, the couple opened publically with their romance in exclusive Daily Mail Australia photographs, and although the fact that she lives in the United Kingdom while playing for Manchester City (inset) puts a significant strain on their marriage, there is a straightforward answer.

CHRIS FOY: This is it, the moment of truth. With a game that will define this campaign and several careers, the business end of the World Cup for England begins. Steve Borthwick's crew must win to protect names and avoid tumultuous inquests. The quarter-final showdown with Fiji at Stade Velodrome tomorrow demonstrated the sharp divide between a pass mark and a failure. Victory would send the national team into the last four, which was widely believed to be the upper limit of what could be expected of them in those difficult circumstances at this tournament. No doubt that the defeat would be seen as a failure. Whatever happens, Borthwick's England team is secure because he has the complete support of his manageresses at the RFU, but a game that might come as a verdict on the rushed first phase of the recovery effort that he accepted late last year is a huge factor. This year's chaos, upheaval, instability, critique, and turmoil has all contributed to this make-or-break occasion.

This World Cup is one of my favorites, SIR CLIVE WOODWARD. There have already been a lot of highs and lows, and it's only going to get better. Here are my tournament talking points from the action we've seen so far…

With a fine show at the Rugby World Cup, Simione Kuruvoli inspired Fiji. After last week's loss to Wales, Fiji's brilliance at the turnover, as well as Kuruvoli's medical boot, saw them win their first victory of the tournament. Full Back Ben Donaldson was opportunistic early on and suspended a Fiji high tackle when he converted the first opportunity of the game to give Australia a 3-0 lead after three minutes.

Semi Radradra's father took the unusual measure of requesting forgiveness from Fijian rugby supporters after his son (pictured right) dropped the ball with the line wide open in their World Cup opener against Wales. In Saint-Etienne, the former NRL star, 31, will be out atone against the Wallabies on Monday.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: You cannot deny that the referee selection process has been arbitrary at this World Cup, particularly around head contact. So far, the officials haven't appear to have done particularly well. Although we've seen some good rugby, the enactment of the rules has become the most talked about topic. I'm currently on TV, and the former professional referees involved in our World Cup coverage have been left scratching at some of the decisions.

With the ex-NRL star in their sights in their Rugby World Cup showdown and a quarter-final spot on the line, Eddie Jones' Wallabies are hoping to put a stop to Fiji's Semi Radradra (pictured left). The hulking center, also known as the'semi-trailer,' is Fiji's go-to man, with the Pacific Islanders unable to topple Australia in Saint-Etienne on Sunday (Monday AEST) to keep their tournament alive. Radradradra will have to recover after losing 32-26 after fumbling a last-ditch pass that might have boosted a match-winning chance in their World Cup opener against Wales.

DAN BIGGER: I went to bed about 4.30 a.m. after our match against Fiji and felt completely refreshed as my head hit the pillow. Since there is so much adrenaline in your body, it's always difficult to sleep after a match. Our families came to join us in the hotel, and we had burgers and chips about 2 a.m., but we were headed down with a bottle of red. Since the game, we have a little treat meal, especially in a match like that.

Despite being favored by Sky Bet, Wales has had a rocky warm-up campaign in the run-up to the World Cup, losing three out of four games, including a humiliating 52-16 loss to South Africa last time out. The multiple-time semi-finalists have been chastised for their poor results in recent years, with Warren Gatland's side finishing No. 10 in the world rankings. Contrast that with Fiji, who have been outstanding in 2023, with victories over Japan, England, and Tonga, one of the Pacific Island rivals. Semi Radradra and Co will be able to face Wales in a World Cup pool match in the past, but they will also be aware that their country has defeated Wales in a World Cup pool match in the past.

ENGLAND 22-30 FIJI - NZ SIMON AT TWICKENHAM: A landmark was made. England was humiliated. They have made a joking stock, with the butt of the jokes traveling to the World Cup. This was supposed to be their farewell party, but most English fans will be thinking "goodbye and good riddance" as their team heads to France for a few weeks. 'Fiji!Fiji!Fiji! The north-east corner erupted, with their soaked flags fluttering in delight and disbelief. The kings of chaos reigned supreme, but what about England? They have hit their lowest point in a lifetime. This is the worst England squad we have seen in years. Every drop of joy has been squeezed out of their game. It was like fighting men against robots and humanity triumphed.

CHRIS FOY: This was supposed to be the send-off party - the home-banker tournament where England could win with a flourishing victory before pounding across the Channel with energy and optimism. It's still not panned out like that, though it's certainly not panned out like that. The outlook has dragged. Expectations have been reduced. The goal for Saturday has fundamentally changed.

England is projected to draw 70,000 fans for their World Cup warm-up match against Wales on August 12 - but Twickenham is expected to be just over half full for the game against Fiji two weeks later. Steve Borthwick's national team has four games over the next month, with the first against the Welsh on Saturday in Cardiff, while the second against world No. 1 Ireland in Dublin on August 19. The home fixture against their western neighbors has been as popular as ever, with tickets selling well for Warren Gatland's tour, but it has been overshadowed for box-office appeal by a clash between two southern superpowers.

Exclusively BY ALEX BYWATER: At the Barbarians and World XV match in Twickenham on May 28, the RFU will pledge support for the LGBTQ+ group, as well as the controversial Israel Folau. Folau's Wallabies contract was terminated in 2019 after he said on social media that homosexuals will die for their sins unless they repent for their sins. The full-back, who now plays international rugby for Tonga, will be part of the World XV squad for their match against the Barbarians a week on Sunday.

CHRIS FOY: It's impossible to exaggerate how dramatic the 2022-23 campaign has been, with financial challenges causing the demise of two clubs and budget cuts across the board, but also a myriad of gloriously entertaining matches, dazzling talent, ferocious intensity, and slim margins. This column gives a verdict on the season's highs and lows, key figures, and standout features.

Eddie Jones and Steve Hansen, respectively, will coach the two teams, has already drawn some of rugby's most popular names. Folau's likely participation in Hansen's World XV team will bring him all the best back-line including his Tonga teammate Charles Piutau, Fiji's Semi Radradra, All Black Ngani Laumape, and Australia's Marika Koroibete. Folau's Wallabies contract was terminated in 2019 after he posted on social media that homosexuals should go to hell unless they repent for their sins. The ex-rugby league player, now 34, was born in Australia but later qualified for Tonga and 2022 for the first time after benefitting from World Rugby's reform in eligibility rules that allow a player to change country after a three-year standdown period.

As the battle to gain the Broncos' services extends far beyond Australia's boundaries, top French rugby clubs could offer Payne Haas as much as $2 million a season to switch codes. Hamish McLennan, Rugby Australia's chairman, announced last week that the Wallabies had made signing the Brisbane prop their number one priority. According to News Corp, 'Payne could certainly be sporting Wallaby gold.'