Rugby Union

One of Lynn’s reasons to relieve Dallavalle was that he did not see the player he coached during his time in charge at Gloucester-Hartpury, but she said it is a difficult comparison to make as they are a different team. “I don’t know if I’m going to get a Gloucester-Hartpury …

Boiling four nations down to one team, cooking up a gameplan in four weeks and getting to Test match temperature on enemy territory. A Lions tour is unique for players and coaches. But for the team behind the team, a whistle-stop itinerary, vast distances and a host of unknowns also …

Back-row forward Ollie Leatherbarrow has signed a new one-year contract with Newcastle Falcons. The 23-year-old Scotland Under-20 player has played 20 times for the Falcons first team since making his debut two seasons ago, and scored his first try on the final day of last season, against Leicester Tigers. Leatherbarrow, …

Chris, Gareth Rhys-Owen and Tom English look ahead to the third Test in Sydney. BBC News

The British and Irish Lions have achieved something truly special by winning a Test series – but for this squad to be properly celebrated for decades to come, they need to whitewash the Wallabies. How good are they, compared to the series-winning teams of 1989, 1997 and 2013? It’s hard …

Did he know that theirs was the biggest comeback – from 23-5 down to winning 29-26 – in Lions history? He did not. Did he know that this was his 15th consecutive victory this season? He didn’t know that either. His previous best was seven for Glasgow and Scotland – …

The Lions won 29-26 against the Wallabies in Melbourne to clinch the series BBC News

Former Lions tourist Andy Nicol was also in agreement that Morgan, who is the only Wales player remaining on the trip and was making his Lions Test debut, did “nothing wrong”. Nicol told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly: “He was always low. The ‘jackaler’ went in and put his head in …

Captain Maro Itoje is targeting a 3-0 clean sweep against Australia – but will first “savour the moment” of completing a Test series win over the Wallabies. A dramatic 29-26 victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground gave the British and Irish Lions an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. …

Former England wing Chris Ashton and BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones react to a dramatic Lions win in Melbourne. BBC News

With the series now done and the prospect of a 3-0 clean sweep on the cards in Sydney on Saturday, the debate about Australia’s place on the Lions’ rota may reignite if the Lions do go on and make it three. Should they be dropped? Should carrots be dangled in …

Australia: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter; Lynagh, Gordon; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Valetini, McReight, Wilson. Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Williams, Gleeson, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson. British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Lowe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, Chessum, Beirne, Curry, Conan. Replacements: Kelleher, Genge, Stuart, Ryan, Morgan, …

Italy: Granzotto, Muzzo, Sillari, Mannini, D’Inca, Stevanin, Stefan; Maris, Vecchini, Seye, Fedrighi, Duca, Sgorbini, Veronese, Giordano. Scotland: Scott, Lloyd, Wills, Thomson, Grant, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Clarke, Wassell, Ferrie, Malcolm, McLachlan, Gallagher. Replacements: Martin, Wright, Cockburn, Donaldson, Stewart, Mattinson, Ramsay, Rollie. Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau. BBC News

The importance of Gloucester’s academy has only grown in recent years as the club aims to cut its cloth and become more financially sustainable. Owner Martin St Quinton has said Gloucester’s ambition is to financially break even and, as such, their reliance on developing young talent has only increased. Thompson’s …

Can Australia bounce back and level the series against the Lions? Rugby Union Weekly previews the second Test at the MCG. BBC News

Rhodri and his wife Rhian may be part of a large Morgan contingent but they are not shouting about it. Cautious of sounding too boastful, they typify the reserved Welsh nature. Call the Welsh anything, just never arrogant. But was there a moment they realised their son was special? “Jac …

Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Waiaria Ellis, Georgina Friedrichs, Trilleen Pomare, Desiree Miller; Tia Hinds, Layne Morgan; Lydia Kavoa, Katalina Amosa, Bridie O’Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney, Annabelle Codey, Emily Chancellor (capt), Ashley Marsters, Layne Morgan. Replacements: Tania Naden, Bree-Anna Browne, Asoiva (Eva) Karpani, Ashley Fernandez, Piper Duck, Samantha Wood, Cecilia Smith, Lori Cramer. …

On the back row of an old team photo, chest puffed out with pride, stands Sione Tuipulotu. Now a Lion, back then Tuipulotu, born and brought up in Melbourne, was representing Victoria’s Under-12 state team. The ready smile and hefty build make him easy to pick out more than 15 …

Newcastle Falcons hooker Ollie Fletcher has signed a new two-year deal at Kingston Park. Fletcher, 22, scored three tries in 24 Gallagher Premiership matches for the Falcons last season, increasing his career total to three in 36. The former England Under-20 international said he is pleased to continue with Newcastle …

On Thursday, Andy Farrell over-reached a tad, but you knew where he was coming from. The coach said that his boys were bidding for history on Saturday as the only Lions team to win back-to-back series in the same country, 2013 and possibly 2025. He was wrong. It has been …