In this bulletin:
1. RUGBY LEAGUE — IRL chair defends great-grandparents eligibility rule as Leniu lashes World Cup chiefs
2. RUGBY LEAGUE — U. S to host World Cup games but no guarantees of a spot
3.RUGBY LEAGUE — Leniu faces ban for dissent
4. RUGBY LEAGUE—Sāmoa’s future in good hands: Captain
5. RUGBY LEAGUE — Skinner calls for Australian pre-game cultural ceremony
6. RUGBY — White eyes Ireland challenge after France defeat
7. BOXING — Aussie great gives Opetaia-Wilder Green light
8. RUGBY LEAGUE — Crossland chases World Cup silver lining after darkest days of his career
9. RUGBY — Scotland rue ill-discipline as All Blacks maintain Murrayfield streak
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: SMH PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
IRL chair defends great-grandparents eligibility rule as Leniu lashes World Cup chiefs
SYDNEY,10 NOVEMBER 2026 (SMH)—International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant has defended the decision to permit players to represent the nation where one of their great-grandparents were born, as Samoa forward Spencer Leniu lashed out at World Cup organisers, claiming “they’ve used our people to sell games”.
The new eligibility rules were announced in Sydney on Monday as the Pacific and the United States were confirmed as the host of the next World Cup in 2030.
Samoa and Tonga have been elevated to Tier 1 nations as the 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted on their home soil.
Leniu said holding the next edition in the region “shows the importance of our people in growing our game”, but took a shot at the huge gulf in player payments at this World Cup as he was hit with a grade-three charge over an incident that led him to be sin-binned during Samoa’s 44-12 semi-final defeat to Australia on Sunday night.
“Let’s be honest, our little nations carried this WC. Yet we are paid $850(US$588) a game [compared] to the Aussies [who get] 30/40k for the tournament,” Leniu wrote in a social media post.
He is facing a two-game suspension, which would rule him out of Parramatta’s NRL opener in Las Vegas next season, after being hit with a contrary conduct charge for making a gesture towards referee Adam Gee.
The incoming Parramatta enforcer said it was “no secret that they’ve used our people to sell games” and believes they should be properly rewarded for it.
Members of the Australian team receive $40,000(US$27,000) each for the World Cup under the Rugby League Players’ Association’s collective bargaining agreement with the Australian Rugby League Commission, while players from other countries have received $850 per appearance.
“Taking the next WC to the US, specifically Utah and Hawaii, where there is a big Polynesian community shows the importance of our people in growing our game,” Leniu said. “So I believe if they are going to use that as a tool to generate money, our little nations should be compensated fairly for it.”
The ARL Commission will organise and run the 2030 tournament, which will be staged in a Magic Round-style format with a full slate of men’s and women’s pool matches to be played over three days in one stadium before moving onto another venue.
Under the format, the group stage will take place at up to five venues from Australia to the US, with potential host cities and states including Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Hawaii and Utah.
Spencer Leniu leaves the field after he was sent to the sin bin.
The latest change to rugby league’s eligibility criteria continues its fluid approach to regulations governing the international game and was the result of an application from the Cook Islands and their coach, Karmichael Hunt.
While payers have previously been allowed to wear the colours of a country where one of their parents or grandparents was born, they can now point to the nation of birth of one of their eight great-grandparents.
Sport governing bodies such as World Rugby, FIFA and World Athletics also have a grandparent rule.
But the IRL’s extension to another generation in a player’s lineage puts the code in a league of its own.
“It may not be as pure as some people may think it should be, or fit their mindsets. I don’t really care about that,” said Grant, a former NSW racing minister.
“I care about growing the game and giving every player the opportunity to represent their nation and I care that the fans are getting the best outcomes, which we have seen during this World Cup.”
International rugby league has enjoyed the fruits of players embracing their heritage, particularly those from Pacific Island backgrounds. Tonga and Samoa, who met in an unforgettable pool game at CommBank Stadium eight days ago, have become heavyweights as a result.
The new move is a shameless bid to spread even more NRL talent around the globe, no matter how distant the connection between players and the nation of their forebears.
Grant cited Canberra fullback Kaeo Weekes as a player who could benefit from the updated rules, saying they would have allowed him to turn out for the Cook Islands at this World Cup if they had been in place before the tournament.
“I think we have players sitting on the sidelines who the public deserve to see show their skills,” Grant said.
“We want the best players available and with the economic conditions, the way the geopolitical world’s operating, there is a lot of movement from nation to nation.
Walsh sinks Samoa as Kangaroos set up blockbuster World Cup final showdown with Kiwis
“I think it enhances rather than in any way undermines the game into the future.”
The call was made nine months after a State of Origin eligibility shake-up that freed New Zealand internationals to also play for NSW and Queensland, clearing the way for Maroons star Kalyn Ponga to declare his allegiance to the Kiwis.
Grant said the IRL board had also committed to explore elevating Tonga and Samoa to tier-one nations.
“They’ve lit up international rugby league like we haven’t seen before and we’re enormously grateful for that,” he said.
Despite the 2030 World Cup being hosted by the Pacific and the US, it’s highly unlikely that the group-stage travelling roadshow will reach the likes of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa due to limited infrastructure there such as stadiums and hotels.
The IRL has designs on holding the 2034 World Cup in Europe and Africa, Grant said…. PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
U.S to host World Cup games but no guarantees of a spot
SYDNEY, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (AAP)—Rugby League World Cup games will be hosted in North America for the first time, but the US national team will not be automatically handed a qualification spot for the 2030 tournament.
As part of the lead-up to this weekend’s men’s and women’s finals between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane, the International Rugby League (IRL) made several announcements on Monday, including the location of the 2030 tournament, which will be spread across the US and the Pacific.
Using a Magic Round-style format, a round of fixtures will be hosted in alternative cities across five weekends that includes three group-stage games, a semi-final and final.
The men’s tournament will expand from 10 to 12 teams, with the women’s increasing from eight to 10, as US locations such as Hawaii, Utah and California – where there are large Pasifika diasporas – appear early contenders to host fixtures.
But the US – which last competed at the 2017 men’s tournament – will be forced to qualify for the event because the NRL and the Australian Rugby League Commission will shoulder the risk associated with running the 2030 World Cup.
“The evidence is there for everyone to see how exceptional the NRL’s capability is,” Grant said in Sydney on Monday.
“They do this in Vegas, as an example, and they’re entering into a period where they’re taking a global round into the market, so they’re the perfect partners for us.
“Their professionalism is unmatched in rugby league, and I’ve worked with Peter V’landys for 12 years now … you’ve seen the impact he’s had here in rugby league, so I’ve got nothing but confidence, as does my entire board.”
Grant said the IRL had considered hosting the 2030 tournament in Europe as the NRL nears an investment deal in the Super League, but revealed it was his “aspiration” to host the 2034 tournament across Europe and North America.
As well as announcing the 2030 hosts, Grant revealed discussions were under way to raise Tonga and Samoa from tier-two to tier-one nations.
“We want to go through a consultation process to ensure that there’s no unintended consequences from that decision, so everybody understands what that elevation to tier one means,” he said.
In other news, France – well beaten by Samoa and England before playing out a World Cup classic against Lebanon – are expected to tour the southern hemisphere in 2027.
Grant also defended the IRL’s decision to widen the game’s international eligibility rules, allowing players to represent a country through the heritage of their great grandparent rather than grandparent.
“I think we have players sitting on the sidelines who the public deserve to see show their skills on the international stage,” he said….PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: NRL PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
Leniu faces ban for dissent
SYDNEY, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (NRL)—Samoa forward Spencer Leniu is facing a two-game ban for dissent following his side’s semi-final loss to the Kangaroos on Sunday night.
Leniu was sent to the sin bin on the stroke of half-time after unleashing his frustrations on referee Adam Gee following an Australia try.
The Eels-bound enforcer has been hit with a Grade 3 Contrary Conduct offence which carries a two-game ban with an early guilty plea, increasing to three games should he challenge the charge and be found guilty at the judiciary.
Should Leniu accept the ban he would miss two games at the start of the 2027 season at his new club Parramatta.
Fellow Samoans Jarome Luai (Dangerous Throw) and Ronald Volkman (Dangerous Contact) will receive a Warning with early guilty pleas as will Kangaroos prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Careless High Tackle).
Kiwis skipper James Fisher-Harris has been charged with Dangerous Contact but will be free to play in the World Cup final with an early guilty plea.
Fisher-Harris was placed on report for raising his knee as he took the ball into the defensive line and was tackled by Tonga’s Salesi Foketi.
The incident occurred in the 10th minute of the Kiwis’ 34-10 win over Tonga at McDonald Jones Stadium.
With an early guilty plea, Fisher-Harris will be issued with a Warning.
Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo will also take his place in the World Cup final after serving a one-game ban for a careless high tackle.
Mulitalo was sent off in the 52nd minute of the Round 3 clash against Fiji after collecting Ronald Philitoga high.
The Grade 2 charge carried a one-game ban with an early guilty which ruled Mulitalo out of the semi-final.
Fiji halfback Brandon Wakeham was charged with a Grade 2 Striking offence after he threw a punch at Mulitalo after the high shot on Philitoga.
Wakeham took the early guilty plea and received a one-game ban while Samoa captain Junior Paulo (shoulder charge) and PNG’s Nixon Putt (careless high tackle) both received a Warning….PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: PMN PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
‘Sāmoa’s future is in good hands’: Captain
SYDNEY, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (PMN)—Junior Paulo had a message for the Sāmoan people after another Rugby League World Cup campaign that ended one step short of the final: the future is in good hands.
The Sāmoa captain thanked the supporters who stayed with the team through the rain at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium after Australia pulled away to win 44-12 and book a final against New Zealand.
“First off, I want to thank our Lord, the man upstairs, for bringing us all here. First of all, I want to thank our fans,” Paulo told Seven after the match.
“Despite the result today, it’s still 6-8-5 to the world. From the start, you know, we spoke about it was always for the culture and we wouldn’t change a thing.”
Paulo, who was part of the Sāmoa side that reached the 2022 World Cup final, said the current group had plenty to be proud of despite falling short against the Kangaroos.
“To the boys, there’s not a bunch of other blokes that would want to take the field. We’ll ride it till the wheels fall off.”
He also had a message for the supporters who turned out despite the difficult conditions.
“Love to all our people, especially to everyone that’s turned out tonight during the conditions. We love you.”
Paulo says the disappointment of another semi-final loss was already being balanced by what he sees coming next for Sāmoa.
“Yeah, the future is in good hands. The start of this journey, we all knew what we were capable of and we’re unfortunate tonight.”
Paulo also gave credit to Australia for producing their best performance of the tournament when it mattered most.
“That’s a credit to the Aussie boys for turning up the way they did and putting out that performance.”
Australia were in control from the opening stages, racing to a 24-2 lead by half-time.
Tom Dearden opened the scoring with a solo effort before Jacob Preston, Tom Trbojevic, Reece Walsh and Bradman Best added tries as the Kangaroos punished Sāmoa’s mistakes and kept the pressure on.
Sāmoa fought back after the break, with Stephen Crichton pouncing on a Walsh error to score before Izack Tago powered through the Australian fullback to bring the score back to 32-12.
But Australia had too much firepower. Walsh completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute after linking with Cameron Munster, before Jack Bostock finished a sweeping move six minutes later to put the result beyond doubt.
Australia captain Isaah Yeo said the performance was the most complete the Kangaroos had produced at the tournament.
“Yeah, it was. It probably felt like the most control we had.”
The match was played in difficult conditions, with rain and strong winds making the ball hard to handle.
“Conditions were tough. It was on and off we got rain. The wind was annoying for both sides, I reckon.”
But Yeo believes Australia are building at the right time. “I feel like we’ve been building each week and still chasing our best performance, so I thought that was a real step in the right direction.”
Now Australia turn their attention to New Zealand in the World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium this weekend.
Yeo knows it will be a different challenge. “Yeah, it is. What a wonderful way it was to start the World Cup. Both teams, I thought, were outstanding. As the tournament goes on, both teams have gotten better. Hell of a match-up, I think.”
Paulo says the result ends another memorable campaign. He says the journey has left the team and its supporters with plenty to look forward to. “We look forward to it.”
Earlier in the women’s tournament, Fetu Sāmoa also made history by reaching their first World Cup semi-final. They pushed the Kiwi Ferns hard in the opening half before New Zealand pulled away after the break to win 32-0.
Fetu Sāmoa captain Evania Isa’ako said the score did not reflect what the team had achieved. “Obviously we really gutted but super proud of the girls,” she said. “That didn’t reflect our campaign I am sure.”
The run is a major step forward for women’s rugby league in Sāmoa, with Isa’ako saying the team’s performance would be significant for the game back home….PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
Skinner calls for Australian pre-game cultural ceremony
SYDNEY, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (AAP)—Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner has pressed for Australian rugby league to have a pre-game ceremony that honours Indigenous culture.
The First Nations woman has admired the way Pacific teams in the tournament have celebrated their heritage before a kick-off, and hopes Australia can implement a similar practice in the future.
Asked about an Australian pre-game cultural ceremony, Skinner said: “I’d love to be able to see it as a First Nations woman and as a proud Australian.
“We have such beautiful, rich culture here, the longest living culture, but also really modern and diverse, so we’re really proud of that.”
Australia has witnessed the performances of the Samoan siva tau and a Fijian hymn so far in the tournament, and will come face-to-face with the haka before their World Cup final against New Zealand.
“We get so excited in those moments when there is a haka or when there is a hymn being sung,” the Barkindji woman said.
“It’s something that we do embrace and celebrate, particularly tonight’s hymn.
“What Fiji have done, the storytelling that they’ve done for their nation and what they’ve done across this Rugby League World Cup is inspiring.”
Captain Isabelle Kelly was also complimentary of the Fijian pride on display before kick-off in their semi-final on Sunday, which Australia won 30-14.
“It was beautiful,” Kelly said of the Fijian hymn.
“It was a strange feeling knowing you’re about to come up against them as you’re admiring everything that they’re doing.”
The Jillaroos do proudly celebrate the nation’s multicultural identity by donning the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag while singing the national anthem before a match.
And the Australians have another song that they sing behind closed doors for important occasions.
“We do sing a hymn in momentous moments for us that we were gifted from the Torres Strait,” Skinner said.
At the 2022 World Cup, Wiradjuri and Gunggandji man Josh Addo-Carr revealed that he also believes Australia deserves a pre-game ceremony to honour Indigenous culture.
Skinner’s call comes ahead of the biggest moment of all, with the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns to contest the World Cup final for a fifth straight tournament.
The Jillaroos coach said her side’s hard-fought come-from-behind win over Fiji was the perfect preparation before Sunday’s final.
“New Zealand will be physical just like the Fijian girls,” Skinner said.
“It definitely helps us prepare. There’s a lot of learnings that we’ll take from tonight and rebuild.”…PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
White eyes Ireland challenge after France defeat
DUBLIN, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Flying Fijians head coach Jake White will make the most of the six days available to prepare for Ireland.
His Fiji Water-sponsored side lost 54-17 to France in Lyon yesterday morning and will face Ireland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday.
Speaking to ITV Sport Extra after the defeat, White said he was disappointed with the result.
“I think because I expected us to be a little bit more in the fight for longer. And I think you saw where we started. I thought, you know, we looked as though we were going to be in the fight,” White said.
“We just made a couple of mistakes. And I know it’s always like that, the same cliché, but you make mistakes against France, they punish you. And the one area, I mean, they scored a couple of more tries early on and that is one of the hardest things to coach in a small space of time.”
Fiji trailed 26-3 at half-time.
“I said to them at half-time, we mustn’t drop our heads. We didn’t give up fighting. We didn’t give up trying.
“So I’m at least proud of the boys who didn’t just lay down and die.” White expects another tough challenge against Ireland.
“I think we’re going to have to take a lot of what we did tonight (yesterday). We had to defend for long periods of time.
“I think Ireland are one team that will hold on to the ball for even longer, you know, in terms of the way they attack.
“I think, again, discipline was good tonight. We’ve been criticised a lot for giving a lot of penalties away. I think we gave two penalties away in the first half, which meant we stayed in the game. But there will be things obviously we’ll have to look at.”
He added: “Without making excuses, we were only together for a short space of time. And we’re going to try and put as much detail and as much effort in as we can.”
The former Springboks coach also praised his side’s adaptability.
“I think one thing Fiji have learnt over the years is we probably adapt more than anybody. You know, we never play at home.
“We always play away from home. You know, a lot of our players play overseas. We hardly have them together for long periods of time.
“And so the one thing they probably do learn is how to adapt quickly, you know, and made a late change. And, you know, I don’t think that’s the reason we struggled. I mean, at the end of the day, we made mistakes across the park.
“As I said, when France play well and they’re on top of you, especially early on in the game and they get a bit of a role in the crowd. I mean, they were phenomenal tonight. You could sense that you were playing against an extra person and they got behind the Fijian players when they scored tries.”
Captain Tevita Ikanivere said Fiji had started well but discipline had let them down.
“I think we started well. But our discipline let us down. We gave France an early start.
“We talked about not giving them a start, but I think our discipline let us down. We got a yellow card and then we were on the back foot. We’ll go back to the drawing board, see what mistakes we made and get better for next week.”
On finding a balance between Fiji’s attacking style and a more structured approach, Ikanivere said: “I think we’re looking for a balance – knowing where to do what.
“Today we talked about exiting our zone, but I think we played a bit too much. We made mistakes and France capitalised on it.
“But as I said, we’ll go back to the drawing board. We’ll try to get better for next week.”
Nations Championship fixtures
*Fiji v Ireland — Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Sunday November 15: 8:10am… PACNEWS
AUST – BOXING: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
Aussie great gives Opetaia-Wilder Green light
SYDNEY, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (AAP)—Danny Green has applauded Jai Opetaia’s decision to fight Deontay Wilder at heavyweight even if the former world champion still possesses a right hand that could “knock over a tank”.
The unbeaten Australian (31-0) will step up from cruiserweight to face the former WBC champion (45-4-1) 10 years his senior, who had lost four of his last five fights before back-to-back wins in the past year.
It will serve as the main support act to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s Cardiff main event on December 11, with that pair to split a purse of almost $300 million.
The bout is forecast to rake in more than $50 million in gate takings and shatter pay-per-view and streaming records to become the most lucrative ever staged on the continent and fourth-highest of all time.
It all points to a career-best pay day for Opetaia, who has been unsuccessful in his efforts to unify his IBF world title since winning it for the first time in 2022.
The Gold Coast-based fighter remains in a court battle with the IBF to be reinstated as their champion after he was stripped by the organisation for debuting with Zuffa Boxing, a new rebel league not recognised by the sport’s traditional bodies.
Opetaia has forged ahead and even secured a handshake deal with David Benavidez after his latest win for a potential undisputed cruiserweight clash next May.
The Wilder fight was a chance for Opetaia to stay busy, and build a bigger profile, before his return to America next year to face Benavidez.
But that blockbuster is in doubt now that Oleksandr Usyk is keen to return from heavyweight and sweep the belts again by beating Benavidez.
“He’s been trying to fight them for so long and they don’t want a bar of him so if I was advising him I’d say take the fight, mate,” Green, who won title across three divisions, including cruiserweight, in a 36-5 career, told AAP of Opetaia’s frustrating situation.
“You’re a prize fighter. Anyone who says he’s only doing it for the money, must think to themselves, ‘I’m not that intelligent’, because that’s what we do.
“We’re prize fighters. Everyone goes to work to get paid.”
Pundits are split on the fight, with Fury adamant the aging Wilder should be nowhere near the ring but Derek Chisora, beaten by Wilder in April, is tipping a brutal Wilder win.
“Jai’s a guy who likes challenges and this is a massive challenge,” Green said.
“That right hand of Wilder could knock over a tank.
“It’s an awesome fight that makes so much sense because it doesn’t make sense, with the size difference.
“So I’m just pretty excited about it,” he said….PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY LEAGUE: NRL PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
Crossland chases World Cup silver lining after darkest days of his career
SYDNEY, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (NRL)—New Zealand hooker Phoenix Crossland can see light at the end of the tunnel.
A silver lining to the dark cloud that blacked out what would have been a career highlight.
Crossland missed Newcastle’s 19-18 loss to the Roosters in the NRL grand final on October 4 while serving a four-game suspension for a hip-drop tackle that broke Nathan Cleary’s leg in the preliminary final against Penrith a week earlier.
The Wellington-born 26-year-old served out his suspension on the sidelines during the first three games of New Zealand’s World Cup campaign, then returned off the bench in the Kiwis’ 34-10 victory over Tonga in the semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium last Saturday.
Crossland replaced Jeremy Marshall-King in the 56th minute, finished the game at dummy half, and will likely be retained in the Kiwis’ 19-man squad for the World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium.
“It was really nice to get back out there,” Crossland told reporters after the win against Tonga on his Newcastle home ground.
“Obviously it’s been a bit of a weird sort of a month gone by, but to get back out there and do what I love with the people I love, it was a nice moment.
“If we win next week, you sort of end the year on a big high.
“I guess when I got suspended, I wasn’t sure if that was my season done, and it probably wasn’t the ending I’d obviously hoped for.
“But I get to right a few wrongs next week, fingers crossed, and to win the World Cup, it’s probably the only thing that can make the past month feel somewhat worth it, I guess.”
Crossland’s remorse and heartfelt apologies to Cleary in the days and weeks after the tackle were generally well received by the rugby league community.
He never asked for sympathy, but sought support from family and friends and, when called into the New Zealand squad, from his Kiwi team-mates and coach Stacey Jones.
“It’s probably one of the darkest times in my life, and it was just a weird month,” he said.
“It didn’t really feel real the whole time – it probably hasn’t until tonight, getting back out there – so it was just really nice to get back out there and do what I love doing.
“I don’t want to dive too much into the month gone by because the people I love that have been close to me know how it affected me, but I’m just grateful that the page has turned and I can look forward to the World Cup final.
“I’m a footy player. I think that’s what I’ve been put on to this earth to do, to play footy, so it’s been hard watching, no doubt.
“I’m just glad to be playing. I love nothing more than playing footy, especially this group, it’s been really good.”
Newcastle and New Zealand team-mate Kalyn Ponga said Crossland had been a positive influence on the Kiwis since joining the squad.
“He’s been awesome in camp, considering he’s been training for the last four weeks,” Ponga said.
“The biggest game of his life, he missed out on, but his attitude and the way he turns up every day, he’s been so consistent.
“He obviously did a job tonight – did himself proud, his family proud, the country proud – so he’s only going to be better for it next week.”
Crossland was the last of the four interchange players Jones used, after middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison.
“If we picked up an injury in the halves early, we had Te Maire Martin there, and if we picked up an outside back injury, Keano [Kini] was there, so we just had to make sure we got through that first period,” Jones said.
“We left it up to Jeremy to empty his tank, and we kind of knew that everything going well, it would have been not long into the second half that Phoenix would come on, so it was a really good acquisition for our team to have Phoenix there.”
Crossland said the sea of red created by the mostly Tongan supporters in the crowd of 29,712 took away any home-ground advantage he is accustomed to in Newcastle, but he enjoyed the build-up in familiar surroundings.
“Being back here with my family and showing the boys around Newcastle, that’s been really nice, so I guess maybe my first game back, it was nice to get out there in front of all my family and friends in a place that’s very normal to me,” Crossland said.
“I felt pretty good out there. I’ve been training pretty hard along with some of the other boys who haven’t been playing.
“There’s a good crew here that are on their annual leave and they’re still here training.
“So it’s pretty special seeing what the boys on the field are doing but there’s a good crew that aren’t playing but they’re still training and I’m among them, and we’re just trying to stay fit and stay ready, and I got my moment tonight.” …PACNEWS
UK – RUGBY: AFP PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 10 Nov 2026
Scotland rue ill-discipline as All Blacks maintain Murrayfield streak
MAURRAYFIELD, 10 NOVEMBER 2026 (AFP)—Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu was left lamenting his side’s — and his own — ill-discipline following a 43-21 defeat by New Zealand in the teams’ November Nations Championship opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Ewan Ashman became the first Scotland player to score a hat-trick of tries against New Zealand, the hooker’s treble coming before half-time to give the hosts hope of a first win in this fixture.
The All Blacks only led 24-21 at the break but Scotland failed to score a point in a second half where Tuipulotu was sent to the sin-bin.
“We couldn’t stick with them, it’s really disappointing,” Tuipulotu told STV.
“Our discipline wasn’t good enough, and it starts with me. I got sent to the bin and 10 minutes with your captain off isn’t good for any team.
“First half we were playing our rugby, putting them under pressure with ball in hand, in a way they haven’t been put under pressure in a few weeks,” the Australia-born centre added.
“We just weren’t accurate enough when we got down the pitch.”
The All Blacks scored seven tries in total, four in the opening 40 minutes alone, with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend echoing Tuipulotu’s words by saying: “I was disappointed in the first half with how our indiscipline let New Zealand into our 22.
“Going down to 14 it was difficult to wrestle momentum back.
“If you can hold onto the ball in the modern game, you can get points. Second half we didn’t do that well enough.”
Townsend, himself a former Scotland playmaker, later suggested Tuipulotu had been dealt with harshly.
“I didn’t think it was the right call against Sione being offside (for his yellow card) and then we didn’t really get in the flow after that,” he said.
Victory gave New Zealand a 32nd win in 34 Tests against Scotland, with two draws, dating back to 1905. It also meant they remained unbeaten in the inaugural Nations Championship following a trio of wins in the southern hemisphere-based section in July.
This was a particularly emotional success for the All Blacks after Logan Cadwallader, their head of security, died at the team hotel in Edinburgh last Sunday.
“I’m proud because it was an important day for us,” said New Zealand coach Dave Rennie. “It’s been a tough week with a massive emotional toll on the group.”
New Zealand’s convincing victory followed a pair of thumping wins over Australia that saw the All Blacks get back on track after a 3-1 series loss to world champions South Africa.
“We love playing this style of rugby, keeping the ball on the park,” said New Zealand outside centre Quinn Tupaea, named player of the match.
Beauden Barrett’s two tries — the full-back struck either side of half-time — saw him become only the second man after team-mate Will Jordan to score 50 tries in Tests for New Zealand.
“He (Barrett) is a special player,” added Tupaea. “I think he’s second all-time in Tests now (for tries for New Zealand) so I’m pleased for the guy.”….PACNEWS
