Rugby Update: Team GB, Rugby Championship, Autumn Internationals

Team GB's heroics in Rio that includes the silver medals won by the GB Rugby Sevens team, has been hailed as "the best sporting achievement" in the country's history by chef de mission Mark England. "I think it is the best sporting achievement by any team in British sporting history," said England. "I think when we arrived just an hour or so ago it was overwhelming the reception that we got, not just from British Airways but also everyone who is in Terminal 5. It gave an immediate sense of the enormity of the achievement British athletes have posted in Rio de Janeiro."

Team GB's medal heroes returned home after record-breaking Olympic Games in Rio as the stars of Rio 2016 arrived back at Heathrow on Tuesday morning. Team GB exceeded their haul from the London Games of 2012, bringing back 67 medals from the Rio Olympics. Double gold-winning gymnast Whitlock showed off some moves on the gold-nosed plane that raised a Union Jack after landing, Whitlock and boxer Adams - who defended her women's flyweight gold - were the pair chosen to lead Team GB off the plane.

After leading Team GB to a sensational run at Rio ending up with winning the silver at the 2016 Summer Olympics, two members of the GB Rugby Sevens team are being linked with a step-up to the 15-man Premiership game. Lancastrian Dan Bibby, who scored the crucial sudden-death try for Team GB against Argentina that earned the GB Sevens a spot in the semis, was one of the stand-out performers for GB manager Simon Amor's side is linked with a move to Sale Sharks. Twenty-five-year-old Bibby has played the longer-form of the game before as a fly-half for Fylde in the English National League, before signing as a full-time England Sevens player in 2012. Bibby’s talent has been spotted by several Premiership teams including Harlequins and Sale. Team GB star skipper Tom Mitchell is also linked with a switch to Premiership rugby including London Irish.

Gold medal Fiji coach Ben Ryan is a former England Sevens head coach who developed many of the Great Britain squad.

"Tom has never played a game of XVs in his life and he is an absolute genius on the Sevens field. But he could be a terrific 12 at international and Premiership level, given the chance in XVs," said Ryan of Mitchell.

2016 Rugby Championship – Australia 8-42 New Zealand

New Zealand destroyed the Wallabies 42-8 in Sydney, Australia in Round 2 of the 2016 Rugby Championship. The return match will be played in Wellington next weekend. Australia's self-worth was on the line in the opening rubber as the New Zealand All Blacks came to Sydney for the start of the Rugby Championship. The Wallabies hoped to defend their Rugby Championship title earned a year ago and put on a spirited performance after their 3-0 series defeat by England in June – but to no avail.

Scores 3-0 Foley pen, 3-5 Crotty try, 3-7 Barrett con, 3-10 Barrett pen, 3-13 Barrett pen, 3-18 Barrett try, 3-20 Barrett con, 3-25 Kaino try, 3-30 Naholo try, 3-32 Barrett con, 3-37 Coles try, 3-42 J Savea try, 8-42 Phipps try.

Squads
Australia
Folau; A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, M Giteau (M Toomua 11, R Horne 31, N Phipps 39), D Haylett-Petty; B Foley, W Genia; S Sio (J Slipper 50), S Moore (capt, T Polota-Nau 62), S Kepu (A Alaalatoa 54), K Douglas, R Simmons (D Mumm 49), B McCalman (S Fardy 61), M Hooper, D Pocock.
New Zealand
Dagg; B Smith, M Fekitoa, R Crotty (A Cruden 40), W Naholo (J Savea 39); B Barrett, A Smith (TJ Perenara 68); W Crockett (K Hames 57), C Taylor (D Coles 3), O Franks (C Faumuina 45), B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino (L Squire 58), S Cane (A Savea 63), K Read (capt).
Yellow card Read 73.

New Zealand continues their stint as one of the world’s super dynasties despite retirements of legendary players and injuries. The back-to-back world champions have lost only three times in the past five years. “When people watch New Zealand they are excited by Beauden Barrett and we have a similar type of player in Johan Goosen,” said Springboks coach Allister Coetzee. “He is really quick off the mark, has unbelievable running abilities, aerial skills that are second to none, and can kick the ball a mile.” The New Zealand All-Blacks will compete in the upcoming Autumn Internationals! Plan to attend the exciting matchups live!

2016 Autumn Internationals Update

World-class titan rugby union teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Georgia, Japan, Samoa, and Fiji will be competing against European teams England, Ireland, Italy, Wales, France, and Scotland in the upcoming 2016 Autumn Internationals. Twenty-three year old England wing Jack Nowell may miss the start of the 2016-17 season. Nowell was part of the victorious England side that won 3-0 against Australia in June. Cornishman Nowell recently underwent surgery on a thumb injury. Nowell will miss pre-season games, as well as the opening weeks of the campaign.

Australia flanker Liam Gill has joined triple European champions Toulon. Australia coach Michael Cheika slowed the signing which is subject to a full medical. Twenty-four-year-old has been capped 15 times by the Wallabies after starting his career at the age of 17 for the Queensland Reds. Due to his transfer to France, Gill will be unable to feature for Australia in the Autumn Internationals because of Australian Rugby union rules on selecting players who play their club rugby outside Australia.

"It was a complicated process, it was something between the Australian head coach and myself, we found common ground and luckily I was able to come over and fulfil my contract out here which is something I'm super excited to be a part of," said Gill. England second row Joe Launchbury has been appointed as Wasps captain for the 2016-2017 season. The 35-times capped Launchbury has replaced England team-mate James Haskell who will miss most of the season after undergoing surgery on a toe injury and prop Matt Mullan, who were co-captains last season. Launchbury has made almost 100 appearances for the Wasps since he joined from Worthing in 2009. Wasps finished third in the regular season before losing a play-off semi-final to runners-up Exeter.

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal was fined €100,000 for exceeding the salary cap during the Top 14 2014/15 season. Boudjellal was angry about the fine and said it was unfair. He remarked that the highest-paid rugby players in France do not play for Toulon, suggesting that the auditing process which led to the fine might be rigged. "Frankly, it's a shocking stupidity," said Boudjelli. "I know that we were €80,000 below the salary cap, the salaries were inflated without any evidence. The best-paid French Top 14 players are Morgan Parra and Aurélien Rougerie, two players from Clermont, and you know, Deloitte were the statutory auditor in this matter. And these are people of Michelin paid by the league. I am 1000 per cent sure of it."

Worcester confirmed that England full-back Chris Pennell will miss the start of the season as he recovers from a neck injury. Pennell has made 165 appearances Worcester, did not take part in the Warriors' pre-season training camp. New Zealand's midfield concerns have deepened with the loss of centre George Moala who was ruled out of the Rugby Championship opener at ANZ Stadium after suffering a medial ligament tear at training on Monday. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, has also lost Sonny Bill Williams for the entire campaign due to his Achilles injury at the Rio Olympics Sevens.

South Africa’s No 8 Duane Vermeulen suffered a knee injury while playing for Toulon. Vermeulen will likely have surgery to repair damage caused by the recurring injury to his right knee.

2016 Autumn Internationals tickets
Barbarians v South Africa Tickets 5 Nov 2016 Wembley Stadium London
England v South Africa Tickets 12 Nov 2016 Twickenham Stadium
Ireland v Canada Tickets 12 Nov 2016 Aviva Stadium Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Italy v New Zealand Tickets 12 Nov 2016 Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy
Wales v Australia Tickets 5 Nov 2016 Millenium Stadium Cardiff
Wales v Argentina Tickets 12 Nov 2016 Millenium Stadium Cardiff
Scotland v Australia Tickets 12 Nov 2016 Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh
England v Fiji Tickets 19 Nov 2016 Twickenham Stadium
France v Australia Tickets 19 Nov 2016 Stade de France Paris, France
Ireland v New Zealand Tickets 19 Nov 2016 Aviva Stadium Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Scotland v Argentina Tickets 19 Nov 2016 Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh
Wales v Japan Tickets 19 Nov 2016 Millenium Stadium Cardiff
England v Argentina Tickets 26 Nov 2016 Twickenham Stadium
France v New Zealand Tickets 26 Nov 2016 Stade de France Paris, France
Ireland v Australia Tickets 26 Nov 2016 Aviva Stadium Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Scotland v Georgia Tickets 26 Nov 2016 TBD United Kingdom
Wales v South Africa Tickets 26 Nov 2016 Millenium Stadium Cardiff
England v Australia Tickets 3 Dec 2016 Twickenham Stadium
France v Samoa Tickets 12 Nov 2016 TBD France