Live Roundups Editor's Desk Insights Executive Ops Weather About 🔍
Home › Sport › Australia lose flyhalf Gordon, flanker Hooper for France test
Sport

Australia lose flyhalf Gordon, flanker Hooper for France test

Australia lose flyhalf Gordon, flanker Hooper for France test
Channel News Asia Tuesday 07 July 2026, 05:03 UTC 2 min read
Key Points

Australia lose flyhalf Gordon, flanker Hooper for France test MELBOURNE, July 7 : Australia have suffered a major blow ahead of the second Nations Championship test against France with the loss of flyhalf Carter Gordon and loose forward Tom Hooper to injury. Gordon's partnership with halfback Ryan Lonergan helped the Wallabies make a flying start in the Nations Championship opener against Ireland on Saturday, but both came off injured before the Irish rallied to a 33-31 win in Sydney. Gordon...

Australia lose flyhalf Gordon, flanker Hooper for France test MELBOURNE, July 7 : Australia have suffered a major blow ahead of the second Nations Championship test against France with the loss of flyhalf Carter Gordon and loose forward Tom Hooper to injury. Gordon's partnership with halfback Ryan Lonergan helped the Wallabies make a flying start in the Nations Championship opener against Ireland on Saturday, but both came off injured before the Irish rallied to a 33-31 win in Sydney. Gordon has now been ruled out for the remaining two July tests against France and Italy with a calf strain after suffering cramp during the Ireland match, Rugby Australia said on Tuesday. The Queensland Reds flyhalf has had a tough run of injuries for the Wallabies, suffering a torn quadriceps muscle, a broken nose and a wrist fracture while on the season-ending tour of Europe at the end of 2025. Uncapped Reds flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has been brought into the squad to cover Gordon but Ben Donaldson is likely to start against France after replacing Gordon early in the second half on Saturday. Uncapped ACT Brumbies flyhalf Declan Meredith is already in the squad and could take a spot on the bench against the French. Hooper was also scratched for both the France and Italy tests with a shoulder injury, having replaced Rob Valetini in the second half at Sydney Football Stadium against Ireland. Rugby Australia did not announce a replacement in the squad for the hulking flanker. Lonergan came off the field before half-time after taking a knock to his throat but has not been ruled out of the France match at Lang Park. France winger Damian Penaud, the nation's all-time top try-scorer, has been ruled out of the Nations Championship tests against Australia and Japan after feeling tightness in his calf in the 34-32 defeat by New Zealand in Christchurch. France coach Fabien Galthie is expected to make a number of changes, with reinforcements having joined the squad after being rested for the All Blacks match following their participation in the Top 14 final.
Australia (LOCATION) Gordon (PERSON) Hooper (PERSON) France (LOCATION) MELBOURNE (LOCATION) Carter Gordon (PERSON) Tom Hooper (PERSON) Ryan Lonergan (PERSON) Wallabies (LOCATION) Ireland (LOCATION) Irish (ORG) Sydney (LOCATION) Italy (LOCATION) Rugby Australia (ORG) The Queensland Reds (ORG)
Originally published by Channel News Asia Read original →

Related Stories

Sunray Shadow chases the four-timer at Uttoxeter

Today on Sky Sports Racing: Brighton, Wolverhampton and Uttoxeter In today’s feature, Dan and Harry Skelton will attempt to make it four on the bounce with the ultra-progressive Sunray Shadow who takes on a host of in-form rivals at Uttoxeter. We also have competitive action from Brighton and Wolverhampton, live on Sky Sports Racing from 1.30pm Monday 6 July 2026 13:23, UK We have a busy day’s racing on Tuesday with flat action from Brighton, Wolverhampton and Uttoxeter, live on Sky Sports...

Sky Sports Football just now

Balogun is quiet on pitch after kicking up an international storm

Balogun is quiet on pitch after kicking up an international storm SEATTLE, July 6 : After dominating the global football headlines for 24 hours, U.S. striker Folarin Balogun barely merited a mention in Monday's game against Belgium as the co-hosts were eliminated from the World Cup in the round of 16. The 25-year-old's three goals and playmaking up front had helped the U.S. top their group and dispatch Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32. However, U.S. fans feared they would be denied...

Channel News Asia 19m ago

USMNT shrugs off Balogun noise in WCup exit

For two days, there was no bigger story in sports than Folarin Balogun's red card suspension. But, after the U.S. men's national team was soundly beaten by Belgium, 4-1, and eliminated from the World Cup, American players and coach Mauricio Pochettino were quick to say the controversy had not been a distraction. "We don't need to find excuses," Pochettino said.

ESPN 30m ago

The U.S. had a golden opportunity for a soccer breakthrough. Now it must wait four more years.

SEATTLE — The U.S. men’s soccer team entered the World Cup’s round of 16 looking as though it had an edge on the rest of the soccer world. It ended Monday with another reminder it still is playing catch-up against the world’s elite teams. For more than 24 hours before the U.S. kicked off against Belgium inside a sold-out Seattle Stadium, other nations had decried the appearance of an off-field advantage handed to the U.S. by FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee, when on Sunday it...

NBC News 32m ago