WFR News Engine V3

🌍🏉 WFR XXXI INTERNATIONAL TOURS — GAME DAY 2 CLUBS STRIKE BACK! RED CARDS, REVENGE, SHUTOUTS AND ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY DAY OF INTERNATIONAL RUGBY If Game Day 1 proved the touring nations had come to WFR to compete, Game Day 2 was the response from the clubs. Across 13 matches, there were enormous victories, three-point thrillers, revenge results and several brutal shutouts. Central Vikings blanked Fiji, Durban crushed Kenya, Santiago avenged Brazil's opening-day success, Brisbane overwhelmed Samoa, BC shut out Paraguay and Paris kept Poland scoreless. But the internationals had their moments too — and none bigger than Tonga's 28–22 victory over Perth, achieved despite Perth controlling 60% of possession. And in Taupo, the most dramatic disciplinary story of the tour so far unfolded: Georgia finished with two red cards as Taupo Toa ran in 61 points. 🇳🇿 NEW ZEALAND TOUR CENTRAL VIKINGS 29–0 FIJI McKENZIE MASTERCLASS — VIKINGS SHUT FIJI OUT After Fiji scored 20 against Peninsula on Game Day 1, Central Vikings produced a completely different answer. Zero. The Vikings held Fiji scoreless while Sam Cane and Anton Lienert-Brown supplied the tries. But the scoreboard belonged to Damian McKenzie. McKenzie converted both tries, landed four penalties from four attempts and added a drop goal — a remarkable 19-point individual contribution. Central dominated possession 63.75%–36.25%, won the lineouts 22–11 and spent 54 minutes in opposition territory. Fiji's Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula was yellow-carded, while Central's Mataitini Feke was listed among the injuries. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: DAMIAN McKENZIE 19 points — 2/2 conversions, 4/4 penalties and a drop goal. FULL TIME: CENTRAL VIKINGS 29–0 FIJI. TAUPO TOA 61–20 GEORGIA 🚨 TWO REDS! TAUPO RUN RIOT AGAINST 13-MAN GEORGIA This one had everything. Georgia's afternoon began to unravel after just ten minutes when Omar Jangavadze was shown a red card. Kurt Eklund immediately punished them with Taupo's opening try, Rivez Reihana converting. And it would get worse for Georgia. By fulltime they had suffered TWO RED CARDS — Jangavadze and Ilia Spanderashvili. Taupo eventually piled on eight tries. Kurt Eklund scored a hat-trick. And so did Rivez Reihana. Reihana's complete performance was enormous: three tries, six conversions and three penalties — 36 points! Georgia still managed three tries through Beka Shvangiradze, Luka Matkava and Khvicha Jgerenaia, but playing short-handed against this Taupo attack proved impossible. Taupo finished with 65% possession, won the lineouts 24–9 and made only three handling errors. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: RIVEZ REIHANA 36 POINTS — HAT-TRICK + 6 CONVERSIONS + 3 PENALTIES FULL TIME: TAUPO TOA 61–20 GEORGIA. 🇿🇦 SOUTH AFRICA TOUR DURBAN SPORTS CLUB 55–0 KENYA 🦈 DURBAN TURN THE SCREW — MARX HAT-TRICK IN 55-POINT SHUTOUT Game Day 1: Durban 22–3 Kenya. Game Day 2? 55–0. This time there was absolutely no escape for Kenya. Malcolm Marx powered across for a hat-trick, with Ben-Jason Dixon, Imad Khan, Leolin Zas and Damian Willemse also scoring. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added four conversions and four penalties. But the statistic that jumps off the page is possession: DURBAN 87.5% — KENYA 12.5%. That is extraordinary territorial and possession control. Durban also dominated the lineouts 19–4, while Kenya's Matrix Matanga suffered an injury listed at 2–3 games early in the contest. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: MALCOLM MARX Hat-trick in a 55-point shutout. FULL TIME: DURBAN SPORTS CLUB 55–0 KENYA. Durban therefore complete their two matches against Kenya having outscored them: 77–3. 🇨🇱🇧🇷 SOUTH AMERICA TOUR SANTIAGO CONDORS 22–0 BRAZIL CONDORS GET REVENGE FOR WFR — BRAZIL BLANKED IN SANTIAGO Brazil produced one of Game Day 1's great upsets when they defeated Buenos Aires 19–10. Santiago made sure there would be no repeat. Juan Cruz Mallia opened the scoring from the tee before the Condors eventually crossed three times through Matias Dittus, Joaquin Milesi and Santiago Wood. Mallia added two conversions and the penalty. Brazil, who looked so dangerous against the Bombers, couldn't register a point. Santiago controlled 58.75% possession, although Brazil actually won the scrum count 7–5. The Condors' Diego Escobar was the only injury listed. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: JUAN CRUZ MALLIA 7 points and control of the scoreboard. FULL TIME: SANTIAGO CONDORS 22–0 BRAZIL. BUENOS AIRES BOMBERS 20–8 URUGUAY BOMBERS BOUNCE BACK — URUGUAY'S PERFECT START ENDS After losing to Brazil on Game Day 1, Buenos Aires badly needed a response. They got one. Uruguay struck first through a Baltazar Amaya penalty, but Joaquin de la Vega Mendia answered to level the match. From there the Bombers gradually took control. Marcos Moneta and Joaquin de la Vega Mendia supplied the tries, while de la Vega Mendia converted both and landed two penalties. Uruguay's Felipe Aliaga crossed for their only try. Remarkably, possession finished exactly 50–50, with Buenos Aires holding a slight territorial advantage. Uruguay's Juan Gonzalez suffered an injury listed at 2–3 games. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: JOAQUIN DE LA VEGA MENDIA Try + 2 conversions + 2 penalties = 15 points. FULL TIME: BUENOS AIRES 20–8 URUGUAY. 🏴 BRITAIN TOUR HARLEQUINS CYMRAEG 29–20 PORTUGAL QUINS SURVIVE PORTUGUESE SCARE Portugal came to play. Manuel Cardoso Pinto kicked them ahead 3–0, then landed a drop goal to make it 6–0. Pedro Lucas crossed in the 19th minute and suddenly Portugal were 13–0 ahead. Harlequins had a fight on their hands. But the Welsh club eventually responded through four tries from Finley Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Jared Rosser and Ryan Conbeer. Sam Costelow converted three, while Finlay Christie added a drop goal. Portugal finished with two tries of their own, with Tomas Batista joining Pedro Lucas on the scoresheet, but Harlequins had done enough. Morgan Strong was yellow-carded for the hosts. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: THE HARLEQUINS COMEBACK From 0–13 down to a 29–20 victory. LEEDS TIGERS 21–8 SPAIN 🐅 FORD SCORES AGAIN — TIGERS MAKE IT TWO FROM TWO George Ford's international-tour scoring spree continued. The WFR XXX Player of the Season opened the scoring himself with an eighth-minute try and converted it. Spain hit back through Bautista Guemes to make it 7–5. But Leeds gradually imposed themselves. Sam Underhill and Caelan Doris added tries, and Ford converted all three Leeds scores. The Tigers finished with 57.5% possession, a 6–3 scrum advantage and a 19–9 lineout advantage. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: GEORGE FORD Try + 3/3 conversions = 11 points. After scoring 22 against Portugal on Game Day 1, Ford has now accumulated 33 points across his opening two tour matches. FULL TIME: LEEDS 21–8 SPAIN. 🇯🇵 JAPAN TOUR TOKYO SHOGUNS 13–10 HONG KONG, CHINA ⚔️ REVENGE IN TOKYO! SHOGUNS TURN THE TABLES Remember Game Day 1? Hong Kong, China stunned Tokyo 5–3. This time the Shoguns got their revenge — but only just. Brendon Nell gave Hong Kong, China the opening try, Jack Neville converting for an early 7–0 lead. Tokyo eventually fought back through a Ryusei Yamaguchi try, while Ben Donaldson supplied a conversion and penalty. But one of the decisive contributions came from scrumhalf Aaron Smith — a drop goal. The final margin? Exactly three points. Tokyo held 53.75% possession and spent 52 minutes in opposition territory, but Hong Kong, China remained alive right to the end. GAME DAY 1: TOKYO 3–5 HONG KONG, CHINA GAME DAY 2: TOKYO 13–10 HONG KONG, CHINA That's a fascinating little tour rivalry developing! 🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA TOUR BRISBANE PIRATES 53–12 SAMOA 🏴‍☠️ PIRATES PLUNDER SAMOA — SEVEN-TRY BLITZ Samoa blanked Perth 23–0 on Game Day 1. Brisbane clearly took notice. Matt Faessler crossed after only three minutes, Luke Morahan followed at six, and Morahan struck again at 16 minutes as Brisbane raced out of the blocks. Samoa captain Joel Lam did respond with a try. But Brisbane simply kept coming. The Pirates eventually scored seven tries: Matt Faessler, Tom Hooper, Teddy Wilson, Connor Winchester, Dylan Pietsch and Luke Morahan x2. Andrew Kellaway converted six and landed two penalties for 18 points. Samoa's Joel Lam scored both of his side's tries. Brisbane finished with 63.75% possession, won the lineouts 23–4 and made only two handling errors. Henry Stowers was yellow-carded for Samoa, while Brisbane's Angus Scott-Young was injured. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: LUKE MORAHAN Two tries as Brisbane put 53 on Samoa. PERTH REDS 22–28 TONGA 🇹🇴 TONGA STRIKE! — REDS FALL DESPITE 60% POSSESSION Here was the international result of Game Day 2. Noah Lolesio put Perth ahead with an early penalty. Then Tonga struck. Fetuli Paea crossed after six minutes and Atu Moli followed at 21, both converted by Telusa Veainu. Tonga ultimately scored four tries through Paea, Moli, Sam Tuitupou and William Havili. Veainu was flawless: 4/4 CONVERSIONS. Perth fought back through Blake Schoupp and a Tate McDermott double, but couldn't overhaul the visitors. And there was late drama of another kind: 🔴 ANGUS BELL — RED CARD, PERTH REDS Perhaps the strangest statistic is that Perth actually had 60% possession and won the scrum count 8–4. Tonga simply made their opportunities count. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: TELUSA VEAINU 4/4 from the tee in a six-point international victory. FULL TIME: PERTH 22–28 TONGA. 🌎 NORTH AMERICA TOUR CALIFORNIAN GRIZZLIES 49–10 MEXICO 🐻 GRIZZLIES MAUL MEXICO California dominated possession — 72.5% — and eventually turned that control into 49 points. Nafi Ma'afi scored twice. Tomas Casares scored twice. Jason Damm and Spencer Huntley added the others. Handré Pollard kicked five conversions and three penalties, contributing 19 points. Mexico's only try came through Mauricio Santos, with Alejandro Chavez converting and adding a penalty. California did, however, spend time under disciplinary pressure: Mark O'Keeffe and Marco van Staden both received yellow cards. The first came after 16 minutes. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: HANDRÉ POLLARD 19 points from the boot. FULL TIME: CALIFORNIAN GRIZZLIES 49–10 MEXICO. BC LUMBERJACKS 33–0 PARAGUAY 🪓 TIMBER! BC CHOP PARAGUAY DOWN Another clean sheet. BC's first points came from Josh Ioane penalties before Tamaiti Williams crashed across for the opening try in the 25th minute. By fulltime, Williams had been joined by Kyle Steeves and Josh Ioane on the try list. Ioane converted all three tries and landed four penalties. JOSH IOANE — 23 POINTS. BC controlled 60% possession and spent an enormous 60 minutes in opposition territory. Frank Carson was yellow-carded for the Lumberjacks, but Paraguay never found a way onto the scoreboard. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: JOSH IOANE Try + 3/3 conversions + 4 penalties = 23 points. FULL TIME: BC LUMBERJACKS 33–0 PARAGUAY. 🇫🇷 FRANCE TOUR PARIS TITANS 49–0 POLAND 🇫🇷 JAMINET DOES IT AGAIN — PARIS COMPLETE ANOTHER POLISH SHUTDOWN Game Day 1: PARIS 50–7 POLAND Game Day 2: PARIS 49–0 POLAND That is 99–7 across the two matches. Paris scored four tries this time through Fabio Gonzalez, Maxime Lamothe, Christ Tshiunza and Gabin Villiere. But once again, Melvyn Jaminet's boot was relentless. Four conversions from four. Seven penalties from nine. 29 POINTS. Paris controlled an extraordinary 81.25% possession, spent 57 minutes in opposition territory and won the lineouts 25–8. Poland captain Edward Krawiecki was yellow-carded after 12 minutes, with Jaminet immediately kicking the resulting penalty. Paris did lose Nicolas Depoortere to injury. ⭐ WFR TV STAR: MELVYN JAMINET 29 POINTS After his 25-point Game Day 1 performance, Jaminet has amassed: 54 POINTS IN TWO MATCHES AGAINST POLAND. 📺 WFR TV — GAME DAY 2 HEADLINE GRABBERS 💥 61 POINTS! TAUPO EXPLODE AS GEORGIA SEE DOUBLE RED 🎩 REIHANA 36-POINT MASTERCLASS — INCLUDING A HAT-TRICK 🦈 MARX HAT-TRICK — DURBAN DESTROY KENYA 55–0 🇹🇴 TONGA TAKE PERTH! INTERNATIONALS CLAIM 28–22 UPSET 🔴 ANGUS BELL SENT OFF IN PERTH DEFEAT 🏴‍☠️ PIRATES PLUNDER SAMOA — BRISBANE HIT 53 🏉 McKENZIE SCORES 19 AS CENTRAL BLANK FIJI 🪓 IOANE'S 23 — BC SHUT PARAGUAY OUT 33–0 🇫🇷 JAMINET AGAIN! 29 MORE POINTS AS PARIS WIN 49–0 🐅 FORD'S TOUR ROLLS ON — LEEDS BEAT SPAIN ⚔️ TOKYO GET THEIR REVENGE — SHOGUNS EDGE HONG KONG, CHINA 13–10 🇨🇱 CONDORS ANSWER BRAZIL — SANTIAGO WIN 22–0 🐻 CALIFORNIA POUR ON 49 AGAINST MEXICO 🌟 GAME DAY 2 — WFR TV PERFORMANCE BOARD There were some absolutely enormous individual performances. Rivez Reihana's 36 points and hat-trick leads the conversation, while Melvyn Jaminet produced another astonishing 29-point kicking display. Josh Ioane contributed 23 for BC, Damian McKenzie scored 19 in Central's shutout, Handré Pollard contributed 19 for California, and Malcolm Marx crossed three times for Durban. But the wider story was the sheer number of shutouts. Central Vikings 29–0 Fiji Durban Sports Club 55–0 Kenya Santiago Condors 22–0 Brazil BC Lumberjacks 33–0 Paraguay Paris Titans 49–0 Poland Five teams held scoreless on one Game Day. And then came Tonga — reminding everybody that these tours remain dangerous. 🌍 GAME DAY 2: THE WFR CLUBS HIT BACK The first tour window demonstrated that the international sides could beat WFR opposition. The second demonstrated just how quickly the clubs could respond. But with red cards, revenge matches, international victories and individual scoring explosions already piling up, these WFR XXXI International Tours are developing into something very special. THE WORLD TOUR CONTINUES… 🌍🏉🔥