Sweden
Overshadowed by ice
hockey and football,
Swedish rugby has its
bright moments, such
as an impressive 36-
victory over Hungary in May that helped
them attain a world ranking of 48.
It was Sweden’s third successive
win in Rugby Europe Conference
One North. Conor Murphy – one
of three brothers in the team – and
Axel Kalling-Smith both scored two
tries in the match played at the RK
Trojàn ground in Norrkoping.
Sweden (below) lost their next match,
23-14 away to Ukraine, and will remain
in Conference One North next season.Australia
A calf injury is
jeopardising David
Pocock’s World Cup
hopes. The Wallabies flanker
(above) announced in May that he
had played his last Super Rugby
match for the Brumbies after
struggling with the injury since
January – he has played just
three games in 2019.
Now he is concentrating on
trying to recover for Japan 2019.
He says: “It’s been frustrating. I’ll
be doing everything I can to get
myself into the best shape I can.”USA
Mike Friday was
named Coach of the
Series at the World
Sevens Series Awards
after guiding the USA
to their best-ever finish of second on
the circuit – and with that automatic
qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.
Carlin Isles (below) picked up the
top try-scorer gong for the second
successive season after scoring 52
tries, while three USA players made the
HSBC Dream Team – Folau Niua, Ben
Pinkelman and Stephen Tomasin. Fiji
completed the seven-man team with
Jerry Tuwai, Aminiasi Tuimaba, Meli
Derenalagi and Vilimoni Botitu.
Front Row
AROUND THE WORLD
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Words Gunnar Hagberg & Sarah Mockford // Pictures Bhubesi Pride Foundation, Getty Images, Gunnar Hagberg & HKRU8