Since this years Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) began, one team have been quietly achieving the steps needed. Not over doing it, but on an assured quest to reach their goals. So on Friday when the AUSvFIJ semifinal kicks off, the Australian home town favourites must fire. A steady build-up is good; three victories in […] READ MORE
Author: Scott Hornell, Managing Editor
All Blacks Defence Denies Scotland the Brave from First Ever Test Win
Defence. It is primary to any ball sport. And while you need to score more points than your opposition, absorbing pressure and having a committed defence is key. And this was true on Saturday night in Edinburgh, as the All Blacks defence proved ‘just enough’ to deny Scotland… yet again. With a blemish free International record, […] READ MORE
2017 Not a Season Sonny Bill Williams will Celebrate
Polarizing, talented, and yet at times, a frustrating figure in rugby union. Sonny Bill Williams, the multi-code star whom has risen and fallen in public favour, will look back on 2017 with little fondness. The player [personally] will feel one way. The rugby public–those in the Northern Hemisphere, and those in his native New Zealand–will […] READ MORE
France Victorious in Bid to Host 2023 Rugby World Cup
News that France had been victorious in the results of a ballot vote by World Rugby council members, came as a surprise to many. The process had been presumed to follow the official recommendation of South Africa–but that was upended by the French delegation, as now they will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. With […] READ MORE
New Zealand Work Extra Hard to Defeat French XV Selection in Lyon
While not a test match in name, the feeling on the ground was exactly the same intensity. As New Zealand ran on an All Blacks side with few experienced players, they had to face a nugget and hard French XV Selection in Lyon. The result was not assured, right up till the last minute, the French […] READ MORE
Luke Whitelock to Captain New Zealand in Midweek Tour Match
In news that has started many conversations in New Zealand, the naming of Luke Whitelock to Captain New Zealand in their midweek tour match against a French XV Selection has several key points. Firstly, the current leader of the Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup team seems more than qualified. He has successfully led New Zealand (NZ) previously […] READ MORE
Rugby Sabbatical, the New Rest and Recuperation Policy
In the Army, rest and recuperation was a wartime policy to assist service men and women who had faced injury or at worst, suffered from the mortality of their fellow officers and personnel. It was to take them away from the environment–and in a sporting parlance, today, the Rugby Sabbatical is the closest policy. It […] READ MORE
Mistakes from All Blacks Show Little Change, in Win Over France
The judgement is that ‘a win over France is hard enough to achieve’. Even a Les Bleus side with injury worries, can still upset any International side. So while basic mistakes from All Blacks do continue to plague this team, they continue to win when it is needed. A 18-38 victory is a signal that […] READ MORE
International Window Opens, World Class Rugby Fixtures Lined Up
As the International window opens, fans can expect World Class rugby fixtures from Georgia to Ireland. The International test match schedule will see many of the top ranked teams across World Rugby face each other in the first round of the November schedule from Friday. All the leading nations are lining up this weekend, with […] READ MORE
All Blacks React to Assumed Pressure in French Test Match
After the period of balancing the demands of All Blacks selection across a wide range of representatives, the focus has returned to selection policy. After ensuring some players were well rested for the November end of year tour, the All Blacks react to assumed pressure for the upcoming French Test match. New Zealand head coach Steve […] READ MORE