Rugby Championship

Wrapping up the presents, it’s appropriate to consider the Best and Worst list of Rugby 2022. From the teams and competitions across the globe, this is a small selection to end the calendar year on a positive note. For all the positives in the sport, it is competitive, there must be a winning and a […]

With fingers pointing at Bernard Foley and match referee Mathieu Raynal, it was a harsh end to such a sensational game – unfortunately, a match where any Wallabies Bledisloe Cup ambitions were dashed by a freekick penalty that stalled a fast-finishing Australian team in Melbourne. The game had fans on the edges of their seats. […]

In a convincing manner across two Rugby Championship matches, the Wallabies dominated the Springboks as Argentina’s first win on New Zealand soil saw jubilation on the faces of the South American team. Shocked looks crossed the All Blacks player’s faces, with more despair in the coaching box. Ian Foster has added more unwanted records to […]

Consistency is something that any successful rugby team must have. So the ongoing Wallabies’ first five issues have plagued the Dave Rennie era. The latest crisis began when Quade Cooper got injured in the opening test of The Rugby Championship campaign. That was followed by the failure of James O’Connor to step into the starting […]

Even if it might not quell the external noises, the All Blacks head coach role has been assured to incumbent Ian Foster until the Rugby World Cup in France. That ‘noise’ had reached a crescendo on Friday, August 12, the day before the second Rugby Championship test in Johannesburg. Media attention was abundant, right across […]

Reading the Steve Hansen comments on NZ Rugby (New Zealand) you get the sense that it is like an ex-wife putting the boot in. And you wonder, who will be seen in a worse position at the conclusion of this dire period for NZ Rugby? Interviewed by Today FM, Sir Steve Hansen KNZM did not […]

After announcements on Sunday, July 24, the question has arisen of how far are recent All Blacks coaching staff changes going to go? That comes after a series loss to Ireland this year, on top of losses across 2021. In news that came days after a press conference securing the role of the head coach […]

Reports that circulated the web have been confirmed, as NZR sign Joe Schmidt to join the All Blacks as an Independent Selector from July 2022. It is a coup for the New Zealand union, who have felt extreme examination after a contentious Northern Tour that only produced more questions than answers. With the ability to […]

Re-signed Ardie Savea has penned a four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby (NZ Rugby) which will keep him in Aotearoa through to the end of the 2025 season. His contract terms will not be made public, so the questions many would be thinking could be; How much is he being paid directly from NZ Rugby? […]

The Springboks Rugby Championship campaign was disappointing. They finished third in the four-nation competition, which was won by the All Blacks. The highlight of the Springboks Rugby Championship 2021 was proving their many detractors wrong by staging a fightback from a 9 point deficit to defeat the All Blacks 31-29 in the Gold Coast. Boxing […]

100-test All Black Aaron Smith has provided a unique Dichotomy of this professional rugby player today with his All Blacks unavailability choice, by choosing family ahead of a three-month odyssey overseas. Unique, as is his choice to not only stay home for the birth of his second child that was put ahead of his contractual […]

With a fresh All Blacks squad named on Thursday to travel to Perth – albeit missing their Captain and in-form key duo – this side is less prepared for the upcoming ‘long haul’ Test schedule than stakeholders will have wished for. Hurriedly assembled that is. If not under a degree of pressure before departing as […]

The match schedule for the premier SANZAAR Rugby tournament has only just allayed the confusion and conjecture that was surrounding the 2021 Rugby Championship (TRC) fixtures list. With major changes made to these TRC fixtures timeline that is now based entirely in Queensland, it has become a singular-Continental tournament – and one that may or […]

For the first time in two seasons, the full complement of competing nations will be represented when The Rugby Championship 2021 was revealed last week. Including South Africa – who could not travel in 2020, due to Coronavirus restrictions – the current World Champions will again face their famous foes from the Southern Hemisphere. New […]

There has been a lot of conjecture and questions recently. Is Springbok rugby for sale? This is no different from what is happening in New Zealand, with New Zealand in consultation with possible equity partner Silver Lake. The history Both countries have a rich history in the game. Their national rugby teams are revered and […]