Heartland Rugby Championship

Sir Brian Lochore

The passing of New Zealand Rugby icon and senior figure Sir Brian Lochore, has illustrated that a player’s career is more than just what they achieve on-the-field. So it is with the utmost respect that Last Word on Rugby pays tribute to one of the All Blacks greats. Losing his fight with cancer on August […]


Big week in New Zealand Rugby; new head coach and ASB Rugby Awards

As the details emerge, it has been a big week in New Zealand Rugby; there has been the announcement of a new head coach and the 2019 ASB Rugby Awards. Over the course of three days, the speculation over which man would helm the All Blacks direction over the next two years was finally decided. […]

Canterbury v Auckland final in 2019 Farah Palmer Cup

With the traditional ‘north versus south’ fixture of Canterbury v Auckland scheduled in the final of the 2019 Farah Palmer Cup, women’s rugby will hold the attention this weekend. With the two tiers, the Premiership cup final is scheduled to be played on Saturday, October 26 in Christchurch’s Rugby Park. The Auckland Storm will need […]

Mitre 10 Cup Week Two: CANvTAS Match of the Round

At the end of the Mitre 10 Cup Week Two schedule, one clash was more significant. The CANvTAS game was certainly the match of the round, with the victor taking a superior position on the table. While their provincial rivalry might be short-lived – played 17, from 2007-2018 – the Crusaders regional contest between Canterbury […]

Domestic rugby distraction in Mitre 10 Cup 2019

When the focus shifted from Super Rugby towards International Rugby, many of the wider-rugby community were left with a limited selection. Down on options, to avoid the risk of some fans taking up with another code, there will soon be a ‘domestic rugby distraction’ in the form of the Mitre 10 Cup 2019 schedule. The […]

2018 Incredible Accomplishments, Key Moments and New Years 'Rugby resolutions'

As an organization, Last Word on Rugby looks forward to the New Year, as much as anyone. We too, like to review many of the incredible accomplishments that have occurred over the past 12 months, the key moments over the calendar before making any ‘rugby resolutions’ ahead of the next year. Fondly as we might […]

NZ Rugby Awards and Joe Schmidt receives Coach of the Year endorsement

Every December, the best and brightest of New Zealand (NZ) Rugby get together to celebrate. Whatever the accomplishments individually, the NZ Rugby Awards is the best time to celebrate the sport, as a group. For women and men, players and referees, coaches and administrators, they all sit back and acknowledge each other’s efforts. To highlight […]

It's a Super Saturday from New Zealand to Japan

Looking at the rugby-schedule, it is a Super Saturday from New Zealand to Japan. Domestic rugby finals across New Zealand, a Bledisloe Cup test in Tokyo, and many more fixtures over a 30-hour window. That is great news for rugby lovers, as well as for the exposure of rugby union into the important sports market in […]

Thames Valley the 'Cinderella story' of Heartland Championship Semifinals clashes

In every rugby season, from New Zealand to England, Ireland or Argentina, there is one team who surprise all the others. Not expected to challenge, they rise like cream to the top of the bowl. And in the 2018 major semifinals clashes, the Thames Valley Swamp Foxes is that team. The side from Boyd Park, Te […]

New Zealand Domestic Rugby builds toward major Semifinals

After the final regulation season game was concluded on Sunday, New Zealand Domestic Rugby is building toward the major Semifinals for all men’s and women’s rugby competition. That is for the Mitre 10 Cup; both the Premiership and the Championship. The Heartland Championship; both for the Meads Cup and the Lochore Cup. Each of those competitions […]

Derby Matches galore in the Week Five of Heartland Championshi

With so many local derby matches, the results from Week Five of the Heartland Championship has only minutely defined the standings. For fans and followers of New Zealand grassroots rugby, their focus was directed solely on the field, and on the heritage and tradition of the national provincial rugby competition. For those new to the […]

Super Saturday: Rugby Union and Rugby League overload

It is not often that Rugby Union and Rugby League fans have such conflicting match schedules, as they do on this Super Saturday. With both the All Blacks and NZ Warriors playing, it might end up as a question of sport? Which one do i watch Live? That decision is similar to other choices that […]

Women's rugby set to hold the ball during Super Saturday

Now that provincial rugby competitions have been up and running in NZ and South Africa, it’s the time when women’s rugby are set to ‘hold the ball’ during Super Saturday. The women selected to play in the 2018 Farah Palmer Cup, have been readying themselves. Training (see main picture) and building the important team culture, […]

James Lash: Heartland Rugby everything he enjoys about the Game

Another weekend, and another Super Saturday. Fans find that the Heartland Championship begins, along with the crucial Black Ferns/All Blacks test matches

Mitre 10 Cup Rugby brings the game to the nation

Like other provincial championships, bringing the game home to the nation is the point-of-difference. The emphasis on the heartland and ‘grassroots rugby’ is where fans can engage with a game that seems to always be played in the big centers – Mitre 10 Cup Rugby turns the focus on the stakeholder. In New Zealand Rugby, […]

Draw Announced for 2018 Mitre 10 Cup and Heartland Championship in New Zealand

The standard bearer of New Zealand provincial rugby strength, the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup and Heartland Championship, have had their full draw announced this week. With this schedule now known, the provincial rugby unions can begin to plan for their short term futures. From the beginning, the organization will call upon it’s staffs to now begin […]



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National Rugby League

Ever found yourself in a chat with a rugby-mad buddy, only to be baffled by the lingo and the rules? Let’s start unscrambling that confusion by diving into the world of the National Rugby League (NRL) – the premier global competition in Rugby League.

Welsh Rugby Union head coach Warren Gatland looks on with pride after the Wales Grand Slam Celebration
Thomas Booth - Mar 17, 2018

Warren Gatland has had his say on the Rugby World Cup in France in his recent UK Daily Telegraph article. Wales failed to progress beyond the last eight not because they were outfought and outthought. Rather that there is something wrong with the rules of the game, and how it is played at the highest […]

Rugby Heroes and Villains of 2023; Scotland

In a look back, Last Word on Rugby views the Rugby Heroes and Villains for 2023. Not focused entirely on one or the other – balanced in as how the sport of rugby union is a team-based game; as much as for individuals who can shine or be villainised for their contributions. Over the last […]

Rugby Canada women's team player, Fancy Bermudez, celebrates try against France

The 2023 Rugby Canada women’s team might be seen as one of the best years in the national team’s history. There were many highlights for the national team, including playing the Pacific Four Series in the nation’s capital in the summer. 2023 Rugby Canada women’s team: Finished second in the WXV 1 competition Strengths Players […]

Your Favourite Rugby Players' Most Interesting Hobbies
Ricky Carroll, Editor - Mar 17, 2018

Rugby League players are a talented and fearless bunch, so it only stands to reason that amongst them are some unusual hobbies. If you’ve ever wondered what some of the most exciting rugby league players in the world get up to in their spare time, or get up to now that they’ve retired, then we’ve […]

Jean-Bouin, home of the Stace Stade Français vs Leicester game on Sunday

The Champions Cup game of the Stade Français vs Leicester game will take place on Sunday at 12:30 PM ET. This will be the first group-stage game for Stade Français Paris after the Leicester Tigers won on December 10 against the Stormers. While Stade Français lost on the road against the Sale Sharks, it will […]

Marcus Smith, of the Harlequins F.C., playing against Racing 92
Charlie Inglefield - Mar 17, 2018

The two most impressive teams this past week in European Professional Rugby Club (EPRC) competition were perhaps the Harlequin F.C. and the Exeter Chiefs. And in those games, Marcus Smith and Will Joseph were superb in Harlequins’ scintillating win over Racing 92 in Paris. On Saturday afternoon, the Chiefs were equally impressive in downing mighty […]

Paris Stade Jean-Bouin, one of the 14 home venues for the Top14 Round Nine Games
Larissa Falls - Mar 17, 2018

If you love a stat or fact, then you’ve come to the right place! After the French Top14 Round Nine concludes, LWOS adds to your weekend’s enjoyment. 14 Fun Facts of Top14 Round Nine Larissa Falls continues her series breaking down the names and numbers from Round Nine of the French Top14. Après un énorme combat, […]