NPC (National Provincial Championship)

With the ‘halt in play’ affecting the 2020 seasons in both hemispheres, a retrospective look at some past players is due. Some of the rugby royalty from the 1970s is as better place as any to start. Being a child of that era, my own reflection on this generation has been learned over the years. […]

Radio Sport New Zealand (NZ) operates in an industry of content. So while health and safety are paramount, Radio Sport NZ has been culled amid the worldwide Covid-19 sport ‘lockdown’. A sign of the times, one might say. A period of self-isolation for sportspeople that has taken a victim of a different type. An organization, […]

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has received the independent findings from the consulting firm tasked earlier this year with undertaking a Review of Rugby. CEO Mark Robinson has spoken highly of the opportunity that now exists to ‘redefine the Sport’. He said, in an NZR media release, “This is an important opportunity to stand back, look […]

In a moment of kindness and sharing, this writer was donated a ‘great big box of Rugby Books’. How good – and the joy it has brought is something others should realize themselves. ‘Sharing is Caring’ is the saying. Very true, and with a recent experience of inheriting a vast array of rugby books from […]

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. […]

Having only signed a senior contract at the start of the season, a string of exciting performances have earned young Wasps starlet Jacob Umaga a new upgraded contract. The new deal comes after a man of the match performance in last weekends 32-14 Challenge Cup victory over Agen. Umaga scored 12 points and produced a […]

When a list of names was put forward as potential candidates for the vacant All Blacks Coach position last week, the New Zealand Rugby administration was inundated with quality choices. From domestic title winners, to European and International rugby leaders. It all makes for an interesting selection process, and a widely anticipated appointment. Widely; well […]

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 […]

Along with his teammates, Ethan Roots and Harbour Rugby are ready for a ‘surprise’ Ranfurly Shield challenge, coinciding with Week 10 of the Mitre 10 Cup. A surprise, due to the recent victory by Canterbury over shield holders Otago. It then catapulted [North] Harbour into a key position. The final challenger of the 2019 season […]

Building his rugby knowledge ‘on the job’ is 2019 Harbour Rugby assistant coach Sam Ward. Part of the leadership group in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship – it is one steep learning curve that the assistant coach is fully embracing. While 2019 has not yet been full of highs, a sweet victory over Manawatu on […]

Passed the halfway stage of the 10-week domestic rugby season, Mitre 10 Cup week 7 results ensured that several teams are still in contention for the playoffs. Fans attention may be distracted with the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but each week, the provincial unions around New Zealand do battle. Often fierce local […]

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 […]

Knowing that the rugby-frequency is just about to wound up to full volume, fans welcome in another Super Saturday, with International rugby at the forefront. The selection has been limited thus far. The Rugby Championship entertaining an eager appetite; especially in the all-important Rugby World Cup calendar year. That was complemented perfectly by the Pacific […]

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 […]

For many fans of rugby union, few players gain respect from the majority. more than All Blacks and Highlanders player, Ben Smith. He is one of those few men who are recognized and praised by so many for his skill and his manner on-and-off the park. Playing in the last game of his career with […]