Farah Palmer Cup

Farah Palmer Cup finals approach

Now that the Farah Palmer Cup finals places are confirmed, both the Premiership and Championship divisions will be decided on Saturday, September 10. Some players involved in those two fixtures are also with the New Zealand Black Ferns women’s team. They are currently in full preparations ahead of the 2021 Rugby World Cup; postponed due […]


Postponed North v South clash dependent on Covid-19 status

The squad announcement occurred on August 18 yet no sooner had the applause quietened down, has New Zealand Rugby (NZR) had to postpone the North v South clash as the ability for the match to continue is wholly dependent on Covid-19 alert level status. With the harsher restrictions surrounding the Auckland boundaries, and with a […]

Revised 2020 Farah Palmer Cup resumes Women's rugby competition

A revised 2020 Farah Palmer Cup draw has been released by New Zealand Rugby (NZR),  with provincial women’s rugby set to resume play in August. In a pivotal 12 month period, New Zealand will aim to host and defend the Rugby World Cup. Competitions like the Farah Palmer Cup, plus the club and provincial leagues […]

Nuerology Study: Contact Sports and Concussion in Rugby

In a study that compared Rugby Players to Swimmers and Rowers, study author Ravi S. Menon, Ph.D., FRSC, of Western University in London, Canada, found that contact sports have a correlation with brain damage and concussion. According to a new study published in the June 17, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of […]

2020 Mitre 10 Cup draw announced for Premiership/Championship

A revised 2020 Mitre 10 Cup draw has been announced, with a new schedule for the Premiership and Championship conferences, that starts on September 11. Across New Zealand, the 14 unions are committed to commencing the national provincial championship, as the country overcomes the Coronavirus pandemic. With Super Rugby being played, the Mitre 10 Cup […]

Injury Heartache; Charmaine Smith forced into early Retirement

A check-up has resulted in Black Fern Charmaine Smith facing an early retirement from professional women’s rugby. Due to a diagnosed bulging disk in her neck, the 29-year old has made the cautionary decision to end her 27 cap New Zealand Black Ferns XV career. New Zealand Rugby’s head of Women’s Rugby, Cate Sexton said […]

Covid-19 health/family focus now switches back to rugby training mode

From the intense Covid-19 personal health and family focus of the last few months, it now switches back to one of a ‘rugby training mode’ for both men and women across the rugby-globe. Moving from the life-affecting changes to society and to the state of rugby worldwide was monumental for all. One which the Coronavirus […]

Women's rugby and Schools/Clubs given green light in NZ

After an age of postponement, Women’s rugby and Schools and Clubs have been given the green light in New Zealand, to resume training ahead of a June return. The phased reintroduction of team sports across rugby union, football, and other sports like Hockey, Netball/Basketball, will see many smiling faces. Player’s have had to bide their […]

Southern hemisphere rugby

Southern Hemisphere rugby has had to endure a period of change in the last month. Not battered to the same degree as Europe has, yet wage cuts, fans and players’ seasons disrupted, and unease for what the future may hold is certainly is disarming. While still well mannered and constructive, everything has been spoken of, […]

Rugby Highlights of 2019 - LWOR top ten

When compiling our list of Rugby Highlights, all the contributions were both personal, and a mix of popular and particular. Just like every rugby-conversation though, it is a mix of the most popular, and the most enjoyable moments across another great 12 months for Last Word on Rugby. Rugby Highlights of 2019 – LWOR top […]

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 […]

2019 Farah Palmer Cup set to be the 'Best Ever'

After months of waiting, the schedule for the 2019 Farah Palmer Cup has been released. And acknowledging the growth of the women’s game across the globe, this year’s competition is set to be the ‘Best Ever’. After three successful and well supported seasons in its current name, the Women’s national provincial championship has developed from an […]

Women's Final clashes of 2018 Farah Palmer Cup go the way of favourites

When the women’s final clashes of the 2018 Farah Palmer Cup were played this weekend, the results went the way of the favourites

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 […]

'Wahine Round' of Farah Palmer Cup and Mitre 10 Cup celebrate milestone for Women

125 years ago, New Zealand led the world in recognizing women, when the government of the day legalized the rights of women, to vote. A formalization of the growing suffragette movement, which this weekend will be celebrated in New Zealand Rugby. The very first ‘Wahine Round’ of Farah Palmer Cup and Mitre 10 Cup fixtures will highlight […]



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Welsh Rugby Union head coach Warren Gatland looks on with pride after the Wales Grand Slam Celebration
Thomas Booth - Sep 20, 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 - Sep 20, 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 - Sep 20, 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 - Sep 20, 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, […]