Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
As former All Black Dan Carter retires from first-class rugby, it is as a record-holding Champion. One who played at the elite level for his entire professional career, and he leaves a legacy of near-perfection. In a career that stretched from his provincial debut for Canterbury in 2002, his years as a professional footballer lasted […] READ MORE
All the time fans are spending on holidays, they can rest assured that Super Rugby 2021 sides are not. Working off the extra pounds is a player’s annual tradition and some haven’t even rested, as they feel the heat of their summer workout. The evidence is there for many, the delayed provincial rugby season has […] READ MORE
Even as the New Zealand Government was making the official announcement, NZ Rugby was poised to react. News that a Covid-19 recurrence in the Queen City is now set to spoil an enthralling Blues v Crusaders finale. The last game of the scheduled Super Rugby Aotearoa season; more often a grand final in other regular […] READ MORE
Lining up a penultimate season game at home, the Crusaders have a chance to secure another title when they play the match of the weekend in Super Rugby Aotearoa. A possible result that would see the Crusaders seal title number four-in-a-row. Wow. Could it happen….. although, if the Highlanders could ever put the proverbial ‘spanner […] READ MORE
With twenty-five minutes on the clock in the highest-profile game of rugby in months, the Crusaders went down six points. Rieko Ioane had just demonstrated his trademark finishing ability, by carrying two Crusaders with him as he muscled his way over the tryline for the Blues. Ioane’s try had handed his team the ascendancy, (with […] READ MORE
When he was needed most, Richie Mo’unga answered the call of his Crusaders team, to direct them towards a win in a local derby victory over the Blues. The All Blacks and Crusaders first-five was again at his prominent best, in driving his side for the entire 80 minutes. And that fact will be where […] READ MORE
On the verge of returning to action, the Super Rugby Aotearoa intra-conference planned competition is awaiting the Level 2 go-ahead next week. Awaiting the chance to open the gates, that have stood closed for over seven weeks and counting. In fact, all of New Zealand is waiting with bated breath to hear the date when […] READ MORE
Getting to one-third of the way through the season, the one fact that is unquestionable is – there are no unbeaten Super Rugby teams left. Hardly a ‘season changer’ but, many of the leading teams would not have envisaged such parity; to start with. There are always factors that can influence losses. Injuries, weather conditions, […] READ MORE
In a salute to the winning Stormers Rugby 2020 season results to date, the only unbeaten side in Super Rugby has established a near-perfect campaign and deserves a ‘pat on the back’.. Defeating the leading South African conference side of 2019, their 17-7 win over the Jaguares at home is the confidence boost the local […] READ MORE
It began last weekend. It included a ‘weather bomb’ when the Stormers fought it out with the Hurricanes. Now the competition looks to kick on with Super Rugby Round 2, and more world-class fixtures. Seven clashes will make up this second weekend of games. Some mouth-watering local derby games – including the match-of-the-round, Chiefs v […] READ MORE