Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors
This ground-breaking head concussion study across Premiership and Championship rugby will run alongside the existing HIA off field screen that will be for a fixed period of ten minutes. READ MORE
From the Last Word on Rugby department. There will undoubtedly be a new significance for the Meads Cup in the Heartland Rugby Championship, 2017. In the wake of the passing of the trophies namesake, teams competing in the top division of the Championship will all seek to honour Sir Colin Meads. The Mitre 10 Heartland […] READ MORE
Last Word on Rugby, by Scott Hornell. Rugby Unions governing body World Rugby, have announced global trials ahead of proposed amendments to the scrum and tackle/ruck laws. The trials will take place from August 1 in the Northern Hemisphere, as World Rugby tweaks Scrum and Ruck Laws in an attempt to make the game simpler to watch, […] READ MORE
Last Word On Rugby, by Scott Hornell. It has been 12 full-on weeks of competition, and over the last two days there have been some fantastic finals footy played in New Zealand. In both Mitre 10 Cup and the Heartland Championship, teams were crowned for each division of the National Provincial Championship. Last Word On […] READ MORE
Last Word On Rugby, by Scott Hornell. In last weeks edition of the NZ Rugby Grandstand column, the challenge was who might be in line to make the knock-out stages. In the conclusion of Week Nine Mitre 10 Cup action, we now know who they are. Not only did the Mitre 10 Cup provincial competition […] READ MORE
From Last Word on Rugby, Scott Hornell Over the course of this season, teams have been cautiously building. Some began ‘hot’ in week one while others have built into their work. That is how it has transpired over the final week of competition. In the ninth week, all 14 Mitre 10 Cup sides are focused on […] READ MORE
The ‘hits and misses’ continue in Week Seven Mitre 10 Cup results. Not all good, but not all bad–and some spectacular matches and plays. That is what get’s fans engaged–the unpredictable nature of sport, and of New Zealand (NZ) rugby. In a full week’s schedule of games, the two sides who played twice included Waikato and Canterbury. […] READ MORE
It doesn’t get any better than this. Another Saturday full of rugby union (insert happy face here). Normally, Last Word On Sports would be celebrating Mitre 10 Cup or The Rugby Championship. Yes, of course there are three quality Mitre 10 Cup matches being played, with a weeks break for International rugby but importantly, today’s focus is […] READ MORE
Last Word On Rugby, by Mike Pulman In a thrilling encounter, Waikato have retained the Ranfurly Shield after drawing with Taranki in Hamilton this evening. There was controversy late in this game. Returning All Black midfielder Seta Tamanivalu was penalized for an apparent late shoulder charge, as Waikato charged downfield. Referee Ben O’Keeffe denied a […] READ MORE
From Scott Hornell, LastWordOnRugby.com In New Zealand this weekend, not only are the All Blacks playing again, but so is everyone else! Don’t take me literally, but there are literally so many games this weekend, that fans rugby calendar is overflowing. The All Blacks are just one of a number of matches this Super Saturday. At […] READ MORE