Category: Uncategorized

To those of us with only a passing knowledge of rugby, the revelation of the Telstra 2018 NRL competition has been the New Zealand Warriors. They started off a fire and have kept things going to an extent remarkable, given the recent past history of the club. They currently hold the fourth spot of the … Keep Reading “Warriors Impressive in NRL 2018 Premiership Competition”

Jordie Barrett has seemingly escaped the wrath of Steve Hansen, who said that the All Blacks’ player is guilty of nothing, “Other than being stupid.” We seem to like that trait in our athletes, so long as the stupidity takes the right form and does not run afoul of the current trend. Barrett’s transgression was … Keep Reading “All Black Barrett Receives Black Eye of Late Night Pre-Test Hijinks”

Enough. Japan, as a nation, is nothing if not game, but the recent sledging by the Baby Blacks, a 67 – 0 win, in World Rugby U20 Championship play in France was nothing but an excuse for Kiwi players to scout locations for places to live when they abandon New Zealand to play French Top … Keep Reading “Baby Blacks Humiliation of Japan Gives NZ Football Black Eye”

It is possible that New Zealand Rugby will be magnanimous and clear the way for back-rower Pete Samu to take a leave from the Canterbury Crusaders and play Test football for the Wallabies against Ireland in June. Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika is anxious to have Samu available, but they have to sweat out NZR’s whim … Keep Reading “Wallabies Fate of Pete Samu Rests with New Zealand Rugby”

It is a universal complaint, but in this case, it seems that the whinging should be going in the opposite direction, as the All Blacks are a national brand and anything they do should far exceed in significance anything to do with Super Rugby. Yet, some are expressing dissatisfaction that an All Blacks training camp, … Keep Reading “Hansen Unsympathetic to Super Rugby Naysayers”

The Black Sticks have suffered the second defeat in four days, losing once again to the Aussies in the Tri-Nations women’s hockey tournament. Is this suggestive of a trend? First, it was the Waratahs over the Highlanders in Super Rugby, now field hockey. What next? Ah, well. So long as the All Blacks continue to … Keep Reading “Black Sticks Hopes Alive for Final of Tri-Nation Hockey Play”

After being a member of the side that permitted the Aussies to break the long drought against New ZealandConferenceSuper Rugby teams, Shannon Frizell thought he was the target of a practical joke when the Highlander took a phone call informing him that he had been chosen to occupy a spot with the All Blacks. Frizell … Keep Reading “Rookie Highlander Called to All Blacks to Feed Hansen’s Pipeline”

The Aussie Super Rugby duck has been broken at last, with the Waratahs did what no other Super Ruby League Australian Conference side has been able to do since near the end of 2016: beat one of the New Zealand sides. The Highlanders were playing a man short, as Tevita Nabura was sent off the … Keep Reading “Waratahs Beat Highlanders to Halt Aussie Losing Streak to Kiwis”

What do you do after growing up in New Zealand, learning to play rugby in a country that seems to do little other than groom the world’s top players, and then looking to turn your skill into the best possible financial remuneration? Head to France of course and get a job playing in the Top … Keep Reading “Go North Young Man in Pursuit of Rugby Riches”

It certainly says something about the quality of Kiwi rugby players when one of them goes from playing club football to working in the mines in Western Australia, to a brief stint with the now defunct Western Force, to the Melbourne Rebels to an opportunity to play for the Wallabies at the representative level. All … Keep Reading “Rangi Ranges Far and Wide as Casual Club Player to Wallabies Candidate”