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Showing posts from 2020

21st-century sports stars: Five Kiwis just getting started on the international stage

The first Kiwis born in the 21st century will turn 21 this year. These five have already represented their country on the sporting stage. http://dlvr.it/Rph93R

All Blacks year in review: The good, the bad and the ugly of their six-test year

When the All Blacks were good they were very, very good, but when they were bad they were horrid. http://dlvr.it/Rph8zr

2021 New Year Honours for Dave Dobbyn, Rob Fyfe and Dame Anne Salmond

A Kiwi music icon, a former Air NZ boss and scientists advising on the Covid-19 pandemic are among the 154 recipients in 2021. http://dlvr.it/Rpd4Gn

Ken Scotland, the Lion with a romantic touch

More than 60 years after starring for the Lions, the former Scotland full-back remains as sharp as a tack. Rugby World laps up the wisdom found in his recent autobiography Cambridge blue: Ken Scotland dashing down the flank during the 1958 Varsity Match at Twickenham A review of the former Lions star's autobiography http://dlvr.it/RpZSx6

'I haven't seen my son yet': Why Jake Ball is quitting Wales rugby to return to Australia

Bearded forward keen to be with his wife and kids after almost a year apart. http://dlvr.it/RpZ786

Mark Reason: The 2020 Misnomers highlight significant forces for sporting good

OPINION: In a year when there wasn't much to smile about, Mark Reason has awarded his gongs to two people who showed courage and led change. http://dlvr.it/RpW4zl

Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi misses two games after wife tests positive for Covid-19

World Cup winning captain tests negative for virus, but in isolation while his wife recovers. http://dlvr.it/RpW4z8

'Bring back real rucking', says Stephen Jones, despite All Blacks' 'grisly assaults' of yesteryear

Veteran rugby writer says rucking could reinvigorate rugby, but accuses the All Blacks of past skullduggery. http://dlvr.it/RpRfrq

Covid concerns force four games to be cancelled in European rugby competitions

Four games postponed after rugby personnel test positive. http://dlvr.it/RpPVrF

'This one's for Chris Boyd': Kiwi coach hailed as Northampton Saints break rugby drought

Ex-Hurricanes coach relieved to get a first home win for 2020 at the last attempt. http://dlvr.it/RpPFnz

10 years of the Mitre 10 Cup's Premiership/Championship format – what have we learnt?

ANALYSIS: We've crunched the numbers to see how Championship teams have fared in comparison to their Premiership counterparts. http://dlvr.it/RpNdk0

Peace on earth and good will to all, with one or two exceptions

OPINION: It's time to look at Hamish Bidwell's Christmas wishlist. http://dlvr.it/RpJgHY

Unwanted South African Super Rugby teams finally find new home in Rainbow Cup

The Springboks should be primed to face the British and Irish Lions after it was confirmed 4 South African teams would play in a new competition. http://dlvr.it/RpJgDg

Covid impacts on Boxing Day programme

Several post-Christmas fixtures have been called off as the pandemic continues to biteNothing to watch: portraits of Munster fans at Thomond Park, where Leinster were due to visit (Inpho)The pandemic has forced some Christmas cancellations http://dlvr.it/RpJ6ln

Eden Park fans 'super stoked' to snap up Auckland stadium's hallowed turf

“Who else can say that they have had Dan Carter and Richie McCaw on their backyard?” fan Graham Adler said. http://dlvr.it/RpB2S8

Time to end careless talk praising rugby 'big hits'

OPINION: Is it time for rugby union to revise the use of language that so often glorifies the physicality of the game? http://dlvr.it/RpB2Ry

Study shows over one-fifth of English Premiership rugby players suffered concussion

Brain injury research specialist calls on World Rugby to acknowledge 'theirs is a sport that may be bad for the brain'. http://dlvr.it/RpB2PJ

Black Ferns flanker Kennedy Simon does the double at rugby players' annual awards

Sam Cane named best All Black of 2020 by his peers in their annual prize-giving. http://dlvr.it/Rp5ztl

No going back for Rieko Ioane as All Black determined to prove himself in No 13 jersey

Rieko Ioane makes it clear he wants to persist with move to the midfield in 2021 – both for the Blues and All Blacks. http://dlvr.it/Rp5ztZ

Wallabies target need for speed for Olympics, 2023 Rugby World Cup

Rugby Australia implements new pace benchmarks in bid to get more players running like speed demon Marika Koroibete. http://dlvr.it/Rp5zsz

Slain policeman Matt Ratana named Unsung Hero at BBC Sports Personality of the Year

The Kiwi killed on duty in London in September is posthumously remembered for his work with local rugby club. http://dlvr.it/Rp2V8G

'Sheep-tackling' Dylan Hartley regrets spurning chances to meet 'boyhood idol' Jonah Lomu

England's former Kiwi hooker tells how he tackled sheep at his Bay of Plenty home and how he had no choice but to idolise the late, great Jonah Lomu. http://dlvr.it/Rp2V83

Covid-19 outbreaks cause chaos after four European Champions Cup rugby games called off

Kiwi coach Glenn Delaney left frustrated when Toulon reneged on playing Scarlets two hours before kick-off. http://dlvr.it/Rp2V59

Sport NZ boss Raelene Castle reveals why she has made inclusion her signature

The Kiwi's sacking of Israel Folau for attacking the LGBQT community is just part of a her broader philosophy to get more people playing sport. http://dlvr.it/Rnz6TB

Cost of rugby injuries surges to $84 million, up $9 million from previous year

A downward trend in the number of rugby related injuries since 2015 isn’t sparing Accident Compensation Corporation’s (ACC) coffers. http://dlvr.it/Rnz6R8

New Zealand Rugby ready to change homophobia approach after 'eye-opening' study

The national sport's governing body has supported the likes of Brad Weber in his pro-LGBTQ stance, but it is now ready to take a more active role. http://dlvr.it/Rnz6N1

Katy Daley-Mclean’s Life In Pictures

From Rio to Rotorua, the England fly-half reflects on the highs and lows of more than a decade at the topSnapshot: England's Katy Daley-McLean poses for a photo with fans (Inpho)From Rio to Rotorua, the England fly-half reflects on the highs and lows of more than a decade at the top http://dlvr.it/RnvYPr

Extra Time: The highlights and lowlights of the 2020 sporting year

The All Blacks weren't great but still collected the silverware, the Silver Ferns began life without Laura Langman and the Black Caps continued to excel at home. http://dlvr.it/Rnsn0c

Bill Beaumont pens open letter after World Rugby receives notice of concussion legal case

Former England skipper, who retired aged 29 after repeated concussions, insists player welfare is the No 1 priority at every level of the game. http://dlvr.it/Rns1Mg

Live: 2020 New Zealand Rugby Awards

Sam Cane is named NZ Rugby Player of Year, wins Kelvin R Tremain Memorial award. http://dlvr.it/RnpfGh

Whitney Hansen follows in dad Steve's footsteps with Black Ferns coaching role

The famous Canterbury rugby coaching family will be a proud bunch after confirmation that Whitney Hansen will be a coach intern at the World Cup. http://dlvr.it/Rnnb7k

European champions Exeter rocked as Covid-19 outbreak cancels Toulouse game

Two big clashes in European rugby have been called off after the Chiefs reported a number of positive Covid-19 tests. http://dlvr.it/Rnn8xv

Rugby World Cup: Why French revolution should have All Blacks on high alert

Opinion: French coach Fabien Galthie can be a brute with his players. But his methods could unpick the All Blacks at the RWC in 2023. http://dlvr.it/RnhwJq

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper named John Eales Medal winner for third time

The flanker joins Israel Folau as the only three time winners of the prestigious award. http://dlvr.it/RnhKKn

Eddie Jones: 'Test rugby is a simple game, that is where people get a bit confused'

England coach hits back at "boring" jibes and explains what his side have learnt from their painful Rugby World Cup final defeat. http://dlvr.it/RnfQxq

Zac Guildford: turning his own life around, helping others do the same

The mercurial young All Black is now in his thirties and has gone back to his roots as he embarks on a career to help others through their struggles in life. http://dlvr.it/Rnd9py

Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool Draw

All the details of who will play who in the group stages in FranceStage is set: The pool draw for the 2023 World Cup took place in Paris (Getty Images)Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool Draw The pool draw has been made for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. …Continue reading » http://dlvr.it/Rncclt

English rugby club still reeling from tragic death of Kiwi police officer Matt Ratana

Coach's presence still felt at west Sussex club he helped rescue from the rugby doldrums. http://dlvr.it/RnZqH7

Rugby World Cup: How the draw for the 2023 tournament works

All Blacks fans will find out who their team has been pooled with in the early hours of Tuesday morning. http://dlvr.it/RnYtN4

Springboks wing Aphiwe Dyantyi handed four-year drugs ban: report

The 26-year-old who helped beat the All Blacks in 2018 tried to convince SA authorities the banned substances came from his friend's drinks bottle. http://dlvr.it/RnY7Wt

Record-breaking referee Nigel Owens' three ways to make rugby more exciting

Making plans by Nigel: Respected official says the key to freer flower rugby lies partly in the referee's hands. http://dlvr.it/RnX0Nf

Former All Blacks prop Neemia Tialata commits to joining concussion legal action

Rugby legal action now has its first New Zealand link. http://dlvr.it/RnWHdy

Whakatōhea and Ngāti Maniapoto take out inaugural Toa 10s titles

It was iwi against Iwi in Cambridge as a former NRL star made a big splash. http://dlvr.it/RnTrqF

How the Tasman Mako became the big fish in New Zealand rugby

The almost men of New Zealand provincial rugby for much of the decade, the Tasman Mako are now back to back champions. How did they get their bite? http://dlvr.it/RnTDpb

'Nobody knows the struggles they go through': Norm Maxwell's wife details ex-All Black's concussion battle

Wife of ex-AB Norm Maxwell opens up on his health struggles as she backs calls urging NZR to do more to help players. http://dlvr.it/RnQcyk

US brain specialist urges rugby to follow NFL and cut contact training to limit risk of concussion

Prominent concussion campaigner and neuroscientist also says age of tackling at youth level should be lifted. http://dlvr.it/RnQG1W

England coach Eddie Jones believes modern rugby is safe despite concussion concerns

England coach admits rugby has previously failed to look after its players “as well as we should” but says it's now leading the way. http://dlvr.it/RnPZfG

All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan goes from rugby coach to digital mental health coach

Former All Blacks great and mental health advocate turns into digital human to provide mental wellbeing advice. http://dlvr.it/RnLMj9

The controversial 2011 rule change key to rugby's concussion lawsuit

Nine years ago, what was then the IRB made a change to the game's concussion protocol that could cost it millions in court. http://dlvr.it/RnL1yY

Manusina icon forges a path for young rugby women

The honour of playing her part in the first Moana Pasifika rugby team was not lost on their physio, Ala Bakulich-Leavasa — the Manusina rugby trailblazer trying to draw more Pasifika women to the game. http://dlvr.it/RnKFhL