Rugby

Kiwi Rugby Legend John Whittaker Has Cancer

Legendary New Zealand rugby league player John Whittaker’s family has confirmed that he’s been diagnosed with stage-four tongue cancer. The legendary Whittaker, now 70 years old, is considered one of the greatest players ever to have played for Wellington. Whittaker, who is a father to two grown children and a ….

Blues Say Barrett’s Japan Move Is ‘All Good’

The Blues say they’re feeling confident in their ability to take Beauden Barrett’s 2021 Japan sabbatical sign in their stride. And since Barrett’s four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby, signed late last year, clearly stipulates the option of once-off 12-month period away, the star player’s upcoming absence was even factored ….

Eden Park Prepares for Super Rugby Aotearoa

Confidence in the Blues team is running high as they get ready to play in front of their largest home crowd in more than 10 years when they face off against the Hurricanes this Sunday. It’s the first match of the Super Rugby Aotearoa and the first professional Rugby game ….

Football Teams Receive Sports Relief Package

Wellington Phoenix informed various representatives from New Zealand Sport, including Steve Tew, Chief Executive Officer for New Zealand Rugby, that they faced collapse unless they received financial assistance. So the A-League Football Club received the second bail-out they’ve required in the last 10 years. The first rescue mission was accomplished ….

NZR Rejects Law Changes Submitted by World Rugby

New Zealand Rugby has announced that it will not be following the World Rugby proposals limiting players contact. WR’s scheme includes banning scrum resets, prohibiting mauls, forbidding team huddles, and vetoing upright tackles in the Super Rugby Aotearoa happening in June. The plan is not a prerequisite for playing, though. ….

NZ Super Rugby Resume Training Post-COVID-19

Kiwi’s Super Rugby players are set to start what coaches are calling a second pre-season on the 25th of May. They’re able to return to training thanks to health and travel restrictions being relaxed in the wake of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown efforts to contain it. ….

Former All Blacks Weigh In on Rugby’s Future

Former All Blacks Jeff Wilson, Sir John Kirwan, and Justin Marshall have said that they support the idea of reinstating prolonged international tours that would see Test teams facing off against Provincials and Club Sides in clashes in the middle of the week. The future of Rugby the world over ….

COVID-19 Hits NZ Rugby Players’ Wallets Hard

New Zealand Rugby has recently confirmed that approximately NZ$25 million, or 50% of what is left of the forecasted Player Spend for the Association, will be frozen. This is in the wake of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak that has seen the sports sector brought to a screeching halt the ….

Coles Feels Pay Cuts for All Blacks Inevitable

Dane Coles, Hooker for the All Blacks, is taking the likelihood of him and his teammates seeing their wages reduced on the chin. This is in the wake of the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis that has prematurely ended the Super Rugby season, seen the Olympic Games postponed, and brought the global ….

NZ Rugby Suspended Indefinitely

New Zealand Rugby has been suspended for the foreseeable future. The news comes in the wake of the Government’s announcement that the country will go into lockdown on Wednesday the 25th of March and will remain so for four weeks. All our teams will stop training, but there has, as ….