This win at all costs culture isn’t new in secondary schools rugby isn’t new – schools have been recruiting talent in return for “opportunity” and “a better education” for over a decade. But do the students really benefit, or is it just the schools? ICYMI, St. Kentigern’s College has recently been banned from competing at … Read more
When Gordonton’s Aaron Hopa died in a tragic diving accident off Whangamatā on December 8, 1998, he left a legacy shaped by rugby, whānau, and aroha. Ben Stanley tells the story of the greatest All Black you never knew. This story was made possible by The Spinoff’s Longform Fund for major journalism projects, and in … Read more
The swoop by Spark to secure rights to screen the rugby world cup in Japan means a decision to make about the combo in the commentary box. So who are the runners and riders to call Beaudy’s World Cup winning drop goal, asks Jamie Wall While it probably won’t be remembered as a particularly memorable match, … Read more
Shaun Johnson burst into the NRL as the presumptive saviour of the ever-woeful Warriors, but his moments of transcendent brilliance were increasingly few and far between, and now he’s been cut loose. Jarret Filmer looks back on his career. There were few things in Warriors history more exhilarating than a Shaun Johnson sidestep. There’s some … Read more
Regardless on where you stand on the Owen Farrell Incident, the last 72 hours demonstrate one thing: rugby union revels in confusing its own fans. “Almost everyone believes that should have been a penalty.” This is as close as one can get to the definitive word from World Rugby when it comes to that Owen … Read more
There’s a new game in town and it’s bloody good fun to watch. Madeleine Chapman reviews Bowls3Five at New Lynn Bowling Club. This month, for perhaps the first time in their storied existence, New Lynn Bowling Club received a noise complaint. It wouldn’t have been too long after 10pm – and maybe earlier than that … Read more
Short answer? No. Long answer? Well, maybe. Cricket tragic Alex Braae assesses whether the White Ferns could go all the way in the West Indies. Ah, cricket. Even in that most ugly form of the game – T20 – there’s nothing like a Cricket World Cup to stir up passion and patriotism. And even though … Read more
The death of famed sports pundit Dr Z adds extra motivation for six of the USA Eagles as they prepare to take on the Māori All Blacks on Sunday. One by one they have gone, and today the last of them took his final breath. Paul Zimmerman, known to anyone who ever took a passing … Read more
Black Caps devotee Michael Appleton assesses the chances of cricketing glory as the side begins its season in the United Arab Emirates. The Black Caps’ new season starts in the UAE tomorrow morning. Between now and late March, they’ll play eight test matches, 14 ODIs and seven T20s against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh. … Read more
Last year Auckland won just three games in the National Provincial Championship, recording their worst finish in the history of the National Provincial Championship. Twelve months on, the famous blue and white hoops are on the cusp of winning the title. It has been a dramatic turnaround for a provincial side that has put respect … Read more
It’s literally impossible to buy Black Ferns merchandise. Madeleine Chapman still tried, and got very angry in the process. You can learn a lot about me by looking in my wardrobe. The first thing you’ll learn is that I dress poorly and it’s a real issue. The second thing you’ll learn is who I support. … Read more
Nearly a quarter of players at the last Rugby World Cup were of Pacific Island descent. But, 23 years since the game turned professional, players born in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga still have to leave home to make a living from the sport. For Insight, RNZ Pacific’s Sports Editor Vinnie Wylie asks whether a Pacific Super Rugby … Read more
In what could be World Rugby’s most game-changing play since the introduction of the Rugby World Cup in 1987, plans for an annual ‘League of Nations’ tournament show the governing body’s intent to keep the international game on top, writes Scotty Stevenson. According the reports out of France, the days of the Southern Hemisphere’s annual … Read more
In a case of terrible timing, one set of The Boys are playing at the same time as the other set of The Boys on Saturday night. Which to watch? Alex Braae assesses the options. 7.30pm. Saturday 8 September. The room looks on as you hold the TV remote in an iron grip, visibly sweating … Read more
“The boys are conscious there’s a massive inequality issue in Aotearoa New Zealand.” Starring Ra Pomare.
The debate around girls playing in boys’ sports teams has resurfaced. Just let them play, says Madeleine Chapman. When Pennsylvania beat Tennessee in the opening round of the 2014 Little League World Series, it made the news. The Pennsylvania pitcher, who pitched a shutout, was congratulated by world famous athletes and invited to appear on … Read more
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has suggested the government should help the All Blacks retain key players. Here’s why that would be such a terrible idea. Now, in fairness, he may have been joking – it’s never particularly easy to tell with Steve Hansen. After meeting PM Jacinda Ardern and minister of finance and sport … Read more
Concussions are a problem rugby has never really reckoned with, and they have the power to truly change how we view the game. Madeleine Chapman investigates. It’s a long-running narrative that some of the best All Blacks in history have been those able to get knocked down and get back up again, both figuratively and … Read more
As sported by Brodie Retallick and Liam Squire, the classic All Blacks mullet hairstyle is making a comeback. And not before time, writes Tony Lyall. So here we are, one game into the 2018 Rugby Championship and already a beautiful trend is emerging. During the All Blacks impressive outing against the Wallabies on Saturday, amongst … Read more
Advertising a double header rugby event means you have to treat all four teams equally, which Rugby Australia failed to do, says Madeleine Chapman. On Saturday afternoon, before playing an international test match at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, the World Champion Black Ferns warmed up on a small patch of astroturf by the road. Warming up … Read more
The two best teams in Super Rugby will contest the competition’s climactic match tonight. It will be a repeat of last year’s final, with the Crusaders and Lions again taking centre stage for the ultimate decider. There is no doubt both deserve to be there, no matter what you may think about Super Rugby’s complex … Read more
Joseph Parker’s future in boxing demands a career-high performance this weekend, writes Don Rowe. At an undefeated 50-0, as the only fighter with career earnings of more than $1 billion, Floyd Mayweather may well be the self-proclaimed ‘best ever’ – but nobody on earth is mistaking him as the baddest. That honorific belongs to guys … Read more
The NRL’s International Rugby League proposals are a sign that they’re finally waking up to the potential of giving Pacific Island nations something serious to play for. On the face of it, it seems obvious. An Oceania Cup between New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji and an international Nines tournament in 2019. A Four Nations … Read more
Even in New Zealand, where we’re awesome at playing rugby, one team always has to be the worst. For the last 10 years, that team has been the Auckland Blues. The Spinoff TV’s Ra Pomare examines what went wrong. The Spinoff TV, Fridays at 9.45pm on THREE
In which a current MVP is made to play against a former benchwarmer. There’s a lazy confidence in watching sports on TV. Intellectually, we know we’re watching people do something better than we ever could. But emotionally we struggle to comprehend just how much better. There’s a tiny part of every Olympics spectator that whispers this … Read more
Good news for the rugby lovers of Taranaki: despite some stands being closed owing to earthquake risk, their temple will remain open after all, reports Lydia Burgham. In Taranaki, a disaster has been looming, shrouding the community in a dark, foreboding cloud. I’m not referring to the impending, overdue volcanic eruption, however. There has been … Read more
The Bingham Cup, known as the ‘gay rugby World Cup’, took place in Amsterdam earlier this month. Aucklander Jack Cottrell was there as a referee – until a devastating injury reminded him that rugby can be as cruel as it is beautiful. On an unseasonably hot afternoon in Amsterdam, the Southern Barbarians are practicing for … Read more
Surfing is having its own #MeToo moment and the reckoning is long past due, surfer Trevor McKewen explains. In a galaxy a long, long time ago, I started surfing and there were no women. Actually, it wasn’t a galaxy. It was Main Beach on the Gold Coast in the mid-1970s as a recently transplanted Kiwi … Read more
The number of South African born cricketers contracted in New Zealand has now cracked the required number for a full team. So if they were put up against the Black Caps, who would win? The number of South African born sportspeople who have left their country to pursue their dreams continues to increase, and cricket … Read more