From Auckland to Methven, two Aussie lads chased the essence of New Zealand rugby. Scotty Stevenson recounts their journey. Jay Staunton and Ricky Blanch have been mates since they were 13-year-old freshies at Brisbane Grammar School. They’re footy-mad boys from the heart of Brisbane, stalwarts of the Wests Bulldogs, where they make up two thirds … Read more
This week Tasman Rugby Union are announcing a small name change with potentially huge consequences. The mako shark is found in waters throughout the world, but its name comes from here – a Māori word referring to both the shark and its teeth, with variations within New Zealand (mango in some dialects) and other Polynesian … Read more
The Black Ferns recognition as the World Rugby Team of the Year is a big deal for women athletes around the world. Let’s just say it out loud for those in the back of the room: World Rugby, the body charged with running the game of rugby union around the globe, just handed its Team … Read more
Wellington and Hurricanes stalwart Brad Shields may be in line to play for England at the next World Cup after allegedly turning down the chance to join the All Blacks on tour. Cue predictable outrage. But spare us the guilt trip, writes Scotty Stevenson. If it is true Brad Shields said ‘no thanks’ to a … Read more
The best rugby team in the world facing down Australia’s league team in Tokyo? All it takes for the ‘might’ to turn into a ‘will’ is someone to stump up with the cash, writes Jamie Wall. This time of year really is the silly-season for the rugby rumour mill. Just last week we were subjected … Read more
The Samoa Rugby Union needs a hand up, not a hand out, writes Scotty Stevenson. It also needs a complete administrative overhaul and an end to the culture of intimidation, cronyism and silence that disrespects the players and the game. Here we are again, then. Samoan rugby’s overlord, prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Maliegaoi, is passing … Read more
Billy Idol’s bizarre 2002 performance in Sydney was a seminal moment in NRL grand final history. Now, 15 years on, a Sydney journalist has commemorated the event by having Idol’s hovercraft performance tattoed onto his leg. Jamie Wall talks to Steve Zemek about his courageous move to immortalise this piece of rugby league history. The Warriors … Read more
Jamie Wall chats to Manu Samoa veteran Dan Leo about unfairness, welfare and the myth of ‘poaching’ in Pacific Island rugby. It’s the same depressing tale we hear every year: a Pacific Island nation tours, plays tests against tier one nations and the players receive a pittance in return. Add on to that the fact … Read more
There’s not a lot of hope for Australian rugby ahead of tonight’s test, says Scotty Stevenson. Despite the usual cork floats of confidence bobbing about in the sea of indifference that constitutes the vast majority of planet rugby in Australia these days, the third and final Bledisloe test in Brisbane is likely to go the … Read more
From his first encounter as an 11-year-old kid in Te Awamutu to yesterday’s funeral service, James McOnie remembers some of his favourite Pinetree stories. He didn’t want to be called “Sir”, but Colin Meads deserved it. Sir Colin will always be remembered as perhaps our greatest ever rugby player but now, as so many stories … Read more
At least one person will have a bob each way when the Black Ferns take on England in the final of the women’s World Cup on Sunday morning, writes Scotty Stevenson. Rob Jones just can’t help it. He has women hanging off him wherever he goes. He’s surrounded by them. Hell, he lives with five … Read more
Three All Blacks who were there the day Sir Colin Meads famously played on with a broken arm recall the game for RNZ Eyewitness producer Justin Gregory. This story was first published in 2016. All Blacks first five-eighth Earle Kirton has always blamed himself for the broken arm that Sir Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads suffered on the … Read more
Is it possible to sense a rugby player’s future from their name and name alone? Watch these players closely this Mitre 10 Cup season to find out. There are 14 teams in the Mitre 10 Cup. This week, each of these teams released their squad list for the 2017 season. Each list included approximately 32 … Read more
It’s only fair that most of the focus ahead of this weekend’s Super Rugby semi-finals will be on the players but, as Scotty Stevenson writes, both crucial clashes will also be defined by a battle between the old and new schools of professional coaches. Dave Rennie has never been one to mince his words. To … Read more
A week after the melodramatic ending to the Lions tour and the “controversial penalty, that wasn’t a penalty, that could have been a penalty, that wasn’t a penalty,” the rugby world is none the wiser. Former All Black Mils Muliaina is still pissed that no clarity has been provided around that final decision. We all … Read more
The weirdest schedule in all of professional sports naturally gets a weird ending this week. Maybe it’s just time to admit that the system is too weird for everyone, writes Scotty Stevenson. The Chiefs and the Hurricanes both will be in action in the final round of Super Rugby’s regular season on Saturday with no chance … Read more
As the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour draws to a close, opinion will be divided on whether rugby’s last traditional travelling circus has a future in professional rugby’s congested schedule. The proposed trip to South Africa in 2021 will see the Lions play just eight matches instead of ten. But, as Scotty Stevenson ponders, … Read more
As the weather closes in on Wellington and the vultures circle the conceptual carcass of the British and Irish Lions, the second test against the All Blacks shapes as perhaps one of the most important in the history of this great touring party. The Lions need to win, and their chances of that will not … Read more
Labour MP for Wellington Central Grant Robertson recalls the day he stalked the Carisbrook touchline in an oilskin parka. Thirty-four years ago this weekend, I reached my sporting peak. Given that I was 11 years old, you’ll realise this was not exactly Everest, but for me, it was just about everything. I got to be … Read more
Gareth Shute delved into the history of All Blacks songs, found them wanting, so wrote his own. New Zealand is a rugby-mad nation but, despite many attempts, there has yet to be a song written for our national team that’s had any staying power. But how hard could it be to write a song about … Read more
The former political spin doctor talks to Toby Manhire about the controversial tour, and what happens when the media guy becomes the story. Read our interview with Campbell about the UK election omnishambles here. The 2005 British and Irish Lions side arrived in New Zealand full of promise. Coach Clive Woodward, still enjoying the afterglow … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Calum Henderson reviews an old pack of rugby cards. These days Oamaru is known as the steampunk capital of New Zealand, but back in the late 1980s and early 1990s it had a much better claim to fame. For … Read more
Calum Henderson talks to Yuko Inaba, the rugby-loving artist behind the delightful internet presence Nadegata Penguin. In the cutthroat world of art it is important for an artist to find their niche. Yuko Inaba’s niche is painting rugby players as cute penguins. The Tokyo watercolourist is prolific, sharing a new painting on Facebook, Twitter or … Read more
Gordon Hunter was a detective – a very good one, according to everyone who worked with him and not a few who were put away by him. He was also one of the most memorable rugby coaches of his, or any, era. This weekend the Highlanders and Blues will contest the trophy named in his … Read more
Scotty Stevenson’s Super Rugby Power Rankings make a triumphant return for 2017. 1. Chiefs The Chiefs played like they were on dial-up for the best part of 70 minutes last week and still managed to win a game of footy by 13 points. There is nothing at all special about the style of the Chiefs, … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Calum Henderson plugs into the All Blacks’ new official podcast. Some All Blacks news: the all-powerful New Zealand men’s rugby team now has its own podcast. Something about this is extremely funny to me, but I can’t quite put … Read more
The Commerce Commission’s decision to deny the Vodafone / Sky merger could have grave consequences for New Zealand sports fans in years to come, writes Tim Martin, CEO of RugbyPass.com. The Commerce Commission’s decision to deny Sky and Vodafone the right to merge has been met with applause in New Zealand, yet I believe it … Read more
With Super Rugby about to kick off for 2017, Scotty Stevenson picks some rising stars in the New Zealand squads who could make their mark on the competition this season. Sio Tomkinson – Highlanders You don’t need to be a madly passionate Highlanders fan (is there any other kind?) to know this team is well … Read more
Full credit to the young flanker’s races outfit, says Rose Hoare – style was the winner on the day. Scrolling through Twitter last week, I saw an image that stopped me in my tracks. It was All Black Ardie Savea at the Wellington Races, in an outfit so fresh that for a minute I couldn’t … Read more