All Blacks flyhalf Lima Sopoaga says the decision to take up a contract with the Wasps in England was ‘one of the hardest decisions’ of his life. Sopoaga has confirmed that he will be leaving New Zealand at the end of the 2018 season, which is set to rule the 26-year-old out of contention for next year’s World Cup. In… Read more →
All Blacks and Highlanders flyhalf Lima Sopoaga is reportedly heading to England at the end of the year. According to The Times, the 26-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the English Premiership club, effectively ruling him out of next year’s World Cup in Japan. Sopoaga has played 16 Tests for the All Blacks since making his Test against the… Read more →
Former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith has revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer last year. Smith ended a highly-successful 20-year association with the All Blacks in October, but his diagnosis apparently played no part in his decision to step down. However, Smith admitted that he kept the news largely to himself after an annual medical check-up saw the doctors pick… Read more →
Rieko Ioane may end up moving to the All Blacks midfield, writes JOHN PLUMTREE in SA Rugbymagazine. It came as no surprise when Rieko Ioane won the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award. The 20-year-old was a revelation for the All Blacks in 2017, scoring 10 tries in 11 Tests. He played centre for the Blues in Super Rugby, but… Read more →
The All Blacks scored some cracking tries in another dominant season.
What the winners had to say after the New Zealand Rugby Awards ceremony.
Veteran lock Sam Whitelock was named New Zealand’s Player of the Year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards in Auckland on Thursday. Besides claiming the top individual award, Whitelock was also named the Super Rugby Player of the Year after leading the Crusaders to the 2017 title. The New Zealand Women claimed the Team of the Year award for the… Read more →
The venues for the Springboks’ three home Rugby Championship matches in 2018 have been confirmed. South Africa will host Argentina at Kings Park in their opening match on 18 August, followed by the two away legs (three Tests) between 25 August and 15 September. Upon their return home, they will take on the Wallabies at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium… Read more →
The Blitzboks claimed the Dubai Sevens title with an impressive 24-12 win over New Zealand in the Cup final on Saturday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports. While the Springboks were locked in battle against Wales – and coming second best – the Blitzboks were at their rampaging best as they charged to a second successive Dubai title. Before this match, South Africa boasted a… Read more →
The little guy with the big game has been making some gigantic strides for the All Blacks in 2017, writes MARC HINTON.
