Sam Cane to Captain All Blacks
Flanker Sam Cane, 23, will captain the New Zealand All Blacks for the first time in the upcoming World Cup match against Namibia. “It is a very special moment for Sam,” Hansen told www.allblacks.com. “He…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
New Zealand All Blacks Beat Argentina to Begin Title Defence
The New Zealand All Blacks have begun their title defence with a 26-16 victory against Argentina in front of 89,019 – the biggest ever crowd at a Rugby World Cup match. “New Zealand dominated possession…
How New Zealand Sustains Its Rugby Dynasty
A country of just under four and half million is home to arguably the most dominant team in sport. The Guardian looks at how the All Blacks remain at the pinnacle more than 100…
How I Learned to Win the Rugby World Cup
On 23 October 2011, the New Zealand All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup Final against France 8 to 7. It was “culmination of a 37-year career’” for Graham Henry – one of the…
All Blacks Depart for England to Defend Their Title
The All Blacks have departed for England on Thursday hoping for a number of firsts: “To become the first team to defend the Rugby World Cup, the first New Zealand team to win the…
Coach Joe Schmidt Granted Irish Citizenship
He has long been considered an honorary Irishman in the eyes of rugby fans. But Ireland’s head coach Woodville-born Joe Schmidt, 49, was made an official Irish citizen in a special ceremony organised by…
Richie McCaw Most Powerful in Rugby Union
Richie McCaw, “arguably the greatest All Black of all time”, has been named the most powerful person in the “50 Most Powerful People in Rugby Union” ranking by The Daily Telegraph. “The flanker’s…
NZ – Rugby World Cup Breeding Ground
“The All Blacks may be favoured to retain the Rugby World Cup but New Zealand’s influence on the global showpiece will extend far beyond its national team”, according to an article on
All Blacks Squad Announced
There were few surprises in the All Blacks squad announcement “with coach Steve Hansen naming 17 forwards and 14 backs with the emphasis on the backs being their versatility to cover numerous positions.” “Richie McCaw…
New Zealand’s Jonah Lomu Still Talks a Good Game
Jonah Lomu changed the sport of rugby forever – his “emergence at the 1995 World Cup was seismic”. He was a pioneer for rugby union, who “raised interest to levels not witnessed before and…
Five Reasons why New Zealand Rule the Rugby World
The New Zealand All Blacks “have been almost untouchable” for four years and World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry believes the current class of All Blacks were better than the group that lifted the 2011 Webb…
All Blacks Play Classic Game in Bledisloe Decider
“Australia knew the All Blacks would be in a vengeful mood after their defeat in Sydney,” the Observer’s Ian Malin reports. “New Zealand duly handed out a rugby lesson to…
New Steinlager Rugby World Cup Ad Recreates New Zealand’s First Rugby Internationals
“New Zealand’s Steinlager stylishly recreates the country’s first-ever rugby team to tour the UK back in 1905, in this spot gearing up for the Rugby World Cup next month”, writes Alexandra Jardine for
McCaw Magic Seals All Blacks Win at Ellis Park
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw grabbed a late winning try to lift the All Blacks to a dramatic 27-20 win over South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The home side led for most of…
Warren Gatland Steers Wales into World Cup Ready
With a near perfect World Cup training trip to Switzerland in the bank, Wales coach Warren Gatland has steered his squad into a very good place, according to Wales Online rugby editor Delme Parfitt. “If…
All Blacks Dominate Argentina in Christchurch
Captain Richie McCaw scored a try and stand-off Dan Carter kicked 14 points in their last home Test at AMI Stadium in Christchurch as the All Blacks beat Argentina 39-18 in the opening match…
New Zealand Stars Feature in Powerful ‘Force of Black’ Rugby World Cup Advert
New Zealand’s All Blacks players unleash their inner animals in the new powerful World Cup advert by shirt sponsors Adidas. “It’s inside us. Beating in our heart, pumping through our veins. It strengthens every sense….
All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen Now a Samoan Chief
Three-times World Rugby Coach of the Year New Zealander Steve Hansen, 56, has been named an honorary high chief, or matai, of Vaiala village in Samoa, a day after his All Blacks team beat…
Raiders Punisher Josh Papalii Back in Form
Auckland-born Raiders enforcer, the “revitalised” Josh Papalii, 23, credits some tough love from coach Ricky Stuart as the key to turning his fortunes around. After a sluggish start to the NRL season when he questioned…
Hard as Nails Keven Mealamu Has an Arty Side
The second most-capped All Black of all time tells the Independent how illustrating children’s books helps keep him grounded before big games, like the forthcoming defence of the World Cup. Mealamu, 36, one of the…
Outstanding Baby Blacks Beat England to Take World Title
“Black is back. England’s reign as World Rugby Under-20 champions is over, deposed by an outstanding New Zealand side, several of whom you should expect to see in an All Black shirt in the…
Ma’a Nonu Called Best Player in Super Rugby
Hurricanes player “Ma’a Nonu has been described as a player without peer in Super Rugby this year”, writes the Daily Mail. “I haven’t seen, in my analysis, somebody who’s played consistently…
First Britain Tour All Blacks Shirt Sells for £22K
One of the shirts that earned the All Blacks their legendary name has been sold for £22,000 at Sotheby’s in Britain by rugby club Mumbles RFC. The shirt, which was slightly…
Rugby in Luxembourg Owes Big Debt to Marty Davis
Rugby in Luxembourg owes a great deal to departing development officer and national coach New Zealander Marty Davis who moved to the country 12 years ago. What Davis initially expected to be a two-year role…
Hurricanes Taking Super Rugby by Storm
The Hurricanes have scored some breathtaking, length-of-the field tries this year, but what they have also done is find a way to win matches when opponents have not allowed them to play the style…
Luatua to Skipper Blues after Kaino Injury
Steven Luatua has been named skipper of the Auckland Blues for the remainder of the season after a broken finger ended the Super Rugby season for All Blacks loose forward Jerome Kaino. “I was a…
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – Future Rugby League Star
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has the potential to become “one of New Zealand’s greatest ever players” proclaims David Long in the Sydney Morning Herald. The New Zealander, who grew up in South Auckland said he never wanted…
All Blacks Thrashing of USA Eagles a Big Money-Spinner
The first rugby match in the United States for the All Blacks in over three decades helped TLA Worldwide, an American athlete representation and sports marketing business, report a 26 per cent rise in…
Daryl Gibson has been appointed Waratahs head coach
Daryl Gibson has been confirmed as the new NSW Waratahs’ head coach for the next three Super Rugby seasons on Thursday April 02. That makes the New Zealander the first foreigner to ever hold…
Rugby Ref Steve Walsh Hangs up His Whistle
“In the end, the man who controlled the game controlled himself, allowing Steve Walsh to head into retirement as one of the most highly regarded referees in international rugby,” Wayne Smith reports…
Greatest Uniforms in Sports, No. 5: New Zealand All Blacks
“Aggressiveness, intimidation, honour, respect, courage, war—embodied in one uniform. And it only needs one colour to say it all” is how Arden Zwelling describes the New Zealand All Blacks uniform in an article for…
Pat Lamb Stays on at His Transformed Connacht Club
New Zealand-born head coach Pat Lam, 46, has transformed Galway’s Connacht club from a development side for provincial rugby players to one genuinely competing with the best teams in UK’s Guinness PRO12 competition. And the…
New Zealand Entrenched as World Cup Favourites
“This year will end just as it began, with New Zealand sitting firmly on top of the rugby world. The All Blacks have been the top-ranked team for five years and will again head…
Golden Boot Awarded to Warrior Shaun Johnson
Warriors half-back Shaun Johnson has won the Golden Boot for the best rugby league player in 2014, only the fourth New Zealander to win the prestigious award. The panel of 13 judges gave Johnson nearly…
All Black Sensation Dan Carter’s Paris Move a Big Deal
All Black great Dan Carter, 32, is poised to become the world’s highest-paid rugby player when he moves to France after next year’s Rugby World Cup on a three-year deal with Paris club Racing…
How New Zealand Nearly Ditched the Haka
An exclusive Telegraph report reveals that in 2004 many All Blacks felt the haka was no longer appropriate, and how management and senior players ensured it was maintained. The choreography itself was not a problem;…
All Blacks Beat Scotland in Tough Challenge
The All Blacks have managed to continue one of the longer streaks in world sport, as Scotland failed for the 30th time to beat the world champions. But it was only just, in a…
Richie McCaw: The Man Behind The Genius
“What makes the New Zealand captain the world’s greatest player?” asks The Telegraph in a lengthy feature article. At Twickenham on Saturday, Richie McCaw eclipsed Sir Colin Meads as the most capped player ever to…
All Blacks Reign Supreme Over England
The All Blacks gained a fifth consecutive win over England, after the home side led 14-11 at half time. But the English side made error upon error and suffered a long, slow black death in…
All Blacks Rugby Match Draws Record Crowd in Chicago
Saturday’s landmark rugby game at Soldier Field, Chicago, saw the All Blacks play the USA Eagles in front of a sell-out crowd of 61,500 – the largest to witness rugby in the United States. Both…
Rugby’s Rising US Popularity Helped by All Blacks
The match between the All Blacks and USA Eagles marked the largest-ever audience for an international rugby contest on American soil; signaling the sport’s growing U.S. popularity. “People do really like watching rugby in America,”…
USA Today: Breaking Down the All Blacks Haka
USA Today has provided insight into the Haka, which has become a familiar rite to anyone who has watched a New Zealand team play in international sporting events. The Haka, drew headlines this summer as…
Wales Coach Warren Gatland Receives OBE
Head coach of the Wales rugby team, New Zealander Warren Gatland has received an OBE from the Duke of Cambridge for his services to rugby at an investiture ceremony in Windsor Castle. Gatland said he…
Connacht’s Backs Coach Andre Bell the Perfect Teacher
Well-travelled New Zealander, Andre Bell is focusing on “simple things” as he looks to freshen up Connacht rugby team’s back-play, the Irish Independent reports. Come along to any Connacht training session and you’ll immediately see…
All Blacks Win Third Successive Rugby Championship
The All Blacks have wrapped up their third successive Rugby Championship crown with a comprehensive 34-13 win over Argentina at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata. First half tries to Ben Smith and Israel Dagg gave…
Trailblazer Brad Thorn Happy to Be a Leicester Tiger
Former All Black forward Brad Thorne, 39, has pitched up at Leicester at the tail-end of a colourful career that’s taken him from Dunedin to Leinster via Japan. But, he tells the Independent’s Chris…
Stunning All Blacks Smash Wallabies to Retain Bledisloe Cup
New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup with an astonishingly good performance, smashing Australia 51-20 in Auckland, scoring six tries and stating categorically that the last game’s mediocre showing in a 12-12 draw was merely…
All Blacks Fend off Wallabies for Stalemate in Sydney
In a gritty encounter played out in a Sydney rainstorm, Australia held New Zealand to a 12-12 draw in their Rugby Championship opener to prevent the All Blacks from claiming a world record 18th…
Teenage Girl Tackling Men’s Club Rugby
A teenage girl in Southland has been allowed to play with the big boys, with April Miller, 18, taking to the field at lock in what is typically men’s club rugby. Despite admitting to some…
Distinguished Service Award for Ref Bob Francis
New Zealander Bob Francis has been presented with the International Rugby Board (IRB) Referee Award for Distinguished Service. During a memorable career that began in 1961, the former Masterton mayor, made an exceptional contribution at…
Gatland Made an OBE in Queen’s Birthday List
Wales rugby union coach Warren Gatland, who last year guided the British and Irish Lions to a 2-1 series victory in Australia and Wales to the Six Nations title, has been made an OBE…
All Blacks Clinch Series Against England
New Zealand has wrapped up an unbeatable 2-0 series against England after staging a ruthless second-half comeback to win in Dunedin 28-27, the Guardian’s Robert Kitson reported from Forsyth Barr Stadium. “The home side, who…
Conrad Smith Saves the Day in First Test
“Under-strength England pushed New Zealand all the way” in the first of three Tests in the 2014 Steinlager Series, with the All Blacks showing “why they are world champions as Conrad Smith’s last-gasp try…
Selling Rugby to the Americans
The iconic Soldier Field, America’s oldest gridiron stadium, is to host the All Blacks in a test against the USA Eagles in November in a game sponsored by AIG. The insurance behemoth’s…
The Excuses Begin
A month is a long time in sport, apparently. As spring thaws English soil and the domestic Aviva rugby competition reaches its zenith, the British press are beginning to air doubts about the Red…
Aussies Shocked at Star Kiwi Omissions
Australian eyebrows are being raised quizzically at the Kiwi league team announced to face the Kangaroos in the annual Anzac Day test match this Friday. With an injury list as long as a video…
