Put Japan in the Rugby Championship - Pichot
July 15, 2017 (19:30) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot has challenged Sanzaar to invite Japan to join the Rugby Championship.The Argentinian would also like to see Georgia enter the Six Nations as part of his plan for World Rugby to grow and... More...

Super Rugby playoffs revealed
July 15, 2017 (17:30) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
There will be a New Zealand derby in the first week of the Super Rugby playoffs after the Lions secured top seeding with a victory overnight.The Lions moved ahead of the Crusaders on the overall standings following a 27-10 victory... More...

Rugby: Waisake Naholo to decide between Highlanders and Chiefs
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Waisake Naholo is weighing a potential move from the Highlanders to the Chiefs.Off contract with New Zealand Rugby at the end of this season, the demand for Naholo's services comes as no surprise.This year alone the All Blacks... More...

Rugby: English RFU dash hopes for unofficial Lions decider
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
By Ben Coles Hopes that this November's meeting between the Barbarians and the All Blacks could play out as a "fourth Test" for the British and Irish Lions have been dashed, after the Rugby Football Union confirmed England players... More...

Rugby: Blues to wheel out heavy artillery against lowly Sunwolves
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Rieko Ioane is the only All Black who hasn't travelled to Tokyo for the Blues' final match of the season.The Sunwolves, Super Rugby's worst team with 12 defeats and just one win, will not be expected to put up much of a fight at... More...

World Rugby must speak up over French mime artists
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
You have to hand it to World Rugby - if nothing else, the organisation which administers the game has proven it has a sense of humour with the appointment of one Jerome Garces for the All Blacks' opening Rugby Championship and Bledisloe... More...

Rugby: Malakai Fekitoa could stay in NZ after all
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
All Black Malakai Fekitoa will probably leave New Zealand this year, and probably for Toulon, but his agent says the midfielder hasn't signed a contract yet and could in fact stay.The Herald reported yesterday that Fekitoa, 25,... More...

National First XV wrap: Hamilton BHS win Don Clarke Boot
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Hamilton BHS remain on course for their Super 8 showdown with the high-flying and seemingly unstoppable Hastings BHS.This follows their 29-8 victory at Tauranga BC, who lie third on the Super 8 standings. The latter offered staunch... More...

'Sorry' Lions prop Kyle Sinckler no stranger to altercations
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Kyle Sinckler is no stranger to losing his temper. The Lions prop today apologised "for any inconvenience caused" following his reported arrest after a night out in Auckland to celebrate the final test against the All Blacks. During... More...

Gongs Away: The Lions-All Blacks rugby awards, from the magic moments to the worst speeches
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Chris Rattue serves up the good, bad and ugly from the Lions tour of New Zealand. The winners. Us. A gripping series, and the tension during the final test was fabulous/agonising. That's what sporting magic is all about, even... More...

Frenchman Jerome Garces will return to officiate two All Blacks matches in Rugby Championship
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
French referee Jerome Garces will officiate the All Blacks' two toughest matches at the Rugby Championship.World Rugby announced the match official appointments for the tournament today, with Garces, who was controversially involved... More...

Barbarians open to the idea of staging unofficial fourth 'Lions' Test against the All Blacks at Twickenham
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
By Duncan Bech The Barbarians intend talking to the home unions over the possibility of releasing players for their fixture against the Alll Blacks on November 4.It has been suggested that the match at Twickenham could become... More...

British and Irish Lions heroes celebrate All Blacks series finale with heavy night at team hotel
July 11, 2017 (03:17) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Following the conclusion of a long and arduous tour of New Zealand, the British and Irish Lions finally had the chance to unwind with a boozy session at their team hotel.Their historic 15-15 tie against the All Blacks brought an... More...

Rugby: Steve Hansen - Romain Poite made a mistake, but what can you do?
July 08, 2017 (22:30) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
The short time that Steve Hansen has had to digest a refereeing decision which had a major bearing on his All Blacks' side drawing, rather than winning, the test series against the Lions, hasn't made it any more palatable.Frenchman... More...

Lions fan slumbers blissfully despite Napier needling
July 03, 2017 (05:00) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Irishman Lucas Mac Eachrain found himself in bed with the opposition on Sunday night thanks to "needling" Napier hosts.The travelling British and Irish Lions fan found his Napier host's bedroom decor was a bit on the dark side with... More...

Rugby: British and Irish Lions embrace the fear in Queenstown
July 03, 2017 (05:00) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
The British and Irish Lions embraced the pressure to beat the All Blacks in Wellington to make this Saturday's test at Eden Park a series decider and today they have embraced the fear in Queenstown.Warren Gatland's men, who arrived... More...

All Blacks: The most scrutiny Kieran Read has faced
July 03, 2017 (05:00) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
No Ben Smith, Dane Coles, Ryan Crotty. From a leadership perspective, the Kieran Read-led All Blacks face their biggest examination on Saturday.On a personal level alone, Read will be well up for this, just as he was in the opening... More...

Auckland buzzing for jam-packed week as Team New Zealand and Lions come to town
July 03, 2017 (05:00) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Aucklanders are being promised an "incomparable" atmosphere as the city plans to welcome home a triumphant Team New Zealand on Thursday with hordes of schoolchildren expected in the heaving crowds.Team New Zealand will be honoured... More...

Patrick McKendry: Gatland vindicated no matter what happens now
July 03, 2017 (05:00) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
No matter what happens in the third test at Eden Park on Saturday, Warren Gatland will leave a second successive Lions tour vindicated.Four years ago in Australia, the British and Irish Lions coach committed the cardinal sin (in... More...

Punters flogging Lions tickets outside stadiums are breaking the law
July 03, 2017 (05:00) [ Indexed from The New Zealand Herald ]
Crafty punters seeking to make a quick buck off the back of the Lions tour are scalping tickets outside the ground before games - and breaking the law in the process.The tour reaches a crescendo this weekend with the series locked... More...