#All Blacks

Forget Eddie Jones for a moment. Let's talk about Subbuteo. If you were a young sporting fan, it was the game for you back in the 1970's and 1980's. The game looked beautiful, with its lush green felt pitches, plentiful accessories, and detailed crowd models all the way down to one man and his dog. You could even buy the picket fences and…

1 - Who will win the World Cup? On home soil, and with a star-studded squad full of pace and power, there is no doubt that France are the team to beat. However, this looks like being one of the most open World Cups ever, with at least six teams capable of going all the way. Bring it on. 2 - Can Ireland break their glass ceiling? Heart says yes,…

By winning the Rugby World Cup final against England on Saturday, South Africa became only the second country to secure three cup titles. In upsetting a heavily favored English team, it also achieved the unlikely accomplishment of winning every World Cup final in which it has appeared. All of that not only places South Africa among rugby's elite…

Joe Moody will need surgery and has been ruled out of rugby for the remainder of the year. Photosport Crusaders and All Blacks prop Joe Moody has been ruled out for the rest of 2022 after suffering a long-term injury for the second straight year. The Crusaders confirmed Moody ruptured his ACL playing against the Blues two weeks ago and will require…

So is ex-All Black Tawera Kerr-Barlow a realistic chance to play for the Wallabies? The short answer is no: it's theoretically possible, but long odds of happening. The 27-Test halfback made waves this week by telling a French news outlet he was willing to pull on the gold jersey, and Dave Rennie revealed they'd spoken earlier this year.…

The next 12 months have the potential to be game-changing for rugby. It's a World Cup year and domestic leagues are becoming ever more competitive, so here are my three hopes for the coming year. My main hope for 2023 is to see England give the Six Nations and World Cup a good go. I still do not believe sacking Eddie Jones was the right thing to do…

Jack Dempsey will make his first start for Scotland as Gregor Townsend's side face Argentina in their Autumn Nations Series finale on Saturday. The Glasgow Warriors back row has featured off the bench in all three of Scotland's matches so far this autumn, making his debut in the narrow defeat to the nation of his birth Australia, and will now get…

Stan "Tiny" Hill, who has died aged 92, was one of the toughest All Blacks of his era, and was once dropped from the side for being "too physical" when he knocked out a South African opponent; when New Zealand lost the next Test match, he was swiftly restored to the team and his abrasiveness helped them to win the series. He played 19 times for the…

Moana Pasifika have added the first player of Cook Island heritage to their squad as one of three new signings. In the ninth wave of player announcements ahead of their debut campaign in the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season, the expansion franchise have unveiled locks Mike McKee, Don Lolo and Veikoso Poloniati as their newest arrivals. The trio…

South Africa and France have almost always enjoyed a cordial rugby relationship, but that friendship was tested over the acrimony of the Rugby World Cup 2023 (RWC 2023) vote. Long story short, South Africa's was the preferred bid, but the French delegation lobbied behind the scenes and "won" the right to host RWC 2023. It led to rancour and…

It has been a hugely eventful year in the world of rugby, amid a plethora of incident and individual excellence. Here's our A-Z guide of what went on in 2021. A is for Alun Wyn Where better to start than with a man who has risen to new heights this part year amid more superhuman exploits. Having skippered Wales to the Six Nations title, he was then…

After an epic game of rugby, the team with their head in their hands was not the one most people were expecting. It is not often that you see the All Blacks upset at the end of the game, but when England bring your world cup winning streak to an end it is no surprise to see a few tears. After winning their last 18 world cup matches they were…

Leigh Halfpenny is not a man who seeks confrontation, at least he doesn't when he's off the rugby field. Just about the most softly-spoken and shy player on the circuit, he has an unassuming personality that some would consider at odds with his soaring status in the sport. So you wonder whether Halfpenny will have the stomach for the animosity and…

Aidan Ross has been working hard since his season-ending injury earlier this year. Photo / Getty Images He was up on stage three times at the Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards on Wednesday night. That's pretty good for a guy who broke his ankle playing for the Chiefs against the Hurricanes in April and as a consequence hasn't played since. But Aidan Ross…

It's been a year when disciplinary decisions have been in the spotlight like never before. We've had the Joe Marler gypsy-boy row, Argentine assaults, a vicious hit on a female referee and a suspension following a bizarre incident in an airport toilet cubicle! Rugby correspondent Simon Thomas looks back on these and the players who picked up bans…

Rugby nostalgia is a powerful phrase that should, for most South Africans, instil fond memories of the perfect boerie-roll braai, joining friends at the stadium, proudly donning your green and gold, waving a large flag, Madiba wearing the number 6 jersey, and, OMG, the Rugby World Cup 1995… Touch. Pause. Engage, beer, ahh… perfect. (Yeah, I know,…

Listening to Richie Collins reflect on his playing career, you come to realise he was very much a man out of his time. With his basketball background, he was blessed with rare skills for a forward in the 1980s and'90s - the Justin Tipuric of his day. He also adopted a professional approach in an amateur era, with a dedicated focus on fitness and…

It's a two-day spectacle, featuring flags, fast-paced rugby and a whole lot of costumes. Canada's annual celebration of sevens, rugby's faster-paced cousin, is set to return to BC Place for a fourth year this weekend. The Canada Sevens pits teams from 16 countries against each other in a two-day mini World Cup tournament expected to draw close to…

All 16 of the United Rugby Championships teams to the pitch this weekend for round 12 of the 2022/23 season. Ahead of next weekend's Heineken Champions Cup there were several notable results as well as a whole host of intriguing subplots as the tussle for play-off berths heats up. Here are five of the major takeaways from this weekend's…

The 2015 Rugby World Cup has captured the imagination of the public so many times since it began at the end of September. With shocks, spills and jubilation at nearly every twist and turn, it has entertained and surprised in equal measure. Whether it has been England's early exit, Japan's vivacious victory over South Africa or Ireland's…

By Alex McLeod of RugbyPass.com Ian Foster's 35-man All Blacks squad will assemble for the first time today in Whakatane as preparations for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series get underway. Plenty of anticipation has arisen since last week's confirmation that the All Blacks and Wallabies will do battle with each other for the first time in over a…

No self-respecting tour would be complete without some frivolous awards, so without further ado, here are RW's Alternative Lions awards... At the end of an emotional, roller-coaster of six weeks on tour, it's time for Rugby World to hand out a few tongue-in-cheek gongs to a few individuals, highlights and lowlights that caught our…

Unlike the Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes, who also won't participate in Super Rugby Pacific this weekend, the Blues can perch themselves on their couches without having to reflect on any bad business from the previous round after beating the Highlanders. The Crusaders and Highlanders, especially, would have been desperate to pull their work…

This season's Guinness Six Nations Championship will see a familiar face and an exciting international newcomer in the coaches' corner. Warren Gatland has returned for a second stint with Wales, replacing Wayne Pivac, while Steve Borthwick takes the England reins after Eddie Jones was sacked two weeks ago. Here the PA news agency looks at the four…

2023 will see a host of major rugby tournaments take place around the world, and chief among them is the tenth edition of the quadrennial Rugby World Cup. In this article, we'll talk you through everything that you need to know about the biggest event in world rugby, from the details about when and where it will be played to the biggest…

Andy Haden, who has died of leukaemia aged 69, was one of the biggest, toughest and most controversial of All Black forwards, winning 117 caps for New Zealand between 1972 and 1985 (41 in Tests) and captaining his country eight times; but his reputation was overshadowed by accusations of cheating on the field and racist and sexist remarks off…

We asked our sports reporters at Stuff to say what they think the new year will bring and we'll be holding all of them accountable by seeing how right, or wrong they were, when we review their picks in 12 months' time. ANDREW VOERMAN The Football Ferns get their first Fifa Women's World Cup win against the Philippines at Sky Stadium in Wellington…

Rugby World writers pick rugby highlights of 2022 Yes, we compiled our own list of the biggest rugby moments 2022, but we thought we'd also ask some of Rugby World's contributors around the game to find out what they loved most in the last year of rugby. Here's what some of them had to say! Josh Graham Content editor "The rugby moment of 2022 was…

You can go ahead and pick your jaw from the floor now. Yes, it has been over nine decades of rugby in the land of the rising sun. It is a bit odd for a country so averse to external traditions to rank as the tenth most powerful nation in this sport discipline. There are currently over 3600 professional clubs in Japan that are home to more than…

Auckland and Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the inaugural All Blacks XV squad selected for two matches against Ireland A and the Barbarians next month. The 28-strong All Blacks XV squad was selected by the All Blacks coaching team of Ian Foster, Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan and includes eight players with Test experience including…

Wales sevens head to San Francisco next month chasing an improbable World Cup dream. But if Gareth Williams and his squad need a reminder that fairytales can happen, they should rewind the clock back nine years. Just as the odds are stacked against Wales in the Golden Gate City, so too were they in Dubai in 2009, when Wales were 80-1 outsiders to…

Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson has revealed what may see the odds swing in favour of Scott Robertson in the All Blacks coaching race. The Crusaders coach, along with All Blacks assistant Ian Foster, are the two frontrunners to become Steve Hansen's successor. Both will present to the selection panel, which consists of New Zealand Rugby…

Before you bet on the sport of Rugby it is important to know the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the premier organization governing the sport today, and the demand for legal betting on the RFU from US bettors has risen. The other popular organization, the Rugby Football League, split from the Rugby Football Union in the 1980s over a monetary dispute…

Queensland Reds 15 (Richie Asiata try 56m, Lawson Creighton try 71min; con, pen) HT: 21-3 Yellow card: Pablo Matera 55min The early exit of Sevu Reece and Pablo Matera's yellow card were the biggest concerns for Scott Robertson as the Crusaders spluttered their way to an unconvincing 28-15 win over the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Friday…

Admittedly, the now 20-year-old Crusaders prop was "skinnier back then", but he'd always played centre and No 8 growing up in Perth, and No 8 when he returned to New Zealand and played for Kerikeri High School. But, having earned a scholarship at Auckland's St Kentigern College, he figured he'd best roll with coach Tai Lavea's instructions at the…

The path to the Webb Ellis Trophy is rarely smooth and never easy. But as we prepare for the World Cup knockout stage to begin, it's worth taking a look at where that path is likely to lead - and who is likely to tread it. The perennial contenders - unless you count England among them - are all still in the mix. So what should we expect to see in…

Showmax subscribers will be able to livestream the Bokke taking on the All Blacks in Wellington on their screens at 9:35am on Saturday, 27 July. Fresh from their victory over the Wallabies at Ellis Park last weekend, the Springboks are facing the All Blacks on Saturday morning in Wellington. The last time the Bokke played at the Westpac Stadium, in…

With the final pool stages being confirmed for the 2023 Rugby Union World Cup, betting sites around the globe have started updating their odds for the pool stages. Placing future bets such as outright winner or pool stage winner before the tournament can be a great way to get the best odds. If you're looking for an Australian bookmakers list to…

Despite the World Cup drawing to a close many southern hemisphere stars who lit up the tournament will be staying on European shores. The French Top 14 and England's Aviva Premiership are set to be flooded with household names, with many looking for a well-paid swan-song to end a glittering career. Here are some of the best names staying on the…

Lineen played for the Scots from 1989 and 1992, sharing in their 1990 Five Nations grand slam. There has since been a continuous Kiwi influence in the Five Nations/Six Nations since 1994. This year's tournament kicks off this weekend, with seven New Zealand-born players and two Kiwi head coaches involved. Some - notably French prop Uini Atonio -…

The official men's World Rugby rankings have, for some time now, been widely dismissed. Too often the prescriptive modelling does not accurately reflect the true balance of power. At present World Rugby's top fivereads: 1. South Africa (90.61) 2. France (88.88) 3. All Blacks (88.75) 4. Ireland (88.22) 5. England (84.50) This week, following the…

The international season may have come to a close, but the action continues and Two Cents Rugby has joined us again to pick out his players to watch in 2023. Indeed, the Six Nations Championship is not too far away from kick-off and combine that with all the club competitions, there is a lot to look forward to next year. So which players can we…

With World Rugby currently fighting brush fires on multiple fronts - high contact laws and sanctions, TMO involvement, intentional knock-ons, concussion and global season just some of the main issues - it seems both crazy and inevitable the game is about to stumble into another morass of its own making. A combination of the introduction of private…

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, December 26, 2022. Louis Rees-Zammit went off injured within the opening 10 minutes of Gloucester's Christmas Eve defeat to Leicester Tigers. The Wales winger suffered an ankle injury just six weeks before the Six Nations begins. The severity of the injury is not yet known but the ankle was heavily…

Their decision to stick with Ian Foster as All Blacks coach instead of appointing Scott Robertson made the worst possible start in Christchurch on Saturday night when Argentina produced a magnificent blood and guts performance to produce a stunning 25-18 victory at Orangetheory Stadium. It would not be over egging things to say the high priests of…

With Major League Rugby in full swing, we spoke to the captain of Rugby ATL, Matt Heaton. The franchise did exceptionally well to reach the final last year, eventually losing to an LA Giltinis side containing Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, and D.T.H van der Merwe. The ambition of Rugby ATL clearly hasn't faded for 2022: "This season we're hungry!…

Pieter-Steph du Toit says he was confident of victory in the last Rugby World Cup final after the first 10 minutes. In that opening spell in Yokohama two years ago, England's Owen Farrell chose to spin the ball wide from behind his own posts and team-mate Billy Vunipola, facing a fast-advancing South Africa defence, chucked a pass to ground deep in…