2023 Super Rugby

The 2023 Super Rugby competition kicks off tomorrow night with the Crusader playing the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch at 7.05pm, and the Warratahs facing the Brumbies in Sydney. The Chiefs had pre-season wins against Moana Pasifika 48-7 and the Blues 47-33, while the Crusaders lost to both the Hurricanes 31-26 and the Highlanders 35-33.

Crusaders:

1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Cullen Grace, 9. Mitchell Drummond, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. David Havili

Reserves:

16. Brodie McAlister, 17. George Bower, 18. Tamaiti Williams, 19. Zach Gallagher, 20. Christian Lio-Willie, 21. Willi Heinz, 22. Fergus Burke, 23. Macca Springer

Chiefs:

1. Aidan Ross, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Pita Gus Sowakula, 7. Sam Cane (cc), 8. Luke Jacobson, 9. Brad Weber (cc), 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Alex Nankivell, 14. Solomon Alaimalo, 15. Shaun Stevenson

Reserves:

16. Bradley Slater, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. John Ryan, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. Rameka Poihipi

Dane Coles To Retire, Other All Blacks Move On.

At the age of 36, All Black hooker Dane Coles has today announced he will retire at the end of the current year. In the Rugby World Cup year, he is one of a number of All Blacks who are moving on following the tournament. Brodie Retallick also announced he is returning to the Kobelco Kobe Steelers following the Rugby World Cup after playing for them on his 2020 sabbatical, while both Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett will play for Toyota, and Richie Mo'unga for Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.

Rugby Championship:

July 8: All Blacks v Argentina, Mendoza

July 15: All Blacks v South Africa, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 7.05pm

July 29: All Blacks v Australia, Melbourne

August 5: All Blacks v Australia, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 2.35pm

Test match:

August 25: All Blacks v South Africa, Twickenham, London, 7.30pm

Black Ferns And All Blacks Win Sydney Seven's

The Blacks Ferns and All Blacks have both won their finals in the Sydney round of the World Rugby Sevens. 

The All Black side had gone through pool play with wins over Uruguay 45-7, Kenya 33-0, but lost to South Africa 17-14. In their quarter final they beat Samoa 12-0, and in their semi-final France 36-5. The final was against South Africa, and they reversed their pool play loss with a 38-0 win after leading 17-0 at half time. Tries were scored by Roderick Solo, Joe Webber, Sam Dickson, Akuila Rokolisoa, Amanaki Nicole and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, while conversion were from Akuila Rokolisoa (2), Ngarohi McGarvey-Black and Payton Spenser.

The Black Ferns had gone through pool play with wins over Papua New Guinea 48-0, France 29-14, and Japan 27-12. In their quarter final they beat Japan 33-0, and Ireland 41-0 in the semi-final. The final was against France, who they defeated 35-0 after leading 21-0 at halftime. Tries were scored by Tenika Willison (2), Jazmin Felix-Hotham (2) and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, while conversions were by Tyla Nathan-Wong (4) and Risi Pouri-Lane.

Black Ferns Win Hamilton Seven's

The Black Fern seven's side has beaten the USA 33-7 to take out the Hamilton round of the World Series Seven's. In what has been revealed to be the final New Zealand round for the near future, the Black Ferns went through unbeaten in pool play, accounting for Papua New Guinea 58-0, Fiji 27-0, and Great Britain 20-0. In the quarter finals they beat Japan 43-12, and Ireland 32-0 in the semi final.

The men's side were narrowly defeated by Argentina 14-12 in the final, after Brady Rush was ruled to have knocked the ball on when chasing a grubber kick into goal in the final seconds of the match. They has beaten Tonga 45-0, Australia 21-19, and Great Britain 19-12 in pool play on Saturday, and then accounted for Ireland 10-5 in their quarter final, and France 38-0 in the semi final.

New Zealand Rugby Awards

2022 New Zealand Rugby Awards:

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year - Ben O'Keeffe (Auckland)

Volunteer of the Year - Cathy Charles (Otago) 

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year - Peter Lakai (Wellington)

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal - Sam Parkes (Ngāti Porou East Coast)

Duane Monkley Medal - Bryn Gatland (North Harbour)

Fiao'o Faamausili Medal - Maia Joseph (Otago)  

National Men's Coach of the Year - Scott Robertson (Crusaders) 

National Women's Coach of the Year - Blair Baxter (Canterbury)                                          

Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year - Will Jordan (Crusaders)

Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year - Luka Connor (Chiefs Manawa)

Try of the Year - Stacey Fluhler (Black Ferns v England) 

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year - Ruahei Demant (Tē Whānau ā Apanui / Te Whakatōhea / Ngāti Awa)  

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year - Ngarohi McGarvey-Black

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year - Michaela Blyde

Black Ferns Player of the Year - Ruahei Demant

All Blacks Player of the Year - Ardie Savea

National Men's Team of the Year - Wellington

National Women's Team of the Year - Canterbury

Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rugby: Dr Deb Robinson

New Zealand Coach of the Year: Wayne Smith (Black Ferns)

New Zealand Team of the Year: Black Ferns

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year: Ruahei Demant

All Blacks Draw With England

The All Blacks have drawn their final test of the year 25-25 with England, after conceding three tries in the final ten minutes. The All Blacks started the game well and had scored two tries in the opening ten minutes, with a Dalton Papali'i intercept try, and hooker Codie Taylor going over off a rolling mall. The All Blacks had a further try disallowed with off the ball play in a ruck, and went to half time with a 17-3 lead. England kicked an early second half penalty, but the All Blacks struck back with an 80 metre try to centre Reiko Ioane. A dropped goal to fullback Beauden Barrett put the All Blacks into a 25-6 lead, but it was the reply from England that swung the match. Barrett had failed to release in the tackle of England first five Marcus Smith, and with the penalty advantage, replacement Will Stuart scored. Barrett was sin-binned for 10 minutes, and from the kick off England ran the ball wide with fullback Freddie Steward scoring. With mere minutes remaining in the match the All Blacks had the ball under control, but a kick from replacement half back TJ Perenara gave possession back to England who again attacked out wide, with Stuart scoring his second. Perenara had to leave the field in the fianl minute of the match, and it has since been revealed he has ruptured his achilles tendon, leaving a nine month recovery span ahead of next years Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand All Blacks: 25

Tries: Dalton Papali'i, Codie Taylor, Rieko Ioane, Conversions: Jordie Barrett 2, Penalty: Jordie Barrett, Dropped Goal: Beauden Barrett

England: 25

Tries: Will Stuart 2, Freddie Steward, Conversions: Marcus Smith 2, Penalties: Smith, Owen Farrell

All Blacks Named To Face England

All Black coach Ian Foster has named his side for the final match of the year against England on Sunday morning, 6.30am. Brodie Retallick returns to the side at lock after serving a two match suspension following the Japan test, and it will be his 100th test. Foster has also named a strong combination in the loose forwards, with Ardie Savea at number eight, Dalton Papali’i at openside flanker and Scott Barrett at blindside. In the backs Mark Talea gets his second start on the wing after a strong game against Scotland, Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett are paired in midfield, and Beauden Barrett will start at fullback.

All Blacks: 

Beauden Barrett, Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock (c), ​​​​​​​Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, ​​​​​​​Codie Taylor, ​​​​​​​Ethan De Groot. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bower, Nepo Laulala, Shannon Frizell, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown.