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/ 26 May 2008

All Black hit man Collins quits NZ rugby

All Blacks enforcer Jerry Collins announced his retirement from New Zealand rugby Monday but said he had made no decision on joining the exodus of top players overseas. The announcement had been widely expected, with rumours circulating the 109kg Samoan-born flanker was destined to join the nine other All Blacks from last year’s World Cup who have signed for foreign clubs.

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/ 5 May 2008

Super 14 revamp on the cards

An expanded United States conference-style Super rugby series is being touted by the New Zealand Rugby Union as a way of reviving the flagging Super 14 rugby tournament for the 2010 season. NZRU officials have begun a nationwide tour of all the franchises and provinces to divulge their concepts, which then need to be accepted by Sanzar partners.

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/ 17 April 2008

Fitness scheme cited for Kiwi Cup failure

Lack of game time, weak opposition and poor refereeing were all to blame for the All Blacks’ failure to win the Rugby World Cup last year, according to an independent review released on Thursday. The 47-page review detailed a catalogue of reasons why the team failed to live up to their billing as the world’s best.

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/ 9 February 2008

I thought I was out of a job, says Henry

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he thought his international career was over after his team’s shock elimination from the Rugby World Cup last year, a newspaper reported on Saturday. In his first interview since being reappointed in December, Henry said he only stood for re-selection because of the public support he had received.

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/ 15 December 2007

New Wallabies coach keeping an open mind

New Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says he arrives in the job with no ”historical baggage” to revive Australian rugby’s declining fortunes. The 48-year-old New Zealander, appointed on Friday for four years, is the first foreigner to coach the Wallabies, in a decision which has received almost universal acceptance within Australian rugby.

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/ 9 December 2007

Deans given late interview for Wallabies job

Unsuccessful All Blacks coaching candidate Robbie Deans has been granted a late interview for the vacant Wallabies job, the Australian Rugby Union said on Sunday. Deans, who missed out on the All Blacks position when the New Zealand Rugby Union decided to reappoint incumbent Graham Henry on Friday, had now asked to be considered for the Australian job.

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/ 7 December 2007

Henry back in All Blacks coaching hot seat

Graham Henry defied history on Friday when he was reappointed as All Blacks coach despite holding the reins during the team’s worst-ever World Cup performance this year. The New Zealand Rugby Union has traditionally been an unforgiving employer and no previous coach has survived a failed World Cup campaign.

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/ 6 December 2007

Henry fights to save All Blacks coaching job

All Black coach Graham Henry attempted to save his job on Thursday during a grilling by New Zealand rugby officials in the wake of the team’s quickest-ever World Cup exit. In the past All Black coaches have quickly been discarded after failing to secure the World Cup. Henry has surprised commentators by choosing to fight to stay on.

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/ 27 November 2007

Four on All Blacks coaching shortlist

Four candidates have been shortlisted to coach the All Blacks but the real contest is expected to be between incumbent Graham Henry and Robbie Deans of the Canterbury Crusaders. The New Zealand Rugby Union said on Tuesday that Henry, Deans, Wellington Hurricanes’ Colin Cooper and Waikato Chiefs’ Ian Foster would be interviewed next week.

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/ 15 November 2007

All Blacks blame World Cup referee

The All Blacks coaches have blamed English referee Wayne Barnes for their World Cup failure, it was reported on Thursday as the New Zealand Rugby Union deliberated on the future of the coaching panel. Head coach Graham Henry and his assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have maintained a diplomatic silence about Barnes’ performance in the World Cup quarterfinal.