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…
Racing Star Mitch Evans Proponent of F1 Noise
New Zealander Mitch Evans, 21, one of the leading lights of single-seater junior auto racing, says he believes Formula One’s audiences could accelerate if the series returned to 2.4-litre V8 engines which it dropped…
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…
Scott Dixon Wins Fourth IndyCar Championship
Scott Dixon has won Sunday’s race at Sonoma Raceway to clinch the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series championship. He was awarded the title because he had three victories this season as opposed to Montoya’s two,…
Lydia Ko Wins Canadian Pacific
Lydia Ko has won the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open for the third time and first as a professional, beating American Stacy Lewis with a par on the first hole of a playoff. The 18-year-old Ko…
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…
Patrick Bevin Signs Contract with Cannondale-Garmin
Continuing its tactic of working with some of the most promising young riders in the sport, the Cannondale-Garmin team has announced that New Zealand cyclist Patrick Bevin and Irish Ryan Mullen will join the…
Shane van Gisbergen Says Rival Drivers are no Wet-Weather Specialists
Shane van Gisbergen says he looks good in wet-weather V8 Supercar races because his Australian rivals are so bad. “I don’t like driving in the rain. I’m just more used to it”, said the young…
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…
Kim Chambers Makes Swim History in San Francisco
New Zealand’s Kim Chambers has become the first woman to swim the nearly 50km stretch from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge in a feat conquering one of the world’s most dangerous…
Silver Medal for Lauren Boyle in 1500m Free
Lauren Boyle has won a silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle at the FINA World Championships, lowering her New Zealand national record to 15:40.14. The New Zealander currently is working with famed swimming coach Denis…
New Zealand Stun Hosts Australia to Top Pool
New Zealand set the Netball World Cup alight when they upset defending champions Australia 52-47 in their pool match in front of a world-record crowd of 16,233. The new-look Silvers Ferns defied pre-tournament sceptics…
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
Iconic Mountain Bike Race The Pioneer Set for Alps
A new mountain bike race, The Pioneer, is set to hit the rugged trails of the Southern Alps from 31 January through 6 February 2016. The race will string together established bike trails with…
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…
New Zealand Biker Jed Mildon Lands World First BMX Quadruple Backflip
New Zealand professional BMX biker Jed Mildon, 28, has landed the world’s first quadruple backflip after four years of planning for the incredible feat. Riding a 20-foot box jump, Mildon scored his second world first…
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…
Mitch Evans Is Formula One’s next Big Thing
The brightest star in the Formula One (F1) feeder series GP2 is Aucklander Mitch Evans who has amassed an impressive list of accolades despite being just 21 years old. He also has an attribute…
Heineken Open Honoured as Best Fan Experience
Beating stiff competition from renowned tournaments around the world, the Heineken Open Auckland has taken out the Best Fan Experience award at the ATP Awards in Wimbledon this week. “The Heineken Open Auckland is an…
Danny Lee Wins Greenbrier Classic
Rotorua golfer Danny Lee has earned his first PGA Tour win at The Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia in a four-man playoff nearly eight years after becoming a U.S. Amateur champion at age 18. “I kind of felt…
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…
Callum Millward Wins Colorado Ironman
Professional triathlete New Zealander Callum Millward has won the Ironman 70.3 Boulder in 3:46:47, a race he last won in 2012. His competition included three-time British Olympian Tim Don and Colorado’s Ben Hoffman, who placed…
Serbia Win Fifa-U20 World Cup
Serbia have beaten Brazil 2-1 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 final in Auckland, New Zealand, early on Saturday Central European time. In the 70th minute Stanisa Mandic scored the first goal for his…
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…
Joseph Parker Crushes Yakup Saglam in Two Rounds
Heavyweight contender Joseph Parker has defeated the “more experienced but terribly limited Yakup Saglam” with a “two round knockout” at the Manawatu Arena in Palmerston North, New Zealand On Saturday, June 13. Parker, who came…
New Zealand Drivers Come First and Second for Porsche in Le Mans 24 Hours Race
New Zealand racers Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley, driving for Porsche, have come first and second in the Le Mans 24 Hours Race ending Audi’s five year winning streak. The winning Porsche “had both pace…
Bruce Anstey Wins RST Superbike TT Race
Bruce Anstey, riding for the Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Motorcycles, has taken “the chequered flag with a margin of just over ten seconds from PBM Kawasaki’s Ian Hutchinson” on the famous Isle of Man…
Dorothy Caldwell, 97, to Race Across N America in Rolls
New Zealander Dorothy Caldwell, 97, believed to be the world’s oldest rally navigator will race over 9500km across North America guiding her 72-year-old son, Alastair, through the 22-day trip for the Endurance Rally Association’s…
McCullum and Hesson Honoured for New Zealand Success
New Zealand Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and the team’s coach Mike Hesson have been appointed Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (NZOM) in the Queen Elizabeth II Birthday Honours list released…
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…
Black Caps Are a Team to Be Reckoned with
“New Zealand did more than enough against England to prove they are worth much more than a two-test series shoe-horned into the schedule as a tasty appetiser before the Ashes,” which begins in July,…
Rowing Ireland Chief Hamish Adams Looks Ahead
New Zealander Hamish Adams has been living in Ireland for the past 15 years. Formerly player services manager with Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA), Adams is now the chief executive of Rowing Ireland. Ahead…
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…
New Plymouth’s FIFA U-20 Football Madness
Just before the kick-off of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, New Plymouth hosted a range of football related events. At the annual New Plymouth Womad Festival, football fanatic Patrick Hay wowed crowds…
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…
Dean Barker to Lead Japan’s America’s Cup Team
New Zealander Dean Barker has been appointed as skipper and CEO of Japan’s challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup. “This is an incredible opportunity to build a new team from the ground up,” Barker said…
FIFA U-20 Final Squads Announced
The final squads have been announced for the FIFA U-20 in New Zealand, which will kick off on May 30, 2015. 504 players have been selected in total by the 24 teams “to follow in…
Emirates Returns as Team New Zealand’s Top Sponsor
America’s Cup syndicate Emirates Team New Zealand have received some good news, with the airline announcing it will return as the team’s major sponsor, which could help it reach the starting line of the…
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…
Open Water Swim Accolade for Adventurer Charlotte Brynn
New Zealander Charlotte Brynn has been included on the 2015 list of the world’s 50 most adventurous open water women by the World Open Water Swim Association. Brynn, a New Zealander who lives…
Rugby Convert Paul Lasike Lands NFL Contract
Auckland-born Paul Lasike, 24, a former Chiefs back, has signed a contract with NFL team Arizona Cardinals. Branded a “violent” ball-runner, Lasike was picked up by the Cardinals after impressing as a running back in…
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…
FIFA U-20 World Cup to Promote Grassroots Football in New Zealand
“A plan to utilise the FIFA U-20 World Cup as a platform to boost grassroots football in New Zealand is taking shape”, according to Fifa.com. Following Auckland and Christchurch courses, football festivals to…
Mark Hunt Looking Forward to His Rematch with Fabricio Werdum
UFC Heavyweight contender Mark Hunt is set to face Stipe Miocic this Saturday at UFC Fight Night 65 in Adelaide and cannot wait for his rematch with interim champ
John Bracewell Tasked with Leading Ireland to Test Status
New Zealander John Bracewell has been tasked with leading Ireland on the final leg towards Test status, with his experience of playing and coaching his native country at international level seeing him win out…
New Zealand Thrashes Australia in Anzac Test
New Zealand has downed Australia 26-12 in Sunday’s Anzac test at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane with a performance that marks the Kiwi’s status as rugby world class. In the first half, the Kangaroos led 6-2 when…
Golf Champion Michael Campbell Calls It Quits
Former US Open Champion New Zealander Michael Campbell, 46, is retiring from golf to concentrate on running his golf academy in Malaga, Spain. Campbell, who won the Open at Pinehurst in 2005, told New Zealand’s…
Lydia Ko to Donate Winnings to Disaster-Struck Nepal
New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko is planning to donate all her winnings from this week’s LPGA tournament to the relief effort in quake-hit Nepal. The winner of this week’s tournament will receive $A 243,400. The golfing…
