Otago Looking for Strong Finish to ITM Cup

Posted 1:16pm Sunday 4th October 2015

Most of the rugby-watching world is understandably fixated on the World Cup, but the real engine of New Zealand rugby, the ITM Cup, is still grinding away in front of mostly empty stadiums. The provincial competition now appears to be a second-tier competition,  but has been the backbone of the Read more...

Olympic and WC Stadium Problems Hit Tokyo

Posted 1:13pm Sunday 4th October 2015

The 2015 Rugby World Cup is well underway in England and is running smoothly (just maybe not for England on the field) with record-breaking attendance that is making the most of England’s tried and trusted network of world-class sporting venues and transport infrastructure. While World Read more...

All Blacks Shake Off Rusty Start against Pumas

Posted 12:19pm Sunday 27th September 2015

The All Blacks certainly looked the part in their new high-tech carbon-woven jerseys, which are the “blackest All Blacks jersey ever”, according to makers Adidas.   Ex-England captain Matt Dawson put out a parody video called the “Hakarena”, inspired by the catchy 90s Read more...

South Africa Defeated By Japan: Blame the Seagulls

Posted 12:17pm Sunday 27th September 2015

The Japanese team really lived up to its nickname when a gutsy performance saw them pull off a last-minute 34–32 victory over two-time World Cup winners, South Africa. Don’t think the game was just handed to Japan though; they worked their red and white socks off — especially Read more...

The 2015 Rugby World Cup Kicks Off

Posted 1:00pm Sunday 20th September 2015

It seems like only yesterday that Richie McCaw was proudly holding up the William Webb Ellis Cup in the middle of Eden Park and John Key was performing his infamously awkward triple handshake after the All Blacks won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Pool A has been labelled as the “group of Read more...

Thousands Run in the Dunedin Marathon

Posted 12:55pm Sunday 20th September 2015

Nearly 2000 people took part in the 37th annual Cadbury Dunedin Marathon on Sunday 12th September.  A group of 21 Otago students used the event to raise $4,800 for the Do It In a Dress campaign, raising money for One Child - an education initiative for young girls in Africa.  The first Read more...

Premier League Transfer Spending Exceeds $2 Billion

Posted 11:58am Sunday 13th September 2015

The English Premier League has never been short of cash, and it has been flooded with even more money having recently negotiated a record-breaking broadcasting rights deal worth $12 billion over three seasons, far outstripping the previous $2 billion per season agreement. The deal cements the Read more...

All Blacks Finalise Squad for Rugby World Cup

Posted 12:12pm Sunday 6th September 2015

The speculation from armchair critics is now over, and our 31-man All Blacks squad to defend the World Cup has been finalised. The squad balance suggests that the All Blacks will continue their open and attacking style of play — expect “spinning it wide” to try and scores in Read more...

Updates | Issue 21

Posted 11:59am Sunday 30th August 2015

Football Manchester City kicked off the English Premier League season with ominous intent by winning their opening three games without conceding a goal and beating defending champions Chelsea 3–0. Formula One Lewis Hamilton dominated the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, taking pole Read more...

ITM Cup to Help Fine-Tune All Blacks

Posted 11:47am Sunday 30th August 2015

The ITM has lost some of its importance recently with Super Rugby and All Blacks games taking precedence over the domestic provincial championship. This season though — instead of wrapping their players up in cotton wool before the World Cup — some of the All Blacks have been released Read more...