Smart Choices

ASK STEVE HANSEN WHAT THE FOUNDATION OF A SUCCESSFUL RUGBY SIDE IS AND HE WILL TELL YOU WITH LITTLE HESITATION THAT IT IS GETTING THE SELECTIONS RIGHT.

Single Minded

THERE WERE TWO DISTINCT PARTS TO KIERAN READ'S CAREER BUT BY THE TIME HE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME, THERE WAS NO DOUBT HE SIGNED OFF AS THE BEST NO 8 NEW Z EALAND HAS EVER PRODUCED.

Saying Sayonara

AFTER EIGHT YEARS AS HEAD COACH STEVE HANSEN LEFT THE JOB IN EARLY NOVEMBER WHEN THE ALL BLACKS DEFEATED WALES IN THE BRONZE MEDAL MATCH OF THE WORLD CUP. HE SPOKE TO GREGOR PAUL ABOUT HIS TIME IN THE ROLE.

Oita City – Rugby's Newest Frontier

OITA CITY WAS A CRUCIAL VENUE AT THE 1 02 9 WORLD CUP AND ONE THAT HAS PLENTY TO OFFER THOSE WHO MAKE IT THERE EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO RUGBY BEING PLAYED.

New Zealand's Got Talent

BETWEEN 201 2 AND 201 9 THE ALL BLACKS HAD AN INCREDIBLE POOL OF FIRST- FIVES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, WHICH WAS NO ACCIDENT. IN STEVE HANSEN’ S EIGHT- YEAR TENURE, WORLD RUGBY MADE AN ALL BLACK NO 1 0 PLAYER OF THE YEAR ON FOUR OCCASIONS.

New Age All Blacks

THERE WAS, FROM 2012, AN INCREASED DESIRE WITHIN THE ALL BLACKS TO EMBRACE SPORTS SCIENCE, ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES AND CLEANER LIVING AND DETERMINE WHO THEY REALLY WERE.

End Of An Era

IT WASN'T JUST STEVE HANSEN AND KIERAN READ WHO SIGNED OFF WITH THE ALL BLACKS IN TOKYO. A HANDFUL OF OTHER SENIOR FIGURES WERE ALSO LEAVING AND IT FELT VERY MUCH LIKE THE END OF AN ERA – ONE THAT HAD STARTED WITH INAUSPICIOUS BEGINNINGS.

Filling The Void

WHEN THE ALL BLACKS LOST 800-PLUS TEST CAPS AFTER THE 2015 WORLD CUP, THEY WERE POTENTIALLY FACING A LEADERSHIP VACUUM. BUT SOME ASTUTE PLANNING ENSURED THEY HAD GOOD DECISION-MAKERS AND DEEP THINKERS READY TO STEP IN.

Bringing Down The Wall

RICHIE MCCAW INTO THE ALL BLACKS’ CAPTAINCY WAS A NEAR IMPOSSIBLE JOB FOR KIERAN READ. BUT HE MADE ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT WILL BE HIS LEGACY.

Market Myths

In The Last 12 Months Mainstream Media Has Built Into Its Daily Narrative That The Number Of Players Heading Overseas Is Increasing And Is Now Close To Crises Point. But Is That Really The Case? Nz Rugby World Provides A Dummies’ Guide To The Player Market To Explain The Real Situation.

Holiday Nightmares

Clubs Around The World are Willing To Pay extraordinary Sums For new Zealand’s Best Players And Yet So Few Have Ever excelled Offshore And Infact, Quite Often, Things Go Horribly Wrong.

Seeking Consistency

A Rare Break From Rugby In The Off-season May Allow Elton Jantjies To Realise His Potential In The Lead-up To The 2019 World Cup, Writes Jon Cardinelli Of Sa Rugby Magazine

The Great Unknown

The All Blacks Have Built A Relatively Settled, Experienced Team Since The Last World Cup In 2015. But They Still Don’t Know Their Best Combination In One Critical Area Of The Field. Gregor Paul Reports.

Secret Sale

It emerged In march that World rugby trIed to secretly sell InternatIonal football to the hIghest bIdder. thankfully they Were caught In the act.

Chasing The Dollar

Richard Bath Is An Award-winning Writer Based In The UK.

Winter Wonder Land

Finland Earned Worldwide Infamy In 2011 As The Worst Rugby Team In The World. But Eight Years On The Picture Has Changed Dramatically Says Charlie Inglefield.

Restoring The Lions Pride

Lions pride as much as New Zealanders love hosting the lions, the cold, hard truth is that respect for the combined team is in short supply. To win it back, the lions need to prove they are a force worth taking seriously. 

The Unlikely Lion

Johnny Sexton wasn’t on the path to stardom as a teenager and no one predicted he would make it as far as he has. That glimpse at the real world has helped make him the player he is writes Malachy Clerkin.

When The Lions Roared

The lions have enjoyed one series win in New Zealand. It was in 1971 when they brought a magical team and one of the greatest coaches in history.

The Epic Centre Of The Lions

Wynne Gray Is a Former Senior Rugby Writer at the New Zealand Herald.

The Chosen One

For The Last Few Years, The All Blacks Have Been Hoping To Discover The Natural Successor To Jerome Kaino At Blindside. They Think They May Have Found Their Man.

Winning Back Respect

Richard Bath Is an Award-winning Writer Based in the UK

A Giant Will Be Remembered

Kevin Roberts Is Founder of Red Rose Consulting; Business Leader and Educator; Author and Speaker; Adviser on Marketing, Creative Thinking and Leadership.

Setting New Standards

RICHARD BATH IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER BASED IN THE UK.

A Journey With A Difference

The All Blacks will play Italy in Toyota City at next year’s World Cup. GREGOR PAUL believes both the city and the stadium will make for an engaging visit for those Kiwis who make it to Japan.

Cultural Revolution

SOUTH AFRICA 40-26 NEW ZEALAND AUGUST 14, 2004 // ELLIS PARK, JOHANNESBURG

Green Tea Party

The all blacks came into the professional era wedded to an amateur culture of pies, pints and near disdain for sports science. That all changed in 2004 when the coaching team and senior players influenced a revolution that has driven the highest personal standards.

Brand Standing

In the last 10 years the all blacks have evolved from rugby team to sports brand. Not everyone likes the transition that has been made, but it has been critical in giving the national side major influence and profile in the world game.

Outside Influences

A number of teams, people, decisions and events have had a major influence on the all blacks.

False Dawn Rising

Blues fans may feel they have heard it all before, but maybe now despite having suffered another terrible season, they really are on the cusp of a better future now that Beauden Barrett has committed to the club.