New Zealand Rugby News

There's so much to get into ahead of the opening weekend. We put the call out for your questions and now we're putting the best of them to Sir Clive - here's what he had to say...

The next month represents heaven for rugby fans. It promises to be action of the highest quality - and a chance for a new era of stars to cement their status as talents worthy of the international stage.

DAN BIGGAR: Steve Borthwick's decision to go for George Ford at No 10 is one that can't be argued with - and it gives big clues about how England are going to play against Australia.

Since returning to his home city of Cardiff from Bristol Bears in the summer of 2024, Callum Sheedy has had a more than eventful time of it.

Growing up just south of Newcastle, there was barely a weekend in the calendar when Guy Pepper was not standing beside a rugby pitch.

A new chapter beckons for England as they welcome back their Lions stars and begin to nail down a team that can bring home the 2027 World Cup.

With ongoing uncertainty about how the country's national game will look in the future, Rugby Confidential understands leading Welsh players are keen to look elsewhere as a result.

On a warm summer's evening in Quinta do Lago, a couple of stools were set up in the team room at Sale's training camp for An Audience with George Ford.

As a 53-cap All Black who played at the last two World Cups, Nepo Laulala already had an impressive reputation when he arrived at Gloucester. But then he took on the club's infamous milk challenge.

The Ba Orient was a plush Chinese restaurant and cocktail bar in Cardiff 's bay area popular with celebrities. For one night in 2006, it added another star to its list.

When I look at the women's game in England, I see only good things. They have exceptional players and strength in depth with new, younger talent coming through.

For the last year or so, Ondres' next generation have been able to call on the expertise of an English export with quite a few stories to tell.

NIK SIMON: Andy Farrell's first tour in charge saw the Lions lose the final Test and miss out on a clean sweep against Australia, but the 50-year-old insisted he will fly home full of pride.

Here, writing ahead of Saturday morning's fixture, Mail Sport's ALEX BYWATER ranks the top 10 most successful Lions tours of all time.

Liverpool and Manchester United's owners are ready to go head-to-head by buying teams in the new rugby rebel league threatening to rip up the sport with in millions in investment.

Gilbert Enoka, whose most famous work came with New Zealand's rugby union team during a period in which they won the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, is on a four-day consultancy with the England team.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: So many incredible players have represented the Lions, and as a result, ranking my top 50 of all time has been an incredibly stressful and onerous task.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: For a few seconds, I am flat on the floor of the Opetaia Boxing Club. That is what happens when you agree to take a punch from Sonny Bill Williams.

When the 1888 Lions spent 42 days at sea travelling to the southern hemisphere, they were accompanied by more than 300 stoats and weasels in the belly of their boat.

Up close, England's superstar No 10 shows no marks of the stresses and strains that came from losing his starting shirt, shunted into a new position and then to the bench.

New Zealand footy fans are mourning following the death of former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson. Aussie rugby legend David Campese said the flanker was the 'benchmark in world wing play.'

The regular domestic season is over, and on Tuesday night the Premiership handed out their seasonal awards. But here we looking at the lesser-spotted action that deserves its own gongs.

RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL: When Marcus Smith turned up at Miami's rugby club during designated time off, it quickly became clear there was more to his holiday than initially met the eye.

MIKE KEEGAN: Late last night Telegraph Sport reported that the All Blacks had accused the group of reneging on the latest instalment of a deal which came into play in 2021.

ALEX BYWATER: The New Year brings new possibilities and 2025 has the potential to be a truly brilliant 12 months for the game of rugby union.

The year 12 Condell Park High School student had worn a Keffiyeh scarf to his graduation ceremony, given to him by his sister, to display his Palestinian heritage.

The legendary New Zealand scrum half bowed out alongside Sam Cane, with the two World Cup winners set to head to Japan to continue their club careers.

The former Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders centre extended his fight record to four wins from four after he secured a points victory against the Kiwi.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: A painful lesson is not the equal of a glorious victory. It's not the plan or the target. Let's have some honesty, please. This is Test rugby.

Marler has since issued an apology, insisting he 'meant no malice', but came under fire this week after labelling the haka 'ridiculous' on social media.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: As Team GB's director of sport, I was privileged to see Hoy perform under immense pressure, and his bravery is a testament to what an extraordinary person he is.

CHRIS FOY: Whatever else they have planned, England's ideal response to the Haka should be to stare it down, then beat the All Blacks. Simple. Well, not really, but that's the only retort that matters.

The prop has since apologised for his inflammatory comments that have riled senior figures in the New Zealand camp.

This infuriated the public and several politicians in New Zealand, with Marler's 'lack of appreciation for tradition' slammed, while another figure accused him of having a low IQ.

CHRIS FOY: England fear that Joe Marler's comments about the Haka may have 'prodded the bear', as they prepare to face an All Blacks side fired-up by the furore over their pre-match challenge.

NIK SIMON: It was a brisk April afternoon down at Rosslyn Park. Standing on the sideline, watching the fourth team, I used my sore back as an excuse not to step foot on the pitch.

CHRIS FOY: The 34-year-old Harlequins prop left the national team's training base on Monday for personal reasons and his prospects of a return during the Autumn Nations Series are in doubt.

NIK SIMON: TNT Sports are planning to 'lift the shutters' throughout the autumn series as it steps into broadcasting international rugby for the first time.

ALEX BYWATER: England hope to play quicker than the All Blacks and beat Scott Robertson's side at their own game - something they failed to manage in July.

At last week's Leaders in Sport conference representatives from Saudi's Public Investment Fund and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council rubbed shoulders with executives from World Rugby.

NIK SIMON IN GIRONA: He has rediscovered his form off the kicking tee for Harlequins this season and tipped to retain the No 10 jersey for the series opener at Twickenham.

CHRIS FOY: When Owen Farrell dropped the mid-winter bombshell that he had agreed a summer move to Paris, Nick Kennedy knew he had to act fast.

ALEX BYWATER: At Twickenham on Wednesday, Marlie Packer and Kennedy Tukuafu chatted away merrily like long-lost mates.

England are at the end of a gruelling season which began more than a year ago, when the majority of the squad were starting their World Cup preparations.

CHRIS FOY: As a first-time tourist, back in the country where he grew up, playing in a huge Test series against the mighty All Blacks, there would be good reason for the 21-year-old to be over-awed.

Marler was replaced in the 17th minute of the 16-15 defeat in the opener at Forsyth Barr Stadium and the Rugby Football Union has confirmed he has been withdrawn from the squad.

CHRIS FOY IN DUNEDIN: England coaches and players often say they don't like looking back, but they are well aware that Saturday's momentous task is to reverse rugby history

CHRIS FOY: For their part, England have no recent scars from this box-office rivalry and there is also a concerted desire to cast their opponents as mere rugby mortals.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The similarities between the two teams are striking. Both are packed with exciting young players blessed with brilliant, natural ability.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: The flanker's performance on Saturday was an 'exceptional circumstance' in its own right. That is the flexibility clause in the RFU edict which forbids his selection.

Former cross-code footy superstar Sonny Bill Williams has made headlines for his social media posts on several occasions - but his latest efforts are far different to what he's done before.

AADAM PATEL: All it takes is a stroll around The Lensbury Resort in Teddington in London and you can see the rich sporting heritage with mementos from teams that have called this home.

Muliaina, who won the World Cup with the All Blacks and played 100 Tests, believes Beale has plenty to offer the Wallabies squad and should be selected.

All Blacks legend Ali Williams has finally opened up about the horror accident that crippled his father Rodney and the cocaine scandal that nearly crippled his career.

ALEX BYWATER: Chessum's club Leicester confirmed on Thursday Chessum will miss the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign after having successful surgery to repair an 'ongoing injury.'

South Africa's double World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth has described Ireland's players as 'arrogant' after revealing they told him they would meet his team in last year's World Cup final.

WORLD OF RUGBY - CHRIS FOY: 'I'll learn so many different things,' said the supreme All Blacks utility back. 'It will make me see the game differently and I'll bring the best bits back.'

The 2GB radio host did not hold back when he unleashed on the footy star turned Channel Nine NRL commentator in a furious spray on Wednesday morning.

The former NRL and All Blacks great sent his prayers for a full recovery for bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel after he was stabbed on Monday night - but also shared a message from Tate.

Leinster have sealed a stunning transfer coup after announcing that All Black centre Jordie Barrett will join them in December, until the end of next season.

That footage quickly circulated on social media, with former All Blacks star Williams, 38, sharing it from Andrew Tate's X account with a message to bishop Emmanuel.

DAN BIGGAR: I've spent the last few days analysing Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack ahead of Saturday's match between my Toulon side and Toulouse in the Top 14.

ALEX BYWATER: New plans for a World Club Cup to begin in 2028 should be welcomed by rugby fans on the proviso it does not place further demands on the players in terms of game time and welfare.

TNT Sports has confirmed its exclusive deal to broadcast rugby's Autumn Nations Series, as initially reported last month by Mail Sport.

The RFU will charge the highest price ever for a standalone England Test when the All Blacks visit Twickenham, with top tickets costing £229.

ALEX BYWATER: England have been warned they will face a revitalised and even better Ardie Savea this summer when they take on New Zealand in a mouthwatering two-Test series.

GARY FITZGERALD AT THE REC: The powerful wing will be determined to earn a place on England's summer tour of New Zealand over the final two months of the season.

MIKE BROWN: Before this Six Nations, Steve Borthwick said his aim was to improve England's poor recent Championship record.

NIK SIMON IN LYON: England were halfway between their hotel on the Saone River and this out-of-town stadium when Andrew Porter scored the try that all-but clinched the Six Nations for Ireland.

NIK SIMON IN LYON: He sat side-by-side with scrum coach Tom Harrison but the media interest was all about whether this would be 60 and out for England's wrecking ball. It certainly seems that way.

A new entry into their catalogue of defeats was written in Christchurch this week, as the Black Caps threw away their best chance for a home Test victory.

CHRIS FOY AT TWICKENHAM: This means all the stirring words are no longer hollow. This means they truly are on to something after beating Ireland in the Six Nations.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England's performance to beat Ireland at Twickenham was a huge step in the right direction for Steve Borthwick and the team. They played with purpose and passion.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Negotiations are understood to be at an advanced stage over a deal that would give TNT some mouthwatering fixtures later this year.

NIK SIMON: Three years ago, Chandler Cunningham-South's home was a small farm in Wellsford, New Zealand. His family emigrated there from England in 2008.

EXCLUSIVE: No 8 Mercer returned to the Gallagher Premiership for the start of the 2023/24 campaign, signing for Gloucester after an impressive stint in French rugby with Montpellier.

ALEX BYWATER: And after a 31-7 defeat at the hands of Ireland followed losses to Scotland and England, Gatland framed the travails of his current Wales side in the context of his own journey.

Smart mouthguards have come under fire in the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific with players complaining about being removed the field despite not feeling any symptoms of concussion

Former NRL and New Zealand rugby player Sonny Bill Williams has admitted he tried to pressure his wife to wear a hijab during the early days of their relationship