STEVE McMORRAN

AP Sports Writer
New Zealand's Scott Barrett, is tackled by Argentina's Gonzalo Bertranou during the Rugby World Cup semifinal match between Argentina and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Friday, Oct 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Scott Barrett bounces back as the Crusaders go top in Super Rugby
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has returned to form and helped the Crusaders to their accustomed station atop the standings after the weekend’s ninth round of Super Rugby.
 
Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling holds the America's Cup trophy aloft after defeating Italy's Luna Rossa in race 10 of the America's Cup on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, New Zealand, March 17, 2021. (Chris Cameron/Photosport via AP, File)
3-time America’s Cup-winner Peter Burling to leave Team New Zealand
Helmsman Peter Burling is leaving Team New Zealand after nearly a decade in which he steered New Zealand boats to three consecutive wins in sailing’s America’s Cup.
 
Australia's Noah Lolesio lines up a penalty kick during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Ireland and Australia, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)
Lolesio’s departure set to cloud Australia’s flyhalf race ahead of the Lions series
Noah Lolesio’s decision to take up a contract in Japan next year has posed another challenge to head coach Joe Schmidt as he assembles a Wallabies squad to play the British and Irish Lions in July.
 
Argentina's Lucio Cinti, right, tackles New Zealand's Ardie Savea, left, during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Aug. 10, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP, File)
After blowing hot and cold, the Hurricanes find form in Super Rugby
The Hurricanes have been late to the party in Super Rugby this season. While other teams shone in the first weeks of a tight competition, the Wellington-based Hurricanes lacked their usual luster.
 
Ratings show Super Rugby is on a high but the Blues are on a low
Super Rugby is booming. Early indications have shown that fan interest in the Southern Hemisphere tournament has reached new highs this season, building on strong viewing numbers in 2024.
 
Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood, right, and Manchester City's Ruben Dias vie for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground stadium, in Nottingham, England, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
2026 World Cup spot at stake: New Zealand, New Caledonia to meet in the Oceania qualifying final
Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has scored a hat trick of headed goals as New Zealand beat Fiji 7-0 to join New Caledonia in the Oceania qualifying final for the 2026 World Cup.
 
Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood, front, and Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov compete for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground stadium, in Nottingham, England, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Chris Wood backs automatic World Cup qualifying for Oceania minnows
Nottingham Forest striker and New Zealand captain Chris Wood has defended the decision to give FIFA’s smallest confederation, Oceania, direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup.
 
Fijian Drua player Mesulame Dolokoto, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 3 match between the NSW Waratahs and Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, on Feb. 28, 2025. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via AP)
Injuries impact Super Rugby; Reds ride a wave of form
The Super Rugby season is only five rounds old. Yet, with less than a third of the regular season over injuries are already becoming a major factor.
 
New Zealand's Beauden Barrett, center, runs between defenders during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
Blues lose Barrett, struggle to keep up in high-scoring Super Rugby
The Blues have lost All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett to an apparent long-term injury on the way to a 21-20 loss to the Brumbies which continued a gloomy start to the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season for the defending champions.
 
Fijian Drua player Mesulame Dolokoto, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 3 match between the NSW Waratahs and Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, on Feb. 28, 2025. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via AP)
Ex-internationals condemn Super Rugby travel failures for Fijian Drua
Ex-internationals Lote Tuqiri and Nemani Nadolo have condemned the Super Rugby organizational failures that led to the Fijian Drua squad traveling more than 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) in a luggage truck and having to check out of their hotel early on the day of their second-round match against
 
Japan coach Jamie Joseph watches his players warm up ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama, Japan, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
From the deep south, the Highlanders bring the underdog spirit to Super Rugby
Sports fans who have a soft spot for underdogs will find few underdoggier teams in Super Rugby than the Dunedin, New Zealand based Highlanders, the southernmost major professional team on the planet.
 
Eddie Jones of Australia, center, poses for photographers with Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi, left, and JRFU President Masato Tsuchida, right, during a news conference Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Japan, Asia Rugby clash over the suspension of JRFU executive and former player Iwabuchi
The Japan Rugby Football Union is challenging a decision by Asia Rugby to temporarily suspend JRFU executive director Kensuke Iwabuchi over a possible Code of Conduct breach in an unprecedented squabble between the national and regional bodies.
 
Glen Jackson: rugby’s Renaissance man takes the helm of the Fijian Drua
More than anyone in Super Rugby, Glen Jackson has been there, done that and got the T-shirt. The New Zealander played 60 Super Rugby matches at flyhalf and scored more than 470 points for the Hamilton-based Chiefs.
 
Australia's James O'Connor runs during the second Bledisloe Rugby test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
James O’Connor: the former Aussie larrakin finds a home in New Zealand rugby
When James O’Connor made his first appearance in Super Rugby for the Christchurch-based Crusaders it marked the latest and possibly last episode in a career which has taken him from enfant terrible to elder statesman.
 
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt reacts before the start of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Australia in Edinburgh, on Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
Lions tour looms over Super Rugby as the tournament itself faces scrutiny
The Super Rugby Pacific opener will raise the curtain on a Southern Hemisphere season in which the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia looms large and the future of the tournament itself remains a matter of vigorous debate.
 
New venue, new foils add to the uncertainty at SailGP race in Auckland
A new venue and new technology will add an element of uncertainty to the second round of the SailGP which will be raced on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour.
 
England bowler Gus Atkinson celebrates after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Milestones galore as England leads New Zealand by 533 runs in the 2nd test after 2 days
England leads New Zealand by 533 runs with five second-innings wickets in hand after another day of extraordinary incidents and milestones including a hat-trick on the second day of the second test at the Basin Reserve.
 
England's Harry Brook bats during play on day one of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Friday, Dec.6, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Brook’s century has England on top after Day 1 of the 2nd test against New Zealand
Harry Brook has posted his eighth test century as England finished in a strong position after the first day of the second cricket test against New Zealand.
 
New Zealand's Aijaz Patel celebrates the dismissal of India's Virat Kohli during the third day of the third cricket test match between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Ajaz Patel, hero of New Zealand’s clean sweep in India, dropped for England series
Spinner Ajaz Patel, whose 11 wickets in the third test against India this month helped New Zealand to an unprecedented clean sweep of that series, has been omitted from the Black Caps squad for the upcoming test series against England.
 
New Zealand's Caleb Clarke runs past Australia's Andrew Kellaway during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Eddie Jones’ Japan plan to be tested in All Blacks showdown
Eddie Jones’ project to rebuild Japan rugby in his image will come under increased international scrutiny when the Brave Blossoms play the All Blacks in a one-off test in Yokohama.
 
All Blacks name new captain, 2 new caps for test against Japan
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has taken the opportunity to introduce new players in the test against Japan in Yokohama, naming a new captain and two new caps.
 
New Zealand's team poses with the trophy after winning the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 final match against South Africa at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand revels in a weekend of sporting success
New Zealand boasts that it punches above its weight in international sport and backed up that claim at the weekend with success around the world and in a variety of sports.
 
New Zealand's captain Sophie Devine, center, poses with teammates Lea Tahuhu, left, and Suzie Bates with the trophy after winning the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 final match against South Africa at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand White Ferns split US$2.3 million after winning T20 World Cup
Members of the New Zealand White Ferns cricket team which beat South Africa by 32 runs in the final of the women’s Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai Sunday will split prize money of around US$2.3 million.
 
New Zealand celebrate with the bLedisloe Cup after their win over Australia in rugby union test match in Sydney, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
All Blacks make 3 late changes to squad for Japan and Europe tour
The All Blacks have made three injury-enforced changes to their squad which is to play tests in Japan and Europe. Backrowers Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali’i have been ruled unfit to travel on the first leg to Japan.
 
New Zealand's Kane Williamson plays a shot during the day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Kane Williamson will miss the 1st cricket test against India with a groin strain
Kane Williamson will miss at least the first of New Zealand’s three tests in India later this month because of a groin strain.
 
New Zealand celebrate with the bLedisloe Cup after their win over Australia in rugby union test match in Sydney, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
All Blacks focus on a big finish in the Bledisloe Cup against Australia
The Wallabies need to avoid a bad start to have any chance of ending a long losing streak against New Zealand. The All Blacks must overcome poor finishes if they are to win the second Bledisloe Cup test on Saturday.
 
New Zealand's head coach Scott Robertson, right, chats with Australia's head coach Joe Schmidt after New Zealand won their rugby union test match in Sydney, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
All Blacks pick Beauden Barrett to start at flyhalf in 2nd test against Australia
Beauden Barrett will start at flyhalf for the first time in almost two years in the All Blacks lineup to play Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup test. Barrett last played in the No. 10 jersey for New Zealand against Scotland in November 2022.
 
New Zealand's Scott Barrett, left, tackles South Africa's Ox Nche during a rugby championship test match between South Africa and New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
All Blacks, Wallabies searching for winning form in Bledisloe Cup opener
The Bledisloe Cup series between Australia and New Zealand comes around each year as a high point of the Southern Hemisphere rugby season. This year it arrives with both teams at a low ebb and as a moment of desperation more than celebration.
 
Super Rugby Pacific will have 6-team playoff format for 2025
Super Rugby Pacific will have a new playoff system in 2025 involving six teams rather than the eight which qualified for the post-season this year.
 
New Zealand's Caleb Clarke runs to score a try during a rugby championship test match between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Beauden Barrett and Perenara on All Blacks’ bench for the 2nd test as Springboks make 7 changes
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has included fullback Beauden Barrett and scrumhalf T.J. Perenara among the reserves for New Zealand’s second Rugby Championship test against South Africa at Cape Town as he looks to add impact to his bench.
 
Load More