Beauden Barrett could shortly became the first player ever to be crowned World Rugby Player of the Year three times in a row. Despite this global recognition of excellence, there remarkably exists in New Zealand at present a debate about his place in the team. Barrett was at his absolute best against Australia in August when he scored a record four tries at Eden Park. In the last three months, Barrett and the All Blacks form has dipped and Richie Mo'unga has surfaced as a compelling challenger for Barrett’s position...More

A round-up of secondary school rugby this week, with Rongotai College, St Pat’s Silverstream, St Pat’s Town,Porirua College and Aotea College in action on Tuesday an Wednesday, while Tawa College play visiting Liverpool side Merchant Taylor this afternoon and the Premiership competition resumes in full on Saturday. Aotea College capture Co-ed Cup and Beard Trophy Ropati So’oalo was one of two Premier two Wellington players selected in the Hurricanes U18 camp this year, along with Harry Plummer from Onslow College, and in September 2017 So'oalo was named Player of the Tournament at the Hurricanes U16 tournament in Wanganui...More

Above: Brett Goodin in action for Coastal in a recent match against Old Boys, that saw him play his 200th Premier match. His experience in the final will be invaluable.  Taranaki’s Premier club rugby final will be between Coastal and New Plymouth Old Boys after both teams won their respective semi-finals on Saturday. Coastal, who lost last year’s final to Tukapa, justified their top seeding by beating Clifton 17-10 at Rahotu, while in a repeat of the 2016 final, Old Boys were too good for Tukapa at Sanders Park, triumphing 26-13...More

Recapping some of the memorable late wins or wins after the hooter by the Hurricanes throughout the history of Super Rugby. 1997 Hurricanes 37 - Gauteng Lions 35, Johannesburg The Hurricanes encountered a Lions team unbeaten at home at Ellis Park in their first four matches of the year, having beaten Free State, the Highlanders, Brumbies and Waratahs. The Hurricanes made a flying start, piling on 19 points in as many minutes before the Lions came back and grabbed the lead with 10 minutes remaining...More

Above: The Wellington men's team after winning the Central 7s on Saturday. Photo credit: Andy McArthur. Wellington and Manawatu won the respective men’s and women’s finals at Saturday’s Central Region qualifying tournament at in Levin. Wellington defeated Manawatu 17-7 to claim victory in the men's final and Manawatu overcame Wellington 26-5 to win the women’s final. The unbeaten Manawatu women won a three-peat of titles in this tournament, while the Wellington men also won all their matches in a successful outing on a warm, breezy afternoon at Playford Park...More

The Ranfurly Shield is returning to the North Island. Photo credit: Sky Sport. Taranaki added spice to this year’s Men’s NPC competition by taking the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury in their eighth round fixture in Christchurch on Friday night. The amber and blacks have won the Ranfurly Shield five times before and most recently in 2012, but this was the first time they had won it off Canterbury, a perennial holder. They did it in style too. In a whirlwind game, Taranaki came back from 0-24 down after 20 minutes, then 7-31 down later in the first half, then 21-31 at halftime and 21-38 early in the second stanza to win 55-43...More

Adrian Wyrill saved the day for Tukapa scoring when time was well and truly up to help Tukapa win back-to-back Taranaki premier club rugby titles beating Coastal 17-14. Before Wyrill’s patient effort, Tukapa were camped inside Coastal’s 22m area for 10 minutes pounding away at the line phase after phase trailing by 17-10. At this point Coastal were a man down as flanker Blake Barrett was yellow carded for slowing the ball down close to the line. Tukapa elected to take a scrum and Wyrill was able to squeeze between the defence to score which was welcomed by great celebration from the players and a strong crowd...More

9.36pm Saturday, I text my partner: We drew!She: Will they play another game?Me: Yes! In twelve years time . . . So before we start the countdown, here are some random observations. No doubt you'll have your own. The Lions were a very good side. For that to happen is little short of a miracle, and a huge compliment to all involved.They were not a great side, but they had a wonderful stickability, a fair dose of flair, and clearly came up with a pre-tour strategy that they stuck with and bedded in...More

Above: Tukapa captain Mitchell Crosswell has led Tukapa to their second final in two years with a tight win over Spotswood United. A penalty to Jayson Potroz with five minutes remaining sealed the deal for defending champions Tukapa who march through to the Taranaki Premiership finals beating Spotswood United 16-15 at Sanders Park. Tukapa will face Coastal at Yarrow Stadium next weekend with Coastal showing dominance all over the park to beat Southern 25-8 in the other semi-final in Rahotu. Tukapa 16 v Spotswood United 15 In the closest match of the two, both Tukapa and Spotswood United worked very hard in challenging ground conditions as torrential rain an hour and a half before kick-off flooded areas of New Plymouth’s CBD and left puddles all over the field...More

Tukapa’s Leighton Price attempts to ground the ball in last year’s final against New Plymouth OB. Price has been a key player for Tukapa. The top four has been known for the last week or so, but it only came to light who was going to play who and where after the final round of matches last weekend. There was a little bit of movement though after the final round with Spotswood dropping to fourth after losing to Coastal which meant Southern moved to third. Tukapa and Coastal were too far ahead for their home play-offs to be threatened...More