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What’s this, then? Johnathan Kaplan, ahead of an All Blacks test, is commenting on the “challenges” of controlling those tests, going so far as the warn match officials to be on the lookout for illegal New Zealand tactics in the upcoming Lions series. Does this sound to anyone as though Kaplan is advising the booked … Keep Reading “Former World Rugby Official Kaplan Tips All Blacks Lions Tests”

New Zealand tennis professional Mike Venus, a Doubles specialist, won a first round match at the French Open for the first time in four years of trying. He is the top-ranked Kiwi doubles player in the world and he combined with partner Ryan Harrison of America to beat an Argentinian player, Diego Schwartzman and another … Keep Reading “New Zealander Mike Venus has Doubles Breakthrough at French Open”

Sailing is not the only code where New Zealand athletes shine. The set that relies on muscle, not wind power, for propulsion is also capable of showing others how it is done. In this case, Kiwi paddlers won four medals at the recent World cup in Szeged, Hungary. It was an all-women’s squad that seized … Keep Reading “All Black Women Paddlers Fire a Shot Across the Bows of Competitors”

Anyone who has ever ridden a stationary bicycle and found themselves wondering, “What is the point?” may be viewing the 2017 America’s Cup sailing competition with a sense of bemusement at the Kiwi innovation that has mounted four stationary bikes to take the place of hand-cranked winches. One thing is certain, riding a stationary bicycle … Keep Reading “Kiwis Trying to Marry Cycling with Yachting in America’s Cup”

Retirement may have been an option, but seriously, where do old rugby players go when they retire? When grey starts to creep into the hair of an All Black, do they quietly fade away and meander towards a secret rugby player graveyard? That time, apparently, is not yet here for Kiwi captain Kieran Read, as … Keep Reading “All Blacks Retain Kieran Read Until 2019 World Cup”

There is something amiss in Kiwi land where the rugby sides seem to have surrendered their swagger to, well, anyone. At least, that is the way it would seem when the All Black Sevens lost to the Aussies in the London Sevens in the plate semifinals by the embarrassing score of 40 – 7. That … Keep Reading “All Black Sevens Tourists Turn in Dismal Performance in London Sevens”

The headlines screamed disaster, but the video footage of Team New Zealand’s recent training mishap as they make their final preparations for the America’s Cup in Bermuda’s Great Sound seemed on par with a car park fender-bender. The Kiwis did, however have to sit out practice while repairs to their starboard rudder are made. It … Keep Reading “Team New Zealand Yacht Does Nosedive in Bermuda Training”

All Blacks, Black Caps, Black Sticks, we are beginning to gain a sense of some sort of pattern here regarding the name of New Zealand sports teams, and it would appear that the pattern involves hue. All the same, in strict terms of black and white, the Kiwi women’s national field hockey side put on … Keep Reading “Kiwi Field Hockey Black Sticks Beat India Black and Blue”

Things are not going swimmingly for yachters Team New Zealand as they prepare their catamaran for the America’s Cup competition, as their skipper Glenn Ashby was reportedly sent swimming in Bermuda Bay when he missed his footing in the midst of his wing sail trimming duties and as the crew prepared to complete a move … Keep Reading “New Zealand Yacht Skipper Takes Briny Dip in America’s Cup Trials”

There remain much to be done and little time in which to do it as Team New Zealand has two weeks remaining during which to tweak their boat for the America’s Cup. They have been in Bermuda for the past three weeks, and while from the shore, it might look like an exercise in serenity, … Keep Reading “Kiwi America’s Cup Catamaran Undergoes Feverish Testing in Bermuda”