All Blacks coach Scott Robertson watches New Zealand's oldest schoolboy rugby tournament
New Zealand's oldest schoolboy tournament is being held in Christchurch for its 99th year this week.
Since 1925, four schools – Nelson College, Whanganui Collegiate, Wellington College and – have come together to play in a four-game competition of rugby in the Quadrangular Tournament.
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Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
What is Rugby360? And could the All Blacks be involved?
By Ross McNaughton of RNZ If the All Blacks have been approached to take part in the Rugby360 competition, they are certainly not letting on. "Not at all, mate, no I haven't heard anything," All Blacks vice-captain Ardie Savea said. "I'm unaware of any of that information," coach Scott Robertson said. But according to veteran commentator Tony Johnson, R360 could be a legitimate threat to rugby's status quo. "What I'm hearing now is that this thing is real, that the money is off the scale. There is a lot of money, there are interested parties. They're certainly talking to a lot of players and they believe they can get this thing going by next year. How realistic that is, I don't know," he said. While solid details about R360 are scarce, the competition would reportedly operate eight men's and four women's teams, in a franchise system played across multiple countries. Former England midfielder Mike Tindall is a spokesperson and the league is being financed by private investment from the US, the UK, and most importantly, Saudi Arabia. It is estimated Rugby 360 will need to sign hundreds of players to operate. Any wage bill though is minuscule, compared to the riches in the Saudi Public Investment Fund, according to professor Steve Jackson at the University of Otago. "It's into the hundreds of billions, and that's just their investment strategy. And just in relation to sport, I think they're at about close to $50 billion just in the last two to three years," he said. Critics have termed this strategy sportswashing. Effectively using sport as a means to cleanse a country's reputation. And while it has gone for decades across many nations, the Saudis are the undisputed world champions. "They can hide all the human rights abuses," Jackson said. "Rugby is just another feather in the cap. You know, there's golf, there's Formula 1. There's UFC. I mean, they've got links now with the IOC and the Olympics, FIFA. So they are gathering momentum." New Zealand Rugby declined an interview request but provided a statement saying they're monitoring potential markets. "We continue to see strong player retention, driven by a focus on environments and quality teams and competitions. Pleasingly, we have large number of players committed to the long-term which recognises the incredibly exciting domestic and international rugby calendar over the next four years." World Rugby have also taken notice. "World Rugby have had a meeting very recently about it," Johnson said. "No one knows what has come out of that, but World Rugby will be under a lot of pressure from the likes of, the English Premiership, the Top 14 league in France, the Japan League, Super Rugby, because if this thing R360 gets off the ground, then those competitions will be decimated and it really will split the game." World Rugby still holds a trump card though: Test rugby. "What I understand is that no top rugby players are going to commit to this if they think there's any threat to them playing international rugby, no matter how big the money is. Or very few, which is why probably at the moment the names that are being banded around are rugby league players." But the Saudis have the money to test anyone's loyalty. Top players were reportedly offered signing bonuses of more than US$100 million to join their LIV golf tour. "We can have a lot of theories, but at the end of the day it's two words: money talks," Jackson said. Whether that money gets a 'yes' from New Zealand's best rugby players, that will all come out in the wash.
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- RNZ News
What is Rugby360? And is it Saudi sportswashing?
By Ross McNaughton , RNZ Ardie Savea. Photo: Brett Phibbs / If the All Blacks have been approached to take part in the Rugby360 competition, they are certainly not letting on. "Not at all, mate, no I haven't heard anything," All Blacks vice-captain Ardie Savea said. "I'm unaware of any of that information," coach Scott Robertson said. But according to veteran commentator Tony Johnson, R360 could be a legitimate threat to rugby's status quo. "What I'm hearing now is that this thing is real, that the money is off the scale. There is a lot of money, there are interested parties. They're certainly talking to a lot of players and they believe they can get this thing going by next year. How realistic that is, I don't know," he said. While solid details about R360 are scarce, the competition would reportedly operate eight men's and four women's teams, in a franchise system played across multiple countries. Former England midfielder Mike Tindall is a spokesperson and the league is being financed by private investment from the US, the UK, and most importantly, Saudi Arabia. It is estimated Rugby 360 will need to sign hundreds of players to operate. Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is one of several high-profile NRL players linked with a move to Rugby360. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga Any wage bill though is minuscule, compared to the riches in the Saudi Public Investment Fund, according to professor Steve Jackson at the University of Otago. "It's into the hundreds of billions, and that's just their investment strategy. And just in relation to sport, I think they're at about close to $50 billion just in the last two to three years," he said. Critics have termed this strategy sportswashing. Effectively using sport as a means to cleanse a country's reputation. And while it has gone for decades across many nations, the Saudis are the undisputed world champions. "They can hide all the human rights abuses," Jackson said. "Rugby is just another feather in the cap. You know, there's golf, there's, Formula 1. There's UFC. I mean, they've got links now with the IOC and the Olympics, FIFA. So they are gathering momentum." New Zealand Rugby declined an interview request but provided a statement saying they're monitoring potential markets. "We continue to see strong player retention, driven by a focus on environments and quality teams and competitions. Pleasingly, we have large number of players committed to the long-term which recognises the incredibly exciting domestic and international rugby calendar over the next four years." World Rugby have also taken notice. "World Rugby have had a meeting very recently about it," Johnson said. "No one knows what has come out of that, but World Rugby will be under a lot of pressure from the likes of, the English Premiership, the Top 14 league in France, the Japan League, Super Rugby, because if this thing R360 gets off the ground, then those competitions will be decimated and it really will split the game." World Rugby still holds a trump card though: Test rugby. "What I understand is that no top rugby players are going to commit to this if they think there's any threat to them playing international rugby, no matter how big the money is. Or very few, which is why probably at the moment the names that are being banded around are rugby league players." But the Saudis have the money to test anyone's loyalty. Top players were reportedly offered signing bonuses of more than US$100 million to join their LIV golf tour. "We can have a lot of theories, but at the end of the day it's two words: money talks," Jackson said. Whether that money gets a 'yes' from New Zealand's best rugby players, that will all come out in the wash. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
19 hours ago
- NZ Herald
How a weakened France team did the All Blacks a real favour
After that: two tests against the Springboks, the real yardstick for these All Blacks. While we are talking Lions – the All Blacks are maybe lucky that their tour isn't of New Zealand. Sure, this is not a golden Wallabies side and coach Joe Schmidt made some puzzling selections (prop, lock, halfback, first five-eighths and wing), but the Lions looked a bit good; they beat Australia by more than the eight-point margin suggested. The other favour the French did the All Blacks was to demonstrate what happens to their at-pace, wide-ranging game if they are not highly accurate and, more especially, if a defence digs in to thwart them. France were magnificent defensively; their plan was to smother the All Blacks while pressuring them with penalties and dropped goals. By my count, they held up All Blacks bashing over the line after constant pressure no fewer than four times and, on a fifth occasion, hit charging lock Patrick Tuipulotu so hard the ball jolted loose near the line. As a lad, I used to read about Cheyenne dog soldiers in the old American West – warriors who would stake themselves to the ground, committing to a fight to the death. The French reminded me of that – and all Northern Hemisphere teams have that same defensive vigour (as do the Boks). The All Blacks will have to be on song in their play-at-pace mission. The French also showed the gulf between the kicking of Northern Hemisphere sides and those from the Southern Hemisphere. Their halfbacks, first five-eighths and fullbacks all kick higher and more accurately than the All Blacks and Wallabies (Cam Roigard excepted and then not all the time). The All Blacks' plans at least partly depend on regaining kicked ball but, over three tests and the evidence of the first test between the Lions and the Wallabies, the Northern Hemisphere simply do it better. Big improvement needed. The All Blacks might have struggled at times – no one in their right mind could have expected last Saturday's line-up to be a 'well-oiled machine' – but there is no doubt fielding 34 players (some because of injury) across three tests worked for them. Up front, Ethan de Groot reset his credentials; his third-test effort, carrying and tackling, was immense. So much has been said about Fabian Holland – how does a man so big keep going so hard for so long? – that all we need to say is he will be an All Blacks lock for a long time. Tupou Vaai's work at blindside flanker was good, though you still get a feeling they may prefer him at lock. I do, but you can bet he'll be at No 6 for the Boks; it will interesting to see him there against stronger sides. It will also have done the All Blacks selectors good to see Samipeni Finau having probably his best match for the All Blacks at No 6 in the third test. Du'Plessis Kirifi's work in the third test had 'back-up No 7' written all over it; Ruben Love's starting debut at fullback saw some penetrating running when that was in short supply in the first half. He still appeals most as a No 10 but his work at No 15 will have gladdened the selectors. If Jordie Barrett is any guide, we should send more players to Leinster. Instead of appearing stale after a year of constant rugby, he provided the two biggest moments of the third test – a try-saving tackle and a break to set up Brodie McAlister's game-clinching try. However, there are still question marks about the midfield, Barrett aside. Billy Proctor progressed a bit after a wobbly first test but you wonder if there will continue to be room for both Quinn Tupaea and the little-used Timoci Tavatavanawai in the midfield. Clearly the selectors regard Tavatavanawai as a midfielder; there was no sign of him being used on the wing, even with slim numbers there. Rieko Ioane had a good second test after a highly average first one and Emoni Narawa's second-test outing was competent enough without suggesting he will oust anyone yet. Sevu Reece on the charge against France in Hamilton. Photo / Dean Purcell Sevu Reece had a busy third test with his trademark burrowing and pick-and-go, but his lack of pace was exposed when given the ball in an area where a high-speed test winger would have gone for the corner rather than cut inside. The All Blacks still scored through Anton Lienert-Brown, but much later in the piece. Midfield and wings will be a work in progress against Argentina so, to the French and coach Fabien Galthie, we can only say: merci beaucoup. Paul Lewis writes about rugby, cricket, league, football, yachting, golf, the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
