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Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Injured NZ winger to miss part of Rugby Championship
New Zealand winger Caleb Clarke may be sidelined for up to eight weeks with an ankle injury and stands to miss at least part of the Rugby Championship. Clarke was ruled out of the rest of the France series on the eve of the second match in Wellington on Saturday, but All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he could miss more Tests. "He could be probably six to eight (weeks). It is a good ankle injury," Robertson said on Monday. "Shame for him, really gutted." The All Blacks play their first two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in Cordoba and Buenos Aires on August 16 and 23. Clarke was replaced in Robertson's starting 15 in Wellington by Emoni Narawi. The All Blacks thrashed France 43-17 to seal the series and make the third match in Hamilton on Saturday a dead rubber. Clarke was originally named in the second Test team as a replacement for the concussed Sevu Reece. The Fiji-born winger is now available for Hamilton after clearing concussion protocols. However, Robertson will be without Tupou Vaa'i, after the lock-turned-flanker suffered a head knock in the second half in Wellington and later failed a concussion test. Vaa'i, who started in the No.6 shirt in the first two Tests in a rejigged back row, had been in good form, scoring a try in each match. Loose forward Luke Jacobson will be a potential replacement after recovering from injury, while prop Tyrel Lomax is also available after missing the first two Tests. With the series sewn up, Robertson has the luxury of giving fringe players a run, and mooted picking anyone fit in his 33-man squad who were overlooked for the first Tests. That could mean game time for prop George Bower, hooker Brodie McAlister, halfback Noah Hotham, fullback Ruben Love and veteran midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown. "There's some competition in the team. There's competition all over, which is exactly what we want," Robertson said of the World Cup runners-up.
The Star
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Injured All Blacks winger Clarke to miss part of Rugby Championship
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn International - New Zealand Training - The Lensbury hotel, London, Britain - November 1, 2024 New Zealand's Caleb Clarke during training Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo (Reuters) -New Zealand winger Caleb Clarke may be sidelined for up to eight weeks with his high ankle injury and stands to miss at least part of the Rugby Championship. Clarke was ruled out of the rest of the France series on the eve of the second match in Wellington on Saturday but All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he could miss further tests. "He could be probably six to eight (weeks). It is a good ankle injury," Robertson told reporters on Monday. "Shame for him. Really gutted." The All Blacks play their first two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in Cordoba and Buenos Aires on August 16 and 23. Clarke was replaced in Robertson's starting 15 in Wellington by Emoni Narawi. The All Blacks thrashed the French 43-17 to seal the series and make the third match in Hamilton on Saturday a dead rubber. Clarke was originally named in the second test team as a replacement for the concussed Sevu Reece. The Fiji-born winger is now available for Hamilton after clearing concussion protocols. Robertson will be without Tupou Vaa'i, though, after the lock-turned-flanker suffered a head knock in the second half in Wellington and later failed a concussion test. Vaa'i, who started in the number six shirt in the first two tests in a rejigged back row, had been in good form, scoring a try in each match. Loose forward Luke Jacobson will be a potential replacement after recovering from injury, while prop Tyrel Lomax is also available after missing the first two tests. With the series sewn up, Robertson has the luxury of giving fringe players a run and mooted picking anyone fit in his 33-man squad who were overlooked for the first tests. That could mean game-time for prop George Bower, hooker Brodie McAlister, halfback Noah Hotham, fullback Ruben Love and veteran midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown. "There's some competition in the team. There's competition all over, which is exactly what we want," he said of the World Cup runners-up. "We want to create depth – to get four deep, as I've mentioned before." (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Injured All Blacks winger Clarke to miss part of Rugby Championship
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn International - New Zealand Training - The Lensbury hotel, London, Britain - November 1, 2024 New Zealand's Caleb Clarke during training Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo New Zealand winger Caleb Clarke may be sidelined for up to eight weeks with his high ankle injury and stands to miss at least part of the Rugby Championship. Clarke was ruled out of the rest of the France series on the eve of the second match in Wellington on Saturday but All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he could miss further tests. "He could be probably six to eight (weeks). It is a good ankle injury," Robertson told reporters on Monday. "Shame for him. Really gutted." The All Blacks play their first two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in Cordoba and Buenos Aires on August 16 and 23. Clarke was replaced in Robertson's starting 15 in Wellington by Emoni Narawi. The All Blacks thrashed the French 43-17 to seal the series and make the third match in Hamilton on Saturday a dead rubber. Clarke was originally named in the second test team as a replacement for the concussed Sevu Reece. The Fiji-born winger is now available for Hamilton after clearing concussion protocols. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore What's in a name? Local author traces the evolution of Singaporean Chinese names Business From wellness zone to neurodivergent room: How companies are creating inviting, inclusive offices Singapore Swift action needed to stop vaping's slide from health risk to drug epidemic Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore Art by Pathlight students to be displayed along Singapore River Sport Jannik Sinner dethrones Carlos Alcaraz to capture maiden Wimbledon crown Robertson will be without Tupou Vaa'i, though, after the lock-turned-flanker suffered a head knock in the second half in Wellington and later failed a concussion test. Vaa'i, who started in the number six shirt in the first two tests in a rejigged back row, had been in good form, scoring a try in each match. Loose forward Luke Jacobson will be a potential replacement after recovering from injury, while prop Tyrel Lomax is also available after missing the first two tests. With the series sewn up, Robertson has the luxury of giving fringe players a run and mooted picking anyone fit in his 33-man squad who were overlooked for the first tests. That could mean game-time for prop George Bower, hooker Brodie McAlister, halfback Noah Hotham, fullback Ruben Love and veteran midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown. "There's some competition in the team. There's competition all over, which is exactly what we want," he said of the World Cup runners-up. "We want to create depth – to get four deep, as I've mentioned before." REUTERS
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
New All Black Timoci Tavatavanawai Makes Dream Come True
Timoci Tavatavanawai knows his dad would be incredibly proud. The Fiji-born Highlanders midfielder came off the bench in the All Blacks 43-17 win over France in the second test in Wellington to earn his first cap. "It feels good. I'm still pinching myself. To run on the field, sing the national anthem and do the haka for first time for this country is special," Tavatavanawai said. Tavatavanawai was visibly emotional during the national anthem and the 27-year-old said it was an expression of joy at having achieved one of his life ambitions. "It was always a goal of mine to play rugby for New Zealand, for the All Blacks," Tavatanawai said. "It was my goal and my dad's goal too. I just couldn't hold back [the tears], looking up at the sky to him where he's watching over me as I made the dream come true." Tavatavanawai, who has nine siblings, moved to New Zealand in 2017 to chase that dream. Sadly, his father died in 2022, before he had the chance to return to Fiji to visit him. He could not attend the funeral due to border restrictions at the time. "He'll be smiling at the moment. His shoulders will be up and he'll be going around telling people up there that we made it," he said. New Zealand Rugby organised for Tavatavanawai's mum to fly to New Zealand for his debut. "They flew over yesterday [Friday] morning. A few people behind the scenes, the management staff, pulled some strings and made some calls and made it happen for her and two of my younger siblings to come over and watch." He said was an emotional moment when he saw his mum and brothers. "I picked them up at the airport and for my younger siblings, it was their first time in New Zealand and first time on the plane. That's why it was extra special today. "Mum said to me, just go out there and be yourself." Tavatavanawai did just that and coach Scott Robertson said he impressed on debut. "He's a man of few words but when he spoke about himself and his nine siblings and his family, it's a pretty incredible story and he was pretty clear on what he wanted to do [become an All Black] and for him to share it with his family is pretty special," Robertson said. "He still wanted to perform. He took those opportunities when he was out there. His story to get here is pretty special." Tavatavanawai said test rugby lived up to all the hype. "Way bigger than I expected from the start. To get a feeling and a taste of test footy [was amazing]. It's surreal."
Otago Daily Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
'Surreal': Highlander's All Black dream comes true
By Joe Porter of RNZ Timoci Tavatavanawai knows his dad would be incredibly proud. The Fiji-born Highlanders midfielder came off the bench in the All Blacks' 43-17 win over France in the second test in Wellington to earn his first cap. "It feels good. I'm still pinching myself. To run on the field, sing the national anthem and do the haka for first time for this country is special," Tavatavanawai said. Tavatavanawai was visibly emotional during the national anthem and the 27-year-old said it was an expression of joy at having achieved one of his life ambitions. "It was always a goal of mine to play rugby for New Zealand, for the All Blacks," Tavatanawai said. "It was my goal and my dad's goal too. I just couldn't hold back [the tears], looking up at the sky to him where he's watching over me as I made the dream come true." Tavatavanawai, who has nine siblings, moved to New Zealand in 2017 to chase that dream. Sadly, his father died in 2022, before he had the chance to return to Fiji to visit him. He could not attend the funeral due to border restrictions at the time. "He'll be smiling at the moment. His shoulders will be up and he'll be going around telling people up there that we made it," he said. New Zealand Rugby organised for Tavatavanawai's mum to fly to New Zealand for his debut. "They flew over yesterday [Friday] morning. A few people behind the scenes, the management staff, pulled some strings and made some calls and made it happen for her and two of my younger siblings to come over and watch." He said was an emotional moment when he saw his mum and brothers. "I picked them up at the airport and for my younger siblings, it was their first time in New Zealand and first time on the plane. That's why it was extra special today. "Mum said to me, just go out there and be yourself." Tavatavanawai did just that and coach Scott Robertson said he impressed on debut. "He's a man of few words but when he spoke about himself and his nine siblings and his family, it's a pretty incredible story and he was pretty clear on what he wanted to do [become an All Black] and for him to share it with his family is pretty special," Robertson said. "He still wanted to perform. He took those opportunities when he was out there. His story to get here is pretty special." Tavatavanawai said test rugby lived up to all the hype. "Way bigger than I expected from the start. To get a feeling and a taste of test footy [was amazing]. It's surreal."
