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At least four All Blacks to miss start of Rugby Championship
At least four All Blacks to miss start of Rugby Championship

RNZ News

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • RNZ News

At least four All Blacks to miss start of Rugby Championship

All Blacks head Coach, Scott Robertson with Scott and Jordie Barrett. Photo: Jeremy Ward / PHOTOSPORT There is mixed news on the All Black injury front ahead of the Rugby Championship. It's been confirmed that halfback Noah Hotham, prop Tyrel Lomax, wing Caleb Clarke and loose forward Luke Jacobson will all miss the first few weeks of the tournament, which starts on August the 17th with the All Blacks first match in Argentina. A NZ Rugby statement said Beauden and Scott Barrett, Tamaiti Williams, Wallace Sititi and Tupou Vaa'i remain injured but should recover in time to travel to South America. Meanwhile, eight players from the All Blacks squad that beat France will be available for this week's opening round of the NPC. Anton Lienert-Brown will play for Waikato against Auckland, Ruben Love will play for Wellington against Canterbury who will have Brodie McAlister. Christian Lio-Willie may feature for Otago when they take on Southland. Bay of Plenty will have Emoni Narawa and Pasilio Tosi for their game against Tasman, who will have Timoci Tavatavanawai. Dalton Papali'i will play for Counties Manukau against Hawke's Bay. Noah Hotham; Will need surgery for a high ankle sprain. Estimated return to play: 7 - 8 weeks. Tyrel Lomax; Has had surgery for hand fracture. Estimated return to play: 5 - 6 weeks. Caleb Clarke; High ankle injury, does not require surgery. Estimated return to play: 5 - 6 weeks. Luke Jacobson; Thigh injury. Estimated return to play: 5 weeks. Scott Barrett; Calf tear healing well. Estimated return to play: 3 weeks. Wallace Sititi; Rehabilitating well following surgery for high ankle injury. Estimated return to play: 3 weeks. Tamaiti Williams; Rehabilitating well following surgery for torn meniscus. Estimated return to play: 3 weeks. Beauden Barrett; Subtle hand re-fracture but healing well. Estimated return to play: 2 weeks. Tupou Vaa'i; Going through concussion protocols. Estimated return to play: 2 weeks.

What is Rugby360? And is it Saudi sportswashing?
What is Rugby360? And is it Saudi sportswashing?

RNZ News

time22-07-2025

  • Business
  • 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.

Reinforcements coming as All Blacks turn focus to Rugby Championship
Reinforcements coming as All Blacks turn focus to Rugby Championship

1News

time20-07-2025

  • Sport
  • 1News

Reinforcements coming as All Blacks turn focus to Rugby Championship

A day after a match he described as the toughest of the three Tests against France, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has turned his attention to the Rugby Championship and his team's upcoming two-week tour of Argentina. There are question marks over the fitness of Tyrel Lomax, the tighthead prop who needs a scan on one of his thumbs following the All Blacks' 29-19 victory at Waikato Stadium, plus replacement halfback Noah Hotham, who has a high ankle sprain. There are plenty of other bumps and bruises among the 23 who overcame a halftime deficit to keep the tourists scoreless in the second half in Hamilton, but Robertson declared himself happy with the way his experimental squad finished off the series 3-0 and he will be just as pleased at the thought of some returning reinforcements. Skipper Scott Barrett (calf tear), Beauden Barrett (hand fracture), and Wallace Sititi (ankle) are on track to be on the plane for their team's start to the Rugby Championship and the first Test in Cordoba on Sunday, August 17 and a week later in Buenos Aires. Robertson will name his squad of 36 on Monday, August 4. Several players will be involved in the NPC that weekend, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Caleb Clarke, a late withdrawal from the Wellington Test due to an ankle sprain, Rieko Ioane, out on the eve of last night's match due to a hamstring issue, and Tupou Vaa'i (concussion) will almost certainly be available too but it is the recovery of the two Barretts and Sititi, Robertson's standout loose forward who didn't play this month, that will be the biggest boosts. Lock Fabian Holland, who played his third consecutive 80-minute Test last night after making his debut in Dunedin, must be running on metaphorical fumes by now, and to a lesser extent the same could be said for the experienced Patrick Tuipulotu. All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson talks to Jordie Barrett, left, and Scott Barrett after the Test win over France in Hamilton. (Source: Photosport) Having built depth through the series, Robertson will want his key men available for the bigger challenges ahead – and the Pumas qualify as that these days – along with the two massive Tests against South Africa in Auckland and Wellington which follow in September. 'The majority of players have performed on and off the field, which is really important,' Robertson said today. 'There will be some tough calls in the next few weeks. We are looking forward to a few players playing in the NPC as well to give us some depth. The balance of our squad… and the backs and forwards split are the next questions for us.' Holland will likely be the find of the series for Robertson and company, but they are unlikely to be surprised at the way the 22-year-old has taken to Test rugby. ADVERTISEMENT Robertson has said that the Highlanders' work ethic is notorious to the point where he has to be told to stop training, and Dutchman is clearly blessed with an efficient cardiovascular system. Of the others, Du'Plessis Kirifi has made the most of his chances – he scored an important try last night after being told in the minutes before kick-off that he was starting in the No.7 jersey following Luke Jacobson's quadriceps injury. Fullback Ruben Love also had his moments in his first Test start, with centre Billy Proctor, who started the first two Tests, improving. The experiment of starting Tupou Vaa'i – not involved last night due to concussion – on the blindside flank was a clear success and they missed his height, bulk, and workrate. But the other big upside for Robertson was the way the bench – a big area of focus this year – performed in a Test during which skipper Ardie Savea said his side got an early punch on the nose. Halfback Hotham was lively when replacing Cortez Ratima, flanker Dalton Papali'i was physical and busy, props George and Fletcher Newell were strong, midfielder Jordie Barrett was outstanding. The All Blacks could not seal the deal until the final quarter and the bench's impact was crucial. 'It was the toughest of the three Tests, easily,' Robertson said. 'All the contact stats are through the roof. There are a lot of sore bodies. 'They were spirited and tough,' he said of the French. 'We couldn't quite get away on them enough to put them away. It was a reflection on how much they cared last night.'

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