Rise from the ashes
NZ were once unstoppable at Under 20s level but the landscape has changed over the last decade.
Tom Vinicombe
Feature writer for RugbyPass
Tom Vinicombe is as much interested in the stories behind the players as he is the players behind the teams. Tom has covered rugby in both New Zealand and Japan and is a regular contributor for RugbyPass.
Advantage over
Quirks of the law were brought to fore in the Chiefs’ golden-point win over the Highlanders.
Pain, pleasure and patience
Pari Pari Parkinson, one of the most promising physical specimens in New Zealand rugby, is back.
Bubble and squeak
A Trans-Tasman Super competition has just gone from doubtful to highly likely. That’s good news for everyone.
Blue blooded
Joe Rokocoko’s soft spot for the Crusaders vanished when they beat his beloved Blues in the 1998 Super 12 final.
League of his own
Leicester Fainga’anuku is setting Super Rugby Aotearoa alight. But he’s ambivalent about how his career develops.
Generation X
A new crop of Kiwi 10s are set to make names for themselves in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
High-speed half-life
The Hurricanes struggled to replace Beauden Barrett in 2020. How will they fair without TJ Perenara in 2021?
Red and black and black and blue
After a year blighted by injury, Quinten Strange is ready to reaffirm his place in the pecking order.
Final push
Rugged All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick is eyeing the 2023 World Cup as his international swansong.