NZ Rugby World

New Zealand Rugby World is the premier authority on our national game; with sharp analysis and irreverent humour the two key components. In both style and content the writing is award winning and provides an unparalleled depth of insight into the people who play the game and the issues that matter to the fans. The cast of contributors is world class as is the photography and lay-out. Pick this magazine up and you won't want to put it down - rugby has never been so much fun.

EDITOR’S LETTER

NZ Rugby World

STILL GOT IT • While we were basking in the summer sunshine, rugby was still being played in the UK despite the lockdown. Bath played Bristol in a classic local derby which brought the best out of former All Black Steven Luatua.

SUMMER LOVING • A new strain of the Coronavirus was ripping through South Africa but they pushed in with their Currie Cup. They played on the searing heat of December and January – including his game between Western Province and Natal.

THE GREAT MAN • Richie McCaw was the star attraction at the annual Black Clash cricket match in Christchurch. The former All Blacks captain showing he can turn his arm over pretty well.

SKY SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA 2021

BLUES

CHIEFS

CRUSADERS

HIGHLANDERS

HURRICANES

TRANS TASMAN SUPER RUGBY

THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS • THE REDUCTION TO FIVE TEAMS HAS MADE OUR LIFE EASY AS TYPICALLY OUR PREVIEW IS 40 PER CENT GUESS WORK AND 60 PER CENT MAKING STUFF UP. BUT NOW WITH LESS RESEARCH TO DO, THIS PREVIEW IS 30 PER CENT GUESS WORK, 60 PER CENT MAKING STUFF UP AND 10 PER CENT STUFF YOU MIGHT WANT TO REMEMBER.

WIDER ISSUES TO THINK ABOUT

PLAYERS WE THINK WILL LIGHT UP THE COMPETITION

PLAYERS WITH MOTIVATION TO PERFORM

STORYLINES THAT WILL HOLD THE NATIONAL AGENDA

PLAYERS WE ARE GENUINELY INTRIGUED TO SEE

FIVE POSSIBLE UNEXPECTED STARS

POTENTIAL NEW ALL BLACKS

HOW THE NZ TEAMS WILL FINISH

BLUES COACHING STAFF • LEON MACDONALD, TOM COVENTRY, TANA UMAGA, DANIEL HALANGAHU, BEN AFEAKI.

DEEP THE TALENT POOL • FROM HAVING AN ABUNDANCE OF FIRST-FIVE RICHES IN 2015, THE ALL BLACKS NOW ONLY HAVE TWO RECOGNISED NO 10S. THIS YEAR THEY ARE HOPING TO DEEPEN THEIR TALENT POOL.

CHIEFS BREAKING THE DROUGHT COACHING STAFF • CLAYTON MCMILLAN, NEIL BARNES, ROGER RANDLE, NICK WHITE, DAVID HILL

TOP 10 BEST SIGNINGS • THERE WASN’T A HUGE AMOUNT OF HUMAN MOVEMENT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF 2020 BUT A FEW PLAYERS HAVE COME HOME FROM EUROPE AND JAPAN AND A FEW OTHERS HAVE SWITCHED CLUBS.

HURRICANES COACHING STAFF • JASON HOLLAND, TYLER BLEYENDAAL, CORY JANE, DAN CRON, CHRIS GIBBES

JOSTLING FOR POSITION • LIAM SQUIRE IS BACK WITH THE HIGHLANDERS AND HAS REDISCOVERED A DESIRE TO PLAY TEST FOOTBALL WHICH MEANS THE ALL BLACKS NOW HAVE FIVE ASPIRING BLINDSIDES HOPING TO WEAR THE NO 6 JERSEY.

BLINDSIDE PECKING ORDER

NZRUGBY WORLD • THE WORLD'S PREMIER RUGBY MAGAZINE

ESCAPING THE RAT RACE • SAM WHITELOCK AND BRODIE RETALLICK COULD RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS THE WORLD’S PREMIER LOCKING COMBINATION NOW THAT BOTH MEN HAVE HAD THE EXTENDED BREAK THEY NEEDED.

CRUSADERS 2020: CHAMPIONS COACHING STAFF • SCOTT ROBERTSON, JASON RYAN, SCOTT HANSEN, ANDREW GOODMAN, TAMATI ELLISON.

HIGHLANDERS COACHING STAFF • TONY BROWN, RIKI FLUTEY, CLARKE DERMODY, SHANE CHRISTIE

THE PLAYING VICTIM • NZ RUGBY WORLD HAS BEEN GIVEN AN EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT FROM EDITOR, GREGOR PAUL’S, NEW BOOK, THE CAPTAIN’S RUN. THE CHAPTER LOOKS AT WHETHER VARIOUS ALL BLACKS CAPTAINS HAVE BEEN VICTIMISED OVER THE YEAR.

MAKE SOMEONE'S YEAR WITH A PRESENT THEY WILL LOVE • A ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION IS JUST $35 AND THEY WILL NEVER BE BORED!

THE NUT CRACKER...