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

COACHING THE PACIFIC WAY • FORMER ALL BLACK ERONI CLARKE EXPLAINS HOW A ONESIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH TO COACHING DOESN’T WORK WITH POLYNESIAN PLAYERS.

NZ Rugby World

THE ALPHA DOGS But who leads the chasing pack? • PICKING THE FIRST TWO IS SIMPLE AND WITH THE RETURN OF DAMIAN MCKENZIE FROM JAPAN, THE ALL BLACKS AGAIN HAVE THREE WORLD CLASS FIRST FIVES. BUT NZRW EDITOR JIM KAYES LOOK AT WHO COMES NEXT IF THERE ARE INJURIES.

THE EDITOR • NEW ZEALAND RUGBY WORLD’S JIM KAYES

PICKING OUR ALL BLACKS

THE RUGBY REPORTER • NEWSHUB’S OLLIE RITCHIE

THE BROAD-CASTER • SKY SPORT’S KIRSTIE STANWAY

THE FANS • ANDREW SHORT AND HIS SON HARRY

THE ALL BLACKS GREAT • SKY SPORT’S JEFF WILSON

AN ALL BLACKS MIXTURE • IT IS ONE OF THE CRAZIER SLIDING DOORS MOMENTS AS A CHANCE ENCOUNTER IN A FIJI RESORT LOBBY HAS LED TO PITA GUS SOWAKULA BEING ON THE VERGE OF ALL BLACKS SELECTION. JIM KAYES EXPLAINS.

LEADER OF THE PACK Romano at Home with The Blues • LUKE ROMANO PLAYED 136 GAMES FOR THE CRUSADERS AND IS A STAUNCH CANTERBURY MAN, BUT AS DAVID LEGGAT DISCOVERED, HE’S SURPRISED HIMSELF AT HOW MUCH HE’S ENJOYED PLAYING WITH THE BLUES.

A RIVALRY AT LAST • IRISH TIMES RUGBY WRITER GERRY THORNLEY REFLECTS ON A HISTORY OF DEFEATS THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST DECADE TO A FIERCE RIVALRY AS IRELAND ARRIVE IN NEW ZEALAND FOR THEIR TOUGHEST EVER TOUR.

IRELAND’S KEY MAN • JAMISON GIBSON-PARK WAS A BIT-PLAYER IN NEW ZEALAND BEFORE HEADING AWAY TO IRELAND. NOW, AS GERRY THORNLEY WRITES, HE WILL RETURN AS IRELAND’S STARTING HALFBACK AND A KEY COG IN THE GREEN MACHINE.

WHAT'S HOT • CHECK OUT THE AWESOME PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE FEATURED THIS ISSUE!! ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE SOME EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR NZRW READERS FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT. HOW ABOUT VISITING THE LINKS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEM, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED AND DISCOVER A NEW HOUSEHOLD FAVOURITE.

HANG ABOUT! • Blues wing Mark Telea scores a remarkable try against the Rebels at Eden Park.

WORLD CUP WINNERS • Shannon Parry and Michael Hooper in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, lit in support of Rugby Australia’s successful bid to host the 2027 & 2029 Rugby World Cups.

STILL GOING: HOLD ON! • Former All Blacks prop John Afoa will play till he’s 40, at least, after the 38-year-old signed for two years with French club RC Vannes.

TRY TIME • Michaela Blyde moved past the 150-tFry milestone in Toulouse as she helped the Black Ferns win the World Series Tournament.

CHAMPIONS! • The Black Ferns won their first World Series since February 2020 when they beat Australia 21-14 in the final in Toulouse.

NZRUGBY WORLD • THE WORLD’S PRIMIER RUGBY MAGAZINE

BLOODIED BUT NOT BOWED • IT WAS A HOME INVASION THAT SHOCKED AUSTRALIANS AND ROCKED THE RUGBY WORLD. BUT AS JIM TUCKER REPORTS, WALLABIES GREAT TOUTAI KEFU HAS BOUNCED BACK FROM THE TERRIFYING ATTACK AND IS FOCUSED ON THE WELLBEING OF HIS FAMILY AND NEXT YEAR’S WORLD CUP.

INVESTING IN YOUR WELLBEING • RUGBY GREAT SAM WHITELOCK IS THE AMBASSADOR FOR NATIONWIDE, RURAL WELLBEING PROGRAMME FARMSTRONG. HE TALKED TO NZ RUGBY ABOUT THE ROLE.

DAS DEUTSCHE WUNDERKIND Anton Segner on his rapid rise • ANTON SEGNER IS AN UNLIKELY RUGBY FAN, HAVING GROWN UP IN FOOTBALL...