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The First O’Reilly Cup match

Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane To all you 34-year-old management consultants out there, here’s your role model! Kate Henwood, who had never been part of a representative rugby squad till last February, finds herself vaulted into the Black Ferns’ side to face the Wallaroos in the first of two traditional cross-Tasman tests. Her two children

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Two worries for the Black Ferns

Assault on two fronts Money is only one reason why NZR offered improved terms for Black Ferns early this year. The RFU has now followed suit. But Aotearoa faces competition that doesn’t affect England in the same way. It’s a double-pronged attack, from NRLW in Australia and the new Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) in the

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Wayne Smith appointed to new role

Wayne Smith has been appointed as Performance Coach to the Black Ferns and All Blacks in a unique new role that will include mentoring and supporting the respective Head Coaches and enhancing the quality of coaching delivery across the two teams. Smith has already started working with Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting but

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Celebrate the growth and transformation of Māori rugby

New Zealand Māori Rugby Board (NZMRB) Chair Dame Farah Palmer took the opportunity to celebrate growth and transformation of Māori rugby at their Annual General Meeting in Wellington this evening. The Māori Rugby Strategy launched in December 2021 and was implemented in 2022, with four strategic pou: Tātakitanga: Uplifting Māori leaders; Puawaitanga: Enhancing Māori through

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Women’s rugby predicted to grow significantly

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) yesterday launched the “Love Every Minute” campaign to support significant predicted growth in women and girls’ participation this season. Projections by NZR indicate the potential for a 40% increase in women’s rugby participation on 2022, which would see over 35,000 women and girls playing club and school rugby this season. NZR

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