AND THE WINNER IS…
IT IS that time of year again when we hand out our annual rugby awards - well, it would be if we’d also ever done it at least one other time before now. In no particular order, nor for any preconceived reason real, imagined or otherwise except for the fact they’ve caught our attention...here are the year’s major prize recipients:   Full Story >>

THE YEAR IN REVIEW
SO HERE we are, another year gone and are we any wiser? What did we learn from 2009 – if anything at all? Well, a few things became apparent. A few things became less apparent and some things remained a total mystery.   Full Story >>

THE BIONIC MAN
He’s been the ever present man in the All Black back No 7 jersey since he made his debut in 2001. He’s been, possibly, the best openside the world has ever seen and without doubt, Richie McCaw has been the player of the decade. In the December/January issue of NZ Rugby World GREGOR PAUL pays tribute to the All Black captain. Here's a snapshot of the Richie McCaw story so far.   Full Story >>

STAG PARTY
Southland rugby’s best memories are captured in grainy photos and dusty almanacks. The 1939 team which took the Ranfurly Shield into the Second World War and held it for a season and half afterwards, victory over the Lions in 1966 and the French in 1979.For a decade Southland rugby played second fiddle to a rampant Sting netball team. The past two seasons, however, have marked a new dawn for the province, a rugby renaissance which is seeing the fans come back to Rugby Park and the old maroon burning with a new enthusiasm, as NATHAN BURDON reports.   Full Story >>

GETTING BEHIND MOVEMBER

NZ Rugby World is delighted to help promote Movember and its connected charitable causes. For those of you who don’t know the drill – Movember (it’s a cunning play on November you see) asks men (it’s not discriminatory, ladies can too) to grow moustaches and take sponsorship money for doing so. Movember’s partners this year are the Cancer Society and the Mental health of Foundation and as most of our readers will have noticed, a percentage of out cover price this month will be donated to them. And we could think of no better way of doing our own bit to help the cause than by picking the best ever All Black Moustachioed XV.
 

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MASTER OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
With Dan Carter unavailable for the All Blacks until mid-way through the Tri Nations, New Zealand was given an unwelcome reminder of just how important he is to the fortunes of the national team.   Full Story >>

TRI NATIONS REVIEWED
It was a mixed campaign for the All Blacks, a great one for the Boks and a terrible one for the Wallabies. NZ Rugby World brings you all the key statistics as well as identifying those who advanced and those who didn’t. Here we outline the five best players of the Tri Nations. According to us.   Full Story >>

PANNING FOR GOLD

In what was a depressingly bad campaign, the All Blacks struck gold with Isaac Ross, Owen Franks and Kieran Read. In the October issue of NZ Rugby World GREGOR PAUL reports on why these three young men are critical to the national side. Here he outlines the building blocks for success.

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THE ACADEMIC FUTURE

The days of the monosyllabic post-match interview are numbered. A new initiative to force players into full-time study will soon come into play and create more grounded, better prepared players for the professional game.

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LEFT IN RESERVE

Piri Weepu has become a vital part of the All Blacks’ arsenal having been used effectively off the bench for the last 12 months. It’s a role the Hurricanes halfback has perfected but one NZ Rugby World discovers he’s still not entirely sold on. Here, we break down the Life and Times of Piri Weepu.

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