Like any young player heading away on their first overseas tour with a senior national side, Tom Latham is understandably excited but he's also acutely aware of the opportunity he has to cement his place in the New Zealand cricket side during the next month in the West Indies.
Players from the 'Baby Blacks' were reminded of team protocols while on tour only hours before a member of the squad is alleged to have raped a woman in South Africa.
Avoiding the wooden spoon in the transtasman netball league is all the Southern Steel can hope to achieve this campaign after they were beaten 55-42 by the NSW Swifts in Sydney this afternoon.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster is promising more from his men this week as the world champions look to heap further misery on Ireland in Christchurch.
Camilla Lees knows her best chance of wearing a Silver Ferns bib this season hinges on her form at wing attack for the Central Pulse.
Hurricanes' coach Mark Hammett was keen to dance around the term "playoffs'' today as though it was a dirty word but the post-season is clearly on the minds of his players as they head to Australia to meet the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night.
Andrew Hore might turn 34 in September but the All Blacks hooker doesn't see himself giving up rugby anytime soon.
New Wellington Phoenix recruit Jeremy Brockie believes he will be able to strike up a dominant attacking partnership with Paul Ifill next season.
With three starting spots for the London Olympics all but locked up, Kiwi triathlete Kris Gemmell believes the New Zealanders will be a force at the Games in August.
Dane Nielsen's recruitment by the Warriors represents the change in focus the club has adopted in recent seasons and also shows their new-found pulling power.
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic came perilously close to being out of the race before it had virtually started but they are now feeling like they could continue their unprecedented record of making the playoffs every year.
Don't expect to see Conrad Smith wearing anything other than black and yellow next year.
Timing is a wonderful thing in sport and maybe Mike Hesson has a fair dose of it.
In case you were wondering if it could get any worse for Blues coach Pat Lam, it has.
Joline Henry admits progress hasn't been fast, but she insists the Central Pulse are on the improve.
Having watched his side give up 75 points in their last two Super Rugby outings, Mark Hammett wants the Hurricanes to tighten up on defence when they tackle the Blues in Wellington tomorrow night.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White hasn't ruled out the possibility of having different national coaches across the three forms of the game as the hunt begins for John Wright's replacement.
Led by a perfect shooting performance from Cathrine Latu, the Northern Mystics overpowered the Central Pulse 51-47 in Palmerston North tonight.
Breaking down the watertight Chiefs' defence will be the biggest hurdle the Hurricanes will have to overcome when they meet the table-topping Waikato-based outfit in Hamilton on Saturday night.
Camilla Lees might be the Central Pulse's best centre but she has put her hand up to fill the all-important wing attack position and could be a long-term option for the Silver Ferns.