All Blacks

Jerome Kaino's huge contribution to the All Blacks' 2011 campaign was rewarded when the loose forward was named the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year at tonight's Steinlager Rugby Awards.

Clermont rugby coach Vern Cotter has confirmed he has been invited to apply for the New Zealand coaching position vacated by World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry.

Steve Hansen faces competition from at least two other applicants for the role of All Blacks coach.

Disgraced All Black Zac Guildford has vowed to stay sober after touching down on New Zealand soil this morning.

The New Zealand media need to leave All Black Zac Guildford and his family alone to aid his recovery from alcohol addiction, the head of the New Zealand Drug Foundation says.

Zac Guildford has reached "rock bottom'' following his drunken spree in Rarotonga but he can't remember any of the details of the night in which he is alleged to have assaulted two people in a bar.

The New Zealand Rugby Union will help Zac Guildford rather than tear up his contract following an alleged naked, drunken incident in a Cook Islands bar, NZRU professional rugby general manager Neil Sorensen says.

The All Blacks will play a test match and contest the Hillary Shield against England at the end of their northern tour next year.

The All Blacks will face their oldest foe in their first match at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.

All Black captain Richie McCaw is to have surgery to remove a screw from his injured right foot, team doctor Deb Robinson says.