Steve Hepburn

Super Rugby Aotearoa kicks off this Friday night — a month later than last year. Rugby writer  Steve Hepburn looks at the chances of the Blues and the Chiefs.

Devon Conway — glad he did not go home to South Africa last winter.

The pre-season is over - thoughts and minds now turn to the real business in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Daylight was second at the South Island strokeplay championships at St Clair Golf Club yesterday.

The Highlanders came home like a bullet train to easily beat the Hurricanes in Alexandra last night.

Highlanders coach Tony Brown admits he has selection issues for next week’s opening game, but they are good ones.

The Highlanders will want to make the most of their one and only true hit-out when they take on the Hurricanes in Alexandra today.

It was touch and go there for a while but it now appears all the ducks are in a row at St Clair Golf Club this weekend.

A survey to gauge the preferred shape of the national provincial championship is going to give fans a say in the competition.

Highlander Michael Collins started out as a midfielder.

Sporting events in the South are very much in a holding pattern as the Covid-19 levels start to bite.

The season appears to be over for new Highlanders prop Jermaine Ainsley.

Paralympian Anna Grimaldi is in some sort of form.

The Highlanders will wait until tomorrow night to make a decision on their scheduled game against the Hurricanes in Alexandra on Friday.

Taieri Lakes Golf Club member Hayden Robertson (18) tees off at the 11th hole on his way to winning the Taieri Classic on Sunday.

Last night was the ultimate game of two halves - the Highlanders were Champagne in the first half and bucks fizz in the second.

Highlanders coach Tony Brown was full of praise for his side’s performance in the first half but the second half just showed the level needed to play Super Rugby.

Three games in four days and international games at that.

The team is coming together, the players have started training and the coach has been confirmed.