Hayden Meikle

Richard Reid is adamant the Highlanders are going nowhere despite renewed speculation the franchise may be shifted north.

Highlanders coach Glenn Moore has called for more intensity and accuracy from his side in what he describes as a "test'' tomorrow morning.

Adam Thomson, Aaron Bancroft and Mike Delany have been frustrated spectators for large parts of the season but they were the heroes of this Highlanders win.

Coach Glenn Moore knows the best way for the Highlanders to silence their critics will be with an overdue win against the Blues this weekend.

The last time David Nucifora ended his tenure with a rugby team, he overcame the disappointment of his own demise to lead it to a championship.

Glen Horton will make his first appearance of the year for the Highlanders in the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy game against the Blues at Carisbrook tomorrow night.

Three prominent figures in the Highlanders franchise are playing a role in the wide-ranging review of New Zealand rugby.

Craig Newby will not be joining his great mate, Nick Evans, at Harlequins but the Highlanders captain is nearly ready to reveal where he will be playing next year.

It might have come about nine or 10 weeks too late, but Glenn Moore believes the Highlanders may have taken a significant stride in their painful development process.

North Harbour chairman Gerard van Tilborg wants a second professional rugby franchise in the greater Auckland area but says that does not mean he wants the Highlanders disbanded.

Toby Morland and David Hall will get rare starts for the Highlanders when they play their crunch game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Forget the poor decision-making, the occasionally shabby defence, the wonky goal-kicking and the rather awful record of nine losses from 10 games.

Rugby was the last thing on Ben Nolan's mind when a razor-sharp, 6cm-long tusk sliced open his calf two years ago.

Daniel Bowden is a confident young man but he is keeping his head firmly screwed on as he reflects on the most difficult season of his career.

Highlanders backs James Wilson and Niva Ta'auso appear to have paid the price for the poor performance against the Bulls by being dropped for the Stormers game this weekend.

Southland first five-eighth Blair Stewart has raced to South Africa to replace concussed Highlanders rookie Daniel Bowden.

The Highlanders are struggling, there are no All Blacks in Dunedin and the Otago union has axed a third of its contracted players.

One step forward and a few giant leaps backwards. Just when it seemed the Highlanders were making steady progress in their bid to rescue a doomed season, they go and do this.

Highlanders forward Hoani MacDonald is reported to have signed for Welsh club Newport Gwent.