Steve Hepburn

Impact player or starter, Jono Ruru just wants to get out on the field.

Otago is going on tour, a rarity for domestic rugby in this day and age.

High performance coach Jon Preston is leaving his role with the Highlanders.

Otago Boys' High School has just about supplied a full team to the New Zealand schools team in the past seven seasons.

Otago has cleared the decks for tomorrow night's encounter with Northland in Whangarei.

Glenn Delaney's experience in the northern hemisphere was a factor in the Canterbury man becoming the new Highlanders defence coach.

Otago will be the beneficiary of the dropping of Neil Broom and Jimmy Neesham from the national squad.

It was not the script most of us would have written.

Otago's gutsy victory on Thursday night against Auckland at Forsyth Barr Stadium was described by Otago coach Cory Brown as one for the ages.

The Otago Volts have headed to the mountains and done some team building as the time to start wearing  whites looms.

An overhaul is under way to the rules which allow clubs to have a team in the Dunedin premier club competition.

All guts and all the glory.

Green Island maintained its place at the top table in Dunedin club rugby but had to fight for it.

The Highlanders will open their campaign against the Blues at home on February 23 and will have a couple of weeks off straight away.

Green Island has defeated West Taieri 37-17 in the promotion-relegation game at Forsyth Barr Stadium to hold on to its premier status.

It does not happen often these days but a genuine curtain-raiser will be played before tonight's game between Otago and Auckland.

Otago will be looking to the wide open spaces to beat Auckland tonight in what looms as a crucial game for its season.

The Southern Dogs conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes to go down 2-1 to Capital in Wellington last night.