Former Otago B lock Justin Ives has made it into the Japan World Cup squad, overcoming an injury fear earlier this month, while Otago prop Halani Aulika has made the Tongan team.
Rules will be tightened over player eligibility for First XV games in the South Island but St Bede's College will still represent the South Island at this week's top four tournament.
There can be few quibbles with this team.
Let's say young Aaron is working hard at McDonald's, flipping his burgers well and putting just enough salt on the chips.
The ITM Cup may continue next year with midweek games as players give the thumbs up to this year's condensed competition.
Purple patch at the end of the first half was not quite enough to give the Otago Spirit its first victory of the season.
What is it with Otago and Tasman in Nelson? Last year, the two sides delivered an absolute shocker of a match which, somehow, Otago won.
A bold plan to go hard early paid off for Alexandra cyclist Sophie Williamson, who won a bronze medal in the points race at the world junior track cycling championships in Moscow yesterday.
John Humphries has walked, watered and groomed probably every blade of grass at Chisholm Park.
As Luke McAlister walks away from New Zealand rugby for a second time, rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back and finds a few other All Blacks who never really delivered on their talent.
Duncan Croudis has experienced a false start to his overseas adventure but is all ready to hit the ground running.
The Otago rugby team will not arrive in Dunedin until tomorrow due to the stormy weather.
A disastrous eight-minute spell dealt a mortal blow to the Southern Men and its hopes of finishing with a flourish in the NHL in Wellington over the weekend.
The Otago Spirit will be on a flying mission to Christchurch tomorrow for what is undoubtedly a tough assignment.
Regan Tamihere has had a setback this season, but it is a minor one compared with a kick in the guts he got early in his career.
Otago Boys' will have it all to play for when it takes on Southland Boys' in the final of the Highlanders First XV competition at Tahuna Park today.
It is halfway through the international season, and that big tournament is less than a month away. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at where the All Blacks are at, what - if anything - has to be done, what the stumbling blocks are and who is still in contention.
Otago is making the most of a rare week off and believes it is not out of the reckoning to make the Championship final.
Dimitar Trifunovski has stared them all down - Federer, Nadal, Williams and Djokovic - and they have never got the better of him.
Otago Boys' High School has won the right to host the Highlanders First XV final - now it just needs to find a ground to play the game.