Rugby: OBHS prop shows promise of emulating father
Rugby: OBHS prop shows promise of emulating father
Jermaine Ainsley hopes to follow in his father's footsteps.
Steve Hepburn
Rugby: Depth of talent a pleasant surprise for coach Brown
Rugby: Depth of talent a pleasant surprise for coach Brown
Otago's playing stocks will have a much stronger homegrown flavour this year and new coach Tony Brown would have it no other way.
Rugby: Crunch time has arrived
Rugby: Crunch time has arrived
Paul Grant has left education, and now is out in the real world.
Rugby: Room for All Blacks to improve
Rugby: Room for All Blacks to improve
Steve Hansen thinks the All Blacks can get better. But his opposing opponent feels they were already in master class territory on Saturday night.
Rugby: Crosswell signs for the Chiefs
Rugby: Crosswell signs for the Chiefs
One of the Highlanders' best players this season will be wearing a Chiefs uniform next year.
Rugby: Thomson may be looking to Blues
Rugby: Thomson may be looking to Blues
Adam Thomson's future with the Highlanders is unclear and there is speculation he is pondering a move north to join the Blues.
Rugby: Otago Boys' chasing South Island title
Rugby: Otago Boys' chasing South Island title
Crunch time has arrived for the Otago Boys' High School First XV.
Rugby: ITM Cup unions struggling with falling match revenue
Rugby: ITM Cup unions struggling with falling match revenue
Match income has dropped by more than 50% for provincial unions over the past five years and the current structure brings into question the future viability of the game at the semi-professional level, a report by Deloitte says.
Rugby: All-round quality points to Canterbury
Rugby: All-round quality points to Canterbury
The ITM Cup kicks off this weekend. Steve Hepburn looks into the crystal ball and picks a winner.
Rugby: Players to watch in the ITM Cup
Rugby: Players to watch in the ITM Cup
The ITM Cup always throws up a few new faces. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at a XV of fresh provincial talent.
Rugby: All Blacks duo to play for Otago
Rugby: All Blacks duo to play for Otago
All Blacks Tamati Ellison and Adam Thomson will line up for Otago on Saturday.
Rugby: Forwards key for OBHS
Rugby: Forwards key for OBHS
A dominant forward performance paved the way for Otago Boys' High School to win the Highlanders First XV final at Littlebourne on Saturday.
The win, over a gallant but ultimately outgunned Waitaki Boys' High School side, puts Otago Boys' into the South Island final next Saturday against Christchurch Boys' High School in Christchurch.
Rugby: Highlanders competition format to be reviewed
Rugby: Highlanders competition format to be reviewed
A full review will be carried out of the Highlanders First XV competition but changes to the structure of the competition look set to be brought in.
Rugby: Improved Otago holds on to beat Southland
Rugby: Improved Otago holds on to beat Southland
Otago took a big step up in Balclutha yesterday, getting home 32-31 over Southland, and showing it is a fast learner.
Rugby: Last chance for Otago to iron out kinks
Rugby: Last chance for Otago to iron out kinks
Otago got a lesson in what it was all about last Sunday.
Rugby: Otago Boys' hot favourite to win final
Rugby: Otago Boys' hot favourite to win final
Otago Boys' High School will go into the Highlanders First XV final at Littlebourne this afternoon as the warmest of favourites.
Rugby: Otago putting up young backline against Southland
Rugby: Otago putting up young backline against Southland
Otago has named a young backline for its warm-up game against Southland in Balclutha tomorrow.
OBHS rugby: The making of a sporting juggernaut
OBHS rugby: The making of a sporting juggernaut
There has been one dominant side in rugby in the South this year. Not the Highlanders, not Taieri, but the Otago Boys' High School First XV. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn catches up with coach Ryan Martin to find out what makes his side tick.
Rugby: Captains set for schools championship decider
Rugby: Captains set for schools championship decider
The final of the Highlanders First XV competition takes place tomorrow afternoon. Rival skippers Josh Renton and Anthony Wetere-Sweet talk to ODT rugby writer Steve Hepburn before the big game.
Rugby: This quartet can set new competition alight
Rugby: This quartet can set new competition alight
The originally-named Rugby Championship begins this weekendand rugby writerSteve Hepburn looks at four players who have something to prove in the next couple of months.