Steve Hepburn

More girls are playing sport than boys in Otago — as a percentage — as the province increases its secondary school participation rates.

Sharks by name and sharks by nature.

Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger said his side was expecting an aerial bombardment last night and had trained for it — but winning it is another matter.

A lot of rain has fallen in the South over the past week.

Does anyone else watch a major sporting event and think, that looks fairly easy?

Fans of the oval ball game will get another chance to let their love of the sport translate into getting healthier and losing some weight.

The Highlanders kick off their season tonight with a match against the Sharks. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the season. 

Highlanders captain James Lentjes says the side is all set to go and has done plenty of work in preparation — including a tramp round the backblocks of Central Otago.

David Parker lined up in the indoor triathlon at the Masters games yesterday. He was not set on breaking any records. Getting first was not on his agenda.

Get ready for some Neil Diamond and Bee Gees at the big game on Friday night.

It is a long way from Alexandra Palace but the darts have been flying at the South Dunedin Town Hall this week.

With all the people heading out the exit door from the Highlanders, it would have been no surprise if Ash Dixon departed.

It arrived with plenty of controversy but has just quietly disappeared.

It was never going to be easy to leave a winning franchise. But for Mitch Hunt it was a case of a few sleepless nights and knowing he just could not turn down the invitation to head south.

The Highlanders will have their All Blacks available for their Super Rugby opener in Dunedin on Friday against the Sharks, but how many of them start the game is not yet clear.

A chance meeting in Sydney more than a decade ago has led to some transtasman relations being forged on the netball court.

The Otago Sparks continued their winless run over the weekend, falling to two heavy losses to the Canterbury Magicians.

The wet Dunedin weather spoiled Otago’s victory hopes against an under-strength Northern Districts yesterday and led it to drop out of the final places.

One week in and what was expected has indeed happened.