Rugby icon Murray Mexted recognised in King's Birthday Honours list
Former All Black Murray Mexted was a little surprised to be recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list.
Mexted has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby.
Mexted played for the All Blacks between 1979 and 1985, commentated on the
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
Hurricanes lose All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Super Rugby playoff
Asafo Aumua won't play the Brumbies this weekend. Photo: Photosport The Hurricanes will be without All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Saturday night's Super Rugby qualifying final against the Brumbies in Canberra. Aumua was named to start on Wednesday but on Thursday he was ruled out with the Hurricanes confirming he has a hamstring injury and won't travel to Australia. Ruben Love and Asafo Aumua of the Hurricanes celebrate, 2024 Photo: PHOTOSPORT He has now been replaced by Jacob Devery, with Raymond Tuputupu remaining on the bench. Aumua, the Hurricanes co-captain, copped a blow to the knee at the team's training on Tuesday at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt. He had to be transported away from training on a cart. The All Blacks front rower didn't play in last Saturday night's 64-12 win over Moana Pasifika in Wellington due to concussion. The latest injury puts him in doubt for the rest of the finals should the Hurricanes progress. Despite the blow, the Hurricanes are only thinking about winning as they prepare for this weekend's first round of finals. The fourth placed Hurricanes travel to Canberra, while top qualifier the Chiefs host the Blues and second seeds the Crusaders play the Reds. The schedule has the Brumbies-Hurricanes game last. If results go to seedings in the earlier games and the Chiefs beat the Blues and the Crusaders beat the Reds, then the Brumbies and Hurricanes will play each other knowing that no matter what the result they will both qualify for the semi-finals. Under a new format this season, the highest ranking loser from the three games will qualify for the semi-finals. Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw said earlier this week that the 'lucky loser' situation is not something he is thinking about. "If the Crusaders lose and we win, we got a home semi so there's another scenario we might have to think about," Laidlaw said. "I've never gone into a game of rugby thinking we might want to lose, so it will be all guns blazing and we'll get ready for it.
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Crusaders 'point of difference' fullback Will Jordan ready to rumble
Crusaders fullback Will Jordan celebrates a try. Photo: Brett Phibbs / The Crusaders have one of their strongest weapons back for the playoffs and he can't wait to try and help his side to another Super Rugby title. Will Jordan is back for the Crusaders. Photo: Martin Hunter/ActionPress All Blacks fullback Will Jordan returns from injury for the side for Friday night's quarter-final against the Reds in Christchurch. "I was always looking at this window so I'm stoked the knee has been able to get back in action this week for an important game for us," Jordan said. "At this time of year everyone has bumps and bruises - it's the nature of the game so strap it up and get out there. It's certainly not one you want to miss so no reservations from me about getting back into this weekend." Jordan has recovered from the knee injury that has sidelined him since early May when he was hurt playing against the Chiefs. He's confident he can hit the ground running and knows if he doesn't perform there are others happy to take his place. "In this environment, there's always pressure," he said. "It's a results business, so every week you've go to perform. Johnny McNicholl played well while I was out so it's on me to come back in and keep up the good form he was doing, but not to try to do too much as well." Jordan missed all of last season with injury and is thrilled to be getting a crack at the Super Rugby finals. "Through the whole year it drove me to be involved as much as I can and try and contribute. You always want to be playing finals footy in these big games," Jordan said. "I'm grateful to be in this position now and to be able to go out there and play with freedom on Friday." Will Jordan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The hosts have four All Blacks back this week and coach Rob Penney said the team selection was close to the Crusaders' strongest starting lineup this year. Penney said Jordan's return was a boost. "He's such an important part of the Crusaders' mix. He's had acknowledgment worldwide about his capabilities and any team he plays in, he's such an asset. "Without putting any burdens on him, he'll be a point of difference. No doubt." This season's new playoff format has come under fire after it was revealed that the Hurricanes clash with the Brumbies on Saturday night in Canberra could be a dead rubber depending on previous results, with both sides potentially advancing to the semi-finals. Jordan said the Crusaders aren't worrying about anything other than beating the Reds. "It's pretty simple for us," Jordan said. "You just win and you're through to the next week."
1News
a day ago
- 1News
'If I can't beat him, I should retire' - Nyika's next opponent named
David Nyika will make his comeback from his devastating knockout loss against Jai Opetaia six months ago against Nik Charalampous — an Aucklander who today described the Kiwi Olympian as "overrated". The man known within New Zealand boxing circles as "Nik the Greek" said that for effect in a press conference today but will almost certainly believe the opposite. The 32-year-old Charalampous, a fulltime boxing coach who has a 23-6-2 record as a professional and went the full 10 rounds against the now cruiserweight world champion Opetaia six years ago, is too experienced to truly think that. "I've known David for a long time," Charalampous told 1News. "We've done heaps of sparring over the years. We know each other very well. It would have been nice to have been given 10 weeks' notice for the fight, but I have been consistently training so my body is ready to go into that next gear." ADVERTISEMENT Charalampous, a father of a 12-year-old daughter and 17-month-old son, last week signed off on the fight, to be on the undercard of the Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen main event grudge match in Sydney on July 16. His last fight in a high-profile event was on the undercard of the Nyika v Tommy Karpency main event in Auckland in September last year. Charalampous's opponent was former All Black Liam Messam and the result was a draw, but he arrived out of shape at 107kg and there is no doubt he will take this assignment against a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist far more seriously, albeit at catchweight. (He is likely to tip the scales at around 95kg, with Nyika likely to make the cruiserweight limit of 90.72kg.) Nik Charalampous knows the odds are against him. (Source: Photosport) His defeat by decision in Sydney to Australian-Samoan Opetaia — widely considered the best cruiserweight in the world — remains one of his best achievements in the ring. "I just remember before the fight watching the highlights of him knocking everyone out," Charalampous said. "I was pretty nervous… I'm happy I lasted the 10 rounds with him. I'm not going to be a world champion or anything but when I talk to my grandkids or people I train with, I can say I fought some of the best of my generation." ADVERTISEMENT For his part, Nyika, who was viciously knocked out in the fourth round by Opetaia on the Gold Coast in January after taking the world title fight on short notice, left no doubt about his goal. "If I can't get past Nik I should probably retire," Nyika, now 10-1 as a professional, said. "It won't be an easy fight. I know what Nik is capable of and how much trouble he's given the top guys. For me, it's very much an opportunity to prove what I can do. If I can't stop Nik, it won't be a success for me but, if I lose the fight, it makes it a very hard comeback. "My eyes are still set on the world title and that re-match with Jai… the setback is just another ingredient to the stew. We have so much further to go. "It's not easy to come back from a loss and this was a big loss. This is my livelihood and a big part of my identity today… it's a big step towards the ultimate goal of becoming a world champion." Charalampous, who recently took several of his boxers to Golden Gloves success, is a classic journeyman comeback opponent for a world-class fighter who has suffered a setback. His relatively late signing is also an indication that few potential opponents were willing to sign on for the money on offer, but promoter David Higgins today said he thought Charalampous would do his job well. ADVERTISEMENT The initial plan was for Nyika, who revealed recently to 1News that he couldn't remember being knocked out by Opetaia in the IBF world title fight, to make his comeback on the Gold Coast this month. "Nik is tough," Higgins said. "He's very durable – he's never been put down by a punch. He's very experienced and is used to being on the big stage." Nyika's trainer Noel Thornberry thought the same. "David needs rounds – he's never been past five rounds and Nik could be the one to provide them," he said. "There's no time like ring time."
