Reece claims Super Rugby try-scoring record
All Blacks winger Sevu Reece claimed the Super Rugby Pacific career try-scoring record when he touched down for the 66th time in the Canterbury Crusaders' win over the Otago Highlanders.
The fleet-footed 28-year-old claimed the record with a far less spectacular effort than many of his previous tries for the Crusaders, dropping the ball onto the line from the base of a tryline ruck in the 14th minute of the match in Christchurch.
It took Fiji-born Reece out of a share of the record with his former All Blacks team mate TJ Perenara, who moved to Japan at the end of last season and will not be able to add to his tally.
Moana Pasifika winger Julian Savea (63 tries) is the only other player from the top five try-scorers still active in Super Rugby Pacific.
Reece, who started his Super Rugby career at the Waikato Chiefs in 2016 and moved to Christchurch six years ago, has also scored 18 tries in 32 tests for New Zealand.
The Crusaders went on to win Friday night's match 15-12.
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Brumbies on high alert for major Hurricanes threat
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But after suffering a tight loss to the Crusaders in the final round, which cost them a top-two ladder position, Wright said his team wanted to control their own destiny. He didn't feel they were far off their best against the Crusaders, with a slow start proving costly. "For all the good work that we did we made it bloody hard on ourselves so we need to be a bit sharper as very much more of the same challenge will be coming at us this weekend from the Canes - big ball-carrying, physical guys with the footy, they want to impose themselves," Wright said. "We're looking forward to bringing the game to them." While much has been made of the breakdown battle, the ACT Brumbies are on high alert for the threat coming from the Hurricanes back-line in their Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final. The Brumbies are out to make amends at GIO Stadium on Saturday's after the Hurricanes snapped an eight-year losing streak in Canberra in round 11 when they cracked a 35-29 win. That scoreline set up their charge to the play-offs, winning six straight. Hurricanes winger Kini Naholo was pivotal in the match, making 10 tackle-busts en route to two tries, but will miss the final after suffering an ACL injury last month with Fatafehi Fineanganofo taking his place. Brumbies fullback Tom Wright said there was still plenty of strike weapons in the visitors' line-up and they couldn't give them any room to move. Peter Umaga-Jensen and Billy Proctor are two of the form centres of the competition and will keep the Brumbies pairing of Len Ikitau and David Feliuai on their toes. "I saw Umaga-Jensen carve out a pretty decent try on the weekend and Billy Proctor obviously, you don't have to go looking too far at the season that he's had also, so I dare say Len and Dave will have their hands full," Test No.15 Wright said. "The Hurricanes bring in that sort of expansive style of football, they play an exciting game and there's going to be a lot of points scored so we're looking forward to that challenge, but, you know, we didn't get here, by accident either. "With the season our centres have had as well, I know that they're (Hurricanes) going to be looking at that pretty seriously and trying to stop them at the same time, so it's going to be a good battle." As well as a dominant home record, the ACT outfit have also enjoyed a favourable finals record against the Hurricanes, eliminating them in 1997, 2022 and 2023. Dependent on the results of the other two finals, as the third-ranked team the Brumbies could still advance to the semi-finals even with a loss. But after suffering a tight loss to the Crusaders in the final round, which cost them a top-two ladder position, Wright said his team wanted to control their own destiny. He didn't feel they were far off their best against the Crusaders, with a slow start proving costly. "For all the good work that we did we made it bloody hard on ourselves so we need to be a bit sharper as very much more of the same challenge will be coming at us this weekend from the Canes - big ball-carrying, physical guys with the footy, they want to impose themselves," Wright said. "We're looking forward to bringing the game to them." While much has been made of the breakdown battle, the ACT Brumbies are on high alert for the threat coming from the Hurricanes back-line in their Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final. The Brumbies are out to make amends at GIO Stadium on Saturday's after the Hurricanes snapped an eight-year losing streak in Canberra in round 11 when they cracked a 35-29 win. That scoreline set up their charge to the play-offs, winning six straight. Hurricanes winger Kini Naholo was pivotal in the match, making 10 tackle-busts en route to two tries, but will miss the final after suffering an ACL injury last month with Fatafehi Fineanganofo taking his place. Brumbies fullback Tom Wright said there was still plenty of strike weapons in the visitors' line-up and they couldn't give them any room to move. Peter Umaga-Jensen and Billy Proctor are two of the form centres of the competition and will keep the Brumbies pairing of Len Ikitau and David Feliuai on their toes. "I saw Umaga-Jensen carve out a pretty decent try on the weekend and Billy Proctor obviously, you don't have to go looking too far at the season that he's had also, so I dare say Len and Dave will have their hands full," Test No.15 Wright said. "The Hurricanes bring in that sort of expansive style of football, they play an exciting game and there's going to be a lot of points scored so we're looking forward to that challenge, but, you know, we didn't get here, by accident either. "With the season our centres have had as well, I know that they're (Hurricanes) going to be looking at that pretty seriously and trying to stop them at the same time, so it's going to be a good battle." As well as a dominant home record, the ACT outfit have also enjoyed a favourable finals record against the Hurricanes, eliminating them in 1997, 2022 and 2023. Dependent on the results of the other two finals, as the third-ranked team the Brumbies could still advance to the semi-finals even with a loss. But after suffering a tight loss to the Crusaders in the final round, which cost them a top-two ladder position, Wright said his team wanted to control their own destiny. He didn't feel they were far off their best against the Crusaders, with a slow start proving costly. "For all the good work that we did we made it bloody hard on ourselves so we need to be a bit sharper as very much more of the same challenge will be coming at us this weekend from the Canes - big ball-carrying, physical guys with the footy, they want to impose themselves," Wright said. "We're looking forward to bringing the game to them."
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt may have taken note, but O'Connor's unforced error mattered little to the Crusaders, who resisted an early second-half challenge to put the Reds to the sword. If the Crusaders' third try, to livewire halfback Noah Hotham in the 55th minute, didn't all but end the contest, a penalty goal to Rivez Reihana most certainly put the Reds out of reach, trailing 27-0 and running out of time. The Reds' exit from the finals leaves the ACT Brumbies as Australia's last team standing. After finishing third in the minor premiership, the Brumbies host the fourth-placed Brumbies in the third and last quarter-finals on Saturday night. The colossal Crusaders have enhanced one of world sport's most remarkable records to ruthlessly end the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby Pacific season. Surpassing tennis's 30-love scoreline, the Crusaders improved their perfect record in home finals to 30-0 with a 32-12 victory over the Reds at their Christchurch fortress on Friday night. Needing to become the first Australian side in three decades to win a play-off match in New Zealand to make the semi-finals, the writing was on the wall for the Reds well before they kicked off at Apollo Projects Stadium. Adding to the odds stacked against Les Kiss's side, the Reds had lost 13 of their previous 14 games against the 12-times Super Rugby kings, while the Crusaders were also riding a 16-match winning streak in finals stretching back to 2016. Queensland had at least been the only Australian team in 21 trips across the Tasman to upset the Crusaders. But the Reds' class of 2025 proved their own worst enemies, conceding the first five penalties of the match on Friday night. The Crusaders, typically, made the ill-disciplined visitors pay with the only two tries of the first half - to injured prop Tamaiti Williams before he hobbled off, and his All Blacks captain Scott Barrett - to take a 12-0 lead into the break. The deficit could have been greater if former Reds and Wallabies playmaker James O'Connor hadn't blundered with an errant kick for touch as the Crusaders threatened to post a third try in the shadows of halftime. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt may have taken note, but O'Connor's unforced error mattered little to the Crusaders, who resisted an early second-half challenge to put the Reds to the sword. If the Crusaders' third try, to livewire halfback Noah Hotham in the 55th minute, didn't all but end the contest, a penalty goal to Rivez Reihana most certainly put the Reds out of reach, trailing 27-0 and running out of time. The Reds' exit from the finals leaves the ACT Brumbies as Australia's last team standing. After finishing third in the minor premiership, the Brumbies host the fourth-placed Brumbies in the third and last quarter-finals on Saturday night.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
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Aussie boxer given title chance due to pregnant pause
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The 10-round showdown with Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) is on the first-ever all-women's professional boxing card at the famous New York venue. It's headlined by the third battle between Ireland's Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano of Puerto Rico. Signing with an American promoter, it is the first fight in the US for Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs). "It's a dream come true to fight at Madison Square Garden," said Johnson, who is New Zealand-born but lives on the Gold Coast and fights under the Australian flag. "This feels like a true 'pinch me' moment. "Not only will I be defending my title, but I'll also become the undisputed champion ... the magnitude of this moment isn't lost on me, and I'm ready to rise to it." Meanwhile, Andrew Moloney's comeback fight has been locked in less than a year after he announced his retirement following a controversial loss. Australia's former super flyweight world champion was ordered to fight Mexico's Argi Cortes in an IBF eliminator, with the pair squaring off in Monterrey, Mexico, on July 19 (local time). The winner will become the mandatory challenger to Willibaldo Garcia, who edged fellow Mexican Rene Calixto to claim the vacant IBF crown. The chance comes less than a year after 34-year-old Moloney quit the sport in a rage after losing on points to Pedro Guevara for the interim WBC super flyweight title. Cherneka Johnson has the chance to become undisputed world champion after the Australian boxer was called in to replace Denmark's Dina Thorslund, who has announced her pregnancy. Already the WBA bantamweight world champion, Johnson will have the biggest fight of her career, stepping into the ring on July 11 (local time) at Madison Square Garden to take on the IBF champion, American Shurretta Metcalf. Because of her pregnancy, Thorslund voluntarily relinquished her WBO belt, while the WBC approved her title as Champion in Recess. A victory would make 30-year-old Johnson Australia's first undisputed world champion in the four-belt era after George Kambosos fell short in his quest to pull off the feat against Devin Haney in 2022. The 10-round showdown with Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) is on the first-ever all-women's professional boxing card at the famous New York venue. It's headlined by the third battle between Ireland's Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano of Puerto Rico. Signing with an American promoter, it is the first fight in the US for Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs). "It's a dream come true to fight at Madison Square Garden," said Johnson, who is New Zealand-born but lives on the Gold Coast and fights under the Australian flag. "This feels like a true 'pinch me' moment. "Not only will I be defending my title, but I'll also become the undisputed champion ... the magnitude of this moment isn't lost on me, and I'm ready to rise to it." Meanwhile, Andrew Moloney's comeback fight has been locked in less than a year after he announced his retirement following a controversial loss. Australia's former super flyweight world champion was ordered to fight Mexico's Argi Cortes in an IBF eliminator, with the pair squaring off in Monterrey, Mexico, on July 19 (local time). The winner will become the mandatory challenger to Willibaldo Garcia, who edged fellow Mexican Rene Calixto to claim the vacant IBF crown. The chance comes less than a year after 34-year-old Moloney quit the sport in a rage after losing on points to Pedro Guevara for the interim WBC super flyweight title. Cherneka Johnson has the chance to become undisputed world champion after the Australian boxer was called in to replace Denmark's Dina Thorslund, who has announced her pregnancy. Already the WBA bantamweight world champion, Johnson will have the biggest fight of her career, stepping into the ring on July 11 (local time) at Madison Square Garden to take on the IBF champion, American Shurretta Metcalf. Because of her pregnancy, Thorslund voluntarily relinquished her WBO belt, while the WBC approved her title as Champion in Recess. A victory would make 30-year-old Johnson Australia's first undisputed world champion in the four-belt era after George Kambosos fell short in his quest to pull off the feat against Devin Haney in 2022. The 10-round showdown with Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) is on the first-ever all-women's professional boxing card at the famous New York venue. It's headlined by the third battle between Ireland's Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano of Puerto Rico. Signing with an American promoter, it is the first fight in the US for Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs). "It's a dream come true to fight at Madison Square Garden," said Johnson, who is New Zealand-born but lives on the Gold Coast and fights under the Australian flag. "This feels like a true 'pinch me' moment. "Not only will I be defending my title, but I'll also become the undisputed champion ... the magnitude of this moment isn't lost on me, and I'm ready to rise to it." Meanwhile, Andrew Moloney's comeback fight has been locked in less than a year after he announced his retirement following a controversial loss. Australia's former super flyweight world champion was ordered to fight Mexico's Argi Cortes in an IBF eliminator, with the pair squaring off in Monterrey, Mexico, on July 19 (local time). The winner will become the mandatory challenger to Willibaldo Garcia, who edged fellow Mexican Rene Calixto to claim the vacant IBF crown. The chance comes less than a year after 34-year-old Moloney quit the sport in a rage after losing on points to Pedro Guevara for the interim WBC super flyweight title.
