Auckland FC confirms no womens team until at least 2027
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RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
NZ Rugby and Sky seal new broadcast deal with TVNZ
Sky and NZ Rugby have announced a new broadcast deal Photo: Masanori Udagawa New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has confirmed a new broadcast deal with Sky from 2026-2030 with TVNZ to screen provincial games free-to-air. Sky will continue to broadcast all All Blacks, Black Ferns, Super Rugby Pacific, Super Rugby Aupiki and NPC and Farah Palmer Cup matches. Up to five offshore All Blacks and Black Ferns Test matches respectively during the period are not included in the domestic broadcast agreement. Jorja Miller of New Zealand makes a break, O'Reilly Cup, New Zealand Black Ferns v Australia Wallaroos. Photo: Kerry Marshall/ NZR hopes these matches will give it the ability to generate additional income if confirmed. Rights to broadcast these matches will be negotiated on a match-by-match basis at the time. No financial details have been revealed, though NZR chairperson David Kirk said the governing body was pleased with the deal. "We're delighted to confirm this new agreement with our long-term partner Sky, which will see Sky remain the home of rugby in New Zealand. The next five years are exciting for fans, with the best domestic competitions in the world and an amazing international calendar for our All Blacks and Black Ferns, including a men's and historic first women's British & Irish Lions tour," Kirk said. TVNZ will become NZR's free-to-air provincial rugby partner, which includes all NPC matches and select Farah Palmer Cup and Heartland Championship games. "We are pleased to partner with TVNZ to provide expanded free-to-air coverage of provincial rugby," Kirk said. "New Zealanders will have more ways to watch rugby than ever before over the next five years." NZR has reserved the right to play up to five offshore All Blacks and Black Ferns matches respectively over the five-year term from outside the scheduled competitions, to support its efforts to increase its revenue base. New Zealand rights to broadcast such matches will be negotiated on a match-by-match basis at the time. David Kirk. Photo: Photosport Kirk said NZR was focused on improving access to rugby for fans through this broadcast agreement and NZR's wider content strategy, supported by exciting domestic and cross-border competitions and a block-buster international calendar. "The Black Ferns will take part in a new international women's calendar from next year that will see them play more Test matches against the best teams in the world. We also have some exciting announcements to make in the coming months to confirm the All Blacks calendar, including new competitions and tours." The agreement with TVNZ will see 93 provincial matches available free-to-view on TVNZ+, with three games a week in appointment viewing slots on TVNZ 1. These matches will also be shown co-exclusively live on Sky. "We see this as a win-win-win outcome - a secure revenue stream to support NZR in investing in rugby; Sky remaining our partner and the home of rugby; and a win for our fans as they will have more options and channels for viewing rugby," Kirk said. Kirk said there was much to be positive about in terms of the financial outcome, the expansion of rugby coverage and fan access. "We have seen positive broadcast numbers on Sky for the All Blacks and Black Ferns this year and the Super Rugby Pacific Final enjoyed its best viewership since 2016." Kirk said NZR will now focus on finalising its international broadcast agreements.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Football Ferns to take on USA
Emma Rolston - during a women's international friendly game between the New Zealand Football Ferns and the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, 2023. Photo: DJ Mills / PHOTOSPORT The Football Ferns will play the USA in Kansas City in October. It is the first fixture for New Zealand in the October FIFA window. The game against the World Number 2 and Olympic Champions will be at the home of the Kansas City Current NWSL team on Thursday 30 October (Wednesday 29 October local time). The game marks the 22nd time the two sides have faced each other at senior international level. This year the Ferns have had a win and a draw against Costa Rica and a win and a loss against Venezuela. "Our strategy in the first half of 2025 was to use the initial international windows to really work on our playing style, and it has been great to see the players buy into that with some good success on the pitch," Ford Football Ferns head coach Michael Mayne said. "We now need to challenge ourselves against some really top sides to see how we are processing, and the USA are the ultimate test for that. "Knowing we start our FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying journey in early 2026, we want to use the rest of this year to make sure we are in the best place not just to qualify for, but perform at, the tournament. "We have made progress, but we know there is still work to do to ensure we achieve our goal of getting out of our group in Brazil in 2027." The Ford Football Ferns will be playing in both the October and November 2025 FIFA match windows, before starting FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 qualifying in February 2026. The finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 - Oceania Qualifiers are set to be played in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in April 2026. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rugby nomad Charlie Powell bucks trend with stint in NPC
Charlie Powell (right) has moved north this season to play for Otago. Photo: Aaron Gillions/Photosport While plenty of New Zealand rugby players head to the northern hemisphere each season, not many come the other way. One man bucking that trend is former England U20 winger Charlie Powell, who is playing for Otago in this year's NPC. The 25-year-old made his Bristol debut while still a teenager, but unable to command a regular starting spot, he was released by the Bears last year and ended up as a Stag, playing for Southland in the NPC. This season, he's shifted north - but only slightly - signing with Otago. "I love the NPC," he told RNZ First Up , "I think it's an awesome comp. "Every week, you might be facing an All Black, but there's also obviously really good opportunity for players like myself or club players or maybe Super Rugby players that haven't had a look in." Powell's seen limited game time so far this season, but that's certainly not down to a lack of effort. He's fastidious in his preparations, a trait he picked up from senior players at Bristol, like former All Black Charles Piutau. "He was my mentor for a while and he's a pretty professional guy." A look at his 'Chapow Training' Instagram page confirms that professional approach. Meals are carefully planned, even down to making his own ginger-and-tumeric recovery shots. "I get quite nervous often before games or, at least, I used to," he said, "What gives me a lot more confidence on game day is knowing that my prep is really good, so I have a list of things I know I want to tick off for out the training week. "I know, if I've done those things, I'm in the best possible position I can put myself." That includes putting time in at the gym. Powell's a qualified personal trainer, with further qualifications in strength and conditioning. The mental side of the game isn't neglected. Powell's matchday vlogs reveal how he gets into the headspace to play. "I like to journal a little bit," he said. "I'd be lying if I say I do it every day, but anytime I feel myself kind of slip away into a negative headspace, any negative selftalk around myself, I start to write down those feelings. "Then I try to bring myself back into a more positive headspace by reading some more positive affirmations around myself, which is more getting myself in the mindset where I can go and perform, and take opportunities as they come to me." His social media content offers some rarely seen aspects of professional rugby, but he knows performing on the field is his main role. "Obviously, I don't want to be that guy who's got their camera out all the time and filming stuff. I'm signed to be a player. I'm not signed to be a social media guy, so I try to get the balance right. "I feel like I've got a pretty good understanding, having been in full-time environments for so long now that I know when it's appropriate." Powell's only signed on with Otago for this season, so the rugby nomad may be on the move again for 2026. "I'm big into my travel, so being able to play overseas is is a bonus," he said. "Whether there was an opportunity back home or over this side of the world, I'd be very open to it. "I'm just focusing on playing the best rugby I can play and see what comes of that." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
