All Blacks: Key players set to return for Argentina leg of Rugby Championship
The All Blacks open their campaign against Argentina in Córdoba on August 17 and captain Scott Barrett, his
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1News
18 hours ago
- 1News
Sabbatical-bound Scott Barrett likely to miss Super Rugby next year
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has signed a one-year extension with the Super Rugby Pacific champions but will almost certainly be without All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett next season. Senior lock Barrett is expected to activate a non-playing sabbatical clause in his contract – much like All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor did in 2024. Penney and Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge today confirmed Barrett's situation – although not his final decision which will likely come via an All Blacks' announcement. 'I'm pretty certain he'll do something and he's earned the right,' Penney said. 'That big body of his has been knocked around for the Crusaders and the All Blacks for a long time now. ADVERTISEMENT 'As Codie did 18 months ago, I suspect he'll have a good break. He deserves it and it will be up to other people in the group to step up. When Scooter is ready we'll welcome him back with open arms.' Barrett, 31, a veteran of 81 Tests, is recovering from a calf tear suffered in his side's first Test win over France in Dunedin this month. He is likely to be available for the first Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Cordoba on August 17. Taylor has credited his extended break last year as a big factor in his form at the age of 34 and there is little doubt that Barrett, hindered by injury over the past couple of years, would also benefit from one. Crusaders head coach Rob Penney celebrates with the Super Rugby Pacific trophy last month. (Source: Photosport) Barrett admitted during the season that his form was not where he wanted it to be and with 10 Tests remaining this year, including a potentially gruelling Rugby Championship which will include an improved Australia, plus a 'grand slam' against Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland, time off next year will be an alluring prospect. Fellow senior All Blacks Rieko Ioane (Leinster), Anton Lienert-Brown (Kobe) and Ardie Savea (Kobe) have already announced playing sabbaticals next year. ADVERTISEMENT Penney said he expected locks Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Taylor Cahill and Liam Jack, the nephew of former All Blacks and Crusaders lock Chris, to fill the void left by Barrett. After taking the franchise to its 13th championship following a disastrous first year in 2024 when they failed to make the playoffs, Penney said there was little doubt in his mind that he wanted to continue. 'I love coaching and I love this group and organisation… this will be me. When it's done it's done,' he said in an apparent reference to not wanting to coach elsewhere at this level. Asked about the grand final victory over the Chiefs last month, Penney said he had watched only one replay of the game. 'It's actually not the last game that I reflect on – it's the whole campaign and how it came to fruition,' he said. 'It was the small moments – the previous year we couldn't win a small moment. This year we won them through the depth and courage the players had and sometimes you get the rub of the green.' Another motivating factor for staying on will have been Christchurch's new central-city covered stadium Te Kaha, due to be completed on April 18 and potentially hosting a first Crusaders game on Anzac weekend. ADVERTISEMENT 'That hasn't gone unnoticed... It's a great thing for this wonderful region and in particular Christchurch city after what it's been through – the opportunity to get on the grass inside that beautiful coliseum… it will be a great occasion,' Penney said. Mansbridge said: 'If it's Anzac weekend and you want to open with a bang there's no other place in New Zealand you'd rather be.' Penney and Mansbridge confirmed assistant coaches Brad Mooar, James Marshall, Dan Perrin and Matt Todd would remain for next season and that the Crusaders had only about "three or four" positions to fill on the playing roster which would come via the NPC.
Otago Daily Times
18 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Coach Rob Penney signs contract extension with Crusaders
By Joe Porter of RNZ After leading the Crusaders to a record 13th Super Rugby title, Rob Penney has had his contract extended to the end of next season, though he's resigned to losing All Blacks captain Scott Barrett for 2026. Penney survived an end of season review last year after the Crusaders failed to make the playoffs in his first year in charge, before helping them back to the top of the pile in 2025. He said he's keen to chase some more history in 2026, though he expects to be without the services of lock Barrett, who he believes will exercise a non playing sabbatical clause in his contract and skip the next Super Rugby season. "Pretty certain he'll do something," Penney said. "He's earned the right to (rest) and he needs to. That big body of his has been knocked around both for the Crusaders and for the All Blacks for a long time now. So as Codie (All Blacks and Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor) did eighteen months ago, I suspect he'll have a good break and he's deserves it. "It'll be up to other people in the group to step up and when Scoot's (Barrett) ready we'll welcome him back with open arms." Penney was expected to be asked to stay on as Crusaders coach, but he took his time to confirm he wanted to remain at the end of his original two-year deal, which expired at the end of last Super Rugby season. "Very humbling and honoured to be to be given another season," Penney said. "I kind of said right at the start let's wait and see what the fallout was from the season campaign. We wanted to be as assiduous this year as we were last year around the reviews and the reflections just to ensure there were no blind spots. "I'm really excited the organisation were willing to bear with me for another year." Penney said he only wanted a short term deal and plans to take it year by year. "Very much so," he said. "Look, I love coaching I love this group and this organisation. I've said many times that it's deeply embedded in will be great to do another campaign and see where that leads. "There's more to come from this group and I'm just excited to be a little little part of it on the fringe." Penney is also looking forward to seeing the Crusaders play at Christchurch's new Te Kaha Stadium, which is set to open next April. "It's a great thing for this wonderful region and particularly for Christchurch City. "After all the region's been through to finally get an opportunity to get on the grass inside of that beautiful coliseum, the emotions will be high and it'll just be such a great occasion to have our first game year in there."
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- RNZ News
'This is business': Fiji Rugby negotiating to host 'home' Test matches in UK
Fiji's prop Peni Ravai celebrates after scoring a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match against England. Photo: AFP The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) is currently negotiating the hosting of three Test matches against Six Nations teams - England, Scotland and Wales - away in their respective countries. FRU Board chairman John Sanday confirmed the negotiatons with RNZ Pacific on Tuesday. He said that as a Tier 1 team, the Flying Fijians are now entitled to play against the top 10 teams in World Rugby. The matches against England, Scotland and Wales are classified as "home" tests for Fiji and are scheduled for the July international Test window. However, the FRU wants to host the matches in the three countries to maximise financial returns. Sanday said being in Tier 1 means a lot and the demand is also greater. He said the FRU is now a global business and the thinking must be in the commercial mindset. "In order for the FRU to become a global brand and a financially successful business, we have to make the tough but smart decisions in the interim," Sanday said while confirming the union is taking the home matches away. "We will eventually get the games here once we can demonstrate that it will be financially successful. There is just no way we can host it at home at the moment as we dont have the stadium with the minimum stipulations. "This is business and it must be economically viable." The former Flying Fijian said they want to confirm the deals by September. He said "we are very confident" about getting the games hosted in the three countries they will play against. "It's just getting the right stadiums for each match. That's why we ned to go up and finalize and sign." He said winning the test matches is critical for the Flying Fijians rankings and also will help in attracting major sponsors. "We move into preparation and build up to those tests as it will have a huge impact on our ranking if we can beat Engald and Scotland," he stated. "Moving higher up in the rankings and showing the world a great brand and style of winning rugby, we can attract better terms and also pitch to bigger global brands for major sponsorship." FRU Board chair John Sanday Photo: Fiji Rugby Union The end of the year tour for 2026, which annually happens in November, will likely feature matches against Ireland, France and Italy. The Flying Fijians were recently given Tier 1 status by World Rugby and have been included in the Rugby Nations Championship, which is scheduled to kick off in 2026. The new competiton will have the Six Nations teams of England, Wales, Scotland, France, Italy and Ireland plus Rugby Championship teams Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa, along with Japan, the new inclusion with Fiji. A close loss to the Wallabies early July and a win over Scotland were the two first Tier One test matches for the Flying Fijians, who will defend their Pacific Nations Cup title from the end of August. The side is also scheduled to play England, France and Spain in November.
