All Blacks v France: The bold switches that could shape the season
Fabian Holland, the first Netherlands-born All Black, being thrust in to start on his Highlanders home
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NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks rookie Kyle Preston earns Rugby Championship call-up after career year
'It's a funny one. Obviously, when the news came out about Cam [Roigard], I had about 20 or so messages like 'have you heard anything?' Preston told Newstalk ZB. 'You kind of start thinking a little bit, 'it could be me, who knows?' But I try to not build myself up too much around that sort of stuff, because you can get hyped up around it and, if you don't hear anything, it's a bit of a letdown.' Preston said he got the call from All Blacks coach Scott Robertson about an hour before the Rugby Championship squad was announced on Monday. At the surface, it's been a rapid rise for the 25-year-old who, a year or so ago, was playing club rugby and working as a roofer. He completed his roofing apprenticeship just prior to the 2024 NPC season; the timing working out nicely as he played his way into a Crusaders contract and fulltime work as a rugby player. But, for Preston, it's the culmination of a decade of dedication. 'It's funny because, like, only really over the last couple of years, you get the recognition for what I've done, but it's been built over 10 or so years of putting in a bit of hard work and dedication. It's awesome to finally get a bit of props for what I've been doing,' he said. 'It's been a long journey. The last 12 months has been pretty full on. I'm super lucky and grateful to get the opportunity that I've gotten and making the most of it while I'm here. I just want to continue to do that and hopefully I can do that in the black jersey.' He was one of four uncapped players called in, alongside Chiefs duo Simon Parker and Leroy Carter, and Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafileo. Parker was called into the main 36-man squad, with Carter and Mafileo joining Preston among the six players named as injury cover. Injured quintet Hotham, Roigard, Tyrel Lomax, Luke Jacobson and Caleb Clarke will all remain in New Zealand when the side travels to Argentina ahead of next week's Championship opener. 'He said congrats and, pretty much, see you Friday,' Preston said of his conversation with Robertson. 'He just said, 'we've seen what you've been doing with the Crusaders this year, we're excited to have you in' and he knows I'll make the most of this opportunity. That's all I can really do; be myself and hopefully add to the environment with what I've got.' All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship Hookers: Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Brodie McAlister. Props: Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, Ollie Norris, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi. Locks: Scott Barrett (captain), Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i, Fabian Holland. Loose forwards: Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Luke Jacobson. Halfbacks: Cortez Ratima, Cameron Roigard, Noah Hotham. First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie. Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Timoci Tavatavanawai. Outside backs: Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, Emoni Narawa, Will Jordan, Ruben Love. Injury cover: George Bower (for Tamaiti Williams), Tevita Mafileo (for Tyrel Lomax), Josh Lord (for Luke Jacobson), Finlay Christie (for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham), Kyle Preston (for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham), Leroy Carter (for Caleb Clarke). Unavailable for selection: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Asafo Aumua, Stephen Perofeta. Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Former All Blacks winger George Bridge signs two-year deal with Western Force
Former All Blacks and Crusaders winger George Bridge has penned a two-year deal with Australian Super Rugby Pacific team the Western Force. Bridge, a veteran of the 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, signed a three-year deal with French club Montpellier in 2022 after a successful six-season stint with the Crusaders.
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 5 August
Scott Robertson speaks to media on Monday about his All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship. Photo: Nathan Mckinnon / RNZ Fiji-born utility backline player Timoci Tavatavanawai has been retained in the All Blacks squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship series. Tavatavanawai, first selected for the series against France in July, has been named by head coach Scott Robertson alongside fellow Queen Victoria School alumni Sevu Reece and Emoni Narawa. He is one of 16 players of Pasifika heritage named in the squad to face Argentina, Australia and South Africa in the series, which kicks off on 17 August. Two more players of Pasifika originals are named as injury covers, in George Bower and Tevita Mafileo. The All Blacks face the Pumas in their first game. Three Fijian players tested positive for illegal drugs during the Fiji Football Association-organised Battle of the Giants tournament in Labasa at the weekend. Fiji Football Association chief executive Mohammed Yusuf said 48 tests were done on Friday and Saturday. The Fiji Sun reported disciplinary actions range from a fine and a three-month suspension for first offenders, to harsher penalties if that's warranted. Yusuf said the Fiji FA is teaming up with a non-governmental organisation to take drug awareness into districts around the country. The Fiji men's netball team has recorded a narrow 43-42 win over New Zealand on day one of an invitational tournament in Suva. It was the first time the two teams met in men's netball. FBC reported the high-intensity match lived up to the hype. Meanwhile, Fiji A also defeated Tonga 60-37 in the opening match. The action continues on Tuesday with Fiji A taking on New Zealand while Tonga squares off against the main Fiji team. World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson says "rugby is the game of the Pacific". The former Wallaby, now at the helm of world rugby, made the comments after Pacific rugby chiefs recently raised concern over the NRL's investment into the region. The NRL's multi-million-dollar deal between the Australian and PNG governments has raised concerns on how that might affect rugby union. Speaking at the launch of the ticketing programme for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Robinson said he's confident of rugby's status in the Pacific. Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan says he wants the CNMI to send their largest-ever delegation to the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti. Marianas Variety reported Tan made the statement at a celebration ceremony for NMI athletes who competed at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Tan said the goal is to send 259 athletes to Tahiti, representing sports such as football, swimming, va'a, baseball, sailing, taekwondo and power lifting. He said work on the process of securing a charter flight with Air Tahiti will begin soon, with fundraising activities to fund Team NMI also expected to roll out in the next few months.
