
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson to step down at year's end
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson will step down at the end of the year, creating a vacancy in one of the most powerful jobs in New Zealand sport.
Robinson led New Zealand's national sport for six years, through the difficult period of the pandemic when matches often took place in empty stadiums.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fiji names Salesi Rayasi for Wallabies and Scotland tests
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Former Super Rugby winger Salesi Rayasi has been named in Fiji's 32-man squad to play Australia and Scotland in rugby tests next month. The 28-year-old played six seasons in Super Rugby for the Wellington-based Hurricanes and now plays for Vannes in France's Top 14. Advertisement He played for the New Zealand sevens team before switching nations to play for Fiji, following his father Felipe who played 13 test for Fiji in the 1990s. Australia's test against Fiji at Newcastle on July 6 will be the Wallabies' only warm-up for their three-test series against the British and Irish Lions. Fiji will then play Scotland in Suva on July 12. 'Both Australia and Scotland are established Tier One sides and we know the level we need to rise to,' Fiji head coach Mick Byrne said in naming his squad Wednesday. 'This squad reflects the depth and strength of Fiji rugby and we will give a performance that will make all Fijians proud.' The Fiji squad included 13 players who played for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby this season and 10 players based in France. Advertisement 'We've focused on combinations that give us both tactical adaptability and the trademark Fijian spirit,' Byrne said. 'We want to win but more importantly, we want to win playing our brand of rugby.' ___ Fiji squad: Forwards: Eroni Mawi, Luke Tagi, Haereiti Hetet, Mesake Doge, Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuel Mativesi, Kavaia Tagivetaua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Setareki Turagacoke, Viliame Mata, Elia Canakaivata, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue, Etonia Waqa, Motikai Murray. Backs: Simione Kuruvoli, Philip Baselala, Sam Wye, Caleb Muntz, Isaia Armstrong-Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu, Josua Tuisova, Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki, Sireli Maqala, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi. ___ AP rugby:


Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
No more second chances: Chiefs vs. Brumbies, Crusaders vs. Chiefs in the Super Rugby semis
Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs are keenly aware there are no more second chances as they head in Saturday's Super Rugby semifinal against the last Australian hope, the ACT Brumbies. The Chiefs' top-seeding gave them a second chance when they were beaten 20-19 by the Blues in last weekend's qualifying playoffs, allowing them to advance to the semifinals as the top-ranked loser. The Auckland-based Blues, who were seeded sixth and had to beat the Chiefs to keep their title defense alive, scored and converted a try three minutes after the fulltime siren for a dramatic win in Hamilton. That carried them into another tough assignment, a semifinal against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday. The Chiefs had numerous chances to close out last weekend's match against the Blues. They led 19-6 in the second half and let three clear try-scoring chances slip through their fingers. 'You could say we were probably lucky to get that second chance,' Chiefs' fullback Shaun Stevenson said. 'The beauty of finishing first is that you do get a second life. 'We have to prove to ourselves that we were the best team in the comp consistently and do that for 80 minutes against the Brumbies this week.' The Brumbies will attempt to become the first Australian team in 20 attempts to win a playoff match in New Zealand. They progressed to the semifinals after a 35-28 win over the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra last weekend. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has named an unchanged match for Saturday's semifinal in Hamilton with playmaker Jack Debreczeni being retained on the bench. 'We're in a pretty good space in terms of our routine,' Larkham said. 'We've got a plan this week in terms of some of the stuff that we've been building on through the year and then some specific stuff for the Chiefs. 'We want to get the boys as fresh as possible by the end of the week and get them into the game with as much confidence as possible. Then, focus on the performance as opposed to the outcome.' Ioane fires pre-match shot Blues center Rieko Ioane once again has turned to social media to ramp up tension ahead of Friday's match in Christchurch. After beating the New South Wales Waratahs in the last round of the regular season to clinch the last place in the playoffs, Ioane posted 'you shouldn't have let us get one.' It was a reference American baseball and basketball teams which won playoff series from 3-0 down. This week, more theatrically, he posted 'should've killed me when you had the chance.' Still, the Blues have the toughest chance in the playoffs against the Crusaders who improved their post their post-season record at home to 30-0 when they beat the Queensland Reds last weekend. Blues coach Vern Cotter said his team is ready to test that record. 'Nothing lasts forever,' he said. 'They are a tough team. We know it is a tough team. One day they will lose down there in a playoff. It could be against us.' The Crusaders will be without All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams who helped make their scrum such a dominant force against the Reds. 'That's how they accessed their game against the Reds. It was through their scrum and lineout and field position,' Cotter said. 'It could be 80 minutes, it could be longer. We're mentally preparing for a rugged sort of evening.' ___ AP rugby: recommended

Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
No more second chances: Chiefs vs. Brumbies, Crusaders vs. Chiefs in the Super Rugby semis
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs are keenly aware there are no more second chances as they head in Saturday's Super Rugby semifinal against the last Australian hope, the ACT Brumbies. The Chiefs' top-seeding gave them a second chance when they were beaten 20-19 by the Blues in last weekend's qualifying playoffs, allowing them to advance to the semifinals as the top-ranked loser. Advertisement The Auckland-based Blues, who were seeded sixth and had to beat the Chiefs to keep their title defense alive, scored and converted a try three minutes after the fulltime siren for a dramatic win in Hamilton. That carried them into another tough assignment, a semifinal against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday. The Chiefs had numerous chances to close out last weekend's match against the Blues. They led 19-6 in the second half and let three clear try-scoring chances slip through their fingers. 'You could say we were probably lucky to get that second chance,' Chiefs' fullback Shaun Stevenson said. 'The beauty of finishing first is that you do get a second life. 'We have to prove to ourselves that we were the best team in the comp consistently and do that for 80 minutes against the Brumbies this week.' Advertisement The Brumbies will attempt to become the first Australian team in 20 attempts to win a playoff match in New Zealand. They progressed to the semifinals after a 35-28 win over the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra last weekend. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has named an unchanged match for Saturday's semifinal in Hamilton with playmaker Jack Debreczeni being retained on the bench. 'We're in a pretty good space in terms of our routine,' Larkham said. 'We've got a plan this week in terms of some of the stuff that we've been building on through the year and then some specific stuff for the Chiefs. 'We want to get the boys as fresh as possible by the end of the week and get them into the game with as much confidence as possible. Then, focus on the performance as opposed to the outcome.' Advertisement Ioane fires pre-match shot Blues center Rieko Ioane once again has turned to social media to ramp up tension ahead of Friday's match in Christchurch. After beating the New South Wales Waratahs in the last round of the regular season to clinch the last place in the playoffs, Ioane posted 'you shouldn't have let us get one.' It was a reference American baseball and basketball teams which won playoff series from 3-0 down. This week, more theatrically, he posted 'should've killed me when you had the chance.' Still, the Blues have the toughest chance in the playoffs against the Crusaders who improved their post their post-season record at home to 30-0 when they beat the Queensland Reds last weekend. Advertisement Blues coach Vern Cotter said his team is ready to test that record. 'Nothing lasts forever,' he said. 'They are a tough team. We know it is a tough team. One day they will lose down there in a playoff. It could be against us.' The Crusaders will be without All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams who helped make their scrum such a dominant force against the Reds. 'That's how they accessed their game against the Reds. It was through their scrum and lineout and field position,' Cotter said. 'It could be 80 minutes, it could be longer. We're mentally preparing for a rugged sort of evening.' ___ AP rugby: