Gisborne's George Bridge set for Super Rugby return with Western Force
Gisborne-raised All Black George Bridge may be playing in Super Rugby Pacific next season.
The winger is 'deep in conversation' with Perth-based Western Force who are 'poised to sign him', according to Australian sports website The Roar.
Bridge, a veteran of the 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, signed a three-year
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1News
22 minutes ago
- 1News
Auckland Grammar principal calls out Sport NZ over 'Year 14' athletes
Auckland Grammar principal Tim O'Connor has challenged Sport NZ to take a stand on extra-year students returning to schools on sporting grounds. The issue of "Year 14" athletes has raised its head again, with Marlborough Boys' College admitting it had five such players in its First XV, which scored a historic – and controversial – win over Nelson College last month. That 28-26 result came after Marlborough were awarded a first-half penalty and, instead of aiming for the posts, the goalkicker struck for the corner, where one of his teammates chased it down for a try that was eventually awarded. O'Connor told RNZ that bringing students back for an extra year for sporting purposes was a distortion of their roles as educators and openly wondered where the national sporting administrators were in this debate. "Really, our role as principals and our role as schools is to educate young people," he said. "Sport NZ talks about balance is better, but where are they in this discussion? ADVERTISEMENT "They haven't come out to say, 'why are we allowing this to occur'? "I'd love to see them being more proactive and having the courage to speak up on this. "Perhaps there are organisations that want to turn a blind eye to what is the pathway for young men and rugby in this country frankly. We need to get beyond that." RNZ has approached Sport NZ for reaction to O'Connor's comments. Auckland's 1A competition has put is members on notice that Year 14 players will not be permitted from next season. O'Connor admits two of the 12 teams currently have two such players each on their rosters. "We discussed that at the beginning of the year and felt the fair thing to do was give everyone 12 months' notice, and then we wouldn't be allowing that to occur again." Earlier this year, the issue led to a ban on extra-year rowers at the prestigious Maadi Cup regatta at Lake Karapiro. ADVERTISEMENT School Sport NZ is now considering a total ban on the Year 14 athletes. "There is no doubt there is a distinct advantage – muscle co-ordination and technical ability – in a sixth-year student," O'Connor said. "They're taking away positions from students who are coming through their natural schooling years. "For example, Rieko Ioane could have returned – we could have encouraged him to return, because he would have met all the other criteria, and he could have returned to play rugby for another year, which would have been a huge advantage to our school. "Our view was Rieko should actually carry on with his life and move to the next stage, and we'd fully support him in doing so." Now an 81-test All Black, Ioane debuted for Auckland and the NZ sevens team the year after leaving Auckland Grammar, and made his test debut aged 19. O'Connor insisted his school would not take the field against Marlborough with their Year 14 players. "I don't know why there would be a reason to play them," he told RNZ. "I'd rather play in a competition where we know there is a level playing field and we're treating each other with respect. "In the 1A competition, mid-season, we have about six teams who could still win it – that's a great competition, that keeps it alive across multiple schools."
1News
10 hours ago
- 1News
Run It Championship final moved from Auckland to Dubai
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RNZ News
13 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 12 June
Fijian Drua fans at Churchill Park, Lautoka. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The Fijian Drua have revealed a new player signing ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. Canberra-based centre Iosefo Namoce has signed a two-year deal with the Nadi-based franchise. The Drua are expected to release 10 players at the end of this season, and recruit a couple of other players in the next few weeks for the 2026 season. The PNG Hunters head coach Paul Aiton has made changes to the team facing the Sunshine Coas Falcons, in a Hostplus Cup rugby league match in Port Moresby this weekend. The National newspaper reports fullback Sanny Wabo - was injured in the 16-50 loss to the Redcliffe Dolphins last weekend - is being replaced by debutant Douglas David. The PNG Hunters have dropped to eighth, from sixth spot, and a win against the seventh-placed Falcons can see them go back one slot up. Former Wallabies halfback Will Genia - who has Papua New Guinea heritage - returned home at the weekend to play club rugby for the team he started his career with. The National reported 36-year-old Genia helped his Valley Hunters team to a 26-19 win over the Crusaders in the Capital Rugby Union competition. Genia said he was happy to be back where it all started for him as a 16-year-old, and he is yet to make up his mind on whether to continue playing or take up coaching in Japan. Genia retired from international rugby after the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, having earned 110 international caps for the Wallabies. The Fiji under-21 women's netball squad will compete in a warm-up tournament in Suva next month, as part of their Netball World Youth Cup preparations. FBC News reported the tournament will run from 7-11 July at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. Head coach Simone Nalatu said they will field two Fiji under-21 teams, made up of players in their 27-member squad. Fiji will be joined by Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar. Two Papua New Guinea weightlifters, named to compete at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau at the end of this month, are excited about the opportuity to compete against the region's best. The Post Courier reported Kari Anna Mea and Rarua Tolana Mavara are part of the 12-member team that will compete at the Games. The duo acknowledged the support of top PNG lifters like Dika Toua, Morea Baru and Steven Kari, who assisted in their development as lifters. Mea will be making her debut while Marana had first represented PNG at the 2015 Pacific Games. New Zealand weightlifer David Liti says he wants to inpsire the next generation of athletes when he competes at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau later this month. Speaking on PMN's Pacific Mornings program, Liti said that despite his international success at events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, he is motivated by the opportunity to encourage young athletes closer to home. He said inspiring young children who might follow his rise in weightlifting could "spark a journey for them to be one of the greats in the future". Liti, who is of Tongan heritage, is part of Team New Zealand to the Games, which officially opens on 29 June in Koror, Palau. Vanuatu Judo will have seven members at the Pacific Mini Games. Vanuatu Daily Post reported the team includes 16-year-old debutant Kaina Derliue. Vanuatu claimed three medals at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, and Monvoisin said they are hpeful they can repeat the same in Palau.
