Latest news with #AllBlack
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Blacks v France in Hamilton: Fans excited to have All Blacks back in town
'It means a lot to have them [come here], I know we only had one All Black come out of this school – Marty Holah – in the mid-90s. So it's a great opportunity for us,' Mills said. 'We were paired up with Christian [Lio-Willie] and he was giving tips about communication, scanning, hands up – just the basics, but that's what you gotta nail to get to that level,' Ticklepenny said. St John's First XV coach Tony Su'a said it had been a huge day for the 'boys'. 'At first, you see that 'oh wow, there is an All Black there' and [then] they're like one of the guys. [The All Blacks] were very encouraging.' Su'a said he was hoping that the students continued to play rugby even after they left high school. 'Things like this just really encourage the love of rugby.' Some students at St John's College Hamilton were treated to a skills and drills session from Emoni Narawa, Cam Roigard and Christian Lio-Willie last month. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer Deputy principal Dominic Kay was also stoked for the students. 'I think just being able to see their heroes and do some passing drills with them is something they remember for a long, long time. 'Being able to connect and show our boys that if you work hard ... that there is a pathway. 'You never know what you could end up doing.' Narawa, an All Blacks winger, said it had been a lot of fun teaching the kids 'the basics of footy'. Image 1 of 12 : Impressions from the All Blacks skills and drills session at St Johns College 2025. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer 'Seeing the smiles on those kids' faces ... That's what we play for. 'They did pretty well and were eager to learn ... I was actually surprised with their skills. 'Seems like NZR [New Zealand Rugby] is in good hands.' There was also a signing session at Centre Place and some fans, including Anne Leonard of Ngātea, Barb Cleland of Hamilton and Whangamatā's Sharon and Stephanie Laurenson were lucky enough to be invited to the captain's run, after Sharon won the tickets at an auction. Barb Cleland, of Hamilton, Sharon Laurenson, of Whangamatā, and Anne Leonard, of Ngātea at the All Blacks Captains' run in Hamilton. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer The group had especially hoped to meet captain Ardie Savea and Will Jordan – with great success. 'It's lovely to see [the All Blacks] up close and personal. Really exciting. We got about 10 photos and autographs,' Sharon Laurenson said. 'It was a different insight into how they train,' Leonard added. Les Bleus enjoyed stay The French last played in New Zealand in 2018. Talking to the Waikato Herald last month, French captain Gaël Fickou said the team enjoyed their recent stay. '[New Zealand] is a very beautiful country with incredible landscapes. We were warmly welcomed and the people were very nice. French captain Gaël Fickou. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer 'We will take home fond memories [of our stay].' The French last played in Hamilton in 1979. This time, the team stayed in the Tron for only two days, instead opting to set up camp in Auckland before that – much to the disappointment of some local fans. The French team told the Waikato Herald the decision had been made by management staff a few months before the test series. When Les Bleus last stayed in New Zealand in 2018, they spent some time in Auckland and 'got to know the training facilities' there, the French said in a statement. Action from thw All Blacks v France, 3rd Test at FMG Stadium, Hamilton. Photo / Brett Phibbs, Photosport As they weren't 'familiar' with Hamilton's facilities and Auckland was just a short drive away, staying in Auckland had been the 'easiest' and most comfortable option. Fickou said due to the short stay in Hamilton, the team didn't have a lot of time to have a proper look around. 'We have mostly been to the hotel and the stadium – which is magnificent. But Hamilton seems to be a very warm, welcoming and friendly city. 'I find the respect that we have in this terrain and in the stands extraordinary. 'We were super well received by everyone and there are a lot of French [fans] here, which makes us very happy.' Despite the losses, Fickou said it was 'always a pleasure' to play the All Blacks. The interview with Gaël Fickou was conducted in French with translation provided by the reporter. Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Backlash against Sydney Sweeney ‘jeans/genes' ad gets mocked by WH: Americans are 'tired of this bulls---'
Backlash against Sydney Sweeney 'jeans/genes' ad gets mocked by WH: Americans are 'tired of this bulls---' A top White House official waded into the Sydney Sweeney-American Eagle advertisement controversy late Tuesday, calling left-wing backlash and claims of a "shift toward whiteness" more "cancel culture run amok." Steven Cheung, President Donald Trump's communications director, reposted an MSNBC headline claiming Sweeney's ad promoted racial superiority in the form of genetic "whiteness" – and wrecked it in a caption. "Cancel culture run amok," Cheung said. "This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. They're tired of this bulls—." The War On Hot Women: Why The Woke Mob Hates Sydney Sweeney While some TikTokers simply noted the ad's multiple similarities to a 1980 Calvin Klein ad featuring then-child-model Brooke Shields – others lambasted Sweeney's version as a sinister nod to eugenics; citing how "great genes" and "great jeans" are homophones. Read On The Fox News App TikTokkers, compiled by the New York Post, lambasted the ad as "Nazi propaganda" and "fascist-weird." Activist Zellie Imani, whose X profile includes the phrase "All Black Everything," called the ad a "love letter to White nationalism and eugenic fantasies, and Sydney Sweeney knew it." Those types of responses drew their own incredulous comment from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas: "Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women — I'm sure that will poll well," Cruz said on X. First son Donald Trump Jr. took to Instagram to troll critics as well. Trump Jr. posted an artificially-generated image of his father in the ad instead of Sweeney and paraphrased Owen Wilson's fashion-designer-character catchphrase from the Ben Stiller film "Zoolander." Sydney Sweeney Frolics With Mystery Man As American Eagle Drops Provocative New Ad "Hanse – Um, Donald is so hot right now," Trump Jr. quipped. Such signaling from the first family and the White House has also led to feelings that the cultural tide is turning in favor of the right for the first time in decades. Proponents of that view also point to the cancellation of Stephen Colbert and the entire CBS "Late Show" franchise. American Eagle will reportedly be donating proceeds from such jeans to the national Crisis Text Line to support victims of domestic violence. The company defended the ad in a statement last week: "This fall season, American Eagle is celebrating what makes our brand iconic – trendsetting denim that leads, never follows," American Eagle & Aerie president and creative director Jennifer Foyle said. "Innovative fits and endless versatility reflect how our community wears their denim: mixed, matched, layered and lived in. With Sydney Sweeney front and center, she brings the allure, and we add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude and a little mischief." American Eagle CEO Jay Schottenstein and family also have friendly ties with the Trumps, as the Wall Street Journal reported they have been Mar-a-Lago members for years and Schottenstein's son held his wedding at the Palm Beach compound. Original article source: Backlash against Sydney Sweeney 'jeans/genes' ad gets mocked by WH: Americans are 'tired of this bulls---'
Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Braydon Ennor re-signs with Crusaders
Braydon Ennor celebrating after the Crusaders won the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific title. The Crusaders have locked in nine-test All Black midfielder Braydon Ennor through to 2026. Ennor moved to Christchurch from Auckland as an 18-year-old and has since racked up 68 appearances for the Crusaders, and has been part of several successful campaigns. "It was a pretty easy decision to make," he said. "I've done all my growing as a man here, this is home for me now. A few championships, eight seasons, I just love going to the well with the boys and I love turning up to Rugby Park every day and going to work." Ennor first made the move south in 2015 when he joined the Crusaders academy. He debuted on the provincial scene in 2017, earning a Super Rugby call up the following year. "It was a big pull coming from Auckland, you always looked at the red and black as a very successful franchise, that's why I came down, to be a part of it and be a part of the legacy. "We've had a lot of success and that's been awesome, but it's been the little wins along the way that've been most enjoyable." The 28-year-old said pulling on the red and black jersey every week was a privilege. "It comes with a lot of emotions and a lot of memories. From being the young guy wanting to have that jersey every week to being able to start, it's always been a challenge, there's always been competition in the jersey for your positions but you're playing for each other. "But to be the ones to put on the jersey every week and go out there and play the big games and make the big plays, it's the best thing in the world."
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
L.A.B., Stan Walker team up for outdoor summer gigs in NZ and Gold Coast
Stan Walker on the red carpet of the Aotearoa Music Awards, where he won Best Māori Artist. Photo / New Zealand Herald photography by Sylvie Whinray For Walker, 'heavy prep', like an Olympic athlete or an All Black might do, is a necessity for lead vocalists preparing to tour, as they have nothing to hide behind on stage. 'We are the only ones that can't just pick up the drumsticks and go hard or start playing the bass or whatever.' Psychologically, Walker has also learned to automatically put up 'walls' to protect himself, his family, and his creative process from 'outside noise'. Sometimes this can get in the way of connecting with an audience, Walker says, but performing in the USA and Hawaii last year, the locals' unguarded enthusiasm was so inspiring he felt the walls came down. Raised on gospel music, Walker especially loves connecting with Black fans and friends in the States. 'They're like, 'man, you need to lead us, brother!' So you get like a fire.' Auckland reggae band Corrella will support Stan Walker and L.A.B. at their Tauranga show. Photo / Supplied Hawaiian music fans, he says, aren't held back by 'tall poppyness' like many New Zealanders. 'They're like, 'I love you. You changed my life. I want to follow you for the rest of my days'.' A Kiwi who recognises him is more likely to say something like 'Yeah, my mum is a fan', Walker says. 'It's really backhanded, and I think it's our like, defence mechanism. We don't want to get rejected or whatever. I get it, but at the same time, it's ugly.' L.A.B. singer Joel Shadbolt 'resonates hard' with Walker's insight on this cultural difference – 'Oh, preach, brother. Holy moly… Don't be a second-hand fan, be first-hand.' His band has also played some amazing shows in the States, he says, and American audiences are a lot more encouraging of guitar solos. L.A.B. singer Joel Shadbolt says American audiences are a lot more into guitar solos than Kiwis. Photo / Alex Cairns 'My roots are blues, so it comes from the south, and I know that feeling, I know that music, it's in me. When I play in the States, I feel that, man. Far out, I feel it. It's magic.' Back home in Aotearoa, Shadbolt and Walker agree Christchurch is one place where people really know how to show appreciation. Although he's had 'some very opposite experiences' offstage in the South Island city, Walker says he's always felt recharged by performing there, which he first did at 16. '[Christchurch audiences] show me why I do what I do, if that makes sense. It's electric.' In the lead-up to an L.A.B. show, the members gather to make sure they're 'on the same kind of buzz', Shadbolt says, and sing a karakia and some harmony-driven songs before hitting the stage. 'We all get locked in, you know?' L.A.B will be performing in Tauranga this summer. Photo / Supplied Artists give so much and love doing it, but they also really need to refuel, Shadbolt says. When he starts feeling like he's living 'in a weird alternate reality', the remedy is going home to visit whānau. 'Hanging out with my Nan is all I need for half an hour.' As a touring vocalist, performing shows back to back, you become hyper-aware of how your body feels, Shadbolt says. Sleep, hydration, nutrition and movement are his 'four pillars'. 'You get those right, and then the voice is magic. Any of those fall down, it's like 'Oooh, should have had a feed' or 'Oooh, ate too much'.' For Walker, it's 'buzzy' that alongside R&B singer Aaradhna, the up-and-coming musician Liam Te Wehi (Te Wehi) is supporting his three shows with L.A.B. this summer. R&B singer Aaradhna will support Stan Walker and L.A.B. at all three of their outdoor summer shows. Photo / Stijl, James Ensing-Trussell Although he's been listening to his music and enjoying his TikTok for ages, the two haven't yet met. 'He looks like my dad, bro!' For Shadbolt, it's really special that pioneering hip-hop group Nesian Mystic are supporting the Stan Walker / L.A.B. show at Auckland's Outer Fields festival on January 31. It's his band's first headlining Auckland gig in over four years, and the first time Nesian Mystic have hit the stage there in about 15 years. 'I listened to some of these songs in the car before, and I was like, 'Man, it's gonna be so nostalgic hanging out and playing their stuff live'. 'We're kind of buzzing for the show up there.'
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Ex-Otago coach to join Aust
Tom Donnelly. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Former Otago coach and All Black lock Tom Donnelly will join the Wallabies coaching staff ahead of the 2025 Rugby Championship. Donnelly will replace current assistant coach Geoff Parling, who will return to the UK following the end of the British and Irish Lions Tour. Donnelly played 15 tests for the All Blacks between 2009 and 2010. The 43-year-old spent the Super Rugby Pacific season with the Western Force, having moved to Australia after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant with the Highlanders in Dunedin. He coached Otago from 2020 to 2024 and had three seasons as an assistant before that. — APL
