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The Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springbok great Dawie Snyman dies
He played flyhalf and fullback and in total represented the Springboks in 22 matches. Springbok utility back Dawie Snyman passed away on Thursday after an illness at the age of 76. Born in Bloemfontein on 5 July 1949 and educated at Grey College, Snyman's rugby journey took him to Stellenbosch University, where he represented Maties and Western Province with distinction. He earned 10 Test caps for South Africa between 1972 and 1977, playing both fullback and flyhalf and scoring a try, four penalty goals, two drop goals and a conversion in the green and gold. In total, he played 22 matches for the Springboks, amassing 86 points. Snyman, whose older brother Jackie also played Test rugby for South Africa, was selected for the Boks before playing senior provincial rugby when he toured to Australia in 1971. Only after that tour did Snyman make his WP debut. Coaching career He remained loyal to the blue and white hoops and coached WP to five consecutive Currie Cup titles, from 1982 to 1986, as well as a shared title with the Bulls in 1989. Snyman also coached South Africa at the 1997 Sevens World Cup, where the Blitzboks lost to Fiji in the final in Hong Kong, while was also involved with the Lions and at Stellenbosch University. 'Dawie will not only be remembered as a determined player who worked extremely hard and succeeded at international level in two positions, but also as one of the finest coaches South African rugby has known,' said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander. 'He could have played much longer, but chose instead to invest in the game as a mentor and leader, shaping generations of players with his insight and passion. His contribution to rugby in South Africa is immeasurable. 'It is never easy to lose a member of the South African rugby family. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Pam, his daughters Louise, Patse, Pam and Danielle and to their extended family, loved ones and friends during this time of bereavement. 'May you find comfort in the legacy of a man who will forever be remembered as one of the greats of South African rugby. This story first appeared on It is republished here with permission. For the original story click here.
France 24
11-08-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Australia women's rugby team lose trump card Caslick for World Cup
The Olympic gold medallist and Sevens World Cup-winner switched to the 15-a-side game this year to fulfil her dream of playing at the tournament in England later this month. She was named in Australia's squad last week despite the injury, but will now not travel. "We're really disappointed to lose Charlotte so close to the World Cup," said Australia coach Jo Yapp. "She has shown great commitment to the XVs program and Wallaroos this year." Utility back Caslick, a three-time Olympian, had ankle surgery last month and was hoping to be fit, but will instead focus on her rehabilitation. She was replaced by uncapped teenager Manua Moleka. Australia, whose best World Cup result was third in 2010, begin their campaign against Samoa on August 23 in Salford.
Newsroom
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Newsroom
The gutsy girl driving Brazier's World Cup comeback
In her lowest moments – and there have been a few – Kelly Brazier rewinds 30 years, to her five-year-old self sprinting across frost-laced fields in Dunedin, a rugby ball tucked under one arm. That little girl is a powerful reminder of why, at 35, she's still wearing the black jersey on the world stage. Back then, she was sometimes the only girl in her age group playing rugby – often laughed at and picked on. 'I cut all my hair off so people couldn't tell I was a girl,' she says. That's how determined she was to stay in the game. Now, on the eve of her fourth Rugby World Cup, Brazier repeats a daily mantra: Remember why you started and enjoy every moment. It's guided her since the day she rejoined the Black Ferns fifteens this season – a remarkable comeback after being overlooked for the last World Cup in Auckland three years ago. 'In the past, I took things for granted. I was used to being picked in a team, used to travelling, used to winning,' says one of New Zealand's most decorated rugby players – woman or man. 'It wasn't until I suddenly stopped making the team that I felt like it was all taken away from me and I had to go back and rebuild. 'Since I've come back onto the field and back into fifteens – somewhere I didn't expect to be – I've felt less pressure, because I'm just enjoying it. 'Reminding myself of those two things – remember where you started; enjoying every moment – quickly brings a smile to my face. Then I reset, and I'm back into it.' Brazier has had multiple reasons to smile over the past 16 years: Two Rugby World Cup victories (2010 and 2017), two Sevens World Cup titles (2013 and 2018) and Olympic silver and gold medals in Rio and Tokyo. Her stunning 80m sprint in extra-time, to clinch gold for the Black Ferns Sevens at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, etched her name in New Zealand sporting history. Kelly Brazier after scoring the winning try in the 2018 Commonwealth Games sevens gold medal match. But there have also been stretches where Brazier has struggled. She walked with her head down, she says, for six months after missing selection for what she'd planned to be her final World Cup in 2022. 'That absolutely broke me,' she admits. Then, last year, her body let her down – an Achilles injury so severe she couldn't walk – costing her a trip to Paris and her third Olympics. In those moments, she seriously weighed whether she had a rugby future. Her closest supporters – her mum, Gwen, and her wife, Tahlia (with whom she has two sons) – stood firmly beside her through the toughest times. 'Tahlia was even more gutted than I was [in 2022] to be fair; she's still not happy about it to this day,' Brazier says. 'I knew they always supported me 100 percent. But both times, it was something I had to deal with myself, to come to terms with personally.' Now here she is, back in favour with Black Ferns selectors, and on her way to England – in a full-circle moment, having begun her international career with a test match there in 2009. Back to her roots – as the daughter of an English dad and an Irish mum who migrated to New Zealand not long before she was born. 'I'm pretty stoked because I wasn't expecting this at the start of the year,' says Brazier, still regarded as a rugby magician, with her precise tactical kicking and wicked sidestep. 'It's something that just popped up and happened, to be honest.' This may be her final World Cup, but the resilient and relentless Brazier isn't sure she'll hang up her boots after this Black Ferns' title defence. There's another milestone she's eager to reach. The unexpected comeback Injury almost cost Brazier her place at this World Cup, too. After the disappointment of missing the 2022 World Cup squad, she'd dived back into the world sevens circuit. But her sevens career didn't have the fairytale ending either – ongoing Achilles problems ruling her out of the 2024 Olympic campaign. (The key playmaker had quietly battled with a hamstring injury through the Tokyo Olympics three years before). Keen to play fifteens rugby again in 2025, Brazier signed with Chiefs Manawa for Super Rugby Aupiki. Then came a call from her old sevens coach Allan Bunting, now the Black Ferns director of coaching, sounding her out about a possible international comeback. 'I had no aspirations of going to another World Cup, but when I was offered a Black Ferns contract, I said yes. I was just enjoying my rugby again,' she says. RWC2025 team announcement (from left) Allan Bunting, Laura Bayfield, Kelly Brazier and Bremner sisters, Alana and Chelsea. Named as a travelling reserve for the Pacific Four series in May, Brazier was invited to the following Black Ferns camp – knowing it was her last chance to break into the squad and impress the coaching team for World Cup selection. 'Then a week before, I found I had grade two tears in both my calves,' she says. 'But they still wanted me to attend the camp, so I thought, 'Okay, that's a good thing'. I stood on the sideline all week watching and spending time in the gym rehabbing. 'We flew home and the next day I got the call to say I was in the Black Ferns to play the Black Ferns XV. I just didn't expect that at all. But that was the turning point for me.' Brazier knew she was then auditioning to be back-up first five to Ferns' co-captain Ruahei Demant. Standing in her way: 21-year-old Canterbury star Hannah King, last year's World 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. The more senior player gave herself a 50:50 chance of scoring the role. When Brazier was given the nod ahead of King to play in the second Laurie O'Reilly test against Australia – her 43rd test, but her first since 2021 – she grabbed the 'lifeline' with both hands. 'Even after that I was like, who knows? All these things were going around in my head. But once I got that call from Bunts saying I was in, I couldn't believe it,' she says. But there were others who could. Cory Sweeney, the Black Ferns Sevens coach, backed Brazier – 'a super athlete, super teammate and super mum' – all the way. 'She's been a standout player across many years, but few appreciate how hard she works and how lonely it is coming back from injury,' he says. 'Her experience and leadership will be a huge asset for the Black Ferns in England.' Bunting says it's been a privilege to have worked with Brazier for many years, and to have been 'very close to a lot of what she's achieved.' 'For her to still have the same drive and determination is inspirational,' he says. 'Being named in her fourth World Cup is a testament to her hard work. She brings a special experience to our group, and we're looking forward to seeing what she can do in England.' Emily Scarratt, about to become the first English player to compete at five Rugby World Cups, would have been both thrilled and daunted seeing Brazier's name in the Black Ferns squad of 32. 'Kelly Brazier is the best player I've marked in both codes,' she said of her sevens and 15s rival, back in 2022. 'In New Zealand you grow up with a rugby ball in your hands, so Kiwis' catch-pass, all-round skills and innate understanding of the game is typically exceptional. Kelly is out of this world.' Witnessing the explosion of women's rugby Brazier has vivid memories of her first World Cup back in 2010, also in England. 'I was young, naïve and it was a dream come true for the girl from Dunedin,' she says. 'In my second year in the black jersey, I was playing at a World Cup alongside legends of the game. 'It was completely different to now. We had zero tests leading into the tournament and just four or five days in camp in New Zealand before flying over. We stayed with all the other teams and played at Surrey University on three random fields. No stands, no stadium, nothing but the goalposts.' The Black Ferns beat England, 13-10, in the final, played at The Stoop in London in front of 13,000 fans – then a world record crowd for the women's game. Playing at second five and serving as the main goalkicker, Brazier finished as the tournament's top scorer with 48 points, including a hat-trick of tries against Wales. 'Now going back to England 15 years later and the final will be played at Twickenham [capacity 82,000] is pretty crazy,' Brazier says. 'It just shows the growth of women's rugby – and it's only going to keep growing. These are exciting times for young girls in the game.' A young Kelly Brazier makes a break in the 2010 Rugby World Cup final against England at The Stoop. And young boys, too. Brazier's sons – Oakley (5) and Sullivan (2) – will travel to England for this World Cup, even if they don't yet grasp what their mum does for a day job, or the scale of the stage she's playing on. 'Oakley doesn't even know about the All Blacks. He just sees Mum, Aunty Portia [Woodman-Wickliffe] and Aunty Gossie [Sarah Hirini] running around on TV,' Brazier says. 'But as the boys grow older, there will be lessons I can teach them from this. They'll hear the stories of how many World Cups I went to, how old I was, or the things I overcame to get there.' Brazier has learned to be smarter with her body, as 16 years as a world-class athlete takes its toll. 'That's been my biggest work-on,' she says. 'I love training, and running, and smashing myself, going into those dark places. But I've learned the hard way, with my fair share of soft tissue, Achilles and loading injuries these last few years. So now every session I do doesn't have to be in the red.' Her game has changed, too. 'I was a few kilos heavier back when I started, so I could run it straight a bit more. I don't have too much on me these days,' she laughs. 'So now it's more vision decision and setting others up. And with that sevens background, if there's space in front of me, or one-on-one, I have the ability to step people.' As a back-up goalkicker in this World Cup squad, Brazier admits she's had to up her kicking practice in the past six months to find her rhythm again. 'Kicking isn't a massive skillset in sevens, so for years I haven't done all the repetitions. But as a youngster I was out on the field kicking every morning and every night, so I have some reps in the bank,' she says. 'It's kind of like driving a car – it's always there.' Her versatility over her career, playing every position in the Black Ferns' backline other than wing, likely contributed to her selection. 'Obviously 10 and 15 are my preferred positions, but if something were to happen, I'd be happy to step in wherever the team needs me,' she says. In 2023, Brazier made a step towards a future in coaching, heading to Japan to coach the Brave Louve sevens side. She still has aspirations to become the first woman to coach the Black Ferns Sevens. 'I definitely want to coach, but post-career. But I can't tell you if that will be in six months or two years,' she says. For now, she's happy helping out with Oakley's ripper rugby team, and an all-girls' team at the Arataki club in Mt Maunganui. She's not ready to draw a line under her playing career yet. If she plays in every Black Ferns game at this Rugby World Cup, including the playoffs, she will sit on 49 tests. 'And that would eat away at me if I just left it there,' she laughs. 'I still enjoy playing; I still love training. So why not see how my body goes?' The highlights of her career may surprise you. If you'd asked her four years ago, she would have rattled off the victories at pinnacle events. But now it's the simpler things, she says, that will stay with her. 'I get a greater sense of pride and joy in just playing the game, now I'm older and have missed out on a few things,' she says. 'Some of my highlights are a random weekday down at Blake Park, nothing special, just playing rugby with my mates. 'When I finish it will be those moments I miss, not necessarily standing on a podium with a medal around my neck. Don't get me wrong – I absolutely love winning and I'm still competitive. 'But the amount of time I get to spend with some pretty wicked human beings, and travelling the world with my best mates – not many people can say they have their dream job. But this is it.' The Black Ferns leave for England on Wednesday, and will play their first game at the World Cup against Spain on August 25 (4.30am NZ time), live on Sky Sport 1, and delayed on free-to-air Sky Open.
The Star
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Jones names eight uncapped players in Japan match-day 23 to play Wales
Rugby Union - Sevens World Cup - Day One - Hong Kong - March 31, 2023 Japan's Kippei Ishida in action with Australia's Darby Lancaster REUTERS/Tyrone Siu (Reuters) -Japan coach Eddie Jones has named eight uncapped players in his match-day 23 against ailing Wales in Kitakyushu on Saturday, with wing Kippei Ishida and prop Yota Kamimori to start in what are expected to be hot and humid conditions. The visitors are on a 17-game winless run and desperate for success as they come up against an inexperienced Japan side with a single victory in five that is also in need of a boost. Ishida forms a back three with wing Malo Tuitama and fullback Takuro Matsunaga, while the centre pairing is Shogo Nakano and Dylan Riley. Seungsin Lee has been preferred at flyhalf and has Shinobu Fujiwara in the number 9 jersey alongside him. Kamimori starts in the front row with fellow prop Shuhei Takeuchi and hooker Mamoru Harada. They will have locks Epineri Uluiviti and Warner Dearns behind them in the scrum. Number eight Amato Fakatava packs down with experienced flankers Michael Leitch and Jack Cornelsen. There are six uncapped players among the replacements in props Hayate Era and Sena Kimura, lock Waisake Raratubua, scrumhalf Shuntaro Kitamura, flyhalf Ichigo Nakakusu and fullback Halatoa Vailea. "Inexperience can sometimes be a blessing, particularly in hot conditions. If they get out and play with a lot of energy, a lot of determination, it will be up to the experienced players to steer the ship," Jones told reporters. Japan have won only once in 10 previous tests against Wales, which was a 23-8 home success in 2013. Japan team: 15-Takuro Matsunaga, 14-Kippei Ishida, 13-Dylan Riley, 12-Shogo Nakano, 11-Malo Tuitama, 10-Seungsin Lee, 9-Shinobu Fujiwara, 8-Amato Fakatava, 7-Jack Cornelsen, 6-Michael Leitch, 5-Warner Dearns, 4-Epineri Uluiviti, 3-Shuhei Takeuchi, 2-Mamoru Harada, 1-Yota Kamimori Replacements: 16-Hayate Era, 17-Sena Kimura, 18-Keijiro Tamefusa, 19-Waisake Raratubua, 20-Ben Gunter, 21-Shuntaro Kitamura, 22-Ichigo Nakakusu, 23-Halatoa Vailea. (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Former Otago star Brazier set for international return at 35
If you are good enough, you are young enough. Former Otago star Kelly Brazier is making an international comeback — sort of — at the age of 35. Brazier was yesterday named in a 33-strong Black Ferns squad for a trial game against their second-stringers and the test against Australia next month. The 42-test veteran has not played for the Black Ferns in the 15-a-side game since 2021. To be fair, though, she has not been far from the big stage. Brazier has been a long-time member of the national sevens squad, winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and silver at the Sevens World Cup the same year. They added to her jaw-dropping trophy haul that includes two Sevens World Cups, two Women's Rugby World Cups, Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals, and seven World Series sevens titles. Brazier, a crafty first or second five, made her Super Rugby Aupiki comeback with Chiefs Manawa this year. She was born and raised in Dunedin, attending Otago Girls' High School. She famously scored a record 64 points (10 tries and seven conversions) for Alhambra-Union in a club game, and she holds the Farah Palmer Cup record for the 45 points she scored for the Otago Spirit against Hawke's Bay in 2012. Brazier, who has two children with wife Tahlia, was named at second five in the World Rugby women's team of the 2010-19 decade. She has some serious pedigree on the rugby field. Ruahei Demant and Hannah King are the incumbent first fives, and there are some strong options in midfield, but Brazier has the sort of experience that cannot easily be matched. There are four changes in the Black Ferns squad from the Pacific Four series. Matatu lock Laura Bayfield and Chiefs Manawa loose forward Mia Anderson will hope to make their test debuts, while experienced fullback Renee Holmes is recalled alongside Brazier. Bayfield, who played for the inaugural Black Ferns XV in 2023, had a big impact in her first Aupiki season, while Anderson has come back from maternity leave. Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Mererangi Paul are unavailable due to injury, so Alana Bremner steps into the co-captaincy role alongside Demant. Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting said selections were based on consistency. 'At this stage of our World Cup journey, internal competition has been intense and selections are getting tougher as our wider squad have put in the work," Bunting said. "Renee has come back and shown real growth, Kelly gives us experience and depth at 10 adding to our kicking game, while Mia and Laura have consistently been impressive." All members of the Black Ferns squad will play in the trial game against the Black Ferns XV in Whangarei on Saturday. King, Bayfield and halfback Iritana Hohaia will play for the second-stringers before rejoining the Black Ferns for the test against Australia in Wellington on July 12. Black Ferns The squad Props: Chryss Viliko, Kate Henwood, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Tanya Kalounivale, Amy Rule, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu. Hookers: Georgia Ponsonby, Atlanta Lolohea, Vici-Rose Green. Locks: Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner, Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu, Chelsea Bremner, Laura Bayfield. Loose forwards: Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Layla Sae, Jorja Miller, Mia Anderson. Halfbacks: Maia Joseph, Iritana Hohaia, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane. First fives: Ruahei Demant, Hannah King, Kelly Brazier. Midfielders: Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Stacey Waaka, Theresa Setefano. Outside backs: Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Renee Holmes, Braxton Sorensen-McGee.
