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RNZ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Rugby: Māori All Blacks beat Japan XV
Jonah Lowe of the Māori All Blacks. Photo: Tsutomu Kishimoto / The Māori All Blacks returned to action with another trip to Tokyo, where they faced a tough local selection before their upcoming match with Scotland in Whangarei. See how it all unfolded below:
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Danish tennis star Holger Rune puts smashed rackets up for sale
Tennis player Holger Rune of Denmark Photo: LUKAS COCH / photosport Holger Rune has put the mangled rackets that have borne the brunt of his frustration in matches over the years up for sale among a collection of items in his new online store which he hopes will help charitable causes. The world number eight launched the website over the weekend, giving fans the chance to buy items such as books, posters and playing cards, as well as match-worn clothing. While many of the items sold out in a flash, several used rackets were on sale for close to $10,000, while two that were bent and smashed beyond repair during the Dane's rare moments of rage on court were priced at close to $12,000. "I've been working behind the scenes with my sister Alma to create a space where you can get closer to my world," Rune said on social media. "To everyone who follows my journey, watches my matches, sends messages, and supports me this is for you. Your support means everything. Launching this shop is my way of sharing a bit more of my journey with you." Part of the profits will support select charities close to Rune's heart, the website added, and the 22-year-old said he will put more items on sale soon. Rune is next in action at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday. - Reuters
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
ANZ Premiership live updates: Mystics v Stars
Tayla Earle makes a move. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ The champion Mystics open their ANZ Premiership season this afternoon with a match against cross town rivals the Stars, play starts at 4pm NZT. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog:
RNZ News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Phoenix re-sign Giancarlo Italiano as head coach despite poor season
Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano has re-signed for a further year, with an option for a fourth year as head coach. Photo: photosport Despite a disappointing A-League season the Phoenix have re-signed coach Giancarlo Italiano for another year. After qualifying for the play-offs last season the Wellington-based team currently languish in 11th place with two regular season rounds left to play and are well and truly out of playoff contention, while competition newcomers Auckland FC sit at the top of the table. Italiano has been head coach for the past two years and despite only registering six wins this season he still boasts the best winning percentage of any Phoenix head coach. In re-signing Italiano the club's director of football Shaun Gill harked back to his performance last year. "It seems a lot of people in the sporting world have short memories," he said. "I understand the frustration and disappointment with how the men's season has unfolded, but Chief (Italiano) has built up a lot of credit." Director of Football for the Wellington Phoenix, Shaun Gill. Photo: Photosport "He not only guided the men to within touching distance of the club's first trophy last year, but Chief was also an integral member of the staff during the preceding four seasons when they were finals regulars despite spending the best part of two years in Australia. "We have faith that he will be able to help turn around the team's fortunes next season and have the Phoenix back in the top six challenging for silverware." Italiano is "very happy" to have re-signed with the Phoenix. "We've achieved a lot over the last two years and I'm looking forward to bringing the club back up to where it belongs," Italiano said. "I'm forever indebted to Wellington. The club gave me my first coaching job in the A-League, and I want to leave this club in a good place. "I want to win the A-League. Despite all of the setbacks this season it hasn't been all doom and gloom and I think there's enough there to show that we can definitely move the club forward. "I've learnt how to manage players and their expectations on the back of such a successful season, and how to look after a young group when a lot of pressure has been placed on them unnecessarily...I've learnt how to navigate through so many different issues this year with injuries, player availability and expectation and how you balance all of that." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Kenyan Faith Kipyegon eyes women's mile history in 'Breaking4' project
Faith Kipyegon will follow the footsteps of countryman Eliud Kipchoge in the marathon. Photo: photosport Kenyan triple Olympic and world 1500 metres champion Faith Kipyegon will attempt the first women's, unofficial sub-four minute mile in a Nike 'Breaking4' project, after the success of Eliud Kipchoge's sub-two hour marathon. Nike said Kipyegon, 31, would attempt the feat on 26 June at Stade Charlety, Paris, where she beat her own 1500 metres world record last year. Full details were yet to be revealed, but like her compatriot's 1h 59m 40.2s marathon at Vienna in 2019, she would likely to be aided by 'in-and-out' pacers, new high-tech shoes and kit, and other technological, physiological and psychological help that would mean any record would not be officially recognised. Kipyegon set the current official mile world record of 4m 07.64s for the now-rarely run distance in 2023, taking almost five seconds off Sifan Hassan's 2019 mark, so would need a huge leap forward to achieve the landmark time. "I'm a three-time Olympic champion, I've achieved world championship titles," she said. "I thought, 'What else, why not dream outside the box?' "I want this attempt to say to women, 'You can dream and make your dreams valid'." Kipyegon won the Olympic 1500m title at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and world titles in 2017, 2022 and 2023, when she also took 5000m gold. Faith Kipyegon broke the world 1500m record in Paris last year. Photo: reuters As well as the mile record, she also holds the 1500m world record of 3m 49.04s and barely seemed to take a breath, after taking time away from the track to have a baby. "Becoming a mother has changed my entire mental attitude," she said. "You have to engage yourself, you have to show your child the way." Nike would apply the lessons learned from Kipchoge's attempts, where he narrowly failed and then subsequently succeeded in getting under two hours. Along with carbon-plated 'super shoes', one key aspect was the use of pacers in a v-formation, with a turnover of athletes to ensure fresh legs. Innovative apparel technology and laser pacing lights also played a part, and would likely to do so again for Kipyegon's attempt. Nike said full details of the attempt - including information on pacers, supporters in the stadium and kit - would be revealed in the coming weeks. Eliud Kipchoge was able to break two hours for a marathon with the use of pacers and running technology. Photo: photosport Kipyegon has known Kipchoge for more than 10 years and they share the same coach, Patrick Sang. "Faith can absorb any goal, she is a big dreamer," Kipchoge said. "She is the woman to take on this challenge, because she is open to trying." To improve her record mile by at least 7.65 seconds, Kipyegon would need to run each of her four and a bit laps an average of nearly two seconds faster than her previous best. Faith Kipyegon was won three Olympic titles, including Tokyo 2020. Photo: PHOTOSPORT "Faith is a once-in-a-generation talent and her audacious goal is exactly what Nike stands for," Nike president & chief executive Elliott Hill said. "Breaking4 is the kind of bold dream we will do everything in our power to make real, helping both elite and everyday athletes to believe anything is possible. "Alongside Faith, our innovators are breaking barriers by combining cutting-edge sport science with revolutionary footwear and apparel innovation to help her achieve a truly historic goal." Briton Roger Bannister was the first man to go under four minutes in May 1954, with compatriot Diane Leather the first woman to break five minutes later the same month. The current men's record is the 3m 43.13s, set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999. Hassan's 4m 12.33s, run in 2019, just edged the record of Russian Svetlana Masterkova that had lasted 23 years. - Reuters
