All Blacks

World Rugby announced the death on Wednesday (Thursday NZT). The cause of death was not immediately known.

Halpin made 11 appearances for Ireland and was known for his gesture after scoring a try against New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Jogging backward, he raised two middle fingers at his opponents. The All Blacks went on to win 43-19.

Halpin made his international debut against England in 1990 and also played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He played club rugby for Leinster, London Irish and Harlequins.

In the 30th match between the two sides, Argentina finally beat the All Blacks 25-15 in the Tri-Nations in Sydney in November.

Other contenders for team of the year are Bayern Munich, Liverpool, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Mercedes F1 team.

Last year's men's joint winner Lewis Hamilton has again been nominated, but co-winner Lionel Messi is missing with Robert Lewandowski the top footballer included. LeBron James and Rafael Nadal are the other leading contenders.

Not bad for a "young little bogan from Southbridge".

Rugby icon Dan Carter, arguably the greatest player in the history of the game, has expanded on his reasons for retirement in an exclusive interview on the first edition of Stan Sports' Rugby Heaven show on Tuesday night.

The All Blacks legend called time on his fairytale career on Saturday after winning two Rugby World Cups and finishing streets ahead as the leading point scorer in test history (1598, next best is Jonny Wilkinson with 1246).

The trajectory of the 21-year-old's rugby career spiked significantly upwards in 2020.

A starring role with a well-performed Blues side in Super Rugby, leading to a maiden All Blacks call-up and an impressive first five tests to cement his place as one of New Zealand's premier wingers.

After such a superb year, Clarke headed to popular music festival Northern Bass to see in 2021.

But, as warranted as it would have been, the trip certainly wasn't about revelling in his own substantial success.

Tuivasa-Sheck will leave the Warriors at the end of the NRL season to take up a contract with New Zealand Rugby in the hopes of playing for the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup.

The Blues are favoured to secure his services, given he lives in Auckland with his young family and was a former under-20 representative for the team.

All Black wing Caleb Clarke, who starred for the Blues before bursting onto the international stage in 2020, would love to have him at the Auckland based franchise.

Parsons,34, has played 115 games for the Auckland based franchise and sits behind only Keven Mealaumu, Jerome Kaino and Tony Woodcock on the list of most capped players for the franchise.

He made his debut against the Highlanders in 2012 and play 106 matches for North Harbour.

Parsons made his international debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in 2014 and was recalled for a second test against Australia in Wellington two years later.

Parsons, said he's retiring on medical advice, after being out of the game for several months due to a head injury.

While there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before the international calendar kicks off in July, rugby officials are desperate to ensure the Wallabies feature in more than 2020′s tally of six tests.

Australia squared off against the Kiwis in four consecutive tests last year. Michael Hooper’s men drew the first test in Wellington, fell in Auckland and Sydney to ultimately squander the Bledisloe Cup, before salvaging some pride in Brisbane with a 24-22 victory.

Thorburn was the inaugural coach of North Harbour when the union formed in 1985 as a breakaway from Auckland. He also led the New Zealand Sevens team before Gordon Tietjens took over in 1994.

He had two stints as an All Black selector, first in the early 1990s and then between 2000 and 2001.

Thorburn also coached the United States at the 2007 World Cup and Bristol in the English Premiership between 2002 and 2003, and was renowned for his insatiable appetite for watching rugby.

North Harbour Rugby confirmed his death in a social media post.

For his son, though, it proved an inspiration.

And so, 16 years after his famous father retired from the sport, Brady Rush is now looking to carry on the family legacy, and even add to it, after earning a full-time professional deal with the All Blacks Sevens.

The 21-year-old was announced on Friday as one of two (along with Moses Leo) new contracted players for 2021, and he’s crediting his old man’s hard-edged training methods for his swift elevation into the national ranks.

Gardiner, a tight head prop, played 11 games, including one test, for the All Blacks in 1974, touring Australia and Ireland. His test cap came against Australia in Sydney.

Gardiner died in New Plymouth on Monday, January 18, aged 74.

Taranaki Rugby chief executive Laurence Corlett said he first met Gardiner in 2005.

‘’He was a big powerful man. Loved a beer, loved a chat.’’

He played 102 games for Taranaki, Corlett said.

“A great guy. He epitomised everything that is good about rugby in Taranaki.’’