Former All Black

Nick Evans to help coach England

Evans, who coaches at Premiership club Harlequins, comes into a new coaching set-up after Steve Borthwick was named Eddie Jones' successor in December.

BBC reports Martin Gleeson had held the attack position under Jones and no update has been given on his future with England.

"Nick brings with him a wealth of different experiences as a player and coach," Borthwick said.

"We'd particularly like to thank Harlequins for their support in allowing Nick to work with us during this period. It's a great example of club and country working together."

Va'aiga Tuigamala remembered for his love of the game and his community

Sadly, the man known as "Inga the winger" had passed away, aged 52. Tuigamala's cause of death has not been confirmed - however, he was about to launch a new video series on obesity in which he talks openly about his own health struggles, including being diagnosed with type two diabetes in recent years.

He is survived by his wife Daphne and four children.

Tuigamala played 39 games for the All Blacks, including 19 tests beween 1989 and 1993 before relocating to the United Kingdom to play rugby league for Wigan.

Former All Black Malakai Fekitoa signs up with Irish club Munster

Fekitoa played 24 tests for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2017 before losing his place in the squad, prompting him to join French club Toulon.

He later signed for English outfit Wasps in 2019. He will now join Munster on a two-year deal once he completes his duties for the Coventry-based club.

Now eligible to represent Tonga, where he was born and raised, Fekitoa was a member of the All Blacks’ squad that defended the Webb Ellis Cup at the World Cup in Britain in 2015.

Former All Black loses memorabilia as storage unit sold without him knowing

Fraser's children said the storage unit in Wellington was filled with entirely personal property of great sentimental value to the family, including childhood family photos and videos, artworks and school assignments.

It also contained all the memorabilia Fraser kept from his years of rugby. He played 23 test matches for New Zealand between 1979 and 1984 and played 124 games for Wellington.

Former All Black Fekitoa to represent Tonga

The 29 year is one of four former New Zealand and Australian internationals who will represent the kingdom in next weekend's Final Olympic Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco.

The others are former Wallabies forward Lopeti Timani, Australian sevens international, Afusipa Taumoepeau, and Tasman winger Tima Fainga'anuku, who is a former New Zealand sevens representative.

Fekitoa will link up with the Tonga sevens squad already in Monaco after playing in Wasps' final English Premiership match against Leicester Tigers this weekend.

Retiring Joe Rokocoko takes to Instagram to say a fond final farewell

In the post, the 36-year-old shared photos of his entire rugby career, dating back to when he was a schoolboy and explained how rugby had taken him “from my very first club in Weymouth in 1994 through to my retirement 2019 from Racing 92 in Paris”.

The winger thanked all of those that have helped him throughout his career and said that he is “incredibly blessed to have been a part of some special teams and to have met so many special people along the way”. 

Former All Blacks halfback Bruce Deans succumbs to cancer, aged 58

Deans, a halfback who played 10 tests between 1987 and 1989, is understood to have lost his battle with cancer on late Thursday.

A tough halfback who represented Canterbury during its famous Ranfurly Shield reign between 1982-85, Deans was respected for his uncompromising attitude and work-rate around the field.

Although a member of the All Blacks squad that won the inaugural World Cup tournament that was held in New Zealand and Australia in 1987, Deans was unable to get a start ahead of captain David Kirk in any games.

Former All Black Adam Thomson returns to rugby

The 37-year-old loose forward has signed with the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby in the United States, according to website American Rugby News.

Thomson who was part of the All Blacks 2011 World Cup squad played 29 tests for New Zealand between 2008-2012 will play the remainder of the current season and also next year.

Thomson played the bulk of his Super Rugby with the Highlanders but also spent time at the Queensland Reds and the Melbourne Rebels.

Former All Black Joseph faces up to Japan challenge

He'll have the weight of the host nation's expectations on his shoulders and it's a challenge he's not shying away from.

But who is the man of Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Rarua descent?

Joseph has sport in his blood.

"Very sporting family, both parents played sport and coached sport. Summer's were full of softball, Mum played hockey in the winter. Dad played rugby and softball."

The whole whanau were talented athletes.

Joseph's grandad and great grandfather played for New Zealand Maori, other relatives played for the All Blacks.

Former All Black Julian Savea offers sympathy for Muslim community after Christchurch attacks

Now playing in France for Toulon, Savea is familiar with the Islamic community, with his wife Fatima a practising Muslim, even observing Ramadan to learn more about the culture.

Taking to Twitter, the 28-year old spoke about his heartbreak at the events from last Friday.

"I've been privileged enough to learn about Islam through my wife's family, especially her grandparents," Savea wrote.

"They've been to Mecca twice, they pray 5 times a day, they encouraged me to fast during Ramadan and taught me what it means to be a Muslim.