All Blacks

Two-time Rugby World Cup-winner Keven Mealamu was confirmed on Wednesday as the headline act for the return of the Fight for Life charity event next month.

For 13 years, Mealamu helped the All Blacks deliver knockout punch after knockout punch.

Now, after almost seven years in rugby retirement, the 43-year-old former hooker would be delivering punches for real as he stepped into the realm of professional boxing.

A decision he said was easier than some might think.

"When the opportunity arose, I had butterflies and excitement and nervousness at the same time.

A long-term injury to Anton Lienert-Brown has put the spotlight on the All Blacks' midfield stocks for the upcoming schedule, with Foster admitting they were a concern for him and his selectors.

Quinn Tupaea of the Chiefs and David Havili of the Crusaders firm as candidates to fill the All Blacks No.12 jersey, already boasting midfield experience at test level, but a solid, if not unspectacular start to life with the Blues may also see Tuivasa-Sheck answering those questions.

In a social media post published on Saturday, Duffie confirmed he is hanging up the boots after a cross-code career that spanned more than a decade and saw him play for the All Blacks in rugby union and the Kiwis in rugby league.

“The time has come to hang up the boots and I am so happy to be doing it on my terms,” Duffie wrote on Instagram a day after his Mie Honda Heat side lost their Japan Rugby League One promotion-relegation playoff series against the NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu.

Mo’unga announced on live television on Friday that he has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury in 2023.

“Some good news, for me and my family, that we’ve re-signed for next year’s season in 2023,” the newly-turned 28-year-old told Sky Sport ahead of the Crusaders’ 28-15 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Reds in Christchurch.

Coltman has played eight tests for the All Blacks has been with the Highlanders for 12 years.

He made his debut for Otago in 2010 having moved to Dunedin from New Plymouth for university and went on to play 73 games for the province.

Coltman's test debut came in 2016 and played the last final of his eight matches in 2019.

He will finish his career as the Highlander's most capped forward and the franchise's third most capped player behind Aaron Smith, and Ben Smith.

Lienert-Brown suffered the injury in the Chiefs loss to the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific at the weekend.

He suffered a similar injury on the All Blacks end of year tour last November.

The Chiefs say the 26-year-old is expected to return to rugby after approximately six months.

The Rugby Championship is scheduled to start in August, with proceeded by a three test series against Ireland in New Zealand in July.

Jack Goodhue returned to club rugby at the weekend, a year after he ruptured the ACL in his knee.

Australia beat impressive Ireland 21-19 to clinch a hard fought bronze medal and remain in contention for the 2022 Series title.

Prior to Singapore, South Africa had won all four rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 to date - and six in total in a row - but in Singapore’s National Stadium it was to be Fiji’s moment.

The last time anyone but South Africa had won a men’s tournament on the big stage was in March 2020 in Vancouver when New Zealand took top honours.

Australia and New Zealand have competed for the Bledisloe Cup since the early 1930s with the All Blacks enjoying much the better of the rivalry.

New Zealand whitewashed Australia 3-0 last year to ensure the trophy remains with them for a 19th straight season.

"It was the end of a 15-year cycle, so we've got to look ahead at our objectives and what is the pathway ahead for us," Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos told Australian media.

The Fijian was 48.

Vidiri played international rugby for both Fiji and New Zealand, playing two Tests for the the All Blacks in 1998.

The Blues announced his death on Twitter and said: "G.O.A.T is used frequently these days, more than it should. In the case of Joeli the title truly fits. One of the greatest players of all time.

Vidiri thundered down the sidelines for the Blues in the formative days of Super Rugby in the 1990s - scoring 43 tries in 61 games.

The playmaker, and fellow All Black Ethan Blackadder, remained in Christchurch and are set to miss the first three weeks of Super Rugby Pacific.

Mo’unga, who is utilising a clause in his contract to take an extended break, and Blackadder (hamstring) will miss games against the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Moana Pasifika.

As long as the Queenstown bubble isn’t extended beyond round three, the Crusaders will return to Christchurch after their game against the competition newbies in Dunedin on March 4.