News

Three teams, the Hurricanes, Blues and ACT Brumbies, share the DHL Super Rugby Pacific lead after a high-scoring, yet yellow card-ridden, round five at the weekend.

Third time lucky proved the case for Scotland when beating the Māori All Blacks for the first time with a 29–26 win in a game that had everything, not all of it good, in Whangārei on Saturday.

The Māori All Blacks opened the Ross Filipo era with an emphatic 53-20 win over the Japan XV in Tokyo, piling on six unanswered tries in a dominant second-half display.

The Māori All Blacks coaching group have named their match-day 23 to play the Japan XV at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Saturday 28 June at 9.05pm NZT (6.05pm JST).

Tasman Mako got home in the last play of their game with Waikato to retain their unbeaten record in Hamilton with a 27-25 win.

Six players are in-line to make their debut for the Māori All Blacks in game one against Japan XV this Saturday, 10.00pm NZST (7.00pm JST) kick-off at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo.

Super Rugby Pacific's Anzac Weekend round produced plenty of surprises led by the Hurricanes losing their first match of the season.

Wellington got a second dose of good news after their Ranfurly Shield triumph over Hawke's Bay in Napier on Saturday when Bunnings NPC conference leader Waikato suffered an upset 20-27 loss to Otago in Dunedin.

Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue / Ngāti Raukawa), Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi) and Max Hicks (Ngāti Ranginui / Ngāi te Rangi) will join the Māori All Blacks squad this week ahead of the team’s first match against Ireland on Wednesday 29 June at FMG Stadium Waikato.