All Blacks Have ‘room For Improvement’ Says Hansen

The All Blacks have “plenty of room” for improvement and have not reached their potential, coach Steve Hansen said Tuesday ahead of a three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions. Hansen told The Times the squad were breaking in new players and re-establishing themselves after the loss of stars such as Dan Carter. “I … Read more

Highlanders To Test Unbeaten Crusaders In Super Rugby Clash

The Canterbury Crusaders will pitch their unbeaten 13-match run against the in-form Otago Highlanders in an enticing Super Rugby showdown after yet another New Zealand rampage this weekend. The seven-time champions registered a 41-19 bonus-point victory over the hapless Melbourne Rebels to protect an 11-point lead at the top of the all-conquering New Zealand conference … Read more

Birthday Boy Beauden Absent As Hurricanes Win

Super Rugby defending champions Wellington Hurricanes were too clinical for Northern Bulls in Pretoria Saturday and won 34-20 despite lacking star fly-half Beauden Barrett. There was no immediate explanation as to why the All Black withdrew from the line-up at the last minute on his 26th birthday, and acted as a “water boy” instead. The … Read more

Carter and Laulala Driving Racing Forward In French Top 14

Casey Laulala believes Dan Carter’s drink-drive shame has helped forge a strong bond of friendship between the New Zealand teammates which can help Racing 92 end a troubled season with a successful Top 14 title defence. All Blacks fly-half superstar Carter was pulled over for drink-driving in Paris in February and has since been stripped … Read more

All Black Carter Helps Racing Shade Pau, Into Fifth

All Black legend Dan Carter helped Racing 92 shade Pau 34-32 to push the defending French Top 14 champions up to fifth ahead of Sunday’s clash between Toulon and Toulouse. This was Racing’s second successive win in the wake of the aborted merger fiasco with Stade Francais, and it lifted them back into the play-off … Read more

Dan Carter Definitively Cleared In Rugby Doping Probe

French club Racing 92 on Monday announced that their New Zealand star Dan Carter and two of his teammates have been definitively cleared of wrongdoing in a doping probe. Carter, fellow former All Black Joe Rokococo and Argentinian winger Juan Imhoff were the target of an investigation after testing positive for corticosteroids following last season’s … Read more

All Blacks Not At Their Peak For Lions Tour, Says Lewsey

Ex-England international Josh Lewsey Wednesday said the British and Irish Lions had a great chance to overturn the All Blacks this year with the rebuilding world champions not at the “peak of their powers”. Lewsey, speaking at the official launch of next month’s Hong Kong 10s tournament, said the timing was good for Warren Gatland’s … Read more

Racing 92 To Fire Ex-All Black Williams Over Cocaine Bust

France’s Racing 92 club will fire former All Black lock Ali Williams, who was arrested in Paris last month in possession of cocaine, the Top 14 champions said Friday. “Unfortunately, Ali Williams will soon be dismissed,” the club’s president, Jacky Lorenzetti, told the Midi Olympique newspaper published Friday. The club confirmed the information to AFP. … Read more

Racing Strip Williams of Ambassador Role Over Cocaine Bust

Former All Black Ali Williams committed an “inexcusable error” and has been stripped of his ambassadorial role for Racing 92 after being charged with buying cocaine, the French club said Wednesday. Williams, 35, a World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2011, was taken on by Racing at the end of 2015 in a public … Read more

Williams Drugs Charge ‘harms All Blacks Legacy’

New Zealand media Monday accused Ali Williams of tarnishing the image of the All Blacks after French police charged the World Cup-winning former international with buying cocaine. Williams and ex-Wallaby James O’Connor were arrested outside a Paris nightspot over the weekend after allegedly being caught with 2.4 grams (0.08 ounces) of the drug. Fairfax New … Read more

Ex All Black Williams, Australian O’Connor Held Over Cocaine

Former All Black Ali Williams and Australian international James O’Connor were arrested in Paris on Saturday in possession of cocaine, police said. The pair, currently playing for French clubs Racing 92 and Toulon respectively, were stopped at around 3:00 am (0200 GMT) outside a nightclub near the city’s Champs Elysees avenue and found to be … Read more

All Black Legend Carter ‘sorry’ For Drink-Driving

New Zealand rugby union legend Dan Carter apologised for a “massive error in judgement” Thursday after French police stopped him for drink-driving in Paris. The two-time World Cup winner, who plays for defending French champions Racing 92, said there were no excuses for his behaviour and he was grateful no one was hurt. “I made … Read more