Ben Strang

1 day ago | barrons.com | Ben Strang

The Canterbury Crusaders are through to the Super Rugby Pacific semifinals after a 32-12 victory over the Queensland Reds on Friday. In frigid conditions in Christchurch -- visiting Reds prop Zane Nonggorr was visibly shivering as the game was about to start -- the hosts scored five tries and generally controlled territory to stifle the visitors. "It's beautiful Christchurch weather," Crusaders scrum-half Noah Hotham said. "Cold, dark and wet...

2 days ago | barrons.com | Ben Strang

Former South Africa coach Rob Walter has been named as New Zealand's new coach, across all three formats of the game. The 49-year-old South African takes up the Black Caps job from the middle of June, and will lead the side on their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. Walter was an early favourite for the job, after he quit his South African post leading their One Day and T20 sides in April.

2 days ago | cp24.com | Ben Strang

Wellington, New Zealand -- New Zealand's prime minister floated new privacy laws on Thursday after his own press secretary was allegedly caught taping sex workers without consent. Senior aide Michael Forbes resigned after a local news outlet alleged he covertly recorded audio of sessions with sex workers and secretly photographed women at the gym. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was "shocked" -- but it was unclear whether Forbes had broken the law.

2 days ago | yahoo.com | Ben Strang

New Zealand's parliament on Thursday handed record-long suspensions to three Indigenous Maori lawmakers who last year staged a protest haka on the debating floor. Maori Party co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer were banished from parliament for 21 days, the longest-ever suspension. Fellow Maori Party lawmaker Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, New Zealand's youngest current MP, was suspended for seven days.

3 days ago | barrons.com | Ben Strang

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said Tuesday he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the month, ending a successful seven-year stint in charge. The 53-year-old led New Zealand to victory in the 2021 World Test Championship, defeating India in the final. Stead was also in charge when New Zealand came within a whisker of a 50-over World Cup triumph in 2019, only losing the final to England on a boundary countback when the teams remained tied after a super over.