Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Whites captain Chris Wood’s spell on the sideline will continue for an indefinite period after undergoing surgery.

The Nottingham Forest striker hasn’t played since mid-October and the recuperation from a knee injury has been unsuccessful, forcing the 34-year-old to have an operation in a bid to resolve the issue.

It continues a forgettable season for Wood, who played only nine games before suffering the injury against Chelsea on 18 October.

Last season he scored a club-record 20 goals for Forest, the fourth-most across the entire English Premier League for 2024-25, helping them qualify for European competition.

The nature of Wood’s injury is unclear, nor when he underwent surgery. He has been seen wearing a knee brace while watching recent Forest matches.

Wood provided an update from his hospital bed on Instagram.

“The Christmas I didn’t expect, you can never know what football throws at you,” Wood wrote.

“From the highs of last season to now the battles and the lows personally of this season. You have to be ready for anything.

“Truly gutting and frustrating that I’ll be on the sideline for another period of time. It’s what’s needed to come back stronger and better to help my teammates do the job needed in the Premier League and in Europe.”

Forest manager Sean Dyche said the operation had gone well but, couldn’t suggest a potential return date.

“He has had an operation, at the end of a period of trying to settle it down,” Dyche said.

“It is unfortunate. We had a lot of specialist opinion to try to get him through naturally. But they have decided it is time to go and do it.

“It is a version of a cartilage op. It certainly won’t be days, obviously. We are hoping it will be weeks. We will have to wait and see how it settles. The signs were good from the surgical point of view.

“I don’t like throwing timescales about because of potential disruption on the way back to fitness. We are hoping it is a smooth pathway, but sometimes it isn’t. We will just have to wait and see.”

The All Whites’ next fixtures are two home games in late March as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup in June.

Without Wood’s finishing touches, Forest have struggled this season, winning five of 18 games.

Their 2-1 loss to Manchester City on Sunday morning leaves them 17th, just five league points above the relegation zone.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the cricket action, as the fourth in the five-test series between archrivals Australia and England continues at the MCG in Melbourne.

Australia swept to an 82-run win in the third Ashes test at Adelaide Oval to retain the urn with two matches to spare.

After eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England have lost the Ashes in three matches for the fourth consecutive tour, while losing 16 of their last 18 tests in Australia.

First ball is scheduled for 12.30pm NZT.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the cricket action, as the fourth in the five-test series between archrivals Australia and England continues at the MCG in Melbourne.

Australia swept to an 82-run win in the third Ashes test at Adelaide Oval to retain the urn with two matches to spare.

After eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England have lost the Ashes in three matches for the fourth consecutive tour, while losing 16 of their last 18 tests in Australia.

First ball is scheduled for 12.30pm NZT.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Breakers have snapped a three-game losing streak in the NBL, beating the Tasmania JackJumpers 81-80 in overtime in Hobart.

Centre Sam Mennenga scored eight of the Breakers’ 10 points in a tense overtime period after the scores were locked 71-all following regulation time.

The result was crucial for the seventh-placed New Zealand side (8-13), who have closed the gap on the JackJumpers (9-12), who reside in the sixth and final play-off spot.

Coach Petteri Koponen hailed his team’s fighting quality over the closing stages of a rugged contest.

“We talk about playing with character and energy … I’m proud how they showed up and bounced back after a few difficult games, and that has to be the standard,”

Mennenga finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, although his stats sheet production was eclipsed by guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright, whose 17 points mixed with 10 assists, seven rebounds and four steals.

It was Jackson-Cartwright who levelled the scores near the end of regulation time with a tricky lay-up and it was his points from a fast break to sealed victory in extra time.

The Breakers’ shooting was off-key for much of the low-scoring contest, shooting just four of their 25 three-point attempts.

The in-form Izaiah Brockington had an evening to forget, making one of 10 field goal shots, missing a potential match-winning shot during an error ridden finish to the final quarter.

The Breakers return home to face the fifth-placed Perth Wildcats on Sunday next week.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Twenty wickets fall on chaotic day one

Tongue gets five-wicket haul for England

Tailender Neser top-scores for Australia with 35

Australia finished marginally on top at the end of a chaotic opening day of the fourth Ashes test after an extraordinary 20 wickets fell in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

Australia nightwatchman Scott Boland was four not out with Travis Head yet to score as the hosts went to stumps at four for no loss in their second innings, carrying a 46-run lead over England.

With England bowled out for 110 in reply to Australia’s first innings 152, it was the highest number of wickets in a single day at the MCG since a record 25 fell in the 1902 Ashes.

Josh Tongue took a career-best 5-45 to skittle Australia on the grassy pitch after England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field in the traditional Boxing Day test.

But the tourists’ batters then suffered a more egregious collapse.

The batting carnage unfolded in front of a crowd of 93,442, eclipsing the stadium’s previous record of 93,013 for a day of cricket at the 2015 World Cup final.

England, who have already lost the series after three straight defeats, came into the match under a cloud, following reports that some players had taken a “stag party” attitude to a trip to Noosa between the second and third tests.

But they would have been well pleased with their work in the field early on, rattling through Australia in 45.2 overs to bring tea early.

The alarm bells were soon ringing, however, as their top order collapsed before they were bowled out in 29.5 overs.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan labelled the pitch a “shocker” but Australia seamer Michael Neser, who led his team’s bowling with 4-45 and batting with 35, had no complaints.

“We know it can move real fast day one and two, and then once that wicket hardens up and dries out, it can be quite nice to bat on,” he told reporters.

Miserable series

Neser’s knock was 33 runs better than England opener Ben Duckett, who was caught for two with a loose drive at Mitchell Starc, continuing his miserable series.

New number three Jacob Bethell, the replacement for the dropped Ollie Pope, managed only one before Neser had him caught behind, while opener Zak Crawley edged Starc to Steve Smith in the slips to be out for five.

Root was then out for a 15-ball duck, his second of the series, nicking Neser behind.

Harry Brook and Stokes dug in for a 50-run partnership to trim the deficit to 86 runs, but England were then blown out of the water by a triple-strike from Boland.

The pacer took 3-11 as he trapped Brook lbw for 41, bowled Jamie Smith through the gate for two and had all-rounder Will Jacks caught behind for five.

Stokes was unable to rescue England, falling for 16 with an edge off Neser to Smith at first slip.

Gus Atkinson and Tongue’s 10th-wicket stand of 19 runs appeared heroic after what had gone on before. But it was all over when Cameron Green bowled Atkinson for 28, just in time for England’s bowlers to get one wicketless over in before stumps.

Australia’s Jhye Richardson, named for his first test since the last home Ashes in 2021/22, was the only one of the hosts’ four pacers not cashing in.

Tongue bowled Smith through the gate for nine among his five wickets and has dismissed the master batter in every first-class match against him, including both times at Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes.

He also removed opener Jake Weatherald (10) and number three Marnus Labuschagne (six) as Australia lost their four top-order wickets for 51 runs.

“Bowling them out for 150-odd, I thought we did an amazing job as a bowling unit,” said Tongue.

“They’ve bowled well as well. It’s obviously a pitch that’s doing quite a bit.”

– Reuters

Relive all the action from day 1:

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Australia is carrying a 46 run lead over England after a dramatic opening day in the fourth Ashes test in Melbourne.

The day ended with Scott Boland on four not out, and Travis Head yet to score as Australia went to stumps at four for no loss in their second innings.

Earlier England had been bowled out for just 110 in reply to Australia’s first innings 152.

20 wickets fell – the highest number in a single day at the MCG since 1902.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the cricket action, as the fourth in the five-test series between archrivals Australia and England gets underway at the MCG in Melbourne

Australia swept to an 82-run win in the third Ashes test at Adelaide Oval to retain the urn with two matches to spare.

After eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England have lost the Ashes in three matches for the fourth consecutive tour, while losing 16 of their last 18 tests in Australia.

First ball is scheduled for 12.30pm NZT.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nothing incapsulates the joy and agony sport had to offer for New Zealand in 2025 more than what the All Blacks experienced in just the span of a week.

From keeping their 31-year Eden Park record intact, to suffering their biggest-ever defeat just seven days later, Kiwi sports had plenty of highs, but unfortunately, just as many lows over the last 12 months.

Here is a look back at the roller coaster that was 2025 in New Zealand sport.

All Blacks Eden Park record intact

It’s hard to ignore the All Blacks extending their unbeaten streak at Eden Park with victory over their biggest foes, the Springboks, in their Rugby Championship clash in September.

While the following week’s horror result in the rematch at Wellington undercuts this performance – and we’ll get to that – it was still more than worthy of a mention.

New Zealand kept their 31-year record intact at the Auckland venue with a gutsy 24-17 win over South Africa.

The All Blacks led throughout the fixture but had to fight off a determined comeback in the second half.

An Ardie Savea penalty – in his 100th test – near the tryline secured New Zealand the win and perhaps more importantly, kept the record at Eden Park alive.

Kiwi teen Sam Ruthe breaks record sub-four-minute mile

Kiwi teenager Sam Ruthe became the youngest runner to break four minutes for the mile, with sensational performance in unfavourable conditions at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in March.

Ruthe crossed the finish at 3m 58.35s with the help of training partner and two-time Olympian Sam Tanner pacing him.

The Tauranga teen was 24 days short of his 16th birthday and beat his own previous age best of 4m 01.72s, set at Whanganui in January.

Ruthe teen became the first 15-year-old to duck under the mythical benchmark for middle-distance running – and did it in the wet and cold.

High-jumper Hamish Kerr soars to gold

In front of an enthralled 37,000 Tokyo crowd, high-jumper Hamish Kerr soared to gold at the world championships in September.

The Olympic champion posted a best of 2.36 metres to pick up New Zealand’s second top gong after Geordie Beamish’s shock victory in the men’s 3000m steeplechase.

It also equalled his New Zealand and Oceania record, which followed his Diamond League title win in August.

Kerr capped off a memorable 2025 with the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s highest honour – the Lonsdale Cup.

Wellington woes return with record-defeat

I said we’d get to that disaster night in Wellington and unfortunately, it’s impossible not to include it as a sporting low in 2025.

Just a week on from the fortress-solidifying result at Eden Park, the All Blacks fell to their heaviest defeat in history.

South Africa overcame a slow start riddled with injuries to put New Zealand to the sword in the last 20 minutes, winning 43-10 to retain the Freedom Cup.

The loss was one thing – which has become all too familiar at Sky Stadium – but the nature of the second-half capitulation is what particularly stung.

New Zealand led 10-7 at halftime, only to concede 36 unanswered points after the break for their biggest defeat, home or away, in history.

Parker’s battle in and out of the ring

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker went into his bout with Brit Fabio Wardley riding a six-fight win streak and with a squeaky clean record.

But after 11 rounds, that all came crashing down as Wardley stopped Parker in front of a packed O2 Arena in London in October.

Parker was up on the scorecards and looked to be closing in on a victory that would have all but guaranteed his shot at the undisputed championship.

But a ‘Hail Mary’ right hook sent Parker rocking and forced the referee to step in and call the bout off.

To make matters worse, just over two weeks later, it was revealed the Kiwi heavyweight failed a dope test on the day of the fight.

He tested positive for traces of cocaine – which Parker has outright refuted – and could face a lengthy ban from the sport.

Kiwi sailing star Peter Burling announces move to Luna Rossa

It would be too easy to include the entirety of the NZ Netball saga which saw coach Dame Noeline Taurua stood down and then reinstated, and has been covered at length.

Instead, Kiwi sailing star Peter Burling announcing his intentions to join Italians Luna Rossa for the 38th America’s Cup in June makes the list.

Burling is one New Zealand’s greatest sailors, with nine world championship crowns and Olympic medals – one gold and two silver – to his name, usually in tandem with Blair Tuke in the 49er class.

Losing him to a rival hurts enough, but Burling revealing that Team New Zealand’s control over him forced him out after 12 years with the syndicate stings even more.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland FC’s last A-League game of 2025 has been postponed after the Sydney pitch was deemed to be in an unsatisfactory condition.

The top of the table clash between league-leaders Auckland and second-placed Sydney FC scheduled to be played at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday will now be played later in the season.

Ground staff at Leichhardt Oval changed the field of play from a winter to summer grass following Sydney FC’s last match against Melbourne Victory on 22 November.

A pitch inspection on Monday found the playing surface to be in an unsatisfactory condition, with large patches of sand and mud, and it has been declared unsafe for play, according to the Australian Professional Leagues (APL).

“We understand that weather and other factors can impact pitch maintenance and repairs, but for Leichhardt Oval to be unplayable and to be given little notice is unacceptable,” APL chairperson Stephen Conroy said.

“It’s frustrating that football has to bear the burden of these pitch management issues. It’s simply not good enough, and our game and our fans deserve better.

“We need venues to provide pitches that are maintained and presented to the required standard to ensure player safety and the highest quality of football for our fans.”

Conroy acknowledged the fixture change would “inconvenience many”.

Auckland FC had been due to fly to Sydney on Christmas Day.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former All Blacks loose forward Hoskins Sotutu has signed with English Premiership club Newcastle Red Bulls and will depart the Blues after the 2026 Super Rugby season.

He remained fully committed to the Blues for their upcoming campaign, he said.

Since making his Super Rugby debut for the Blues in 2019, Sotutu has established himself as one of the competition’s best loose forwards, playing 79 games.

He made his All Blacks debut in 2020 and played 14 tests, but hasn’t represented New Zealand since November 2022.

Sotutu said the move presented an exciting opportunity, but his immediate focus remained on the Blues.

“This club means a lot to me. The Blues has been my home for a long time and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved,” Sotutu said.

“I’m grateful to the coaching staff, teammates and our fans for the support over the years and look forward to one more season with the boys.”

Blues general manager rugby Murray Williams said Sotutu would leave a strong mark on the club.

“He’s a world-class player and a leader within our environment,” Williams said.

“Newcastle are gaining a high-quality professional, and we’re pleased to have Hoskins fully committed to the Blues for another full season. He’ll continue to set the standard for us in 2026.”

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand