Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

After time out of the game with serious injury and to focus on her mental health, Grace Wisnewski is falling back in love with football.

The Football Fern has just returned to Aotearoa as the Kiwis prepare to take on the Matilda’s in a two test series in Australia.

Following stints with the Phoenix and US club Lexington SC, Wisnewski joined FC Nordsjælland in Denmark earlier this year, where she has rediscovered her passion for the sport.

“I love the coaches, the staff and the team and and I think the way that they play football is very much kind of my style and I’m just loving it over there. For now I think it’s the best place for me to be and develop as a person and as a player.”

It had been a tough road back for the midfielder.

“I did my ACL and coming back from that was a bit challenging and then I was playing in America, which was challenging. But I’m very happy playing in Denmark right now and with the way I’m performing on the field, so hopefully I can implement that here.”

The 23-year-old took a break from the sport in 2022 to focus on her mental health.

“It’s important to look after yourself and some things are much bigger than football. I don’t regret taking my time off and I think that it did me the world of good. I think I’ve learned a lot about myself in the past couple of years and I feel like it’s helped me a lot on the field as well.”

Wisnewski commended fellow Football Fern Macey Fraser for her decision to also take time away from the game.

“It’s huge. I think it’s a massive part of the game and I guess people don’t talk about it as much, but when you’re happy off the field you can see it in your performance on the field. I have full respect for Macey for taking that time and and I hope it’s the best thing for her.”

While the conversation around mental health and athletes has become far less stigmatised, Wisnewski said more can be done to support players.

“I think it can definitely be spoken about more. I think people are more comfortable maybe taking a break, but I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement in speaking about it and being open to taking the break and looking after yourself.”

Wisnewski is set to play her first match for New Zealand since 2023 as the 15th ranked Australia and a returning Sam Kerr host the 33rd ranked kiwis.

“It’s always nice to come close to home and play against Australia. It’s little bit of a derby match.”

She has two internationals to her name, both which came in consecutive losses to the United States.

“I also feel like I’ve been around forever. I’d love to get some more caps. I’ve struggled a bit with injury the past couple years, which has been hard. But, I’m feeling good at the moment and I’m excited to be back and fit and hopefully get some more games under my belt. I love being a part of this team and I want to help this team as much as I can and try and be in those squads for World Cups and Olympics is definitely a goal of mine.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand sailor Peter Burling says the control Team New Zealand wanted over him forced him out of the America’s Cup outfit.

Burling left Team New Zealand in April after 12 years with the syndicate.

The former Olympic gold and silver medallist skippered Team New Zealand to America’s Cup wins in Bermuda in 2017, Auckland in 2021 and Barcelona in 2024.

In June he announced he would be joining Italian team Luna Rossa for the 38th America’s Cup in 2027.

The 34-year-old has not given details of what led to his shock departure, but on the eve of the SailGP Grand Final in Abu Dhabi this week he spoke about the breakdown of the relationship.

“The uncertainty and the control Team New Zealand wanted over me was just crazy from my point of view,” Burling told SailGP.

Burling and Olympic team-mate Blair Tuke were named co-CEOs of the New Zealand SailGP team in 2020 and have been competing since.

Burling was asked if Team New Zealand wanted him to stop competing in SailGP.

“It wasn’t put in the words where you can’t do SailGP, it was more just a very large period of absolute uncertainty where they have full control over my time essentially.”

Burling was also asked if he thought it was fair.

“Well it’s sport. Sport is a reasonably cut-throat game and certain people expect certain things of others and if you’re not happy to do that then you’ve got to pick a different path,” Burling said.

“I’m really excited to compete at home and abroad with the Black Foils and continue to do that…. with the other path I don’t think it would have been possible.

“Definitely thought the departure was a little bit strange how it all unfolded, and how quickly it unfolded when I was away on a family holiday, not even in New Zealand.”

Burling and his crew sit second in the standings behind Great Britain heading into the SailGP final in Abu Dhabi.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Silver Ferns have been grouped with Jamaica for next year’s Commonwealth Games netball competition in Glasgow.

The seedings have been taken from the world rankings with defending champions Australia top seeds, with New Zealand two, Jamaica three and England four.

The Silver Ferns, who took the bronze medal in Birmingham in 2022, have been grouped with silver medalists Jamaica along with Wales, Uganda, Scotland and Trinidad and Tobago.

New Zealand lost to Jamaica 67-51 in the semi-finals in Birmingham before going on to beat England 55-48 in the bronze medal match.

In the other group, Australia play England, South Africa, Malawi, Tonga and Northern Ireland.

The Silver Ferns are coming off a turbulent year with coach Dame Noeline Taurua stood down. She has since been reinstated and will return to the role in 2026.

New Zealand will open the tournament on 25 July against hosts Scotland.

The netball competition at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games will be held at the Hydro at the Scottish Events Campus.

“The Commonwealth Games is always a highlight in the international netball calendar for the players, officials, and netball family,” said World Netball President, Dame Liz Nicholl DBE.

“I have no doubt that Glasgow 2026 will live up to all expectations.”

Pool A: Australia (1), England (4), South Africa (5), Malawi (8), Tonga (9), Northern Ireland (12)

Pool B: New Zealand (2), Jamaica (3), Wales (6), Uganda (7), Scotland (10), Trinidad & Tobago (11)

Silver Ferns schedule:

25 July, New Zealand v Scotland

26 July New Zealand v Jamaica

28 July New Zealand v Uganda

29 July New Zealand v Wales

30 July New Zealand v Trinidad and Tobago

1 August semi-finals

2 August medal matches

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The man who first trained former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker among other boxing greats, Grant Arkell, has passed away aged 77.

Arkell was one of the most respected boxing trainers in New Zealand and opened the Papatoetoe Boxing Gym in 1990, which during its tenure was home to one of the greatest fighters the country has produced.

He began training a 10-year-old Parker at the Papatoetoe gym in 2004.

“A lot of little kids want to be Joseph Parker, just like when David was fighting, everybody want to be David Tua,” Arkell told RNZ in 2018.

“It’s a big inspiration for young ones who want to box.”

Arkell initially did not see anything special in Parker.

“He was a little short overweight boy, I won’t call him fat, he’s too big now. Little short plumpy boy who wasn’t really interested, he had more fun running round talking to the others. Joseph was more interested in fishing, he quite often went ‘sick’.”

But the coach soon noticed his speed, quickly increasing size and intelligence.

After urging him not to let his natural talents go to waste, Arkell said Parker finally begun to start realising some of his potential.

“He was fighting men when he was 15 and 16, because I couldn’t get anyone [his own age] to fight him.

Arkell also gave $4000 to Parker so he could be sent to the Youth World championships in Azerbaijan in 2010, however, this meant that Arkell couldn’t afford to go himself.

He would ensure his gym remained affordable to all those in need of it.

“I thought, if I’ve got to move out of here I’ve got to start up somewhere again, and I don’t want to lose [these kids]… it’s a big part of my life. It’s just a matter of trying to stay in this area so I can keep these kids going because most, the majority of them, come from around South Auckland. I think a lot of them would have been lost if this place had closed down,” he told RNZ in 2020 with the gym facing possible closure.

The gym was eventually forced to close its doors in 2021 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arkell trained Patrick Mailata at the beginning of his amateur boxing career, who would end up winning the Bronze Medal at 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Mose Auimatagi Jnr, and many other notable boxers including Tino Honey and Tane Tautalanoa.

He is survived by his wife Mary, his five children, 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

While expectations are always high, the Phoenix women would be delighted with the position they find themselves in the A-League.

Bev Priestman’s side scored their first win of the season on Sunday, beating Melbourne Victory for the first time with a 1-0 triumph in Porirua.

They had been winless in their previous seven meetings, with last season’s beaten grand finalists recording four draws and three defeats.

The Phoenix are unbeaten after three games and sit fifth in the standings.

“We need to keep our feet on the ground – there is still lots of work to do,” Priestman said.

“They showed a more mature performance to just grind out a win, and I knew I had to do that with the players that I had available.”

The Phoenix ranks have been depleted in recent weeks and they were without six first-team players for the Victory game.

Macey Fraser was granted a leave of absence to address her mental health earlier this month, while last week it was confirmed that they had lost midfielders Tessel Middag and Alyssa Whinham for the rest of the season after suffering ACL knee injuries.

Priestman addressed the team after losing Middag and Whinham.

“I didn’t want a poor me mindset, it wasn’t going to help us. [We need to] improve every week and just focus on the process,” Priestman said.

“We’ve chucked a whole lot of players together, almost half the team, and we’re growing and learning [about] each other and we’re starting to establish some maturity.

“When I got the group together I did speak about how it’s going to take everyone to get this team over the line, and this moment that we’re in right now speaks to that.”

Priestman, who is in her first season in charge at the Wellington club, said the start to the season had set them up nicely.

There is now a two-week break in the A-League as the Football Ferns take on Australia in a two-match series.

“It feels great going into the international window with a win. We’re on the board now and off we go.”

Teenager Pia Vlok scored the goal against Victory, and at 17 years and 80 days old Vlok became the youngest goal-scorer in the team’s short history.

“Young players sometimes can get overwhelmed… but she stuck to her role, she did her job [and] she executed, and that’s the sign of a great player.”

Priestman was also proud of the defensive showing against a quality Victory team.

“Everyone was immense. Towards the end it was just ‘defend for your life’ and they did that, and we have to take pride in a clean sheet.”

The Wellington Phoenix’s next game is at Melbourne City on 7 December.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps welcome back the side’s all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson in a 14-strong squad for the first Test against West Indies starting next month.

Pace bowlers Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Blair Tickner have been included

Williamson has returned to the side after missing the Test series in Zimbabwe over the winter. Williamson’s last Test for New Zealand was against England in December last year, when he scored his 33rd Test century.

The former New Zealand captain retired from T20 internationals early this month. The 35 year-old skipped the ODI series against West Indies to manage his workload and focus on preparing for the upcoming Test series.

Duffy and Foulkes made their Test debuts together in Zimbabwe in August, with Foulkes claiming the best match figures by a Black Cap on Test debut of 9 for 75.

Tickner returns to the Test side for the first time since 2023 and following back-to-back player of the match performances against England in the ODI series earlier this month.

Kyle Jamieson and Glenn Phillips weren’t considered for the first Test as they work their way back from injury.

Daryl Mitchell has been selected in the Test squad, after recovering from the minor groin injury he picked up during the first ODI against the West Indies on 16 November.

Matt Fisher (shin), Will O’Rourke (back) and Ben Sears (hamstring) were not considered for selection due to injury.

Black Caps head coach Rob Walter welcomed the return of Williamson to the Test side.

“Kane’s ability on the field speaks for itself and it will be great to have his skills as well as his leadership back in the Test group,” Walter said.

“He’s had a bit of time off to get himself ready for red-ball cricket, and I know he’s looking forward to playing for Northern Districts in the second round of the Plunket Shield in the lead-up to the first Test.”

Walter spoke on Foulkes’ selection after his Test debut in Zimbabwe earlier in the year.

“Zak couldn’t have performed much better in his first Test against Zimbabwe. That, along with his recent form across the white-ball tours, has rightfully earned him selection.”

Walter said Duffy and Tickner were experienced campaigners and had impressed in their white-ball opportunities so far this summer and backed them to do so in the Test arena.

The first Test at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval starts on 2 December. The second Test starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on 10 December with the third and final Test beginning at Bay Oval in Tauranga on 18 December.

Blackcaps Test squad v West Indies

Tom Latham (c) – Canterbury

Tom Blundell (wk) – Wellington Firebirds

Michael Bracewell – Wellington Firebirds

Devon Conway – Wellington Firebirds

Jacob Duffy – Otago Volts

Rachin Ravindra – Wellington Firebirds

Zak Foulkes – Canterbury

Matt Henry – Canterbury

Daryl Mitchell – Canterbury

Mitchell Santner – Northern Districts

Nathan Smith – Wellington Firebirds

Blair Tickner – Central Districts

Kane Williamson – Northern Districts

Will Young – Central Districts

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Kiwis have been drawn with defending champions Australia for next year’s Rugby League World Cup.

They are in a four-team Group A along with Fiji and Cook Islands.

England, Samoa and Lebanon are in Group B, while Tonga, Papua New Guinea and France are in Group C.

Group A teams will each play three matches against the other teams in Group A. Group B and C teams will each play three matches against the teams in the adjacent group.

The top two teams from Group A will progress to the Semi-Finals, while the top two teams from a combined table of Group B and Pool C will progress to the Semi-Finals.

New Zealand and Australia will meet in the tournament opener in Sydney on 15 October, 2026.

The Kiwi Ferns are in Group B of the women’s tournament along with Papua New Guinea, France and Fiji, while Australia, England, Samoa and Wales are in group A.

Each team will play three matches against the other teams in their Group. The top two teams from each Group will progress to the Semi-Finals.

There is a double-header in Christchurch on 25 October with the Kiwis playing Cook Islands and the Kiwi Ferns playing France.

The finals will be played in Brisbane on 15 November.

Kiwis’ World Cup draw

Kiwis v Australia: October 15, Sydney

Kiwis v Cook Islands, October 25, Christchurch

Kiwis v Fiji, October 31, Gold Coast

Kiwi Ferns’ World Cup draw

Kiwi Ferns v Fiji, October 18, Newcastle

Kiwi Ferns v France, October 25, Christchurch

Kiwi Ferns v Papua New Guinea, October 31, Gold Coast

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Liam Lawson apologised to his team after he squandered valuable F1 points at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

A first-corner clash forced the young Kiwi into the pits and out of the points.

Lawson started the race sixth on the grid after an impressive qualifying series in the wet, and hopes were high that he’d be able to add to the points he picked up with his seventh-place finish in the last round in Brazil.

However, the very short run to the first corner in Vegas caused problems for a number of cars and Lawson had too much speed and was forced to go wide and made contact with the Oscar Piastri’s McLaren.

While he immediately lost a place it appeared that Lawson hadn’t suffered too much damage. However two laps later he was forced into the pits to change the front wing, dropping him to the back of the field.

“Apologies to the team, it was extremely slippery into turn one and once I committed to brake, the cars in front started checking up and I didn’t have anywhere to go,” Lawson said afterwards.

Lawson’s Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar did manage to finish in the top 10, enhancing his reputation, as both drivers look to confirm their places for 2026.

“I’m disappointed for the team today as the car has been fast this weekend,” Lawson said.

“We should have had two cars in the points today, so it’s a shame given where we started.”

Lawson wasn’t the only one apologising after the race.

McLaren had both cars disqualified for a technical infringement, meaning the championship race remains alive with two Grands Prix remaining.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix, while Lando Norris, who was second, and fourth-placed Piastri had their points stripped after a post-race FIA inspection found the thickness of the under-car skid-plank assembly was below the permitted minimum.

It appears the skid-plate was thinner because of excessive wear on the rough Las Vegas track.

It means Norris has a lead of 24 points over Verstappen and Piastri, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi the last two Grands Prix of the season.

“We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their Championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend,” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said in a statement.

“As a team, we also apologise to our partners and fans, whose support means so much.

“While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season.”

Lawson officially finished the Las Vegas race in 14th place and he remains 14th in the Drivers’ Championship.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Waikato motorsport event has been cancelled, after a competitor was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

MotorSport New Zealand said a competitor suffered a medical episode during a race at the NZIGP Waikato Challenge at Hampton Downs on Sunday.

They pulled to the side of the track and responders were on the scene immediately.

The rest of the event was called off.

MotorSport NZ president Deborah Day said its thoughts and best wishes were with the competitor and their family.

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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 were unable to assert themselves after the international break in a 1-1 A-League draw with Brisbane Roar.

With five key Auckland players sidelined by injury or suspension after red cards, Brisbane pushed the home side to the brink at Mt Smart on Sunday afternoon.

Auckland hit the lead early with an immense strike from well outside the box from Australian winger Lachlan Brook.

He curled a stunning 18th-minute free-kick into the top corner for his first goal of the season.

Brisbane was on the verge of the equaliser, when Brisbane’s Michael Ruse hit the crossbar.

The visitors continued to press forward and were rewarded in first-half stoppage time, when Michael Ruhs slipped a pass through to Justic Vidic.

Vidic fired the ball into the back of the net, squaring up the score before the halftime break.

Neither side could truly rise to the occasion in a tight second half.

Brisbane faced a scare in stoppage time, when Auckland captain Francis de Vries struck the crossbar.

Defending the final corner of the game, Brisbane did all they needed to split the points.

Auckland remain unbeaten after five games, one point off Sydney FC in top spot.

The Roar are in fifth, pleased with a credible performance on the road.

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