Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Wellington Phoenix women’s inaugural captain Lily Alfeld saw her playing career end prematurely. Now she has a front row seat to a season that is reshaping the club.

Alfeld was the first signing in the club’s history ahead of the Phoenix entering the A-League women competition in 2021. She played all but one game in goal during the team’s inaugural campaign as the expansion side battled to get a foothold in the league.

But injuries soon took their toll.

Alfeld missed all of the following season with knee and back injuries, before back surgery in 2023 that ultimately ended her playing days.

But the Phoenix were determined not to lose one of the foundational figures of the women’s programme. The club created an operations role that allowed Alfeld to rehabilitate her injury and continue to have a positive influence on a women’s programme that was still in its infancy.

“I was hoping for a slightly longer career, so when it was cut a bit shorter than planned that was a tough six months to just get my head around,” Alfeld said of the transition from player to staff member.

Now Alfeld is at the coalface of the club in the community, leading culture and community engagement.

While sidelined with injury Alfeld, she became known for her vocal support from the stands, “that was about the only way I thought I could contribute”.

“But now my role looks slightly different, I’m a little bit less vocal and more behind the scenes. I’m still the team’s biggest cheerleader.

“I’m just so stoked to see them finally start to get the reward for all the efforts that they are putting in.”

That reward has come in the form of a historic campaign.

The Phoenix are preparing for their first grand final appearance on Saturday against Melbourne City in Melbourne, Alfeld said it was the “perfect time” to be in her role promoting the club.

The former goalkeeper said the Phoenix have changed a lot since she lead them out for their first game against Western Sydney Wanderers in December 2021 during the Covid era when their home base was in Wollongong in New South Wales.

“The thinking that first season [was] we’re just like so happy to be here. But as that time has evolved, and as the years have gone on, I think every year it’s been how do we get better? How do we push? How do we increase our investment, our standards, our expectations?” she said.

“I think every year it’s been slowly chipping away, and I think they’ve just finally nailed making an incredible programme.

“I have no doubt that this is the best female programme in the league and they’re finally getting that result.”

Alfeld was part of a squad that made football history in New Zealand in 2021 when the club entered the league, Saturday night will be another historic moment regardless of the result against Melbourne City.

Prior to this season the Phoenix had never made the top six in the competition to progress to finals. Meaning they had never been in a semifinal, or even close to being in a showpiece of the women’s game with silverware on the line.

“When they announced Bev as the coach and then they secured a lot of incredible signings, I think it all of a sudden went from let’s push for top six to, wow, we really are contenders here,” Alfeld said of this season.

“There was almost this added pressure and expectation that anything less than probably a final would be, for lack of a better word, a failure.

“We had the right ingredients, so it’s been really interesting to see how the team has dealt with that, and I think Bev has been an incredible leader that has kept everyone focused and on the task at hand and game by game, because it is so easy to get carried away, especially when the success hasn’t always been there.

“It is a long time coming, but I think they’ve just got all the ingredients right this year and it’s all come together perfectly.”

Alfeld was impressed with the “incredible resilience” of the players who had to overcome a one goal deficit from the first leg of the home and away semifinals against Brisbane Roar to win the second in front of their home supporters at Porirua Park to secure the grand final berth.

“It just shows the grit and the mental strength this team has to overcome a challenge that they haven’t faced before. “

The second semifinal on Sunday was played in front of a record crowd of nearly 6000 people.

Alfeld remembered the early days of playing in closed stadiums in Australia during Covid, with a bit of online support “from mainly family and friends”.

“It felt like a small supporter base to where it is now.

“It’s not just young girls, it’s young boys that you see are just so excited to meet these players, to hear about their stories and their journeys.

“My favourite part is just going into that school and meeting a kid that is just so excited to meet this player and that aspires to be like them. It’s pretty special that these players get the opportunity to be those role models.”

Alfeld grew up as a Phoenix supporter – of the men’s team.

She started her top level playing days at college in America and then for Perth Glory in the A-League before she got the opportunity to come home and have an influence on the next generation of players.

As the Phoenix women play out their best season Alfeld was happy with where she was.

“I’m very lucky I have that front row seat to witness all that and to see the effects on the community and our supporters.”

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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 Highlanders have suffered a blow in their bid to make the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs with in-form centre Jona Nareki suspended for two weeks for a dangerous tackle.

Nareki was issued with a yellow card for the high tackle on Waratahs prop Jack Barrett midway through the second half of their match in Duendin on Saturday. It was upgraded to a 20-minute red card on review by the TMO.

The Highlanders played with only 14 men for most of the last 20 minutes, just hanging on to beat the Waratahs 31-26 in a frenetic finish.

Super Rugby Pacific’s Foul Play Review Committee found Nareki guilty of a dangerous tackle.

It said the tackle merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks or matches, but applied the full 50 percent reduction in sanction in view of Nareki accepting the charge, and his remorse and disciplinary record.

It then said a three-week sanction would be disproportionate to the player’s fault and the consequences, and reduced it to two weeks.

That would mean missing the Highlanders’ last two regular season matches – against the Chiefs on Friday and the Hurricanes on Saturday, 23 May.

But Nareki was also given permission to apply to take part in World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme as a substitute for the final match of the sanction.

The Highlanders sit in seventh place on the points table and with the top six teams heading to the playoffs after the regular season, they will probably need to beat both the Chiefs and Hurricanes if they are to get through. They have the bye in the final round.

Crusaders charge goes to hearing

A judicial committee hearing will be held tonight over Crusaders winger Kurtis MacDonald’s red card in the game against the Blues on Friday night.

MacDonald initially got a a yellow card for dangerous play, when he contacted Stephen Perofeta who was leaping to catch a high ball. It was upgraded to red on review.

MacDonald opted to for a full hearing on the charge when it was considered by the foul play committee last night.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Will Richie Mo’unga tour South Africa? It’s the question every All Black fan has been asking, and we now have an answer.

Richie Mo’unga will not be included in the first All Blacks squad of the year, and most likely will not travel to South Africa for the historic tour.

Dave Rennie was making no secret of his desire to have the rules reassessed, but had conceded Mo’unga’s selection for the tour.

“He’s not available to come to Africa and he’ll play NPC. My thinking would have been we wouldn’t have used him in July, but Richie would be in the group getting his head around how we’re going to play the game, then include him in the squad to Africa and probably play him against the Stormers first game and let him earn the right to fight for a test spot. But you know, obviously the criteria means he can’t do that.

Rennie threw a spanner in the works at his very first press conference, declaring his hope to get Brodie Retallick back in black.

But neither Retallick nor Mo’unga would feature in the republic.

“We’re still hoping to get him (Mo’unga) in so he can get his head around things and you know maybe if there are injuries there’s an option to bring him in but he’s got his head around it, he’s prepared to go play the NPC. We’ve accepted that situation and understand New Zealand Rugby’s mindset around it, So we’ll just get on with it now.”

Though Rennie had accepted NZ Rugby’s stand on Mo’unga, had Retallick made himself available, Rennie may have fought for an exemption.

“Brodie is unavailable to do a lot of long distance travel. He wasn’t excited about six weeks in Africa. I think even Razor had had that conversation with him 12 months ago, we’ve got 150 odd days in hotels this year, so that wouldn’t excite the big man.

“But I guess we’ll continue to have discussions around whether there’ll be any versatility or flexibility around a guy like Brodie who played 12 years of test rugby, 12 years of super rugby. He’s made a massive contribution to the rugby here and I reckon he’s earned the right if he was available, if the system allowed and if he was playing good enough to potentially be available next year.”

After putting the incumbents on notice by stating he would be picking on form and not loyalty, Rennie said his squad was not far from completion.

“There’s a number of guys who we’ll definitely pick, assuming they’re injury-free. But the next few weeks will decide the fate of some guys.

“This is where you want to see it guys who can function under pressure.”

Rennie said there would not be wholesale personnel changes to the 2025 squad.

“I’m not sure about big changes. There’s been a lot of players used over the last few years and so I think the game we want to play, the players are here within the country.”

As for the issue of losing those players in their prime to offshore contracts, Rennie understood the realities of modern rugby.

“It’s tough. I mean, it’s going to happen. There’s massive money out there in Japan and in Europe. And so guys are going to make decisions based on what’s best for them and their family. And you’ve got to respect that.

“Our job’s obviously to try and communicate well with them. Let them know that there’s a pathway here. But guys will still go. I think just the fact that in the old days, guys weren’t at the end of their career. And now there’s maybe there’s a little less patience and an opportunity for guys to go away early and maybe some think they can come back in time. So ideally we want everyone to stay here but it’s unrealistic to think that’ll happen.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

High profile side Chelsea FC Women are to play at the International Football Festival in New Zealand.

They will take on an Auckland FC Invitational 11 at Eden Park on 8 August.

Former Football Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon will coach the invitational team.

The Tottenham Spurs men’s team had already been confirmed to be at the festival. They play Auckland FC on 26 July.

Both Chelsea women’s and men’s teams and Tottenham Hotspur will also be playing in the Sydney Super Cup from 28 July to 12 August.

Chelsea, whose stars include Australia Matildas captain Sam Kerr, have a formidable record in UK football, having won eight Super League titles, six FA Cup finals and they were runners-up in the Champions League in the 2020-21 season. Their run of six straight Super League titles was broken last week by Manchester City, but they can still seal second place in their final match of the season this weekend.

The Chelsea visit to Auckland is being funded from the Government’s $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said in a statement.

“It is fantastic to welcome another world-class team to New Zealand, giving football fans the chance to see Chelsea in action thanks to the Government’s investment into attracting events of this calibre.

“This will be the first time a Women’s Super League club has played in New Zealand.

“The festival will provide a winter economic boost to Auckland by bringing buzz to hospitality and tourism businesses, creating more jobs and strengthening our economy.

“The matches will be broadcast globally showcasing New Zealand as a world-class destination for culture, sport and entertainment.”

Former Everton women’s coach Bindon is an assistant coach of the Football Ferns.

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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 Rugby League’s new chief executive Andrea Nelson says the game is about its people and she wants to make their lives better.

Nelson said her new job was like a homecoming.

Nelson has previously held leadership roles with the London 2012 Olympics, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, she was chair of the New Zealand Events Association and the CEO of Gymnastics New Zealand.

She replaces Greg Peters, who stepped down after eight years in the role.

Nelson said she took on the vision of Lord Sebastian Coe when he made the bid for London to host the Olympics in 2012.

“I’ve always been inspired by the power of sport to change people’s lives,” Nelson told Morning Report.

“I don’t think that exists any more clearly than in rugby league. They have a whole kaupapa around the sport being more than a game, delivery great social outcomes as well as great sports results.”

With NZRL having total revenue of about $12 million, Nelson accepted finances would always be a challenge.

“That’s the way it is in community sport in Aotearoa, focusing the attention on every dollar being spent for the best outcome for kids and for the best results on the field is the job of the CEO.”

When they appointed Nelson, the NZRL said they wanted a person that could span the whole spectrum of the game.

“We wanted a leader who could sit across the table from the biggest decision-makers in international rugby league, but who would also happily pick up a tea towel at a local club on the East Coast and Andrea is that person,” NZRL chair Justin Leydesdorff said.

Nelson said she felt she could do that, especially at the grass-roots.

“My previous experience working in rugby league I was really welcomed in by the community. I can’t wait to get around the country and reconnect with those communities.

“Community sport is a real driver for me and there is nothing better than being on the sidelines on the weekend and watching the kids.”

She said the organisation will continue to honour the Māori and Pasifika communities which dominant rugby league.

“It is the strength of the sport in Aotearoa so we need to keep building on it.”

What does she hope to achieve?

“More kids playing the game, more people succeeding on the world stage. It is also about those social outcomes, how can we make people’s lives better as a result of their engagement with rugby league.”

Nelson will take up her new role in July.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry has joined Dave Rennie All Blacks’ set-up as a selector.

Henry coached the All Blacks to a Rugby World Cup title in 2011.

Henry, 79, coached the All Blacks to 88 wins in 103 tests between 2004-11.

“We are really excited to bring ‘Ted’ in as a selector,” Rennie told reporters on Tuesday morning.

“I’ve had a number of chats to him even prior to applying for the job, just to get ahead around the legacy and all the work he did around leadership, what he found and what he learnt during his time as All Black coach.

“He did talk about the impact that Sir Brian Lochore had when he (Henry) was coaching the All Blacks as a selector and that sort of got me thinking.

“He is very passionate, he loves the jersey. He watches a lot of rugby. He has some pretty strong opinions on players and so on, so conversations we have had have been brilliant.

“Him coming in from outside the group, watching, I think has been a really good fit. I’m really excited.”

More to come…

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kanaloa Consortium, who are bidding to buy Moana Pasifika’s licence in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, are hoping their case can be given its fair hearing, as uncertainty continues to hover over the club’s future.

Kanaloa’s CEO Tracy Atiga confirmed on Monday there is an opening to get some discussions on the issue with current Moana Pasifika owners Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), which has not shown any interest in supporting Kanaloa’s proposal.

“We have had contact from the Pacific Rugby Players (PRP) association, who have been supportive and I hope that we can start discussion with the stakeholders involved,” she told RNZ Pacific.

“We are happy to hear that PRP have had a look at our proposal and are happy with it.”

Atiga said the PRP has “initiated discussions to get everybody in a room and talk about it”.

She said they are working around a tight dealine, with 15 May being the date given to them by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to send in their proposal to the NZR Board.

Last week, she told RNZ Pacific that PMA chief executive Debbie Sorensen and New Zealand Rugby Players Association’s Rob Nichol were blocking support for the buy-out proposal.

Since then, Sorensen and Nichol have both stated that Kanaloa should send their proposal to NZR.

But Atiga insists they need to get both the organisations’ support as per letter sent to them by NZR, adding they need to look at the books, the financial records of Moana Pasifika, as per any legal business dealings.

In an interview with ABC’s Pacific Beat, Atiga claimed PMA is reluctant to show Kanaloa their books.

“No one’s going to come along and buy a franchise if they don’t have an opportunity to go through the books,” she said.

“I think that’s really what it is. We cannot think of any other reason why they have refused to talk to us.

“We need access to their due diligence process so that we can have a look at these books, have a look at how they have operated for the last five years, so that we can actually say, ‘oh, yeah, okay, your model hasn’t worked this way’.

“We feel we can introduce these different things so we can take this forward, because New Zealand Rugby really want someone to come in and buy the franchise as is now on ‘as is level’, the franchise is not sustainable.

“So we need to be able to see exactly what’s been going wrong before anyone even talks about signing over an agreement.”

Direct talks with NZR

Atiga said if PMA and NZRPA still do not want to engage, then Kanaloa will just work directly with NZR and let them decide whether the licence will be given to them or not.

“If the licence is gone, it goes back to New Zealand Rugby, so, let’s just have a direct conversation with New Zealand Rugby,” she said.

“They have given us to the 15th of this month to get as far down the track with PMA and NZRPA as possible, to get their support and to get their agreement to sign the licence over.

She said that is the path Kanaloa is taking right now.

“And as soon as we have that we will put something in. We will present all the evidence where we have shown – that we have tried very hard to engage with these two parties, and then we will leave it in the hands of New Zealand Rugby to make a decision.

“Now, if New Zealand Rugby make a decision and it does not go our way, we would be demanding a written outline as to why, because we know we have already met the criteria in all other areas.”

‘God willing’

Moana Pasifika halfback Augustine Pulu told the reporters in North Harbour last week that if no deal can be made, livelihoods will be be lost.

“That is what really breaks my heart, seeing the young guys breaking down into tears because these are the opportunities that we are not going to get anywhere else,” Pulu said.

“We have got to provide for our families. God willing, that there is another opportunity to carry on.”

Head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga said he is frustrated at a lack of transparency coming from the top of the organisation.

“We don’t know the facts, until we get the real facts and see what happens, we’re just trying to worry about what we can control,” he said.

“There must be a reason why those things aren’t going through. Everyone is waiting to hear from someone, we’re at the bottom of it, there’s probably reasons for that.”

If no new funder is found Moana Pasifika will be probably playing their last home game at the North Harbour Stadium on 23 May and their last Super Rugby game on 30 May against the Brumbies in Canberra.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Ferns prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu has announced her retirement from international rugby due to a career-ending neck injury.

Tangen-Wainohu played 10 tests for New Zealand, and was a member of the 2021 World Cup winning squad.

Named in the Black Ferns squad earlier this year, she was ruled out of game one following an aggravation of a previous neck injury.

“Sometimes the game you love doesn’t love you back. My neck scans have shown that staying in the game could cost more than the game gives. So I have to hang the boots up, but I am grateful my tinana [body] is still in one piece,” Tangen-Wainohu wrote on social media.

Tangen-Wainohu made a remarkable return to the black jersey in 2025 after stepping away from the game for two years due to her neck.

She quietly returned to the Blues, helping her team win both the Super Rugby Aupiki title and the inaugural Women’s Super Rugby Champions final.

Tangen-Wainohu came off the bench in their 38-12 win over Australia in Newcastle last year, her first international since the World Cup.

A mother to her son Hipirini, he was her biggest motivator in her comeback journey.

She previously played for Chiefs Manawa in Super Rugby Aupiki as well as Waikato and Hawke’s Bay in the Farah Palmer Cup.

Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen said Awhina will always be part of the team.

“Awhina is a talented front-rower who has consistently shown what’s possible through resilience and determination. She’s been instrumental in helping us shape this new era of Black Ferns. She has approached an incredibly tough decision with mana and optimism; we thank her for everything she has given to this team, and we know she will continue to contribute to the legacy of our people. For that, we are grateful.”

Tangen-Wainohu said she was ‘forever grateful’ to the game.

“Ngā mihi rugby, for a life I never imagined, for everything you gave to my whānau and I. To every team, coach, kaiako, and teammate, you shaped this journey.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A proposed New Zealand T20 League won’t be played until the 2027-28 season at the earliest with the Super Smash to continue for at least one more summer.

In March New Zealand Cricket announced that they would push for a franchise league to replace the current domestic T20 Super Smash competition.

New Zealand Cricket said in a statement that they had since been working with all parties in a hope of starting the league in January 2027.

However more time would be needed as talks with prospective investors continued.

NZC said a key consideration has been the international cricket calendar, with locked-in Test series against Australia and Sri Lanka in January and February significantly reducing the available window.

NZC Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said her board supported the change.

“Our focus is on ensuring the future of domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand is sustainable, competitive and aligned with the global game,” Puketapu-Lyndon said.

“Taking additional time now will help ensure the competition is set up to succeed over the long term.

“In the meantime, NZC will make arrangements to continue its Super Smash competitions for the 2026-27 season, and to host the incoming tours from India and Sri Lanka men, and Bangladesh women.”

NZ20 Establishment Committee Chair Don Mackinnon said the decision reflected a commitment to getting the foundations of the competition right.

“We are determined to ensure NZ20 launches without compromise and is set up for long-term success from day one.

“This revised timeline gives us the best opportunity to build a world-class competition that New Zealanders can be proud of and that fans deserve.”

Mackinnon confirmed that investor interest has been highly encouraging, prompting NZ20 to initiate a formal process.

“Interest from prospective investors has grown since NZ20 was identified as the preferred option for NZC.

“As a result, we will run a competitive process to identify the league’s primary investment partner, as well as the ownership of the respective franchises,” he said.

“This additional time will also allow us to finalise key elements of the competition, including franchise locations, ensuring we build strong regional connections and a compelling national footprint.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Shane van Gisbergen has put on another consummate display of road race driving to easily win the latest round of the NASCAR Cup series in New York.

The New Zealand driver celebrated his 37th birthday the day before by defending his title at the Watkins Glen International circuit – grabbing his first victory of the season and seventh all up in NASCAR racing.

Van Gisbergen dominated the weekend, firstly by putting himself on the pole for the fifth time since switching from Australasian Supercars to the US stock car scene three years ago.

He then proceeded to pull clear from the outset of the ‘Go Bowling at the Glen’ race, displaying his superiority on road circuits compared to rivals who are raised on a diet of oval track racing.

Van Gisbergen has won six of NASCAR’s last seven road or street races and was second in the other.

He led for 74 laps of the race’s 100 laps and the only moment of tension came when pitting with 24 laps to go, dropping him back to 26th at that point.

However, on new tires and a refreshed tank of gas, the Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet driver scythed through the field, making up 30 seconds on the leader in the space of just 18 laps.

Van Gisbergen hit the front six laps from the end and took the chequered flag seven seconds before American runner-up Michael McDowell in another Chevrolet.

Victory lifts the man nicknamed ‘SVG’ to 16th after 12 of 36 rounds, with only two more road or street races to come, both next month in California.

It was also the first win in the number 97 car, after driving number 88 for his first two seasons – a number made famous by former American great Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Van Gisbergen has long favoured 97 – a number used by his father Robert, a former rally driver.

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