Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sixteen Black Caps are vying for a huge pay day when the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction is held on Tuesday night.

Many of those players will be watching the auction on TV in Tauranga where they are preparing for the third Test against the West Indies, which starts on Thursday.

And it’s likely to be a nervous watch, as players can either become millionaires on the spot or find themselves jettisoned without a pay cheque.

Four other New Zealanders won’t feel that tension. Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians), Lockie Ferguson (Punjab Kings), Glenn Phillips (Gujarat Titans), and Mitchell Santner (Mumbai Indians) have been retained by the franchises they played for last year.

Devon Conway will be first in the batters group when the auction starts at 10pm NZT, and like nine of his Kiwi comrades, he has set the maximum base price of $380,000 at which bidding will start.

The other Black Caps on that base are Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.

Conway and Ravindra were both released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the auction after indifferent form last season and will be hoping to get picked up by other teams.

Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert has set a bidding start price of $286,000, and will have done his chances no harm with a flying century for Melbourne Renegades in their opening Australian Big Bash match last night.

Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs and Nathan Smith start out at $143,000.

Setting a high price can be risky as it increases the chance of not being bought, and bidding wars often result for players who have set a lower price.

The rewards can be great. Kyle Jamieson set a New Zealand record when the Royal Challengers Bangalore bought him for $2.86 million in 2021, though Daryl Mitchell went close to that with $2.7m two years later, while Trent Boult earned $2.5m last year.

Three hundred and fifty players go under the hammer at the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, but there are only 77 places available, with 31 of those reserved for overseas players.

Black Caps pace bowler Duffy has been a standout performer in all three formats against the West Indies, giving him a great chance of getting a contract, while Henry was similarly impressive in the one-dayers, before missing most of the test series with injury.

Many of the New Zealand bowlers have had injury problems this summer, including O’Rourke, who has yet to play as he recovers from a back stress fracture, Santner, Smith, Jamieson and Milne, and allrounders Mitchell and Phillips, have all issues at various times.

The IPL does not start until 26 March, giving those currently injured plenty of time to recover.

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is widely tipped as favourite to attract the highest bid.

Indian wicket keeper Rishabh Pant attracted IPL’s biggest price when he was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for $5.46m last year.

IPL Auction

Abu Dhabi, 10pm NZT,

Live on Sky Sport 3.

Black Caps (with base prices)

$380,000: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Will O’Rourke.

$286,000: Tim Seifert.

$143,000: Tim Robinson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs, Muhammad Abbas, Nathan Smith.

In auction order: Conway (1st), Ravindra (13th), Allen (14th), Duffy (23rd), Henry (25th), Robinson (76th), Bracewell (80th), Foulkes (82nd), Mitchell (84th), Seifert 95th), Jamieson (96th), Milne (98th), O’Rourke (100th), Jacobs (156th), Abbas (215th), Smith (222nd).

Retained by franchises

Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians), Lockie Ferguson (Punjab Kings), Glenn Phillips (Gujarat Titans), Mitchell Santner (Mumbai Indians).

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A world class professional golf tournament will return to Auckland for the first time in more than 20 years with the launch of the Japan-Australasia Championship.

The tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, will be played at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club from 5-8 March, 2026.

The $1.4 million event will showcase leading players from Australasia and Japan alongside rising stars from across the region.

The tournament will become the third leg of a three-week New Zealand swing and will follow the New Zealand PGA Championship at Paraparaumu Beach on 19-22 February and the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort, which starts on 26 February.

PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman hailed the new event as a significant milestone for golf in the region.

“This tournament represents an exciting new chapter for golf in our part of the world,” Kirkman said.

“Partnering with the Japan Golf Tour for the first time is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen ties between our Tours and provide our players with a truly international stage.”

Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club recently completed a major redevelopment and club captain Ian Blair said being approached to host the event was recognition of their world-class course and facilities.

“This is Auckland’s first major men’s professional tournament in 20 years, and we’re honoured to showcase our course to international audiences while engaging with our wider community and inspiring the next generation of golfers. It’s a historic moment that reflects both our proud heritage and our exciting future.”

The New Zealand Open was last held in Auckland at the Grange in 2004.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Twins Cam and Fin Melville Ives have revealed the New Zealand team’s uniform for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Snowboarder Cam and skier Fin have been selected for the New Zealand team for the games, which take place in northern Italy in February.

The release of the uniform comes only days after Fin Melville Ives won the freeski halfpipe World Cup event in China. He is the current world champion.

His victory has been followed by Queenstown skier Alice Robinson winning her maiden Super G World Cup title in St Moritz in Switzerland.

New Zealand apparel firm Kathmandu, a sponsor partner for the New Zealand team, has designed the new uniforms, having tested them in the harshest winter conditions on Aotearoa’s mountains.

The collection includes t-shirts, trousers, hoodies, parkas, and accessories, all featuring the silver fern.

The uniforms will be worn at training, in the athletes’ village and ceremonial events.

In a fresh innovation a QR-code badge is woven into the athletes’ opening ceremony jacket, which when scanned will connect them to a digital platform containing messages of support from New Zealanders and overseas fans.

Kathmandu said the jackets, trousers and anoraks designed for wearing in the mountains will withstand repeated impacts with ice and snow.

The Melville Ives brothers said they felt proud to wear the new uniforms, which they modelled with skier Mischa Thomas, who aspires for selection in the New Zealand team.

“I’m so hyped to be able to compete next year, alongside my brother and wear the fern on my chest, repping New Zealand,” said Cam Melville Ives.

His brother Fin said: “Growing up in New Zealand, it’s so awesome to see all the idols repping the silver fern, it means so much to show it off while representing the country,” he said.

New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol said the uniform reveal was a significant milestone in Kathmandu’s four-year partnership with the NZ team.

“I think Kathmandu has done a fantastic job with their first uniform – our team have already been packing it in the bags, bound for Italy.

“The athletes collaborated closely with the NZOC and Kathmandu to ensure the design delivers on both style and performance. I’m looking forward to seeing our New Zealand Team wearing it with pride at the Games in February next year.”

Kathmandu said Kiwis can also wear the same gear with a replica collection launched today.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Cap Tim Seifert has hit a century to help the Melbourne Renegades to a 14-run victory over the Brisbane Heat in their opening game of Australia’s Big Bash.

Seifert’s 102 came off 56 balls and he relished the short boundaries at Geelong, smashing nine fours and six sixes.

It was a welcome return to the game after six weeks out with a broken finger, which had caused him to pull out the Black Caps’ T20 series against the West Indies last month.

Seifert became only the second Renegades player to score a BBL century, after former Australian white ball captain Aaron Finch.

The New Zealander set up the win for the Renegades as they made 212 for five in their 20 overs, with Australia under-19 captain Oliver Peake backing him up with 57 off 29 balls.

In reply, the Heat never seriously got close to the Renegades total once opener and former Black Cap Colin Munro was out for 55 off 32 balls.

They finished up with 198 for eight.

Seifert didn’t take the field in the Heat innings, saying he picked up a slight niggle while batting.

“They wanted me to take it easy,” he said.

He said it was a ”nice knock” after returning from the finger injury

The Renegades join the Perth Scorchers at the top of the points table, with a win each.

The Scorchers beat the Sydney Sixers by five wickets on Sunday, with Black Cap Finn Allen scoring 16.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Young Lower Hutt golfer Darae Chung loves playing collegiate golf and hopes that one day it will lead to her competing on the LPGA Tour.

Twenty-one-year-old Chung is one of nine New Zealand golfers who have been invited to compete at the Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Wellington in February.

Current world number one Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand won the inaugural tournament in 2018.

Chung is a junior at the University of Oregon and loves studying for a degree and playing golf at the some time.

“It is definitely an environment that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world,” she told RNZ.

“It is a really tight space where it is just your team, your coaches and advisors where everyone is supporting you to get a degree, which is their priority, and for you to also experience playing golf in America.”

Chung won the New Zealand age group championship and a Charles Tour event as a 15-year-old in 2019.

She headed to college in the US in 2023 which she said is the best move for all hopefuls.

“To play the top amateurs in the world, play against the people you are probably going to turn pro with, it is just a very special time where you can experience this all at once.”

Chung looks up to the likes of Dame Lydia Ko, Annika Sorenstam and Nelly Korda with the intention of playing professional golf one day.

However, having played against so many good young players in NCAA competition, she realises that it is going to be tough.

“The more competition there is the better it is,” Chung said.

“The sad reality is that not everyone makes it, but there is a lot of merit in the journey of trying.

“If you make it or you don’t the most important thing is that you are proud of what you’ve accomplished to that point

“If I make it it has always been my dream and if I don’t then I got a degree.”

The other New Zealand invitees for the 2026 Women’s Asia-Pacific Championship are Eunseo Choi, Vivian Lu, Caitlin Maurice, Emma Zheng, Teresa Wang, Chloe So, Juwon Kim and Cherry Lee.

As well as the three major championship starts, the WAAP (Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific) champion will also gain starts in the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The Royal Wellington Golf Club has hosted the New Zealand Open seven times.

It also hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (men’s) won by China’s Yuxin Lin in 2017.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Despite being overlooked for home Tests for nearly five years, spinner Ajaz Patel says he never thought that door was shut.

The Black Caps have called Patel into the 14-player squad for this week’s third Test against West Indies.

Patel replaces his Central Districts team-mate Blair Tickner, who suffered a dislocated shoulder during the second Test.

If the 37-year-old is selected to play at Bay Oval on Thursday, it will be his first Test in just over a year.

Patel, who famously took all 10 wickets in a Test innings against India at Wankhede Stadium in 2021, could be in line to play his first Test match on home soil since February 2021.

The left-arm orthodox spinner said he never gave up on the idea of playing a Test at home again.

“I’m a very optimistic person so I always like to believe there’s an opportunity it’s just a matter of continuing the work and hopefully that opportunity presents itself,” Patel said.

Patel said it was exciting to have an opportunity to play another Test.

“It’s always a moment you cherish and never one that you take for granted so it’s really special to be back in the environment.”

His last Test appearance came during the third Test in the 2024 tour of India, where he produced a man of the match performance with figures of 11-160 as part of New Zealand’s 3-0 whitewash series victory.

Patel has traditionally only been selected for overseas tours, where he has achieved his most significant successes on turning pitches in the Indian subcontinent.

Despite the disappointment of non-selection, Patel said he always challenged himself to become the best cricketer he could.

“And that’s what motivated me and I guess forced me to continue to pursue and push to get better and those opportunities kind of come alongside that.

“It’s always exciting when you do get an opportunity to then put yourself up against some of the best in the world and see how you stack up.”

Patel played a couple of seasons under Black Caps coach Rob Walter, when the South African oversaw Central Districts.

“He’s very respectful but he’s very honest …at the same time he puts everything in behind you to assist you to be able to get better as well, I loved playing under Rob.”

Bay Oval has typically taken more turn than other surfaces around New Zealand and taking another spinner into the Test would give more variance to the bowling attack.

Patel said if he was given a crack in the third Test, he knows how to get the best out of the ground.

“Fortunately, I’ve played a lot of cricket in New Zealand obviously and have a lot of first-class experience and have played at Bay Oval many times.

“The difference is we’re taking on a strong international team; it would be quite exciting, it would be my first opportunity to play against the West Indies.”

Fast bowling quartet Michael Rae, Zak Foulkes, Jacob Duffy and Kristian Clarke all remain in the squad for the final Test.

The squad has been lean on pace bowlers following first Test injuries to Nathan Smith and Matt Henry.

Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell also returns after missing the second Test to recover from a hamstring tear.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Three New Zealanders are up for World Rowing awards.

Single sculler Emma Twigg has been recognised for her efforts in 2025, while Kerri Williams and Grace Prendergast have been noted for performances during their careers.

Twigg is up for the Women’s Crew of the Year after winning the solo title at the World Beach Sprint Finals in Turkey in November.

Two other legends of New Zealand rowing, Williams and Prendergast, have been named as finalists for the Thomas Keller Medal which recognises a contribution to rowing.

Twigg, a 38-year-old Olympic and world single sculls champion, switched to beach racing following the Paris Olympics and has now set her sights on competing at the LA 2028 Olympics, where the event will debut.

Williams (nee Gowler) and Prendergast won one Olympic and three coxless pairs titles together.

Williams won three Olympic medals and five World Championship titles in total, while Prendergast won two Olympic medals and five world titles.

In 2019, Kerri and Grace Prendergast became the first New Zealand female athletes to win a World Rowing Championship title in two events in the same year, the Women’s Pair and Eight.

Twigg is up against the world championship winning Dutch eight and the world championship winning Romanian pair for the Women’s Crew of the Year award.

Five New Zealanders have previously won the Thomas Keller Medal. Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell in 2016, Eric Murray and Hamish Bond in 2018 and Mahe Drysdale in 2022.

The winners will be announced in January.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Queenstown skier Alice Robinson has won her maiden Super G World Cup title, beating American legend Lindsey Vonn in the process.

The 24 year old, who won the last two Giant Slalom rounds on the World Cup circuit, stepped up to the faster discipline at St Moritz in Switzerland.

She claimed the first ever Super G World Cup podium for New Zealand.

“It was such an epic day. I have always struggled in Super G to feel the same nerves, energy, intensity and focus that I feel at giant slalom races,” Robinson said afterwards.

“Today I was just telling myself this is like a GS race. You’re a real competitor; you can do really well. I think I was more focused than I usually am. I really wanted to nail the inspection, nail the warm-up, and I had such a clear plan of what I wanted to do.”

The opening race of the women’s 2026 FIS Super G World Cup season was held on the Corviglia piste, which was in near-perfect condition following cold overnight temperatures in St. Moritz.

Robinson, who was the sixth athlete on the course, reached speeds of more than 100km/h and led by almost a second after her first run.

She faced a long wait in the leader’s chair in a tightly fought race that saw the next 11 fastest racers finish within one second of her time.

However, as each athlete crossed the line, Robinson’s time remained unchallenged, confirming a historic victory.

After her race, Robinson explained: “It’s my first Super G podium and my first win, but I’ve been racing Super G for a few years now and I’ve always wanted to crack it. I think today I had a really good mixture of the things I learned from the downhill trainings, and also the technical stuff that I’ve been so solid with in my GS. I was able to put it all together and have a really good run.”

Romane Miradoli of France finished in second place, +0.08 seconds behind Robinson, with Italy’s Sofia Goggia rounding out the podium in third, +0.19 seconds off Robinson’s winning time.

This result marks Robinson’s seventh career World Cup victory, adding to her six Giant Slalom World Cup wins and the 21st World Cup podium of her career.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Henry Nicholls’ red hot form with the bat continues as the Canterbury skipper recorded his highest ever first class score.

The 34 year old’s knock lasted almost eight hours and included 25 boundaries.

His previous best score for Canterbruy was an unbeaten 171 last season.

He now has 22 first class centuries.

This season Nicholls also scored a century in each innings against Otago in Dunedin, while he also has two Ford Trophy one day centuries.

He now needs just one more ton in 2025/26 to equal Michael Papps’s Canterbury record for most first-class centuries in a Plunket Shield season.

Nicholls and Rhys Mariu (147) shared a 271-run stand, a Canterbury second-wicket partnership record.

Auckland are 37/3 heading into day three, still 359 runs behind overall.

Meanwhile in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, White Fern Jess Kerr broke the longstanding Wellington Blaze bowling record with her haul of 7/18 against the Canterbury Magicians in Rangiora.

Kerr’s figures also equal the overall Hallyburton Johnstone Shield record, Auckland Heart Bella Armstrong took 7/18 against the Otago Sparks at Melville Park (Auckland) in December 2019.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps have called in spinner Ajaz Patel for this week’s third Test against West Indies, while Tom Blundell is also in the 14-player squad.

Patel replaces his Central Districts team-mate Blair Tickner, who suffered a dislocated shoulder during the second Test.

Wicketkeeper Blundell also returns to the side after missing the second Test to recover from a hamstring tear sustained in the first Test at the start of December.

If 37 year old Patel is selected to play at Bay Oval on Thursday, it will be his first Test in just over a year.

Patel, who famously took all ten wickets in a Test innings against India at Wankhede Stadium in 2021, could be in line to play his first Test match on home soil since February of 2021.

His last Test appearance came during the third Test in the 2024 tour of India, where he produced a man of the match performance with figures of 11-160 as part of New Zealand’s 3-0 whitewash series victory.

“Ajaz is someone we can trust to come in and do a job if required,” coach Rob Walter said.

“Bay Oval, as we know, has typically taken more turn than other surfaces around New Zealand, and the fact he turns the ball away from the right-hander is very appealing.”

“Taking another spinner into the third Test also gives a bit more variance in our bowling attack, along with our seamers who have been doing a great job thus far this series.”

The Black Caps selector avoided the temptation to bring back the likes of Kyle Jamieson, with the squad lean on pace bowlers following first Test injuries to Nathan Smith and Matt Henry.

Jamieson is working through a conditioning block after a full start to the summer, as part of his preparation for what is shaping up to be a busy first half of 2026.

Fast bowling quartet Michael Rae, Zak Foulkes, Jacob Duffy and Kristian Clarke all remain in the squad for the final Test, with Rae impressing on debut in Wellington.

“We couldn’t have asked for more from Michael on his debut,” Rob Walter said.

“The energy he brings to the group and the added benefit of his height means he’s able to extract plenty out of the surface, which he did so in Wellington.”

Black Caps Test Squad: Third Test v West Indies

Bay Oval, Tauranga – 18-22 December.

Tom Latham (C) – Canterbury

Tom Blundell – Wellington Firebirds

Michael Bracewell – Wellington Firebirds

Kristian Clarke – Northern Districts

Devon Conway – Wellington Firebirds

Jacob Duffy – Otago Volts

Zak Foulkes – Canterbury

Daryl Mitchell – Canterbury

Ajaz Patel – Central Stags

Glenn Phillips – Otago Volts

Michael Rae – Canterbury

Rachin Ravindra – Wellington Firebirds

Kane Williamson – Northern Districts

Will Young – Central Stags

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