Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Another big year for our national game is in the books, so it’s once again time to recognise the highs and lows of rugby. NZ Rugby will be issuing their official awards on Thursday, but it is once again up to us to cover off what fans really want recognised.

Here are the unofficial 2025 NZ Rugby awards:

Feel good comeback of the year award

Rob Penney took the Crusaders from first to worst and back again, with this year’s Super Rugby Pacific title win presumably feeling like one of the sweetest victories in history. Penney also managed to rectify his public image after getting about as offside with the media as possible, and will now guide the perennial champions into their new home at One NZ Stadium next season.

Feel bad comeback of the year award

The Sky Stadium curse returned with a vengeance this year, with the All Blacks suffering the worst loss in their entire history. That’s now six losses and draws in the last 10 tests there, with NZ Rugby very tellingly scheduling the 2026 Wellington fixture against lowly Italy.

Best moment

The All Blacks rose to the occasion in the most hyped test of the year, which was also Ardie Savea’s 100th. The win was extra satisfying as the Springboks mounted an impressive comeback, ultimately thwarted by a massive defensive play by Savea.

Player of the year

It’s fashionably unfashionable to recognise a loosehead prop for their efforts, but Fletcher Newell played every minute of the Crusaders’ playoff run and then held a starting spot for the All Blacks for the entire season. While the All Black set piece had its issues throughout the season, Newell and Ethan de Groot’s performances flipped the script on who everyone had presumed would start in the front row.

Social media award

Beauden Barrett’s post-match interview in which he asked for leniency for Tadhg Beirne quickly racked up over a million views across all platforms, and may have played a part in the Irish lock getting his red card rescinded.

Special mention to the Blues and Moana Pasifika for disregarding any form of niceties in their cross-town rivalry, while the Crusaders banning cowbells from the Super Rugby Pacific final was an inspired bit of tomfoolery.

Worst moment

The NPC Mascot Race was mired with controversy after Canterbury put current NZ sprint champion Tiaan Whelpton in the Larry the Lamb costume, to make up for the woeful sheep coming last in the also controversial 2024 race. The treacherous move saw Larry win comfortably, bringing shame to the otherwise prestigious event.

Ironman award

Ardie Savea played 14 games for Moana Pasifika, starting and finishing nearly all as captain, then went the distance in most of his 13 tests as well. Just for good measure, Savea also started as captain for the All Blacks in four tests.

Biggest pack of chumps

Anyone who took the R360 threat seriously, specifically journalists based in Sydney who usually cover the NRL and Zac Lomax for believing them.

Team of the year

It’s been a long time since any national team has headed off with no clue about what will happen on their rugby tour, but the inaugural NZ U85kg side went to Sri Lanka with the biggest air of mystery over them since the 1905 Originals.

What followed was two comprehensive and entertaining wins over the 37th ranked test side in the world in front of over 50,000 spectators in Kandy and Colombo. Not bad for a side made up of grassroots club players.

Tourism award

France’s tour in July didn’t just bring a sizeable squad of players, but also the biggest travelling media contingent seen in New Zealand since the last Lions tour. Dunedin and Hamilton were always going to struggle in comparison to Paris, but the assessment of both was so cuttingly Gallic you could literally smell the exhale of a Gauloises while reading.

One L’Equipe journalist described Dunedin as “a widow”, while Midi Olympique (average readership 2.7 million per issue) compared Hamilton to the Soviet Union, before adding that it was intended as an insult to the former Cold War superpower. France will return with a full strength side next year, so it will be interesting to learn what their media think of Christchurch.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps take on the West Indies at Cello Basin Reserve for their second Test of the summer.

New Zealand will pin their hopes on a rookie attack and field a new wicketkeeper when they take on the West Indies in the second test in Wellington starting this morning, following a slew of injuries.

First ball is at 11am.

Squad: Tom Latham (c), Michael Bracewell, Kristian Clarke*, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitchell Hay*, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Rae*, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young

*uncapped Test player

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Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker says he’s “devastated” by his positive doping test and is confident the defence mounted by his team will clear him of wrongdoing.

Former WBO world champion Parker has given his first interview since he was found to have returned a positive result for a banned substance on October 25 – the day he lost at fight against Briton Fabio Wardley in London.

He told the boxingscene.com website he was helping authorities with their investigation into the routine test carried out by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) and believed his name would be cleared.

“I was devastated. You have to do all these voluntary drug tests in camp and then all of a sudden you get a bit of a surprise and shock that you fail on a fight day,” Parker said, when reflecting on the moment he found out about the positive test.

“You start questioning ‘why did I have that cup of tea? or why did I do this? or why did I do that?’

“There’s a lot of things you think about. I’ve never failed a drugs test before, so it was a surprise and shock.

“So, I’m just gonna go through the process of trying to get it cleared, and I want to be in the ring as soon as possible.”

Multiple media outlets reported cocaine was the substance in Parker’s “adverse finding” but the 33-year-old denied taking any recreational drug.

“In the past I’ve enjoyed myself. I wouldn’t say “recreational drugs”, but I went out and had a few beers and that,” he told boxingscene.com.

“That’s the old me, when I was young fighter. Now, after every fight, all I do is go home to the wife and kids. My life is on track. I’m focused on living the best that I can live and doing the best that I can do.

“I did not take any prohibited substance, I did not use performance enhancing drugs and do not support their use. I am cooperating fully with the process now underway, and I am confident the investigation will clear my name.”

Parker faced the possibility of a ban of up to two years if he failed to clear his name.

The Aucklander was speaking on Australia’s Gold Coast, where he was supporting good friend Jai Opetaia, the Australian who successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title in a win over German Huseyin Cinkara.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A special kind of sporting fever has arrived in Christchurch ahead of the start of the highly anticipated return of the Special Olympics.

The official start of the 2025 National Summer Games would be marked by Wednesday’s opening ceremony at Wolfbrook Arena.

The first set of teams began arriving a day before athletes – alongside police – took part in the traditional torch run in the central city.

More than 1200 athletes would be competing in the five-day event, across 10 sporting codes.

Six venues throughout Christchurch, including the brand new Parakiore sport and recreation centre, would be hosting events.

The first signs of fervour could be seen during Tuesday’s Law Enforcement Torch Run, as the ‘flame of hope’ was carried from Victoria Square to the Bridge of Remembrance.

Call-and-response chants (“We are the Torch Run, the mighty mighty Torch Run”) were heard as the throng of participants made their way down Oxford Terrace, alongside the Avon River.

The torch was shared among multiple athletes during the 600-metre jaunt.

It followed recent torch run events held in other centres around the country as part of the games’ build-up.

Police inspector Rupert Friend told RNZ his voice was feeling a bit croaky after leading a lot of the chanting.

“It’s all about awareness for Special Olympics so we got to make some noise as we go through town. I think we did pretty well,” he said.

Special Olympics NZ chief executive Fran Scholey said the opening ceremony would be a “spectacular” start to the games.

“It’s here, it’s finally here and we can’t wait for action to start. We hope Christchurch is ready.” she said.

“This is an enormous event and we only have a very small team who have worked overtime in the past few months. We would never be able to deliver these games without the wonderful support of our 800 volunteers and the Christchurch City Council.”

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger addressed athletes at the Bridge of Remembrance following the torch run,

“What a wonderful way to kick off the National Summer Games,” Mauger said.

“I can’t wait to see the many incredible athletes in action across our city’s stunning facilities.”

Athletes would continue to arrive on Wednesday morning before opening ceremony festivities.

Teams would be based at the University of Canterbury, where the student accommodation complex had been transformed into the Athletes Village.

The opening ceremony begins at 4pm.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

It took Auckland FC 35 games in the A-League to be awarded a kick from the penalty spot. When the time came they failed to convert – twice.

Coach Steve Corica hoped that did not happen again.

Two penalties in the second half of Saturday’s derby game were saved by Wellington Phoenix custodian Josh Oluwayemi.

Oluwayemi first denied Sam Cosgrove just after the hour mark and then stopped Francis de Vries eight minutes later before the All White converted off the rebound.

The misses were not costly, with Auckland winning 3-1 to keep their unbeaten run in the New Zealand derby going, but Corica knew there could be another game this season when a successful penalty could turn a game to their advantage.

“It’s not great to miss pens like that… you would hope to score the pens when they come,” Corica said.

Cosgrove, who is the side’s current leading scorer with five goals, and last season’s leading goal-scorer Guillermo May were among those Auckland would turn to should a penalty kick be awarded.

May, who started off the bench in the round seven fixture, was not on the field yet when the penalties were blown and he suggested the team “were not prepared” when they faced their first penalty.

“Some games we deserved some more [penalties] these two came together and we need to prepare better,” May said.

Corica was not convinced they needed to step up the penalty taking at practice.

“They’ve all taken them in different circumstances in penalty shoot-outs but there is normally one or two who would take them on the day,” Corica said.

“It’s all a confidence thing picking the right spot and scoring, unfortunately Sam missed his one but that happens sometimes but you don’t want it to happen too often.”

Going into round eight of the last A-League season, Auckland had won the six games they had played and were at the top of the points ladder.

This season the record looks a bit different. Four wins, two draws and a loss and sitting in third.

However Auckland have netted 10 goals so far, the same number they had at this stage in their inaugural season.

“This is more like a normal season,” Corica said. “Six wins in a row I don’t think I’ve ever done it [before last season] while I’ve been coaching.”

Corica said that the results so far were “a good sign”.

“[We’re] hard to beat.”

Friday’s game against Central Coast Mariners in Gosford marked the start of three away games to see out the calendar year which could be a turning point for the season.

“it’s a difficult period for us being away from home, I actually quite like it because if you go by last season we picked up a lot of points away from home so if we play our cards right and take our chances we can pick teams off and hopefully do what we did last year and pick up a lot of points along the way.”

The Mariners have also had some problems finding the back of the net in the last round.

“I watched the game against Sydney last week they hit the crossbar four times and they came away with a loss.

“They’re a good team, especially at home, they’ve got good young players aggressive as well defensively.

“I said to the boys we actually really need to be switched on the away games is going to be a big telling point of where we’re going to finish at the end of the season if we can start picking up points away from home.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps’ Test captain Tom Latham says a proposed T20 franchise league in New Zealand is a great initiative and would boost the standard of cricket in Aotearoa.

The Black Caps are preparing to face the West Indies in the second Test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve, starting on Wednesday.

The official launch of the 2025-26 season of Super Smash took place in Christchurch on Tuesday but the future of the T20 domestic competition is up in the air.

RNZ understands a bid by a private consortium to establish a new T20 competition has led to a power struggle over the future shape of the domestic game.

On Friday, NZ Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink stood down from day-to-day duties at the national body amid an ongoing fight for his survival.

Weenink faced allegations of working to “actively undermine” the private consortium bid – a proposal supported by all six major associations and the NZ Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA).

However, several senior cricket figures told RNZ while a proposed private Twenty20 franchise league has been a flashpoint for tensions, the crisis runs far deeper.

NZ Cricket said the organisation was “considering the merits of the NZ20 proposal”, along with other options, as part of broader work looking at the future of domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand.

While Latham has represented New Zealand across all formats, he’s best known as a mainstay of the Test side and considered a titan of international cricket’s top order in the Test arena.

Latham, who has not played any franchise cricket, said NZ20 would be a great move.

“You look at the way cricket’s moving around the world where I think we’re the only Test playing nation that doesn’t have a franchise competition but I think what it will bring to cricket here in New Zealand will be hugely beneficial,” Latham said.

“Super Smash has produced great cricketers for us up to this point but I think being able to push the game forward here in New Zealand, I think it will only do great things. I would love to see it happen and I’m sure you talk to a lot of the players, will be in the same camp and a lot of the guys have played franchise cricket around the world.”

Latham said the presence of international players in a New Zealand competition would boost the standard of cricket here.

” …Being able to mix with overseas players that have had great international careers … to learn off the likes of those sort of guys would be hugely beneficial not only to the guys that play cricket for New Zealand but also to the younger generation coming through here.”

Latham said the shorter format of franchise cricket was also appealing to players.

“You’re there for four or five weeks or whatever it is … you talk to a lot of guys that play franchise cricket around the world … they have a lot of fun, they learn a lot of from different players and playing in different conditions so I think it’s a great initiative and hopefully one that can get off the ground.”

Among the options being considered by NZ Cricket is exploring ways to monetise the existing Super Smash competition, or entering New Zealand teams in Australia’s men’s and women’s Big Bash competitions.

But Latham said his preference was firmly on creating a New Zealand based league.

“I would much rather see us have our own competition here where we are using all of our talent as best we can to boost cricket here in New Zealand and I think it’s a really good opportunity to do that.”

The independent assessment of the options was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, Tom Blundell has been ruled out of the second Test against the West Indies. Blundell, who is coming back from a hamstring injury, was always an outside chance for the Wellington Test.

Canterbury’s Mitchell Hay is set to be the first wicket-keeper to make a Test debut for New Zealand since 2017.

Two other potential debutants in Kristian Clarke and Michael Rae have been named in the 14-man squad for the second test.

The Black Caps will be bolstered by the return of Glenn Phillips, who has recovered from a groin injury.

Phillips played the first two Plunket Shield fixtures for Otago, scoring 130 runs at an average of 43, and taking nine wickets at an average of 33.

“I’m sure everyone’s seen he’s been lifting the house down from a strength point of view and he’s ready to go. He obviously joined us for the last couple of days down at Hagley. It’s great to see him back in the squad, he’s such an important member for not only this Test group but the white ball formats as well. To see him back running around doing his thing I’m sure he’s ready to get stuck in,” Latham said.

Kyle Jamieson is continuing his red-ball return-to-play plan, playing the recent Plunket Shield match for Canterbury and will continue to work closely with coaching staff on his return.

A playing XI will be announced at the toss at 10.30am on day one of the second Test.

The first Test in Christchurch ended in a draw after a spirited fight back from the West Indies.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is to leave the Formula 1 team.

The 82 year old has been with the outfit since they joined Formula 1 in 2005.

The Telegraph is reporting that Marko will head into retirement.

Marko, who drove in Formula 1 in the early nineties, had indicated after Monday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that he would take the break between championships to consider his future.

Team Principal Christian Horner [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/573819/former-red-bull-boss-christian-horner-leaves-with-a-reported-184m-handshake left mid-season and was replaced by Laurent Mekies.

Marko has been a long time supporter of four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Marko would have also played a key part in the hiring of New Zealander Liam Lawson in 2023 and the decision to keep him at Racing Bulls last week.

The Austrian was left blinded in one eye after debris pierced his visor during the French Grand Prix. He retired shortly afterwards.

During his time with Red Bull the team won six world constructors’ championships, while Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen won four drivers’ championships each.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The All Blacks will kick off the 2026 test season against France at Christchurch’s new Te Kaha Stadium.

The All Blacks will play 17 matches and 13 tests next year with the first test at the 30,000-seat roofed ground, at 7.10pm on Saturday, 4 July.

Italy will play the All Blacks in Wellington a week later with an early 5.10pm kick-off, while Eden Park will host Ireland the following Saturday and Australia on 10 October in the first Bledisloe Cup test.

The season opener will mark the All Blacks first test at a large, permanent stadium in the Canterbury region since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which forced the closure of Lancaster Park. It will also be the first test of the new 12-team Nations Championship.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive, Mark Robinson, said the first test of the year would be a significant moment for rugby.

“For the All Blacks to play at the new One New Zealand stadium 15 years after the earthquakes will be a special moment for the team and a significant occasion for rugby at the start of a new era for the international game.

“Hosting France, Italy and Ireland in consecutive weeks will be new for our players and it creates three unique match experiences for fans in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland as we kick off the Nations Championship era.

“The Bledisloe Cup is a hugely important trophy to the All Blacks, as is the team’s record at Eden Park, and our home fans will no doubt play their part again in the tests against Ireland and Australia.”

Italy will play their first test in Wellington and fourth in New Zealand since the two side’s first met in their opening pool match at the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

The All Blacks 52 test unbeaten streak at Eden Park will be on the line twice in 2026, first against Ireland, then against a Wallabies team trying to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.

Ireland’s visit to Eden Park will be their fourth in New Zealand since their first trip to New Zealand in 1976. They have never won at Eden Park and only twice in New Zealand, but the rivalry between the teams have been evenly matched in recent years with the All Blacks winning six of the last 10 tests.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, who lives in Christchurch, is looking forward to taking the team to Te Kaha.

“Playing at home will always be special to the All Blacks and to host three Northern Hemisphere nations in consecutive weeks is a great start to our 2026 campaign and a challenge we will embrace. It will be an historic occasion for Christchurch at the new stadium.

“We know Italy will be highly motivated as we start the Nations Championship and, as always, we will walk toward the challenge of defending our record at Eden Park against Ireland and Australia.”

Through August-September the All Blacks will embark on a historic tour of South Africa, including four tests against the Springboks, and four mid-week fixtures against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship teams.

The Bledisloe Cup home and away series will run over two weeks in October, while there are three additional Nations Championship fixtures in November against Wales, Scotland and England as well as the tournament Finals Weekend in London from 27-29 November.

The All Blacks 2026 home Test schedule is:

Nations Championship:

All Blacks v France, Saturday 4 July, One New Zealand Stadium (Te Kaha), Christchurch, kick off 7.10pm.

All Blacks v Italy, Saturday, 11 July, SKY Stadium, Wellington, kick off 5.10pm.

All Blacks v Ireland, Saturday, 18 July, Eden Park, Auckland, kick off TBC.

Bledisloe Cup:

All Blacks v Australia, Saturday 10 October, Eden Park, Auckland, kick off 7.10pm.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Canterbury bowler Michael Rae admits he thought the opportunity to play for the Black Caps may have passed him by.

Rae found out at the weekend that the Black Caps selectors needed him to join the test squad which had been depleted by injuries.

Matt Henry and Nathan Smith both limped out of the first Test against the West Indies in Christchurch which left the New Zealanders struggling to bowl the tourists out in the last innings.

Rae had his first training run with the squad at the Basin Reserve on Monday and is now set to make his debut in the second Test against the West Indies on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old said after a stint with the New Zealand A side a few years ago he thought there may have been a chance of higher honours and while that didn’t eventuate, that time did allow him to reassess his playing goals.

“I was starting to worry too much about performances and (therefore) I should stop and enjoy my cricket,” Rae said.

“So it wasn’t about making peace with the likelihood that it may never happen, it was more about remembering about why I play and trying to enjoy it as much as I can.”

Rae has played 70 first class games for Otago and Canterbury. Since debuting for Otago in 2014 he has taken 208 wickets.

He and Northern Districts bowler Kristian Clarke were added to the squad and one of them is likely to join Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner and Zak Foulkes in a four-pronged pace attack.

Having played first class cricket for almost a dozen years Rae is familiar with all the faces in the Black Caps squad and coach Rob Walter, who coached Otago for a number of years.

“I’m fortunate there are so many guys in the squad who I have played with, be it at Canterbury in last couple years, or even at Otago, where I started my career.

“There’s a lot of friendly faces. It actually has been quite easy to gel into the group.”

Rae admits if he were to make his Test debut, then the Basin Reserve would be a great place to do it.

“If you actually think about Test grounds in New Zealand then in terms of specialness this is right up there, if not number one.”

And he’ll be sticking to his usual game plan.

“Do what has got me to this point, just keep it really simple and get out there an hit the wicket and enjoy it.

Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips have both recovered from injuries and are available for selection for the second Test.

Mitchell and Phillips were both called to substitute field in the drawn first test.

Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell is also a possibility despite suffering a hamstring injury in Christchurch. Mitch Hay is on standby.

Black Caps squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Kristian Clarke, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Rachin Ravindra, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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Source: Radio New Zealand

NZ Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink has stood down from day-to-day duties at the national body amid an ongoing fight for his survival.

RNZ understands Weenink went on leave as of 5pm on Friday ahead of mediation with the NZ Cricket board over his future.

It is understood Paul Wicks KC is advising the board on the process ahead, including the possibility of negotiating an exit agreement with Weenink.

In a statement, NZC’s manager of public affairs Richard Boock denied the national body had started an employment process with Weenink.

“He’s taken some time off to be with his family at the start of the school holidays,” Boock said.

Boock added an agreed date for return had been set for 19 December.

However, sources say Weenink offered to go on leave as his position at NZC has become increasingly untenable as he has been sidelined from attending key events.

“He basically exists in a state of purgatory right now,” said one insider.

Weenink’s sudden absence marks a dramatic escalation in a battle that has been brewing over several months.

RNZ last month reported Weenink was “fighting for his survival” amid a power struggle over the future of the domestic game.

Weenink faced allegations of working to “actively undermine” a bid by a private consortium to establish a new T20 franchise competition – a proposal supported by all six major associations and the NZ Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA).

However, several senior cricket figures told RNZ while a proposed private Twenty20 franchise league has been a flashpoint for tensions, the crisis runs far deeper.

According to one source, concern around Weenink’s leadership has been simmering for several months, culminating in a letter sent to the NZ Cricket board on 16 October following a series of meetings between the six major associations.

In that letter, the major association chairs warned the board that the relationship with the CEO had become “irretrievable”, stating the network had lost “respect, trust and confidence” in Weenink.

The source said concerns about Weenink were also raised directly with the NZ Cricket board chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon and later by follow-up letter in July – well before the concept of NZ20 was first pitched to the national body.

It is understood the major associations have obtained independent legal representation from high profile employment lawyer Stephen Langton, who has gone through a process of formally documenting the concerns of each of the regions.

Asked about the issues raised by the major associations over a period of several months, Boock responded: “NZC wouldn’t comment on that type of speculation.”

Plea to stop ‘playing the man’

While the major associations and NZCPA are keen to divorce the NZ20 from the conversation over Weenink’s leadership, there is a feeling among some in the cricket community that his lack of support for the concept has led to a “campaign to see the CEO removed”.

Last week, a group of four NZC life members wrote to the board chairs and directors of the national body, each of the major associations, the NZCPA and the NZ20 establishment committee to express their “dismay” at the damage caused to cricket’s reputation and leadership of the game as a result of the “growing dysfunction within New Zealand’s cricket family”.

“Currently it appears that the focus on NZ20, and other T20 opportunities, has been somewhat sidelined, as the dysfunction within the NZC board, NZC’s troubles with the MAs and with the NZCPA, and a campaign to see the NZC CEO removed, is publicly laid bare day after day,” said the letter, signed by Sir Richard Hadlee, Lesley Murdoch, Stephen Boock and Martin Snedden.

“We are deeply saddened by and worried about the resulting damage already impacting cricket’s reputation.

“We urge all those involved to stop ‘playing the man’ and, instead, focus solely on ‘playing the ball’.”

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