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Mar 7, 2013

All Black Carter denies Japan deal

All Blacks star fly-half Dan Carter on Wednesday denied speculation he had signed a deal to play Japanese club rugby but did not rule out the prospect of a foray into the big-money league. The 31-year-old, one of the highest-profile players in world rugby, ...

Mar 5, 2013

Ireland axes O'Gara for France clash

Ronan O’Gara, Ireland’s most-capped rugby player, was on Sunday left off the Six Nations squad to face France in Dublin next weekend, raising more doubts over the 36-year-old’s international future. The veteran fly-half was ignored by coach Declan Kidney when the 32-man squad was ...

Feb 20, 2013

Kahui's Japan move irks Hansen

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen expressed disappointment Tuesday at Richard Kahui’s decision to play rugby in Japan next year, saying he was frustrated the center never gave him a chance to change his mind. Kahui announced last week that he would move to Top ...

Feb 15, 2013

All Blacks veteran Kahui joins Toshiba

Richard Kahui, a 2011 World Cup winner with the All Blacks, has signed a two-year deal with Japan Top League side Toshiba Brave Lupus, his current Super Rugby team announced Wednesday. “I love being a Chief, but it is no secret that I have ...

Feb 13, 2013

Horie on track for Super 15 debut

Shota Horie is set to become the first Japanese ever to play in the Super 15, after he was named Tuesday in the Melbourne Rebels’ match-day 22 for their first-round game with the Western Force on Friday. The 27-year-old hooker was on the replacements’ ...

Jan 20, 2013

Suntory rally past Kobelco to reach Top League final

Defending Top League champions Suntory Sungoliath carried their unbeaten record into the playoff final with a come-from-behind 38-19 semifinal win over Kobe Kobelco Steelers on Saturday. After winning all 13 league games during the regular season, Sungoliath trailed 19-9 at the break with all ...

Jan 7, 2013

Advocates want All Black to come out

Gay rights advocates in New Zealand have called for a homosexual All Blacks player to openly declare his sexuality and act as a role model in the fight against bigotry. Broadcaster Steve Gray told the Sunday Star-Times that he was aware there had been ...

Dec 23, 2012

Kintetsu fails to qualify for Top League playoffs

Kyodo Kintetsu Liners missed out on a spot in the Top League rugby playoffs after losing 13-10 to NTT Communication Shining Arcs at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on Saturday. Kintetsu, in seventh place and needing victory to stay in the hunt for a top-four ...

Dec 17, 2012

Kobe qualifies for Top League playoffs

Kobe Kobelco Steelers locked up a place in the playoffs to determine the Top League rugby champion Sunday despite going down to their first defeat of the season. The Steelers lost 29-27 to Toshiba Brave Lupus, but Yuta Imamura’s superb individual try two minutes ...

Dec 16, 2012

All Blacks' McCaw earns accolade

Talismanic All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been named New Zealand’s player of the year for the fourth time. At an awards ceremony on Friday night, McCaw beat Kieran Read and Conrad Smith for the top accolade which he previously won in 2003, 2006 ...

Dec 10, 2012

Yamada helps Wild Knights take down Red Hurricanes

Panasonic Wild Knights kept up their good form of late with a 65-7 thrashing of NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes at Ota Sports Park on Sunday. Even without a number of their big name players, the Wild Knights were simply too good for the visitors, ...

Dec 3, 2012

Wild Knights overwhelm Verblitz

Panasonic Wild Knights got what is in all likelihood the post-Sonny Bill Williams era off to a winning start when they beat Toyota Verblitz 40-17 at Ota Sports Park on Sunday. The inside word from the Panasonic camp is that the injured former All ...