Last year's stand-out winger Fetu'u Vainikolo has been dropped but the Highlanders welcome back big prop Jamie Mackintosh to face the Cheetahs at Carisbrook tomorrow.
The All Blacks will open the Rugby World Cup against Tonga at Eden Park on a Friday night and the final of the tournament will kick off on a Sunday at 9pm.
Civic and tourism leaders are heralding the Rugby World Cup draw as a boon for the region.
Highlanders flanker Tim Boys is in the middle of the battle in the most contentious area in rugby.
The Southern Steel will play two games in Dunedin on Saturday as the team continues preparations for the ANZ Championship.
Countries were simply positioning themselves, says Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid, after the latest fallout over the future of the Super rugby competition.
Masters swimmer Steve Prescott did not let the business of competing and winning a national triathlon championship stop him from collecting a swag of medals at the New Zealand masters swimming championships.
The Otago Rugby Football Union is looking for a new refereeing mentor.
A sensational try 15 minutes from time by flying winger Leila Masaga was the difference between the Chiefs and the Highlanders in Invercargill on Saturday night.
Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan says his players need to have a good look at themselves and the side was looking a bit lost on attack.
Highlanders prop Chris King is relishing being in a starting side at long last.
By rights Toby Morland should be enjoying the delights of married life.
Daniel Bowden says he felt no pressure at having to land a penalty after 66 scoreless minutes on Saturday night.
Rugby World Cup pool game venues will be announced tomorrow, with the southern bid still hoping for six games to come south of the Waitaki River.
It was not pretty. If anything it was pretty ugly. But it was a win.
Ron Palenski was reappointed chairman of the Otago Rugby Football Union last night.
The Highlanders will have an almost injury free squad to pick from for next Saturday night's game against the Chiefs in Invercargill.
It is smiles all round in Highlanders country.
A senior club cricketer was timed out on Saturday, the rarest of dismissals in cricket, although the captain of the opposing team said yesterday in hindsight his side maybe should not have appealed.
The Super 14 is likely to add another team and go to a Super 15, a move Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid believes will deliver more of what people want.
