Steve Hepburn

Super Rugby kicks off this weekend with a couple of matches in the South African conference. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the five sides in the conference and if any of them can make an impact.

Another former Highlander has headed to the Sunwolves.

Tom Donnelly  has returned to Otago as assistant coach and says he is really enjoying the role.

There may be plenty of fun in the stands and talk about sheep and swine but for the Highlanders it is serious business.

Southern United will return to Sunnyvale on Sunday, hoping to bag a win and reverse a trend of two straight losses.

The Crusaders will put out plenty of firepower for their game against the Highlanders in Waimumu tomorrow.

The round bouncy ball has become king.

Southern United striker Danny Furlong is heading home, signing a two-year professional contract with Galway United in the League of Ireland.

Four Otago clubs have made the long trek to Lake Karapiro for the national championships which start today.

The Otago Rugby Football Union is not boosting its numbers and has one of the smaller staff of provinces around the country.

The New Zealand Masters Games wrapped up yesterday with plenty of pride and panache,  and organisers happy with how the nine-day sporting festival ran.

Southern United was made to pay for a couple of sloppy plays on defence as it fell 3-1 to a clinical Team Wellington at Sunnyvale yesterday.

The Highlanders performed the worst of the New Zealand sides at the Brisbane Tens during the weekend but will not be too down about it.

There were a couple of contrasting wins in the Otago 5000m championships at the Caledonian Ground  in Dunedin on Saturday.

Bryan Williams says watching all the competitors take part at the New Zealand Masters Games  motivates him to get involved. However,  a third hip replacement and  other commitments...

The lure of  Otago was too great for James Doleman to ignore.

Tim McLennan is trying to make the best of a late start.

The Highlanders have bagged a win and a loss on the opening day of the Brisbane tens.