Steve Hepburn

Aaron Smith - Highlander, halfback and now homeowner.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph paid tribute to his two All Blacks for leading the way on Saturday night.

As usual, New Zealand teams will be in the running for the Super 15 title when the season starts for them this weekend. Steve Hepburn looks at the four New Zealand sides north of the Waitaki.

The Highlanders may have only scored three tries in the pre-season but coach Jamie Joseph is not pushing any panic buttons over his attack.

The Highlanders will welcome back its two All Blacks but have no specialist No 8 available as the side heads across the Tasman for its final warm-up match.

Former All Black Clarke Dermody is back with the Highlanders, working as the scrum coach for the franchise.

Otago made no race of its opening one-day game in Timaru yesterday, beating Canterbury by five wickets.

The Highlanders worked hard, got some reward and could give themselves a pat on the back but ultimately it was a case of what might have been in Hamilton on Saturday night.

The Highlanders have gone down narrowly 21-19 to the Chiefs in the Super 15 in Hamilton tonight.

Dion Lobb started his celebrations a week early.

Malakai Fekitoa made an instant impact for the Highlanders last week.

Home-and-away derby matches every year will diminish while the new Super rugby competition will be a week shorter, though exact details have yet to be released.

The one-day hopes of the Volts have been given a boost with the confirmation Ryan ten Doeschate will play for the side in the competition.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph says the Chiefs have set the benchmark and it is up to his side to match it.

On the eve of the seventh edition of the ANZ Championship, Netball writer Adrian Seconi looks ahead at what we might expect from the season.

One week, goodbye Cardiff.

Living in Hamilton, playing for the defending champion, Chiefs. Just signed a new contract with his beloved Southland.

Brad Thorn could be out for a month with a rib injury but no-one would be betting against seeing him sooner.

The Highlanders have started the Super 15 with a bang defeating the much-fancied Blues 29-21 at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.

The most hyped debut for many a year happened in Dunedin on Saturday night, but for Benji Marshall it was just another step in what is going to be a long journey.