Steve Hepburn

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is happy with the draw his side has received in the Super rugby competition next year.

The three Rugby World Cup games to be played in Dunedin next year will all kick off at night, with the city hosting the final game of pool play.

Otago assistant coach David Latta admits his job is a lot more than he expected, but he is loving every minute of it.

Loose forward Adam Thomson says he wants to be involved in the new Highlanders regime and that, in the end, convinced him to stay.

It was a win but - to state the obvious - it was ugly. Extremely ugly. If it had been played on the front lawn, the curtains would have been drawn.

Carla Hohepa has come a long way since turning up at an Alhambra-Union training session five years ago.

The only way is up. After a 10-day lay-off, Otago takes the field tomorrow afternoon against Hawkes Bay knowing a win of any form or description is an absolute must.

A win at last. Otago scored its first victory of the ITM Cup season, winning 17-16 in a real arm wrestle at Carisbrook yesterday, played in a howling gale.

Wayne Graham says he is as frustrated as anyone about the Otago team's losing run but he is optimistic the side is not far away from getting a win.

Raylene Bates and Helen Littleworth say they excited, rather than apprehensive, about going to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games.

Close, but not close enough. Otago came up short, in familiar fashion, against Northland yesterday, beaten 13-8 in a match which could have gone either way.

A series of meetings will take place around the province next month to explain proposed changes to the way the Otago union conducts amateur rugby.

Otago will send its biggest team for more than 20 years to the national boxing championships in Christchurch next week as the sport continues to pull itself off the mat.

The Southern Lakes Scholarship scheme - set up to develop rugby talent for Otago - has made a great start with enough funding secured already to bankroll the first year.

Adam Thomson says Delhi could be a dangerous place and he wants to make sure all security promises are met when he arrives in the Indian city for the Commonwealth Games.

It will be roll up your wheels at Carisbrook on Sunday as vehicles tread the turf.

After making the big decision to stay with the Highlanders for the next two years, Adam Thomson has a big month ahead. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to the loose forward about sevens and bringing up a milestone for Otago.

The Highlanders will kick off the expanded Super 15 competition next year with a match against the Hurricanes, and they will not face the Sharks or the Reds at all.