Steve Hepburn

Adam Thomson and Jason Macdonald make a return to the Otago pack for its Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington at Westpac Stadium tomorrow night.

Sean Romans says every player in the Otago team knows the Ranfurly Shield is at stake - and will have a good crack at the shield - but the game itself will not change just because of the log of wood.

The pride of the provinces gets its annual airing starting tonight, as the Air New Zealand Cup kicks off.

Kashi Leuchs has become a student, is taking a breather, and is off to explore the back country of the South Island.

Highlanders winger Lucky Mulipola may have his contract terminated after he appeared in court yesterday and denied an assault charge.

Otago has had plenty of heartache and not a lot of joy with the Ranfurly Shield. With Otago's challenge just two days away, rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to a man who went close three times and another man who helped set up Otago's greatest shield era.

Former New Zealand Warrior Michael Witt has plenty of big match experience and believes strong defence and confidence is the key to a good performance on Friday night.

Otago has virtually an injury-free squad going into Friday night's Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Otago B will play home and away matches against Southland B and Canterbury B this season as a replacement for the scrapped National B competition.

All Black loose forward Adam Thomson made a successful return from injury on Saturday and said he was available for Otago's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington on Friday night.

Otago had a rusty dress rehearsal for its Ranfurly Shield challenge in six days' time going down 19-14 to Southland in Invercargill last night.

North Otago will gladly take a place in the new division one competition, believing it will benefit the Highlanders franchise.

In our final instalment in the Shield Stories series, rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to former loose forward Kelvin Middleton.

It is just seven days until the Ranfurly Shield challenge and Otago will want a good dress rehearsal when it plays Southland in Invercargill today.

Seven new caps have been named in the Otago squad to contest the Air New Zealand Cup this season, with coach Steve Martin saying this is a new team in a new year.

The head of the Southern Steel says she was unaware of any problems ace shooter Donna Wilkins was having in her return to top-flight netball.

It has been a big week for Alando Soakai.

All Black coach Graham Henry praised his side's tremendous character in coming back to win the first Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland on Saturday night.