Steve Hepburn

Wellington beat Otago 45-10 in a pre-season match in Wellington yesterday, but losing coach Steve Martin said it was an improvement on last week.

The Highlanders want to keep draft players for two years, and say the present system is not getting the best players on the field.

University A forward Hoani Matenga has been handed the chance to display his wares as Otago continues its hunt to find an openside flanker for the upcoming Air New Zealand Cup.

The quarterfinals for the next World Cup may be held in up to three cities but Dunedin will not be one of them, as its ground, old or new, does not have enough seats.

The lack of a weekly competition has not stopped two Dunedin rugby league players from making a world tournament team.

The Otago side got its training camp under way yesterday and will not have to look far for guidance in the coming season.

Defender Katrina Grant changed roles and made a telling contribution in Southern's hard-fought win over Uni-Albion in premier club netball on Saturday.

Wellington beat Otago 45-10 in a pre-season match in Wellington yesterday afternoon, but losing coach Steve Martin said it was an improvement on last week.

The All Blacks still have a hold over the nation, says author Ron Palenski, and the name of the team did indeed come from this country.

Otago fullback Glen Horton has signed a new contract with Otago and is available for the side this season.

Adjusting to new laws and tightening its defence are two of the goals for Otago when it meets Wellington at Porirua Park this afternoon.

All Black coach Graham Henry says his side put on its best half of rugby so far this year, despite losing to the Springboks at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

After a coaching career which has involved 14 seasons steering premier club rugby sides, eight years as an Otago B coach, and two years as a selector, Shayne Flanagan is finally involved in coaching the Otago team.

A South African left-arm pace bowler who wants to play for New Zealand has signed to play for Otago this season.

It is a case of brotherly love for the Otago under-16 boys side at this week's national tournament in Dunedin.

Buoyed by a successful sell-out test against the Springboks at Carisbrook, Otago rugby officials are keen to repeat the dose next year, eyeing a match against the team that tipped the All Blacks out of the last World Cup.

Otago's loose forward stocks have been further depleted with No 8 Steven Setephano out for four weeks after aggravating a calf injury.

Suspended All Black Brad Thorn could not wear a rugby jersey on Saturday but he still took to the field, although it was a round rather than an oval ball he was chasing.