No serious injuries in positive year for NZ Rugby

The New Zealand Rugby Foundation is happy to report there were no serious injuries, at any level, during the 2010 rugby season.

This was down from an unusually high five in 2009, and two in 2008.

New Zealand Rugby Foundation CEO Andrew Flexman says, “in terms of injury, this year couldn’t be any more positive.

“After 2009, when we we had five serious injuries before July, 2010 represents a real turn around.”

Flexman says that injury-prevention campaigns are working.

“It certainly shows that on average the Rugbysmart programmes are effective; the message about safe tackling and safe entrance at rucks/mauls is getting through.

“We often use the ambulance at the top of the cliff metaphor; while we provide assistance when injuries happen, we like to also work on injury prevention.”

The New Zealand Rugby Foundation is set up to help players who have suffered a life changing injury playing rugby. It provides financial assistance to those players and their families. It has provided $250,000 to date in the 2010 Financial Year.

“To be able to be there to provide support for players’ unfortunate enough to come into this circumstance is really encouraging. As a charity, we rely on people’s patronage, as well as the New Zealand Rugby Union.

“As with any sport, serious injury is only one false move away. We as the watchdogs and those playing game, have to keep vigilant, monitor trends, and try to make the game safer,” Flexman says.

Currently the New Zealand Rugby Foundation is part of the ‘Get Black on Your Feet’ campaign with the CatWalk Trust, and The New Zealand Spinal Trust, where people can buy pairs of black socks from New World, PAK’nSAVE, and Four Square supermarkets to help raise funds for the Foundation.

Twitter user: 'I AM NOT A FREAKING CRICKET MATCH'

An American twitter user has unwittingly been placed at the centre of an online cricket gag.

Cricket fans across the world have turned to the social networking site Twitter to share their thoughts on the test series between Australia and England, and one tweeter @theashes has found life tough in the spotlight.

The woman, from Westfield, Massacheuttsus, is being inundated with questions for score updates, player criticisms, questions about when England will declare, and who her favourite team is.

At first, she did not enjoy the attention.

‘I AM NOT A FREAKING CRICKET MATCH,’ she tweeted.

While becoming an instant Ashes Cricket Celebrity, she normally tweets about her toddler and knitting.

She is now embracing her twitter star status, tweeting ‘I'm not sure who I support, England or Australia. However, I've been to England. I've never been to Australia.’

Starting out at a couple of hundred followers before the first Ashes test, she is now just shy of the 5,000 mark.

Tweeters from across the globe are now calling for other users to get @theashes fans up to over 10,000.

A trending topic has already been set up trying to win @theashes a VIP trip to Australia to watch the ashes, follow it at #gettheashestotheashes.

While she has started following @ShaneWarne, she evidently still has a few rules to learn about cricket, as she questioned ‘what the hell is a wicket?’

The Northern Report Card

New Zealand All Blacks

Northern Hemisphere Tour: Win 4 Loss 0

Grand Slam Achievement

Image: Photosport

The All Blacks completed their fourth Grand Slam tour, with their previous being 1978, 2005, 2008.

The Players

The tour has been used as a virtual World Cup simulation by the Three Wise Men, with only 29 players being used.

This was first seen replicated when Sivivatu was injured. Replicating World Cup conditions, no other player was flown in as cover.

In saying that, Tialata was brought in for an injured Ben Franks, though did not play any games. He was basically used an expensive tackling bag/scrum machine.

So to Donald. After his shocker in Hong Kong, the training paddock was all that he could expect.

Braid was nearly in the same category, though his cameo against Wales underlines his value. He will no doubt be playing for his place in the World Cup Squad in the Super 15.

Enough with the bad. The SBW experiment has gone well and smoothly. Although his hotel pass is as good as signed, sealed and delivered for the World Cup, he needs to have a stellar Super 15 season to challenge Nonu.

Gear looks like a seasoned pro at this level, underlined by two very classy tries against Wales. Rokocoko’s time is numbered in the jersey, it’ll be interesting if he ever pulls it back on.

Attack

The important thing about this All Black side is they attack from everywhere. Eighteen tries in four games is testament to that.

The forwards play as backs, and the backs play as forwards – it is a seamless transition. SBW’s trademark offloads were prominent, while Muliaina underlined his class, and status, as the premier fullback with a stellar end of season tour. Toeava made leaps and bounds, capped off with a good performance against Wales, while Jane can feel unlucky not to be picked in the form XV.

Image: AP

Smith has underlined his place, along with Muliaina and Carter as the three indispensable players in the All Black backline.

Read was immense, as to McCaw, and Kaino. There is not a more feared back three in world rugby – with the ball they are certainly something to be reckoned with.

Whitelock is a definite prospect for the future, while Boric has also turned a corner with his performance against Ireland.

Defence

The All Blacks defence is about the rule of fours. Four tries conceded, four games played and four players who were eye catching on defence.

Four tries in four games is a particularly good achievement. It is four tries worse than the past two years, although the laws of the game have changed so dramatically to favour attacking play. There were some amazing try saving tackles by Toeava, a joint effort by Muliaina and Carter, and if you really needed to guess who the last was, a Read eye-catcher against Ireland.

Four players really stood up here, Franks, Thorn, Kaino, and McCaw. Never have I seen more big hits in four consecutive games of international rugby by one team. These players were colossal in the contact area. They aren’t just show ponies either, they are the toughest men in world rugby, and get through mountains of work. Jerry Collins, eat your heart out.

The mark of a great team is not in their attack, but in their defence. Mike Ford, the English Assistant Coach said the Tri Nations was ‘not test rugby’ because of the try scoring dominated play. The All Blacks have most definitely shown this theory up with their total domination at defence time.

Verdict

With New Zealand records, and World records being broken left right and centre on this end of year tour, watch out rest-of-the-world, you are in trouble.

Without a drastic loss in players through injury, the All Blacks are going to be very tough, nigh on impossible to dethrone at home in September/October next year.

With a 13 – 1 international season record, the 2010 class of the All Blacks were among the greatest ever.

It must be very tough to be an All Blacks fan right now.

Report Card: A+

PS: Dear SBW, we're waiting for the trademark big hits.

Player Drain.

Yes, this is about the player drain. No, this isn't the regular New Zealand players are getting poached.

This is about league, and the St Helens Chairman Eamonn McManus calling on rugby league chiefs to halt the player drain to Australia.

Isn't this a twist of fate. And also a bit rich if you ask me.

Mr McManus, with all due respect two players is not a player drain.

Be it that it may, they were England's two best players on the park this Four Nations. Sam Burgess, and Gareth Ellis.

There should be a case for more England players to come to Australia. It will strengthen the English, because let's face it - the Super League is rubbish.

It's where Kiwis and Aussies go to finish up their careers. It is like the retirement home of rugby league.

And yes, the English commentators of the game must be hard of hearing too - as they think that it is close to the NRL in style.

In many ways, the league teams over in England are just like the Rugby Union teams. Taking talent which is declining in other countries, rather than promoting homegrown talent from lower ranks.

As an arm-chair commentator on both games, this is madness. I don't understand why you would bring players in, if it wasn't going to strengthen your country, or the country's competition.

I'll take it back to Sam Burgess. This kid is a superstar. He lifted the performance of the Souths, led the way, and much of the whole team lifted as well - a positive influence on Australian (well mostly Kiwi, thanks Russ for infiltrating the Souths) league.

The point is that English players coming down here to strengthen their game, and then take that reconditioning and knowledge back to the Super League is a godsend for the English.

With the strong Aussie dollar at the moment, the whole English national team should be sent down to live with the convicts for a year, such was their disappointing showing in the Four Nations.

So Mr McManus. The evidence is right here for you to see. James Graham should definitely have his boarding pass. As too Sam Tomkins - minus the girly pink boots.

To get the English shield have at least a little bit of pride, these warnings must be heeded. NRL, not Super League is the way forward.

Without the pace and intensity provided by it, and with the game being played on dry surfaces, England, and the rest of the world, will no doubt fall away even further.

League: In a class of it's own?

Nothing compares.

American Football? No.

Ice Hockey? No.

Rugby Union? No.

When it comes to hits, Rugby League take a bow.

It's you first, and then daylight second.

NRL Big Hits 2010.

This is what I miss.

And now, my two favourite hits of the year.

No 2:

Huge. Simon Dwyer. Big hit.

*Drum Roll Please*

No1:

You can't go past the little fighter, Lance Hohaia. Petero Civoniceva, 'the big hit receiver.'

Martin Johnson to play Freddie Mercury in Twickenham Queen rendition

Abolish the English national anthem. Do away with the red rose on their jerseys. Instead, as the game starts, have them listen to Martin Johnson’s rendition of ‘Under Pressure.’

After a disappointing six nations, finishing third behind Ireland and France, These November Internationals present the greatest challenge of Martin Johnson’s coaching career.

If Martin Johnson was part of Queen, he could happily replace Freddie Mercury; such is his increasing talent in this department.

The likeness is unparalleled.

Sure they are not winning, sure the sharks are circling, but Johnson remains as calm as if his summer holiday is still continuing.

We downunder have heard the usual taunts. The jibes at the Haka, and the oh they don’t play real rugby. Don’t be surprised after this first test if you hear the ‘McCaw is a cheat’ call as well. The old mills just keep on turning.

England Forward Coach Mike Ford even went as far to say that the Tri-Nations was “not test rugby.”

When you have the third best forward pack in the Northern Hemisphere, against the best forward pack in the World, then one should learn to keep their trap shut.

This provides the ammo for the All Blacks to go out and stuff them.

The ‘Donald miscalculation,’ is set to be righted, the only way it can be, with a Dan Carter 80 minuter this weekend.

Whichever way you look at it, the All Blacks have the edge in every position.

Owen Franks is set to continue all good New Zealand prop’s favourite past time; finding out Andy Sheridan at scrum time, while Sonny ‘the star attraction’ Williams will be a menace every time he touches the ball. He should make light work of both Tindall, and Hape.

And with Richie McCaw going to be playing the part of …. Well… Richie McCaw, tomorrow morning’s viewing should make for some excellent rugby.

The weather looks average, let’s hope it stays black, and here’s hoping to a 30 point drubbing.

After a crushing defeat, Johnson may be that much closer to singing "Death on Two Legs" to his troops.

What do you think?

TMO: Television Match Official, Television Match Officials, or Too Many Officials?

If Waikato were up to standard, the final result could have been a whole lot different.

Two possible Canterbury tries were ruled out in the first half, both which without a TMO would have most probably have been awarded. Sure there are merits to having the TMO, but when blatant calls go begging, is it benefiting of our game? Here are three compelling cases.

FOR THE TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL

The Air New Zealand Cup of 2009 will be remembered for a couple of things, one Canterbury were winners, and two, the call in the Hawkes Bay vs Canterbury game which denied Faka'anaua Taumalolo a try in extra time.

If the try above had been allowed, Hawkes Bay would have avoided a rematch with Canterbury in the semi-finals a week later, and would have finished top qualifiers, maybe resulting in an historic home final.

There was much criticism of the New Zealand Rugby Union for not using the technology available to them because of cost factors. It was said that in the ‘supposed’ greatest provincial rugby competition in the world, that not to use the best possible equipment was farcical.

For mine, Hawkes Bay would have won that semi against Southland, and would then have hosted Canterbury in the final. That final would have resulted in a capacity crowd of 22,000, a tale for the locals for many generations to come, and the all round strengthening of support in the ITM Cup for this year.

Instead, it was the predictable Canterbury vs Wellington Final, with the predictable average crowd, and the predictable result.

So there is certainly a case for the TMO.

AGAINST THE TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL

The calls in this year’s ITM Cup Final were howlers. Isaac Ross’s disallowed try was obvious when combining two camera angles, the first clearly showing the ball on the ground, and the other aerial shot showing the ball over the line.

Ryan Crotty’s try was also disallowed under dubious circumstances. Tu Umaga Marshall was ruled to have taken out Henry Speight without the ball, as he was in the process of cleaning up a botched penalty kick. Speight was unable to do that, and Crotty dived through on the ball for the try.

In any rugby game, anywhere, that would’ve been a try. When a player has fumbled the ball backwards, and seeming as though they have gone to pick it up, a players first instinct is to tackle them.

For mine Canterbury were robbed of two tries, which would have been given in a game without TMO's, and which also could have been definitive were Waikato up to the plate.

TWO OFFICIALS, OR TOO MANY OFFICIALS?

This brings about the question. Does there need to be Television Match Officials? Or are there Too Many Officials?

Two officials would surely bring about greater accuracy, though that would support the NZRU’s theory that TMO’s would then cost too much. Which would be worse, putting a little bit more of a dent in the NZRU war chest, or alienating fans with shocking decisions?

Another case can be made that there are Too Many Officials, with people pointing to soccer as an example. Soccer is simple, it is ‘kick ball into net.’ It is not technical, and is a very simple game to ref and follow. Rugby on the other hand is complex, although what did the ref’s do before TMO’s? They went with their gut feeling.

Maybe that’s the way to do it now.

In my opinion though, two TMO’s could be an idea, or even allowing the TMO to listen to the commentary team to get another insight – this aspect just for provincial games, where there is no bias.

The ITM Cup: It truly is a numbers game.

Tonight's ITM Cup final at AMI Stadium between Canterbury and Waikato drew 10,200 people.

AMI stadium has a capacity of 36,000, and that crowd figure means less than a third was full.

The last 3 years finals’ numbers are not much better. 2009, there were 12,000 people at AMI Stadium. 2008, there were 21,327 at Westpac Stadium. 2007, there were 16,000 at Eden Park.

The semi-finals have not been much better. The Auckland versus Waikato match would have garnered about 10 – 15,000 people, the majority of those being Waikato supporters, and the Canterbury versus Wellington match would have had around the 10,000 mark as well.

Hell, even a free-ticket earthquake match in Christchurch could only get 20,000 people out of a possible 36,000.

Compare these figures to Rugby Leagues greatest showpiece, which garnered 82,334 people. This is once again dwarfed by AFL’s Grand Final, with 100,016 for the first final, and then a week later, after the first was a draw, 93,858 people.

The ITM Cup numbers make for pretty average reading. The NRL Grand Final had 8x the attendance of the ITM Cup Final while the AFL Grand Final’s had 10x and 9x the people respectively.

Yes Australia has approximately 5x our population, but the question is do they have 5x our passion? On those numbers you would certainly think so.

New Zealand’s big centres also too would suggest this. With the exception of Waikato; Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, and Otago have been abysmal.

It's being left up to the smaller provinces, at this point to show the way. The problem with this, all of them are in the ‘bottom 7’ for next year, the second tier competition. One has to hope these provincial numbers won’t wane.

The provincial players are heroes in their provinces, an integral part of their towns. Not like the big centres that have got their players into the mould of being latte-sipping ‘superstars.’

Without the provinces, there would be no point having an ITM Cup. Here’s thinking the ‘bottom 7’ will have better crowd numbers than the ‘top 7.’

The New Zealand Rugby Union has a big job on their hands to get people interested back in provincial rugby. For at the moment, it is attendance levels are in a sorry state of affairs.

Does anyone sense that the financially unstable call will be rolled out again? Next time the NZRU should give the provinces with the poorest attendance per population the chop. Then you'd get the proper ITM Cup.

What do you all think?

A memo for NZRU HQ. ATT: Steve Tew

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Dear New Zealand Rugby Football Union

ATT: Steve Tew

Subject: Selling us short

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I see what you are doing, and it doesn’t fool me one bit.

In 5 years time I just hope you don’t rue your decision.

Don’t let us become like the Northern Hemisphere.

Super 15 is now letting you destroy what we the fans hold dear.

Next year won’t be so bad, but it is what happens when the June tests return that I am concerned about.

I implore you to reconsider your decision.

You are stepping on Tapu, selling our Taonga short.

We’ve sat back while you’ve whored our team to different parts of Asia.

We’ve sat back while you’ve let our best players go to the Northern Hemisphere after their failed World Cup attempts. This with no transfer fees, nothing to bulk up the Union which has raised them into the superstars which allow them to earn millions for their clubs overseas.

We’ve sat back while you’ve let South African hissy fits dictate terms and agreements in SANZAR.

But this time, you have gone one step too far.

June – August is reserved for one thing, and one thing only.

It is not reserved for the June tests, then the Super 15 finals, then the Four Nations as it will be.

That window is reserved for the All Blacks. Fullstop.

Thank you for not consulting us when selling our land for their muskets.

The current leadership at NZRU HQ has to be questioned on the merits of this decision.

Rugby will become oversaturated. Do you not get it?

Every time you dilute the All Blacks, they lose a little bit of their mysticism.

I hope you do not rue your decision, as not all fans are as patriotic and unwavering in support as I.

Mediocrity, the middle name of the Highlanders?

I read an article a few weeks ago which promoted the idea of scrapping the Highlanders name.

I have to agree. New coach, new CEO, new players, new stadium, new competition, new attitude.

The Highlanders franchise has come 8^th, 12^th, 4^th, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, 4^th, 7^th, 9^th, 8^th, 9^th, 9^th, 11^th, 12^th, and it is the last seven years which stick in my head. Seven years without making the semi-finals.

Seven.

Granted they had their heyday with the likes of Oliver, Meeuws, Brown, Wilson, Randell, and Kronfeld on their books, but now the name has become associated with mediocrity.

What team in their right mind would truly feel the passion in an amalgamation of two die hard rivals. Then for that same team to take on the name of one of the provinces in the rivalry is totally unfathomable.

Who from Southland truly supports the Highlanders?

Who from Otago truly supports the Highlanders?

Which other team generally gets excited about playing the Highlanders?

Which other team’s supporters get excited about playing the Highlanders?

Yes there are the passionate people, namely Dean Hohaia, the craziest of the bunch (refer pic below), but to me it is an arranged marriage.

Sometimes things go a bit far in our new PC world, the groom shouldn’t have to take the bride’s last name.

Yes, the Southlander’s can hardly be the brides. They show guts, passion, the ability to dig deep, the want to succeed, and what’s more the knowledge of how to win. They are the real men of the south.

They have had a few weeks off the boiler in the ITM Cup, but that has been nothing compared to Otago. Otago are dismal, lying in last place, it makes a mockery of the Super 15 to have a team named after that region.

You look at Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Waikato – all top four teams, all have naming rights.

You certainly wouldn’t call the Hurricanes the Manawatu Hurricanes would you?

You can’t have the Otago Boozers, or the Southland Stunners (lets face it, which good looking New Zealanders come from down there)

But…

Here’s an idea. ‘The Southern Razorbacks.’

All the players aren’t from Southland, and a razor back is something you associate with the province of Otago, and the ‘Southern’ implies that whole area.

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Here’s the PR exercise. Rebrand them.

Everything is fresh, everything feels new.

As I said, New coach, new staff, new CEO, new players, new stadium new competition, new attitude.

The tagline could be,

‘new coach, new players, new competition, same supporters.’

Everything is new, fresh, and has a positive outlook. Just please do me a favour, lose the bloody name.

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PS.

While we’re at it too, no point using that new stadium – Super 14 teams found it bloody hard to win in Invercargill, and for me that won’t change. Just play the home games there. Gosh the supporters down there deserve it.

International Corruptket

Has anyone been paying attention to the Black Caps batsmen’s bank accounts recently? If Pakistan can be accused of match fixing, then so should the New Zealand batsmen.

Crumbling against Australia has long been our favourite past time, but even the most ardent of supporters has to agree that this is one step to far.

New Zealand Cricket is due for a shake up.

For some time now, the Black Caps have been faltering. They are abysmal in tests, and even their strongholds, their t20 and ODI form is definitely suffering.

I thought it was good when Dan Vettori had taken more power, and Mark Greatbatch was to be in more a manager role.

That now though has to be questionable.

Vettori can only do so much. He can be our best bowler, best batsmen, captain, selector, but coach on top of that? Not a chance.

The next sensation, BJ Watling has failed miserably. I’m not going to look at the exact figures of his time in Bangladesh, but throughout the series he must have an average close to zero, or thereabouts.

Along with Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, Tim McIntosh, and Daniel Flynn, he represents the current problem with New Zealand cricket, which is lack of investment.

What is clear is that New Zealand has not invested enough in high quality coaches, high quality equipment to make cricket pitches stable enough for batsmen to feel confident, and high quality administration running the game.

There is no point investing in these players at the top level of the game, if they haven’t been properly nutured throughout the lower levels.

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What to do?

Firstly, an independent review of New Zealand cricket.

Secondly, run with the recommendations. It is not pick and mix.

Thirdly, start growing a backbone, and drop players who aren’t playing well. There is no point in keeping them in there for 10 ODI matches for them to get a 30 or a 40 in one of them.

It destroys their confidence.

And fourthly, if I was the ICC, an anti-corruption unit would be on its way to Bangladesh right now.

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Talking about dream tours, we'll have Pakistan down here this summer.

That'll make for amazing viewing, and also a Bookies dream. Which team can manage to score the lowest, and still manage to win?

47 all out being trumped in the same game by a 36 all out?

Think I'm being outlandish? 5 for 20 was a pretty good start.

SBW.

Sonny Bill Williams has the potential to overtake Ma’a Nonu by the Rugby World Cup 2011. There I have put it out there.

I put it out there to Sumo Stevenson about a week ago on twitter, to which he replied ‘Ma’a is the Man fullstop.’

After seeing SBW put Tana to the sword yesterday though I am not so sure about Sumo’s comment.

It is a sentiment I see echoed by Frank Bunce today in his article.

Granted Tana is ageing, and he was up against the most up-and-coming centre pairing in New Zealand in SBW and Fruean, but surely any sceptics have to be looking at themselves in the mirror about SBW’s potential.

His attack has never been in question, his offloading skills make him the most tantalising prospect in the ITM Cup. He is now starting to score tries with frequency – none better than the one he used to bust open the game for Canterbury against Wellington back in round 9

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The 65m effort against Otago also showed his deceptive pace.

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His defence however at the start of the competition was lacking. This though over the past month has started to shore up, and he is starting to read the game much better.

Against Counties he was on fire. It was a fine performance, the razzle-dazzle offloads, the key tackles, none more so than a full length dive to clip Sherwin Stowers (who otherwise would have been away for a try), and the general nous to be in the right place, at the right time.

The only aspect of sonny’s game which I have not seen yet is his big defence.

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This was on the blindside flanker. I suspect though that as with his vast repertoire of skills which he has been unleashing week by week, these are coming.

For camp SBW, this PR exercise has gone basically to plan. Apart from his skiing trip - it has been very much smooth sailing.

The most pleasing aspect of SBW has been his humbleness, and his demeanour.

Stories from the Christchurch earthquake tell of him making sure everyone in his building was alright.

Pictures, and videos after games do not lie either.

To see him mobbed after the Otago game underlines his star status. Yes, he did get mobbed, but no, he didn’t get angry, frustrated, annoyed, he patiently signed autographs, did all the right things.

Brand SBW still does not have much credibility across the Tasman in many NRL circles, after the PR disaster which was his exit from the Bulldogs.

Brand SBW in New Zealand, and for the most part in Europe however, will have stocks rising all over the show. If he was an investment opportunity, I'd get a lot of my money (that is, coming off my student wage) in it right now - as he is about to soar.

Today he will be confirmed as an All Black. He is sure to fit into that setup with just as much ease as he can offload a ball while being tackled by two defenders. Now that is class.

Peter 'trainwreck' De Villiers

The first question here is does the South African Rugby Union have a PR team?

The second question is why have they not given the most ridiculous coach in rugby history some media training?

Or, gone to the extreme lengths of writing his comments in the post match press conferences for him?

Paul Henry must be thinking why he ‘resigned’ when over in South Africa, you have a guy who publicly says that he ‘100%’ supports a murderer, but ‘not his actions.’

Yes, there is a long line of De Villiers gaffes.

In a 2008 interview, he managed to totally confuse the reader and interviewer with his first line:

‘It has been challenging. When you walk through the shadow of the valley of death, sometimes it’s difficult to know which side your bread is buttered.’

Make of that what you will.

That comment is from the coach that also claimed he was like Jesus, made racist comments about a player on his own team, and earlier this year that suggested the All Blacks’ victories in NZ were a conspiracy to boost ratings before the RWC 2011.

De Villiers, now isn’t respected anywhere in the world, and South Africa’s media training, monitoring, and censoring machine seems unable to do anything about it.

Yes, in my view De Villiers is more of a train wreck than his predecessor Rudolph Straeuli, who presided over the infamous Kamp Staaldraad debacle.




It is obvious that

A. South African Rugby Union does not have a PR Plan, seemingly taking things day-by-day, and operate under no real authority.
B. The practitioners have been rendered so ineffective by the ruling body.
C. After the Jake White Era, South African rugby infighting is at an all time high.

Is the PR department reflective of the state of South African Rugby as a whole?

League 4 Life

Yesterday, the League 4 Life Foundation was officially launched.



The Foundation has been set up to support those who have been seriously injured in rugby league in New Zealand, as well as help rugby league players, and their families who have fallen on hard times.

Basically it is the league version of the New Zealand Rugby Foundation, with one main difference.

This is another area where in PR, League is light years ahead of Union.

The New Zealand Rugby League has committed to the Foundation, is hugely prominent around it, and is not afraid of any ‘turn off’ public will have about making the public more aware about injuries.

They do not see injuries as a "darkside," which will hugely impact on playing numbers in the sport. And Rightly so.

The New Zealand Rugby Union are starting to recognise this more, the Ben Leia dinner.

This is a good start, but the Union has to be proactive rather than reactive. It’s important for the players, spectators, and stakeholders of the game. They have the Foundation sitting in wait, it is time to put real impetus on looking after ‘rugby’s own.’

A ‘Rugby’s Own’ ITM Cup round could be the start. Designer Jerseys for the captains, signed by all the players, and auctioned off in support of injured rugby players – as well as donation boxes, media coverage on skysport, news, print etc.

That would be a good start.

From my point of view, injuries do happen. They happen in every sport. Any sport can have a life-changing injury.

Soccer, Surfing, Rugby, League, Cricket, Equestrian, Track & Field, Ice Hockey, no sport is exempt from life changing circumstances.

There is no reason then why a Union body cannot be behind a charity aimed at helping these players out.

It is important for a sport to have information readily available about care for injured players.

So here, I take my hat off to the NZRL, for taking the initiative and responsibility through creating awareness around the rehabilitation and work they do in their own sport.

New Zealand may be a bit behind the times but...

Using the mobile phone application Foursquare is a great idea for the World Cup, and New Zealand Rugby as a whole.

Basically Foursquare is an application which focuses on users sharing places that people have been, and then recommending them to others. It has worked overseas, catching on rapidly, and there have been thousands of Facebook posts, tweets, and uses of the application, all with one common goal - to become the mayor of a certain place.

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Example: Lets say that I was a huge fan of the pub down the road. If I went there more than everyone else, and logged in to foursquare everytime I was there - I then would be the 'mayor' of that pub.

The pub may have a promotion going on, where the mayor of the pub gets $1 or $2 off drinks, or something like that.

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With all the influx of tourists for next year's World Cup, why not utilise Foursquare.

Have points set up in different stadiums at the start of next year.

The more the Foursquare app users visit the stadium and sign in (it does not matter what code they are watching) the greater the chance they have to be 'mayor' of that stadium. (I mean, how awesome would it be to be 'Mayor of Eden Park?')

As an added incentive, by the time the RWC 2011 tournament starts, whoever is 'Mayor' of that stadium gets a double pass to each of the games at the applicable stadium. Easy.

Members of the public, who do not necessarily follow rugby as a first sport still want to be a part of this World Cup.

With rugby taking the spotlight next year, this would provide an incentive for these people to attend more Super 15 and also ITM Cup games, in the hope of winning a double pass, and of course the honor of being 'Mayor.'

It also provides a unique angle for news, and lots of local coverage.

We are seeing more and more uses of social media in Sports PR every day, why can New Zealand not become an innovator in that aspect.

The use of such an idea for other sports is certainly applicable.

Celebs and All Blacks burn rubber at wheelchair rugby match

High-profile celebrities and sporting heroes competed chair-to-chair with the Wheel Blacks today at the No8 Celebrity Wheelchair Rugby Match to raise funds for the New Zealand Rugby Foundation (NZRF).

Hosted at the Auckland Spinal Unit in Otara, players included All Blacks Keven Mealamu and Benson Stanley, past All Blacks Buck Shelford and Tana Umaga, along with Shortland Street’s Robbie Magasiva, Ido Drent and many more.

Go Girls star Joe Naufahu was named ‘Player of the Match’.

It was exciting, well fought, and as expected the Wheel Blacks outpaced, outclassed, and outmuscled the celebrities.

All Black Keven Mealamu says, “It’s amazing how disabled we, the able-bodied, feel when put outside our comfort zone."

"I have huge respect for the guys in the Wheel Blacks. The way they live life to the full, and what they have gone on to achieve post-injury is truly inspiring.”

All proceeds raised from the No8 Celebrity Wheelchair Rugby Match go directly to the NZRF to enable continued support for the Wheel Blacks, along with providing care and resources to seriously injured rugby players and their families, and funding to other areas of need within New Zealand rugby.

No8 Patron Buck Shelford says along with raising funds, he hopes the match shows life doesn’t stop for injured rugby players.

“With rehabilitation and the right support, players who have been injured in our game can still go on and compete at the highest level,” he says.

“It’s a testament not only to their physical strength, but to their mental strength as well. These blokes are tough where it counts.”

NZRF CEO Andrew Flexman hopes that the campaign has helped to educate people about serious rugby injuries.

“Rugby is about the camaraderie and spirit that comes from playing, watching, coaching, or just being part of the team. Support post-injury is no different. The players need a strong, stable community around them, and we look forward to continuing to provide that. It’s about taking care of rugby’s own.”

Rugby supporters can get involved with the wheelchair-rugby action online, make a donation, watch all the big hits, and bid to win signed playing shirts by logging onto www.no8.co.nz.

The NZRF launched www.no8.co.nz in order to create an online community for passionate rugby supporters that would celebrate New Zealand’s best-loved sport, as well as serve to benefit seriously-injured rugby players.