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'Rugby: Player poaching banned under new schoolboy rugby rules'

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'Rugby: Player poaching banned under new schoolboy rugby rules'

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Author: Stephen Foote
Date: 26/03/2019

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Any further poaching of opposition talent in New Zealand has been essentially banned as part of a ground-breaking new Secondary Schools rugby agreement.

On Monday, representatives of 10 schools in Auckland's 1A grade rugby competition met to decide a new set to standards as a result of the proposed boycott of St Kentigern College for their alleged unfair recruitment practices.

According to a statement released on Tuesday morning, they've agreed to the following terms:

- Not permit any form of player recruitment or inducement to attract a student from another school's first XV rugby team that is part of an NZRU sanctioned competition.

- Not offer a student from another schools first XV Rugby team (that is part of an NZRU sanctioned competition) a partial or full scholarship to attend their school.

- Any new to school player who has transferred from an NZRU 1st XV sanctioned competition will be stood down for six 1A competition games, and any potential semi-final or final matches.

In December, other 1A schools threatened to boycott their games against St Kentigerns, due to what was later ruled as excessive player recruitment by an independent review.

Last week, they were cleared to play in this year's competition on the proviso that they sit new-to-school players from outside of Auckland for the first six games and stand down two out-of-zone players for any playoff matches.

St Kents open their 2019 season against defending champions St Peter's College next month.

Newshub.

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Rugby: Player poaching banned under new schoolboy rugby rules

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Any further poaching of opposition talent in New Zealand has been essentially banned as part of a ground-breaking new Secondary Schools rugby agreement. On Monday, representatives of 10 schools in Auckland's 1A grade rugby competition met to decide a new set to standards as a result of the proposed boycott of St Kentigern College for their alleged unfair recruitment practices.

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Girls just wanna get paid: Calling time on the undervaluing of women's sport

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Girls just wanna get paid: Calling time on the undervaluing of women's sport

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MACDONALD (2017)

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One weekend, two cracking games of rugby. Two rousing hakas; two nail-biting wins; two blistering shows of skill. The difference? One world champion team earns millions, the other is largely passionate women taking time out from day jobs as cops, firefighters and graphic designers.

The Black Ferns' victory against a paid England team at last weekend's Women's Rugby World Cup has earned them unprecedented media and public attention. The team dominated newspaper front pages and, for the first time, the players are being recognised in the street. It seems extraordinary for a team that already had four World Cups to its name - one more than their superstar male counterparts.

And the disparity got people talking. As much as the lack of a professional pay packet, it's the little things that speak volumes about the relative value placed on women's sport. While the All Blacks and Super Rugby teams fly business, the female world champions were in economy.

Then there was the girl who couldn't find a store selling Black Ferns jerseys, and the woman who wanted a full-family set, only to discover they didn't make men's sizes. As if it were inconceivable that blokes could be fans too.

READ MORE
* Head to head: Should the Black Ferns be paid professionals or highly skilled amateurs?
* Kevin Norquay: It's amateur hour (and a bit) as Black Ferns win the World Cup
* Manurewa MP Louisa Wall backing new Women in Sport Aotearoa advocacy group

Coming in the same week as a survey concluding female Kiwi workers are paid 16 per cent less than men for doing the same job, the revelations prompted calls for the rugby powerhouses to be paid. But the Black Ferns' situation is just a symptom of a bigger issue - the fact women's sport continues to be a poor cousin in terms of financial support.

Traditionally, the argument has gone something like this: women's sport is boring - they're not as fit or fast or skilled as the men. Why are they not as fit or fast or skilled? Because they don't get the same sponsorship, training and coaching support. Why don't they get the same sponsorship, training and coaching support? Because they don't have the same television coverage and media profile. Why don't they have the same television and media coverage? Because it's boring and no-one wants to watch them. And round and round we go.

The Black Ferns' win has challenged those assumptions. They're fit, fast and skilled, and the country stopped to watch them play. While Sky TV would not release New Zealand audience figures, 2.6 million British viewers watched the final - almost half the audience for the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.

And it's not just women's rugby. Around the world, professional women's leagues are proving there is interest in women's sport. Australia has its new Aussie Rules competition and Big Bash women's cricket. England has a women's T20 cricket tournament, a female rugby Six Nations and a women's football league.

Simon Porter, chief executive of sports agency CSM, says while women's sport still doesn't get the attention it deserves, there is a global groundswell building. The response to the Black Ferns' win is unlike anything he's ever seen. And he should know - his wife Hannah is a former Black Fern who won two World Cups, and is now the team's campaign manager.

"I think the public are slowly waking up."

But in New Zealand, progress to capture that wave of interest is lagging.

Twins Sarah and Rachel Eichler both love football and would like to play professionally. While overseas opportunities are improving for women, Sarah says a New Zealand women's pro competition would motivate her to keep playing. PHOTO: MONIQUE FORD/STUFF

On a chill Wednesday night, about 150 beanies and down jackets line up to watch Hutt Valley High and Wellington Girls' 1st XIs fight to be Wellington's top girls' college football team.

This is serious. When a black and gold player hits the turf, "Yellow card" bleats ripple through the Girls' College supporters. "Bloody cheaters", the Hutt Valley crowd retorts.

"Oh my god, oh my god," cry breathless Girls' College players, mid hug-spin, as they take out the match 2-0.

On the sidelines, Rachel and Sarah Eichler are just here for the love of the game - the 14-year-old twins attend Wellington East and play for Wellington United. Rachel reckons it's sad that crowds are smaller at women's games.

"There's not as much publicity about women. We watched a bit of the under-18s World Cup, but you don't know when they're playing."

She thinks opportunities for women are improving, and she could play professionally, if she trains hard and goes to an American club.

Sarah isn't so sure. What if there was a professional competition here in New Zealand, I ask. "Like the Phoenix?" she beams. "That would be cool. Because then you would actually be motivated to keep going with football. Because it would be an easier goal."

There, in a nutshell, are two key reasons women's sport remains a poor cousin in New Zealand.

The Silver Ferns are our second biggest sporting brand, but Netball NZ earns one-tenth what rugby does in sponsorship. PHOTO: PHOTOSPORT

Tennis New Zealand boss Julie Paterson sits down every Saturday with her newspaper and counts the sports stories relating to women. It's a good weekend when there's a 1 to 5 ratio. Often, women's sport accounts for just one in 20 stories. Male and female Olympians get roughly equal billing. Team sports - not so much.

The struggle to fund women's sport reflects unequal media and television coverage and the failure of the sports themselves to market their female players, Paterson says. That then impacts on the ability to get sponsorship, the perceived value of women's sport and the choices of the next generation of players. Which is why she helped set up Women in Sport Aotearoa in March, to push for a better deal for female athletes.

"If you decided, as a business, to develop a new product and you wrapped it in brown paper and put it on a shelf and didn't spend any money on it whatsoever, do you think that product is going to sell? ... There's a bit of a circular argument, of, well, nobody is interested in women's sport. That's actually bullshit. Research shows that people are interested in women's sport, they just can't find it anywhere."

Take netball: the Silver Ferns are the country's second largest sporting brand and netball is our most-played sport. But Netball New Zealand last year earned just $5.2 million in sponsorship, compared with New Zealand Rugby's $55m.

Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie puts the disparity down to unequal media profile. While businesses are realising half the population is female, and they're often make buying decisions, it remains a struggle.

"If you can't be in print and on radio and on TV as much as the person next to you, you're going to find it more difficult."

Former Black Fern and Sky Sport commentator Melodie Robinson has called on NZ Rugby to put its money where its mouth is and investigate a professional women's XV competition. PHOTO: LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF

If you're going to pay female athletes, they need a regular gig.

Former Black Fern, now Sky Sport commentator, Melodie Robinson wants New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to consider a professional women's competition - "something new and sexy" - under the Super Rugby banner.

The organisation has a chequered history with the women's XVs game, having axed the domestic competition for a year in 2010. Then Black Fern Farah Palmer, now NZR's first ever female board member, warned the move could kill the game. Even now, only 11 of New Zealand's 26 provincial unions field women's teams.

Robinson says NZR now has great champions for women, but with Australia's Big Bash cricket and new AFL league, New Zealand is "well behind" in opportunities for sportswomen. And the women's game is the only growth area in rugby, so should be seen as a commercial opportunity rather than a cost.

The Black Ferns also need a regular international test window, Robinson says.

"If you don't put money, commitment and time into making these sports grow, nothing will happen. So it is a circular argument. But why don't we just try something?"

New Zealand Rugby's head of women's rugby, Cate Sexton, says the women's game is "a work in progress". Creating her job - and five regional roles - 2½ years ago underlined the organisation's commitment to female players.

Now Sevens is an Olympic sport, attracting Sport New Zealand funding, female players get retainers of $45,000 to $60,000, plus $2000 per international tournament. They have 20 contracted players, compared to 16 for the men. The men's top rate is higher, at $90,000, reflecting overseas competition for top male talent.

Support for the Black Ferns has also risen dramatically, with players now paid $2000 a week when together, adding up to $14,000 to $15,000 this year.

Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Faamausili and Selica Winiata with the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

NZ Rugby is also working to raise the profile of the women's game, including taking a videographer and media manager to Britain to cover the World Cup, Sexton says.

Asked why the Black Ferns travelled economy when the All Blacks and Super Rugby teams travel business, she says the savings allowed greater support in the leadup, and extra days in Ireland to prepare. However, the blokes would never have had to make that choice.

Sexton acknowledges the Black Ferns need better international fixtures - but that has to come from World Rugby. NZR is also considering a professional women's XV competition, she says.

"If you're going to commercialise it there's a fair bit of work to do in that space. I don't see it a long way away, but certainly not in the next year."

As well as getting commercial backing, the challenge is to find a format that works for players who might not want to give up their day jobs, especially if initial earnings are low.

Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Faamausili would not trade her job as a police detective to play rugby fulltime. Instead, she'd prioritise more games, and recognition.

"I wouldn't change what I'm doing right now. I know this is the career that will set me up at the end of it."

Porter says everyone agrees women's sport needs more money, but throwing cash at individuals isn't necessarily the answer. You also need better coaches, better competitions and better international fixtures. But sitting around waiting for money to flow in is also not an option.

"They just have to do it, the likes of the rugby union and NZ Cricket. They're just going to have to front up - a bit of a 'build it and they will come'."

Big hitter Suzie Bates is one of only a few team sportswomen outside netball making a living from her sport, thanks to increased retainers from NZ Cricket and new semi-professional women's leagues overseas. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Paterson holds up New Zealand Cricket as a model of what's possible. After a comprehensive review, the board last November admitted it had neglected the women's game based on cost, and a perceived lack of interest. "We were wrong," they said.

Chief operating officer Anthony Crummy says the organisation realised it was simplistic to say the White Ferns earn less broadcast revenue so deserve less investment. NZ Cricket has since increased the number of women in governance, upped the number of player contracts from 10 to 15 and trebled retainers in some cases, meaning top players now earn $45,000-$50,000, including match fees.

They've extended ANZ's sponsorship to include the White Ferns, started promoting the White Ferns and Black Caps together, and seen an 11-12 per cent rise in girls playing the game.

The international body has also manned up, increasing Women's Cricket World Cup prize money from $200,000 to $2 million, and paying for the White Ferns to travel business class.

Cricket big-hitter Suzie Bates has benefited from those changes, and the nascent global women's leagues.

Having grown up with two brothers, she always played with the blokes and thought nothing of it. But she quickly realised her representative career would be a short one. Unlike the boys she'd played with, she'd have to get a job.

But in the 11 years she's played for the White Ferns, the women's game has changed from a weekend hobby to a fulltime job.

Tennis is one of the few sports offering equal prize money for men and women. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

She's speaking from England, where she's playing in their T20 competition. She also played in Australia's Big Bash, which was so successful in its first three years that player payments have doubled annually, from $5000 to $10,000 to $26,000 this year.

"It came at a cost, but I think they're reaping the reward. By promoting and investing, revenue has come after that. The more the girls are on TV, the more profile the girls get, the more women want to be involved," Bates says.

While she's now making a living from cricket, not everyone is so lucky, reinforcing the challenge of semi-professional sport. Some players have left full or part-time jobs to take up uncertain contracts. If they're suddenly dropped, or their body can't hack 10 months of competition, their income will change dramatically.

As a youngster, Bates's cricketing hero was Nathan Astle - she only realised there was a women's team at the 2000 Women's Cricket World Cup. She hopes the next generation will instead look up to great sporting women.

"It's not rocket science. You've just got to be willing to invest."

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Nikki Macdonald - Short-form Feature Writer of the Year

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Girls just wanna get paid: Calling time on the undervaluing of women's sport

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One weekend, two cracking games of rugby. But there's a big difference between our world champion teams.

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It's a long road to gender equality in New Zealand sport

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It's a long road to gender equality in New Zealand sport

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Caldwell (2018)

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It's a long road to gender equality in New Zealand sport

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Media coverage, money and governance is a hindrance to gender equality in the sporting world, Olivia Caldwell writes.

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Equality in sport, it's an argument for all

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Equality in sport, it's an argument for all

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Caldwell (2018)

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Equality in sport, it’s an argument for all

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OPINION: Equality for female sport is getting closer, but it won’t happen overnight, writes Olivia Caldwell.

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Document that has been shared with every student

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91331 2.5 'My Significant Physical Activity Essay' 

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Refer to this - task 2. Also has essay structure.

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Final 91331 Presentation - How does Rugby impact on myself, others and society? 2.5 91331

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Task 3 - 91331 2.5 - Significance for 'society' & others - ISSUES

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Super Rugby players suffer image anxiety - research

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Super Rugby players suffer image anxiety - research

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Radio New Zealand (2018)

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New research has revealed New Zealand Super Rugby players are suffering from body anxiety problems.

Researchers from the University of Otago questioned 26 Super Rugby players during pre-season training and found some struggle to balance eating correctly with the pressure to look good.

In some cases players were binge-eating and even making themselves sick to control their food intake.

The players were given a 49-item questionnaire asking them to rate each part of their body, from 'always happy' with their image to 'never happy'.

Lead author Katherine Black told Nine To Noon's Kathryn Ryan the ways players are trying to control their body image is very unhealthy.

"We're sort of getting up to, not clinical eating disorders, but borderline potential problems, in terms of the way that they're eating - so binge-eating or thinking about making themselves sick to control the amount that they're eating."

The research found young players were particularly vulnerable to body image issues.

High performance sports dietitian Dane Baker, who works with the Chiefs, said players were expending up to 4000 calories a day from exercise alone.

"We are finding it really challenging to convince these guys that they needed to eat enough, not just to optimise their recovery but also to increase muscle mass to compete at a Super Rugby level."

One of the biggest contributing factors to players' body image anxiety was social media, Mr Baker said.

"I think what we are seeing now is a reflection of what we've seen in female athletes - it's been well-documented for the past 20 years that there's a high amount of pressure on body image," he said.

"Nowadays you only have to look on Instagram or Facebook to see those sorts of pressure on young guys."

Dr Black said Super Rugby franchises had a responsibility to better educate young players about the importance of healthy eating to prevent body image anxiety from developing, otherwise the issues could affect players in later life.

- RNZ

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Super Rugby players suffer image anxiety - research

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New research has revealed New Zealand Super Rugby players are suffering from body anxiety problems. Researchers from the University of Otago questioned 26 Super Rugby players during pre-season training and found some struggle to balance eating correctly with the pressure to look good.

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How is funding allocated? NZRPA Collective Agreement

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How is funding allocated? NZRPA Collective Agreement

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How much money are we talking here? Is it fairly distributed?
$191 Million shared to different competitions

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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have signed a new Collective Employment Agreement for professional rugby players in New Zealand from 2016 to 2018.

Formal signing of the agreement follows a comprehensive negotiation and ratification process by the NZR Board, Provincials Unions, Super Rugby clubs and the NZRPA.

Highlights of the the new Collective Agreement:
* a revenue sharing model maintained with 36.56% of NZR player generated revenue, equating to $191m (up from $121m) over three years due to anticipated increased revenue from the Lions Series, being set aside to allow for an increased investment in player payments, education and welfare initiatives payment increases for all contracted players;

* increased contracting budgets for Super Rugby clubs and a significantly increased NZR allocation towards payment of 'top up' retainer payments;

* expansion of the existing Player Payment Pool funded Mitre 10 Cup Incentive Payment aimed at recognising those players who remain committed to this competition and NZR beyond the Super Rugby competition, and, in particular, for experienced players. This incentive payment will now also include experienced non-Super Rugby provincial players. the introduction of an incentivised Player Savings Scheme for Investec Super Rugby and Sevens contracted players. This is in addition to the KiwiSaver scheme;

* the introduction of an illicit drug education and awareness programme, designed to support player health and well-being;

* an agreed framework around players involved in the Brisbane 10s and other offshore Super Rugby games;

* a compulsory induction programme requiring players to undergo a number of modules including respect and inclusiveness, player conduct, mental health and wellness, anti-doping, wagering and corruption and concussion management;

* increasing of the minimum retainers for Provincial Unions Contract and Development Contract Players and retention of the existing salary cap for Provincial Unions;

* Full compensation to Provincial Unions for unavailability of All Blacks;

* expansion of the player personal development programme; and,

* Increased funding for the NZRPA Benevolent and Welfare Fund aimed at assisting Players and their families through premature career ending injuries or illness and during times of hardship.

The new agreement replaces the existing Collective Agreement and is deemed effective from 1 January 2016 until 31 December 2018.

NZR CEO Steve Tew said the Agreement demonstrated a strong emphasis on investing in players' and rugby's future, and highlighted an on-going commitment to work in partnership to ensure the growth and success of rugby in New Zealand.

"We're delighted to have concluded this important piece of work. We believe that our partnership with players continues to be a critical factor in the success of New Zealand Rugby at all levels of the game. And we recognise that that close relationship is part of our competitive advantage.

"In a highly competitive global market, we can't compete purely on money. For us, the difference has to be in the environment we offer and the strength of our support for players to have the lifestyle they want. This new deal further enhances that while the overall increased and expanded investment across a number of areas, means that our packages are increasingly competitive.

"This Agreement has been developed on the back of some very hard work. I personally want to thank the players, our provincial union partners and the collective negotiation team for their work and commitment to ensuring rugby can continue to inspire and unify New Zealand communities," Tew said.

NZRPA CEO Rob Nichol also welcomed the formal agreement noting that it serves as a cornerstone of the professional rugby environment in New Zealand.

"This Agreement provides an ongoing level of certainty around the competitions and the overall contracting model, while also resulting in significant additional investment in Player education, retention and welfare, and a fantastic new initiative in the incentivised Player Savings Scheme.

"As with previous Collectives the Players are proud of the results the process and final agreement has produced for rugby in New Zealand but we know we still have on-going challenges and opportunities to address to ensure rugby's long term growth and success."

"We operate in a global sporting and entertainment market place that continues to evolve. The Players believe we can never take anything for granted and that we must continue to work hard, create the best environment possible and strive for success.

"We wish to acknowledge and thank New Zealand Rugby, the Super Rugby teams and Provinces. Balancing a global professional sport and the needs for the local community game, in a society with a seemingly never ending stream of choice for the entertainment dollar and sporting and cultural participation, is far from easy." "We will now look forward to some exciting competitions, performances and success stories on the field and continuing to work with New Zealand Rugby to ensure the game's health off it." Nichol said.

Summary of the CEA follows below:
Summary of the NZRU and NZRPA Collective Agreement 2016 - 2018
The major new initiatives and substantive changes contained within this Collective Agreement include:
Term
The agreement will be deemed to have come into force on 1 January 2016 and will expire on 31 December 2018. The three year term is the maximum allowable under New Zealand employment law and is consistent with previous Collective Agreements between the parties.

Revenue Sharing
Over the three years 36.56 per cent of NZRU's Player Generated Revenue will be set aside in a Player Payment Pool and applied for the benefit of players.

Under this agreement this equates to $191m over three years (up from $121m). However, $15m of this amount is being held back for allocation in future years, due to the revenue proceeds from the once in twelve year Lions tour falling during this period.

The projected payments from the Player Payment Pool are therefore $176m over the three years and consist of the following types of payments:
* Retainer Payments projected to be $119.2m over the three years for:
o Investec Super Rugby
o All Blacks
o All Blacks Sevens
o Womens Sevens
o Incentive Payments to Super Rugby and experienced Provincial Union Players
* Team Assembly Payments projected to be $18.7m over the three years for:
o All Blacks
o Black Ferns
o Maori All Blacks
o Women's Sevens
o All Blacks Sevens
* Other player specific payments projected to be $39m over the three years for:
o Player Personal Development Program Funding
o NZRPA Benevolent and Welfare Fund (career ending and hardship financial support)
o KiwiSaver Contributions ($3.5m)
o Incentivised Player Savings Scheme ($9.2m)
o Life, Trauma and Medical Insurance
o Payments to compensate for Rugby Championship All Blacks unavailable for Mitre 10 Cup
o Player Relocation and Accommodation Reimbursement
o Promotional Payments
o NZRPA Funding

Player Contracting

NZR Contracting Environment

The key features in the NZR Contracting environment are:

* NZR provides NZR Retainer payments to certain players on top of their Super Rugby and Provincial Union Retainer payments. These payments have traditionally been targeted at those that form part of the wider All Blacks squad
* The coverage of these top up retainer payments will now extend to include some experienced Super Rugby players
* An amount of $24.8m has been forecast over the three-year period (up from $15.9m) for NZR Retainer payments
* NZR will contract a small group of Under 20 Players on Interim Training Contracts to undertake pre-season training with their home base Super Rugby Club. These Players will not play Super Rugby, and will return to provincial and Club rugby on the commencement of the Super Rugby competition.

Super Rugby Contracting Environment

The key features in the Super Rugby contracting environment are:

* Super Rugby Teams can contract up to 32 players by the Super Rugby eligibility in late October each year
o The maximum Super Rugby retainer is $195,000 (up from (190,000)
o The minimum Super Rugby retainer is $75,000 (up from $70,000)
* Super Rugby teams can then select an additional six Draft NZ Rugby Contract (previously Wider Training Group) players through the draft process, who are assembled full time as part of a Super Rugby squad and available for selection, on retainers of $50,000 (up from $40,000)
* Super Rugby team contracting budgets from the Player Payment Pool are now equalised at approx. $4.65m per year per Super Rugby Club from 2017 (up from $4.0m in 2015)
* Revenue generated from the Brisbane Tens tournament will be regarded as NZR Player Generated Revenue. Players will receive a tournament payment of $2,500 with any prize money won being share amongst the players from the respective team

Provincial Union Mitre 10 Cup Contracting Environment

The key features in the Provincial Union contracting environment are:

* Maximum Provincial Union retainer is $55,000 (status quo)) with the exception of two veteran players per Union who can receive up to $85,000
* Minimum Provincial Union retainer now $21,000 (increased from $18,000) with each Provincial Union required to have a minimum 26 players (excluding Investec Rugby Championship All Blacks) on contract for their Mitre 10 Cup campaign
* Replacement Mitre 10 Cup players will be paid $1,250 per week (up from $1,000)
* Non Super Rugby or Sevens Provincial Union Contracted players will continue to have to study or work, and cannot be required to assemble during the hours of 8.30am and 5pm outside of the 15-week Mitre 10 Cup campaign (including pre-season)
* The Player Payment Pool will make payment of $55,000 for any Investec Rugby Championship All Black with this amount used to reimburse Provincial Unions for the player's retainer with any difference paid to the player directly (this is an increase over the $50,000 previously reimbursed). The Player Payment Pool has provisioned $6.3m over the three-year period to cover these payments.
* There is an expansion of the existing Incentive Payment Scheme aimed at recognising those players who remain committed to the Mitre 10 Cup competition and NZ Rugby beyond the end of Investec Super Rugby. This incentive payment will now include experienced non-super rugby provincial players. The Incentive Payment is paid by the NZR in addition to a Player's Retainer payment.
o Provincial Union only Contract 4 years = $5k
o Provincial Union only Contract 5 + years = $7.5k
o Super Rugby Contract 1 - 2 year = $5k
o Super Rugby Contract 3-4 years = $12.5k
o Super Rugby Contract 5 years plus = $35k
The Player Payment Pool has provisioned $9.8m (up from $3.7m) over the three-year term to cover these payments and they are exempt from the Salary Cap or Super Rugby contracting budgets.
* The level of the salary cap remains at status quo. It is forecast that between them it is expected the M10 Cup Provinces will pay slightly in excess of $15m per year in cash payments to Players.

All Blacks and Women's Sevens Contracting Environment

The key features of the sevens contracting environment are:

* Increase from a minimum of 16 to 20 Players contracted as part of the All Black Sevens Squad with $4.3m (up from $3.5m) from the Player Payment Pool allocated to All Blacks Sevens Retainer payments
* A Minimum of 16 Players contracted as part of the Black Ferns Sevens Squad with $3.3m (up from $1.9m in previous agreement) from the Player Payment Pool allocated to Retainer payments. Additional Training Contracts available at retainer levels of Tier 1 $15k or Tier 2 $10k.
* Tournament assembly Fees set at $2k per player
* The introduction of a Sevens Legacy Fund of $100k per year for each of the two Sevens Squads which will be pro rata allocated between players based on years of experience

Player Savings Scheme

The new Agreement features the introduction of an incentivised Player Savings Scheme for Super Rugby and Sevens contracted players.

The scheme will contribute $2.50 for every $1 saved by any eligible Player, up to maximum top up contribution of $12.5k per year.

However, for those with five years' contract experience or more this contribution will lift to $3 for every $1 saved by the Player, up to a maximum top up contribution of $15k per year.

All contributions will come from the Player Payment Pool ($9.2m over the three-year term). When combined with the Players own contributions (approx. $3.6m) and KiwiSaver this group of players (approx. 240 players per year) are expected to save in excess of $20m over the three-year term.

Players will be able to access 50% of the proceeds from the scheme at age 34, and the remainder at age 40.

Other Features

Other features of the new Agreement include:
* The commitment to introduce a formalised Induction Program for Provincial Union Development for first time Contracted Players that will be required to be completed before players are eligible to playAdditional investment in the Player Personal Development Program to allow for a greater focus on young developing players, and overseas or retiring players in the key areas of career guidance, education, work experience, financial planning, professional rugby obligations, personal and character development, and mental health and wellness
* The introduction of an illicit drug education, awareness and rehabilitation program incorporating random testing
* An additional contribution to the NZRPA Benevolent and Welfare Fund which aims to financially support Players and their families through career ending injuries or during times of hardship
* The formal adoption of protocol and policies developed over recent years covering the following key integrity and player welfare issues:
o Mental Health and Wellness (including accessing confidential mental health support), Homesickness
o Respect and Inclusiveness
o Agents and the NZRPA Agent Charter
o Concussion
o Supplements
o Anti-doping
o Illicit Drugs (note new education and testing regime from 2016)
o Wagering and corruption
o Social Media
o Player Conduct and Team Functions
* An agreed framework for player participation in the Brisbane 10s tournament and Super Rugby competition games taken overseas to international venues
* Improved travel and relocation programmes for Sevens and Super Rugby players.

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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have signed a new Collective Employment Agreement for professional rugby players in New Zealand from 2016 to 2018. Formal signing of the agreement follows a comprehensive negotiation and ratification process by the NZR Board, Provincials Unions, Super Rugby clubs and the NZRPA.

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Rugby related injuries cost Kiwis more than $70 million in ACC claims in 2018

Tom Dillane (2018)
New Zealand Herald

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The social sports causing Kiwis the most pain have been ranked by ACC - and it's little surprise what pursuit hit the country hardest in compensation during the past year.

Injuries sustained while playing rugby union led all other sports, with medical costs and income support totalling more than $71.8 million during the 2017/18 financial year.

The payouts covered 64,024 new and active ACC claims made for rugby union injuries during the 12-month period.

Union dwarfed the next costliest sport, football injuries, which led to $37.5m in compensation.

Injuries sustained at the gym came in third, costing $34.2m.

Rugby league was sixth, costing $18m ,008,991, and touch rugby was 10th on $12.3m.

Scrutinising the different types of rugby union injuries revealed soft tissue injuries were by far the most common, with 49,599 claims last financial year - costing $36.5m.

Concussion treatment and compensation was rugby's fourth most expensive type of injury, totalling $2.9m.

Aucklander Gordon Penny, 30, said he had made between 10 to 15 ACC sports-related injury claims for club rugby and cricket since he was a child. One was for a rugby concussion when he was 16, playing for Mahurangi College.

"It was probably before they started to put a bit of emphasis on concussion. I basically just made a tackle and got a knee to the back of the head," he said.

"For the next two or three weeks I was really foggy, it just wouldn't go away. I just kept playing through it, probably getting more concussed. It wasn't policed or anything back then in terms of safety."

Penny was eventually taken to hospital for a CT scan, for a suspected brain aneurysm, but was diagnosed with delayed concussion.

The medical advice for Penny was to steer clear from sport for another three weeks until they symptoms wore off.

"It really affected me, my nerves and my feeling. It would be five degrees, middle of the night, and I'd be walking around in a T-shirt and shorts and not realise it was cold," he says.

"It was a weird feeling, awful to go through."

Awareness of the signs and risks around concussion has dramatically risen because of NZ Rugby's safety priorities.

The national body now has a Graduated Return to Play timeline, which sets out a 23-day schedule dictating what level of physical activity is advised post concussion - from rest, to light aerobic exercise, to full contact practice.

There is also a sideline concussion checklist to determine the signs and symptoms of concussion during the game.

NZ Rugby Foundation CEO Lisa Kingi-Bon said rugby received unfair scrutiny around its injury rate, which was more a reflection of participation levels than actual risk.

Kingi-Bon says there are 157,000 registered rugby players in New Zealand, playing 32 weekends a year.

She says the NZ Rugby Foundation deals with the "real sharp end of the wedge" when it comes to rugby injuries, working with 97 "very injured players" (VIPs) who have suffered a "permanent disability and assessed to have 25 per cent whole body impairment".

Kingi-Bon was keen to stress, of ACC's 82 identified spinal cord injuries during the 2017 calendar year, only one was from rugby.

Despite this, spinal injures for rugby union and rugby league amounted to $3.2m in ACC claims in 2017/18.

"Rugby is the only sport that has a foundation, so that when something really serious does happen, we're the only code that insures our players from age 5 to 64," Kingi-Bon said.

In total, ACC sports injury claims amounted to $2.2 billion over the past five financial years back to 2013.

Breaking down in the boogie

Rodney Hide dropped Krystal Stuart in Dancing with the Stars. Photo / NZPA

One sport that might not spring to mind when it comes to inflicting a heavy physical toll is dancing - but it made the top-15 list with $6.8 million in ACC payouts in the past financial year.

Dancing with the Stars New Zealand professional partner Krystal Stuart knows all about the pitfalls of the polished ballroom floor.

Her celebrity partner, then ACT Party MP Rodney Hide, infamously dropped her during a routine on the 2006 series.

While Stuart says she wasn't injured by the graceless thud, "only very surprised", she has had numerous injuries covered by ACC over the years, mainly soft tissue.

"Dancing is as low impact of high impact as you make it. Like any sport, the more highly competitive, the more high intensity it gets," Stuart says.

"On shows like Dancing with the Stars you have to be extra careful as the training load comes on heavy and fast.

"But we are dance athletes and professionals at what we do, so we know how to support our bodies during the demands of the show.

"The show also supports the celebs and dancers alike with osteo and soft tissue maintenance, and some are sponsored by Pilates studios to help support their dancing journey."

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Rugby related injuries cost Kiwis more than $70 million in ACC claims in 2018

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The social sports causing Kiwis the most pain have been ranked by ACC - and it's little surprise what pursuit hit the country hardest in compensation during the past year. Injuries sustained while playing rugby union led all other sports, with medical costs and income support totalling more than $71.8 million during the 2017/18 financial year.

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Sport, fame, money and pressure a cocktail for mental illness

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Sport, fame, money and pressure a cocktail for mental illness

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Caldwell (2018)

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In sport, a player can be out for months with injury - the media release is sent and no questions are asked. With mental health, there's no press release, and no questions answered.

Often when a player is struggling with their mental health it's hidden, the topic brushed under the carpet because, once exposed, the athlete is viewed as "damaged goods".

While there have been discussions around opening up about mental illness, the fact remains high performance athletes or their employers rarely speak out publicly and creates an unhealthy cone of silence.

READ MORE:
* No knowing long term effects of brain injuries yet
* Gilbert Enoka urges all to take time out

Leading from the front and speaking up

All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka says during his 18 years with the team he has seen mental illness strike many, but their struggles remain unseen in the public eye.

Traditionally a taboo subject for Kiwi males, Enoka says former All Blacks coach Graham Henry and current coach Steve Hansen have helped create an environment where players can open up about struggles.

He says this should be a sign of strength and not weakness.

"Over the years there's many untold stories," Enoka says. "It's not our place to expose those, but there's times you can just walk away and nod to yourself and say well that's made a difference, that's helping.

"There's that perception that if you suffer mental issues then that is a sign you are sort of weak. We are trying to actually strongly encourage our people to talk about vulnerabilities as a strength rather than a weakness. By in large people still view it as a weakness if you have an issue that is mental health and not a physical one."

Enoka believes that there is a societal shift, albeit slow, around understanding mental health issues, which has made it less daunting for athletes to come forward about their own. The more Kiwis are educated on mental health, the more we can start having open conversations.

"Our environment is no different to society in general. If we looked at percentages we would have the same number of people suffering the same sort of issues in general as society. They manifest in very different ways there's no one size fits all."

A 2014 study from the journal of science and medicine of sport surveyed 224 elite Australian athletes and found 46.4 per cent were experiencing symptoms of at least one mental health problem. These included depression (27.2 per cent), eating disorders (22.8 per cent), general psychological distress (16.5 per cent), social anxiety (14.7 per cent), anxiety (7.1 per cent) and panic disorder (4.5 per cent). Injured athletes had higher levels of depression and anxiety.

Sports psychologist Karen Nimmo says those numbers have a ring of truth to them, based on anecdotal evidence.

Sport, in New Zealand and globally, tends to tiptoe around mental illness, she says.

"When athletes hurt themselves physically they are well cared for - everyone gets it. But with mental injury there's uncertainty, fear and often a lack of funding. So mental struggles often don't get the care and attention they need."

Kiwi athletes will open up about mental health issues only if the circumstances support it, Nimmo says.

She says that means team management and coaching staff backing their players and providing them with the professional support. Like anyone, athletes don't want to feel ashamed about their personal lives.

"Sadly, there are still some polarising attitudes to mental health and diversity issues. If you think your mental struggles will be seen as weakness why would you speak up? It could compromise selection and leave you isolated."

Ideally clinical support should be embedded into sports environments, but there is often a funding issue around that too. This would encourage players to open up about mental health struggles, which is only the first step in the process of recovery, she says.

"Talking acknowledges the problem and provides some relief but beyond that, specialist treatment is required."

A lack of examples of high profile athletes speaking out during their careers shows there is fear of risking that next big contract, and also fear of a negative public response. Athletes are often afraid of a negative response from media outlets speculating on salaries or public perception about how someone who appears to have it all can be down in the dumps. The world's best golfer Tiger Woods has not yet spoken out about his sex addiction since it ruined his marriage, public image and altered his career.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson says it is important for sports role models to lead the way in speaking out about mental illness, because Kiwis hold sport in such high regard.

"All of us have mental health, both as a positive asset and sometimes as a mental health problem. High-performance athletes are no different, so like us, they need to look after their mental health and wellbeing, and sometimes that means taking a break from the game."

Sport a relentless career

The brutal world of sport would have it that when you lose form - you lose your place in the team, or your place on the world ranking plunges.

Enoka says it is for this reason he aims to arm the All Blacks with resilience against criticism, the courage to speak out and encourages them to develop their "whole selves" outside of rugby.

"They are thrust into environments that are quite abnormal. There are high expectations and high stakes, there's heaps of scrutiny and that adds to the pressure that can just build up, and if it's not released it can impact on the coping mechanisms the individual has, and obviously manifest itself into mental health issues. So we have to be pretty well across those things.

"(We) make sure players work on who they are, stay grounded and feed the other identities that make up the person, the whole person. You know the father, the brother, the son and the mate, so that if one of the planks on the bridge wobbles then they have these identities that enable and give sustenance in the moment."

Since Henry, Hansen and Enoka introduced the philosophy of developing that 'whole person' the All Blacks have won two Rugby World Cups.

Enoka says resilience is not a personality type, but a skill set and this is driven in to the players' mindset the moment they arrive to wear the black jersey.

"We want to actually arm our people with those skills to enable them to tolerate in the first instance.

"The magic is in the whole person and not just the rugby part of the person."

New Zealand Cricket has a similar philosophy, developing Black Caps and White Ferns as whole people and not just cricketers.

The Black Caps have one mental skills coach in Pete Sandford embedded in the team environment, as closely linked as the coaching staff, as they consider mental fitness as the equal of physical.

NZC head of high performance Bryan Stronach says while there are strategies in place to provide help for when it gets to the point a player reaches rock bottom, there are preventative strategies also.

"We aim for the well-rounded athlete as there is a heck of a lot more to life than just winning games of cricket."

He said it was important for athletes to develop a context around what they are doing and knowing cricket was just a part of their life, and not their whole existence.

"In sport there is a lot of failure and if you are completely engrossed in it, then that failure can be hard to deal with."

Stronach said the biggest stress for players is touring for long periods of time away from their home, friends and family. This places stress on relationships that other regular jobs don't necessarily have.

The NZC system allows players to seek professional advice confidentially aside from the team environment and if further help is needed they outsource to professionals.

"I have no idea who has been through it, it is completely up to the individual. Of course the professional has a duty of care if it got to an unhealthy stage.

"They are definitely encouraged [to speak up], but that comes down to trust and building relationships and that can be hard when a player is dropped for form. It can be hard to build a deep running relationship when not selected."

Stronach says a correlation between one's mental state and performance, which can often deter a player from speaking up and risk non-selection.

"I suppose it depends on what that state is. At a wild guess I would say if they are under any stress that it doesn't help in your sport."

He said often the problem for players is not opening up to coaches teammates and managers, but opening up to the wider public about why they are taking time off.

"Some are John Kirwans of this world and like to talk about it and some aren't. I think it's got a long way to go."

Top level netball is no different. The Silver Ferns provide a mental skills coach primarily for performance, however if there is any clinical concern then players are referred to the team doctor, Melinda Parnell.

If the concern goes beyond their in house expertise the player is referred to a professional, ​Head of High Performance at Netball Keir Hansen says.

"The treatment approach is dependent on the athlete and what is best for them from the advice from the professional people around them."

Getting the right help

While All Blacks management does its best to assess the team weekly, if the burden is too big to carry among immediate management they outsource to professionals, Enoka says.

NZR have a pool of professionals they approach or recommend to players depending on what the mental health issue is. These can be anything from nutritionists for eating disorders, therapists for relationship problems and clinical psychologists.

Through Nimmo's line of work she has seen high performance athletes and coaches from rugby, cricket, swimming, netball and a range of other sports.

They have been burdened with mental heath issues such as depression, mental fatigue (burnout) and anxieties (related to performance, failure, rejection). She says the "red light" areas for sports professionals were injury, non-selection and retirement.

Other areas of concern which can be heightened by sporting pressures are relationship issues, eating disorders, exercise obsessions (predominantly but not contained to female athletes), alcohol, gambling and drug addictions.

"Sport can be a high-risk cocktail of youth, fame, money and pressure. But the rise and rise of social media trumps them all," Nimmo says.

"The ease with which news spreads and repeats, and criticism, rumours and toxic comments gather momentum is psychologically scary. The potential damage to the mental health of athletes and coaches through social media is a big concern."

NZR's release of mental health programme HeadFirst last year was a step in a positive direction with more than 14,000 rugby players visiting the site and 5000 engaging in the online survey since March 2017.

NZR education and wellbeing manager Nathan Price says the aim for the organisation was to have not only the elite athletes sharing their struggles, but the tiers of players below as well.

"Imagine if we got to the stage when we were comfortable with any athlete saying I'm having four to six weeks off to deal with anxiety issues they're having, just like they would a hamstring injury - that would be good if it become so normalised that it's something that people struggle with and there's a system to help you deal with it and get you back.

"It is something people struggle with to understand because you can't actually see it and therefore can't relate to it as well. So that's why there is that stigma around it. So if we can recognise it, then it will go some way to to removing that stigma."

Sports retirees susceptible to mental illness

A successful career, retired, wealthy, owns a business and healthy. So why the glum face, Steve Gurney?

The retired multisport legend is bored out of his brain. For most of his day he spends hours inside his own head trying to recall what once made him tick - winning.

The nine-time Coast to Coast winner has gone down the pathway of depression many times as struggled to replicate the massive high of his career. In his own words the comedown has been "brutal". Gurney reveals he was once close to ending his life and has since had to train his brain to keep away from those negative thoughts.

He says through injury and "being too old", he couldn't compete at the same level he once did, and that drove him into a dark place. "That's massively depressing, suicidally depressing at some stages and I've had help with this."

This is all too common for ex athletes and there are still many stories left untold - sad stories such as the former rugby player turned alcoholic, the one-hit wonder gold medallist Olympian who never bounced back from stardom, or the former rugby league star who lost his fortune and family at the pokies. Then there are the saddest stories of all, those who didn't speak up, such as former Wallaby Dan Vickerman, who took his life last year after struggling with his mental health in retirement.

University of Waikato's Dr Christina Ryan from Te Huataki Waiora Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance says more needs to be done to make sure high achievers survive and thrive in life after sport.

Ryan says athletes can completely focus on their sport and pinnacle events in order to achieve the results and in doing so neglect time with friends, family and other aspects of their lives.

Her studies show in the case of underperforming, injury or retirement the future often holds a blank canvas, without a social network or career prospects. This can increase their vulnerability to anxiety and depression, risk taking behaviour, and possibly worse.

"If you don't perform, and you're getting a lot of public criticism, you can take that to heart. Overseas there have been some high profile athletes who have committed suicide after failing to cope with life after sport.

"That is the issue around your whole life being built upon achieving to the highest levels, in a way nothing else will compare with. If you've got hundreds of thousands of people cheering for you, people wanting to take photos, and then you crawl into obscurity - you can't replace those feelings."

While there have been changes in attitude from some sporting bodies, there is still a strong push for athletes to focus almost single-mindedly on their sport, Ryan says.

"There are definitely still coaches who believe people shouldn't be doing anything else".

She says there is an emerging body of evidence suggesting that having a dual focus can actually have a positive effect on athlete's performance and enable athletes to stay at the top of their sport for longer.

"There are definitely people in high performance sports advocating that athletes be well-rounded people, which is a positive start. But there also needs to be a public shift. We as New Zealanders celebrate their successes as our own, but we also need to care for them, and keep in mind the sacrifices they've made, and the struggles they face. It's everyone's responsibility."

For the likes of Gurney his drive for competition wasn't perishable the moment he retired.

"I don't think you can change your personality. As a driven person, it's your personality type," he says.

"So when things go wrong, or when your career gets interrupted then life suddenly gets really tough because we are competitive by nature and I don't think you can change your nature.

"There are a lot of athletes who used to be professionals or high level competing athletes who have had injury or had to retire and are now struggling because that purpose that they had has now evaporated. I know it's especially happening in sport but also other professions and walks of life too."

These sporting greats often feel a sense of trauma when they are left with what can seem like nothing.

"It is like they are discarded in to the used basket you know."

WHERE TO GET HELP

Lifeline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 354

Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757

Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116

Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. You can also text 234 for free between 8am and midnight, or email talk@youthline.co.nz

0800 WHATSUP children's helpline - phone 0800 9428 787 between 1pm and 10pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 10pm on weekends. Online chat is available from 7pm to 10pm every day at www.whatsup.co.nz.

Kidsline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 754. This service is for children aged 5 to 18. Those who ring between 4pm and 9pm on weekdays will speak to a Kidsline buddy. These are specially trained teenage telephone counsellors.

Your local Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP)

Alcohol Drug Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free.

For further information, contact the Mental Health Foundation's free Resource and Information Service (09 623 4812).

Athletes who have spoken out about mental health:
* Hayley Holt (snowboarder and media personality): Opened up this year about her struggle with alcohol and spoke about the progress to sobriety.
* John Kirwan (All Black): Spoke openly about his struggles with depression even before retiring in 1999, and was knighted for his contributions to rugby and mental health in 2012.
* Michael Phelps (US swimmer): Arrested twice for driving under the influence, Phelps revealed his depression and suicidal thoughts. He never spoke about it during his stellar career, as he saw it as a sign of weakness.
* Marcus Trescothick (English cricketer): Left a tour, citing personal reasons. Two years later he opened up about his clinical depression.
* Graeme Fowler (English cricketer): 10 years after retiring, depression hit. Fowler he was one of the first cricketers to speak out openly about it.
* Aaron Lennon (England and Burnley footballer): Last year was detained under the Mental Health Act and received care for a 'stress-related' illness. He has spoken out about depression and also suicidal thoughts.
* Kevin Locke (Kiwi rugby league): In six years at the Warriors, Locke battled severe depression and attempted suicide three times. He spoke out openly two years ago.
* Andrew Johns (Australia, rugby league): spoke out in 2007 after retiring from international rugby league about a mental disorder involving anxiety and mood swings. Johns self-medicated with ecstasy to treat his bipolar disorder.
* Frank Bruno​ (English boxer): Spoke out 20 years after retiring about his bipolar and how it affected his career and family.
* Liam Malone (Paralympian): has spoken up about his depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
* Dorothy Hamill (US ice skater): The Olympic figure skating legend was diagnosed with depression in 1993 and has spoken about anxiety, depression and how to tackle it.

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Sport, fame, money and pressure a cocktail for mental illness

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In sport, a player can be out for months with injury - the media release is sent and no questions are asked. With mental health, there's no press release, and no questions answered. Often when a player is struggling with their mental health it's hidden, the topic brushed under the carpet because, once exposed, the athlete is viewed as "damaged goods".

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Click here for the minutes from the class interview with Pa Potene

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Pa Potene & Doug Tietjens Interview Minutes 

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NZRPA (New Zealand Rugby Players Association)

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NZRPA (New Zealand Rugby Players Association)

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2016-2018 Collective Agreement

This is a econimic

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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have signed a new Collective Employment Agreement for professional rugby players in New Zealand from 2016 to 2018.

Formal signing of the agreement follows a comprehensive negotiation and ratification process by the NZR Board, Provincials Unions, Super Rugby clubs and the NZRPA.

Highlights of the the new Collective Agreement:
* a revenue sharing model maintained with 36.56% of NZR player generated revenue, equating to $191m (up from $121m) over three years due to anticipated increased revenue from the Lions Series, being set aside to allow for an increased investment in player payments, education and welfare initiatives payment increases for all contracted players;

* increased contracting budgets for Super Rugby clubs and a significantly increased NZR allocation towards payment of 'top up' retainer payments;

* expansion of the existing Player Payment Pool funded Mitre 10 Cup Incentive Payment aimed at recognising those players who remain committed to this competition and NZR beyond the Super Rugby competition, and, in particular, for experienced players. This incentive payment will now also include experienced non-Super Rugby provincial players. the introduction of an incentivised Player Savings Scheme for Investec Super Rugby and Sevens contracted players. This is in addition to the KiwiSaver scheme;

* the introduction of an illicit drug education and awareness programme, designed to support player health and well-being;

* an agreed framework around players involved in the Brisbane 10s and other offshore Super Rugby games;

* a compulsory induction programme requiring players to undergo a number of modules including respect and inclusiveness, player conduct, mental health and wellness, anti-doping, wagering and corruption and concussion management;

* increasing of the minimum retainers for Provincial Unions Contract and Development Contract Players and retention of the existing salary cap for Provincial Unions;

* Full compensation to Provincial Unions for unavailability of All Blacks;

* expansion of the player personal development programme; and,

* Increased funding for the NZRPA Benevolent and Welfare Fund aimed at assisting Players and their families through premature career ending injuries or illness and during times of hardship.

The new agreement replaces the existing Collective Agreement and is deemed effective from 1 January 2016 until 31 December 2018.

NZR CEO Steve Tew said the Agreement demonstrated a strong emphasis on investing in players' and rugby's future, and highlighted an on-going commitment to work in partnership to ensure the growth and success of rugby in New Zealand.

"We're delighted to have concluded this important piece of work. We believe that our partnership with players continues to be a critical factor in the success of New Zealand Rugby at all levels of the game. And we recognise that that close relationship is part of our competitive advantage.

"In a highly competitive global market, we can't compete purely on money. For us, the difference has to be in the environment we offer and the strength of our support for players to have the lifestyle they want. This new deal further enhances that while the overall increased and expanded investment across a number of areas, means that our packages are increasingly competitive.

"This Agreement has been developed on the back of some very hard work. I personally want to thank the players, our provincial union partners and the collective negotiation team for their work and commitment to ensuring rugby can continue to inspire and unify New Zealand communities," Tew said.

NZRPA CEO Rob Nichol also welcomed the formal agreement noting that it serves as a cornerstone of the professional rugby environment in New Zealand.

"This Agreement provides an ongoing level of certainty around the competitions and the overall contracting model, while also resulting in significant additional investment in Player education, retention and welfare, and a fantastic new initiative in the incentivised Player Savings Scheme.

"As with previous Collectives the Players are proud of the results the process and final agreement has produced for rugby in New Zealand but we know we still have on-going challenges and opportunities to address to ensure rugby's long term growth and success."

"We operate in a global sporting and entertainment market place that continues to evolve. The Players believe we can never take anything for granted and that we must continue to work hard, create the best environment possible and strive for success.

"We wish to acknowledge and thank New Zealand Rugby, the Super Rugby teams and Provinces. Balancing a global professional sport and the needs for the local community game, in a society with a seemingly never ending stream of choice for the entertainment dollar and sporting and cultural participation, is far from easy." "We will now look forward to some exciting competitions, performances and success stories on the field and continuing to work with New Zealand Rugby to ensure the game's health off it." Nichol said.

Summary of the CEA follows below:
Summary of the NZRU and NZRPA Collective Agreement 2016 - 2018
The major new initiatives and substantive changes contained within this Collective Agreement include:
Term
The agreement will be deemed to have come into force on 1 January 2016 and will expire on 31 December 2018. The three year term is the maximum allowable under New Zealand employment law and is consistent with previous Collective Agreements between the parties.

Revenue Sharing
Over the three years 36.56 per cent of NZRU's Player Generated Revenue will be set aside in a Player Payment Pool and applied for the benefit of players.

Under this agreement this equates to $191m over three years (up from $121m). However, $15m of this amount is being held back for allocation in future years, due to the revenue proceeds from the once in twelve year Lions tour falling during this period.

The projected payments from the Player Payment Pool are therefore $176m over the three years and consist of the following types of payments:
* Retainer Payments projected to be $119.2m over the three years for:
o Investec Super Rugby
o All Blacks
o All Blacks Sevens
o Womens Sevens
o Incentive Payments to Super Rugby and experienced Provincial Union Players
* Team Assembly Payments projected to be $18.7m over the three years for:
o All Blacks
o Black Ferns
o Maori All Blacks
o Women's Sevens
o All Blacks Sevens
* Other player specific payments projected to be $39m over the three years for:
o Player Personal Development Program Funding
o NZRPA Benevolent and Welfare Fund (career ending and hardship financial support)
o KiwiSaver Contributions ($3.5m)
o Incentivised Player Savings Scheme ($9.2m)
o Life, Trauma and Medical Insurance
o Payments to compensate for Rugby Championship All Blacks unavailable for Mitre 10 Cup
o Player Relocation and Accommodation Reimbursement
o Promotional Payments
o NZRPA Funding

Player Contracting

NZR Contracting Environment

The key features in the NZR Contracting environment are:

* NZR provides NZR Retainer payments to certain players on top of their Super Rugby and Provincial Union Retainer payments. These payments have traditionally been targeted at those that form part of the wider All Blacks squad
* The coverage of these top up retainer payments will now extend to include some experienced Super Rugby players
* An amount of $24.8m has been forecast over the three-year period (up from $15.9m) for NZR Retainer payments
* NZR will contract a small group of Under 20 Players on Interim Training Contracts to undertake pre-season training with their home base Super Rugby Club. These Players will not play Super Rugby, and will return to provincial and Club rugby on the commencement of the Super Rugby competition.

Super Rugby Contracting Environment

The key features in the Super Rugby contracting environment are:

* Super Rugby Teams can contract up to 32 players by the Super Rugby eligibility in late October each year
o The maximum Super Rugby retainer is $195,000 (up from (190,000)
o The minimum Super Rugby retainer is $75,000 (up from $70,000)
* Super Rugby teams can then select an additional six Draft NZ Rugby Contract (previously Wider Training Group) players through the draft process, who are assembled full time as part of a Super Rugby squad and available for selection, on retainers of $50,000 (up from $40,000)
* Super Rugby team contracting budgets from the Player Payment Pool are now equalised at approx. $4.65m per year per Super Rugby Club from 2017 (up from $4.0m in 2015)
* Revenue generated from the Brisbane Tens tournament will be regarded as NZR Player Generated Revenue. Players will receive a tournament payment of $2,500 with any prize money won being share amongst the players from the respective team

Provincial Union Mitre 10 Cup Contracting Environment

The key features in the Provincial Union contracting environment are:

* Maximum Provincial Union retainer is $55,000 (status quo)) with the exception of two veteran players per Union who can receive up to $85,000
* Minimum Provincial Union retainer now $21,000 (increased from $18,000) with each Provincial Union required to have a minimum 26 players (excluding Investec Rugby Championship All Blacks) on contract for their Mitre 10 Cup campaign
* Replacement Mitre 10 Cup players will be paid $1,250 per week (up from $1,000)
* Non Super Rugby or Sevens Provincial Union Contracted players will continue to have to study or work, and cannot be required to assemble during the hours of 8.30am and 5pm outside of the 15-week Mitre 10 Cup campaign (including pre-season)
* The Player Payment Pool will make payment of $55,000 for any Investec Rugby Championship All Black with this amount used to reimburse Provincial Unions for the player's retainer with any difference paid to the player directly (this is an increase over the $50,000 previously reimbursed). The Player Payment Pool has provisioned $6.3m over the three-year period to cover these payments.
* There is an expansion of the existing Incentive Payment Scheme aimed at recognising those players who remain committed to the Mitre 10 Cup competition and NZ Rugby beyond the end of Investec Super Rugby. This incentive payment will now include experienced non-super rugby provincial players. The Incentive Payment is paid by the NZR in addition to a Player's Retainer payment.
o Provincial Union only Contract 4 years = $5k
o Provincial Union only Contract 5 + years = $7.5k
o Super Rugby Contract 1 - 2 year = $5k
o Super Rugby Contract 3-4 years = $12.5k
o Super Rugby Contract 5 years plus = $35k
The Player Payment Pool has provisioned $9.8m (up from $3.7m) over the three-year term to cover these payments and they are exempt from the Salary Cap or Super Rugby contracting budgets.
* The level of the salary cap remains at status quo. It is forecast that between them it is expected the M10 Cup Provinces will pay slightly in excess of $15m per year in cash payments to Players.

All Blacks and Women's Sevens Contracting Environment

The key features of the sevens contracting environment are:

* Increase from a minimum of 16 to 20 Players contracted as part of the All Black Sevens Squad with $4.3m (up from $3.5m) from the Player Payment Pool allocated to All Blacks Sevens Retainer payments
* A Minimum of 16 Players contracted as part of the Black Ferns Sevens Squad with $3.3m (up from $1.9m in previous agreement) from the Player Payment Pool allocated to Retainer payments. Additional Training Contracts available at retainer levels of Tier 1 $15k or Tier 2 $10k.
* Tournament assembly Fees set at $2k per player
* The introduction of a Sevens Legacy Fund of $100k per year for each of the two Sevens Squads which will be pro rata allocated between players based on years of experience

Player Savings Scheme

The new Agreement features the introduction of an incentivised Player Savings Scheme for Super Rugby and Sevens contracted players.

The scheme will contribute $2.50 for every $1 saved by any eligible Player, up to maximum top up contribution of $12.5k per year.

However, for those with five years' contract experience or more this contribution will lift to $3 for every $1 saved by the Player, up to a maximum top up contribution of $15k per year.

All contributions will come from the Player Payment Pool ($9.2m over the three-year term). When combined with the Players own contributions (approx. $3.6m) and KiwiSaver this group of players (approx. 240 players per year) are expected to save in excess of $20m over the three-year term.

Players will be able to access 50% of the proceeds from the scheme at age 34, and the remainder at age 40.

Other Features

Other features of the new Agreement include:
* The commitment to introduce a formalised Induction Program for Provincial Union Development for first time Contracted Players that will be required to be completed before players are eligible to playAdditional investment in the Player Personal Development Program to allow for a greater focus on young developing players, and overseas or retiring players in the key areas of career guidance, education, work experience, financial planning, professional rugby obligations, personal and character development, and mental health and wellness
* The introduction of an illicit drug education, awareness and rehabilitation program incorporating random testing
* An additional contribution to the NZRPA Benevolent and Welfare Fund which aims to financially support Players and their families through career ending injuries or during times of hardship
* The formal adoption of protocol and policies developed over recent years covering the following key integrity and player welfare issues:
o Mental Health and Wellness (including accessing confidential mental health support), Homesickness
o Respect and Inclusiveness
o Agents and the NZRPA Agent Charter
o Concussion
o Supplements
o Anti-doping
o Illicit Drugs (note new education and testing regime from 2016)
o Wagering and corruption
o Social Media
o Player Conduct and Team Functions
* An agreed framework for player participation in the Brisbane 10s tournament and Super Rugby competition games taken overseas to international venues
* Improved travel and relocation programmes for Sevens and Super Rugby players.

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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have signed a new Collective Employment Agreement for professional rugby players in New Zealand from 2016 to 2018. Formal signing of the agreement follows a comprehensive negotiation and ratification process by the NZR Board, Provincials Unions, Super Rugby clubs and the NZRPA.

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What are the current NZR campaigns? and why are they important?

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What are the current NZR campaigns? and why are they important?

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A positive environment for everyone to enjoy rugby is at the heart of APPLAUD; a New Zealand Rugby initiative to encourage supporters to be good sports at schools and clubs and also to stamp out anti-social side-line behaviour.
APPLAUD is for everyone involved in rugby - whether it's to keep a positive culture humming or help improve one.

Get involved in Applaud!

Schools, clubs and Provincial Unions who commit to APPLAUD are making a firm commitment to ensuring a positive and enjoyable environment for sport.

Getting behind APPLAUD couldn't be easier.

Register your club or school and you will receive an official APPLAUD resource pack (one per club or school), which includes a range of great resources like posters, stickers, wristbands, referee bib, book and activities for New Zealand primary and intermediate schools.

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Cheer and applaud this rugby season but keep it sweet on the sidelines. - Small Black

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A positive environment for everyone to enjoy rugby is at the heart of APPLAUD; a New Zealand Rugby initiative to encourage supporters to be good sports at schools and clubs and also to stamp out anti-social side-line behaviour. APPLAUD is for everyone involved in rugby - whether it's to keep a positive culture humming or help improve one.

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AIG & NZR are currently campaigning 'diversity is strength' what is this about and what socio-cultural issues does this relate to?

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AIG Japan launches "Diversity is Strength" campaign " All Blacks - AIG

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To mark the launch of the Diversity is Strength campaign, AIG Japan has released a special movie filmed in Osaka featuring the All Blacks and Black Ferns, the world champion men's and women's New Zealand national rugby teams. New Zealand Rugby is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion and both teams deliver a strong Diversity is Strength message while attributing the importance of diversity as playing a part in their success at the highest levels of international rugby over time.

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When All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara took a stand against Israel Folau this week, he threw his support behind the NZ Falcons, an Auckland-based gay and inclusive rugby team who are raising funds to help with travel to a tournament in June.

Perenara kicked things off with a $500 donation to their Givealittle campaign on Wednesday night, and in the 36 hours since, $2400 more followed, money that shows his message has been heard.

Falcons player Alex Cairns said it was "a very big deal" to have someone like Perenara supporting the LGBT+ community.

"It's pretty overwhelming actually, the amount of support that's coming through, and even just seeing the notes attached to the donations, it's a real boost to morale.
READ MORE:
* Is Raelene up to the job?
* Perenara and Weber: Life coaches
* Buffon lessons in Folau saga
* Conflict over rugby's social media
"He's put himself in a position of being a spokesperson for people who have that view of inclusivity, and that's why people are probably getting on board with it, because they've got someone who is high profile, who's got a view that they can identify with.

​"Especially coming from someone as renowned and well-known internationally as TJ, it's pretty awesome. It's been a long time coming, having this kind of exposure, and that's not to undermine any of the work that New Zealand Rugby or any other corporations have done in the past."

Perenara followed Chiefs halfback Brad Weber in speaking out against Folau, who two weeks ago wrote on social media that gay people are going to "hell, if they don't repent of their sins," and has been under heavy scrutiny since.

Weber wrote on Tuesday that he "can't stand that I have to play this game that I love with people, like Folau, who say what he's saying". Perenara wrote on Wednesday that he was 100 per cent "against the comments that were made by Israel. It was not ok to say that. It's not an attitude I want to see in the game I love".

Folau has avoided punishment from his Super Rugby team, the Waratahs, and Rugby Australia, but has not been so lucky in the court of public opinion.

Cairns said it was a shame there hadn't been more people of Perenara and Weber's stature speaking up across the Tasman.

"The three Australian gay and inclusive teams are trying to push for a similar effect to happen, but we can only do what we can in New Zealand. These incidents that happen, especially on the stage that Israel Folau has, where he's seen globally, it doesn't only affect Australians, which is why we're seeing it in New Zealand, and also Nigel Owens from over in the UK.

"TJ, Brad, Nigel Owens, even [Labour MPs] Louisa Wall and Grant Robertson - those have been people who have have stood up and said homophobia's not okay, and it's got no place in sport. Someone probably just needs to do that on the Australian side as well, and keep that message consistent. It is a worldwide thing, and it's just unfortunate that it has happened close to home for us."

Cairns said he hoped with Weber and Perenara choosing to speak up, others might follow.

"That comes down to a personal choice, whether to exercise your freedom of speech in a way that's not going to be harmful to anyone. I would like to think that a forum has been provided where people can come out with positive statements and not feel like it's going to have a negative effect.

"Maybe we're not quite there yet, for everyone to speak their minds and challenge negative views on communities that have been targeted. Time will tell, and I'm sure there will be instances in the future where something unfortunately negative might happen, and someone else will have to speak up and counter it. Freedom of speech, it works both ways."

The tournament the Falcons are raising money to help send players to is the Bingham Cup, which will be held in Amsterdam in the Netherlands in June, and describes itself as "the premier global event promoting rugby union as an inclusive, non-discriminatory sport".

Formed in 2002, it was named after Mark Bingham, a gay rugby player who died during the September 11 attacks in the United States the previous year, where he was one of the passengers who fought back against the hijackers on United Airlines Flight 93, which led to the plane crashing into a field, rather than its intended target.

- Stuff

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Support from rugby stars TJ Perenara, Brad Weber for gay community 'a very big deal'

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When All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara took a stand against Israel Folau this week, he threw his support behind the NZ Falcons, an Auckland-based gay and inclusive rugby team who are raising funds to help with travel to a tournament in June.

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Mike Hosking: Why pay parity doesn't work in sport

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Mike Hosking: Why pay parity doesn't work in sport

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Hosking (2018)

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If the new Sports Minister's idea of pay parity is giving everyone the same wage, then we are in a world of trouble.

The Black Ferns have begun negotiations over their conditions with the New Zealand union, also NZ Football, as in soccer, are looking to have the men and women under the same collective deal, which would be a global first.

Grant Robertson's view of pay parity, apparently, is they get paid the same as the All Whites.

Your trouble in these sorts of matters is the emotive side of the equation. My biggest shock in dealing with the Black Ferns, for example, was when they came back after their victory a couple of months ago, they flew economy.

You're a world champ, and you're at the back of the plane with your trophy. That cannot be right.

But there is a big gap between whether they deserve a better deal, and whether a deal on par with say the All Blacks is at all reasonable, if even possible.

What Grant Robertson clearly doesn't get, and this is why pay equity is such a mess, is that people are paid on return. Well they are in this case. The All Blacks is a brand. Like, to a degree, the All Whites. But they are in two completely different categories. And that's the other complexity of sport: all sports are not created equal. Both are a business, they generate income, that income is tangible, you redistribute part of that income to the people who are at the sharp end of the equation.

The more they win, the more marketable they are, the more deals that are done, the more money is available to pay the players. If you apply the same equation to the Ferns, which you must, do they deserve a better deal? In theory, yes. But in reality, I don't know. What are the broadcast rights for womens rugby, what are the commercial deals worth how many tickets were sold and so it goes. All of those questions have very real and tangible answers, and once you add all that up you have a total and the total is what you have to cut a deal with

Under Grant Robertson's idea of commercial operations, you give them the same as everyone else whether you can afford it or not, and if you can't afford it, which I wouldn't have thought they could, someone else pays. Who is that someone else?

I am sure, at its essence, women's rugby or football wants a fair deal, and surely a fair deal is a deal based on the same equation the men get.

In a government department, it might be different, but in sport it's commercial. The money is earned, not received, via a tax. You can't simply wake up and raid someone's pocket. That's Grant Robertson's world, not the real one.

The Black Ferns and the Football Ferns should earn what they're worth, the same way the All Blacks and the All Whites do.
Related articles

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Hosking: Why pay parity doesn't work in sport

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Comment: Sports Minister's idea of pay parity will lead to a world of trouble.

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Lashing Out: The harsh truth about women's rugby

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Lashing Out: The harsh truth about women's rugby

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The Country (2018) NZ Herald.

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OPINION:Is it going to take the sky to fall? A meteorite to hit? An apocalypse to happen, for people to realise that pay parity in sport isn't a gender issue.

The last time I checked, if you're a CEO and you're hiring someone for a high-paying role with the intention of improving an area of your business, you don't hire based on gender.

You hire based on whatever applicant possesses the best skills required to do the job at a high level and whatever applicant is going to bring in the most business or in turn create new business. What boss is going to hire an incompetent male over a qualified female? If they did, then well it's their funeral I guess.

Which brings me to my point, the fact that I've just about had enough of people claiming that the pay differences between genders in sport is solely down to female vs male.

Pay parity in sport should be, if it isn't already, solely based from a commercial and quality of product viewpoint. You wouldn't pay Gordon Ramsay the same amount as the local Fish 'n' Chip shop owner to cook your dinner, would you? Why? Because the quality of product is totally different. So why should women's rugby get paid the same amount as mens?

There are a lot of drums beating in NZ Rugby now about how the women's game should receive more funding, players should be fully-paid professionals, women deserve their own professional competition and so on and so forth.

Firstly, NZ Rugby is a business, not a charity. To my knowledge businesses aren't in the habit of investing money in areas that aren't viable. The fact remains that women's rugby is not appealing to most of the sporting audience. Sugar coat it, dance around the subject, blow the trumpet do whatever you like but people just genuinely aren't interested in it.

Reasons being, overall the skill level is far lower, the collision area is relatively non-existent and the slower pace of the game which results in less entertainment. I understand that the likes of Portia Woodman are great athletes, but I'm talking about the majority here.

I read a piece last year from former Black Fern Melodie Robinson telling the NZRU to have a look across the pond at the Women's AFL league to show that concept does work.

"On average 6000 people turned up to the women's AFL Games".

Australia has a population of 24 million. Let's refrain from comparing apples with oranges. I feel as though people are on the womens bandwagon because it feels like the right thing to do, when in fact what may seem like the right thing to do, will end up being to the detriment of NZ Rugby.

People need to realize that the NZRU is in a difficult position. It's World Cup year next year, which means players are likely to be looking to the riches of Europe after that. The NZRU has competed remarkably well with the foreign market by implementing things such as the sabbatical and extended leave for certain players.

I'm always confident in the NZRU being able to keep the Sam Canes, the Beauden Barretts, the Brodie Retallicks of this world because that's vital and they can afford to open the shoulders and pay more for those blokes and rightly so. Every business must have a good shop window. Where I worry with NZ Rugby is the storeroom of said shop.
Related articles
Just about every second week we see a fringe All Black or a second tier player sign offshore for the riches of Europe and we can't blame them simply because NZ Rugby can't afford to pay close to what these players can earn in there.

So why should NZ Rugby invest in something like the women's game, for little or no return, whilst the depth of NZ Rugby is saying Au Revoir? Would that money be better off spent keeping such talent in NZ Rugby? Would that money be better off going towards solving the post high school drop in numbers situation? Would that money be better off fighting the war on League? I think so.

Lastly, I know it's 2018 and the PC brigade are out in full force. But refrain from the coating in sugar, cut the trumpet blowing and stop dancing around it because you know as well as I do that women rugby players in NZ shouldn't be on the same level as men.

To me it seems wrong to give money that others earn to an area of the game where revenue is scarce. Focus on the shop window, focus on the storeroom, focus on the teams and competitions that put NZ on the map...whatever you do, don't open the shop doors and let the foreign legion enjoy a discount sale.
- Sam "Lashes" Casey is The Country's social media guru and part of the on-air team. Catch him on The Country weekdays 12-1.

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Lashing Out: The harsh truth about women's rugby - NZ Herald

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The Country's Sam Casey says pay parity in sport isn't a gender issue.

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Davies (2017) What relevance does the haka have? Is it important and why? should it be boys only? whats the pros and cons?

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THE British and Irish Lions have gotten used to seeing 'the Haka' on their tour of New Zealand this summer, and will face it again on Saturday.
Warren Gatland's assembled team from the UK and Ireland continue their build up into the first test match against the All Blacks next week with a game against the Maori All Blacks tomorrow morning.

And like their first four games, they will be met by the Haka before kick-off in what is one of sport's greatest and most spectacular sights.

But where has the Haka originated from, and why is it performed and adored by the people of New Zealand, both in and outside of ruby?

What is it?

The Haka is a traditional war cry and dance that is seen as a challenge from the Maori people, and describes the ancestors and events from the history of the tribe.

Performed by the national side before every kick-off, the dance involves the stamping of feet, slapping of hands on the body and several facial contortions involving the tongue and eyes.

It generally begins with the words: "Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!", which means: "I die! I die! I live! I live!"

Here are several other lines from the Haka:

Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru: This is the hairy man

Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā: Who brought the sun and caused it to shine

Ā, upane! ka upane!: A step upward, another step upward!

Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra: A step upward, another... the Sun shines!

What are the origins?

It was first performed by the New Zealand Native rugby team in 1888 and 1889.

Up until 1986 it was only used by the All Blacks at away matches, but it is now an integral part of their pre-match ritual for every game.

The original Haka was composed in the early 19th Century by a Maori warrior chief called Te Rauparaha.

How do other teams approach it?

National sides who receive the Haka have approached it in different ways on the pitch, with some causing controversy.

Traditionally, the team will stand opposite in one line, either with their arms around their teammates or just side by side.

In 1989, Ireland walked towards the Haka, while in a 2003 World Cup group stage clash against Tonga, both sides performed war dances at the same time.

The last time the Lions toured New Zealand in 2005, they stood in a formation to symbolise their strength against the All Blacks, and the Haka.

2008 also saw controversy, as Warren Gatland's Wales refused to turn their backs on the Haka in the Millenium Stadium, resulting in a Mexican stand-off that lasted a few minutes.

When else is it performed?

The Haka is also performed across the country at funerals, weddings and in certain school presentations and celebrations.

Players past and present, as well as members of the public, performed special Hakas for the deaths of All Black and rugby lengends Jonah Lomu and Jerry Collins in recent times.

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What is the Haka, and why do the All Blacks perform it before every match they play?

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THE British and Irish Lions have gotten used to seeing 'the Haka' on their tour of New Zealand this summer, and will face it again on Saturday. Warren Gatland's assembled team from the UK and Ireland continue their build up into the first test match against the All Blacks next week with a game against the Maori All Blacks tomorrow morning.

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Rugby: Molenberg sign historic sponsorship with New Zealand Rugby's national women's teams

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Rugby: Molenberg sign historic sponsorship with New Zealand Rugby's national women's teams

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New Zealand Herald (2018)

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Popular New Zealand brand Molenberg has signed a historic sponsorship deal with the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens.

New Zealand Rugby's (NZR) two flagship national women's teams will feature the Molenberg logo on their playing and training shorts for the next two years.

The partnership follows the announcement of NZR's first professional contracts for women and marks the first standalone corporate sponsorship of the five-time World Champion Black Ferns and the reigning Rugby World Cup Sevens Champion Black Ferns Sevens.

Black Fern jerseys on display following the announcement. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew said Molenberg's sponsorship reflected the ongoing success and growing popularity of women's rugby.

"The number of women playing rugby in New Zealand and around the world continues to grow and it is fantastic to see that growth being complemented by another sponsor alongside major partners adidas and AIG," Tew said.

"Our Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens players have been fantastic ambassadors for women's rugby, and Molenberg's decision to get behind both teams will only enhance their ability to inspire the next generation of players."

Goodman Fielder Managing Director Tim Deane said the deal reflected a great brand fit and hoped the new partnership would help to continue the growth of women's rugby.

Goodman Fielder Managing Director Tim Deane speaks following the New Zealand Black Ferns announcement of Molenberg as the sponsor of the Black Ferns and Black Ferns. Photo / Getty Images

"Molenberg is a bread for all New Zealanders and a great brand fit with these teams as they not only represent New Zealand on the international sports field, but also represent everyday Kiwis," Deane said.

"We hope our partnership will help women's rugby continue to grow in New Zealand, and are thrilled to be fuelling such a fantastic team as they to build on their achievements."

NZR Head of Women's Rugby Development Cate Sexton said Molenberg's support was a major milestone for the game.

"Our women's players are forging new ground both on and off the field and to have a sponsor commit to the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens is another special moment," Sexton said.

"Molenberg have sent a strong and positive message to every young New Zealand girl thinking about taking up rugby. These are exciting times."

The Black Ferns will debut the newly branded Molenberg playing shorts in the first of two tests against Australia for the Laurie O'Reilly Memorial Trophy in Sydney on 18 August, then again during the return test at Eden Park on 25 August.

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Rugby: Molenberg sign historic sponsorship with New Zealand Rugby's national women's teams

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Popular New Zealand brand Molenberg has signed a historic sponsorship deal with the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens. New Zealand Rugby's (NZR) two flagship national women's teams will feature the Molenberg logo on their playing and training shorts for the next two years.

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Government launches All Black-themed birth certificate

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Government launches All Black-themed birth certificate

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New Zealand Herald (2017)

Department of Internal affairs released in June 2017, an All Black themed birth certificate. This is another example of how 'rugby as a sport' and in particular, the All Blacks team can associate with New Zealand identity. My opinion is.....

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Loved rugby from birth?

Some kids will now be able to prove it with an All Black-themed birth certificate.

The Department of Internal Affairs launched the new design, which joins the existing beach and forest themes.

Deputy Registrar-General Adrian Jarvis was delighted people could mark their special delivery with the All Blacks design.

"We think that these are a great way for All Blacks fans to show their support, whether they are new babies or older fans wanting a new certificate.

"We've been working hard to make sure we could launch the new certificate while one of our great rival teams is touring."

The All Blacks themed certificate. Photo / NZ Government

The forest-themed birth certificate. Photo / NZ Government

A standard birth certificate. Photo / NZ Government

About 180,000 birth certificates are issued every year. Parents can choose whether or not to buy a birth certificate.

A New Zealand birth certificate can be used as official ID for most things. It costs $33 for a standard one or $35 for a decorative one.

All births must be registered in New Zealand, and can now be done through SmartStart.

All Blacks birth certificates can be ordered by calling 0800 22 52 52.

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Government launches All Black-themed birth certificate

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Loved rugby from birth? Some kids will now be able to prove it with an All Black-themed birth certificate. The Department of Internal Affairs launched the new design, which joins the existing beach and forest themes. Deputy Registrar-General Adrian Jarvis was delighted people could mark their special delivery with the All Blacks design.

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Black Ferns star Toka Natua reveals how pro rugby contract has changed her life

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Black Ferns star Toka Natua reveals how pro rugby contract has changed her life

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Caldwell (2018)

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A year after leaping to stardom as the Black Fern's Rugby World Cup hat-trick scoring prop, a professional contract has changed Toka Natua's life.

"I think my passion for it has increased," Natua told Stuff. "In some way, me given this contract has made me want to actually fight to be a lot better than what I was in the World Cup. It's more motivation."

Natua, 26, stole the show in the final last August in Ireland when she went over the line for three tries in the breathtaking final win over England.

Shortly after Natua struggled to fit back in to her everyday life as a fulltime graphic designer based in her hometown Tokoroa. She felt without rugby in her life she had no real sense of purpose.

"Coming back from the World Cup I am feeling a bit lost. I know I need bigger and better things. I have no drive now living day-by-day," she said.
READ MORE:
* World Cup champion prop 'I feel a bit lost'
* Black Ferns' hat-trick hero Toka Natua would love a parade after Rugby World Cup win
* Back to work for Black Ferns after Cup win
* Black Ferns ask for more support
Leading in to the World Cup Natua made sacrifices no high performance athlete should have to make. She reluctantly took donations from her family, she took time off work, received less income and also travelled a two-hour return trip to Hamilton at least twice a week for trainings with the team.

The smiling prop however is now a New Zealand Rugby employee earning potentially $20,000 on a retainer with added match fees that could bring her salary up to $40,000.

She has now reduced her working week to two days so she can concentrate on what she loves, rugby.

I think it's given me more security especially because when I was working my money would go all towards rugby. It was just paying for my car, my petrol to get back and forth because I was travelling.

"It's a lot of relief, a lot of weight off my shoulders, because I have that financial backing now."

Although Natua could not reveal what she would be earning, she and the the 27 others signed up will train between 10 and 14 hours a week, which includes gym, club games, regional or Black Ferns trainings.

"I am definitely happy with it. It has never been the reason why I play rugby. But having it there is just support."

There are doubters that the Black Ferns warrant paid contracts for just three confirmed test matches this year. The women's game also has less commercial clout than the All Blacks.

However, NZR made a record $161.7m turnover in 2016 and just $5.5 million was invested into the women's game. The new contracts will now sit on top of that figure and could continue to grow.

This year Natua has been a part of the Black Fern's World Cup roadshow, taking the World Cup across the country and, visiting schools and leading coaching clinics. The World Cup win has also taken her to Rarotonga, where she got a hug buzz out of coaching kids she considers to be a wider part of her family.

"It's one thing giving back to the kids, but when you give back to your own people it just makes it all worthwhile."

Natua was born and bred in Tokoroa but her family are from the Cook islands.

Professionalism allows Natua to train in hours that suit, as well as resting her mind and body. She is now under less stress and has more time to work on her rugby skills and be the best player she can for the black jersey.

"It's given me flexibility, it allows me to try reach my full potential in my goals. It helps me to have more time for what I want to do.

"I just wanted to make the World Cup team last year, but now being an athlete I just want to be the best that I can be and I feel this contract has opened the doors and given me that opportunity and direction. I don't have to stress out about work."

Women and girls rugby participation levels have also reached a record 24,295 in 2017. It is the fastest growing sector for NZ Rugby, miles ahead of the men or boy's game.

- Stuff

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Black Ferns star Toka Natua reveals how pro rugby contract has changed her life

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A year after leaping to stardom as the Black Fern's Rugby World Cup hat-trick scoring prop, a professional contract has changed Toka Natua's life. "I think my passion for it has increased," Natua told Stuff. "In some way, me given this contract has made me want to actually fight to be a lot better than what I was in the World Cup.

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Booze adverts will become a thing of the past

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Booze adverts will become a thing of the past

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Gifford (2017)

This article relates to how sport has become a commodity.
This is ethical because....

This is also economical because it shows how professional sport has become a commodity.

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The divorce between sport and alcohol funding is inevitable. But, like a lot of divorces, it won't happen without lawyers, time, heat, outrage, and wild statements.

Exactly that happened when tobacco and sport were split up by Parliament, in a rare all party consensus, in 1995.

As hard as it might be to believe now, the tobacco industry, the good people who brought you lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease, once had its nicotine stained fingers deep in the sporting pie in New Zealand.

The January men's tennis tournament in Auckland was the Benson and Hedges tournament. Rothmans sponsored everything from softball to junior cricket.
READ MORE: * Editorial: It's time to end the unholy alliance of liquor and sport
* Advertisers' group frothing over calls to banish booze money from sport
* Alcohol advertising and sponsorship in sport to be addressed by Government
In 1991 Parliament passed the "World Cup Cricket amendment" to make sure the New Zealand section of the '92 Benson and Hedges world cup could go ahead unimpeded. The Winfield Cup squeezed out an extra six months naming rights here to the end of '95 to allow the Warriors to join the Australian league competition.

Probably the most bizarre union of all came in the mid-1960s when a troupe of sporting legends, coach Arthur Lydiard, triple Olympic champion Peter Snell, All Black Don Clarke, and cricket's Bert Sutcliffe all worked full time for Rothmans.

One of their major roles, clad in the sponsor's uniform, was to go to schools up and down the country, preaching the benefits of playing sport.

As a schoolboy I saw them at Waihi College, so can vouch for the fact they didn't say one word about cigarettes. The subliminal message only occurred to me in later years: Smoking was part of normal life.

Banning tobacco sponsorship would be a long, fraught process through the 1980s.

The basic argument for being allowed to keep tobacco cash, one we're likely to hear as the debate heats up over alcohol sponsorship, is that some sports would be dead in the water without the money.

What happened back then with tobacco means there's a blueprint for any future government that decides to ban alcohol sponsorship.

First, give plenty of notice, as Helen Clark did in the late 1980s about tobacco bans, and secondly, when the ban does come in, consider tax payer funding for a limited time while sports find new private sponsors. Smokefree was the banner used to cover government funding in the 1990s.

As it happens, there's been a gradual parting of the ways between alcohol and sport in New Zealand anyway, with no better example than what's happened with rugby.

Beer once virtually ruled the rugby world. After the 1987 world cup victory, the magnificent celebration dinner at the then Regent hotel, delayed until after the Bledisloe Cup victory in Sydney, was hosted, not by the NZRU, but by Steinlager.

From 1994 to 1998 the only commercial branding on the All Black jersey was the Steinlager logo.

It seemed a logical fit. After all, for decades beer and rugby here had been a perfect case of "Hand, I'd like you to meet Glove."

There are occasional, dramatic, exceptions, but by and large, starting at the top with the All Blacks, heavy drinking is no longer part of the culture.

The sea change was sudden, and huge, and, time has proved, permanent.

In 2004 in Johannesburg, after a 40-26 thrashing by the Springboks, the All Blacks had a mock court session, which involved such heavy drinking some there actually blacked out.

The next morning assistant coached Wayne Smith slipped a note under coach Graham Henry's door saying, "Graham, I came back to New Zealand because of you. I support you 100%. But it's important we sort out our problems. Let's go on together and fix this thing."

There was a formal meeting with team leaders back in Wellington, and, amongst other decisions, "no binge drinking" became one of the team's mantras.

At rugby club level, anecdotal evidence suggests the involvement of liquor companies has waned considerably from the heady days of the 1990s when beer firms actively competed for pouring rights at clubs.

Why? Because, as one veteran club administrator in Auckland said to me last year, "the young buggers now don't drink like they used to."

It seems possible that, just as the idea of allowing smoking in public places, much less promoting cigarettes on the back of sport, seems as weird and wrong today as child labour, it may be that after the uproar likely if banning alcohol sponsorship gets serious, we'll look back and realise that sport and booze wasn't really such a natural fit anyway.

- Sunday Star Times

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Phil Gifford: Booze adverts will become a thing of the past

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The divorce between sport and alcohol funding is inevitable. But, like a lot of divorces, it won't happen without lawyers, time, heat, outrage, and wild statements. Exactly that happened when tobacco and sport were split up by Parliament, in a rare all party consensus, in 1995.

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Government commits to help finance women's Rugby World Cup

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Government commits to help finance women's Rugby World Cup

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radio nz (2018)

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The government is committed to lifting the profile of women's sport and will contribute financially to New Zealand hosting the women's rugby world cup, but sports minister Grant Roberston won't reveal how much.

New Zealand Rugby is one of six bidders hoping to host the 2021 world cup, with Australia, England, France, Portugal and Wales also in contention.

The six unions now have until mid-August to formally submit their bids to World Rugby, with the host expected to be announced by the end of the year.

Mr Roberston said he had had some preliminary discussions with New Zealand rugby about government support.

"We are yet to see their full proposal, but I'm very happy to sit down with the rugby union and work out what level of contribution from the government and is needed."

"I think there's a unique opportunity for New Zealand to lift the visibility of women's sport to show that we value it more than we have in the past and to capitalise on the increased interest there is."

Mr Roberston said he would see winning the hosting rights for the women's Rugby World Cup as a priority.

"There are a number of other major women's sports event that are on the horizon for New Zealand to host potentially but the women's World Cup is one that would be very attractive for New Zealanders to support and be a part of," he said.

Mr Robertson is also demanding Sport NZ put a greater emphasis on community sport but is adamant it won't be at the expense of New Zealanders performing well on the international stage.

Mr Roberston has appointed three new board member to the Sport New Zealand board- former Black Fern and senior Massey University business management lecturer Farah Palmer, Auckland lawyer Raewyn Lovett and Wellington based investor and founder Rowan Simpson.

He wants Sport New Zealand to widen its focus around community sport and link with other government departments such as the Ministry of Health to work in the area.

But he said that did not mean he was downplaying the importance of top-level sport.

In 2010 high performance sports funding increased from $40 million to $60 million a year over four years.

It now sits at about $62 million a year.

But to keep winning on the world stage, the view within the high performance community was that funding needed to increase to keep up with technology and maintain a winning edge.

"The amount of money we are putting into High Performance Sport New Zealand (over the next four year Olympic cycle) has been set and..looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics has gone up from where we were and we continue to invest in other non-Olympic codes and their elite athletes and that's still very important but it is completely possible for Sport New Zealand particularly working in combination with other agencies and other groups in the community to be more focused on the whole community so that work programme is there and underway for high performance sport, what this is about is getting a bit of balance back into the programme," said Mr Robertson.

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Government commits to help finance women's Rugby World Cup

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The government is committed to lifting the profile of women's sport and will contribute financially to New Zealand hosting the women's rugby world cup, but sports minister Grant Roberston won't reveal how much. New Zealand Rugby is one of six bidders hoping to host the 2021 world cup, with Australia, England, France, Portugal and Wales also in contention.

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- Health benefits, fitness

- Professional Rugby - Career pathways to get paid to play rugby and travel the world.

- Enhances social well-being because it's a team sport. Make friends

- Connects people..

- Career opportunities in rugby that cater to different roles. Such as management, coaching, video analysts, referee, marketing...

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Keep Up With The Play - National Campaign

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Keep Up With The Play - National Campaign

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A public awareness campaign targeted at those delivering youth sport (Sport New Zealand, 2020)

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Keep up with the play and keep kids in sport

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What are the national strategies

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Sport NZ and five sports - Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball and Rugby - have signed and published a Statement of Intent that will pave the way for substantial change in the way youth experience sport in this country.

The statement outlines six commitments which they have individually and collectively agreed to:

Ensuring all young people who play our sports receive a quality experience, irrespective of the level at which they compete.

Leading attitudinal and behavioural change among the sport leaders, coaches, administrators, parents and caregivers involved in youth sport.

Providing leadership to our sports to support changes to competitions and player development opportunities.

Working with our sports and schools to keep minds open while identifying talent throughout the teen years, including reviewing the role and nature of national and regional representative tournaments to ensure that skills development opportunities are offered to more young people.

Supporting young people to play multiple sports.

Raising awareness of the risks of overtraining and overloading.

The move follows significant change over recent years, such as the removal of intermediate age representative teams by provincial bodies in sports such as rugby and netball, and changes across most sports to make young people's involvement more fun and engaging.

A united front: (from left) David White, NZ Cricket; Jennie Wyllie, Netball NZ; Mike Bignell, Hockey NZ; Andrew Pragnell, NZ Football; Peter Miskimmin, Sport NZ; and Nigel Cass, NZ Rugby.
Balance is better

This action is informed by the Balance is Better philosophy, designed to bring about a change to the way youth sport is nurtured in New Zealand. Learn more through articles, case studies and videos with tips and advice from specialists in youth sport on the Balance is Better Youth Sport Portal.

To find out more see below.

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Sport NZ and five sports - Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball and Rugby - have signed and published a Statement of Intent that will pave the way for substantial change in the way youth experience sport in this country.

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New Zealand Rugby - 'Game On' Initiative

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New Zealand Rugby - 'Game On' Initiative

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2020 Changes to increase participation rates.
Political - New Zealand Rugby initiative

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Frequently Asked Questions
All you need to know about Game On in 2020.
Why are New Zealand Rugby and Provincial Unions introducing Game On?

Game On means that more rugby games kick off. The approach aims to limit the number of defaults in school and club rugby due to not enough front rowers or players.

Rugby players want to play the game they love and Game On makes sure that happens.

Which teams will play under Game On and who decides?

Game On will apply to all Provincial Unions in New Zealand. Both senior club rugby and secondary school rugby will use Game On.

Provincial Unions may designate some school and club grades that Game On does not apply to for performance and development purposes. For example, 'Premier' club rugby grades.

Some Provincial Unions are already utilising Game On principles in club rugby, including Premier grades.

How do teams decide how to play under Game On?

Game On will only be used when a team(s) has less than 15 players and/or insufficient front rowers to commence the match.

Agreement must be reached between teams and match officials prior to the match starting.

Teams are encouraged to agree on the Game On options in the days leading up to match day.

The designated match official will complete a Game On match report which will record the reasons and variations used.

To download the Game On match report resource click here

Match officials will follow the below process:
1. Team Size
Agreement between 10 - 15 a side. In the event of no agreement, decision defers to team with smallest number of available players.

Teams who reduce numbers are allowed to maintain substitute players. For example, a team with 13 players are able to play 10-a-side and utilise three substitute players.
2. Rolling Subs (Adult Club Rugby only).
Rolling Subs are to be used during Adult Club Rugby matches, unless otherwise agreed.

The Half Game rule still applies to Secondary School Rugby.
3. Contested or uncontested scrums
Subject to availability of minimum of three qualified front rowers in starting 15. There is no requirement to have additional front rowers as named replacements.
4. Match length
If no agreement, revert to following match lengths based on team size:

10 a side: 2 x 20 min halves. 40 min max.

11 a side: 2 x 25 min halves, 50 min max.

12/13 a side: 2 x 30 min halves, 60 min max.

14 a side: 2 x 35 min halves, 70 min max.

15 a side: 2 x 40 min halves, 80 min max.

Secondary School games remain a maximum of 70 minutes.
5. Competition Points
To ensure meaningful competition between teams, matches played under Game On are for competition points.
6. Communication
The referee and team representatives are required to meet before kick off to confirm the Game On process. Team representatives are also encouraged to communicate as early as possible in the lead up to the match.

Does Game On change the way the game is refereed?

All Game On matches will be played under the current Laws of Rugby. For example, if teams begin the Game On match with three front rowers and no suitable replacements then uncontested scrums will be used.

Will teams lose competition points when they play under Game On?

Game On is designed to ensure that the rugby still kicks off and players still get to play a competitive game.

This means that the team that does not have the required 15 players or front rowers does not automatically lose the match, or competition points. The result will still be determined by a good game of rugby.

Will Game On be reviewed?

Game On will be reviewed in August 2020 in time to make improvements for the 2021 season. We invite feedback to be sent to this address: participation@nzrugby.co.nz

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All you need to know about Game On in 2020. Game On means that more rugby games kick off. The approach aims to limit the number of defaults in school and club rugby due to not enough front rowers or players. Rugby players want to play the game they love and Game On makes sure that happens.

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Significant national and international evidence supports the need for changes to youth sport (Sport New Zealand, 2020)

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The evidence | Sport New Zealand - Ihi Aotearoa

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Significant national and international evidence supports the need for changes to youth sport.

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Website

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Learn more

Too many young New Zealanders are being driven away from sport. It's important we understand the reasons young people are walking away to help keep them in the game.

The thinking is changing. Get the latest thoughts, advice and coaching tips from people working hard to keep kids playing and enjoying sport.

Join the Balance is Better community.

Receive weekly emails for all enablers of youth sport.

Thinking is changing in youth sport, with bold changes being made across New Zealand.

Sport NZ and five major sporting organisations have partnered together to launch 'Keep Up With The Play', a public awareness campaign targeted at the influencers of youth sport in New Zealand to raise awareness of the issues in youth sport that are impacting participation and to help drive positive change.

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Keep up with the play to keep kids in sport - Sport New Zealand

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Learn more Too many young New Zealanders are being driven away from sport. It's important we understand the reasons young people are walking away to help keep them in the game. The thinking is changing. Get the latest thoughts, advice and coaching tips from people working hard to keep kids playing and enjoying sport.

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91331 2.5 'My Significant Physical Activity Essay' 

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Basketball second most-played NZ school sport despite huge challenges

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Basketball second most-played NZ school sport despite huge challenges

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New Zealand Herald
Basketball New Zealand (2019)

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Basketball is now the second most-participated secondary-school sport after a massive 44.9% increase in players this decade.

Basketballs rise in popularity is undeniable through the annual School Sport New Zealand Census just released, which details annual secondary-school participation rates since 2000. Basketball New Zealand Chief Executive Iain Potter says two of the big reasons for this growth include an increasingly diverse national-population and the creation of opportunities to play, but he says the growth is less than what it could be.

"This growth is not a surprise for us. Weve seen the growth of this participation-trend since the Census began.

"Theres been some great work by the basketball community to foster the opportunities for kids to play, but we could have achieved so much more if the support from central government, the Ministry of Education, local councils and funders corresponded with this vast growth. Basketball-participation has almost doubled in just ten years, whereas basketballs funding certainly hasnt," said a very matter-of-fact Mr Potter today.

Potter says the rise in participation correlates with the access to facilities, coaching, and the introduction of basketball opportunities at schools and communities, but he says that good work is not enough to give Kiwi kids the opportunities they are crying out for.

"To play, kids need opportunities with a ball, coach and a court. This relentless growth has seen basketball facilities become prime real-estate, with court bookings bursting. And the majority of our Associations are at their wits-end trying to get enough support to provide coaches, referees, and venues for their players and leagues."

Mr Potter said New Zealand is a different country than it was in the year 2010 and that the change in demographics also impacts basketball participation.

"Another big reason is the increase in this countrys ethnic diversity. Basketball is a global game that is the preferred sport for many people across many different ethnicities. As the populations of those ethnicities grow in New Zealand, so does basketball participation. We are fortunate to see young players of all backgrounds stepping onto our courts. Basketball in New Zealand caters for kiwis of all races, creeds and both genders," says Mr Potter.

The School Sport New Zealand Census shows a total of 26,481 secondary school students played for a basketball team at school in 2018. This is an increase of 3% from 2017. Over five years between 2014 to 2018, the growth was 26%. For the first time ever, basketball has become more popular than the more traditional sports. Netball remains the most popular sport with 27,139 (-5% from 2017).

School Sport New Zealand CEO Garry Carnachan agrees that basketball is well-suited to the young Kiwis of today and the sport is in need of more support.

"Basketball is ticking many of the boxes that young people are looking for in their sport these days - it is fast paced, has options for boys and girls, offers tournament play and has an exciting modified version in 3x3.

"While this is great news for the sport it also poses a number of challenges in providing the required support in terms of opportunities to play and quality coaches, referees and facilities," says Mr Carnachan.

Mr Potter says basketball will be breaking new ground once people with the purse-strings wake up and take notice.

"We have big ambitions. With backing, we can achieve huge things as a national sport. I think Basketball New Zealand and our Associations do a great job with what it has. The basketball community has created more tournaments, provided a better pathway for our junior elite players, provided more coaching and referee workshops than ever before. That said, the basketball community can do so much more.

"The more playing opportunities the basketball community provides, the more kids are playing, and the benefits are far-reaching. Basketball provides young people with the chance to not only get away from their screens, which is one of the big ones people thank basketball for, but also to learn about team-work, being part of the community, winning and losing with respect, and generally growing and competing in a positive and fun environment. Ultimately its about growing better people through the game."

Mr Potter says he would like to take this time to thank those organisations that are supporting the game.

"While I have called for more support, I would like to make a point of thanking our partners. The likes of Schick, Aon, Sals Pizza have all come aboard as a community level sponsor, directly looking to helping to positively help Kiwi kids. Sport New Zealands community support too. And importantly, those community Trusts, organisations and businesses in the regions that support our basketball associations."

The full Census can be found on the New Zealand Secondary School website here
http://www.nzsssc.org.nz/newsarticle/72852?newsfeedId=51035

Top 10 most-participated New Zealand Secondary-School Sports

Sports / Participants / % Change 2014-2018 / % Change 2017-2018

Netball (outdoor) / 27,139 / -7% / -5%

Basketball / 26,481 / 26% / 3%

Rugby Union / 25,317 / -12% / -6%

Football / 23,513 / -2% / -6%

Volleyball / 17,466 / 5% / -1%

Hockey (Outdoor) / 14,145 / 4% / -2%

Touch / 12,187 / -12% / -1%

Athletics / 11,301 / -11% / -5%

Badminton / 10,793 / 9% / 4%

Cricket (Outdoor) / 9,500 / -4% / -1%

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Basketball New Zealand

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Basketball second most-played NZ school sport despite huge challenges

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Basketball is now the second most-participated secondary-school sport after a massive 44.9% increase in players this decade. Basketballs rise in popularity is undeniable through the annual School Sport New Zealand Census just released, which details annual secondary-school participation rates since 2000.

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Super Rugby suspended due to coronavirus

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Super Rugby suspended due to coronavirus

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Radio Sport New Zealand (15 March, 2020)

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Super Rugby will be suspended after this weekend's matches.

The decision comes after the government announced that travellers entering the country from midnight Sunday must self-isolate for 14 days due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

SANZAAR, who run the competition, says it "has no option but to suspend the 2020 Super Rugby tournament" for the foreseeable future after the ACT Brumbies host the New South Wales Waratahs on Sunday.

SANZAAR said in a statement on Saturday that following the decree from the New Zealand government, it would not be feasible to carry on with the competition, with five teams from the country participating.

Already the Dunedin based Highlanders, who face the Jaguares in Argentina on Sunday (midday NZ time) in a game played in a stadium without fans, will not return home in time to avoid the self-isolation period.

"The safety and welfare of the public, our players and other stakeholders is paramount and as previously stated we were always going to abide by government and health authority instructions on the issue of COVID-19 containment," chief executive Andy Marinos said.

"We are extremely disappointed for the players, our fans, broadcasters and partners but given the complexity of our competition structure, and the multiple geographies that we cover, we have no other option but to align with such directives.

"We also believe it is time for all those players currently overseas to return home and to be with their families."

The directive from New Zealand left the competition, involving teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, hamstrung after only seven completed rounds following this weekend.

The event is based on 18 rounds of group matches, followed by knockout rounds and the final.

"Our priority is, therefore, to ensure our players are within their homes territories from the end of this weekend," Marinos continued.

"SANZAAR will also remain engaged with its stakeholders and will continue to explore avenues to see if we can keep the rugby product alive within our core markets, with the possibility to be in a position to resume the tournament if at all possible in future weeks."

The statement further said that the organisers hoped to devise a plan for the remaining fixtures that would be communicated in the coming days.
- RNZ/Reuters

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Super Rugby suspended due to coronavirus

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Super Rugby will be suspended after this weekend's matches. The decision comes after the government announced that travellers entering the country from midnight Sunday must self-isolate for 14 days due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

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The Break-up: Life after the split of netball's trans-Tasman league

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The Break-up: Life after the split of netball's trans-Tasman league

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Johannsen (March, 2020)
STUFF

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The demise of netball's trans-Tasman league was supposed to spell disaster for New Zealand netball, but with the Australian Diamonds having been upstaged at the past two major events, and reports of Netball Australia receiving seven-figure government "bailouts", which country is really better off? Dana Johannsen reports.
The ending, when it finally came, was a relief to Netball NZ executives.

After a year of increasingly tense negotiations with their Australian counterparts, the decision was made in April 2016 to nix the trans-Tasman league. Each country would go it alone.

The sudden unravelling of the ground-breaking competition - the only trans-Tasman sporting league for women - shocked the players, coaches and wider netball community.

READ MORE:
* No silver bullet for Silver Ferns after two years of wrong turns by Netball NZ
* Growth of women's rugby puts netball under threat
* New Zealand netball needs time to prove ditching Australia was the right move
* No tears being shed about the end of trans-Tasman netball

"I think all of us players were gutted," says Pulse skipper Katrina Rore.

"I felt like netball had come a long way and it was a great competition, and New Zealand and Australia battling it week-in, week-out was awesome. So to go back to playing just amongst ourselves, at the time, felt like it was going to be a step backwards."

There were grave predictions, too, about what the split would mean for the competitiveness of the Silver Ferns, the wider high performance system, and even the sport as a whole, as netball faced increased competition from rugby and cricket, which had begun aggressively upping investment in its women's games.

These predictions rung in the ears of Netball NZ (NNZ) chief executive Jennie Wyllie, who was elevated from chief financial officer to the top job in mid-2016 as the sport was beginning to contemplate life after the trans-Tasman league.

Starting over from scratch was scary for Wyllie.

"When you start anything new, there is a moment when you think 'oh gosh, what is all this going to mean?'" she says.

There was only one thought that scared her more: what would happen if they voted "remain" in a one-sided trans-Tasman union.

The circumstances that lead to the breakdown of the relationship between NNZ and Netball Australia has been the subject of numerous revisionist histories, particularly in the aftermath of the Silver Ferns horror showing at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Wyllie picks her words carefully when asked what went on behind the scenes during that time, but there's one point she wants to clarify: She says New Zealand was not offered three franchise berths in a revamped trans-Tasman league as has been widely reported - they were offered just one.

The reality was Netball NZ had no choice but to walk away.

Now, as the ANZ Premiership enters its fourth season this weekend, we are beginning to see the impacts of decisions made during that fraught period, and in the aftermath.

No-one knew quite what the new era of ANZ Premiership netball would bring, but there was one outcome most were pretty certain of: it would be a disaster for the Silver Ferns.

The big concern at the time of the split was that the struggling Ferns side would fall further behind their Australian counterparts without regular exposure to their style of play, while nations like England, Jamaica and South Africa, who allow their athletes to play in the league, will race ahead.

Those fears appeared well-founded when the New Zealand team slumped to their worst finish at a major event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a year after the split, failing to make the podium.

Little over a year later, the Ferns skipper Laura Langman was lifting the World Cup.

Much of the credit for the stunning turnaround can undoubtedly be put down to the Noeline Taurua effect. The coaching mastermind's influence on New Zealand netball has been nothing short of inspirational. But Rore believes the focus on developing homegrown talent in the new ANZ Premiership era is also starting to bear fruit.

"At the time [the split] happened I guess we weren't doing great [internationally]," she deadpans.

"I think now with the ANZ we have lots of opportunities for our own talent to shine and get more court time and, as we saw at the World Cup last year, it has paid off for us. We are a lot more confident in our own brand of netball and have rediscovered the strengths in our game. Because I don't think we always played to our strengths in the old league."

Wyllie says when Netball NZ launched the new competition there was always the expectation that it would be a "slow burn" and it would take some time to make up the ground lost in the merged competition.

During the trans-Tasman era, New Zealand's high performance system narrowed and fractured as it looked outward, rather than inward, to address its competitive struggles against the Australians.

The league was not a level playing field from the beginning. The broadcast revenue, generated solely out of New Zealand over all nine years of the competition, was split equally among the 10 franchises. But Wyllie says the Australian teams, backed by their respective state bodies, were blessed with far greater resources than the Kiwi counterparts.

"It was a really tough environment for those New Zealand franchises. I think we went into this horrible downward spiral, as we believed to be successful we needed to try and match the Australian style of play. We started recruiting their players and coaches, and lost our own unique style," she says.

The new era hastened the elevation of the next generation of netball stars.

The addition of a new team - the south Auckland-based Stars, coupled with the loss of a raft of imports, who looked for opportunities in Australia's new Super Netball competition, meant the Kiwi teams had to fill gaps in their rosters with young players - some of whom, like the Pulse's Tiana Metuarau, were still in high school when they got the call-up to the senior team.

"It was a very much a younger-skewed league in those first couple of years," says Wyllie.

"There were 17,18, 19-year-olds in starting roles for their teams. It probably took some time for those players to find their feet and adjust to the professional environments, but it has helped build depth in the system quite quickly."

While the most obvious and outward facing change was the move back to a fully domestic league, arguably the more significant development has been the introduction of a second-tier competition, the Beko League, in 2016. Wyllie believes the competition, in which every team is aligned to an ANZ Premiership franchise, has helped bridge the gap to the top level.

"Our focus has been about growing opportunities for Kiwi athletes and showing clarity in our pathways. We were able to go from having 50 athletes - when you accounted for imports - having those opportunities, to 120 over ANZ and Beko and that's only building now."

There's a notable shift in language when you speak to the head of Netball Australia, Marne Fechner, about the new league across the Tasman, Suncorp Super Netball.

Whereas Wyllie makes continued references to providing "quality environments", "performance pathways", and "whole of sport", with Fechner, you'll hear the words "product", "entertainment package", "commercialisation" and "consumption" a lot.

It points to the two very different approaches taken by the respective organisations.

Netball Australia has taken an unapologetically commercial focus with its new league in a bid to get cut-through in a highly competitive broadcast market across the Tasman. It's meant the organisation has had to be innovative, introducing numerous rule changes and flashy made-for-TV features to the presentation of its game.

"The sport entertainment market here in Australia, it is probably one of the most cluttered in the world in terms of professional sports leagues, so we are really clear that this product needed to be an entertainment product," says Fechner.

"We needed to have high performance outcomes, but at its core it was around broadcast and commercialisation and increasing the number of fans."

The current challenge facing Netball Australia is balancing the commercial imperatives with the needs of its international programme.

The perennial debate over the league's open import rule has grown legs in the lead-up to the 2020 season following last year's World Cup loss to the Ferns. It was the first time the Diamonds have lost two major events in successive years after going down to England in the 2018 Commonwealth Games final.

The fall-out from those two shock losses - each by one goal - saw Lisa Alexander axed as Diamonds coach last month, but many across the Tasman believe Netball Australia also need to look at how its own decision-making contributed to the Diamonds predicament.

It has been argued allowing franchises open slather on imports has limited the opportunities for local players and created positional shortages, particularly in the shooting end, with all but two franchises having imports occupying the goal shoot bib.

It doesn't require a crystal ball to see where Australia might end up - they only need to look at the predicament New Zealand found itself in six years ago following the retirement of Irene van Dyk.

But former West Coast Fever coach Sue Gaudion, who is now in the Channel Nine commentary team, does not believe the having unlimited imports in the league and the success of the Diamonds programme are mutually exclusive.

"I think it's used as an excuse. I'm a bit sick of it, actually. I acknowledge that it is a contributing factor [to the Diamonds' losses], but it doesn't stand on its own," says Gaudion.

"At the end of the day the national body has made a very conscious decision about where it wants to go, and in some respects has probably been forced into that decision, because if we didn't do something bold and different, where would we sit?

"We need to be an entertainment product and we need characters and personalities and stories. Whether we like it or not, we need controversy. So the imports become almost a non-negotiable, because they are a massive part of the success of the league. They add to the flavour of the league and they add to the star power."

Gaudion has taken trying to boost spectator and viewership numbers into her own hands. Last season she launched a grassroots campaign 'Wake-Up Netball' to try tap into the large percentage of netball's one million plus participation base that were not engaging with the game at the professional end.

"The way that the women's sport landscape has changed in Australia with the AFLW coming in and the women's Big Bash and things like that ... we're in a fight now, that's our reality," says Gaudion.

That reality appears even more grim in the wake of reports across the Tasman of Netball Australia receiving a seven-figure bailout from the government, leading to questions over the sustainability of the league.

Netball became entangled in the sports rorts scandal that has engulfed Australian politics this year, with accusations former sports minister Bridget McKenzie overrode Sport Australia's official grants process and diverted $2.5 million from the Health Department to prop up Netball Australia.

The Saturday Paper reported "McKenzie authorised the grant after Netball Australia complained that the broadcast deal for its Super Netball series had not proved as lucrative as it had hoped".

Fechner denies the funding was a bailout, claiming the Health Department grant went towards commercial projects.

"There was no bailout at all. It was a convenient story in the context of what was being talked about in the media at the time with the sports rorts. We have an on-going relationship with the government both at federal and state level and secure all different kinds of government funding," she says.

"That specific grant was for investment in a number of key strategic projects, which related to our digital platform, SSN and a whole range of different things that funding programme was associated with. It was about pursuing an aggressive growth strategy, so by no means was it a bailout, we are in a very healthy position financially."

Asked if the league was losing money, Fechner responded:

"Netball Australia continues to invest in the competition as we have identified it as a strategic priority.

"We believe we are in a confident position in relation to sustainability across the sport. We do want to see greater returns through event products like Suncorp Super Netball, however."

Compared with the flashy made-for-TV product across the Tasman, the lack of innovation in New Zealand's league is stark.

Since securing a free-to-air deal in the 1980s, netball has enjoyed a comfortable foothold in the New Zealand broadcast market. There are concerns that security has bred inertia.

"When you look at the in-stadium experience and the broadcast presentation of the ANZ Premiership, it doesn't look a hell of a lot different from the old National Bank Cup days," says one sports industry insider.

"Part of it, I think, is a lack of imagination on NNZ's part, but Sky has to put its hand up as well. They need to invest in its own products. They've taken a paint by numbers approach for too long now. I mean, where's the innovation?"

Wyllie acknowledges the need to innovate across the board and says we can expect to see several tweaks to the game-day experience and television product in 2020.

"Now that we have kind of bedded in the competition, we want to really focus on building that fandom and lifting the whole experience, because we know the product on court is really good. We're pushing that really hard in 2020 and ramping it up again in 2021," she says.

"We're very conscious we have to keep evolving and make sure we are delivering a product that is relevant to the fans and spectators."

Wyllie says NNZ are acutely aware they cannot waste the opportunity the Ferns' World Cup win last year has provided them to build momentum and expose New Zealand audiences to a new breed of stars like Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Jane Watson and Gina Crampton, as well as the up and comers like Kimiora Poi, Karin Burger and Grace Nweke.

Taurua believes last year's success can have the same impact the had on the domestic competition following New Zealand's last World Cup triumph in 2003.

"If you think back to the seasons following that World Cup win, that was when the National Bank Cup was at its strongest. There was so much hype around it because everyone wanted to see the Ferns in action and man that competition was tough," says Taurua.

Gaudion recalls this period as well. While the Australians had a strong domestic league and grassroots competitions, they couldn't help but look across enviously at the commercial success of the New Zealand league, enriched by a free-to-air TV deal.

"I look at the landscape over there now, and it's almost like we've switched positions. Who would have bloody thought that would happen?"

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The Break-up: Life after the split of netball's trans-Tasman league

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The demise of netball's trans-Tasman league was supposed to spell disaster for New Zealand netball, but with the Australian Diamonds having been upstaged at the past two major events, and reports of Netball Australia receiving seven-figure government "bailouts", which country is really better off? Dana Johannsen reports.

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All the events cancelled due to outbreak

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All the events cancelled due to outbreak

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The sporting calendar has been heavily impacted by the global coronavirus outbreak.

The Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League, FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship have all called a halt to the action until the start of April at least.

Meanwhile, England's cricket team have cut short their tour of Sri Lanka, while the year's first golf major, the Masters, has been postponed, following the cancellation of the Players Championship event in Florida this week, and the London Marathon has been pushed back to later on the year.

Here's the latest on what has been cancelled in the world of sport...

Football

- The Premier League has been suspended until April 4 and the EFL until April 3 at the earliest.

- All Scottish football has been suspended with immediate effect and the Irish Football Association has suspended the current season in Northern Ireland until at least April 4.

- The Football Association of Ireland announced all football activity under its jurisdiction has been suspended until March 29.

- England's two friendlies later this month at Wembley, the Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship have also been postponed by the FA.

- Wales' international matches with Austria and the United States at the end of March are also both called off.

- UEFA has announced all Champions League and Europa League fixtures scheduled for next week are postponed, as well as the quarter-final draws for both competitions.

- UEFA has called an emergency meeting next Tuesday to discuss whether Euro 2020 can go ahead as scheduled.

- Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi have tested positive for coronavirus.

- West Ham have announced several members of club personnel are self-isolating after being in close contact with Arteta at Saturday's match with Arsenal.

- An unnamed Everton player is a undertaking a period of self-isolation after he reported symptoms consistent with coronavirus.

- Bournemouth have announced five of their employees, including goalkeeper Artur Boruc, are self-isolating having displayed symptoms consistent with the virus.

- Juventus defender Daniele Rugani also tested positive on Wednesday night, while three Leicester players have shown symptoms and were kept away from the rest of the Foxes' squad.

- Ezequiel Garay has become the first LaLiga player to announce that he has tested positive for coronavirus.

- Major League Soccer announced the suspension of matches for 30 days with immediate effect.

- Real Madrid players have been told to go into quarantine after a member of the club's basketball team tested positive for coronavirus. LaLiga announced it has suspended 'at least the next two rounds of matches' as a result of the quarantine in place at Real.

- All domestic sporting action in Italy - including Serie A matches - has been suspended until April 3. Thursday's Europa League ties between Sevilla and Roma in Spain and Inter Milan and Getafe in Italy were called off due to travel restrictions between the two countries imposed by the Spanish authorities.

- Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, the top two divisions in France, are suspended until further notice.

- All matches in the German Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 have been suspended until April.

- The South American (CONMEBOL) World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March 23-31 have been postponed to a later date.

- The international friendly between Germany and Italy on March 31 has been postponed.

Rugby Union

- Sunday's Premiership Rugby Cup final between Sale and Harlequins at AJ Bell Stadium has been postponed.

- The Wales v Scotland game in the final round of the Guinness Six Nations has been postponed, following the cancellation of the France v Ireland and Italy v England games.

- The PRO 14 has been suspended indefinitely.

Golf

- The US Masters, the first men's golfing major of the year, has been postponed. The blue riband event at Augusta National was due to take place from April 9-12. A new date is yet to be arranged.

- The Players Championship has also been cancelled along with all other PGA Tour events for the next three weeks.

- Five European Tour tournaments have been postponed. Next week's Hero Indian Open and August's Czech Masters have joined this week's Kenya Open and April's Maybank Championship and China Open in being called off.

- The Ladies European Tour's Aramco Saudi Ladies International has been postponed with a view to it being rescheduled later in the year.

Cricket

- England's upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka is postponed with the touring players returning home.

- Australia have pulled out of their tour of New Zealand with immediate effect.

- The start of the Indian Premier League has been postponed from March 29 to April 15 as a precautionary measure.

- Surrey have cancelled their pre-season training camp at the ICC Academy in Dubai amid concern over the safety of their players.

- The final two one-day internationals between India and South Africa will be played behind closed doors.

Formula One

- The season-opening Australian Grand Prix has been called off along with the races in Bahrain and Vietnam, with the start of the season set to be pushed back to June

- McLaren had already withdrawn from the Australian race earlier on Thursday after a member of staff tested positive for the illness. It is understood the team member reported symptoms associated with the virus in the Albert Park paddock on Wednesday morning. Two personnel from American outfit Haas were tested and went in self-isolation.

Formula E

- Formula E has temporarily suspended the season.

Nascar

- Nascar announced it would be holding its race events in Atlanta (March 15) and Miami (March 22) without fans in attendance.

Motorcycling

- The opening four races of the MotoGP season in Qatar, Thailand, the United States and now Argentina were called off. The Qatar race was cancelled, while the other three have been moved to later in the season, which is now due to get under way in Spain on May 3.

Basketball

- The NBA season has been suspended "until further notice" after an unnamed player from the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus.

Cycling

- The Giro d'Italia, cycling's first Grand Tour of the season which was due to start on May 9 in Budapest, has been postponed. The Strade Bianchi, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo and the Giro di Sicilia races in Italy have been called off.

- Fears of two cases of coronavirus at the UAE Tour saw the race cancelled with two stages left.

- Team INEOS are among a host of teams who have decided to withdraw from all racing until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23.

Tennis

- The high-profile BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, where the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were due to compete, was called off.

- The ATP has announced a six-week suspension of the men's professional tennis tour due to "escalating health and safety issues" arising from the coronavirus outbreak.

- The Miami Open tennis tournament, due to start on March 23, has been cancelled after a ban on mass gatherings in Miami-Dade County.

- The Volvo Car Open in Charleston (April 4-12) has also been called off. Next month's Fed Cup finals in Budapest and Fed Cup play-offs, due to be held in eight different locations, have been postponed, while China's Xi'an Open (April 13-19) and Kunming Open (April 27-May 3) have been cancelled.

Racing

- Racing in Ireland will be closed to the public until March 29.

- Racing at Kelso on Monday will be held behind closed doors, the British Horseracing Authority has announced.

Athletics

- The World Indoor Championships, which had been due to take place in Nanjing in China this month, have been called off.

- The London Marathon has been postponed until Sunday, October 4. The 40th edition of the historic race was originally scheduled to take place on April 26.

- The Paris Marathon, which was due to take place on April 5, has been postponed until October 18 and the Rome Marathon, scheduled for March 29, has been cancelled.

- The International Triathlon Union has moved the 2020 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships, planned for May 2, from Milan to Montreal.

Olympics and Paralympics

- The International Olympic Committee remains fully committed to staging the Tokyo 2020 Games as scheduled this summer, despite Japan's Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto suggesting it could be postponed until later in the year.

The British Olympic Association still plans to send a delegation of around 55 people to Tokyo this month for a "detailed operational recce".

Rugby League

- The Betfred Super League match between Catalans Dragons and Leeds in Perpignan on Saturday was postponed after one of the Rhinos' players was put into self-isolation after showing symptoms of coronavirus.

Boxing

- All events scheduled for March in Japan have been cancelled.

- Shakur Stevenson vs Miguel Marriaga and James Kirkland vs Marcos Hernandez (March 14) have been postponed.

- Michael Conlan vs Belmar Preciado (March 17) has been postponed.

- Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Samuel Vargas (March 28) has been postponed.

Snooker

- The £1million China Open, scheduled to start in Beijing at the end of March, has been cancelled. The attendance in the arena for this week's Gibraltar Open has been limited to 100 people.

Ice skating

- The World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, scheduled for March 13-15, were called off. The World Figure Skating Championships in Quebec, planned for March 16-22, were also cancelled.

Judo

- The International Judo Federation has cancelled all Olympic qualification events on the calendar until April 30.

Darts

- The Professional Darts Corporation has cancelled the Premier League double-header in Rotterdam, the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen and the European Darts Open in Leverkusen, which were all scheduled for later this month, plus next month's German Darts Grand Prix in Munich.

Ice hockey

- The NHL has been paused with 189 games regular-season remaining. The Stanley Cup play-offs were due to start the week of April 6.

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All events cancelled due to coronavirus, including Premier League, EFL, Masters

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The sporting calendar has been heavily impacted by the global coronavirus outbreak. The Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League, FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship have all called a halt to the action until the start of April at least.

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NBA suspends season after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus

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NBA suspends season after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus

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By David Close, Amanda Jackson and Jason Hanna, CNN

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nba suspends season after jazz center rudy gobert tests positive for coronavirus - cnn

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David Close, Amanda Jackson and Jason Hanna, CNN

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NBA suspends season after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus

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The NBA has suspended its season after a player preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus, stunning fans and players who heard the plan at stadiums Wednesday night, and adding to a list of daily events and activities altered by the virus' spread nationwide.

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NFL coronavirus updates: League prohibits pre-draft visits, mulls draft changes, XFL player tests positive

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NFL coronavirus updates: League prohibits pre-draft visits, mulls draft changes, XFL player tests positive

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The coronavirus has unfortunately begun sweeping the globe and sports leagues are faced with uncertainty in the near-term as they try to manage what's now been officially deemed a world pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). While the U.S. government and others around the world attempt to get a handle on the virus, new reports of infection are beginning to crop up virtually every minute, and several NFL teams aren't waiting on a mandate before taking action. A slew of teams have already suspended all pre-draft travel and begun to recall their scouts and coaches, some also taking the added step of closing down their facilities completely.

" Due to health and travel concerns surrounding COVID-19, the Redskins have informed all coaches and scouts to suspend all travel until further notice," team owner Dan Snyder said in an official statement.

Other teams immediately followed suit, and it's expected all 32 will have invoked some sort of travel ban eventually, while on Friday, it was announced that the NFL had decided to "prohibit all in-person pre-draft visits involving draft-eligible players." Draft-eligible players are not allowed to travel to a club facility or any other location to meet with team personnel. Organizations are also barred from traveling to draft-eligible player's schools.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is also taking precautions to protect NFL fans. They've now announced the postponement of the first-ever "Hall of Fame Fan Fest" that was scheduled for March 21-22 "as a safeguard against the COVID-19 virus." Those who purchased tickets for the event will receive a full refund.

The decision was made after receiving input from state and local health care authorities, and it will likely not be the last major change seen at the NFL level. The league is currently in discussions as to the coming 2020 NFL Draft and if there will be any changes or drastic overhauls made, and at least two teams -- namely the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers -- have opted to revisit their pre-draft strategies when considering the amount of travel involved to scout prospects.

The league's front office has also instructed all but operationally critical staff to work from home until further notice, beginning Friday, March 13. We at CBS Sports will continue to monitor news and provide updates whenever possible -- updating this article frequently in the process.

Credible reports and updates

March:

Coronavirus update: XFL confirms Seattle Dragons player has tested positive and is in quarantine (3/14)

NFL cancels all college player visits, sets up alternative via phone or video conferencing (3/13)

XFL suspends season effective, players allowed to sign with NFL clubs immediately (3/12)

League cancels Annual Meeting due to COVID-19 concerns (3/12)

NFL requiring employees to work from home, teams considering the same (3/12)

NFL 'continues to monitor' spread of virus ahead of 2020 draft, won't delay start of league year (3/12)

Raiders' Mark Davis issues statement on coronavirus, internal NFL discussions (3/12)

Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus, NBA suspends season (3/11)

Steelers, Eagles pull back scouts due to coronavirus concerns, more to follow? (3/11)

NFL team execs have COVID-19 concerns, discussions over pre-draft and draft plans (3/11)

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NFL coronavirus updates: League prohibits pre-draft visits, mulls draft changes, XFL player tests positive

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The coronavirus has unfortunately begun sweeping the globe and sports leagues are faced with uncertainty in the near-term as they try to manage what's now been officially deemed a world pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). While the U.S.

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Coronavirus travel restrictions: New Zealand Warriors to be based in Australia following emergency NRL meeting:

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Coronavirus travel restrictions: New Zealand Warriors to be based in Australia following emergency NRL meeting:

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Warriors boss Cameron George has confirmed the NRL squad will remain in Australia this week following the new travel restrictions imposed by the New Zealand government in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Players and staff were scheduled to arrive home this afternoon after last night's opening-round loss to the Newcastle Knights in Newcastle.

They would have returned in time to avoid the compulsory two-week self-isolation period which comes into effect from midnight for all people arriving in New Zealand.

"However, with the travelling restrictions coming into place, returning to New Zealand would effectively remove us from the competition," said George, who is flying back to Auckland today.

"We had extensive meetings with (NRL CEO) Todd Greenberg, the Rugby League Players' Association and our players and staff until late last night to consider all our options.

"There is a lot of take into account, not least the impact on families back home as well as our members, fans, sponsors and other stakeholders.

"Ultimately we have reached a decision for the team to stay in Australia for the coming week. They'll be based on the Gold Coast and will play Canberra next weekend, probably at Cbus Super Stadium.

"The landscape is changing so rapidly, though, and together with the NRL we'll monitor the situation on a daily basis."

George said the club would work through the impact of the decision with sponsors, fans and all other parties the Warriors have partnerships with.

The Australian Rugby League Commission met on Saturday night to discuss the developing situation.

There have been suggestions all games could be played at one venue, or possibly three hubs, in Australia.

Warriors CEO Cameron George and coach Stephen Kearney address the media on Saturday night. Photo / Photosport

"It's a challenge but we will get through," said CEO Cameron George, in the press conference following the 20-0 loss to the Knights in Newcastle.

"After the day we have had today, it's another thing we have to get through, led by Stephen [Kearney, Warriors head coach]. We have a great leadership group and what happens will happen."

"We have had unique challenges to deal with in the past and this is another one. But it's onwards and upwards to round two, wherever that will be.

"[There are] so many possibilities. All I know is that the guys are briefed, the partners and wives are briefed and we have to do our best as a club to remain together and take on round two when it comes."

Kearney admitted most of the playing group struggled to initially process the news and agreed it created an unprecedented situation, but also expressed confidence they could get through.

"We need to make sure that we crack on with what's important for us," said Kearney. "If we have to stay here and prepare then that is what we have to do. It's another challenge that we will have to endure and work our way through."

"It's something that obviously hasn't happened before so I'm not quite sure how we navigate our way through it just yet - but I am sure we will find a way."

A staff member wears a mask during the Warriors' NRL opener against Newcastle Knights. Photo / Photosport

George said the club was advised just before kickoff (5pm NZT) of the new restrictions.

He immediately emailed the wives, partners and families of the players to inform them of the developments and the implications.

"I reiterated to the partners that this is not the club's preferred position but we have a responsibility to keep things on track. We are also very focused on getting the best outcome for the players and their families [and there are] some players with very young children, just born in recent weeks."

The players were then briefed by George in the dressing room, soon after they came off the field following their 20-0 loss to the Knights.

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Coronavirus travel restrictions: New Zealand Warriors to be based in Australia following emergency NRL meeting

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Warriors boss Cameron George has confirmed the NRL squad will remain in Australia this week following the new travel restrictions imposed by the New Zealand government in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Players and staff were scheduled to arrive home this afternoon after last night's opening-round loss to the Newcastle Knights in Newcastle.

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Warriors not able to play in NZ again due to corona virus outbreak

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Warriors not able to play in NZ again due to corona virus outbreak

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Warriors CEO Cameron George concedes the club may not play again on New Zealand soil in 2020 as new coronavirus isolation measures are already limiting who Stephen Kearney can bring into his line-up for next Saturday's game against Canberra.

The Warriors will be based at Kingscliff this week with their round-two fixture against the Raiders moving from Auckland to the Gold Coast due to a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for people arriving into New Zealand.

The Australian government's announcement of the same measures being introduced as of midnight on Sunday has the Warriors fearing they will be unable to fly prop Josh Curran across the Tasman to add reinforcements to Kearney's squad.

Australia's new self-isolation restrictions will also make it extremely difficult for the club and NRL to fly players' partners and family into the country as planned.

Already outside backs Patrick Herbert and Peta Hiku have returned to New Zealand to be with their families - Herbert became a father recently and Hiku's partner is eight months pregnant.

Some players from the Warriors' Canterbury Cup side are understood to have stayed in Sydney while the rest of their teammates flew home on Sunday.

George said the club's focus was on "getting through the next six or seven days" before reassessing the club's situation once more, with no guarantee of players staying on in Australia after the Raiders game.

The playing group voted to relocate to the Gold Coast after extensive meetings with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and officials following Saturday's round one loss to Newcastle.

Round two to continue with suspension of season deemed 'catastrophic'

Given the two-week isolation periods in place on both sides of the ditch, George concedes the Warriors face either being confined to Australian soil or forfeiting if the competition continues and the club's players want to return home.

"The reality is we probably won't get to play in New Zealand this year," George told NRL.com on Sunday.

"It's a very tough situation and its pretty devastating for players and their families, players had tears in their eyes as we were working through and talking about our options.

"There's so many aspects of what this all means. It's unfortunate but the message we had to the players was 'you handle things over there, we'll look after everything here'.

"We're supporting the families and looking after things here in New Zealand. Their job is to do their best over the next six or seven days and then we'll look at where we can go next.

Match Highlights: Knights v Warriors

"It's a reality and it's on the table that we get though this weekend, we've got to make a decision with the players.

"What do we do? Do we continue to live this week by week scenario?

"We gave the players the option. If you want to come home, you can. That could change during the course of the week, players might want to come home during the week.

"The reality is that they'll stick it out for seven days and there's a massive decision to make one way or another."

Warriors prop Adam Blair's wife Jess posted on Twitter on Saturday night reacting to the prospect of her husband remaining in Australia after the travel ban was announced and again on Sunday morning to say she wasn't having "a heated swipe" at anyone, that she just wanted everyone to be safe.

I would cry!! I have two kids, no family studying my post grad uni and work I have exams, intensives and classes that are completely worked around Adam schedule
- Jess Blair (@Jesblair) March 14, 2020

Thank-you! We are so lucky the girls are a strong group of wives/partners who all support each other and can lean on each other and the boys too! Takes a village!
- Jess Blair (@Jesblair) March 14, 2020

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Saturday people arriving in the country would need to self-isolate for 14 days, with those arriving from the Pacific Islands the only exception. The restrictions are to take place from midnight Sunday (10pm Sunday AEDT).

The Raiders were set to travel to New Zealand to take on the Warriors next Saturday as part of an historic double-header at Eden Park before a Super Rugby match featuring the Auckland Blues and ACT Brumbies.

New Zealand's one-day international cricket series against Australia has been cancelled, with the New Zealand team to travel home and the final two matches of the series abandoned.

The A-League has been placed in a similar situation - its sole Kiwi team the Wellington Phoenix - is currently still in New Zealand but hopes to base itself in Australia after Sunday's home clash with Melbourne Victory.

Wellington are in contention for the title heading into the final rounds.

However, the teams will need to return to Australia before midnight otherwise they will be unable to play their next matches, which could lead to the A-League being forced into an indefinite suspension of play.

SANZAAR has announced the Super Rugby competition has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

George and Kearney provide update on Warriors travel movements

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney broke the news of the new travel restrictions to shocked players shortly after full-time of Saturday's loss to Newcastle.

He praised NRL management for remaining open, accessible and supportive during a fast-moving series of events that were "changing dramatically all the time".

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Warriors CEO: We may not play in NZ again this year

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Warriors CEO Cameron George concedes the club may not play again on New Zealand soil in 2020 as new coronavirus isolation measures are already limiting who Stephen Kearney can bring into his line-up for next Saturday's game against Canberra.

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Fans will be missing from the stands when Formula One returns to Manama, Bahrain on March 22 [Reuters]

The outbreak of coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of more than 4,900 people and spread to at least 120 countries, has also affected sporting events across the world.

COVID-19, as the disease is officially known, has infected more than 132,000 people globally.

More:

Governments are scrambling to stop the spread of the virus, advising against public gatherings. In several countries, people have been advised against shaking hands to minimise risks of contamination.

Italy, Europe's worst-hit country, has cancelled all sporting events until at least April 3 and the government has put the country in lockdown as it battles the virus.

In North America, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League have temporarily restricted locker room access to players and "essential staff".

Football

In England, all elite football has been suspended until at least April 3.

UEFA postponed next week's Champions League and Europa League matches, Europe's football governing body announced on March 13.

The first and second tiers of Spanish domestic football have been suspended for the next two match days, the Spanish football federation and the players' union said on March 12.

FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation have agreed to postpone the Asian World Cup qualifying matches in March and June.

In Greece, the Europa League's last-16 first-leg match between Olympiakos and Wolverhampton Wanderers on March 12 was played behind closed doors.

The top two tiers of French football - Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 - have been suspended until further notice.

In Paris, the Champions League clash between PSG and Borussia Dortmund on March 11 took place in an empty stadium.

The German Football League (DFL) called off matches scheduled for March 13-15 in the Bundesliga and second tier Bundesliga 2. They recommended that both leagues be suspended until April 2.

In Denmark, players from Brondby and Lyngby are in isolation after they met former international Thomas Kahlenberg, who has tested positive for the virus.

The Swiss league has been put on hold until at least March 23.

All Romanian league matches will be played without fans until further notice.

All Bulgarian league matches in the next two rounds will be played without fans. The Bulgarian Football Union suspended ticket sales for the Euro 2020 qualifying playoff semi-final between Bulgaria and Hungary for March 26.

New seasons in the Chinese, Japanese and South Korean professional leagues have been postponed.

Asian Champions League matches involving Chinese clubs Guangzhou Evergrande, Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai SIPG have been postponed. The start of the knockout rounds has been moved back to September.

The Confederation of African Football has postponed two rounds of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for March 25-31.

Marathons

The London Marathon, which was scheduled to take place on April 26, has been postponed until October 4.

The Boston Marathon, originally scheduled for April 4, is now expected to take place on September 14.

Olympic Games

In Greece, spectators will not attend the torch-lighting ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in ancient Olympia.

Athletics

The World Athletics Indoor Championships, scheduled for Nanjing from March 13 to 15, have been postponed until next year.

Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona marathons have also been postponed.

Formula One

Formula 1 has cancelled the season-opening Australian GP after a McLaren team member contracted the coronavirus. The race was scheduled to take place on March 15.

The Bahrain Grand Prix and the Vietnam Grand Prix have been postponed. Those events were first scheduled to take place on March 20-22 and April 3-5 respectively.

The Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, which was scheduled to take place on April 19, was also called off.

No new dates have been set for the races but governing body FIA says it expects to begin the F1 season in May when it reaches Europe with the Dutch GP.

Disappointment for tennis fans in California as the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is cancelled.

Also cancelled were the Xi'an Open, scheduled for April 13 to 19, and Kunming Open, pencilled for April 27 to May 3. Both events were to take place in China.

The Olympic boxing qualifiers for Asia and Oceania were moved to Jordan from China.

NBA

The National Basketball Association said on March 11 that it was suspending the season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the virus.

Rugby

In France, the country's rugby federation said on March 13 that it was suspending all of its competitions due to the outbreak.

At least three Six Nations matches have been postponed.

The women's Six Nations game between Scotland and France was postponed after a Scottish player tested positive for coronavirus.

The Singapore and Hong Kong legs of the World Rugby Sevens Series have been postponed from April to October.

MotoGP

The opening two rounds of the season in Qatar, which were scheduled for March 6-8, did not go ahead. The Thailand race, due to be held on March 22, has been postponed.

Table tennis

The world championships in Busan, South Korea, have been pushed back provisionally from March to June.

The April 21 to 26 World Tour Japan Open in Kitakyushu has been postponed.

Golf

The Honda LPGA Thailand event and the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore have been cancelled.

The Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur and the China Open have been postponed.

The Indian and China Open have both been postponed.

Cycling

The final two stages of the UAE Tour were cancelled after two Italian participants tested positive for the coronavirus.

Four teams have pulled out of several cycling races in Italy.

Baseball

The final qualification tournament for the Olympics in Taiwan has been postponed from April to June.

Japan's professional league has postponed the start of the new season.

Major League Baseball (MLB), the US's professional baseball league, suspended its "spring training", a period in the off-season that features practices and exhibition games that allow trainers to test new players on different teams.

The MLB also delayed its opening day, which was scheduled for March 26, for at least two weeks.

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) canceled scheduled games for both men and women on Thursday afternoon.

The NCAA organises all sports for athletes in university, an important league that showcases young talent to recruiters for professional sports in the US.

The cancellation extends to all championships scheduled in the spring, including hockey, baseball and lacrosse.

Cricket

The men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League A, scheduled to begin on March 16 in Malaysia, has been postponed.

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced that Pakistan Super League matches in Karachi will be played with no spectators in the stadium.

England's two-match test series in Sri Lanka scheduled to start on March 19 was postponed.

Judo

The International Judo Federation cancelled all Olympic qualification events through to the end of April.

Weightlifting

The Asian Championships, scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan from April 16 to 25, have been cancelled.

Winter sports

The Women's World Ice Hockey Championships in Canada have been cancelled.

The World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea, have been postponed until at least October.

Australian Rules

The AFL game between St Kilda Saints and Port Adelaide Power scheduled for May 31 in China has been moved to Melbourne.

NHL

The National Hockey League, primarily based in the US but with teams from Canada, announced on Wednesday it is suspending its season for at least two weeks.

The NHL's board of governors are meeting to finalise details of the suspension, according to reports. Two weeks is the current minimum amount of time the season will be halted.

Wrestling

Asian Olympic qualifying event from March 27-29 was moved from Xi'an, China to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

On February 29, Kyrgyzstan withdrew as host.

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Coronavirus: What sporting events are affected by the pandemic?

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The outbreak of coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of more than 4,900 people and spread to at least 120 countries, has also affected sporting events across the world. COVID-19, as the disease is officially known, has infected more than 132,000 people globally.

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Basketball: RJ Hampton leaves Sky Sport Breakers to prepare for NBA draft

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Basketball: RJ Hampton leaves Sky Sport Breakers to prepare for NBA draft

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By: Christopher Reive

Christopher Reive is a sports reporter for NZME (4 February 2020)

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Sky Sport Breakers guard RJ Hampton's time with the club is over.

The 18-year-old NBA draft prospect will not see out the remainder of the season with the team and will instead return home to the United States to prepare for this year's draft.

Hampton joined the Breakers as part of the NBL's Next Stars initiative, set up to bring future NBA stars to the league early in their careers.

Hampton, Illawarra Hawks guard LaMelo Ball and Sydney Kings' Didi Lozada have all been among the players to join the league through the programme.

READ MORE:
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Ball was injured earlier in the season and returned home to the States last month, while Hampton has been nursing a hip injury over the past few weeks.

"If I was healthy I would definitely be here," Hampton said.

"We all in the organisation thought it would be best, I'm not healthy enough to get back on the court, to go home, prepare and get healthy for the NBA draft."

The injury is a short-term issue however with only two games left in the Breakers' regular season, time was running out to get Hampton back on to the court.

Hampton averaged about nine points, four rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes per game with the Breakers, and noticeably improved as the season went on.

RJ Hampton. Photo / Photosport

While some fans were critical throughout the season of Hampton playing around 20 minutes per game, he said he wasn't expecting to see full starter's minutes.

"I didn't come over here to play every minute of every game," he explained. "I came over here to learn. Most of my time was in practice learning from those guys and going up against those guys."

Hampton's father, Rod, said the decision to join the Breakers had been a successful one, with Hampton showing plenty of improvement to lift his stock ahead of the draft.

"We came over here as a top five pick, and I think we're leaving as a top five pick," Rod said.

"He's gotten so much better, so much stronger, so much faster, so much wiser."

Projected as a first round selection in June's NBA draft, he will now work to get himself healthy and ready to impress NBA scouts and executives back home.

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Basketball: RJ Hampton leaves Sky Sport Breakers to prepare for NBA draft

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Sky Sport Breakers guard RJ Hampton's time with the club is over. The 18-year-old NBA draft prospect will not see out the remainder of the season with the team and will instead return home to the United States to prepare for this year's draft.

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4 day event, with 46 groups = around 1,840 participants.

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Ngā Tūmanako are the overall winners at Te Matatini 2019. Source: Māori TV

Te Matatini ki te Ao 2019 proved itself as one of the most significant cultural events in Aotearoa as more than 60,000 people headed to Pōneke for the four-day event, according to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Chairman Chris Laidlaw says performers, whānau and fans travelled far and wide and an excellent team of volunteers made sure that they felt welcome.

"Te Matatini showed how we can bring people together and share our language, stories, arts and culture with the world. This was a true international level event."

Performers from 46 groups entertained crowds with split-second choreography, strong heart and voice showing why the biennial festival is considered the pinnacle for Māori performing arts.

Kapa Ngā Tūmanako from Tāmaki Makaurau will be waking up this morning to a great feeling of achievement after winning the overall title at Te Matatini 2019, Te Toa Whakaihuwaka.

The next Te Matatini in 2021 is now set to be held in Tāmaki Makaurau, marking a two-year-long planning schedule for the next host, Ngāti Whātua, who last hosted in 2002.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's Renata Blair says, "It's a big day for us to receive this honour of hosting Tāmaki 2021. It's a big day for ourselves, Waikato-Tainui and all the groups of the Auckland region to coordinate the Te Matatini Festival."

Laidlaw says, "Te Matatini should serve as an example for other event organisers on how to bring people into a region and care for them. The =council hopes that Te Matatini returns to the region in the future."

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Ngā Tūmanako are the overall winners at Te Matatini 2019. Source: Māori TV Te Matatini ki te Ao 2019 proved itself as one of the most significant cultural events in Aotearoa as more than 60,000 people headed to Pōneke for the four-day event, according to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

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Ryan Tannehill agrees to $118 million extension with Titans 

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Ryan Tannehill agrees to $118 million extension with Titans 

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(NFL 2020)

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The reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year is coming back to Tennessee.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who helped the Titans to the AFC Championship Game, has agreed to an extension with the Titans, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

Around The NFL will have more on this story shortly.

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Ryan Tannehill, Titans agree on contract extension

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The reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year is coming back to Tennessee. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who helped the Titans to the AFC Championship Game, has agreed to an extension with the Titans, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Around The NFL will have more on this story shortly.

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'Te Matatini ki te Ao', has a deeper meaning than its English translation of “the many faces to the world”. Throughout te ao Maori (the Māori world) the suggestion is that the world’s people are invited to participate alongside iwi, as we prepare to attract over 3,000 of the world’s top kapa haka exponents, tens of thousands of supporters and spectators, attracting both local and international tourists, as they converge on to Te Whanganui a Tara in February of 2019.

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NCAA cancels March Madness basketball tournaments due to coronavirus

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NCAA cancels March Madness basketball tournaments due to coronavirus

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PUBLISHED THU, MAR 12 202012:37 PM EDTUPDATED THU, MAR 12 20205:36 PM EDT

— CNBC’s Jessica Golden and Spencer Kimball contributed to this report.

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The NCAA has canceled its March Madness basketball tournaments - and "all remaining winter and spring" championships - as coronavirus fears upend the sports world.

"This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities," the college athletics organization said in a statement.

CBS Sports and Turner Sports, which were set to broadcast the tournament, said in a joint statement that they are "fully supportive of the NCAA's decision to cancel this year's NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. We'll continue to work closely with the NCAA and all of our partners as we prioritize the health and well-being of everyone involved."

Earlier Thursday, major conferences canceled their championship tournaments and sports organizations across the world rolled out fan restrictions and suspensions of play in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Southeastern Conference, Big Ten Conference, Pac-12 Conference, Big East, Big 12 Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference all canceled their men's championship basketball tournaments ahead of the NCAA's announcement. At least two high-profile teams also individually announced their withdrawals from the tournament.

The NCAA had previously said the upcoming men's and women's March Madness basketball tournaments, which were scheduled to begin in days, would be played without fans. The conference tournament cancellations and global sports suspensions appear to have tipped the scales.

The COVID-19 pandemic is upending sports worldwide amid concern that large public events will increase the likelihood of transmitting the virus. There are currently more than 1,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and at least 38 deaths. There are more than 127,000 cases worldwide and at least 4,718 deaths attributed to the virus.

The ACC, in canceling its tournament, cited the "fluidity of COVID-19."

Duke University, in addition to pulling out of March Madness, suspended all athletic competition, including practices, indefinitely.

"During this unpredictable time, Duke Athletics fully supports all measures to protect the health and welfare of the Duke family and beyond," said Kevin White, Duke vice president and director of athletics, who chairs the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee.

The Big 12 canceled its men's and women's basketball tournaments and immediately suspended all conference championships until April 15, at which time the Big 12 will assess the future of other championships this season, according to a statement.

Kansas, which plays in the Big 12, suspended all home and away athletic events and canceled all athletic travel indefinitely. The Jayhawks are the top-ranked men's basketball team in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.

The Big Ten and the SEC halted the remainder of their conference tournaments earlier Thursday.

The SEC's suspension of regular-season competition for all sports, as well as conference championship events, will remain until March 30, according to a statement.

The Pac-12 halted the remainder of its men's basketball tournament and canceled all Pac-12 sports competitions and conference championship events indefinitely.

The Big East conference men's basketball tournament had already begun at Madison Square Garden in New York City, but now will not continue. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio declared a state of emergency on Thursday and warned that large-event venues like MSG could remain closed "for months."

The NCAA cancellations come on the same day Major League Soccer suspended its season for 30 days and a day after the National Basketball Association suspended the remainder of its season indefinitely after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the illness.
- CNBC's Jessica Golden and Spencer Kimball contributed to this report.

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NCAA cancels March Madness basketball tournaments due to coronavirus

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The NCAA has canceled its March Madness basketball tournaments - and "all remaining winter and spring" championships - as coronavirus fears upend the sports world.

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Entire Super Rugby team go into self-isolation

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Entire Super Rugby team go into self-isolation

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The Bulls will be the first South African franchise to undergo self-isolation after returning from Australia.

The Bulls suffered a defeat to Reds in Brisbane on Saturday and was scheduled to face the Waratahs before heading to New Zealand on their four-week Australia tour.

However, the Bulls are now returning home following SANZAAR's decision to suspend the tournament indefinitely amid the global Coronavirus pandemic.

Following SANZAAR'S announcement of the Super Rugby tournament being suspended, we can confirm that the Bulls team will be returning to South Africa and are expected to touch down on Monday evening.

"The entire touring group will go into self-isolation for 14 days,"

Aside from the Bulls Super Rugby side's isolation, the Blue Bulls Company has also instructed senior fringe players and juniors not to report to Loftus.

"BBCo management has also urged all the other players (Juniors and SuperSport Rugby Challenge) not to report to Loftus for regular duty until further notice.

"The welfare and safety of our players and the public is our first priority and we will abide with the relative governing bodies and authorities."

The coronavirus outbreak has decimated the sporting schedule and left major doubts over some of 2020's biggest events, with all major rugby tournaments worldwide now suspended.

SANZAAR made the decision to suspend the 2020 Super Rugby tournament at the conclusion of this weekend's matches for the foreseeable future.

The Six Nations game between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday was postponed on Friday, joining the games between France and Ireland and Italy against England.

The Guinness PRO14 was suspended indefinitely.

Sunday's Premiership Rugby Cup final between Sale and Harlequins was originally given the go-ahead on Friday, only to be postponed following an individual on staff developing symptoms consistent with coronavirus.
WATCH: Israel Dagg, Ali Williams, Mils Muliaina and Angus Ta'avao join Kirstie Stanway on the couch for another entertaining episode of the Kick Off.
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Entire Super Rugby team go into self-isolation

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The Bulls will be the first South African franchise to undergo self-isolation after returning from Australia. The Bulls suffered a defeat to Reds in Brisbane on Saturday and was scheduled to face the Waratahs before heading to New Zealand on their four-week Australia tour.

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Netball New Zealand and ANZ New Zealand have partnered with global Netball fitness, skills and wellbeing organisation NETFIT to launch NETFIT NZ.The partnership will give the New Zealand netball community free access to live online work-outs delivered by elite netball players during New Zealand's COVID-19 Level 4 shutdown.NETFIT NZ is proudly presented by ANZ, with further support from existing Netball NZ partners NZ Police, Special K and NetballSmart.ANZ NZ Head of Sponsorship Sue McGregor said ANZ NZ was looking forward to working with Netball NZ to bring exercises online at a time when keeping motivated, fit and well is so important."Providing opportunities to build new routines and have some fun is really important for our mental wellbeing, as well as being able to provide some netball skills for fans and players who are missing their sport," McGregor said."Having this available on Sky Sport and online gives netballers access to the content whenever suits them."Sky Netball Sports Relations Manager Cathryn Oliver was pleased to bring NETFIT NZ live to Sky Sport 3 during isolation."Sky Sport is proud to bring more interactive netball content into homes, helping keep everyone fit and entertained alongside our other great content during the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.Netball NZ Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie said the ability to bring NETFIT NZ to New Zealand's netball community was a positive step forward in unprecedented circumstances."With the suspension of all local netball competitions and activities during the lockdown period we felt it was important to look for an approach that kept our netball communities engaged with the sport," she said."We're really excited to partner with the team at NETFIT Netball to give netball players of all ages access to online netball workouts and training sessions with some of New Zealand's best players."The online workouts will also look into health, fitness, coaching, nutrition and wellbeing sessions.The NETFIT NZ programme will see the former Silver Ferns Courtney Tairi and Laura Langman deliver online sessions.NETFIT Netball Chief Executive Sarah Wall said they were pleased to be able to create a solution for the netball community to remain safe, healthy and active during this time."We respect Netball New Zealand for placing a priority on the health and wellbeing of their community and country. We are delighted they have joined us in helping keep netballers active," she said.Wall said the beauty of the NETFIT workouts and classes was they could be tailored to meet any group or schedule.The free NETFIT NZ programme will be available live on Sky Sport 3 and online from Thursday 9 April.

The NETFIT NZ programme will be live on Sky Sport 3 from 1-3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and also available through

www.netfitnetball.com"Fans can run through our full range of drills throughout the day or pick what suits them best." For more information and to sign up, visit www.netfitnetball.com

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Netball NZ and ANZ team up to launch NETFIT NZ / News * Netball New Zealand

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Netball New Zealand and ANZ New Zealand have partnered with global Netball fitness, skills and wellbeing organisation NETFIT to launch NETFIT NZ.The partnership will give the New Zealand netball community free access to live online work-outs delivered by elite netball players during New Zealand's COVID-19 Level 4 shutdown.NETFIT NZ is