As the Super Rugby Pacific playoff race continues, stragglers begin to take stock
7 months ago

As the Super Rugby Pacific playoff race continues, stragglers begin to take stock

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — While jostling for final positions in Super Rugby Pacific continues in the weekend’s penultimate regular-season round, ramifications have already begun for teams that have failed to make the playoffs. Mainsbridge said during the news conference “a line of questioning was undertaken from a reporter present concerning Rob Penney’s future as Crusaders head coach. I feel some success in those or a result or two may have seen a different season unfold.” The Fijian Drua also have announced a new head coach for next season but in much different circumstances. “My time at the Flying Fijians and Drua has shown me how powerful the Fijian culture, community and passion in molding good players and good people.” The top four teams have been decided heading into the playoffs, with an unbridgeable 11-point gap back to fifth place.

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History of this topic

Crusaders retain head coach Rob Penney despite worst Super Rugby season in 23 years
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Crusaders retain head coach Rob Penney despite worst Super Rugby season in 23 years

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Rob Penney has been retained as Crusaders head coach and all of his assistants have been reappointed despite Penney’s first season in charge being the team’s worst in Super Rugby in 23 years and which snapped their seven-year title streak. Chief executive Colin Mainsbridge said a full review had been conducted into the 2024 season in …

Crusaders keep playoff hopes alive with 43-10 win over Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Crusaders keep playoff hopes alive with 43-10 win over Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby

Associated Press  

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The defending champion Crusaders will stay in the playoff race in Super Rugby Pacific at least for another day after a 43-10, bonus-point win over Moana Pasifika on Friday. After Taylor and backrower Ethan Blackadder scored through forward power in the first half, veteran center Ryan Crotty scored just before halftime in what will be his …

Mick Byrne appointed head coach as Fiji targets Nations Championship
8 months, 1 week ago

Mick Byrne appointed head coach as Fiji targets Nations Championship

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Drua head coach Mick Byrne has been hired to guide the Fijian national men’s rugby team as part of an agreement which could see Fiji play in the upcoming Nations Championship. “World Rugby clarified that performance and ranking at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has put Fiji in strong position to be part of …

Crusaders, Waratahs to meet in pivotal match at Super Rugby Pacific’s halfway point
8 months, 1 week ago

Crusaders, Waratahs to meet in pivotal match at Super Rugby Pacific’s halfway point

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The New South Wales Waratahs and Christchurch-based Crusaders will meet Friday in a pivotal match in round eight of Super Rugby Pacific which may decide the future course of both team’s seasons. The Crusaders’ win over the Chiefs was unexpected amid their worst-ever start to a Super Rugby season. We’ve lost four of our seven contracted …

Super Rugby’s new normal: Hurricanes on a high, Crusaders in a rut
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Super Rugby’s new normal: Hurricanes on a high, Crusaders in a rut

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The new normal in Super Rugby Pacific — with the unbeaten Hurricanes at the top of the standings and the winless Crusaders at the bottom — may be disorienting for fans of both teams and disconcerting for the other clubs in between. In the Crusaders’ favor Friday, the Chiefs are resting flyhalf Damian McKenzie, who has …

Struggling Crusaders face the Blues, aiming to end a 4-game losing stretch in Super Rugby
9 months ago

Struggling Crusaders face the Blues, aiming to end a 4-game losing stretch in Super Rugby

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The fifth round of Super Rugby Pacific seems to offer little respite for the Christchurch-based Crusaders who face the Auckland-based Blues amid a form slump so pronounced even the New Zealand prime minister has commented on it. New Zealand’s Christchurch-born Prime Minister Chris Luxon, along with all Crusaders fans, believes the defending champions still can turn …

Crusaders lose 4th consecutive match for worst-ever start to a Super Rugby season
9 months, 1 week ago

Crusaders lose 4th consecutive match for worst-ever start to a Super Rugby season

Associated Press  

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Crusaders’ start to the Super Rugby Pacific season went from poor to unprecedentedly bad with their fourth straight loss, a 14-10 home defeat by the Wellington-based Hurricanes on Friday. The 11-time champions hadn’t lost three matches in a row at the start of season since 1996 before they lost to the Fijian Drua last weekend. …

Early-season surprise: Out-of-sorts Crusaders a talking point in Super Rugby
9 months, 1 week ago

Early-season surprise: Out-of-sorts Crusaders a talking point in Super Rugby

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — One question more than any other hovers over Super Rugby Pacific after its third round this past weekend. The Christchurch-based Crusaders have lost their first three matches in a season for the time since Super Rugby’s inaugural season in 1996. Head coach Scott Robertson, who led the Crusaders to seven consecutive championships, is now head coach …

Crusaders face a tough return to Fiji as they seek to end a losing start to Super Rugby
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Crusaders face a tough return to Fiji as they seek to end a losing start to Super Rugby

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The Christchurch-based Crusaders have summoned international backup as they attempt to stem an early season losing streak in Super Rugby Pacific before returning to the site of one of their most historic defeats. The Crusaders have started the season with back-to-back losses for the first time in a decade, going down to the Chiefs in a …

Australia looks to Super Rugby Pacific for positive signs after Wallabies’ World Cup failure
10 months ago

Australia looks to Super Rugby Pacific for positive signs after Wallabies’ World Cup failure

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Australian rugby’s self-examination after a disastrous World Cup and subsequent change of national coach will become more forensic when the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season begins on Friday. New Zealand also has a new head coach, Scott Robertson, who will need to study Super Rugby closely in light of the defection to Japan of several leading …

Fijian Drua rewarded with an increase in Super Rugby home games in the 2024 season
1 year, 1 month ago

Fijian Drua rewarded with an increase in Super Rugby home games in the 2024 season

Associated Press  

SUVA, Fiji — The Fijian Drua will play seven matches in Fiji next Super Rugby Pacific season in a move that reflects the success of its home matches last season which all had large attendances and the most enthusiastic crowds in the tournament. Matches against the New South Wales Waratahs and Western Force also will be played in March and …

Mick Byrne went from being sacked by Ron Barassi to VFL glory, and now boss of rugby's big hope
3 years, 1 month ago

Mick Byrne went from being sacked by Ron Barassi to VFL glory, and now boss of rugby's big hope

ABC  

Today Mick Byrne may be the man tasked with making Fiji the next world rugby powerhouse, but almost four decades ago his sporting journey was at a crossroads. Loading YouTube content From the 'G to Fiji If Barassi's approach hadn't worked on Byrne, Hawthorn coach Allan Jeans made an immediate impact that has shaped both his playing and coaching career. …

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