2019 ASB Rugby Awards livestream

Archives for March 2019

Rugby World Cup Fiji coach John McKee is in Japan

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Fiji coach John McKee is in Japan this week finalising preparations for their World Cup campaign which now includes a two-match series against the Maori All Blacks in July.

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Fiji will host the Maori All Blacks in Suva on July 11 and after that series will tackle Japan, Canada, Samoa and Tonga in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup in August in a bid to be ready for World Cup pool games with Grand Slam champions Wales, Australia, Georgia and Uruguay.

The Maori All Blacks will face Fiji three days after the historic Test in Apia between the All Blacks and Manu Samoa. “This match is guaranteed entertainment for Fiji, come July, and we are delighted to once again host the Maori All Blacks,” said Fiji Rugby’s Chief Executive Radrodro Tabualevu.

The side will be filled with Super 15s Rugby players so they will be a very good team.

This game will have a lot of history behind it as the Maori All Blacks were the first rugby team to play at the then, newly renovated National Stadium just before the 1979 South Pacific Games. That team was captained by famous All Black prop Billy Bush,” The Maori All Blacks last played Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup in 2008, winning 11-7 in Lautoka.

Next game : Fiji vs All Blacks Maori in Suva on July 11

2019 Rugby World Cup: The 20000km cycle ride to Tokyo

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20,000 kilometers of roads separate Twickenham Stadium, the site of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, and Tokyo Stadium, which will host the opening game of this year’s competition. For two fans, the tournaments are just a bike ride apart.

The kickoff between Japan and Russia in six months’ time will bring to an end a journey that will take 231 days, spanning two continents and 27 countries. By that time, Ron Rutland and James Owens will be grateful to put their bikes to one side and watch some rugby.

South African Rutland is no stranger to long-distance adventures. Before the 2015 World Cup he embarked on a two-year, 42,000km cycle through Africa and Europe, arriving in England for the Springboks’ first game against Japan — which, famously, they lost.
Then last year he entered the Guinness Book of Records for completing the longest ever hole of golf where he caddied for scratch golfer Adam Rolston across the length of Mongolia.