Aisle be Back – that’s a wrap for the year

Peter Lakai – the Club Rugby website Wellington Player of the Year 2025, in action against the Chiefs in early May.

• By Kevin McCarthy

I guess a wrap of the year traditionally consists of highs and lows.

Indeed, as I write this, a gusty gale is blowing through Wellington, making it feel like mid-winter – except it’s warmer.

So, I’m going to focus on the warmer bits, instead of banging on about the bad stuff, which quite honestly you should know about already.

Here in no particular order are some good things:

Fan interest:  People clearly started paying more attention to Super Rugby, and the NPC as the tournaments progressed.  Super Rugby definitely saw much closer matches, and faster play. The NPC was fast and furious too, throwing up new potential stars, and the Ranfurly Shield still remains a great watch. Finally, at international level, the Rugby Championship produced it’s most even season yet.

Fantasy Rugby: It may be tragic, but I certainly think it gave another tier for fans to get involved and learn more about other teams and players. I mean seriously, how could the Force’s Carlo Tizzano become a household name so quickly?  How about an NPC version? Next year, I’m going to claim my rightful title.

NPC to free to air:  All games will be live on TVNZ+, rather than sequestered behind the Sky Sport pay wall. That’s got to be good.

The Nations Cup: I have no idea how this actually works. This is a good thing, as now I have something else to learn (or ask AI to explain). If AI keeps up its exponential  grow, it may by the end of the decade being able to understand how the Super Rugby playoffs in 2025 actually worked.

Women’s Rugby: The Black Ferns could not back up, which I guess we all suspected might happen. But we had confirmation in an explosion of the code at least at this top level. Here’s hoping New Zealand is ready to up its game and grow the Black Ferns to match the pace of others.

Rugby 360: Haven’t heard a peep lately. This is a very good silence.

Fabian Holland and Peter Lakai:  Tell me that Fabian Holland isn’t going to one day skipper the All Blacks? And Peter Lakai is going to get better and better. There’ll be others too – time  waits for no squad.

Ardie Savea: Should he have his own comic book? Movie franchise? Single-handedly gave Moana Pasifika a huge lift in 2025.  Was the spine of the All Blacks for  most of the test season. We’ve got a couple of more years of his playing genius to enjoy – and for heaven’s sake, make him skipper.

Ardie Savea leads his Moana Pasifika team out to play the Hurricanes at the end of May this year.

The Great Trek: Woohoo. At last, a tour to  South Africa.  A tour anywhere. It’s  going to be gnarly and the sort of furnace that will forge or frazzle this All Black squad. I can’t wait!

The Rise of England: A good thing. Because when they lose, everyone else’s mood is improved. This rise only makes it  better.

The Mighty Boks: Streets ahead, and if you somehow doubt that you haven’t been watching.  Also, you just need to ask them and they’ll tell you.

The Year Ahead: Stop worrying over rugby for a couple of months.  There are no rocks under your beach towel. Take in some test cricket live if you can. Have a great break and recharge for 2026.

Aisle be Back returns on this website every Friday in 2026 when the rugby returns. In the meantime, have a great break.