{"id":24235,"date":"2025-01-27T08:08:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T19:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/?p=24235"},"modified":"2025-01-27T09:26:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T20:26:47","slug":"sideline-conversions-27-january-first-news-and-happenings-column-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/2025\/01\/27\/sideline-conversions-27-january-first-news-and-happenings-column-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Sideline Conversions 27 January (first news and happenings column of the year)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Above: The sixth and latest Club Rugby jigsaw puzzle has just dropped &#8211; the Heartland Championship one.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Our first news in briefs, happenings and titbits column of the year.<\/p>\n<p>As has been the case previously, the intention is that this column will come out on Mondays every week throughout the rugby year, as we set up the week ahead and recap the weekend just gone.<\/p>\n<p>It is a <em>collaborative<\/em> effort, so if you have news or to contribute and help us out regularly or occasionally please sing out.<\/p>\n<p>We are re-starting tentatively, but as the rugby starts then we ramp up with it!<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The Wellington and wider club rugby community has some very sad news &#8211; but we are refraining from sharing it for now until it is out there on other channels.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>A tale of two teams from the just completed <strong>Perth leg of World Rugby\u2019s SVNS Sevens series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>New Zealand men&#8217;s<\/strong> team finished ninth at the tournament, beating Kenya 19-12, failing to make it into the Cup quarterfinals earlier on Saturday. Argentina beat Australia 41-5 in the men\u2019s final.<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand are seventh on the men\u2019s standings on 20 points behind three-way joint series leaders Fiji, Argentina and Spain on 48.<\/p>\n<p>Australia defeated New Zealand 28-26 to win the women&#8217;s title.<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand lead in the<strong> women&#8217;s competition<\/strong>, with 56 points, two clear off Australia.<\/p>\n<p>Sevens action resumes in Vancouver over the weekend of 21-23 February.<\/p>\n<p>That will be followed by Hong Kong, Singapore and Los Angeles, completing the series in May.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Why do commentators on the SVNS circuit feel obliged to apologise every time bad language is heard in a team huddle. What do they expect and are we really that offended anymore?<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>At what point does the name \u2018All Blacks\u2019 get dropped from the sevens team?<\/p>\n<p>++++++<\/p>\n<p>Away from the rugby, there was a report on the weekend (paywalled so we can\u2019t share it) saying that World Rugby has been burning through money like water on the sevens circuit. Now they have to tighten their belts and there are gaping holes in some areas where previously there were multiple people doing the same job, such as not a single editorial staffer on the ground covering the tournament in Perth on the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>++++++<\/p>\n<p>Michaela Brake (nee Blyde) was in fine form at the Perth Sevens, scoring four tires in semi-final demolition of France and twice in the final against Australia. The Warriors- bound sevens superstar has scored 254 SVNS tries, just two short of the all-time record. In the summer she married Olympic rowing eight champion from Tokyo 2021 Michael Brake. Olympic champions who are married include. Dana Z\u00e1topkov\u00e1 and Emil Zatopek in athletics. Cyclist Sir Jason Francis Kenny is the holder of most Olympic gold medals (7) and medals (9) for a British athlete. He married Laura Kenny who also won five goal medals. Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird from the Rio 2016 gold medal winning USA Olympics soccer team are married. Andre Aggasi and Steffi Graf in tennis are married.<\/p>\n<p>++++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Super Rugby pre-season<\/strong> is now underway. All fixtures at a glance are below (Hurricanes games highlighted)<\/p>\n<p>Fri 24 Jan: Fijian Drua v RFCLA \u2013 Churchill Park, Lautoka<\/p>\n<p>Sat 25 Jan: NSW Waratahs v NSW Pacifica \u2013 Eric Tweedale Stadium, Sydney<\/p>\n<p>Fri 31 Jan: Moana Pasifika v Highlanders \u2013 The Oval, North Harbour Stadium, Albany<\/p>\n<p>Fri 31 Jan: Crusaders v Blues \u2013 Kirwee Rugby Club, Kirwee<\/p>\n<p>Fri 31 Jan: Queensland Reds v Bristol Bears \u2013 Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol<\/p>\n<p>Sat 1 Feb: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies \u2013 Bowral Rugby Club, Bowral<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\u00a0Sat 1 Feb: Chiefs v Hurricanes \u2013 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Thu 6 Feb: Highlanders v Crusaders \u2013 Rugby Park, Invercargill<\/p>\n<p>Fri 7 Feb: ACT Brumbies v Western Force \u2013 Marist College Canberra<\/p>\n<p>Fri 7 Feb: Queensland Reds v Ulster \u2013 Kingspan Stadium, Belfast<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<em>Fri 7 Feb: Hurricanes v Blues \u2013 William Jones Park, Wainuiomata<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sat 8 Feb: Chiefs v Moana Pasifika \u2013 Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Hurricanes<\/strong> open their 2025 season this coming Saturday with a match against the Chiefs in New Plymouth. The game kicks off at Yarrow Stadium at 2.oopm and presumably will be streamed by the Chiefs for those wanting to watch. Although an early season road trip would be a good idea.<\/p>\n<p>The Crusaders have sold all 3,000 tickets for their novel pre-season match against the defending champions Blues at the rural Canterbury location of Kirwee (population 1180) this coming Friday.<\/p>\n<p>The Hurricanes \u2013 Blues game the following Saturday at Wainuiomata at 3.00pm should be a big day, and we will be fascinated to see how they do this logistically and what sort of crowd they are expecting and how many will be able to fit in to the ground.<\/p>\n<p>Then it\u2019s on to the first match of the competition the following week against the Crusaders away and then against the Fijian Drua in Napier in their first home match on 22 February. First match in Wellington is on 1 March against the Blues.<\/p>\n<p>++++++<\/p>\n<p>Local photographer Peter McDonald attended Hurricanes training last Thursday to study form and fitness and first-five prospects, and take a few photos. It was interesting to see TJ Perenara in these shots, as we thought he was in Japan? Perenara in left of shot below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/clubrugby.smugmug.com\/2025\/2025-Hurricanes-and-Super-Rugby\/Hurricanes-training-23-January\/i-HK7xt6J\/A\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.smugmug.com\/2025\/2025-Hurricanes-and-Super-Rugby\/Hurricanes-training-23-January\/i-HK7xt6J\/0\/MXcbwC9SrTqp97rxZJVDPMG9rgC7Z66HqPjrGZ8fd\/640x512\/P1120605%20preseason-640x512.jpg?resize=640%2C512&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"512\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Te Upoko o te Ika broadcast commentary team<\/strong> returns for the 10th year in 2025, continuing a tradition that which first began in 1927. Stay tuned or in this case posted for more.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The inaugural <strong>Paremata-Plimmerton pre-season Mana Island Challenge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">1st Louis Northcott<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">2nd Jake Tibbitts<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">3rd Ethan Webster-Nonu<\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FParePlimRugby%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02wibkrdhWyQ1Q19QkumHgLBKgJ6iS17amKHYBjrXQDZCHFeioWKb3eVwgX5wbWaNLl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"792\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs confirmed on Friday that loose forward <strong>Wallace Sititi<\/strong> is facing an extended recovery period following successful knee surgery completed last week.<\/p>\n<p>The 22-year-old had meniscus surgery on his right knee and is not expected to have much on-field involvement in the 2025 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season as a result.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kids go free<\/strong> again at all Highlanders home matches this season.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Condolences to the friends and family of <strong>Tim Reddish<\/strong> on his recent passing.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOriesRugby%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02n2PNBJKjj1zd82rM9gbiEBPYqFDgsFRC9S6nRbBDdxm7Ce9zVJSZCez54ZyQCT9rl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"679\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><em>Club Rugby<\/em> is looking for an additional advertiser or website sponsor (or more) for the year ahead, so if this is you or you know of anyone that wants to align with our proven track record of consistent content and loyal, engaged audience please get in touch. Best way is via email at editor@clubrugby.co.nz<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Above: The sixth and latest Club Rugby jigsaw puzzle has just dropped &#8211; the Heartland Championship one.\u00a0 Our first news in briefs, happenings and titbits column of the year. As has been the case previously, the intention is that this column will come out on Mondays every week throughout the rugby year, as we set&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,60,15,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-rugby","category-latest-club-rugby-news","category-news-in-briefs","category-representative-rugby"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Heartland-Championship-logo-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1807&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbDiON-6iT","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24235"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24260,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24235\/revisions\/24260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}