Field Theory by Hadyn Green

Small note - there is a spare 'S' on the link to Richard Irvine.

It's somewhat disappointing to learn that they cut the Black Ferns programme, which costs about as much as the pay of one whole All Black. Not even a very good one.

Shows the priorities of the NZ Rugby Union these days: "Girls. Meh."

The Black Ferns will have a limited programme in 2009, which will be geared at maintaining continuity and preparations for the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2010. Women's players will be in contention for the New Zealand Women's Sevens team which will play at the first ever Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in Dubai in March.

Link

Cheers Heather fixed
Cheers Naly
and
Cheers Kyle

I did the adding up too three programmes (two of which are quite successful) and you only save $1M. Jeebus! Imagine if they gave the Black Ferns $1M, they could be unbeatable (or rather more so).

We love the Hurricanes. We want to see you guys make it all the way to the final, where you get beaten by the Crusaders. Cause you sure are fun to watch.

PS Keith is totally a werewolf.

Did anyone actually manage to watch all of that inept fumblethon that was the Hurricanes match?

Did anyone actually manage to watch all of that inept fumblethon that was the Hurricanes match?

Wait, rugby has started already?

No, pull the other one. Got bells on it.

Happy Birthday Hadyn!!!

Oh, and maybe the Balck Ferns could have a celebrity fundraiser - I think Anika Moa used to represent Canterbury in Women's Rugby.

It was some uncoordinated variant of rugby from the bits I saw Kyle.

It seemed to have quite a bit of basketball thrown in.

Thanks Hayden: Like you i'd not seen the Black Ferns included in this. I wasn't happy with the announcement of the Maori team taking an enforced break but from Naly's link (thanks Naly) the presser seems to want to be read as "Look, we're all tightning our belts. Even the ABs on 'assembly costs'."

Presumably the assembly costs are their gathering to train before internationals begin. And for promotion purposes.

And - all headrush over starving a winning team aside - this is what gets me: The areas the Union is growing it's audience and players are those taking the hit here. For a saving of 1 million now they lose how much future followers and funds.

Does-not-compute-won't-someone-think-of the-children-the-tryline's-the-other-way...

Why don't they just call it pre-season training?

Hard grounds, sloppy skills, empty stands, random squads, hamstring injuries left right and centre.

What I saw was pretty awful really, not bad for a rehearsal but not really fit for the public.

Waiting for India to arrive so we can watch more real summer sport.

Hard grounds, sloppy skills, empty stands, random squads, hamstring injuries left right and centre.

Seems a bit gauche watching rugby at this time of year. I'll stick to the cricket and the EPL and start to get interested in the Super 14 when I can sense a chill in evening air.

What Peter and Bart said.

The Indian tour has even more interest than normal as our players strut their stuff in front of the high bidders.

I am, and prepare yourself for a shock, also awaiting the Indian series. it should be good.

I have often found the Super 14 hard to get into until the later stages anyway.

And, in a shameless plug, a review of the NZ performance in the Trevor-Barry series and T20 match right here

I am, and prepare yourself for a shock, also awaiting the Indian series. it should be good.

Yeh, me too. Really enjoyed most of the cricket so far this year, even though it's been a season of missed opportunities. The final overs before the game was abandoned on Friday night were astonishing. Guptil is some find for the Black Caps, a beautiful hitter of the ball. We may have replaced Astle??

It's somewhat disappointing to learn that they cut the Black Ferns programme, which costs about as much as the pay of one whole All Black. Not even a very good one.

Shows the priorities of the NZ Rugby Union these days: "Girls. Meh."

Well said Kyle. That's a crap decision. Just. Crap. A team doesn't win and remain dominant when they can't rely on financial support year-to-year. This is an incredibly shortsighted decision. One that the Minister for Sport and Rec ought to involve himself in.

One that the Minister for Sport and Rec ought to involve himself in.

You're not the only one that has noticed his stunning silence since taking office on every sporting issue - not even congratulating the Halberg winners.

Cosgrove didn't like being Sport minister and hated SPARC, but he still made an effort.