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Contributors

Adam Julian

Adam Julian is a freelance sportswriter and broadcaster based in Wellington. He's been a regular contributor on Clubrugby.co.nz and Te Upoko O Te Ika radio for a dozen years. Between 2010 and 2018 he was the official statistician for Sky Sports Land Rover First XV program. Adam is the author of the A to Z of the Black Ferns on allblacks.com, a member of the Association of Rugby Historians and Statisticians and a long-suffering Wellington Lions and Hurricanes supporter. His interests outside of rugby include blues music, history, travel, and food.

Opinion

Four of the best performances from Super Rugby Pacific round two

Here are four players putting their hands up early in 2025 with the best performances of Super Rugby Pacific round two.

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
23 Feb 2025, 18:16
Interview

Chiefs recruit hoping to fill Sam Cane's heavy-hitting boots

Jahrome Brown is back home in Hamilton after a seven-year stint in the Australian capital. 

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
21 Feb 2025, 1:09

Four of the best performances from Super Rugby Pacific round one

It was a compelling start to Super Rugby Pacific. Two matches were decided by a solitary point after regulation time, while the Cr…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
16 Feb 2025, 20:21
Interview

Ex-Crusaders recruit now the fittest forward at the Hurricanes

The 23-year-old lock topped all comers in the demanding Bronco run and the former Crusader can't wait to bring some of that vigour…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
10 Feb 2025, 16:58
Interview

Ex-Brumby returns ‘home’ as strong contender to replace Sam Cane at Chiefs

Jahrome Brown is back home in Hamilton after a seven-year stint in the Australian capital. The 28-year-old flanker made quite the…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
06 Feb 2025, 21:31
Exclusive

'To be honest, I hated rugby': How the nephew of TJ Perenara ended up at the Blues

The 2024 NPC final was a bittersweet occasion for new Blues singing Reon Paul. The Bay of Plenty winger received his blazer after …

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
27 Jan 2025, 19:02
Interview

The rise of flanker-turned-wing Oli Mathis to the All Blacks Sevens

The All Blacks Sevens rookie was one of the few positives from New Zealand’s dismal start to the 2024-2025 SVNS series.

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
22 Jan 2025, 18:47

The four most memorable events in sevens history in Australia

The third leg of the SVNS series was dramatic in 2023/24 with Ireland winning their first female cup title stunning hosts Australi…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
20 Jan 2025, 19:16
Interview

Auckland move 'came out of the blue' for Cantabrian James Mullan

The Blues ascent to the top of the Super Rugby pile has been aided by the addition of some wily and uncompromising Cantabrians.

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
16 Jan 2025, 20:05
Opinion

Players to watch in Super Rugby Aupiki 2025

Super Rugby Aupiki always throws up a bundle of new names to watch, including more flankers and speed merchants. In 2025 there mus…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
31 Dec 2024, 13:00
Interview

The Waikato young gun solving one of rugby players' 'obvious problems'

Many within the rugby fraternity will already know Tom Martin as a back-rower who cracked the Waikato NPC team in their 2021 premi…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
19 Dec 2024, 17:20

Japan shock the world to win title over New Zealand and Australia

Determined, organised, and precise, Japan thoroughly deserved their surprise victory. In the cup final Japan humbled highly-fancie…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
15 Dec 2024, 15:33

Australia cap off golden year in youth boys rugby with world title

It’s been a wonderful year for Australian age group rugby with the Australian Schools winning the fifteens test match against Ne…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
15 Dec 2024, 15:23
Interview

The Black Fern dubbed the Sachin Tendulkar of New Zealand Rugby

Former Otago coach John Kyle called Kelly Brazier “the Sachin Tendulkar of New Zealand Rugby.” Kyle started Brazier as a 14-ye…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
11 Dec 2024, 17:10
Interview

Sofai Maka set to take SVNS by storm after flying NPC season

When Sofai Maka takes the field for his All Blacks Sevens debut in Dubai this weekend he will wear the unusual number of 81 on his…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
29 Nov 2024, 18:26

Schoolgirl sensation Dhys Faleafaga returns to SVNS with new purpose

A loose forward, Faleafaga scored 45 tries in 23 games (20 wins) for her club side Nothern United. In May 2022, when her twins wer…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
28 Nov 2024, 15:07
Interview

The Netherlands-born lock who is turning heads with All Blacks XV

Fabian Holland has been riding the crest of a wave since leaving the Netherlands as a teenager to pursue an improbable rugby dream…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
08 Nov 2024, 19:26
Interview

All Blacks XV prop braces for Munster after 89-minute NPC Final shift

Xavier Nuima will start off the bench for the All Blacks XV against Munster at Thomond Park, Limerick on Sunday.

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
01 Nov 2024, 22:27
Interview

Perth-born Oliver Haig’s unique journey from Sussex to All Blacks XV

Oliver Haig speaks with a distinctly South English accent, so unique that he could have confused the All Blacks lineout calls at T…

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
01 Nov 2024, 18:11
Exclusive

Honey Hireme-Smiler on 'Honey: My Story of Love, Loss and Victory'

The sporting prowess of Honey Hireme-Smiler was so redoubtable she was famously nicknamed ‘Honey Bill Williams’ because, like …

Adam Julian
Adam Julian
29 Oct 2024, 11:14
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