Opinion
Six players who can light up the Pacific Nations Cup
The Pacific Nations Cup 2024 will provide a crucial staging post on the road to the expanded 24-team Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 …
Adam Julian
20 Aug 2024, 22:19
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.
Fiji resoundingly end Samoa's winning run in Suva
Defending champions Fiji opened the Pacific Nations Cup with a resounding 42-16 victory over Samoa.
Adam Julian
23 Aug 2024, 6:54
Exclusive
Sevens' loss was fifteens’ gain for Samoa's Tomasi Alosio
From 2015 Alosio was a regular in the Samoa Sevens team. He played 201 matches in the World Series, scoring 47 tries and 78 conver…
Adam Julian
29 Aug 2024, 17:15
Third-quarter burst not enough as Tonga fall to Manu Samoa in Apia
Except for a 15-minute flurry in the second half where Tonga scored 17 unanswered points, 'Ikale Tahi were never likely winners.
Adam Julian
30 Aug 2024, 3:45
USA Eagles beat Canada after first half blitz
A dazzling display by first five-eighth Luke Carty and dogged second half defense earned the USA a 28-15 victory over neighbours C…
Adam Julian
01 Sep 2024, 2:03
Exclusive
'We're ready to go to war': Leti-I'iga returns to the Black Ferns
The last time Ayesha Leti-I'iga played for the Black Ferns she scored the winning try in the Rugby World Cup final against England…
Adam Julian
03 Sep 2024, 4:20
14-man Fiji secure semi-final after huge win over Tonga
Fiji guaranteed hosting rights for a semi-final after trouncing Tonga 50-19 in Nuku’alofa in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations…
Adam Julian
06 Sep 2024, 2:46
Interview
The Hawaiian ex-defensive lineman who learnt rugby in four years before USA debut
Pono Davis has a big work ethic to match his considerable size. The hulking tighthead prop from the aptly named Big Island in Hawa…
Adam Julian
08 Sep 2024, 20:14
Exclusive
'We expect a fierce battle at set piece': Chelsea Bremner prepares to face England
“We’re pushing each other to be better. We each have our own strengths but we help each other when we can. There’s a healthy…
Adam Julian
11 Sep 2024, 4:03
Interview
The collegiate-level wrestler who has become MLR's tackling machine
Cory Daniel is a tackling machine. The USA Eagles flanker was the top tackler in Major League Rugby (MLR) in 2024 as Old Glory mad…
Adam Julian
11 Sep 2024, 16:42
Interview
What All Blacks and Springboks taught Canada’s ex-Manawatu enforcer
In the New England Free Jacks’ run to the Major League Rugby title, Andrew Quattrin contributed a dozen tackles and 10 carries i…
Adam Julian
12 Sep 2024, 23:09
Tongan stars shine in Tokyo, dismiss Canada in fifth-place final
Courage replaced consolation in the playoff for fifth in the Pacific Nations Cup; a determined, occasionally spontaneous Tonga too…
Adam Julian
14 Sep 2024, 6:17
Opinion
Four of best performers from round six of the NPC
The National Provincial Championship is in full swing with six rounds of competition completed.
Adam Julian
18 Sep 2024, 20:40
Opinion
Four of the best NPC performers from round seven
In the NPC this season Higgins ranks in the top ten for carries, clean breaks, defenders beaten, and meters gained.
Adam Julian
24 Sep 2024, 19:15
Interview
Black Ferns' Hannah King: 'I want to become a triple threat'
Hannah King was conspicuously shy at her first wider training group practice with the Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup team.
Adam Julian
01 Oct 2024, 5:23
Round eight NPC: Snubbed All Black and NRL-bound winger star
In a wild week of results some big names stood out in round eight of the Bunnings NPC.
Adam Julian
01 Oct 2024, 16:16
Australia U18 strong on day one, New Zealand schools smash Samoa
Tomorrow’s stars are in action for Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Samoa in a series of international fixtures across Hamilton…
Adam Julian
02 Oct 2024, 17:32
Australia U18s overpower New Zealand schoolboys in thrilling win
A polished and powerful Australia has won the Trans Tasman Trophy for the first time since 2019 toppling New Zealand 38-31 at Waik…
Adam Julian
06 Oct 2024, 16:54
Interview
Ben Tameifuna leading Tonga's next generation after World Cup exodus
Tongan prop Ben Tameifuna was officially the biggest player at the Rugby World Cup in 2023 packing in at a mammoth 151kg.
Adam Julian
15 Aug 2024, 21:54
Interview
New Zealand U20s star halfback rated better than Ben Smith coming out of high school
Dylan Pledger made such an impression at King’s High School in Dunedin that former Otago outside back and Sports Director Glenn …
Adam Julian
03 Aug 2024, 20:26
