Wellington, March 21 NZPA - New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chairman Jock Hobbs offered to resign this week over the collapse of his former company Strategic Finance.

The offer was made at the NZRU board meeting but was immediately rejected, the Sunday Star Times reported.

Wellington, March 18 NZPA - The New Zealand Maori rugby team's centenary celebrations have received a fillip with today's announcement they will take on Ireland and England in June.

NZPA Correspondent

Sydney, March 17 NZPA - New Zealand rugby sevens' supremo Gordon Tietjens has distanced himself from reports linking him to a coaching role at South Africa's Eastern Province.

Wellington, March 15 NZPA - New Zealand-owned building suppliers' co-operative ITM will sponsor the premier national provincial rugby competition this year through to 2012.

2010 ITM Cup draw released New Zealand-owned building suppliers' co-operative ITM will sponsor the premier national provincial competition this year through to 2012, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has announced today.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Wellington's Jamie Joseph will coach New Zealand Maori with Daryl Gibson assisting him, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) announced today.

Joseph, 40, said he was thrilled by the challenge of coaching NZ Maori in their centenary year.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Southern hemisphere rugby officials are on the lookout for a chief executive to develop the annual Super and Tri-Nations competitions.

The international search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer to lead SANZAR, the South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions joint venture, will commence this weekend with the role being advertised in all three countries.

Wellington, Feb 27 NZPA - Question marks surround the fitness of former All Black Aaron Mauger and whether he will return to New Zealand rugby.

Wellington, Feb 27 NZPA - Former All Black and current Crusaders assistant coach Mark Hammett has been appointed head coach of the Hurricanes for two years from 2011, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and Hurricanes franchise announced today.