Wellington, Feb 11 NZPA - Promising fullback Israel Dagg believes it is a make-or-break season for himself and the Highlanders as they prepare for their Super 14 opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Auckland, Dec 28 NZPA - While the All Blacks marvelled at Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper in Milan's Santa Maria della Grazie, New Zealand rugby's own backdrop for 2009 hardly qualified as a masterpiece.

By Daniel Gilhooly of NZPA

Wellington, Dec 20 NZPA - One hundred tests won in a decade of rugby, yet still the long faces from All Blacks supporters.

The past 10 years has seen one team dominate the international landscape more than any team in the game's history.

Auckland, Dec 8 NZPA - Five rugby test wins and a strengthened team culture has left All Blacks coach Graham Henry a happy man at the end of the northern hemisphere tour.

By Mark Geenty of NZPA Tokyo, Dec 7 NZPA - The All Blacks' brains trust will meet the five Super 14 rugby coaches on Friday in the hope of agreeing on periodic breaks for leading players to avert burnout amid a crippling schedule.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have today named the team to play the Barbarians at Twickenham, London, on Saturday 5 December, in the final match of the All Blacks Telecom Northern Tour.

Starting XV

London, Dec 2 NZPA - Richie McCaw will back up for a third straight week to captain an otherwise second-string All Blacks as they look to complete an unbeaten rugby tour against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday (NZT).

London, Dec 2 NZPA - Bryan Habana fondly recalls how the Barbarians nearly toppled the Wallabies a year ago.

By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Marseille, Nov 29 NZPA - After their best test effort of the year, the All Blacks rugby coaches remain uncertain as to whether their reshuffled roles will continue in 2010.

By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Marseille, Nov 29 NZPA - From boring to breathtaking. As the jubilant All Blacks cradled the Dave Gallaher Trophy at Stade Velodrome, they reflected on a night when they did themselves, and test rugby, a huge favour.