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Sky Open, their FTA channel, today ran an ad "Heartland Championship returns 17 August": given HC (& Farah Palmer Cup) games are sometimes played as curtain raisers to NPC that implies some FTA coverage.

Ben Lam has quit rugby with immediate effect & signed for Catalan Dragons loig club. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ben-lam-quits-union-for-rugby-league-with-immediate-effect-catalan-dragons/

^ PT injured again: "Darry has been handed a start alongside Tupou Vaa’i in what will be just his second test for New Zealand after Patrick Tuipulotu was ruled out with a calf injury he sustained in training this week..."...

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets) 1. Ethan De Groot (25) 2. Codie Taylor (87) (Vice Captain) 3. Tyrel Lomax (34) 4. Tupou Vaa’i (28) 5. Sam Darry (1) 6. Ethan Blackadder (11) 7. Dalton Papali’i (34) 8. Ardie Savea (84) (Captain) 9. TJ Perenara (82) 10...

Match officials for AB v Arg T1: Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus) ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Andrea Piardi (Ita) TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)

MP (Moana Pasifika) weren't successful in signing Vaea Fifita, but... Pat Pellegrini, a first five-eighths with the rising Coventry club in England, has been bought out of his last year of contract with the side to join Moana Pasifika."...

DPap sticking around for next RWC: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350367424/all-blacks-loose-forward-dalton-papalii-re-signs-nz-rugby-through-2027-world-cup

Tony Brown's little bro joining Clan coaching crew: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350363854/highlanders-recruit-cory-brown-new-attack-coach

Not sure I like the new format: PI currently ranked 10, 13 & 16 c.f. 14, 19 & 21 in the other Pool. I get why the Finals are in Japan this year & USA next, I just hope the PI are getting a genuine share of the revenue.

As expected Penney keeps his job & turns out he's on a two-year contract not three as I thought so there's speculation he's pretty much just keeping the chair warm for Tamati Ellison to take over in 2026.

^ it's almost like he wants people to buy his book to get the full picture...

^ I'm not sure TJP would've made AB had Roigard not been injured so maybe this year is a bit of a bonus for him? But, yes, he's fully earned a big payday in Japan.

TJP has confirmed he's off to Japan at year-end: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/all-blacks-halfback-tj-perenara-confirms-move-to-japan-in-2025/JOO63JHC3NG7FMDQTX4LOH5WXM/ Three-year contract so that's presumably the end of his pro career.

^ Keeping the seat warm for Tamati Ellison.

Caleb Clarke has re-signed but only for 2025. He turns 27 in March 2026, which tends to be the use-by date for an AB wing these days, so of course there's speculation wrt him heading overseas or to NRL but worth remembering his dad is heavily involved with Moana...

PlanetRugby reporting that the Finals series won't be played in Qatar, initially at least, due to concerns wrt their human rights record & the ability of fans to get there. Other bidders now being considered incl USA...

Love, Jordan, Havili & Cane added to squad; Lord brought in to cover ScoBar & Hotham selected ahead of Christie. Edit: no Narawa either & no mention of him being unavailable due to injury. Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell. Props: Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell...

Shield retained: Hawke’s Bay 80 (Matt Protheroe 2, Danny Toala 2, Kere Penetito 2, Joel Hintz, Freedom Vahaakolo, Ben O’Donnell, Tim Farrell, Mei Manase, Sam Wye tries; Harry Godfrey 10 conversions) Whanganui 5 (Kamipeli Latu try). Halftime: 45-0. Yes that's Brumbies & Aus 7's Ben O'D &...

ScoBar sidelined. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350357547/all-blacks-captain-scott-barrett-has-surgery-set-miss-start-rugby-championship ASav to captain, Darry into the 23 if not the XV & whoever's next cab off the rank the 36 as cover. Lord still injured, I think, so maybe Strange?

Nice cover story, NZR but the Onehunga Oracle's ace reporter @Dismal Pillock has once again uncovered the truth.