Phil Gifford
Contributing Sports Writer
Phil Gifford is a Contributing Sports Writer for NZME. He is one of the most-respected voices in New Zealand sports journalism.
At the age of 12, I penned my first sports piece in 1959 for the Waihi College school magazine—a report on the final test of that year’s series with the Lions. In the early hours, my father and I caught a bus from Waihi, queued up outside Eden Park, and stood on the muddy Dominion Rd end terraces as the Lions secured the victory with a score of 9-6. Reflecting on that day, it's still incredible to me that my journey, beginning in 1965 as a cadet at the Herald, allowed me to make a living based on watching sport all over the world and connecting with great athletes. From meeting legends like Sir Edmund Hillary, Dame Valerie Adams, Stirling Moss, and Richie McCaw, to attending events ranging from the Olympics to the Rugby World Cup and Commonwealth Games, I've been able to claim it as work. Yet through it all, one thing has remained a constant. In the minutes before a big rugby game, I still feel the frisson of anticipation that country kid did at Eden Park in ’59.
Check out Phil’s latest content
Phil Gifford: We will know this week whether the Crusaders are back
OPINION: Six talking points heading into the second round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Phil Gifford: Do the Highlanders have the best player in Super Rugby?
OPINION: The Southern Hemisphere's competition came back with a bang.
Phil Gifford: The big selection questions ahead of opening weekend
OPINION: Injuries were a concern for many teams last year.
Phil Gifford: A match-maker’s dream and rugby’s saddest story
OPINION: The Chiefs will need no reminder how much effort is needed to beat the new Blues.
Phil Gifford: Rugby's pivotal year - six talking points for 2025
OPINION: Rugby faces a pivotal year in 2025.
Phil Gifford: The All Black who refused apartheid – Ken Gray’s enduring impact
OPINION: Gray refused to tour South Africa.
Phil Gifford: Where does rugby go from here? The hits and misses of 2024
OPINION: What worked, what didn't, and what we have learned this year.
Phil Gifford: Areas where All Blacks failed and flourished against Italy
OPINION: The picture is becoming clear for Scott Robertson.
Phil Gifford: The All Black who bettered the world's best in Paris defeat
OPINION: On his 24th birthday, Cam Roigard proved he's the real deal.
Phil Gifford: All Blacks must be wary of chaotic French and their talisman
OPINION: Dupont is the perfect gold standard for All Blacks halfbacks.
Phil Gifford: Hype meets reality – what we learned in All Blacks' Dublin masterclass
OPINION: The victory was a major statement.
Phil Gifford: Grant Nisbett reflects on 40 years as the voice of New Zealand rugby
The commentary doyenne looks back on the highs and lows of his career.
Phil Gifford: Time for Damian McKenzie to prove Scott Robertson right
OPINION: Injuries have handed the 29-year-old another shot at the starting No 10.
Phil Gifford: All Blacks' season delicately poised after England choke
OPINION: Logic suggests the All Blacks will require a step up to win against Ireland.
Phil Gifford's talking points: Rattling the rush defence against England
OPINION: How the All Blacks plan to counter England’s defensive strategies and more.
Phil Gifford: Where Japan will have glimmers of hope to beat ABs
OPINION: There are two areas to watch.
From Mt Albert to Wimbledon: Chris Lewis’ inspiring tennis journey and academy success
Chris Lewis shares his remarkable tennis journey with Phil Gifford.
How Brian Lochore's gentle leadership shaped New Zealand rugby
How a humble farmer became a World Cup-winning coach: Brian Lochore’s legendary journey.
Phil Gifford: Is the All Blacks' No 10 jersey Beauden Barrett's again?
OPINION: Scott Robertson will be no clearer to who his man at first five is.
Phil Gifford: Razor plays it safe when All Blacks need convincing performance
OPINION: Scott Robertson hasn't thrown the baby out with the bath water after Sydney.
Phil Gifford: Time for All Blacks to take a punt on Plummer
OPINION: Phil Gifford weighs in on the All Blacks' win.
Phil Gifford: George Nepia and the Invincibles' legacy 100 years later
The Invincible fullback's legacy is unbeatable.
Phil Gifford: Has Razor named his own 'bomb squad' to face Wallabies?
OPINION: Three hefty front-rowers will cause Australia serious issues.
Phil Gifford: What Razor needs to sharpen before Bledisloe Cup
OPINION: If there was ever a time for Scott Robertson’s relentless optimism, it’s now.
Phil Gifford: All Blacks can't better the Boks in man-to-man combat
OPINION: The All Blacks may find space out wide can help defuse the bomb squad.
Phil Gifford: Where the All Blacks struggled most against Boks
OPINION: There's one task the All Blacks need to take seriously before Sunday's rematch.
Rugby and robbery: The untold story of a journalist's brush with death in South Africa
The latest fascinating chapter in a 103-year arm wrestle awaits.
Phil Gifford: Why does South Africa remain our greatest rugby competitor?
Blood, politics and rugby: Inside the All Blacks and Springboks' century-long rivalry.
Phil Gifford: Eden Park to tell how much damage done by South African Super exit
OPINION: Super Rugby Pacific does not prepare All Blacks to smash Springboks forwards.
Phil Gifford: The chance that must be taken by All Blacks at Eden Park
OPINION: TJ Perenara is not as quick as he was a decade ago.
Phil Gifford: Jordan at 14 or 15? Questions from the All Blacks squad naming
OPINION: One question looms above all others for this All Blacks squad.
Phil Gifford: Midfield maestros give Razor plenty to ponder for Rugby Championship
OPINION: Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor's efforts against Fiji won't go unnoticed.
All Blacks legend: How to fix the lineout woes
Keven Mealamu doesn't feel endless drills are necessary.
Phil Gifford: Awful lineout main issue for All Blacks
OPINION: The All Blacks’ efforts on their own throw in the first half bordered on farce.
Phil Gifford: The impossible dream rule change for rugby
OPINION: Dealing with England’s suffocating rush defence will again be a factor.
Phil Gifford: The Robertson experiments that worked in first test
OPINION: Two players delivered after keeping a 123-test All Black on the bench.
Phil Gifford: Why Razor's first big call leaves him a safety net
OPINION: Scott Robertson has a safe pair of hands to assist the All Blacks late on.
Phil Gifford's best All Blacks XV since rugby went professional
These are the greatest All Blacks of the professional era, from the rugby field to fame.
Phil Gifford: Key switch gives England flexibility against All Blacks
OPINION: The steely answer to the move will need to come from the All Blacks' forwards.
Phil Gifford: Four things to ponder in first All Blacks squad
OPINION: Time to reflect on Scott Robertson's choices for 2024.
Phil Gifford: Four attributes Robertson shares with successful ABs coaches
OPINION: Sky's series has shown there's a lot more depth to the All Blacks coach.
Phil Gifford's Super Rugby season-ending awards
OPINION: After the Blues' triumph, it's time to hand out some awards – and a brickbat.
Icons in Black: The best locks and front-rowers of the pro era
These are the greatest All Blacks of the professional era, from the rugby field to fame.
Icons in Black: The best halfbacks and loose forwards since '96
These are the greatest All Blacks of the professional era.
Icons in Black: The best midfielders and first fives of the pro era
These are the greatest All Blacks of the professional era, from the rugby field to fame.
Icons in Black: The best fullbacks and wingers of the professional era
These are the greatest All Blacks of the professional era, from the rugby field to fame.
Phil Gifford: The huge challenge for Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific final
OPINION: There are a host of individual match-ups to add to the drama in Saturday’s final.
Phil Gifford: The vital areas ahead of Razor's first All Blacks test
OPINION: Five things to watch ahead of the first All Blacks test under Scott Robertson.
Phil Gifford: The ABs No 10 is 'a lock'
ANALYSIS: The Super Rugby Pacific playoffs are heating up as the semis approach.
Phil Gifford: Four vital keys for Razor when picking first All Blacks squad
The squad of 32 is for the first three tests of the 2024 rugby season.
Phil Gifford: Crusaders should stick with embattled coach Rob Penney
OPINION: As bad as this season was, there are two reasons Penney deserves another chance.
Phil Gifford on rugby's governance shake-up: What went wrong?
The future of rugby in New Zealand and governance turmoil explained.
Phil Gifford: Does defeat damage the Blues?
OPINION: The Crusaders once again showed the Blues that winning in Christchurch is tough.
Phil Gifford: Title is Blues' to lose
OPINION: Phil Gifford breaks down what we saw over Super Rugby Pacific's latest round.
Sid Going 1943-2024: ‘Super Sid’ was a nickname that defined the man, writes Phil Gifford
'One of the most exciting footballers to ever play the game.'
Phil Gifford: Eden Park thriller preview of final
OPINION: For a dying competition, Super Rugby Pacific had a massive weekend.
Super Rugby talking points: Stars surely aligning for Kiwi franchise
OPINION: Phil Gifford breaks down what we saw over Super Rugby Pacific's latest round.
Super Rugby talking points: All Black's tackle stirs controversy
OPINION: Phil Gifford breaks down what we saw over Super Rugby Pacific's Anzac round.
Phil Gifford: Two title favourites on course for collision
OPINION: Kiwi teams heading in opposite directions are among the main talking points.
Super Rugby talking points: Hurricanes are the real deal
Even without Cam Roigard, the Wellington side look a class above.
Phil Gifford: Rugby's biggest balls-ups of last century
The highs and lows: A look back at NZ rugby's defining moments.
Super Rugby talking points: The All Black playing like a great
It seems there are two Chiefs teams in Super Rugby Pacific.
Ranking NZ Rugby’s biggest balls-ups of the 21st century - Phil Gifford
OPINION: There's no shortage of red faces with the national union over the last 24 years.
Phil Gifford: Hurricanes triumph followed by calamity
Phil Gifford runs through the talking points from the latest round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Phil Gifford: New Zealand rugby's troubles run deeper than TV or Silver Lake
OPINION: Rugby's battle for hearts and minds has been raging for at least two decades.
Obituary: Phil Recordon - Lawyer who helped stop All Blacks touring South Africa
As much as Recordon played down his and Paddy Finnigan's role, they changed history.
Opinion: 'Tedious' and 'exciting' - Super Rugby talking points
OPINION: The highs and lows of another Super Rugby Pacific round.
Wanted: Some astute men and women running the ship
OPINION: Changes to rugby's rules could boost the sport globally.
From composure to chaos: Drama unfolding in Super Rugby Pacific
Phil Gifford runs through talking points after the latest round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Phil Gifford: When the form charts blow to bits
Super Rugby talking points: Hurricanes build momentum, can Crusaders make comeback?
Phil Gifford: Talking points after wild Super Round
OPINION: The talking points after the latest round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Gifford: Melbourne's Super Round is a super-mad idea
OPINION: There’s something weird and sad about this weekend's Super Rugby round.
Phil Gifford: The key talking points after Super Rugby's opening round
OPINION: Epic tries, nearly comebacks and mouthguard drama - the weekend had it all.
Dunedin may be the scene of some massive Super Rugby upsets
Phil Gifford's five talking points ahead of Super Rugby Pacific.
Opinion: Why this is the biggest Super Rugby season yet
With mass financial pressures, this year looms as the competition’s most important.
Phil Gifford: The magic Scott Robertson brings as All Blacks coach
OPINION: Yes, he's different but the new All Blacks coach is a unique talent.
Breaking barriers: How Valerie Adams' life looks now
Phil Gifford goes behind the scenes with Dame Valerie Adams and her new role.
Phil Gifford: The greatest All Blacks coaches of all time
OPINION: Five of the top columns of the year from Phil Gifford.
Phil Gifford: Alan Jones was bad, but not the most obnoxious rugby person I've met
OPINION: For sheer unadulterated, relentless thuggery, one rugby man stands out.
Phil Gifford: Commonwealth Games in crisis – is this the end?
OPINION: From rising costs to dwindling interest, there is a trouble future for the Games.