Three Northland swimmers are hoping to capitalise on a push by Swimming New Zealand to widen the support base of swimming among the public.

Playing conditions matched the level of competition when Northland Croquet hosted the Upper North Island Teams event over Anniversary Weekend.

Last night the rugby pre-season started with a Super Rugby warm-up game between The Blues and Chiefs.

Northland junior athletes Jordyn Hetaraka and Nikolas Kini are showing that a little competition between friends can lead to success on a national scale.

Northwave swimmers Callum Prime and Matthew Gordon covered themselves in glory at Dargaville over the weekend by collecting a stack of gold medals.

Suhil Musa is torn between the country of his birth and another where he first migrated when it comes to football.

The success of the representative Reserve Grade tournament has Northland Cricket administrators congratulating themselves for following through on a good idea.

North Harbour are underdogs for this weekend's national provincial sevens tournament in Rotorua, but will bring a proud history to the event.