With the likes of Carter, McCaw, Ma'a Nonu and Smith ending their international careers after the World Cup, there are a few starting spots up for grabs.

WYNNE GRAY: Dan Carter has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards - but does he deserve it?

New All Blacks skipper Kieran Read wants coach Steve Hansen to hang around until the next Rugby World Cup.

The afterglow of their Rugby World Cup triumph has produced yet more plaudits for the All Blacks.

Waisake Naholo shouldn't have gone to the World Cup, writes Chris Rattue, and now his career is marooned.

A former All Black is publicly axing his association with a New Zealand building company after he and his family were left without a home.

So Richie McCaw is the 2016 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year. Good for him

New Zealand has the most scenic sporting fields in the world. Here's the proof.

Post-World Cup retirements mean there are many more All Black vacancies than usual this season.

All Black pin-up Malakai Fekitoa has split with his partner Caroline McNaught.

The celebrated rugby great has added another achievement to his belt.

Malakai Fekitoa's manager has moved to clear up some speculation about the midfielder's anger issues.

Ali Williams has revealed that he once sought the help of a spiritual healer to overcome injury problems.

In a forthright post on Instagram, All Black Malakai Fekitoa has revealed he suffers from anger issues.

He's retired from rugby, but All Blacks World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw continues to grace our television screens.

Victor Vito will head to France with a reputation as a gifted athlete who never evolved into the player he could have.

Blues coach and former All Black Tana Umaga has agreed to become an ambassador for Auckland's Youthtown.

The All Blacks are already red hot favourites to win the 2019 World Cup in the eyes of overseas bookmakers.

Richie McCaw is used to carrying the weight of a nation on his shoulders, so a mountain bike is likely light in comparison.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has ended a two-decade long commercial relationship with Coca-Cola by signing a deal with Pepsi.

Jonah Lomu's widow has revealed she had tried to donate one of her kidneys to the father of her children months before his sudden death.

COMMENT: Enough is enough, writes Chris Rattue, all this post-World Cup adulation for Dan Carter is a distortion.

I still remember the day the Wellington rugby team stopped at Ruakaka Primary School. It was 1987, and they were on their way to Whangarei to play North Auckland.