Former Auckland schools rugby star, Matt Duffie, an NRL player with the Melbourne Storm for seven years, will return to rugby after signing with the Blues.

The Super Rugby final remains a painful memory for Hurricanes first five Beauden Barrett, but the lessons could be beneficial.

Old school ties and a yearning for a new beginning after five injury-affected seasons with the Warriors prompted Glen Fisiiahi's code switch to the Chiefs.

Piers Francis is one of that rare breed of modern day first fives.

The Chiefs have filled their propping stocks, with the New Zealand Under-20s skipper signing to complete the last piece of that jigsaw.

For all the flag-waving and trumpet-blowing about the expansion to 18 teams, there has been an awkward silence about the plans, writes Wynne Gray.

New Blues coach Tana Umaga says Zac Guildford is on his radar.

The Chiefs have bolstered their outside back stocks by signing Warrior Glen Fisiiahi on a two-year deal.

Tana Umaga will be impressing upon his Counties Manukau Steelers this week the importance of treating rugby as an 80-, not 75-minute game.

"I think New Zealand will come out like complete mad mongrel dogs and will endeavor to teach the Wallabies a lesson," says the former Wallaby great.

In the second exclusive extract from his new autobiography, Jerome Kaino explains how he bounced back from his 2008 drink-driving conviction.

If Zac Guildford is able to get back to his best, will any Kiwi sides think of him as the one who got away?

It's not about crowds, it's about TV and the dollars/yen they will pay for bringing the Sanzar circus to new screens.

"I've just matured and got a lot of those bad habits out of my system and just put my head down and worked hard."

NZ rugby icon says he wants to come home - if he can find a coaching job.

Six months from kickoff, the shiny new Super Rugby series is facing significant glitches to its expansion plans.

Kiwi lock Culum Retallick has joined the New Zealand core growing at the Melbourne Rebels.

Fate and family has seen a kid who played with makeshift footballs in the fields of Nadroumai, to potential world beater in rugby's most famous team.

Fresh from winning a Super Rugby title, Waisake Naholo's year just keeps getting better.