Aaron Cruden's meteoric rise to the All Blacks has been applauded by his provincial rugby coach.

Two players have been plucked from the provinces for the New Zealand Maori rugby team's centenary matches next month.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has unveiled his first squad of the year in Auckland today.

Rugby writer Wynne Gray tries to read Graham Henry's mind, with the All Black coach naming his 2010 squad tomorrow.

Richard Kahui and Mils Muliaina are the latest casualties in a list of players unable to front for New Zealand's first test of the season.

PM John Key says an apology to Maori rugby players excluded from All Blacks tours to South Africa is a matter between unions.

All Black greats Sid Going and Dave Loveridge would reinstall Jimmy Cowan as halfback for the June tests.

Top 10-ranked rugby nations Scotland and Fiji will not make another tour of NZ until at least the next decade.

More medical issues emerged around All Blacks test rugby candidates today.

New Zealand players Byron Kelleher and Xavier Rush will run out for the Barbarians on the invitation London club's 2010 summer tour.

The All Blacks' international playing schedule should see fewer fixtures from 2012, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said today.

Rugby officials hope their apology will consign a sorry chapter in New Zealand-South African relations to the history books.

Pita Sharples has criticised the NZRU's Maori appointees for advising against the union's apology today for past treatment of Maori players.

Two prominent Maori former All Blacks have welcomed NZRU's apology to Maori players, but one player from the 60s says the scars will never heal.

NZ teams are in danger of missing out on the Super rugby semis but two former All Blacks have rubbished the idea this could harm the national side.