The worrying thing for Kirwan is when reports broke that the Blues were tapping up a replacement, no one contested the sense of such a decision, writes Gregor Paul.

The Blues have hit back at a report they are sounding out replacements for coach John Kirwan.

What was supposed to usher in a new Broncos era under coach Wayne Bennett marked more of the same from NRL defending premiers South Sydney.

The leader of the bowling attack, Tim Southee, struck a confident tone when the topic of the death overs was raised yesterday.

Captain Brendon McCullum has been given the all clear to lead New Zealand in their fifth World Cup group A game against Afghanistan at McLean Park on Sunday.

Dean Barker has signed up as tactician for a Russian team in the 2015 RC44 Championship Tour after being dumped as Team New Zealand helmsman.

Jarryd Hayne has been warned he will have a target on his back as his attempts to break into the San Francisco 49ers fulltime NFL squad.

When Lavinia Gould wakes, her eyes concentrate on the message on her bedroom wall. Under the Olympic rings 2016 she has written "black jersey" on a piece of A3 paper.

The news of Rene Ranger's return to the Blues was given extra poignancy yesterday, released as it was straight before coach John Kirwan was effectively asked to defend his side's poor start.

The problem with a guy like Johan Bardoul is this: you never quite know whether or not you should be taking him seriously.

Jarryd Hayne has secured an NFL futures contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but he still has a lot of work to do in the lead up to the next NFL season.

It's only a gut feeling, but veteran spinner Brad Hogg reckons Australia will miss the World Cup final, and India will win the showpiece event.