James Lowe back in action

 

Former Tasman and Chiefs wing James Lowe has recovered from the hamstring injury that ended his last season prematurely and looking forward to getting back into action with his Leinster club.

Lowe, 29, a four-time Maori All Black, who played 53 games for the Chiefs and 46 for Tasman, played six Tests for Ireland last year before tearing a hamstring that resulted in him missing Ireland's summer Tests against Japan and the United States.

He said the injury was one where he could have made it a lot worse if he'd kept trying.

"It took a lot longer to recover from. It was one of those ones where I really wanted to get back but, by being a little bit naïve it did me more damage than good," he told the Irish Independent.

"I just had to stamp it out and say: 'Look, you're not going to be playing for the rest of the season'. Once I'd accepted that it healed a lot quicker.

"I'm back, fully fit. I'm running around and getting flogged. We're ready to rumble," he said.

Enforced rest ensured he was prepared for the new season, and he said he felt sorry for those players involved in the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

"The tour wasn't what everyone was expecting by any means, but the fact they played rugby for almost a year consistently is something no body should be used to," he said.

While it had been tough on them he was impressed with the contribution his Leinster teammates Robbie Henshaw, Jack Conan and Tadhg Furlong made to the effort.

"Everyone from Leinster put their hand up during the series," he said.

Lowe said he had been enthralled by the series, but saw it as a missed opportunity for the Lions.

"There are some trends that will come out of it. South Africa played to their strengths.

"They've got some of the biggest humans in the world in that forward pack. The Lions forward pack didn't roll over by any means, but the South Africans have a game-plan, and they stuck to it.

"I don't think the game of rugby will lean towards that, it's based on the personnel that you have," he said.

"It wasn't champagne rugby, but it was a Test series we were all glued to," he said.

🍿 Grab some popcorn and take a seat as we bring you a selection of @Te_Nug's best try assists.

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 25, 2021

Source

https://rugbyinperth.club/james-lowe-back-in-action/

Details confirmed for third Australia Test in Perth

 

SANZAAR has confirmed that the second-round match of the Fortinet Rugby Championship (TRC) between Australia and the All Blacks has been rescheduled for 2pm AWST (6pm NZT) on Sunday 5 September at Optus Stadium, Perth, Western Australia.

SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris said: "It is great that we now have the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle in place following all the hard work that has been done recently to secure The Rugby Championship tournament. We now have all remaining nine matches in place and rugby fans in Perth can now purchase tickets with certainty to this block-buster Rugby Championship match."

"Following the match, which is also the third Bledisloe Cup match between the two arch-rivals, both teams will move to Queensland where the remainder of the tournament will be staged from Sunday 12 September to Saturday 2 October, as announced by the Queensland Government yesterday."

"SANZAAR would like to make special mention of the West Australian government and the management of Optus Stadium in Perth who have been very supportive of this fixture and have made it happen."

The kick-off times for the remaining eight matches to be played in Queensland will be announced shortly.

2021 Fortinet Rugby Championship Match Schedule

Round 1

Saturday 14 August: New Zealand 57 v Australia 22  
Saturday 14 August: South Africa 32 v Argentina 12

Round 2

Saturday 21 August: Argentina 10 v South Africa 29
Sunday 5 September: Australia v New Zealand: Optus Stadium, Perth (1400 AWST)

Round 3

Sunday 12 September: New Zealand v Argentina: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast 
Sunday 12 September:  South Africa v Australia: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast 
 
Round 4

Saturday 18 September: Argentina v New Zealand: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 
Saturday 18 September:  Australia v South Africa: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 

Round 5

Saturday 25 September: New Zealand v South Africa: QLD Country Bank Stadium, Townsville 
Saturday 25 September: Australia v Argentina: QLD Country Bank Stadium, Townsville 

Round 6

Saturday 2 October: South Africa v New Zealand: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Saturday 2 October: Argentina v Australia: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast

😤 We are ON! Here are the details for our rescheduled Fortinet Rugby Championship clash against Australia.
 
📅: Sunday 5 September
⏰: 6pm NZT (2pm local)
🏟️: Optus Stadium, Perth pic.twitter.com/lgmKMsgVqT

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 26, 2021

Source

https://rugbyinperth.club/details-confirmed-for-third-australia-test-in-perth/

NZ Rugby announce major global partnership with Altrad

 

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced a major partnership with Altrad to become the Official Front of Jersey sponsor to the All Blacks and Black Ferns from 2022.

Altrad, a world leader in the provision of industrial services and the manufacturing of equipment for the construction markets, has agreed to a six-year partnership which also includes NZR’s four other Teams in Black - the All Blacks Sevens, Black Ferns Sevens, Māori All Blacks and the New Zealand U20s.

The length of the partnership is testament to Altrad’s enduring passion for rugby which includes its ownership of Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club (MHR) and being the Major Sponsor of the French National Rugby Teams. Altrad sees its partnership with NZR as an opportunity to make a positive impact across both rugby and society on a global scale.

NZR Chief Executive, Mark Robinson said:

“In creating this partnership, we have recognised Altrad’s founding principles of courage, respect, solidarity, conviviality and humility as truly relevant to our game - and with the support of their international footprint, we will continue to build our global legacy in rugby. We are excited by the opportunity for both parties to deepen connections with communities by providing All Blacks clinics to children and young people, and leadership learnings around the world. We are incredibly proud to have agreed to this partnership and look forward to getting underway next year.”

Mohed Altrad, Founder and President of Altrad, added:

“Rugby upholds the values that I have always defended in my life. New Zealand Rugby is the embodiment of these values on and off the pitch. With our parallel journeys from indigenous roots to international success, the partnership between Altrad and NZR is a natural next step in our pathways.  The power of rugby to connect people and inspire communities cannot be understated and is an area we will champion through our relationship with NZR. Altrad is proud to begin its long-term partnership and start writing a defining legacy in the sport alongside the Teams in Black.”

Kenda Cocksedge, Senior Black Ferns player said: “We’re looking forward to having Altrad as part of the Black Ferns family. They are going to help us connect with communities around the world and any opportunity we get to motivate people to get involved in our game is something we really love.”

With its headquarters in France, Altrad provides products and services in more than 100 countries and employs about 40,000 people. It has a rich heritage of cultural diversity through its international footprint.

ABOUT ALTRAD

Altrad is a world leader in the provision of industrial services and the manufacturing of equipment dedicated to the construction markets. Its multidisciplinary activities include engineering, mechanical and specialised services as well as access solutions, insulation and painting. Headquartered in France, Altrad employs around 40,000 people.

😤 We are ON! Here are the details for our rescheduled Fortinet Rugby Championship clash against Australia.
 
📅: Sunday 5 September
⏰: 6pm NZT (2pm local)
🏟️: Optus Stadium, Perth pic.twitter.com/lgmKMsgVqT

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 26, 2021

Source

https://rugbyinperth.club/nz-rugby-announce-major-global-partnership-with-altrad/

All Blacks squad ready for mammoth tour

 

The All Blacks squad has assembled in Auckland today to fly to Australia for the Fortinet Rugby Championship and then onto the Northern Tour to the USA and Europe.

All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said:  "We'll be playing ten Tests in 12 weeks in both the southern and northern hemispheres, and with Covid-19 travel and quarantine restrictions, this will be a tour like no other for us in the professional era.  We can't wait to get underway and once again represent our country on the world stage." 

The All Blacks squad departs to Perth at 6.30PM.  The All Blacks' next Test is against Australia before Tests against Argentina and South Africa.

The All Blacks initial travelling squad is as follows:

Forwards:

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Codie Taylor.
Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa’i.
Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea and Hoskins Sotutu.

Backs:

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara and Brad Weber.
First five–eighths: Beauden Barrett.
Midfielders: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown and Quinn Tupaea.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece.

🍿 WATCH | To mark the 25-year anniversary of the All Blacks first series win in South Africa, we take you back to the ‘Incomparables’ historic victory in 1996.

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 24, 2021

Source

https://rugbyinperth.club/all-blacks-squad-ready-for-mammoth-tour/