The Silver Fern

He appears to be an agent with one tactic: "hey, how about I seed a story with a journo that you are keen on playing for the All Blacks?"

KP: "Didn't you do that two years ago?"

Agent: "Yeah... and your point is?"

Jason Rutledge gets his 11th Southland club title, playing a full 80 minutes at age 47.

Logan Savory

The legend continues: Rutledge's 11th title at age 47

“As they say, you get old when you stop doing things, and I would rather keep playing to keep me young.”

@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

yaaay, BB at 10!! he was so good there in 2017, he's due!

See, we are patient!

i've owned racehorses like this...

I hear they’re still running the Doomben straight as we speak….

running is generous

So is Doomben.

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:

Force makes sense for Hastie. Grew up there until 2019. Played first XV with Tamati Williams over there. Its first string halfback getting on. Would he have already done the Australian residency?

What I'm frustrated about is that we haven't seen it announced who is leaving the franchise yet

Sad thing is he's one of the few Logan Park High School-adjacent rugby players we could claim.

His dad was the standout loosie for LPHS in the early 1990s.

Otherwise it's Flilipo Levi, who switched to Otago Boys in 7th form, or Shane Stewart, who played for Ulster about 25 years ago.

11 shots of Jay Shah in a 44 sec clip purportedly about the WTC final.

Unsure whether the ICC social media department are sycophants, trolls or both.

https://x.com/ICC/status/1934831450467258841

@Donsteppa said in NZ Cricket:

I see we now have Ken Rutherford in charge at Northern Districts too.

Absolute journeyman in sports administration.

Real Pat Howard at CA areas here.

NV Interactive (https://www.nvinteractive.com)

Daryl Gibson appointed Chief High Performance Officer

Former All Black Daryl Gibson has jumped the fence - becoming the new Chief High Performance Officer for New Zealand Cricket (NZC), effective from next month.

@sparky said in Highlanders 2025:

@Smudge said in Highlanders 2025:

https://x.com/Highlanders/status/1927975696430944368

EDG locked in until 2027 too.

Are the issues that led to EDG being excluded from
ABs selection a couple of times last year now dealt with?

I just shared a X link, champ. Not sure what extra info you want from me.

https://x.com/Highlanders/status/1927975696430944368

EDG locked in until 2027 too.

Manson knocked out in Southland club rugby yesterday.

Logan Savory

Club Rugby: Manson’s sickening end to Blues cameo

The Southland Tribune's club rugby coverage is brought to you thanks to the support of Regional Ford Gore & Balclutha.

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:

@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.

Specialist no 23.

Ah, the Manson clause contract, I believe it's now called in rugby circles.

Not quite the NBL, but the NZ NBL (not worthy of its own thread). This Indian Panthers saga has been one ugly experiment.

Sport

Indian Panthers suspended for remainder of NBL season amid pay allegations

It comes after a turbulent tenure off the court since announcing they would join the NBL.

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:

@KiwiInLondon do you mind elaborating on his shortcomings?

It’s a bit hard (outside looking in) to understand how a bloke who dominated NPC, was 21 and in a position we critically needed was overlooked. Especially with how he’s kicked on.

Obviously factors I’m probably not seeing. But interested to hear more.

The criticism was that he is too short to be a top level 8, is one dimensional, a poor trainer and doesn't get involved enough. Several of those criticisms have been disproven this year

Sav has had a crack about the Highlanders' snubbing of Semesi, with those famous maroon-and-gold tinted glasses on.

Logan Savory

Five Highlanders questions worth pondering

Have the Highlanders gone backward in 2025? And did the Highlanders have a recruitment shocker? Some Highlanders questions that are worth pondering.

The inability to snap up 21-year-old No 8 Semisi Tupou Taeiloa, when he was right under the noses of the Highlanders decision-makers, is a shocker.

There are sure to be some red faces whenever the name Semisi Tupou Taeiloa gets a mention at the moment.

Tupou Taeiloa was one of the Southland Stags’ best in 2024, and Stags coach Matt Saunders urged the Highlanders to include him in their mix.

The strong ball-carrying No 8 is the sort of player the Highlanders need right now, but on top of that, at 21, he would have provided a long-term Nasi Manu-type option for the Highlanders.

Even a wider contract would have been enough to lock him in when the Highlanders had their chance, but instead it was the sound of crickets from Highlanders HQ.

They showed no interest in the powerhouse loose forward.

Saunders and Rugby Southland then turned their focus to Moana Pasifika to try to find Tupou Taeiloa another Super Rugby opportunity.

It was initially just a short-term training opportunity, but the Moana Pasifika decision makers quickly loved what they saw.

The Southland Stag hasn’t just remained in the Moana Pasifika setup beyond the preseason but has turned out to be one of their best players to date.

Unfortunately for those at the Highlanders, the horse - or should we say the Stag - has now bolted. The Tribune understands Moana Pasifika has locked in Tupou Taeiloa long-term.

Handling is poor, timing is poor, ball security in contact is poor.

Lots to like!

Sevu Reece stole that ball off Cam Millar a few minutes ago like it was someone's else car on NZ Cup Day.

@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Pass to Macca looked a little forward?

As a Highlanders supporter, I thought that was flat but fine. If we're pulling that up, refs would be whistling up a lot of passes.

Have our forwards contemplated the idea of joining a ruck?

I saw him a few months ago and had a yarn with him. It's a case of fine margins, I guess, but I reckon he's opened it up a lot more since he got a couple of local sponsorships on board.

People will pay for hyper-local journalism they can't find anywhere else so fair play to him.

Southland Tribune (a substack) is former Southland Times reporter Logan Savory's baby. He has a big Southland club rugby wrap each Sunday and plenty of sports content in there on a 6 days out of 7 basis.

Logan Savory

The Southland Tribune | Logan Savory | Substack

The Southland Tribune is about shining a light on Southland people, its businesses and key issues in an interesting, informative and entertaining way. Click to read The Southland Tribune, by Logan Savory, a Substack publication.

@george33 said in Highlanders 2025:

Yeah but I'm right, this time ,

As I say, you might be right about him breaking his contract early - time will tell. But don't just make shit up about the contract length.