New Zealand rugby bosses should be concerned about the loss of expertise from rugby coaches moving overseas because of limited career opportunities at home, departing Wellington Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has warned.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

Tonga rugby players must be ardently hoping that they never again encounter the conditions prevailing at Thomond Park last night.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin...

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

With four games played this Lions squad now fully appreciate the severity of the task ahead of them in the test series, writes Donal Lenihan.

Another of the early front runners for the Leinster job has withdrawn himself from the race with Jono Gibbes committing himself to Clermont Auvergne until 2018.

Former New Zealand lock Brad Thorn is retiring at the end of the season following a glittering 21-year career in which won the biggest prizes in rugby league and union.

Mike Cron isn’t a household name in Irish rugby, but in New Zealand he’s known as "the scrum doctor".

Robbie Deans has been consistently labelled a conservative coach throughout his tenure as Wallabies supremo, but the former Canterbury Crusaders boss well and truly threw the cat amongst the pigeons with his selection for Saturday’s opening clash with the Lions in Brisbane.

The earthquake-ravaged city of Christchurch has to be seen to be believed.

Gert Smal will require all his motivational skills to get his injury-hit pack ready for a manic onslaught from a fired-up New Zealand pack this weekend.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen faces a public backlash after naming scrum-half Piri Weepu in his 30-man squad for this month’s three-test series with Ireland.

Chris Paterson is to take on a new role with Scottish Rugby.

Richie McCaw does not expect to make a return to Super Rugby until at least April after undergoing foot surgery.

Munster have opted for more major surgery on their midfield after signing Cardiff Blues centre Casey Laulala yesterday.

Several of Leister's injured squad members are nearing full fitness with some in contention to play in Thursday night's RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Benetton Treviso at the RDS (7.05pm).

Ulster’s head coach Brian McLaughlin looks set to lose his job at the end of the season, despite pulling the side out from the depths of despair.

New Zealand rugby chiefs have confirmed today that the All Blacks will face Ireland in a test match in Christchurch next summer.

Ulster have been dealt a serious setback with the news that summer signing Jared Payne is likely to be out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

IRELAND scrum coach Greg Feek was set to turn full circle today when the Ireland squad pitches up at New Plymouth Boys’ High School for their final training session before Sunday’s World Cup opener against the USA.

A NEW-look Musgrave Park will stage tonight’s glamour pre-season friendly between Munster and London Wasps (7pm).

In the absence of his senior international players, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named a young side to face the Melbourne Rebels in tomorrow night’s opening fixture of the Bank of Ireland Series in Donnybrook, kick-off 7pm.

Ulster Rugby announced today that they have signed Auckland Blues back Jared Payne on a three-year contract.

LEINSTER have offset the upcoming departure of Scottish lock Nathan Hines to Clermont Auvergne by signing Natal Sharks second-row Steven Sykes, who wants to represent Ireland.

Leinster rugby have announced today the signings of Natal Sharks secondrow Steven Sykes, Connacht tighthead prop Jamie Hagan and Canterbury Crusaders outhalf Matt Berquist.

THE recent, tragic earthquake which struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch resulted in the city’s legendary rugby team, the Canterbury Crusaders, losing the use of their home ground, the AMI Stadium, as a result of structural damage inflicted on it by the earthquake.

HAVING survived the skirmishes, Munster won the battle and secured the victory demanded of them against Italian newcomers Aironi at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

THE Canterbury Crusaders are turning to Gaelic football in an effort to reclaim their place at the summit of the Super 14 pile.

IN-FORM Bulls’ centre Wynand Olivier will be back to give the Waikato Chiefs an even harder time in the New Zealanders’ first Super 14 final in Pretoria tomorrow (Sky Sports Xtra, 4pm)

The Ospreys have confirmed they are in negotiations to sign New Zealand A scrum-half Jamie Nutbrown.

ALL BLACK hopeful Kieran Read has failed to make Graham Henry’s 26-man squad for the Test series against Ireland and England and the Philips Tri Nations.

Michael Bradley has challenged his Ireland squad to “make a statement” on their tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Eddie O’Sullivan’s reign as Ireland coach has ended, and the hunt will soon begin for his successor.

AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union chairman Peter McGrath believes Robbie Deans is the right man to lead the Wallabies into a bright new future.

Former New Zealand international Robbie Deans has been appointed the new coach of Australia.

ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry has re-applied for his job following the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) decision to make the position contestable after the team’s failed World Cup campaign.

GRAHAM HENRYS future as All Blacks coach hung by a thread last night as the New Zealand Rugby Union said he would have to reapply for his job following the failed World Cup campaign.

NEW ZEALANDER Robbie Deans has effectively ruled himself out of the race to coach Australia by stating his intention to pursue the All Blacks job.

MUNSTER have signed another New Zealander, ex Maori representative Jake Paringatai, on a short term contract as cover for the injured John O’Sullivan.

MUNSTER are closing on New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki — despite the inside centre’s disciplinary problems.

SUPERLATIVES flowed yesterday for captain Richie McCaw after his inspirational leadership in New Zealand’s retention of the Bledisloe Cup against Australia at Lang Park.

NEW Zealand provincial powerhouses Wellington Hurricanes and Canterbury Crusaders have staked early claims to this year’s Super 14 rugby title.