Auckland flanker Daniel Braid was named New Zealand’s rugby footballer of the year at the New Zealand Rugby Union awards on Thursday.

NEW MUNSTER signing Dougie Howlett put his troubles behind him as he married partner Monique Everard in Auckland at the weekend.

Junior All Blacks captain Daniel Braid has called on a number of ousted New Zealand internationals to prove their worth in the team’s IRB Pacific Nations Cup title defence.

Eleven current or former All Blacks including Carlos Spencer have been named in the New Zealand Maori squad for matches against Fiji and the British and Irish Lions next month.

Lock Ali Williams has returned to the New Zealand camp and will face Tonga on Friday after recovering from a fractured foot suffered in the build-up to the World Cup.

All Black coach John Mitchell has agreed to release seven members of his World Cup squad for National Provincial Championship duty.

New Zealand’s World Cup squad includes three surprises – full-back Ben Blair, uncapped hooker Corey Flynn and Auckland flanker Daniel Braid.

New Zealand’s selectors have left Jonah Lomu and two other leading players - Christian Cullen and Andrew Mehrtens – out of their World Cup squad announced today.

DUNEDIN’S House of Pain awaits to derail the ACT Brumbies’ push for a semi-finals’ berth in this week’s Super 12 rugby feature match.

WHEN New Zealand step on to the Millennium Stadium pitch against Wales today, they will not only be looking to grab their first win on their European tour but also seek to extend history.

NEW ZEALAND have named five new caps in a side featuring 10 changes for Saturday’s clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

New Zealand have named a 26-man squad for their three Autumn Test matches in Europe next month.