SOME famous old New Zealand players will be holding a reunion this weekend when one question will be asked more than any other: ‘Whatever became of All Black No. 686?’

AT last, the waiting is over. The Rugby World Cup squads have been announced and the players can get down to the business of fine-tuning their games for the challenges ahead.

A cat travelled 3,500km from New Zealand to Australia across the Tasman sea.

FORMER All Black Doug Howlett has been hugely impressed by the start Graham Henry’s side made on the Tri Nations Championship, and he believes the title is theirs for the taking.

DECLAN KIDNEY’S bid to end Ireland’s 31 years of southern discomfort has rolled on to Brisbane.

CARDIFF BLUES are set to pay as much as €100,000 compensation to Ulster after Xavier Rush completed his transfer U-turn. The former All Black signed a two-year contract with the Irish province back in February but has now opted to stay at Cardiff.

New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs says they have no regrets about re-appointing All Blacks coaches Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith.

NEW ZEALAND and Australia temporarily issued tsunami warnings yesterday after an earthquake struck the south of New Zealand, causing minor damage but no injuries.

TOBY FLOOD steps into the number 10 limelight vacated by Danny Cipriani at Twickenham on Saturday determined to make some publicity of his own.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans believes England team manager Martin Johnson has the ability to push international rugby into a new era.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named seven new players in his 35-man squad for the autumn tour to Hong Kong and Europe.

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.

A glacier scientist says New Zealand’s biggest glacier is melting faster than at any time in recent history and could be reduced to a few miles of ice within 20 years.

Former New Zealand captain Reuben Thorne has been recalled to the All Blacks side for their Tri-Nations clash with South Africa in his home city of Christchurch on Saturday.

EVEN for non-sports enthusiasts, there can be no doubt they know how much the All Blacks rugby brand has done for New Zealand tourism over the years.

Crusaders centre Rua Tipoki will lead the New Zealand Maori in their Churchill Cup defence this month.

Diego Garcia added his name to Galway folklore with his second win of the week after being driven home by Ruby Walsh to land the feature race on the sixth day of the festival, the Freshways Handicap Hurdle.

South African-born lock Greg Rawlinson has been called into the New Zealand squad ahead of their Tests against Ireland and Argentina.

New Zealand 10 Australia 22

New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu refused to underestimate Australia’s much-criticised forward pack ahead of Saturday’s World Cup semi-final.