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The 20 Most Memorable Rugby Acts Of 2020

2020- Most Amazing Rugby Acts

RUGBY ROYALTY

FRANS STEYN’S IMPACT AT LAST YEAR’S WORLD CUP ADDED MORE PRESTIGE TO A DECORATED CAREER THAT ISN’T OVER YET. CRAIG LEWIS FROM SA RUGBY MAGAZINE REPORTS.

WINGING IT FOR LONGER

TYPICALLY POWER WINGS DON'T LAST LONG IN THE ALL BLACKS. BUT CALEB CLARKE AND RIEKO IOANE ARE HOPING TO BUCK THE TREND.

TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD

NZ RUGBY WORLD EDITOR GREGOR PAUL HAS A NEW BOOK OUT CALLED THE CAPTAIN'S RUN. IN IT HE EXPLORES WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD THE WORLD'S BEST RUGBY TEAM, HOW THE JOB HAS CHANGED AND HOW THE VARIOUS LEADERS HAVE DEALT WITH PRESSURE, FAILURE AND SUCCESS.

WOW FACTOR

SCOTT ROBERTSON IS UNORTHODOX BUT HE'S ALSO BRILLIANT AND WANTS A JOB WITH THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS.

RUGBY REBORN

COVID BROUGHT ECONOMIC CARNAGE IN 2020 BUT RATHER THAN BEING SEEN AS A WRECKER OF FORTUNES, THE PANDEMIC WAS ACTUALLY A GIANT BLESSING.

BATTLE FOR THE BLEDISLOE

THE UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS OF 2020 SAW THE INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR HASTILY REDRAWN AND IN A UNIQUE TWIST FOR THE PROFESSIONAL AGE, THE ALL BLACKS PLAYED FOUR CONSECUTIVE TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

PACIFIC POWER HOUSE

FIJI HAVE NEVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO FULFIL THEIR ENORMOUS POTENTIAL. BUT THEY MIGHT NOW FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF VERN COTTER AS HEAD COACH.

THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION

ON AND OFF THE FIELD, SPRINGBOKS WING CHESLIN KOLBE CONTINUES TO MAKE AN INSPIRATIONAL IMPACT.

DEFENCE FORCE ONE

THE BLUES WERE A RADICALLY DIFFERENT TEAM IN 2020 AND MUCH OF THAT WAS DUE TO THEIR VASTLY IMPROVED WORK ON DEFENCE.

THE LONG WALK TO ENTRY

AFTER BEING SNUBBED BY THE GAME’S ELITE FOR 25 YEARS, A PACIFIC ISLAND SIDE FINALLY LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE GRANTED A PLACE IN SUPER RUGBY AND THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE SIGNIFICANT.

THE SEARCH FOR MOBY DICK

REPLACING THE WORLD CLASS JEROME KAINO IN THE ALL BLACKS NO 6 SHIRT HAS BEEN THE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGE. BUT MIGHT THE ANSWER HAVE PRESENTED ITSELF DURING SUPER RUGBY?

IN 10se BATTLE

NEW ZEALAND CURRENTLY HAS THE TWO BEST FIRST-FIVES IN WORLD RUGBY VYING TO WEAR THE ALL BLACKS NO 10 SHIRT. IT’S A BATTLE THAT HAS CAPTURED THE PUBLIC IMAGINATION BUT IT MAY BE ONE THAT NEVER QUITE MATERIALISES.

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FACTORS OUTSIDE OF NEW ZEALAND'S CONTROL WHICH HAVE HAD A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON THE GAME IN THE LAST DECADE.

THE MAN WHO CAN'T BE BROKEN

I GET KNOCKED DOWN, BUT I GET UP AGAIN YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO KEEP ME DOWN…

THE RESISTANCE

THE ALL BLACKS HAVE ENCOUNTERED PLAYERS IN THE LAST DECADE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIELD THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE MOST TELLING WAYS. WE LOOK AT THE FIVE MEN WHO HAVE TROUBLED THEM THE MOST SINCE 2010.

KENDRA COCKSEDGE WINS KEL TREMAIN TROPHY

There was, perhaps, a breakthrough moment of sorts when the Black Ferns were named team of the year at the New Zealand Rugby awards in 2017.

THE OLYMPIC DREAM

In 2009 Sevens learned that it would be featuring in the 2016 Olympics. For those who had grown cynical and bored that already popular and well-funded sports were being added to the Olympics, the decision meant little.

FAMILY FORTUNES

IN 2015 PROMISING YOUNG ALL BLACK CHARLES PIUTAU SURPRISINGLY RIPPED UP A CONTRACT FROM NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TO JOIN ULSTER. IT WAS A MOVE THAT INFLUENCED A GENERATION.

A BIG FOOTSTEP IN HISTORY

WOMEN’S RUGBY HAS EXPERIENCED STRONG GROWTH IN PLAYING NUMBERS, PROFILE AND FUNDING IN THE LAST DECADE. GREGOR PAUL LOOKS AT WHAT IS BEHIND THIS SURGE.

ONE MOMENT IN TIME

IN 2007 NEW ZEALAND RUGBY MADE WHAT WAS A HUGELY UNPOPULAR DECISION TO RE-APPOINT GRAHAM HENRY AS ALL BLACKS COACH. MANY SAID IT WAS MAD, BUT HISTORY PROVED IT WAS A BOLD AND BRILLIANT CHOICE.

Celtic Revolution

RICHARD BATH IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER BASED IN THE UK.

10 GAMES THAT CHANGED THE DECADE

10 GAMES THAT CHANGED THE DECADE

Surviving The Perfect Storm

Super Rugby has battled through a tough last few years, but there are major problems on the horizon that won't be so easy to solve leaving doubts about its long-term future.

LEADIING LIGHTS

THE ALL BLACKS HAVE TO USE THIS SUPER RUGBY CAMPAIGN TO FIND A NEW CAPTAIN TO REPLACE KIERAN READ AND THE CHOICE MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS.

The Money Monster

IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER BASED IN THE UK.

PANNING FOR SUPER RUGBY GOLD

A NEW ALL BLACKS COACHING PANEL WILL TAKE A MICROSCOPIC VIEW OF SUPER RUGBY IN 2020 HOPING TO UNEARTH A HANDFUL OF LEGACY PLAYERS.

Hanging Up The Boots

KEVIN ROBERTS IS FOUNDER OF RED ROSE CONSULTING; BUSINESS LEADER AND EDUCATOR; AUTHOR AND SPEAKER; ADVISER ON MARKETING, CREATIVE THINKING AND LEADERSHIP.

1996-2020 SUPER RUGBY IS TURNING 25 - GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS THE 25 TH YEAR OF SUPER RUGBY. IT HAS BEEN THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT FORMS, DELIVERING THE INCREDIBLE, THE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AND AT TIMES, THE SOMEWHAT FORGETTABLE. WE HAVE SEEN SOME TEAMS COME AND GO; CAREERS LAUNCHED AND CAREERS KILLED. THERE HAVE BEEN LOCAL HEROES, FOREIGN STARS AND AS BEFITS A TOURNAMENT THAT HAS SPANNED ACROSS THE GLOBE, IT HAS JUMPED FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS.

Mind Games

BEING A HEAD COACH THESE DAYS REQUIRES A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR FARE. IT’ S A JOB FOR BIG PERSONALITIES AND STEVE HANSEN CAME TO RELISH THE CHANCE TO INDULGE IN MIND GAMES.