CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Blues captain Dalton Papali’i in action against the Chiefs at Eden Park. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Dalton Papali’i says becoming the 11th player to bring up 100 games for the Blues is one of the biggest honours of his career. The Blues skipper will bring up the milestone in tonight’s Super Rugby Pacific ... <a title="Dalton Papali’i thrilled do join “exclusive” Blues century club" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/dalton-papalii-thrilled-do-join-exclusive-blues-century-club/" aria-label="Read more about Dalton Papali’i thrilled do join “exclusive” Blues century club">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Football Ferns www.photosport.nz Coach Michael Mayne says the Football Ferns won’t take their Oceania qualifying campaign in the Solomon Islands lightly, despite their traditional dominance over Pacific rivals. New Zealand take their first step towards qualifying for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup when they face Samoa in Honiara (3pm NZT). ... <a title="‘Gap closing’: Football Ferns ready for Pacific challenge" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/gap-closing-football-ferns-ready-for-pacific-challenge/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Gap closing’: Football Ferns ready for Pacific challenge">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Daniel Hillier of New Zealand talks to caddy Steve Williams during round one of the New Zealand Open. photosport In-form Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier flexed his muscles in his curtailed opening round as rain played a part on the first day of the New Zealand Open in Queenstown. Unheralded Australian Matias ... <a title="Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier well-placed at rain-hit NZ Open" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/kiwi-golfer-daniel-hillier-well-placed-at-rain-hit-nz-open/" aria-label="Read more about Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier well-placed at rain-hit NZ Open">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Max Darling of New Zealand shoots against the Philippines. photosport The Tall Blacks are off the mark in their World Cup qualifying pool for next year’s basketball World Cup, overcoming the Philippines 69-66 in a tense affair in Manila. Sam Mennenga was influential under the basket as New Zealand staved off ... <a title="Tall Blacks beat Philippines in key World Cup qualifier" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/tall-blacks-beat-philippines-in-key-world-cup-qualifier/" aria-label="Read more about Tall Blacks beat Philippines in key World Cup qualifier">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Giancarlo Italiano joined a growing list of coaching casualties across the A-League. AAP / Photosport Giancarlo Italiano’s abrupt departure from the Wellington Phoenix is the latest twist in what has become a season of upheaval for A-League coaches. Three A-League head coaches have failed to see out the 2025/26 campaign, and ... <a title="Giancarlo Italiano’s Phoenix coaching exit latest in a season of A-League upheaval" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/giancarlo-italianos-phoenix-coaching-exit-latest-in-a-season-of-a-league-upheaval/" aria-label="Read more about Giancarlo Italiano’s Phoenix coaching exit latest in a season of A-League upheaval">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Mitch Barnett celebrates a Warriors win with young forwards Demitric Vaimauga and Tanner Stowers-Smith. NRL Photos/Photosport Young NZ Warriors forward Jacob Laban recalls the day grizzled veteran Mitch Barnett drew a line in the sand for the Auckland club still chasing its first NRL crown. “I felt like Barney, from the ... <a title="NZ Warriors proteges hope to send Mitch Barnett out a winner in final NRL season with club" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/nz-warriors-proteges-hope-to-send-mitch-barnett-out-a-winner-in-final-nrl-season-with-club/" aria-label="Read more about NZ Warriors proteges hope to send Mitch Barnett out a winner in final NRL season with club">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has again announced she is bowing out of the international stage. Photosport / Masanori Udagawa The greatest of all time is hanging up her black jersey, again. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who came out of retirement for last year’s Rugby World Cup, has announced she is bowing out of the international ... <a title="Portia Woodman-Wickliffe retires from international rugby again" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/portia-woodman-wickliffe-retires-from-international-rugby-again/" aria-label="Read more about Portia Woodman-Wickliffe retires from international rugby again">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand National Rugby League players Spencer Leniu (3rd L), Billy Walters (5th L), Aaron Woods (C) and Campbell Graham (3rd R) pose with Las Vegas showgirls, an Elvis impersonator and Fijian warriors. Vegas Promo Tour at Allegiant Stadium on December 12, 2023. David Becker The National Rugby League competition kicks off on ... <a title="NRL kicks off in Vegas this weekend" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/nrl-kicks-off-in-vegas-this-weekend/" aria-label="Read more about NRL kicks off in Vegas this weekend">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Tall Blacks and Australian NBL players like Reuben Te Rangi will be looking for different contracts in the off-season. www.photosport.nz The winless Tall Blacks hit the road this week faced with the duel challenge of qualification for next year’s Fiba World Cup hanging in the balance and players leaving camp early ... <a title="‘Lot of urgency’ for Tall Blacks ahead of Fiba World Cup qualifying games" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/lot-of-urgency-for-tall-blacks-ahead-of-fiba-world-cup-qualifying-games/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Lot of urgency’ for Tall Blacks ahead of Fiba World Cup qualifying games">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Beau Greaves, in action during the 2026 World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London. SHANE HEALEY There has been history made in the darts world on Wednesday (UK time), with English player Beau Greaves becoming the first woman to hit a nine-dart finish on the PDC ProTour. The 22-year-old achieved ... <a title="Darts: Beau Greaves becomes first woman to throw a perfect leg" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/darts-beau-greaves-becomes-first-woman-to-throw-a-perfect-leg/" aria-label="Read more about Darts: Beau Greaves becomes first woman to throw a perfect leg">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Mitchell Santner top sored for the Black Caps in Colombo. (File pic) Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz The Black Caps have knocked co-hosts Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday (local time) with a 61-run win in Colombo that boosted their semi-final hopes. Sri Lanka needed an emphatic win ... <a title="Black Caps fight back to eliminate co-hosts Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/black-caps-fight-back-to-eliminate-co-hosts-sri-lanka-from-t20-world-cup/" aria-label="Read more about Black Caps fight back to eliminate co-hosts Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The Pacific Islands will again be without Super Rugby in 2026. Photosport While the hunger for poaching Pacific rugby talent appears insatiable, the same appetite does not exist for providing for the Islands. For a second consecutive year, Moana Pasifika has been forced to abandon plans to host a match in ... <a title="Super Rugby: The $600k hurdle keeping Moana Pasifika out of Tonga" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/super-rugby-the-600k-hurdle-keeping-moana-pasifika-out-of-tonga/" aria-label="Read more about Super Rugby: The $600k hurdle keeping Moana Pasifika out of Tonga">Read more</a>
