CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Dylan Pledger scores for Otago. ActionPress In a brutal pre-season blow, one of the country’s most promising young players has been ruled out of rugby for the entire year. Highlanders halfback Dylan Pledger will spend 12 months on the sideline after rupturing his ACL at training. It is a cruel setback ... <a title="All Black hopeful Dylan Pledger sidelined for 12 months" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/all-black-hopeful-dylan-pledger-sidelined-for-12-months/" aria-label="Read more about All Black hopeful Dylan Pledger sidelined for 12 months">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Cecily Bruce (left) and Joanne Craig battle it out at the 2026 Scrabble NZ Women’s Championship. LetsPlayScrabble/screenshot There would have been a fair Scrabble sets dusted off over the holidays, perhaps kicking off a few family feuds even, but few more serious than the first New Zealand Women’s Championship in the ... <a title="First NZ Women’s Championship in Scrabble goes down to the W-I-R-E" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/first-nz-womens-championship-in-scrabble-goes-down-to-the-w-i-r-e/" aria-label="Read more about First NZ Women’s Championship in Scrabble goes down to the W-I-R-E">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Nathaniel Salmon has accepted an offer to play college football. Supplied NZ American football player Nathaniel Salmon has accepted an offer to play college football for Washington State Cougars – but it’s been one of the most unconventional paths to the American college system for the Porirua-born athlete. Two years ago, ... <a title="Former NZ basketball player Nathaniel Salmon accepts American football college offer" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/former-nz-basketball-player-nathaniel-salmon-accepts-american-football-college-offer/" aria-label="Read more about Former NZ basketball player Nathaniel Salmon accepts American football college offer">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 11, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Isaac Hughes scores a goal for Wellington against Adelaide. Masanori Udagawa/Photosport Wellington Phoenix have shown some heart and courage in their A-League men’s match against Adelaide in Wellington, fighting back from two goals down at halftime to draw 2-2. The home team weren’t looking good in the first half, as Adelaide ... <a title="Football: Wellington Phoenix fight back to grab draw in A-League clash" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/11/football-wellington-phoenix-fight-back-to-grab-draw-in-a-league-clash/" aria-label="Read more about Football: Wellington Phoenix fight back to grab draw in A-League clash">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 11, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Elina Svitolina serves during the ASB Classic final. Alan Lee/Photosport Ukrainian veteran Elina Svitolina has won the 2026 ASB Classic women’s tournament in Auckland. The 31-year-old proved too good for China’s Xinyu Wang, winning in straight sets 6-3 7-6 in an hour and 43 minutes. Despite the scoreline, the contest was ... <a title="Top seed Elina Svitolina wins 2026 ASB Classic women’s crown" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/11/top-seed-elina-svitolina-wins-2026-asb-classic-womens-crown/" aria-label="Read more about Top seed Elina Svitolina wins 2026 ASB Classic women’s crown">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 11, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Parker Jackson-Cartwright led the Breakers to victory against the Hawks. Blake Armstrong / PHOTOSPORT Forty-eight hours after their worst display of the Australian NBL season, the NZ Breakers have regrouped for a gritty 101-96 win over defending champions Illawarra Hawks in Sydney. American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright led all scorers with ... <a title="NZ Breakers bounce back with gritty win over ANBL champions Illawarra Hawks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/11/nz-breakers-bounce-back-with-gritty-win-over-anbl-champions-illawarra-hawks/" aria-label="Read more about NZ Breakers bounce back with gritty win over ANBL champions Illawarra Hawks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 11, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Finley Melville-Ives, current 2025/26 FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup Standings leader with the yellow bib. FIS/Andrew Wevers Nineteen-year-old freeskier Finley Melville-Ives of Wānaka continues to warm up for the Winter Olympics in sensational style by winning the Aspen Freeski Halfpipe World Cup in Colorado. Melville-Ives was the top qualifier into the ... <a title="Wānaka freeskier Melville-Ives wins Colorado Freeski Halfpipe World Cup" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/11/wanaka-freeskier-melville-ives-wins-colorado-freeski-halfpipe-world-cup/" aria-label="Read more about Wānaka freeskier Melville-Ives wins Colorado Freeski Halfpipe World Cup">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 11, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Scotty Stevenson was just ten when he saw Keith Quinn commentating on the Rugby World Cup and thought it looked like a great job. Sixteen years after commentating his first rugby game for Sky Sport, the 48-year-old broadcaster and writer now covers cricket matches for TVNZ. While the job of thinking ... <a title="Scotty Stevenson: ‘Club sport is withering on the vine’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/11/scotty-stevenson-club-sport-is-withering-on-the-vine/" aria-label="Read more about Scotty Stevenson: ‘Club sport is withering on the vine’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 10, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Elina Svitolina celebrates a point against Iva Jovic in her semifinal. Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz Ukrainian number one seed Elina Svitolina is into the ASB Classic final for the second time after beating American Iva Jovic in straight sets. Svitolina won the first set 7-6 in a tiebreak, before putting on ... <a title="Tennis: Top seed Elina Svitolina to meet Xinyu Wang in ASB Classic women’s final" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/10/tennis-top-seed-elina-svitolina-to-meet-xinyu-wang-in-asb-classic-womens-final/" aria-label="Read more about Tennis: Top seed Elina Svitolina to meet Xinyu Wang in ASB Classic women’s final">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 10, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Xinyu Wang celebrates her ASB Classic semifinal win. Alan Lee/Photosport Chinese seventh seed Xinyu Wang has booked a spot in the ASB Classic women’s final with an enthralling three-set win over fourth-seeded Filipino Alex Eala in Auckland. Eala, 23, served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, but was ... <a title="Tennis: China’s Xinyu Wang advances to ASB Classic women’s final" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/10/tennis-chinas-xinyu-wang-advances-to-asb-classic-womens-final/" aria-label="Read more about Tennis: China’s Xinyu Wang advances to ASB Classic women’s final">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 10, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Sam Ruthe and Tamahau Hicks celebrate their 1500m performane at Tauranga. Facebook/Emily Kay Disappointment turned to delight for a 12-year-old visually impaired athlete Tamahau Hicks, when running sensation Sam Ruthe came to his rescue at the Colgate Games in Tauranga on Saturday. The disappointment came when Tamahau’s regular running guide contacted ... <a title="Athletics star Sam Ruthe guides young Tamahau Hicks to Colgate Games victory" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/10/athletics-star-sam-ruthe-guides-young-tamahau-hicks-to-colgate-games-victory/" aria-label="Read more about Athletics star Sam Ruthe guides young Tamahau Hicks to Colgate Games victory">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 10, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Stan Wawrinka has withdrawn from the ASB Classic. PHOTOSPORT Three-time Grand Slam tennis champion Stan Wawrinka has pulled out of the ASB Classic men’s tournament. The veteran has told organisers he can’t play now that his Switzerland team have made the semifinals of the United Cup in Sydney. The Swiss team ... <a title="Stan Wawrinka gets Melbourne wildcard but Kyrgios to play doubles only" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/10/stan-wawrinka-gets-melbourne-wildcard-but-kyrgios-to-play-doubles-only/" aria-label="Read more about Stan Wawrinka gets Melbourne wildcard but Kyrgios to play doubles only">Read more</a>
