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The Black Ferns have finished the WXV1 with a flourish and a win over France scoring seven tries to two in the process. The win put a finish on their three-loss losing streak and moved them up to fourth on the WXV1 ladder. LATEST HEADLINES: Late burst pushes Fox up order in Utah Team NZ start well in America's Cup Amelia Kerr bats and bowls Kiwis to win BOP, Waikato into NPC semis after drama Wellington Lions get past Counties Manukau It's an overall result they will be disappointed but they will be happy to carry some momentum into a World Cup year with a strong display against France which featured a much improved defensive effort. Georgia Ponsonby was heavily involved throughout and was named the Player of the Match. Alana Bremner was a reliable lineout target and carried strongly alongside Kaipo Olsen-Baker, who was powerful off the back of the scrum. Tanya Kalounivale brought huge impact in her 25-minute stint off the bench. Katelyn Vaha'akolo was typically dangerous out wide with three tries as she finished off some brilliant play by Ruahei Demant and Sylvia Brunt in the midfield. Leading 20-14 at halftime, New Zealand put away the game with a powerful third quarter showing where they pulled clear with tries to Vaha'akolo, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Kalounivale. The French had tries to Emeline Gros and Manae Feleu in the 16th and 30th minutes respectively. Black Ferns 39 (Katelyn Vahaakolo 3 tries, Ayesha Leti-l'iga, Alana Bremner, Kaipo Olsen-Baker Tanya Kalounivale), Hannah King 2 con, France 14 (Emeline Gros, Manae Feleu tries, Lina Queyroi 2 con) HT 20-14

A remarkable late run of birdies in his last six holes has pushed Ryan Fox up the order at the PGA's Black Desert Championship in Utah. Heading into the last seven holes of his third round Fox was one-over for the day at four-under, however he then birdied the fourth hole, had par on the next before birdies on the sixth and seventh holes. LATEST HEADLINES: Team NZ start well in America's Cup Amelia Kerr bats and bowls Kiwis to win BOP, Waikato into NPC semis after drama Wellington Lions get past Counties Manukau NZ Breakers drop third and final NBA game He had par on the eighth and then a birdie to finish with on the ninth to be eight-under and tied 50th overall Fox only just made the cut having to return and finish his second round and the last three holes due to darkness. He was fortunate to finish at five-under and just sneak inside the cut line, whereas fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson fell on the other side at four-under. The tournament leader is American Matt MacCarty at 19-under, two shots ahead of a chasing trio.

New Zealand have beaten Britain in the opening America's Cup races in the first-to-seven finals contest in the waters off Barcelona. The wins give New Zealand a 2-0 lead, with co-helms Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge delivering two calm and clinical performances in light winds by 41 and 27 seconds.  LATEST HEADLINES: Amelia Kerr bats and bowls Kiwis to win BOP, Waikato into NPC semis after drama Fox chaotic second round at PGA in Utah Wellington Lions get past Counties Manukau NZ Breakers drop third and final NBA game It was Great Britain’s first America’s Cup match in 60 years and was effectively over before it started because of a faulty battery. Britannia had to change the battery that powers the foils of their AC75, leaving them stranded and scrambling to make the start line of the first match race against Team New Zealand in Barcelona on Sunday. When officials give the green light for racing, teams have a three-minute window to build up speed and determine the best course for the start, while trying to outsmart the other boat. With race one ready to go once that window began, the Brits were running late. The Kiwis had the crucial advantage for the start and won the opener before beating Sir Ben Ainslie’s British team in a tighter second race for a healthy 2-0 lead at the end of the first day of racing.

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox started the second round at the PGA Tour’s Black Desert Championship in Utah inside the top-10. However, he is now teetering on the cut-line near the end of second round which was suspended for darkness on Friday (Saturday NZ Time). LATEST HEADLINES: Wellington Lions get past Counties Manukau NZ Breakers drop third and final NBA game All Whites score win over Tahiti in qualifier Ryan Fox back into top-10 on the PGA Tour NZ Warriors moving on from wing Montoya Fox toyed with the cut throughout the day and now sits tied for 52nd at five-under, yet to finish the eighth hole, his 17th of the round. Starting on the back-nine, Fox opened in the worst possible way with a double-bogey six on the 10th. After a par, he bogeyed the 12th to continue his difficult start. Things got better with birdies at the 15th, 18th and first holes, but things turned chaotic again with a double-bogey six on the second. The fifth and seventh holes brought birdies, but another bogey came at the sixth to be one-over for the day and on the cut-line at five-under. Unfortunately, fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson is likely to miss the cut after a two-under 69 that has left him one shot below the projected cut.

Queenstown alpine ski racing star Alice Robinson has been crowned the 2024 Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete at the annual awards. Robinson, 22 gained five Giant Slalom World Cup podiums and an additional five World Cup Giant Slalom and Super G top 10 finishes, doubling the best results of her career. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ Breakers drop final game of US tour All Whites score win over Tahiti in qualifier Ryan Fox back into top-10 on the PGA Tour NZ Warriors moving on from wing Montoya Black Ferns make changes to battle France Zoi Sadowski-Synnott once again claimed the Snowboard of the Year after her Gold medal performance at the Edmonton FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup. Adam Hall took out the Adaptive Athlete of the Year with another strong season on the Para Alpine Slalom World Cup circuit, including a podium finish in Sapporo, Japan. Other winners were Freerider Ben Richards who had an exceptional rookie season on the Freeride World Tour, winning the Fieberbrunn Pro stop, coming third overall on the 2024 Freeride World Tour. Nico Porteous was the Freeski winner after his second place at the 2024 Aspen X Games while the breakthrough athlete was Lake Hāwea’s Luke Harrold who was second at his debut FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup and gained gold and bronze medal from the 2024 Gangown Youth Olympic Winter Games. Robinson’s coaches Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe were joint winners of Coach of the Year after they took over the planning, training and World Cup campaign support for Robertson over the 2023/24 season

Wellington have advanced to the National Provincial Championship (NPC) semifinals for a third straight season. The table-topping Lions did not have it all their own way as they scored five tries to two to defeat Counties Manukau 29-14 in the first quarterfinal at Wellington's Sky Stadium on Friday night. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ Breakers drop third and final NBA game All Whites score win over Tahiti in qualifier Ryan Fox back into top-10 on the PGA Tour NZ Warriors moving on from wing Montoya Black Ferns make changes to battle France Wellington scored early through second-five Riley Higgins in the seventh minute, then twice more with a man-advantage to lead 19-0 after 28 minutes. Steelers hooker Zuriel Togiatama was yellow-carded in the 21st minute for a head clash while tackling lock Hugo Plummer. That led immediately to Du’Plessis Kirifi’s try, with All Blacks centre Billy Proctor going over soon after as Wellington made it a three-possession game. Counties flanker Adam Brash went over before the break, but TJ Perenara restored the lead in the 51st minute in his final match in Wellington. Returning All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard got the Steelers within 10 points midway through the second half, but they could not make the most of possession, and Wellington backup halfback Kyle Preston shut the door in the 74th minute. The Lions will likely face the winner of Saturday's Bay of Plenty-Hawke's Bay quarterfinal in a semifinal next Saturday. The Steamers and Magpies meet at Tauranga Domain (kick-off 2.05pm), followed by Ranfurly Shield holders Taranaki hosting Waikato in New Plymouth (kick-off 7.05pm). Tasman welcome Canterbury to Blenheim on Sunday (kick-off 2.05pm). Wellington 29 (Riley Higgins, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Billy Proctor, TJ Perenara, Kyle Preston tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 con) Counties Manukau 14 (Adam Brash, Cam Roigard tries; AJ Alatimu con, Riley Hohepa con). HT: 19-7

The NZ Breakers will return Down Under this weekend after a third straight loss to an NBA opponent. Similar to their game with the Utah Jazz last week, the Breakers went basket-for-basket with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half before eventually falling 117-89 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Thursday night (Friday NZ Time). LATEST HEADLINES: All Whites score win over Tahiti in qualifier Ryan Fox back into top-10 on the PGA Tour NZ Warriors moving on from wing Montoya Black Ferns make changes to battle France Hurricanes look for new first-five for 2025 A spirited opening 24 minutes saw the Breakers and Thunder go into the half tied 60-60, but the Thunder's depth and physicality took over in the second half. Matt Mooney led the charge early, hitting five three-pointers on his way to a team-high 19 points (6/14 FG, 5/9 3pt), along with seven rebounds and three assists. Mooney’s accuracy from beyond the arc (55.6 percent) kept the Breakers in contention, while fellow American Parker Jackson-Cartwright orchestrated the offence with eight assists to go with 16 points (6/11 FG, 3/3 FT). The Breakers' ability to hit from long-range was a key feature of their first-half effort, with Mojave King also contributing from deep, hitting five triples as part of his 16 points (5/10 FG, 5/9 3pt) and five boards. Mexcian 'Next Star' Karim Lopez, former NBA centre Jonah Bolden, short-term signing Tacko Fall and Australian Dane Pineau did not suit up for the Breakers. Oklahoma City turned up the heat in the second half, led by Dillon Jones (23 points, 13 rebounds) and Adam Flagler (25 points (9/17 FG, 5/10 3pt). The Thunder's superior inside presence, particularly through former Breaker Ousmane Dieng (20 points, 10 rebounds), caused problems and the visitors were unable to maintain their momentum. The Breakers now travel to Brisbane to prepare for their third game of the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) season on Thursday against the Bullets. Then it's home to Auckland to host the Perth Wildcats at Spark Arena next Saturday (tip-off 7.30pm). Oklahoma City Thunder 117 (Adam Flagler 25, Dillon Jones 23, Ousmane Dieng 20, Alex Ducas 15, Malevy Leons 14, Cormac Ryan 12) NZ Breakers 89 (Matt Mooney 19, Parker Jackson-Cartwright 16, Mojave King 16). 1Q: 34-36, HT: 60-60, 3Q: 84-76

New Zealand has beaten a determined Tahiti 3-0 to kick off the Group B action at the FIFA World Cup 26 Oceania Qualifiers in Port Vila. Returning to the VFF Freshwater Stadium for the first time since winning the OFC Men’s Nations Cup in June, Darren Bazeley’s side started where they left off nearly four months ago. LATEST HEADLINES: Ryan Fox in top-10 on PGA Tour again NZ Warriors moving on from wing Montoya Black Ferns make changes to battle France King Country reclaim Bill Osborne Taonga Hurricanes look for new first-five for 2025 New Zealand’s Elijah Just blasted a left footed shot into the top corner of the net with an absolute screamer in the second minute to get the All Whites off to the best possible start. Tahiti who succumbed 5-0 to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the OFC Nations Cup were stunned, but they quickly gathered their composure and made it difficult for the New Zealanders to create many more goal scoring opportunities. Veteran defender Alvin Tehau marshalled the Tahitian defence well while the Tahitians had their moments on the break. Their captain Teaonui Tehau was able to get into positions to shoot on a couple of occasions in the first half but failed to trouble Max Crocombe in the New Zealand goal. Ben Old curled a left footed shot that skirted the post in the 39th minute but that was as good as it got from the All Whites. New Zealand upped the intensity early in the second half and with the wind at their backs were dangerous from the outset with Tim Payne forcing a strong save from Francois Decoret in the 53rd minute. Then in the 68th minute talismanic striker and captain Chris Wood who scored for Nottingham Forest against Chelsea in the English Premier League five days ago, was unmarked at the far post from a corner and guided a header into the corner of the net for his 35th international goal. The two-goal buffer enabled Bazeley to make some changes bringing on Kostas Barbarouses and Storm Roux. However, it was a composed Ben Waine who sealed the victory with a final goal in the 89th minute, as New Zealand comfortably saw out the rest of the match. New Zealand 3 (Elijah Just 2’, Chris Wood 68’, Ben Waine 89’) Tahiti 0

For the second straight week, Ryan Fox is up with the leaders after the first round on the PGA Tour. Fox fired a six-under 65 on the opening day at the Black Desert Championship at the picturesque Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah on Thursday (Friday NZ Time) to be tied for sixth, five shots off the lead. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ Warriors moving on from wing Montoya Black Ferns make changes to battle France King Country reclaim Bill Osborne Taonga Hurricanes look for new first-five for 2025 Johnson replaces Hughes in Kiwis squad The 37-year-old Aucklander had a rough start to his round, with bogeys at the first and third holes, but it only went up from there. He closed the front-nine with a birdie at the seventh and eagle at the par-five ninth, rolling in a seven-foot birdie putt after knocking his approach shot from 264 yards close. Making the turn at one-under, Fox made five birdies on the homeward nine, at the 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th, with birdie putts of 24 and 18 feet, and just missing an eagle putt at the closing hole. Compatriot Tim Wilkinson carded a two-under 69, featuring four birdies and two bogeys, to sit in a share of 62nd. Fox tees off his second round on Friday from the 10th tee at 2.03pm local time (9.03am Saturday NZT), while Wilkinson starts from the first tee at 7.40am local time (2.40am Saturday NZT). On the Asian Tour, Kiwis Denzel Ieremia and Nick Voke were tied for 58th and 111th, respectively, after the opening round of the Macao Open on Thursday. Ieremia carded an even-par 70, which included five birdies, a bogey and two double-bogeys. He made a steady beginning, with one birdie on the front-nine, but started the back-nine with back-to-back doubles. He recovered with birdies at the 12th, 13th, 17th and 18th to salvage something from the round, sitting nine shots off the lead. Voke produced a birdie, two bogeys and a double-bogey in a three-over 73 in which he hit just 6-of-13 fairways.

NZ Warriors wing Marcelo Montoya has been granted an early release from his contract to return to Australia to continue his NRL career. The 28-year-old former Fiji Bati international was off contract at the end of next season after originally joining the club in 2021. LATEST HEADLINES: Black Ferns make changes for France Hurricanes look for new first-five Blow to Kiwis as Hughes ruled out Phoenix sign former A-League winner Fourteen All Blacks for NPC quarters “We were keen for Marcelo to see out his contract with us but we’re really pleased he has found a club back in Australia giving him longer term security,” said Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden. “He has been a terrific person to have at our club for the last four seasons. He made a major contribution on and off the field and we wish him and his wife Tayla all the best for their future.” Montoya joined the Warriors from Canterbury Bulldogs in the Covid-19 era, spending his first two seasons with the club in Australia. He scored 30 tries in his 82 appearances for the Warriors, playing all 27 games in 2023.

Following the loss to England, the Black Ferns coaching team have made a number of changes to their 23. Hooker Georgia Ponsonby anchors the scrum once again, and will be joined by loosehead prop Kate Henwood and tighthead prop Amy Rule in the starting front row. LATEST HEADLINES: Hurricanes look for new first-five Blow to Kiwis as Hughes ruled out Phoenix sign former A-League winner Fourteen All Blacks for NPC quarters Darts winners target place at Ally Pally Chryss Viliko and Tanya Kalounivale named as the reinforcements on the bench, alongside Atlanta Lolohea. Explosive loose forward Layla Sae has been given the opportunity to start at openside, with Kennedy Tukuafu named in jersey 20. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Kaipo Olsen-Baker remain unchanged at blindside and number eight. Iritana Hohaia will start for the first time this tour, combining with Hannah King in the halves. The Black Ferns midfield duo of co-captain Ruahei Demant and Sylvia Brunt remains, alongside wings Katelyn Vahaakolo and Ayesha Leti-I'iga. Versatile back Mererangi Paul will start at fullback to round out the starting 15. Utility back Patricia Maliepo earns her spot for the first time during the end of year tour, named in jersey 22. Black Ferns director of rugby Allan Bunting said France will provide another strong challenge. “Our group are determined to finish well this weekend. We have been through some challenging times; we’ve seen progression in certain areas of our game, but we need to be more accurate and consistent across the park. “Collectively we have shifted onto France, who we know can be a formidable and unpredictable side. Fortunately, we get another opportunity this week to show all the hard work we have been doing.” This will be the 12th test match between the two sides, with the Black Ferns winning six of those encounters. BLACK FERNS: Mererangi Paul, Ayesha Leti-I’Iga, Sylvia Brunt, Ruahei Demant, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Hannah King, Iritana Hohaia, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Layla Sae, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Maia Roos, Alana Bremner, Amy Rule, Georgia Ponsonby, Kate Henwood. Reserves: Atlanta Lolohea, Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kolounivale, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Kennedy Tukuafu, Maia Joseph, Patricia Maliepo, Renee Holmes

King Country will head into the Heartland Championship's Lochore Cup semifinals on the back of reclaiming the Bill Osborne Taonga. The Rams stunned holders and Meads Cup contenders Whanganui 34-17 at Cooks Garden in the final round of the regular season on Saturday, taking possession of the challenge trophy for the second time in 2024. LATEST HEADLINES: Hurricanes look for new first-five for 2025 Johnson replaces Hughest in Kiwis squad Wellington Phoenix sign A-League winner Fourteen All Blacks for NPC quarterfinals Darts winner targets place at the Ally Pally King Country became the first team to win the Taonga, lose it and reclaim it in the same season. They lifted the Taonga from Buller with a 54-27 win over Buller in Westport on August 24 but lost it seven days later after a 23-18 loss to Thames Valley in Te Kuiti. The Taonga has racked up plenty of travel kilometres this season, going from East Coast to Buller to King Country to Thames Valley to Whanganui in the first four rounds. Whanganui had the only successful defence in Round 6, beating Wairarapa Bush 56-17. The win, set up by two tries each from Fijian wing Apete Matai and No 8 Caleb Foote, also saw the Rams retain the Colin Meads Memorial Trophy but could not lift them into the Meads Cup semifinals. Instead, they will have to settle for the second-tier Lochore Cup playoffs, where they will host East Coast in Taupo on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm). Horowhenua Kapiti welcome West Coast to Levin for the other semifinal. Despite the loss, Whanganui still earned a home Meads Cup semifinal, thanks to Horowhenua Kapiti's 41-35 upset of Thames Valley in Whitiangi. The Butcher Boys face the the Swamp Foxes in Whanganui on Saturday (kick-off 1.35pm), while top qualifiers and unbeaten South Canterbury take on Hanan Shield rivals and neighbours Mid Canterbury (kick-off 3.35pm). Back-to-back-to-back champions South Canterbury were challenged but ultimately extended their Heartland Championship winning streak to 39 matches with a 43-38 win over West Coast in Greymouth. Mid Canterbury confirmed their top-four finish with a 47-24 win over Poverty Bay in Ashburton, while East Coast beat Wairarapa Bush 45-32 and North Otago finished a down season with a 55-14 drubbing of Buller in Weston. HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS - ROUND 8 East Coast 45 Wairarapa Bush 32 Mid Canterbury 47 Poverty Bay 24 North Otago 55 Buller 14 Horowhenua Kapiti 41 Thames Valley 35 South Canterbury 43 West Coast 38 King Country 34 Whanganui 17