D'arcy And Goran

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson is excited about what the future of NZ rugby might look like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The process of radically changing the set-up of rugby in New Zealand will begin tomorrow when provincial unions are presented with a new blueprint for how the game should be organised, managed and structured.Having seen the game evolve rapidly in the last decade, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) believes the time is right to make sweeping changes to give it a better chance of dealing with prevailing issues such as stagnant participation rates, increasing drop-out rates among teens and plunging spectator interest in Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby.The Herald understands that NZR is going to post a multi-million dollar loss for 2019 and is forecasting another for next year, hence its decision to engage consultancy group McKinsey earlier this year to investigate ways in which the sport can be restructured.The preliminary recommendations of that review will be revealed to provincial unions tomorrow and those familiar with the report believe it could deliver the most significant change in New Zealand rugby since the game went

Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger has explained the decision to play Josh Ioane in the midfield after the 23-year-old's shock positional switch for the Super Rugby season.Just a year removed from his breakout campaign as the Highlanders' first-choice first five-eighth earned him a place in the All Blacks squad, Ioane has been wearing the No12 jersey for the entirety of the 2020 season so far.Speaking to Radio Sport's D'Arcy Waldegrave, Mauger said that's where Ioane's future in the game could lie."In terms of what he can do and his all-around game, I think he's a guy who can really push for higher honours in that role, being a genuine 12/10 option."Josh Ioane earned a spot in the All Blacks squad last year. Photo / PhotosportIoane has ceded the No10 jersey to new recruit Mitch Hunt, who joined the club from the Crusaders following the 2019 campaign, while Josh McKay and Michael Collins have shared duties at fullback.Running two playmakers in the starting XV allows the Highlanders to play at pace, which has shown

A spokesman for the Japanese government on Wednesday said the International Olympic Committee and local organizers are going ahead as planned with the Tokyo Olympics despite the threat of the spreading coronavirus.The comments from spokesman Yoshihide Suga follow the assertion by former IOC vice-president Dick Pound that organizers face a three-month window to decide the fate of the games.The Olympics are set to open on July 24 with 11,000 athletes. The Paralympics open Aug. 25 with 4,400.Pound told the Associated Press  that the fast-spreading virus could cancel the Olympics. Suga says Pound's opinion does not reflect the official view of the IOC, which has repeatedly said there are no plans to cancel or postpone the Tokyo Games.The viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 80,000 people and killed more than 2,700 globally. China has reported 2,715 deaths among 78,064 cases on the mainland. Five deaths in Japan have been attributed to the virus and the COVID-19 illness it causes."With regard

D'Arcy Waldegrave and Chris Milicich dissect the week in football and discuss some of the issues facing the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi pole vault star Eliza McCartney explains her complicated road to the Tokyo Olympics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound explains what precautions are in place for Tokyo 2020 as a result of the spread of coronavirus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

White Fern Suzie Bates isn't concern about pay equality between male and female players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Medical Director for New Zealand Football Dr Mark Fulcher looks at the concerns around kids heading the ball.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZR Head of Participation and Development Steve Lancaster explains why they are investing time and effort into setting up an under 85kg national club championshipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

General Manager of Talk Jason Winstanley explains the decision as to why cricket will no longer be called on Radio Sport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor explains the art of throwing the ball into a lineout and the 25 year reunion happening this weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps test spinner Ajaz Patel after his call up to the squad for the Indian series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO of the Australian V8 Supercars series Sean Seamer on what will replace Holden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko has a new coach - Jorge Parada.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi fast bowler Kyle Jamieson on the possibility of making his test debut.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead has named a 13-man squad for the upcoming two test series against India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi Tiarn Collins has won the latest round of the men's slopestyle Snowboard World Cup in Calgary, Canada.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the cream of the country's best paddlers line up for the 2020 NZCT New Zealand Canoe Sprint Championships at Lake Karapiro tomorrow, a small group of Kiwi athletes will be chasing quota spots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Australia this weekend.They will compete at the Oceania Canoe Sprint Championships in Penrith, Sydney on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.Leading the Kiwi challenge in Australia will be Whanganui paddler Max Brown and his Mana partner Kurtis Imrie, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2019 reaching the A Final in the K2 1000m at the World Cup in Poznan. The duo will be back in action in Sydney pursuing a K2 1000m berth for New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympics.Australia qualified a boat in this event via last year's World Championships, so providing the Kiwi duo finish ahead of the best of the rest in Oceania they will have secured an Olympic quota spot.However, that should the pair qualify a boat this is no guarantee that Brown or Imdrie will be selected for Tokyo as a decision on the prec

New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol hopes the load management of top players at the start of a new season will improve next year.All Blacks are restricted to 180 minutes of rugby over the first three rounds of Super Rugby, while first five Beauden Barrett has negotiated an extended break and will return in April.Nichol says this year everyone continues to deal with managed introductions due to the shift of the international window from June to July while running the same 15-team Super Rugby format.He says next year looks more promising.Former prop Wyatt Crockett joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the resting of players and why he never took a sabbatical himself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.