New Zealand

The Rugby Championship 2012 is pretty much decided with the All Blacks hot favourites to win

For the last few months rumours have been circulating that next year the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia could come together to create a SANZAR team.

1,500 kilometres east of Australia in the southwest Pacific Ocean lay two large islands and a lot of smaller islands.

Sonny Bill Williams is leaving New Zealand rugby and the All Blacks jersey, for the bigger money in Japan rugby

The June International Matches leaves me wondering if there should be a Northern vs Southern Hemisphere rugby series at the end of the year, so some players who are injured now would still be available.

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa each recorded their second wins of the summer against northern hemisphere tourists.

Here is my June International Rugby tests Team of Week One.

The June International test matches between Southern and Northern Hemisphere teams looks set to be closer than expected in 2012.

After eight previous stops, in five continents, over six months; the 13th World Sevens Series reached its final destination at the home of English rugby.

With the June internationals just around the corner, the All Black selectors have a conundrum on their hands, where to fit their surplus of talented midfield backs?

With the increasingly global look to Super Rugby, there are now plenty of rugby nomads who are playing for teams outside of their own country.

Super Rugby 2012 is a great stage not only for existing stars like Sonny Bill Williams, Bismarck Du Plessis and Will Genia to strut the stuff, but it is always exciting to see the new talent coming through the ranks and New Zealand's cupboard of young scrum and fly halves look encouraging.

The 2012 Super Rugby season has quietly popped up without many people apart from the players and coaches really noticing it - but yes indeed it does start this weekend and for many rugby fans it's just as well given it comes at the end of one of the longer off-seasons in recent times.

Back in their heyday of the 1980's, Romania could list France, Wales and the 1984 Grand Slam winning Scotland side amongst their list of major scalps, while in 1981, they fell to the All Blacks by a mere 14 points to 6 in a game that also saw the 'Oaks' have two tries disallowed.

How many times have we discussed New Zealand's strength in depth? How many times have we read through lists of talented individuals that have left for pastures new in Europe? Another one to add to the list.

When I last wrote a Blog I was still in New Zealand enjoying what I can only describe as the best World Cup to have ever been played out!

England are set to face South Africa four times in 2012 with confirmation that the Springboks will visit Twickenham in November.

Richie McCaw in his 100th test match, lead the All Blacks to an impressive 37-17 exorcising the demons of the 2007 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final defeat to France

The All Blacks vs France is the biggest match of the Rugby World Cup 2011 so far and the All Blacks will not lack motivation for winning this match

The All Blacks sounded a warning early on when Conrad Smith waltzed over for the opening try after three minutes following a Victor Vito break.