Welcome to rugbyunion.nz – an independent information site about rugby union in New Zealand. Our aim is simple: to make the game easier to follow, whether you are watching your first Super Rugby match or have stood on the sideline at club games for decades.
We are not a rugby union, a club, a broadcaster or a betting operator. The site has no affiliation with New Zealand Rugby, Super Rugby Pacific or any team. We describe the game – how competitions are structured, what the laws say and what is worth knowing before kick-off.
What we do
On rugbyunion.nz you will find guides to Super Rugby Pacific and its teams, the All Blacks and Black Ferns, the NPC and sevens, along with explanations of the laws, positions, tactics and training. Because many New Zealand fans follow both codes, we also cover some rugby league, including the NRL and the Warriors.
In our work we put particular weight on:
- Explaining rugby terms in plain language, so that someone who has never played can still keep up.
- Presenting facts neutrally, without hype and without telling you which team to back.
- Keeping content current and checked against reliable sources.
Our principles
Everything we publish rests on three principles: it should be fact-based, independent and easy to understand.
We check details against primary sources such as New Zealand Rugby, World Rugby, Super Rugby Pacific and the official websites of teams and competitions. When a detail cannot be confirmed, we leave it out.
Rugby changes from week to week. Fixtures move, ladders shift and squads are reshuffled after every injury update. We therefore avoid presenting fast-changing details as fixed facts, and point you to the official source for the latest draw, score or standings.
We hold every team and competition to the same standard. No side gets kinder treatment than another, whichever colours the people writing happen to wear on a Saturday.
The editorial team
The content on rugbyunion.nz is written and reviewed by a small editorial team focused on clear, fact-checked sports writing.
Elliot Thornbury – editor and writer. Elliot is responsible for what is published on the site. He plans the coverage, writes and edits the guides, and checks that facts are accurate, sources are sound and the language is easy to follow. Corrections and reader feedback also land on his desk.
How we use AI
Some of our content is prepared with the help of AI tools, including Claude from Anthropic, as support for research and drafting. Everything is reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial team before it is published, and responsibility for what appears on the site always rests with us.
You can read more about how this works in our AI policy.
Contact
Have you spotted an error or an out-of-date detail, or do you have a question about something we have written? Please get in touch through our contact page and we will look into it.
We appreciate feedback that helps us keep the site accurate and useful.
Gamble responsibly
Betting is part of how some supporters follow rugby, and a few of our articles touch on it as a topic. rugbyunion.nz provides information only. We do not take bets, we are not a betting operator and we do not give betting tips.
Gambling always carries a risk of losing money and can lead to harm. You must be 18 or older to bet with TAB NZ, which is the only provider permitted by law to offer sports betting to people in New Zealand. Only ever gamble with money you can afford to lose.
Do you need support, or want to cut back?
- The Gambling Helpline offers free and confidential support 24 hours a day on 0800 654 655, by free text on 8006, or at gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
- PGF Services (the Problem Gambling Foundation) provides free counselling on 0800 664 262 and at pgf.nz.
- Gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs.
You will find more guidance on our responsible gambling page.
Please also read our privacy policy, cookie policy and terms of use.