Hamilton Based Chiefs News Today

Over the last seven weeks and both through his presence and absence, flyhalf Damian McKenzie has proved he is indispensable to the Hamilton-based Chiefs as they chase a third title in Super Rugby Pacific. The Chiefs won four of their first five matches this season with McKenzie at the helm.

The Chiefs mic'd up players during Friday's Super Rugby Pacific win over the Crusaders in Hamilton in a bid to bring fans even closer to the action on field.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Fijian Drua ended a week marred by personal loss with a collective triumph as they beat the Queensland Reds to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in only their second season in Super Rugby Pacific.

NEW PLYMOUTH, New Zealand (AP) — The Queensland Reds beat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 25-22 on Friday to end the Chiefs’ 10-match winning streak in Super Rugby Pacific. The Chiefs weathered challenges from all of the top-four teams in the tournament so far but came unstuck against the Reds who had won only four matches before pulling off one of the biggest shocks of the year.

Warren Gatland is back as coach of Wales and he can't lose. If next year the team earns a top-half finish or better in the Six Nations and respectability at the Rugby World Cup in France, those tagging him as the messiah will be justified.

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beleaguered head coach Ian Foster finally found some relief and even hope in his home town of Hamilton where the All Blacks snapped a historic losing streak by beating Argentina 53-3 in a Rugby Championship test on Saturday.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Ian Foster is set to remain as All Blacks head coach until his contract expires after next year's World Cup, saved in part by New Zealand's Rugby Championship win over South Africa last weekend. The board of New Zealand Rugby met in Auckland on Wednesday to discuss Foste

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Ian Foster is set to remain as All Blacks head coach until his contract expires after next year’s World Cup, saved in part by New Zealand’s Rugby Championship win over South Africa last weekend.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Former Argentina captain Pablo Matera has been cleared to play for the Crusaders against the Blues in the Super Rugby Pacific final on Saturday after a judicial panel ruled the four yellow cards he has received this season showed “no pattern of concern.”

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — From the middle of the season in Super Rugby Pacific it seemed the Auckland-based Blues and Christchurch-based Crusaders were on course to meet in the final. The Blues were building a club-record winning streak — now 14 games — and the Crusaders, after early setbacks, were looking more like the team that has won 12 Super Rugby titles.