LIAM NAPIER - © Fairfax NZ News

Richie McCaw could miss the first five rounds of this year's Super Rugby competition.

STATHI PAXINOS - © Fairfax NZ News

There is a point on the Olympic Highway near Gerogery in southern NSW that Nic Henderson avoided for a decade.

DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - © Fairfax NZ News

Rugby bosses hope they can reverse a declining trend in TV viewership for Super Rugby matches on the back of NZ's World Cup success.

RICHARD KNOWLER - © Fairfax NZ News

Sanzar referees are once again promising to hammer teams that refuse to clear up the problematic tackled-ball area.

The Otago Rugby Football Union hopes to alleviate financial concerns by cutting about $400,000 off its player wage bill this year.

TOBY ROBSON - © Fairfax NZ News

Conrad Smith says his body remains a work in progress, but that his mind has never been more focused.

The Waratahs have confirmed strike weapon Lachie Turner will likely miss the entire Super Rugby season after tearing his hamstring off the bone.

GREG GROWDEN

OPINION: The Super Rugby season is about to start, and - shock, horror - the South African provinces are having an almighty whinge.

MARC HINTON IN LAS VEGAS - © Fairfax NZ News

Just a few kilometres away on the Strip, it's the luck of the cards you need to go your way. Here at the Las Vegas sevens, it's the referee's shuffling of the deck that makes all the difference.

Desperate for an autograph and with nothing for him to sign, Pahiatua mum Toni Andersen asked All Blacks captain Richie McCaw to put his name on her knickers.

CHRIS BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

Blues coach Pat Lam must put on his thinking cap heading into their final Super Rugby warmup against the Highlanders.

France and Ireland's postponed Six Nations match will not take place this weekend, tournament organisers said.

RICHARD KNOWLER - © Fairfax NZ News

OPINION: It is not just rugby's dancing girls who are dusting off their pom-poms.

MARC HINTON - © Fairfax NZ News

New Zealand’s luck ran out in Sin City as injuries and a committed Samoa saw their sevens streak come to a halt.

MELISSA WOODS - AAP

All the talk ahead of the Melbourne Rebels' second Super Rugby season can be summed up in five words; James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale.

JUSTIN PALMER - Reuters

Wales overcame a sluggish start to crush an error-prone and ill-disciplined Scotland 27-13 and make it two from two in the Six Nations.

EVAN PEGDEN - © Fairfax NZ News

The Chiefs will revisit their breakdown work after being heavily penalised despite a 38-36 pre-season trial victory over the Highlanders.

GEORGE HEAGNEY - © Fairfax NZ News

It doesn't get much tougher than learning your trade against an All Black front row as new Hurricanes prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen did on Saturday.

GREG GROWDEN - (Live Matches)

The Waratahs are in danger of being without their two Wallabies wingers - Lachie Turner and Drew Mitchell - for their opening Super Rugby match.

TOBY ROBSON - © Fairfax NZ News

The curious case of Conrad Smith continues with the Hurricanes captain not planning to take the field for his side's final warmup match.