Luke McAlister's injury nightmare continues with the All Blacks utility fracturing his nose at Blues training today and unlikely to play against the Brumbies on Friday.

All Blacks utility back Tamati Ellison has completed a move to Japan's Ricoh Black Rams, ruling him out of next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

Former All Black captain Tana Umaga is coming home to take up a new role with the Counties Manukau team.

Clueless on attack and still flummoxed by the breakdown, the Hurricanes' South African tour is unravelling after they were swept aside by the Stormers with alarming ease in Cape Town.

Weta Workshop boss Richard Taylor today unveiled their design for a statue proposed as Wellington's centrepiece for next year's Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand-owned building suppliers' co-operative ITM will sponsor the premier national provincial rugby competition this year through to 2012.

Old warrior Brad Thorn should be spared from next weekend's clash against the Lions, while Chris Jack is set to make his first appearance for the Crusaders in 34 months.

Hurricanes centre Ma'a Nonu has been cited for making a dangerous tackle during his team's Super 14 rugby loss to the Stormers in Cape Town yesterday.

The Highlanders arrive home tomorrow morning having banked five competition points from their three games in South Africa after yesterday's 50-35 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

Flyhalf Quade Cooper produced a superb individual performance to orchestrate the Queensland Reds' 50-10 victory over fellow Australian side the Western Force in their Super 14 match in Brisbane on Sunday.

In another Super 14 rugby result of cricket proportions, a rampant Bulls team was too clinical and powerful for the Highlanders in running up a 50-35 win at Loftus Versveld stadium, Pretoria, this morning.

France displayed trademark flair to crush Italy 46-20 and stay firmly on course for their first grand slam since 2004 in the Six Nations.

A red-hot Queensland celebrated their long-awaited Super rugby resurgence with a record 50-10 smashing of the Western Force on Sunday night.

The Crusaders, with a hard-earned win over the Chiefs, provided the only bright spot for New Zealand sides in the fifth week of Super 14 rugby as the Hurricanes and Highlanders were left licking wounds inflicted by South African sides.

The highly touted Hurricanes are entering crisis territory in the Super 14 suffering their second successive loss in South Africa and they have the champion Bulls looming.

Scotland and England fought out their first draw for 21 years when a tryless, error-strewn Six Nations game finished 15-15 at Murrayfield on Sunday morning (NZ time), ending England's outside title hopes.

Former Wallabies fullback Julian Huxley has made an accomplished return to rugby union after a two-year absence following the detection of a brain tumour.

Queensland must hope a record victory and their best Super rugby start in a decade changes the mind of Melbourne-bound Reds prop Laurie Weeks.

The All Blacks' hopes of winning next year's World Cup could be dealt a blow with reports Carl Hayman won't return to New Zealand but will sign to play for Toulon in France instead.

Ma'a Nonu has slammed the changes to the law interpretations, branding the game now as being "boring".