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Are football jerseys an unkillable fashion trend?

Forget France, Spain or Morocco. The World Cup's real biggest winners are the jerseys filling the stands and pitches.
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By Emma Gleason | 8th July, 2026
Staff writer
Saturday’s win was no walk in the park for the All Blacks (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The All Blacks’ close win over France proves that rugby is now a 40-man game

The focus on who wasn't playing on Saturday was redundant in an era in which player depth is critical.
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By Paul Thomas | 6th July, 2026
Guest writer
Leilani Momoisea fights (Photo: Rāwhai)

Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face

… and other lessons you learn when you decide to fight. 
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By Leilani Momoiseā | 4th July, 2026
Guest writer
Precious memories (Photos: Getty Images / Design: The Spinoff)

The most memorable moments of the 2026 Fifa World Cup so far

From Ben Old’s trampled ballsack to Miguel Almirón’s covered mouth, here's what we'll actually remember about this World Cup once the football fever subsides.
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By Calum Henderson | 3rd July, 2026
Production editor
New Zealand captain Tom Latham lifts the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy (Photo: Getty Images)

Eleven moments that defined the Black Caps’ series win over England

It was a series of big moments, not big players.
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By Dylan Cleaver | 30th June, 2026
Contributing writer
Armchair selectors scout the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup (Photo: Getty Images)
Opinion

Attention armchair selectors: these are the mistakes you’re making

Think you could pick a better All Blacks squad than Dave Rennie and co?
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By Paul Thomas | 28th June, 2026
Guest writer
Raúl Jiménez (Mexico), Kylian Mbappé (France) and Erling Haaland (Norway). All good fits. (Photos: Getty Images)

A fashion critic's guide to the best (and worst) kits at the Fifa World Cup

From 'fabulously ornate' to 'this looks like something excavated from the back of my fridge'.
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By Emma Gleason | 26th June, 2026
Staff writer
Rugby league fans in Christchurch could soon have a new team to cheer for (Photo: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

The time has never been better for a Christchurch-based NRL team

The stars are aligning for a second New Zealand rugby league team to enter the competition.
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By Liam Rātana | 24th June, 2026
Ātea editor
Dave Rennie announces his first All Blacks squad (Photo: Getty Images)

Welcome to the All Blacks’ Dave Rennie era

The new coach has announced his first squad – so what do the selections (and omissions) tell us?
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By Paul Thomas | 23rd June, 2026
Guest writer
Kane Williamson departs the scene (Photo: Getty Images)

An honest engine: Kane Williamson’s many defining Black Caps moments

He retires with more runs, more centuries and a higher average than any other New Zealand batsman. But the stats only tell us so much.
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By James Borrowdale | 17th June, 2026
Guest writer
Tim Payne’s 50 best moments from New Zealand vs Iran, ranked

Tim Payne’s 50 best moments from New Zealand vs Iran, ranked

An exclusively Tim Payne-focused breakdown of the All Whites' draw with Iran in their opening match of the Fifa World Cup.
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By Joel MacManus | 16th June, 2026
Senior writer
One of the Waitematā players takes a hit-up during the game. (Photo: Liam Rātana).

The rugby league club where reo Māori is spoken first

Accessing mainstream sports competitions can be difficult for players with te reo Māori as their first language. In the depths of West Auckland, one club is going against the grain.
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By Liam Rātana | 15th June, 2026
Ātea editor
Warriors head coach Andrew Webster at an NRL training session. Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
Opinion

Social media has become a corrupted shitscape and the tech giants just shrug

Ghoulish fake news about Andrew Webster is part of a griefbait slop epidemic.
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By Toby Manhire | 12th June, 2026
Editor-at-large
The stars of world football (Image: Getty/The Spinoff)

Fifa World Cup 2026: Your absolute last-minute beginner’s guide

How to watch, when not to schedule a meeting and enough talking points to bluff your way through the next five weeks of sporting chit-chat.
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By Calum Henderson | 12th June, 2026
Production editor
A low cloud of pessimism (smoke from fireworks let off in a covered stadium) lingers over Super Rugby Pacific (Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images)

What’s wrong with Super Rugby?

We're approaching the end of another season of angst over the competition's format and future. But are there any viable alternatives?
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By Paul Thomas | 11th June, 2026
Guest writer
Kruze Tangira plays for New Zealand, left, and Kane Evans plays for the Roosters. (Photos: supplied & Getty)
Opinion

Sexuality, sport and shame: Kane Evans isn’t alone and that’s a problem

No matter the code, the problems are the same. 
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By Kruze Tangira | 11th June, 2026
Guest writer
Fa’afetai lava, Moana Pasfika
Opinion

Fa’afetai lava, Moana Pasfika

The team leaves behind a lesson in resilience for the next generation of brown excellence.
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By Elijah Fa'afiu | 30th May, 2026
Guest writer
Watch live: the 2026 New Zealand Scrabble Nationals

Watch live: the 2026 New Zealand Scrabble Nationals

Who's ready to spend the long weekend watching Scrabble?
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By Calum Henderson | 30th May, 2026
Production editor
El jugador, Tim Payne (Photo: Getty Images / The Spinoff)

Five things Tim Payne fans should know about their new football hero

¡Hola! to my million or so fellow Payniacs.
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By Calum Henderson | 29th May, 2026
Production editor
Gullermo May share his thoughts and feelings with The Port after Auckland FC’s win on penalties against Melbourne City at Go Media Stadium on May 2. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

A beginner’s guide to Auckland FC’s biggest match yet

Everything you need to know about the season climax, on Saturday against Sydney FC.
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By Toby Manhire | 22nd May, 2026
Editor-at-large

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