All Blacks

They chartered two planes, loaded them up with facemasks, and had them flown here from Shanghai in China.

An Air New Zealand Dreamliner touched down at Christchurch Airport on Saturday morning.

On board was a cargo hold full of personal protective equipment (PPE).

"These are bfN98 surgical masks that will be distributed to the CDHB [Canterbury District Health Board] on Monday," says Interbuild Products director Nick Ash.

Ash has a business importing building supplies from around the world.

But coming in at a combined $25 million, or 50 per cent of their remaining payments for this year, this blow stung in an entirely different way.

After several weeks of negotiations, details were confirmed concerning pay cuts for the country's leading players as New Zealand Rugby braced for a signifcant financial hit as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The figures, though, would only come to fruition if a resumption of matches in 2020 simply wasn't possible.

Gatland, 56, was in charge as the Lions and the All Blacks drew their three-Test series in New Zealand in 2017.

The former Wales coach says a fourth fixture could help rugby to generate revenue after the coronavirus crisis.

"It's potentially an opportunity to make four or five million pounds," Gatland told Sky Sport.

Ahead of next summer's tour, he raised the prospect of a meeting with the All Blacks as preparation, saying he had already spoken with NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson about a game with the New Zealand Maori.

A group of Crusaders players, including Mo'unga, were filmed training at a Christchurch park on Monday.

The gathering appeared to go against the government's lockdown rules, but Mo'unga said it was a coincidence that the players were in the same place at the same time.

In an Instagram video, Mo'unga explained he could be a better role model and said he made no excuses.

Punters worldwide have hit the polls on RugbyPass’ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the initiative to decide the world’s best players in each position, as voted by the fans.

Two instalments of the series have already passed, with England second rower Maro Itoje dispatching South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth for the lock title, while World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit pipped All Blacks star Ardie Savea in the flanker vote.

With the coronavirus alert level ramping up from level two to three on Monday and moving to level four from midnight Wednesday, the already tenuous Super Rugby replacement competition has been put on indefinite hold, putting further economic pressure on NZ Rugby.

The confirmation today from finance minister Grant Robertson that the Covid-19 financial relief package would be extended to incorporated societies means NZ Rugby will be eligible for a payout but Robinson said tonight what that looked like remained to be seen.

The 57-cap halfback, who played his last test for New Zealand in 2007 and retired from all rugby in 2012, had his case called this morning in the Auckland District Court.

He was named yesterday after name suppression lapsed and faced charges of assault and wilful damage allegedly involving his fiancee’s ex-partner.

Today, he was granted diversion and his charges were dismissed.

Kelleher, 43, was not required to appear in court for a hearing.

The All Blacks are scheduled to welcome Wales and Scotland later this year for games in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin before turning their attention to the Rugby Championship in August.

However, the threat of the coronavirus has sent sport into a worldwide suspension with the vast majority of the world’s top sporting leagues on hiatus to avoid the spread of the virus.

Speaking to the Radio Sport Breakfast, All Blacks coach Ian Foster said while Super Rugby had been suspended due to the virus, he was planning for a future where his side’s scheduled tests would go ahead.

Speculation was rife a fortnight ago with reports surfacing the club had tabled a rich contract extension to the 21-year-old which included a get-out clause to defect to rugby union ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

Already contracted to the Knights until the end of 2021, clubs are free to approach the Queensland star in November and Newcastle have confirmed they want him locked in long term.

However, on Monday, Ponga rejected the reports and said he was focused on round one, not what he might be doing in four years.

Their one win from five matches played doesn’t quite compare to the eight losses they started the 2013 year with but it also doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season.

Yes, once the Highlanders get their match against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires out of the way this weekend they will play all but one of their remaining fixtures in New Zealand, but that also means they have a slew of derbies still to play – which are arguably the toughest matches in the competition.