News | Rugby
1 Jan 2026 12:24
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Sports > Rugby

    Argentina rugby coach Mario Ledesma has shared some memories of his encounters with the late Diego Maradona as they prepare to use his legacy as motivation in the re-match against the All Blacks tomorrow in Newcastle

    Argentina rugby coach Mario Ledesma has shared some memories of his encounters with the late Diego Maradona as they prepare to use his legacy as motivation in the re-match against the All Blacks tomorrow in Newcastle


    The footballer made a post-match visit to the Pumas dressing room after the loss to the All Blacks in 2001.

    Ledesma also remembers what happened when the crowd realised Maradona was in attendance at the match.



    The Argentinian public will formally bid farewell to the football talisman next Thursday.

    He will lie in state at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in the meantime, where crowds are expected to visit his casket as part of three days' national mourning.



    And the mayor of Naples has started the process to rename the San Paolo stadium in honour of Maradona, who took them to the top of Italian football.

    © 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

     Other Rugby News
     31 Dec: The quarter-finals are set at the world darts championship - and for the first time in a non-Covid year since 2012 Michael van Gerwen won't be there
     31 Dec: Bowls great Val Smith is struggling to come to terms with her second major award in three months
     29 Dec: Nick Kyrgios has blitzed Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 across what has been coined their battle-of-the-sexes tennis match in Dubai
     29 Dec: Ex-Wallabies and Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has continued his dominance of former All Blacks mentors Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster in Japan Rugby League One
     28 Dec: Reigning world champion Luke Littler has fired a warning to his rivals after a dominant display in the third round of the world darts championship in London
     28 Dec: To the darts world championships at London's Alexandra Palace, on Sky Sport..
     26 Dec: Blues recruit Pita Ahki feels he's wiser and more experienced for his time in the Northern Hemisphere
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The quarter-finals are set at the world darts championship - and for the first time in a non-Covid year since 2012 Michael van Gerwen won't be there More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Major electricity companies are taking a big step today, towards protecting national energy security More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    Auckland FC defender Dan Hall is bracing for a high-octane Newcastle Jets attack in this afternoon's A-League match at Mt Smart 11:56

    Politics:
    A lack of communication from New Zealand's largest patient health portal, in the wake of a cyber security breach 11:36

    Auckland:
    State Highway 16 remains closed at Makarau, north-west of Auckland, after the discovery of a body 11:16

    National:
    Are you a hellraiser mite or a knobbled weevil? Take the quiz and vote for NZ’s Bug of the Year 11:16

    Politics:
    Nominations are now open for the Papatoetoe subdivision's local board election in Auckland 11:06

    Business:
    Major electricity companies are taking a big step today, towards protecting national energy security 10:46

    National:
    Why procrastination isn’t laziness – it’s rigid thinking that your brain can unlearn 10:36

    National:
    Focus apps claim to improve your productivity. Do they actually work? 10:27

    Business:
    Hopes the new vocational education model kicking in from today will put industry in the driver's seat 10:26

    National:
    What are your new year’s reading resolutions? 6 dedicated readers share theirs 10:16


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd