Moore is back for more
Coach Glenn Moore has got his wish to build on the Black Ferns’ world title after extending his contract for two more years.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) confirmed Moore would continue at the helm of the women’s world champions until the end of 2019.
Since his appointment at the end of 2015, Moore guided the team to 15 wins and a solitary defeat, capped by last year’s Rugby World Cup final victory against England.
He was named coach of the year at last year’s NZR awards. Moore saidin December he was keen to continue but hoped NZR could build on the momentum from last year’s win, and backed moves towards a professional women’s competition in New Zealand.
‘‘It’s an important phase for the Black Ferns as other Former All Blacks No 8 Gary Seear has died, New Zealand Rugby has confirmed. He was 65.
The lean, lanky Seear also played at lock for the All Blacks during his 12 tests and 22 matches all for the All Blacks, from 1976-1979.
Seear, who played 116 games for Otago, made his test debut against France at Toulouse in November 1977 - a match the All Blacks lost 13-18.
One week later, Seear would become famous for kicking a 45-metre penalty in the second test in Paris which the All Blacks
countries are getting better and better. We saw that first-hand in Ireland,’’ Moore said.
‘‘We’ll have some continuity in the team going into this year but in some cases there’ll be some rebuilding going on too. won 15-3.
Seear, who made his debut for Otago as a 19-year-old in 1971, was selected as a lock for the All Blacks 1976 tour of South Africa but was converted to a No 8 shortly after that tour.
All 12 of his test appearances were at the back of the scrum.
He captained the New Zealand under-23 side in 1974.
We need to keep progressing forward.’’
NZR general manager of rugby Neil Sorensen said the Black Ferns’ playing schedule for this year would be announced in the coming weeks.