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A historic trophy with a memorable link to one of New Zealand’s best runners is being resurrected after being tucked away for years without anyone’s knowledge.

The Eels (12-) host Harbour at the Eelpit, with both teams having key players out. The word is Harbour are rolling out Saula Ma’u and Abraham Pole in the front row and the Eels will struggle with McNeill out, but I’ll back Taieri (12-) to just do enough. Southern head to the Oval to take on Varsity without Macca Palmer, but the Magpies (12-) maybe strong enough up front to get it done. Zingers...

THE Heyrick family waited almost three years for Shergar to break through to win but his next owners may have to wait only a matter of minutes.

HOLDERS Paris St Germain drew 1-1 at Bayern Munich yesterday to reach the Champions League final, earning a 6-5 aggregate victory after a compelling second leg that was far cagier than their goal-laden first encounter.

A SENSE of calm is permeating throughout the Wellington Phoenix women’s camp, knowing they have home advantage in the second leg of their A-league semifinal on Sunday.

NEW Zealand Rugby released its latest financial results at the organisation’s annual meeting in Wellington yesterday, revealing a net loss of $7.5million for 2025 despite record income.

MANCHESTER City were crowned Women’s Super League champions yesterday for the first time in a decade after Arsenal, their last remaining challengers, were held to a 1-1 draw away by Brighton & Hove Albion.

REPORTS Warriors half Luke Metcalf is seeking reassurance about his future role are being met with no comment from the club.

JAMIE Joseph hopes Cameron Millar will still be a Highlanders man next year.

HIGH-FLYING Upper Clutha have lost just three of the 42 games they have played in the Central Otago premier club competition over the past three seasons.

BLACK Ferns prop Tanya Kalounivale has escaped any further punishment and is free to play against Canada this weekend.

FRENCH striker Hugo Ekitike will likely miss this summer’s Fifa World Cup after reportedly tearing his Achilles tendon.

LIV Golf’s 2026 season will proceed as scheduled with the full backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, sources close to the matter told Reuters yesterday, pushing back against reports the rebel circuit was on the verge of collapse.

ARSENAL edged past Sporting to reach the Champions League semifinals for the second successive season with a 0-0 home draw earning them a 1-0 aggregate victory yesterday.

DARREN Keast insists there are plenty of people to thank for his recent success in the South.

IS Antoine Dupont the best player in the world?

MANCHESTER City eased into the semifinals of the League Cup with a 2-0 home win over Brentford yesterday, and will meet holders Newcastle United who needed an added-time Lewis Miley goal to beat Fulham 2-1 at St James’ Park.

SOUTHLAND senior club rugby took a break for King’s Birthday Weekend. The rugby focus switched to the best Southland Country players competing for their sub-unions on Monday.

This weekend

TWO-TIME champion Paul Coll is through to the quarterfinals of the British Open after defeating the University of Birmingham’s Moustafa Elsirty 3-0.

IT is hard to pinpoint one area that has made the Otago University Rowing Club a success.

Five questions for Crescent halfback Josh Cook .

OTAGO Rugby Football Union referee development officer Brandon Hale hopes this green jersey will be the source of a lot less controversy.

WILD card Lois Boisson lit up the French Open yesterday when the home hope downed sixth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva to make the semifinals before Novak Djokovic set up a blockbuster meeting with world No1 Jannik Sinner.

And then there were six. The new-look Super Rugby Pacific playoffs begin tonight. HaydenMeikle explains how it works and looks at the three qualifying finals.

KAIKORAI coach Andrew Hunter tries not to look at the competition table too closely.

The wrap

HIGHLANDERS boss Roger Clark would rather not have a wooden spoon on display in his office but he believes they are building ‘‘something very special’’.

AFTER years of being under a cloud of suspicion, weightlifting’s governing body believes the sport is in a better place, and young New Zealand lifters are hoping to benefit in the next few years.

Blindside flanker Matt Brock had a huge impact, particularly on defence, in University’s 41-24 victory over Green Island at Miller Park. Shutting down many of Green Island’s attacks, Brock was also a key player for the Bookworms at the breakdown as well as in the set piece, helping create time and space for University halfback Brad Campbell and first five Mika Muliaina to dominate the midfield.