Manu Samoa have prepared for their battle against the All Blacks with hymns and prayers at a service at Our Lady of The Rosary church on Sunday. The magnificent Catholic church in Siusega, on the outskirts of Apia, is in the parish of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. After the team entered the church to Read more
All Black rugby hard-man of the 1950s Kevin Skinner was farewelled at a Catholic requiem Mass in Henderson in Auckland on July 25. New Zealand rugby nobility were at Holy Cross Catholic Church to pay tribute to Skinner, who played 20 tests and 63 games for the All Blacks between 1949 and 1956. Skinner died Read more
I have just read a headline in the New Zealand Herald (6 June 2014) in which All Black coach Steve Hansen describes Jerome Kaino as “a caged animal” who will be doing all that he can to prove that he is at home among the big beasts of the international game.The names given to men’s rugby and Read more
Sonny Bill Williams has so far not responded to a comment made by broadcaster Murray Deaker about his religion. Williams is a Muslim. In February, Deaker declared on Sky TV that he did not like Williams: “He is a Muslim, in a so-called Christian country, and that makes me uncomfortable.” Sky will not release the Deaker on Read more
The rise and rise of Sonny Bill Williams has created the country’s first Muslim superstar.
Senior Islamic figures say people are seeking them out for insights into the All Black’s preparations for the Rugby World Cup.
Read the article...What is it with New Zealand churches? Not to be outdone by the All Saints Anglican community in Invercargill, who are proudly flying an All Black flag, one of Auckland’s most talked-about Christian establishments, St Matthew-in-the-City, has gone the whole hog. Fearlessly “progressive” – trendy, in other words – it tells those interested in going along not to expect anything so passé as a Bible study group. What it can promise is unstinting support for the All Blacks. Outside, on a huge billboard, is a poster featuring a ghostly David Kirk, captain of this country’s one and only World Cup-winning side, and the instruction “Pray like it’s 1987”. One other thing: St Matthew-in-the-City produces a publication entitled OMG (the text generation will get it). The subject for debate in the current issue is: “Has religion come to this?” Quite.
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Wellington’s St Paul’s Cathedral has taken a tongue in cheek look at New Zealand’s other religion, rugby. On display in the cathedral for the next few weeks is New Zealand Icon, a painting by local artist Don Little depicting an All Black icon. “If Jesus was here today why wouldn’t he come back as an All Read more
Praying for a sporting result is one of the oddest and most widespread religious behaviours in the world. The Welsh do it, the Irish pray to St Jude, Henry says we should do it. “Is it appropriate to pray for a win?” In May Wellington’s Marist-St Pats survived an almighty scare and fended off relegation. The win Read more