The 32-year-old man charged with assault in relation to the death of a 27-year-old man at the Marist Rugby Club in Invercargill is now facing a charge of manslaughter.

He is expected to appear in the Invercargill District Court on Tuesday to face the charge. Continue reading

Haiu was a also a former New Zealand under-19 and under-21 representative.

His career ended prematurely in 2011 when a rare form of bone cancer, Ewings Sarcoma, was discovered in his ribs.

He has been remembered as a great athlete and a loving family man at Sacred Heart college, the place where his athletic prowess first began to thrive.

"When Kurtis was 13 he left Whangarei to attend Sacred Heart College as a boarder," said Former team mate Onosa'i Auva'a in his eulogy.

"He was a star in the sporting arena, and was known as one of the fittest athletes."

He made the school's first XV in the fourth form as a 14-year-old."

"He gave the school his New Zealand Secondary Schools jersey, and was named sportsman of the year in his final year at Sacred Heart."

About 1000 mourners turned out for the funeral with coach Tana Umaga and captain Jerome Kaino leading the entire Blues contingent, while Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Michael Jones and Craig Innes were also in attendance.

"His greatest effort wasn't on the rugby field, it was fighting cancer," said Haiu's brother Leon in his eulogy.

"Kurtis refused to let on how much pain he was in when he was battling the disease."

"Because my brother was such a man's man I would try to never cry around him."

"I saw there his body emaciated, skeletal, his arms skinny, knowing he's gonna die and I just burst into tears, I couldn't control it."

"My brother got up off his bed even though he was weak as and hugged me and told me he loved me. I'll forever cherish those moments."

The service finished with Sacred Heart students and old boys performing a haka as Haiu's coffin was taken away to his burial at Manukau Memorial Gardens.

Haiu, who played 53 times for the Blues between 2006 and 2011, leaves behind wife Frieda and two young daughters.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz

The procession at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit drew hundreds who heard tributes to the ex-Blues coach who died suddenly in his sleep on Sunday.

At midday, three helicopters flew over as the 65-year-old was carried into the church by six pallbearers, including his sons James and Anton, who is also a former All Black captain. Continue reading

The origins of this tournament go back to 1926 with the original match for the Spillane Cup being played between Wellington and Wanganui.

The official opening will take place at 6pm on Friday 8 March at the Hutt Old Boys Marist clubrooms at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

The netball and rugby competition take place on Saturday

After being absent in 2013, Wellington's Marist St Pat's Club will return to the competition this year.

NZ Marist Rugby Football Federation is an organisation initiated to promote and foster a spirit of union, co-operation and close friendly relations between all Marist and similar rugby union football clubs in New Zealand, the Pacific and around the world.
Source

• maristrugby.org.nz
• www.msprugby.co.nz
• holm.co.nz
• Image:maristrugby.org.nz