Former Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has been named the next Chiefs coach, taking over from Scotland-bound Dave Rennie in 2018. Rennie

Triple Olympic medallist Lisa Carrington has been awarded the Lonsdale Cup for 2016 after a year of stellar performances on the water.

CAPTION: Whakatane's Tony Rees (Honda CBR1000RR), locked in a tight battle for 2016 Suzuki Series honours. Photo by Andy McGechan

Sevens players from around the country will be vying for selection into the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens when the country's

Steven Adams has chosen the festive season to bust out all the surprises as he soars to dominance for his Oklahoma side.

TOP BOWLER: Geyser City first XI player Matt Mitchell impressed with the ball for his side on the weekend. PHOTO/FILE A_020314bf1.JPGRuth_Dacey_MAY16_happy.epsCricket Geyser

GRUELLING RACE: Rotorua's Kiri Kepa celebrates after finishing the Rotorua Half Ironman quarter distance before taking a dramatic

Circle_facebook_DP1.epsCHAMPIONS: Players from Rotorua women's premier winning squad, from left, Mia Wardlaw, Debbie Dowland, Lara

Circle_see_more_DP.epsOUT: Eastern Pirates' captain Johnny Wiringi is bowled by Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl at Ray Boord Park in the pre-Christmas

Circle_see_more_DP.epsWORLD-CLASS WINNER: Triathlon superstar Javier Gomez cruises over the finish line of the Rotorua Half Ironman

Circle_see_more_DP.eps TOP TRIATHLETES: Triathlon superstar Javier Gomez and girlfriend and elite triathlete Anneke Jenkins are both

CAMPAIGN CLOSING: Rotorua's Central Indians aim to finish their Baywide Cup campaign on a high. PHOTO/SUPPLIED shkhw344.JPGRuth_Dacey_MAY16_happy.epsCricket In

TITLE MATCH: Rotorua women's No 1 seed Mia Wardlaw and her side are playing for the Waikato Bay regional premier senior interclub

FINAL AIM: Eastern Pirates face up against fierce rivals GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl in the pre-Christmas trophy final. PHOTO/

Ruth_Dacey_MAY16_happy.epsINSPIRATIONAL: Local Kiri Kepa is competing in the Rotorua Half-Ironman over the quarter distance for the

Circle_see_more_DP.epsRuth_Dacey_MAY16_happy.epsIN SAFE HANDS: Rotorua United and Loaded WaiBOP's goalkeeper Amanda Wilshier. PHOTO/BEN

England rugby captain Dylan Hartley has been given a six-week ban for striking, taking his career tally of suspended weeks to 60.

Rotorua and Bay of Plenty players will feature in the inaugural GJ Gardner World Schools Sevens pilot event on Saturday. The event

Dylan Hartley is expected to retain his captaincy of the England rugby team despite another lengthy suspension from the game looming

UPBEAT: Rotorua's Sloan Cox (left) was joined by Sarah Coatsworth (right) as his co-driver for the Hyundai New Zealand Young Driver

IN CONTROL: The Bay of Plenty women's sevens teams (pictured with the ball) have qualified along with their male counterparts for

IN THE FIRING LINE: Rotorua-born Dylan Hartley discovers soon if he has any chance of leading England into the Six Nations when he

Circle_facebook_DP1.epsFINAL SPOT: Rotorua's Eastern Pirates fired into next weekend's pre-Christmas trophy final in the Rotorua/Taupo

SUPERSTAR: One of triathlon's biggest superstars, five-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist Javier Gomez, is set to compete

STANDOUTS: Swim Rotorua's Aaron Muchirahondo (left) and Annelyse Cowie (right) stood out in the pool for their side at the Bay of

Dylan Hartley will discover this week if he has any chance of leading England into the Six Nations when he faces a disciplinary panel following his latest red-card shame.

CELEBRATION TIME: Rotorua's Matua Parkinson celebrates with his winning trophy. PHOTO/ SUPPLIED matuas_pix_of_boxing.JPGRuth_Dacey_MAY16_happy.epsBoxing

STRONG PERFORMANCE: Central Indians' player Magan Vashisht (pictured playing earlier in the season) put on a strong opening batting

DYNAMIC DUO: Local married runners Chris and Kerris Browne competed in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman 70.3 in Taupo for the first

STRONG VIEW: Boxing trainer Aaron Warren said it was an incredibly close fight but Joseph Parker lost. PHOTO/FILE CLOSE FIGHT: New