Rugby-'Grumpy old b*****' Penney focused on Crusaders, not contract
(Reuters) -Canterbury Crusaders coach Rob Penney has put aside contract talks with club management to focus on the team's run to the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs, chief executive Colin Mansbridge said.
The Crusaders are second on the table ahead of Saturday's away clash against the Otago Highlanders, a stunning revival after finishing ninth in Penney's difficult first season in charge last year.
Penney's two-year contract is set to expire at the end of this season but he is in no hurry to talk about extending, Mansbridge said.
"Whenever you're dropping hints or trying to talk about it, he's just saying 'let's get through this season'," Mansbridge told the New Zealand Herald. "He is laser-focused on this team, this year. He doesn't want any distractions in his way."
Having replaced Scott Robertson, who delivered seven championship trophies in seven years at the Crusaders, Penney struggled with the loss of key players to injuries and overseas contracts in 2024.
With fans up in arms and media pundits demanding change as the losses piled up, Crusaders management came under huge pressure to sack Penney.
But Mansbridge publicly backed the coach to turn things around, and Penney survived an end-of-season review to put the Crusaders back in championship contention six weeks out from the playoffs.
Mansbridge said he was "stoked" for Penney, who had carried a heavy burden to lift the team.
"When he's seeing people struggle, that impacts him," Mansbridge said. "He's much more sensitive than the grumpy old b***** you see sometimes."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Tennis-Alcaraz beats Lehecka in Queen's final to send Wimbledon statement
Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 22, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his final match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra LONDON (Reuters) -Top seed Carlos Alcaraz edged powerful Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-7(5) 6-2 to claim his second Queen's Club title and send out a powerful statement ahead of his Wimbledon defence on Sunday. Spaniard Alcaraz, who triumphed at Queen's a few weeks before claiming his first Wimbledon title in 2023, extended his winning streak to 18 matches but was pushed hard by Lehecka who underlined his own credentials as a rising force. Alcaraz, 22, pounced at 5-5 to break the Lehecka serve and duly bagged the opening set in 45 minutes. Lehecka, bidding to become the first Czech to win the Queen's title since Ivan Lendl in 1990, continued going toe-to-toe with the five-times Grand Slam champion and edged the second set tie-break with some clinical tennis. Alcaraz had more in his locker though and forged 4-1 ahead in the decider as Lehecka's level finally began to drop on a breezy Andy Murray Arena in west London. He then broke the 23-year-old Lehecka's serve again to complete victory, letting out a roar of a delight as Lehecka struck a backhand into the net. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Alcaraz beats Lehecka in Queen's final to send Wimbledon statement
LONDON: Top seed Carlos Alcaraz edged powerful Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-7(5) 6-2 to claim his second Queen's Club title and send out a powerful statement ahead of his Wimbledon defence on Sunday. Spaniard Alcaraz, who triumphed at Queen's a few weeks before claiming his first Wimbledon title in 2023, extended his winning streak to 18 matches but was pushed hard by Lehecka who underlined his own credentials as a rising force. Alcaraz, 22, pounced at 5-5 to break the Lehecka serve and duly bagged the opening set in 45 minutes. Lehecka, bidding to become the first Czech to win the Queen's title since Ivan Lendl in 1990, continued going toe-to-toe with the five-times Grand Slam champion and edged the second set tie-break with some clinical tennis. Alcaraz had more in his locker though and forged 4-1 ahead in the decider as Lehecka's level finally began to drop on a breezy Andy Murray Arena in west London. He then broke the 23-year-old Lehecka's serve again to complete victory, letting out a roar of a delight as Lehecka struck a backhand into the net. — REUTERS
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Tennis-Bublik produces masterclass to beat Medvedev in Halle final
Tennis - Halle Open - OWL Arena, Halle, Germany - June 22, 2025 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during the final against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler (Reuters) -Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik beat Daniil Medvedev for the first time in his career to claim the Halle title on Sunday, winning 6-3 7-6(4) to continue his resurgence. Bublik had lost his previous six meetings against Russian Medvedev, winning only one set in the process, but produced a superb exhibition of grass-court tennis to end that streak. Former world number one Medvedev has now lost his last six Tour-level finals. So often the showman, Bublik showed his new maturity with a calm display in the final as he continued the form that saw him beat world number one Jannik Sinner in the last 16 this week. He broke the Medvedev serve in the eighth game of the first set and then held his own with ease to move ahead. Medvedev had a set point when Bublik served at 4-5 in the second set but could do nothing as his wily opponent feathered a delicate drop shot from behind the baseline. Third seed Medvedev then led 4-1 in the tiebreaker but the unseeded Bublik stormed back to complete a memorable week. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)
