Warriors, Blues, England, Scott Robertson, Netball, Black Caps. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Things are ramping up in June - we've got the business end of Super Rugby Pacific closely followed by an All Black squad announcement. The Warriors enter a crucial period for their season, while international football and the NBA finals take centre stage.
Here's all you need to know.
Super Rugby Pacific finals
Kade Banks of the Blues celebrates his try with team. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
For everyone complaining about the overly generous playoff system, good news. This almost certainly will be the last time it happens, given the news of the Melbourne Rebels being wound up at the end of the season.
Ironically, they'll feature in this year's quarterfinals, but we're looking at a trip to either Eden Park or Sky Stadium for the final on 22 June.
All Black squad announcement
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson during a media interview at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland on Tuesday 9 January 2024. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
All eyes will then turn to Sumner rugby club on 24 June, when Scott Robertson unveils his first-ever All Black side. Will he stick with his Crusaders players after their awful season, or ring the changes and give the side a fresh new look?
Warriors' Origin period
Warriors players celebrate their win following the NRL Round 11 match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt/ Photosport) Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
The Wahs head to Townsville before returning to two sold-out Mt Smart crowds for a huge match against the Storm and Broncos. Sandwiched in between those is a chance for revenge against the Titans on the GC, in what is generally regarded as a home game anyway. Meanwhile, New South Wales and Queensland go into battle in Sydney next Wednesday in what will be another big Origin series.
European Championship
England's Jack Grealish celebrates, Photo: Han Yan/Photosport
Football's coming home... and by home, we mean to the country that's won the most combined World Cup and Euro Championships. Germany is the destination for the best of Europe, and the hosts are coming in with a point to prove after getting bounced out of the pool stage in Qatar. All eyes will be on Gareth Southgate's England, can they go one better than their dramatic final loss in 2021? The championship starts on 15 June.
ANZ Premiership Netball
26.05.2024 Steel's Kate Heffernan and Mystics Tayla Earle in action during the Steel v Mystics ANZ Premiership netball match at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin. Photo Credit ©Michael Bradley Photo: Michael Bradley
The Tactix and Pulse currently sit atop the table but there's still plenty of the netball season to go. The real question is at the other end of the table, where the Stars somehow have not won a game so far. If they can break their duck early in June there is a chance they can salvage something from what's turning into a nightmare campaign.
UFC 302
The UFC octagon. Photo: photosport
The UFC Lightweight Championship is on the line between current champion Islam Makhachev and former interim champion Dustin Poirier on 2 June. They headline the event alongside Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa for the middleweight title.
T20 World Cup
New Zealand's Mark Chapman plays a shot during the Twenty20 international cricket series against Pakistan, 2024. Photo: AFP
Can cricket take over America? That's the big question, alongside whether the Black Caps can continue their impressive run at tournaments and go deep in the smash and bash format. They certainly should make it through their group, which includes Papua New Guinea and Uganda, so we might see a few records getting broken along the way. The tournament starts on 2 June.
NBA finals
Derrick White (L) and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics react after defeating the Miami Heat 104-103 in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals. Photo: AFP
The Boston Celtics are seemingly unstoppable this season and made short work of their Eastern Conference play-off series against the Indiana Pacers, winning in a 4-0 sweep. They will head into the best-of-seven finals series as favourites against the Dallas Mavericks. The finals start on 7 June.
