Simon Mannering made New Zealand captain

Simon Mannering has been appointed as New Zealand's new captain. The 26-year-old centre or second rower is the successor to Benji Marshall, who was stripped of the captaincy by coach Stephen Kearney.

Mannering will lead the Kiwis in a one-off Test against Australia in April and the World Cup, which will be held in the United Kingdom and France in the autumn. Kearney said: "He was the logical choice to step up as captain."