Auckland needs sporting events. As many as possible. As big and flash and shiny as they come.

The oft rumoured State of Origin has been teasing the populace for many a year. Rumours are still thick on the ground; this time it’s thought that the announcement will be as early as this month. Great if it happens, but it will be a one off I’d suggest, great for a stellar tourist weekend for the 09, but not the long term locked down major sporting event the city yearns for.

We have the ASB Classic. An annual tennis-fest to be proud of, long may it be a staple of the summer.

The annual All Black fixture at Eden Park.

Then crickets.

The insects, not the test version which the city is incapable of hosting. It’s hardly big or shiny either right?

I’m not sure it’s sport, but the hugely popular Black Clash cricket sportainment event is in the Bay.

No big motorsport event in AK, although there were attempts at bringing Formula E here, but that got quashed before it had a chance to plug in. Supercars? Taupo and Christchurch. The World Rally Championship has been and gone; it is now a rarely realised pipe dream.

Sevens rugby is long dead. Aotearoa’s major golf tournament is in Queenstown.

PDC darts? At least we’ve pinched that back from the Tron. Surfing’s World League? Raglan.

No America’s Cup, thanks Grant.

All of this points to one thing, the Auckland leg of the Sail GP.

If the government and Auckland city don’t fight tooth and nail to keep this rapidly expanding global event here on the sparkling Waitemata, somebody will need to get in the sea. These opportunities to host a major sporting event like this as a rare as a summer without poo on our beaches.

Secure it and secure it long term.

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Sail GP is in full swing this weekend at the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland with 12 teams from across the world competing.

In last year's edition of the competition the Great Britain team took home the glory winning the competition. Hannah Mills was part of that team as the strategist. She joined D'Arcy to discuss the weekends action.

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The Super Rugby season is officially underway with the first two games happening last night. The Highlanders edged past the Crusaders in a thriller 25-23 while the Waratahs put on a dominant performance against the Reds 36-12

There's a three game slate this evening but we are going to look at the prime time match happening between the Blues and the Chiefs at Eden Park tonight.

Both teams will be wanting to make a statement to begin the season and get their campaigns underway with a victory.

Zarn Sullivan is the fullback for the Blues, and he joined D'Arcy to discuss the match.

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The Sail GP buildup continues as the second round of the competition gets underway today in the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland.

Melanie Roberts is the race director. She has been managing all of the events since it began in 2019. She joined D'Arcy to discuss what she has seen change and evolve throughout her time, what conditions are looking like for this weekend and what is the most difficult part of being the manager.

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Tomorrow afternoon there is a huge game going down at FMG Stadium in Waikato, the NRL All Star Game. The game is competed between the Maori All Stars and the Indigenous All Stars.

Briton Nikora is a second rower for the Maori All Stars and he joined D'Arcy to discuss the match.

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A huge multisport event got underway this morning in the South Island the iconic Coast to Coast race. The race spans 243km beginning at Kumara Beach on the West Coast and finishes at New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.

Hamish Elliot is competing at the event, he won in 2024 and was a runner up in 2025. Hamish joined D'Arcy to discuss the race.

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It's a big weekend in Auckland this weekend with the second round of the 2026 Sail GP season taking place in the Waitemata harbour over the weekend. 12 teams from across the globe have descended on Auckland for what's set to be an exciting weekend of racing.

D'Arcy kicked off the show at the event by chatting with Blair Tuke. He is the co-CEO and wing trimmer for the New Zealand team named the Black Foils and they discussed the event and what it means for the New Zealand team to be competing after the disaster in Perth a few weeks ago.

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A major athletics meet is taking place tomorrow in Auckland – the Sir Graeme Douglas International.

The meet covers a wide range of track and field events, attracting competitors from across the country, including Paralympian Anna Grimaldi.

She won a gold and a bronze at the Paris Olympics, in the 200m and 100m respectively, and will be competing tomorrow in the para women’s 100m.

Grimaldi joined D’Arcy to preview the event.

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