Remember those adidas advertisements with the All Blacks looking tough and menacing. Well the New Zealanders' reputations as the hard men of world rugby might take a bit of a buffeting with the revelation that Hurricanes centre Ma'a Nonu wears eye make-up during matches.

Eyeliner is eye-opener

Associated Press reported that Nonu told a television interviewer that he had recently begun wearing dark eyeliner in major games and would continue to do so on New Zealand's tour to Europe. The Wellington player said his team-mates gave him "some grief" over the habit, but he was undeterred and would continue making a personal fashion statement. One can only imagine the grief that his team-mates were giving him.

Nonu said he had always tried to express his personality on the field. He began by wearing dreadlocks and, when that became common among New Zealand players, experimented with various hair colours.

Using dark eyeliner, which he applies in the dressing room before games, was novel but might catch on with other players, Nonu said.

It's possible to picture the scene in the dressing-room as the team warms up in traditional rugby style while Nonu is over at the mirror applying his eyeliner. An individual he certainly is.

New Zealand play Italy, Wales and France, as well as a match against the Barbarians on their Northern Hemisphere tour this month.

Winging way south

It appears that those who hoped to see Brian Carney play rugby union may not have their ambitions realised. The Irish-born Wigan and Britain rugby league wing - he scored against Australia last week - was coveted by both Munster and Leinster with the former even trying to broker a deal. They were willing to stump up half his salary if the IRFU would provide the other half.

The union is believed to have baulked at that arrangement because he would also have had to be bought out of his Wigan contract. The Clongowes-educated Carney is one of the top wings in rugby league and despite being hampered by injury this season was still selected for the Britain team for the Tri-Nations series that is currently being played.

The whisper from across the Irish Sea is that Carney will be heading for Australia next season and a lucrative contract with a rugby league team there.

Courting popularity

It's interesting to note that relations between the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) have improved considerably now that former ARU chief executive John O'Neill has gone.

The two bodies enjoyed a lock-down three-day summit over the weekend which it is hoped will herald a new level of co-operation. Goodwill between the two is reported to be at an all-time high - well at least according to the press release.

Under the O'Neill regime, the two bodies found themselves in court over player rights. New ARU chief executive Gary Flowers says the need for a more mature approach to negotiations was clear, coming into the meeting.

"It is in the best interests of the players and the management alike to get our heads together and finalise the agreement quickly," Flowers said.

Likewise, RUPA chief Tony Dempsey says the lock-in helps avoid unnecessary and upsetting conflict. "There have been significant issues emerging in the employment of players in professional rugby over the course of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (2001 to 2004) that need urgent address," Dempsey said.

He added, "we are confident that the ARU is aware of these and that it shares RUPA's desire to provide meaningful constructive solutions."

States of the union

It appears that rugby union in US High Schools is enjoying newfound popularity. Having initially been introduced in 1975 it grew to about 5,000 players in 2000 but in the last four years that number has accelerated to 17,000 players. It has meant that USA Rugby has had to completely revamp the stucture around the underage game. The American national side will play Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week.

Lions won't sweat it

Adidas have developed a new shirt for the Lions squad that will play 11 matches in New Zealand next summer (it'll be winter in New Zealand). The new jersey aims to minimise the impact of the cold conditions by drawing moisture away from the skin and stopping it becoming heavy and waterlogged when wet. It will use the ClimaCool system which has mesh panels over the areas that tend to heat up during play. This should enable players to maintain a constant body temperature. The company developed the shirt after recreating a range of weather conditions using environmental and climatic chambers, infrared and wind tunnels.

Youth gets super reward It's interesting to note several of the New Zealand team that beat Ireland in the Under-21 World Cup final during the summer have been awarded Super 12 contracts. One outstanding prospect is centre Luke McAlister who has been contracted to the Auckland Blues franchise.

Amongst the other underage stars to make the grade are flying wing Rudi Wulf, outhalf Stephen Donald and points scoring winger cum place-kicker Tony Koonwaiyou.

McCullen honoured

Wing forward, Aidan McCullen has been voted by fans as the Leinster Player of the Month for October. McCullen has put in consistently strong performances so far this season and beat off worthy challenges from team-mates Denis Hickie, Victor Costello and Des Dillon.