Africa. New Zealand came last with no wins and only 2 bonus points Ranfurly Shield - Waikato held the shield all season, beating Poverty Bay 121–0, King Country 76–0, Bay of Plenty 25–18, Auckland 24–23, Southland 95–7, Nth Harbour 39–22, Northland 63–22, and Canterbury 29-23 Shooting Ballinger Belt – Mike Collings (Te Puke) Soccer The second National Summer Soccer League was won by Napier City Rovers The New Zealand national soccer team won the OFC Nations Cup tournament held in Australia, beating the host nation 2–0 in the final. The Chatham Cup is won by Central United who beat Dunedin Technical 5–0 in the final. New Zealand U-16 team coached by Wynton Rufer travels to unofficial U-16 World Cup in France to coincide with 1998 FIFA World Cup. Achieve mixed results (0-3 v Italy, 0-2 v Cameroon, 1-1 v Austria, 0-1 v USA, 0-1 v Israel, 1-0 v Norway) Births January–March 6 January – Eleanor Epke, squash player 11 January – Thomas Mikaele, rugby league player 25 January – Sione Havili, rugby union player 4 February – Tevita Mafileo, rugby union player 5 February – Tai Wynyard, basketballer 6 February – Hayden Phillips, field hockey player 11 February – Ben Sears, cricketer 20 February Emma Cumming, racing cyclist Nicole Fujita, model and tarento 24 February – Will Jordan, rugby union player 3 March – Sione Asi, rugby union player 4 March – Tom Christie, rugby union player 28 March – James Fouché, racing cyclist April–June 2 April – Sam Fischli, rugby union player 5 April – Michaela Drummond, racing cyclist 9 April – James McGarry, association footballer 13 April – Paige Satchell, association footballer 17 April – Vilimoni Koroi, rugby union player 18 April – Liana Dance, water polo player 21 April – Jackson Wells, freestyle skier 29 April – Fraser Sheat, cricketer 30 April – Liam Wood, association footballer 4 May – Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, rugby union player 7 May – Jess Watkin, cricketer 12 May – Campbell Stewart, racing cyclist 18 May – Brianna Fruean, environmental activist 28 May – Logan Rogerson, association footballer 16 June – Tanielu Tele’a, rugby union player 19 June Ali Galyer, swimmer Harry Plummer, rugby union player July–September 6 July – Ma'ava Ave, cricketer 9 July – Mikayla Harvey, racing cyclist 12 July – Hoskins Sotutu, rugby union player 15 July – Nathan Smith, cricketer 18 July – Ella Harris, racing cyclist 1 August