Battle for the soul of New Zealand rugby after its year of off-field shame | Eleanor Ainge Roy

The sex scandals and violence that have beset Kiwi rugby union in 2016 have led to ever louder calls for a shift in the culture of the national gameIt has been the best of seasons and the worst of seasons. The All Blacks have charged through on an astonishing winning streak, victorious for 18 Test matches. Some have even heralded the team as the best ever seen, only brought low last Saturday by a surprise loss to Ireland.But it has also been the worst of times, with New Zealanders’ devotion to their national sport wavering as disturbing sexual and violent incidents involving players at every l…