Blog
Company Update - 8 September, 2023
Cricket lovers, get ready to be bowled over! We've just received a fresh shipment of cricket gear from some of the most trusted brands in the game. Gray-Nicolls, Kookaburra, Gunn & Moore, and SG have all landed at Players Sports, offering you the best kit to dominate the pitch this season. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we've got the gear to elevate your game.
Football boot sales are still going strong, with ASICS Menace 4 boots leading the way, especially for touch rugby enthusiasts. These boots offer the perfect blend of comfort, support, and agility, ensuring you stay ahead of the competition on the field. Don't miss out on the opportunity to upgrade your footwear this season!
Tennis clubs are gearing up for action too! Our tennis pro shop at Scarbro Tennis Centre is bustling with players eager to stock up on Wilson tennis balls. The courts at Scarbro Tennis Centre are buzzing with energy as tennis enthusiasts eagerly await the summer season.
Summer is just around the corner, and at Players Sports, we can't wait to join you in the excitement. Stay tuned for more updates, special offers, and expert tips to make this season your best one yet.
New Stock Announcement - 28 June, 2023
Exciting news for All Blacks’ fans! We are thrilled to announce the arrival and availability, both in-store and online, of the highly anticipated adidas All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2023 jersey at Players Sports. Whether you're an adult or have a young rugby fanatic in the family, we have sizes for everyone.
This extraordinary jersey not only represents the iconic All Blacks but also pays homage to the host country, France, with stunning hand-drawn French ferns by visionary Parisian artist Fey The Wolf.
The All Blacks tournament jersey for Rugby World Cup 2023 showcases exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. The intricate hand-drawn French ferns bring a touch of elegance and symbolism to the design. It is a fusion of the rich rugby heritage of New Zealand and the artistic finesse of France, making it a truly remarkable piece.
We have something special in store for our early customers! The first 200 online shoppers to purchase an adidas All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2023 jersey will receive a complimentary rugby ball with their delivery.
Make your jersey even more special by personalising it with a name and preferred number. During the checkout process, you have the option to add that personal touch, turning your jersey into a unique and cherished keepsake.
Get ready to support the All Blacks in style and embrace the excitement of Rugby World Cup 2023! Shop the current range here.
New Brand Announcement - 29 May, 2023
We are thrilled to announce the arrival of HOKA running shoes in-store and online this week. Get ready to elevate your running experience with a wide selection of men's and women's models, including the highly coveted Bondi, Clifton, Torrent, and Speedgoat styles. HOKA, driven by innovation and a relentless passion for movement, empowers athletes of all backgrounds to fearlessly push their limits.
At Players Sports, we share HOKA's commitment to amplifying voices and providing access to running, walking, fitness, and the great outdoors. We firmly believe that every individual has an inner athlete waiting to be unleashed, and we are here to support you throughout your journey. Experience the unrivalled comfort and performance that HOKA running shoes are known for.
Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting your fitness journey, HOKA's cutting-edge technology and superior cushioning will revolutionise your running experience. Embrace the "always-on" mindset and defy expectations with HOKA's bold and unexpected solutions. Join the HOKA community of athletes who strive to achieve greatness and redefine what's possible. Visit us in-store or browse the current range online here and embark on a transformative running adventure with HOKA. Your potential awaits!
New Brand Announcements - 2 May, 2023
This week, we are proud to announce that we've just received new stock of some amazing sports apparel from two of the biggest names in the game – Mitchell & Ness and Majestic. That's right, we've got the hottest gear from the NFL, NBA, and NHL in-store and online, and we can't wait to share it with you.
At Players Sports, we pride ourselves on offering the best selection of sports gear and apparel in New Zealand, and we're thrilled to be adding these two iconic brands to our line-up. With Mitchell & Ness and Majestic, you can be sure that you're getting top-quality, on trend apparel that is designed to help you look and feel your best.
Let's start with Mitchell & Ness. Founded in 1904, this iconic brand has been a staple of the sports world for over a century. From their vintage-inspired jerseys to their stylish snapback hats, Mitchell & Ness is all about classic style and timeless appeal. And now, you can get your hands on their latest range of gear right here.
Majestic is known for its high-quality, performance-driven gear that is designed to help athletes perform at their best. Whether you're hitting the field for a game of football or practicing your jump shot on the basketball court, Majestic has got the gear you need to look your best. Shop the current range here.
Company Update - 29 March, 2023
In the last few weeks, we've been seeing some incredible sales on a few of our favourite products. Firstly, we're thrilled to announce the arrival of ASICS netball shoes and football boots. This footwear is flying off the shelves, with our customers raving about their comfort and durability. If you're looking to up your game on the court or the field, these shoes are worth checking out.
But it's not just our large footwear range that is proving popular. We're also seeing excellent demand for squash and badminton rackets. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, we've got a great selection of rackets to choose from.
One product that's been especially popular lately is our Grip Star grip socks. These socks feature grippy panels on the sole that reduce slippage inside the shoe without compromising on style or comfort, and our customers can't get enough of them.
We recently hosted the Yonex String Tour at our Scarbro Tennis Centre pro shop. It was an incredible opportunity for Auckland tennis players and fans to learn from some of the best in the business. On behalf of the Players Sports’ tennis pro shop team, we want to give a huge shoutout to the Yonex Tennis crew for making it happen.
Finally, we're thrilled to report that winter sports sales in general are building nicely. Whether you're into rugby, hockey, or rugby league, we've got everything you need to make the most of the colder months.
New Stock Announcement - 19 February, 2023
Crazy Catch rebound nets are back in stock, and we are thrilled to announce the New Zealand release of the brand-new Double Trouble range!
Crazy Catch is the perfect training tool for anyone looking to develop their ball skills for a range of sports, including cricket, rugby, netball, hockey, basketball and football. These unique nets are specially designed to help you improve your hand-eye coordination, reaction time and overall skills in a fun and engaging way.
With the new Double Trouble range, Crazy Catch is getting crazier! These nets feature one side designed for unpredictable small ball rebound, perfect for sports like cricket, hockey and tennis. The other side is designed for unpredictable large ball rebound, making it ideal for sports like football, basketball, rugby and netball.
The Double Trouble range is available in three models/sizes: Wild Child 2.0, Professional 2.0 and Upstart 2.0. So, whether you're an athlete looking to take your game to the next level or a parent looking to help your child develop their ball skills, there is a Crazy Catch that is perfect for you.
But Crazy Catch isn't just for sports people. These nets can also be used in fitness drills to help improve your agility, coordination and reflexes. So, if you're looking to mix up your fitness routine, or if you simply want to have some fun while working out, a Crazy Catch could be a great tool for you.
Shop the Crazy Catch range here.
Company Update - 31 January, 2023
2023 is off to a flyer with heaps of new product drops to report!
The winter sport pre-season seemingly gets earlier and earlier every year, so it’s a good thing the first deliveries of football boots, rugby boots, hockey sticks, netball shoes and winter code balls have landed in our Auckland warehouse.
Brand wise we are picking PUMA to see some big growth this winter. Their new football boots and netball shoes look slick, and the revamped One Warriors NRL supporters’ gear is already gathering sales momentum in-store and online.
Club and school funding quotes and orders are on the rise as well with administrators evidently preparing for a big year of sport.
Lastly, make sure you are following us on Instagram (@PlayersSportsNZ). Our incredible suppliers have provided us a stack of free product to giveaway to our loyal customers. Every week we run an easy to enter competition on Instagram, and every week we are giving away hundreds of dollars’ worth of free gear. Get in on it!
Company Update - 1 December, 2022
Summer is here and with it the pre-Christmas hustle!
Black Friday week was hectic, and the shop, warehouse and customer service teams really stood up.
With several new staff members, the experienced ones in the group led from the front and the result was happy customers.
The warehouse at our Onehunga HQ was reconfigured in November to allow for more pickfaces to speed up our online order fulfilment. This should be evident immediately!
Another big update is our new website homepage. If you’re reading this, you’ve no doubt seen it already – we love how it maintains our integrity as a sports specialist whilst making it super easy to navigate between sports and categories with the new mega menu.
Lastly, you can now chat with us via Facebook Messenger while browsing the website. Tap the icon and hit us up!
RSM in Real Time: Players Sports Case Study - 10 October, 2022
Our accounting partners RSM New Zealand produced this 3-part short video series on us. The series highlights our people and business origins and provides an insight to our day-to-day.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
New Brand Announcements - 13 September, 2022
You can now buy Crep Protect and Sport-Brella products at Players Sports.
Crep Protect is the world’s leading sneaker care brand underpinned by its flagship product Crep Protect spray. Spray your sports shoes and boots to repel water, protect them from stains and prolong their life. Shop the Crep Protect range here.
If you find yourself watching cricket for extended periods of time, you should have a shelter on hand. A specialised Sport-Brella umbrella can be the protection you need from the sun, wind and rain. Shop the Sport-Brella range here.
Beyond the Field Podcast Featuring Mike Wood - 6 September, 2022
Listen to Mike's episode on the Beyond the Field Podcast to find out more about the origins of Players Sports. They touch on Mike’s background, family, Players Sports, and his take on retail generally. Amongst other things! Enjoy.
Cricket Bat Preparation Update - 22 August, 2022
With the new season cricket stock arriving we’re starting to see customers coming in for cricket gear, especially bats.
There have been a few updates to the brands’ recommendations for 'knocking in' this season’s ranges. Here’s what you need to know -
Most English willow cricket bats need to be knocked in before use, but there are Gray-Nicolls and Gunn & Moore models this year that have been pre-prepared in their bat factories. These models will not require a knocking in and can be taken and used on the same day.
This innovation from Gray-Nicolls is called ‘PLAY NOW’.
PLAY NOW bats have been pre-prepared (pressed, oiled and hand knocked in by Gray-Nicolls) and are ready to be used straight off the shelf. For best results however, you should use against an older ball in the nets before heading into a game against a new ball.
It’s a little confusing but there are also Gray-Nicolls bats that have 'Ready Play' on the sticker, but 'Ready Play' models will still need to be properly knocked in before use. Shop the full Gray-Nicolls range here.
With Gunn & Moore, ‘GM NOW’ marked bats have been very lightly oiled and pre-knocked in by hand in the Gunn & Moore factory in Nottingham, England.
All the new 2022 Gunn & Moore range bats (Diamond, Icon, Prima and Sparq) have ‘GM NOW’ and are ready to be used. Again, we would still highly recommend you use these bats against an older ball in the nets before facing fast bowlers with a new ball. Shop the Gunn & Moore range here.
For the avoidance of doubt all other bat models and brands we stock are required to be properly knocked in (either by us or you!) before they are used. Check out our Workshop Services here.
New Stock Announcement - 5 August, 2022
It’s slightly later than hoped (due to supply chain issues with the brands) but new 2022/23 season cricket and tennis gear is starting to arrive in earnest this week.
The crew in the warehouse have been feverishly ticking off adidas cricket shoes, and Gray-Nicolls and Kookaburra cricket accessories and apparel; plus, we have just placed an order for a whack of New Balance cricket bats, batting pads, batting gloves and wheelie bags at clearance prices which will arrive next week (from 8 August). The cricket fanatics will love these! Shop the current cricket range here.
On the tennis side we have taken delivery of heaps of HEAD, Wilson and Babolat rackets, shoes and bags this week. Plenty of this tennis stock will be transferred to our Scarbro Tennis Centre pro shop which come the end of August will be stacked with new product for the September pre-season rush. Shop the current tennis racket range here.
Coming Soon Announcement - 29 July, 2022
Players Sports’ staff members (and massive football fans!) Jack, Liam, Ben and Josh are frothing at the imminent arrival of the adidas Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Wales, Japan, Northern Ireland and Belgium home jerseys ahead of the stacked next few months of international soccer action.
Including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 which many of these teams will qualify for. Shop the current range here.
New Stock Announcement - 25 July, 2022
Our indoor court footwear range just got even better!
This week we took delivery of the latest Yonex badminton shoes. Plus, ASICS volleyball shoes.
New badminton models include the Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion Z , Yonex Power Cushion 88 Dial and Yonex Power Cushion 88 Dial (Wide). All Yonex shoes are highly regarded in the New Zealand badminton community; we are very pleased to have these available in store and online.
The new ASICS Gel-Rocket 10 court shoe is ideal for volleyball (as well as squash and badminton). Available now in men’s and women’s styles these are sure to be popular.
Company Update - 19 July, 2022
Despite the cooler temperatures outside things are heating up at Players Sports!
Recently we welcomed seven new staff members to the Players’ team. Cole, Josh H, Josh O, Liam and Jack at our Onehunga, Auckland headquarters, and Tristan and Sofia joined the starting line up at our Scarbro Tennis Centre pro shop.
It’s always awesome to get new people on board and this crew has hit the ground running. Watch out for the fresh faces in store.
Winter sport is in full swing with ASICS and adidas rugby boots copping some serious heat, alongside netball shoes, whilst Yonex badminton rackets and HEAD squash rackets continue to thrive. Nike football boots haven’t stayed in stock long this winter either, but that’s the norm!
On the club and school supplies front we have seen a solid increase in quotes for balls lately. Especially Gilbert rugby balls and netballs, Wilson NBA basketballs, Steeden rugby league balls and Molten volleyballs.
The latest cricket gear from Gray-Nicolls, Kookaburra, Gunn & Moore, Masuri and New Balance is starting to arrive in our warehouse. There have been global supply chain issues in play this year impacting on deliveries so hopefully this is a sign these dramas will mostly be a thing of the past. Fingers crossed!
In any case you can pre-order your cricket kit online so browse the 2022/23 ranges and add your favourites to the cart. The Kookaburra Beast bat is back this summer and already proving popular, plus it’s always hard to walk past any new Gray-Nicolls model release and the Nova, Vapour and Supra bats are no exception to this. Gunn & Moore has come to the party with the new Prima and Sparq bat models alongside a revamped Diamond.
Tennis players you should be excited as well. We know the Tennis Auckland community is buzzing to get some interclub play in pre-Christmas this season after the COVID-19 interruptions last year. Our warehouse is stocked up with the Wilson US Open tennis balls the clubs and schools need to start on time in 2022.
Finally, make sure you are following us on Instagram (@PlayersSportsNZ). Our amazing suppliers have provided us a whack of free product to giveaway to our loyal customers. Every week we run an easy to enter competition on Instagram, and every week we are giving away hundreds of dollars’ worth of free gear. Get in on it!
New Sport Announcement - 10 May, 2022
Pickleball has arrived at Players Sports!
Pickleball is a fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. You can play doubles or singles and the sport is enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.
This relatively new sport is taking the world by storm and the growth in New Zealand is huge.
We are pleased to launch the sport on Players Rackets and Players Club & School this month in collaboration with HEAD and Franklin.
Check out the current range here, and watch out for more pickleball paddles, balls and accessories being added soon.
New Brand Announcement - 13 April, 2022
You can now buy a wide range of SKLZ sports equipment at Players Sports!
SKLZ is a high-end American sports brand highly regarded for its quality training and performance enhancement products.
Shop the full current range here. Football players, basketball players and softball/baseball players should be especially excited to check it out.
Sport specific SKLZ gear can be found on Players Football and Players Basketball, and offered in full on Players Club & School.