Podcasts about Super Rugby

Bryn Hall is heading back to Super Rugby — and in 2027 he'll be wearing Hurricanes colours.Bryn explains why the Canes became the right destination, what attracted him to the way they play, and why returning to New Zealand rugby appealed after his time in Japan. Chapters(00:00) Bryn Hall is a Hurricane(00:33) Why Bryn chose the Canes(01:16) What attracted him to Wellington(01:35) The Hurricanes coaching group(02:19) Bryn's role in the squad(03:33) Why his body feels ready for Super Rugby(04:51) When does he start learning the attack?(05:35) Who Bryn spoke to before signing(06:31) Moving to Wellington(07:19) A message for Canes fansCatch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All Blacks squad is named tomorrow — and one of the biggest questions is whether Dave Rennie can find room for Leicester Fainga'anuku AND Timoci Tavatavanawai.With injuries reshaping the Bledisloe Cup picture, Bryn Hall, James Parsons and Ross Karl discuss whether Shannon Frizell has done enough to force his way back into the mix — and if this is the moment for the All Blacks to take a few risks.The boys also discuss Ardie Savea's Super Rugby future and what the All Blacks loose forward mix could look like without him.NOTE: This episode was recorded before Australia v South Africa.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran break down one of the most extraordinary Test matches ever seen, with Australia defeating South Africa 42-38. They analyse some sparkling Wallabies play, ponder the Springboks' much-changed lineup, but not before they tear shreds off the TMO shambles for which the game will be remembered. They also look ahead to the Bledisloe Cup, discuss the Wallaroos' win over Scotland, and then update the latest Super Rugby news after New Zealand's "Rugby summit". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Murky times ahead for New Zealand Rugby, with the organisation facing a projected $66 million loss over the next five years. Their financial woes led to the major summit earlier this week, in which they looked at the forecast and potential roadmaps for the future. Former Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee told Piney it's a really complicated environment to tackle. He says both Super Rugby and the NPC are really good competitions on their own, there just needs to be some innovation because it won't be sustainable going ahead. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Agenda Podcast, ACC Head G Lane is joined by Tony Lyall, who has had his love of defacing political billboards blow up in his face (00:00). Next up, Ardie Savea has dropped some hints about where his Super Rugby future lies, and we try to connect the dots (05:35), Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is finally locked in, and we're pretty sure we know what date it's happening (16:00), and we catch up with Black Cap Adam Mine ahead of the India series (17:10)! Finally, it's your takes in 'Yours Please' and it's time to get raw and vulnerable (41:00)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Thursday's Rugby Daily, with Cameron Hill.Coming up, Gerry Thornley is not happy that the domestic season is only kicking off this weekend.James Tracy's dream pick for the next Leinster head coach,And could New Zealand Rugby scrap their Super Rugby sides to secure their financial future?Rugby on Off The Ball with Bank of Ireland | #NeverStopCompeting

Today in Wellington, representatives from the five Super Rugby clubs, 26 provincial unions, NZ Maori Rugby Board and the Pasifika Rugby Council are coming together for a "Rugby Summit". Why? Well, it seems NZ Rugby has money troubles - it is carrying a structural debt of around $20 million a year, and current projections show it'll continue to lose a combined $66 million across 2027-2030. RNZ's sport journalist Joe Porter joins Jesse to explain what's going on.

On today's Agenda Podcast, ACC Head G Lane and Tony Lyall are joined by Matt Heath, and he simply cannot wait to get into Matt Heath's F1 Corner (00:00). Next up, we debrief about our chat with Sir John Kirwan, who really is a great New Zealander (13:40), get into the weeds on what we think needs to change to save rugby forever (28:30), and take a look at the Black Caps squad named to face India, without Rachin after his freak accident (41:45). Finally it's 'Yours Please', and after picking apart the movie 'The Odyssey' we go on an odyssey of our own (50:10)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Daniel Lienert-Brown is one of the great servants of New Zealand rugby. With 140 games for the Highlanders, 100 for Canterbury, a Super Rugby title and four NPC titles, DLB has built an incredible career through consistency, resilience and a genuine love for the game.In this episode of What a Lad, DLB opens up about the full journey — from growing up in Christchurch dreaming of one day playing for Canterbury or the Crusaders, to getting his first taste of professional rugby, receiving the call from Jamie Joseph to join the Highlanders and becoming part of their historic 2015 Super Rugby title.What stands out most is just how grateful he is for every opportunity rugby has given him. He talks about those early “pinch yourself” moments, becoming the Highlanders' most capped forward and reaching 100 games for Canterbury.DLB also opens up about the tougher side of the journey. He reflects on a time when being “the rugby player” became his identity, how that affected his life away from the game, hitting rock bottom in 2021 and how faith, family and perspective helped completely change the way he sees himself today.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…Growing up watching Canterbury and the Crusaders and dreaming of one day being there The satisfaction he got from making his dad proudGoing from working at Pak n Save to getting his first Crusaders opportunityWhat made the 2015 Highlanders side special Why Nasi Manu is the best player he played withThe role faith now plays in his lifeWhy gratitude has become such a big part of the way he approaches rugby and lifeDLB is a special man and there is no man who his more grateful for his career then this man, I know you'll enjoy this one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HUGE show today team... we talked to Dr Riley Elliott about the latest on purchasing a show shark, and we heard about the new club that Jerry has joined. Plus we're joined by Jason Pine - will NZ Rugby really drop Super Rugby? - and we try a new game called Animal Noise Thursday. Follow The Hauraki Breakfast Show on Instagram Subscribe to the podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Featuring Jeremy Wells and Manaia Stewart, "The Hauraki Breakfast" a radio show like no other weekdays from 6am on Radio Hauraki. Guaranteed to teach you bad new habits, raise your eyebrows, and make you smirk on a regular basis. News, sport & music that rocksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big changes are being propsed to both Super Rugby and the NPC - and the process starts today. We were joined by the voice of Weekend Sport on Newstalk ZB - Jason Pine! Follow The Hauraki Breakfast Show on Instagram Subscribe to the podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Featuring Jeremy Wells and Manaia Stewart, "The Hauraki Breakfast" a radio show like no other weekdays from 6am on Radio Hauraki. Guaranteed to teach you bad new habits, raise your eyebrows, and make you smirk on a regular basis. News, sport & music that rocks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of Super Rugby and the NPC are on the table today as New Zealand Rugby holds a critical summit. The organisation needs to save $20 million a year, and options include merging teams or scrapping both competitions in favour of a new eight to ten team format. Newstalk ZB's Lead Rugby Commentator Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking the issue for NZR is not revenue, as they're making enough money, they just need to trim some of the outgoing costs. He says they've developed professional game over the last thirty years, but they haven't taken away any elements or reshaped the game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So we've got rugby getting together for what they are calling a "critical summit". They don't make money, they haven't made money for years, and they're forecast to lose even more money in the future. Three starters for ten are lined up: 1) Expand Super Rugby with two new teams. 2) Continue Super Rugby and NPC but merge Super Rugby into the unions. 3) Replace both with a new 8-10 team competition. The glass half-full part of this is the fact that revenue in the past decade has doubled. The problem is the costs. So the revenue versus expenditure aspect of this seems fairly easy to address. Can you make more money? Most likely not, so you trim your cloth to meet your income. That of course comes with sacrifice and some wailing and gnashing, but in general terms business that has seen income increase but still isn't making money tends to be a bit loose at the checkout. This all goes in part of course to what they see as their core reason for being. Are they in fact a business? Are they more a collective designed to grow and see the game prosper? Is their guiding force to make money, or simply kind of break even and spread what they have about the place? It is indisputably a sad state of affairs that our national game can't make money. But they are hardly the first to face the fiscal test. Private money is an obvious answer. Some brutal decision making around what is nice to have versus what pays the way are obvious starting points. The collective nature of the place strikes me as a problem. There are too many unions, too much provincialism, too much old boy nonsense and, dare I suggest, a bit much wokery. What I know is the world is full of very successful sports and sports teams. I see a sea of clubs with growing fortunes, I see crowds, I see ticket prices, I see betting and I see so many aspects of sport actually not just growing but booming. We have to produce one sport that actually does well. Not all our sports can be on their knees. And if rugby can't turn a dollar, what can? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby are at a crossroads around what to do with their professional rugby competitions in New Zealand. They are projected to lose $66 million over the next five years and are meeting at a summit tomorrow with provincial unions, Super Rugby clubs and the Rugby Players Association to discuss the sport's future. Gregor Paul is a rugby writer for the New Zealand Herald, he joined D'Arcy to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of professional rugby is on the agenda at today's New Zealand Rugby summit. The organisation is weighing up decisions regarding the future of Super Rugby and the NPC, with an aim to cut $20 million a year in costs. Newstalk ZB's Nick Bewley told Ryan Bridge today's summit will be more a "meeting of the minds" as opposed to having any kind of vote. He says they may decide to go down a very different path, or do nothing at all, but it feels like something needs to be done since NZR is losing money. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wallabies Great Tim Horan joins the show to chat about the upcoming test between the Wallabies & Springboks later this month, How prepared are the Wallabies for this match, The Wallabies series against the Pumas, The Bledisloe Cup, Future of Super Rugby, and more!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran discuss a seismic period for New Zealand and Australian rugby, as further reports emerge about a potential move away from Super Rugby by the Kiwis. They address the looming rugby summit in New Zealand, Australia's CBA negotiations and how the game in this part of the world could be shaped over the coming weeks. They also preview the Wallabies-Springboks clash, and review a wild Wallaroos-France game and the second round of Super Rugby Aus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Agenda Podcast, Tony Lyall and James McOnie get a message from an Australian listener known only as 'The Knight Rider' (00:00)...Next up, Eden Park is officially SOLD OUT and will transform into the 'Garden of Wahden' (10:45), the full Super Rugby draw is out and James McOnie doesn't give a sh*t (36:35), and there is more high-profile cheating at golf, but who amongst us hasn't done it (39:30)?We round it out with 'Yours Please' and it seems the Hyrox lady might be the new global superstar (44:50). Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Friday Sport's Kick-off Jason Pine and Adam Cooper join Nick Mills to dissect the sports of the week, what's ahead this weekend. The All Blacks play their fourth match against the Springboks in Baltimore on Sunday morning with some swaps to Rennie's team. What do our panel make of the team naming, and are we weaker without playing South Africa in Super Rugby? And Piney's biggest match of the weekend - Warriors vs Dolphins. Piney, Coops and Nick give their predictions and debate what will be the better game Warriors or All Blacks? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now if you were to wander down to your local netball court on any given Saturday morning in winter, you would see hundreds, no matter how small the town might be, you would see hundreds, and in the biggest cities, thousands of parents and young women on the courts, on the sidelines, waiting in the queue for a park in the car park, checking to see if they're blocking a bit of your driveway as they try and desperately find a park down a side street to get to the game on time. It is our national women's game – netball's played by nearly 30,000 secondary school students and more than 60,000 juniors in New Zealand. It's the most popular participant secondary school sport for girls in New Zealand and has been for years and years and years. Moms who played netball come down to watch daughters, and sons up until secondary school, playing netball. Dads who watched the moms play netball back in the day when they were just courting are now watching daughters on the sidelines. Huge supporters. But why does that support, that love of the game, that passion for the game – because on some of those wet, cold, icy mornings, it's a lot to get up out of your warm bed and head down to the courts. All very well and good to be playing, but when you're standing shivering on the sideline, that's commitment. So why does that support, that passion and commitment not translate into being able to sustain a money-making professional league for our very, very best players? The annus horribilis of Netball New Zealand, or really, it's an anni horribiles, have been well traversed. But one of the main problems that Netball New Zealand encountered was that there just weren't enough people watching the game to support televising the league, and without high rating broadcasts, it's really hard to secure sponsorship and a long-term future for the league. Netball New Zealand will argue that viewer numbers were improving. The average live television audience for an ANZ Premiership fixture was 51,800 – a 32% increase on 2025, which means that in 2025 they were miserable numbers. But then compare that to the hundreds and thousands who watch rugby on the telly for the Super Rugby matches. The ranks of our best netballers have been gutted as Netball New Zealand worked to find a way to continue with some form of a premier competition. They just couldn't get it nailed down quickly enough, so 13 of our elite players have headed across the Tasman to play, they've been snapped up. Five are heading to the UK's Netball Superleague. If people weren't watching a competition with our very best netballers, some of the best netballers in the world, will we watch with only the up and comers? Chief executive of Netball New Zealand Jennah Wootten is confident we have the talent for a new competition. "I've been talking to a lot of former Silver Ferns and a lot of people that are deeply involved in the technical side of our sport. And I think one of the things I'm hearing from a lot of them, Mike, is yes, 18 players have signed to go offshore and we totally respect and understand why, we couldn't give them certainty early enough. But if you look at the ANZ Premiership this year, we had around 60 players in that competition. So there's actually an enormous amount that are still here. And what I'm really excited about is seeing what new talent's going to come through. You know, there'll be a whole lot of people that have been on the cusp of getting into these teams in the past. This is going to be their moment, and I reckon we're going to learn a whole lot of new names in netball that are going to be the stars of the future." Well, you hope so. And that's certainly what angel investors Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams are hoping, who are the backers of a private domestic competition as of next year. They know about sport, they know about business, they know how to get people along, they know how to drum up passion for a team, and hopefully they can do the same for this tournament. Mowbray and Williams will determine the competition format, the team structure and the season dates. And Jennah Wootten said having them come to the rescue gives the netball community clarity on the direction of travel after a lengthy period of uncertainty. But what is it that makes a sport watchable? There is no doubt that there are hundreds of thousands of people involved in netball in this country who take an interest. And they put their money where their mouth is, they travel, they get up on a Saturday morning, they take the kids to the practices, they travel from city to city too, if the kids get into the top leagues to watch the inter-sport competition. They play social netball. There's a lot of interest in the game that does not translate to eyes on screens. Why? I'll watch a sport I've never played and really enjoy it. Love watching the league, love watching the union, never played it. Really enjoy it. Love watching tennis. You'd argue that netball's more interesting than tennis on paper. But given a choice between watching the best tennis players in the world and the best netballers, I'd watch the tennis. I love watching sport. Give me a reason to watch and I'll watch it, but right now, is it the game? Is it just that it's more exciting to play than to watch? What is it? Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray are not fools. They're not going to have a passion project that doesn't see a return on investment, surely. They must believe they can get people behind netball. What would make you watch? Because I'm not one of them, and I'll watch just about any sport, but it just doesn't hold my interest and I don't know why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's not underestimate just how bold Netball New Zealand's decision is to hand control of the ANZ Premiership to private investors. To be fair, the netball bosses have probably had little choice. The sport was heading towards ruin in this country without outside help. Eighteen of our best players have signed contracts to play in overseas competitions next year. That includes almost the entire Silver Ferns squad that went to the Commonwealth Games, with the exception of just two players, one of whom has suffered an ACL injury. No broadcaster wanted to put netball on television without Netball New Zealand covering the production costs. And in a single season, Netball New Zealand lost $3.7 million simply trying to keep the engine running. This could not continue much longer. Probably not even for another year. That's why the netball bosses have likely had no real option but to let private money take over. But the fact their backs were against the wall doesn't detract from how bold this decision is. Netball is the first of our traditional sports to truly pull the trigger on handing control to private interests. You could argue rugby went first with Super Rugby, but rugby's administrators never really ceded much control. In fact, they didn't give up any meaningful control at all. You could also argue cricket got there earlier with the T20 deal announced this year. But we don't know the full details of that arrangement, if the parties themselves even do. And that competition isn't due to start until January 2028, whereas this netball deal has to be finalised within weeks. The licence will soon be handed over to Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray. It's happening. This is the beginning of the privatisation of our traditional sports. Netball has probably been forced to move first because it's in the greatest financial trouble. But that may also prove to be its silver lining. Going first means getting the money first. And not just the money. It also means gaining the commercial expertise of successful business people such as Anna Mowbray. Don't underestimate the value of that. Here's hoping it works. Frankly, it probably couldn't have gone much worse than where it was headed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right, if you were hoping the Australian media reports were right and we were finally on the cusp of seeing some really big changes to Super Rugby, like allowing players to cross borders and permitting All Blacks to play for Australian Super Rugby teams, I'm really sorry to tell you that idea has already been shot down. New Zealand Rugby is already saying it's not going to allow it to happen and has briefed news media to that effect. The problem for New Zealand Rugby, apparently, is that it's all a little bit hard for the accountants. I don't know whether you understand how it works but NZR pays a retainer to players for playing for the All Blacks, and then their Super Rugby clubs top that up. Damian McKenzie, for example, might receive a whopping $1 million retainer to play for the All Blacks, with that income then supplemented by his Super Rugby team. The question, of course, is why NZR would continue paying that really gigantic salary if he's actually in Australia playing for the Waratahs. So there would have to be some significant changes to the way players are contracted, and apparently that's all just a little bit hard. Too much paperwork. But it's a lame excuse because, if anything, it should actually take some of the financial pressure off New Zealand Rugby. If Super Rugby could become genuinely profitable, and profitable enough for the clubs to pay the lion's share of player salaries, it would work well for NZR in terms of the money it's spending. The benefits for the competition could be enormous because it could, if done properly, create a much more dynamic league. Australian teams could recruit a group of elite All Blacks and then start beating New Zealand teams, which would be very different from what we've seen year after year, with New Zealand sides dominating the playoffs in a highly predictable fashion. But this is the problem across many of our traditional sports, really: rugby, cricket and netball. The national bodies don't want to let go of control. The Super Rugby clubs are trying to force that conversation. They're the ones who commissioned the Deloitte report I've been telling you about in the past few weeks, which basically lays out the fact that Super Rugby clubs can't turn a profit. They're also holding a summit next month with NZR to try to drive some change. But clearly those changes will be, as the briefed media have described them, more of an evolution than a revolution, which means don't expect anything major. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major Super Rugby shake up is looming. New Zealand and Australian officials are discussing letting players cross the Tasman without losing test eligibility. It comes after revelations only two Kiwi franchises have been profitable without NZ Rugby support since 2019, and the NRL landing a $5.3 billion TV deal. Bruce Sharrock, Senior Rugby and NRL Agent from 'The Team', told Mike Hosking he applauds the fact that conversations seem to be happening to change the shape of the professional game. He says New Zealand is the only union he's aware of that hasn't privatised the professional game, and at the end of the day, he thinks that's where it has to head. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cricket New Zealand's books have now been opened and it's ugly in there. They've lost $7.3 million. Some of it is because they've lost the sponsor for the Super Smash. Some of it may be because they had to pay out their CEO quite a significant amount of money. And some of it is because someone in cricket thought they were going to get some broadcast revenue and were expecting it and were spending like they were going to get it, but they'd already got the money a few financial years ago. So whoopsie, they overspent. And just like in the case of netball, they have a problem figuring out how to put their sport on TV, so they're simply not going to do it. 40 of the Super Smash games will not be broadcast. Only 12 days' worth of games will be. Now, obviously, some of what's happened in the last year in cricket is as a result of incompetence and/or distraction during what was a shambolic time with the CEO departing and a board member quitting on principle over what was going on with the NZ20 privatisation debate. But some of what is going on here is a theme, as I said the other day, across all three of our traditional sports. All three of them are in trouble financially in some way. Cricket hasn't got enough money to broadcast the Super Smash. Netball hasn't got enough money to even be sure that it can hold a professional domestic competition next year. And Super Rugby has just had a report commissioned the other day that found that the Super Rugby clubs are not together profitable. Now here's my question for you. Are we now at a point where each of the governing organisations needs to let go of their sport and let the private guys come in and save the thing? For rugby, I think they may have to give more power to the private owners of the Super Rugby clubs. For netball, give Ali Williams and his wealthy friends the power to run a commercial competition. For cricket, is it the privately owned NZ20 competition? It might be a goer. Privatisation might be a goer. It might actually be the only answer because this is a pattern, isn't it? Our traditional sports are no longer making enough money, are they, to pay the bills. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uilisi Halaholo has a story so good it was one of the reasons I started this podcast. A naturally gifted player from a young age, who was heading down the wrong path to make the most of his talent. Caught up in the wrong lifestyle, drinking and getting into trouble on a regular basis.A turning point came when he became a young father ultimately forced him to change direction. He put down the bottle, transformed himself physically and decided to give rugby a genuine crack. That decision started a journey that would take him from fighting for an opportunity with the Southland Stags, to the Hurricanes, winning a Super Rugby title, moving across the world to Cardiff and eventually representing Wales.But reaching the top didn't mean the challenges stopped. Willis opens up about the criticism he received for representing Wales, devastating injuries, missing the opportunity to play against the All Blacks, losing a close family member, financial uncertainty and one of the darkest periods of his career.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…What his life as a teenager was like! Why having his daughter changed his mindset.Why the move to Southland was the best thing for himWhy he chose a contract with the Hurricanes over other offersHow he ended up on a Wider Squad contract in 2016 the year he started in the final!The decision to move to CardiffThe brutal run of injuries and juggling being a father to 5 girls How all of those highs and lows shaped the person he is todayAs you'll hear Uilisi is a lad! His story is an incredible example of how much can change when you decide to take control of your life. Plenty of laughs in this one, but also some incredibly raw and powerful moments.As always, if you enjoy the episode please give it a like, subscribe to the channel and share it with a mate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The financial vulnerability of New Zealand's five Super Rugby clubs has been outlined in a new report by Deloitte. The reports claimed all five clubs were cumulatively unprofitable across the last six years, with the Hurricanes posting two net losses of over $1 million. Hurricanes co-owner Malcolm Gillies joined Piney to examine the report's findings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The financial vulnerability of New Zealand's five Super Rugby clubs has been laid bare in a new report. Deloitte's ‘Building the Competition the Game Needs', created in conjunction with the executive teams of each club, explores the issues with the game's current model. The report highlights that each franchise has reported at least one annual net loss since 2019. NZ Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster told Piney they don't deny that it's difficult for the Super clubs to make a profit, but they do continue to see them as being attractive to private investors. He says they're not concerned about the competition, and are very focused on strengthening it and ensuring it's still here in another 30 years' time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Super Rugby team owner believes a damning report into the competition's viability is further proof a new financial structure is needed. A Deloitte document claims no franchise would have been profitable on a stand-alone basis since 2019, without New Zealand Rugby funding. Hurricanes co-owner Malcolm Gillies has been an advocate for privatisation, telling Mike Hosking they must adapt. He says they're outgrowing the model, and they have to look collectively at how they can get it to produce players of quality, but at the same time it needs to stand on its own. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 14th of August, tourism leaders are welcoming ACT's proposed alternative to a bed tax, and there's a dire new report on the state of our Super Rugby franchises. Netball NZ CEO Jennah Wootten has officially been in the job for three days and joined to discuss the latest pitch to save next year's domestic competition. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson give their thoughts on the coup that wasn't and ZB's 100th party tonight as they Wrap the Week. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Kirkpatrick was an age grade superstar who was starting Super Rugby with the Hurricanes at just 20 years old. He's a guy I always remember as being just a genuine good guy and he's had a hell of a journey both on and off the fieldIn this episode of What a Lad, Dan opens up about becoming a father at just 19 and the challenges of balancing that with professional rugby, why he decided to leave New Zealand at 23 despite still having an All Blacks dream, and the serious injuries that eventually contributed to the end of his career.Some parts that stood out for me were…- What growing up looked like for him to be school boy star- Becoming a dad at 19 while trying to establish himself in professional rugby- what it was like at the Hurricanes as a young 10- More about his decision to leave for France - How he felt walking away from his All Blacks dream- Winning the Top 14 with Castres as massive underdogs- The concussion and neck injury that impacted the back end of his career- His transition out of rugby and into business- Building @hiit_crew_auckland and a new community after rugby.And heaps more! Dan's another great example of how everyone's journey is different and how important it is to enjoy the path you take and tackle whatever challenges come at you with a positive mindset. I really enjoyed this one and I'm sure you will too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A proposed Christchurch-based rugby league team has made an audacious play for the services of former All Blacks coach Scott 'Razor' Robertson. The Southern Orcas hope to enter the Australian NRL in 2029 and want to do so under the leadership of the coach who guided the Crusaders to seven Super Rugby titles. Southern Orcas president Sir Graham Lowe spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Kurt Eklund has one of the most unique journeys in New Zealand rugby. A Super Rugby champion, Māori All Blacks captain and one of the most respected hookers in the country, Kurt's path to the top was anything but conventional.He spent eight years working as a builder, and admits he never thought professional rugby was a realistic goal. After only starting two games for Auckland across four seasons, a devastating knee injury left him ready to walk away from rugby altogether. But after losing his mum to breast cancer, everything changed. Determined to make her proud, Kurt found a new purpose, reignited his love for the game, and eventually made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues at the age of 28.Some other parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- Why he never believed a professional rugby career was possible- How losing his mum completely changed his outlook on rugby and life- The story behind making and captaining the Māori All Blacks- Winning Super Rugby with the Blues after years of grinding away- Why he's heading to Japan and the next chapter for his young family- His passion for fishing, protecting New Zealand's oceans and life beyond rugby- Plenty more hilarious stories Kurt is one of the most genuine people you'll come across. Humble, funny and incredibly self-aware, his story is a reminder that success doesn't always come early and that everyone's journey looks different. He truely is one of the great lads in NZ rugby! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All Blacks are here! Confirmed by Ant in a plush Cape Town Virgin Active, the Kiwis have landed are preparing hard for the opening game against the Stormers this week. While the ABs sip cocktails in Clifton, a 26-strong Bok squad is quaffing Malbec in Buenos Aires, readying for their warm up against Argentina. There's more antici…pation than a Rocky Horror number and more hype than an NZ rugby journo's X account as we gear up for the Greatest Rivalry (TM CC LTD PBO). Ant, Andrew, Phil and Dick dive into the build-up to the first test, discussing whether the famous rivalry still deserves its billing and why these fixtures continue to stand apart from every other contest in international rugby. From history and respect to contrasting styles of play, the panel explores what makes South Africa versus New Zealand the benchmark by which every other rivalry is measured. Attention then turns to the rugby itself. Are the Springboks entering the series as deserved favourites? Has Rassie's side reached another level over the past year? And while Dave Rennie's All Blacks have shown encouraging signs, can they tighten up defensively against the most complete team in world rugby? The boys also discuss the contrasting approaches of Super Rugby and test rugby, the role of South Africa's franchises in preparing the All Blacks for what's to come, and why this series feels like a genuine measuring stick for both teams heading into the remainder of the international season. Plus predictions for the series, a look at the key individual battles, and why even in an era of expanded competitions and global tournaments, some matches simply matter more than others. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Antonio Shalfoon is someone who is a very different person off the field than he may seem on it. Known as a bit of a grub on the field, off the field he is one of the greats and his journey to professional rugby is as inspiring as any. To start he wasn't offered his first full Super Rugby contract until the age of 26 after years of grinding away in club rugby, moving provinces to chase opportunities, and overcoming setbacks that would have made most people give up. Add to that Antonio opens up about the frightening story of being diagnosed with myocarditis, where he was told he may never play the game again. Some other parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- Hearing about the time he had a fight with a kids dad while playing Cricket- Why he got punched in the head in his first Waikato training- The scary heart condition that nearly ended his rugby career- His pathway into the Crusaders and what kept him going- His selection into the Maori All Blacks and what that mean for him- Why he's signed in Japan for next seasonAnd plenty more great yarns.Antonio is exactly the type of person you want around a rugby team. He's funny, authentic, incredibly resilient and proof that there is no single pathway to achieving your goals. This was an awesome conversation and one I know you'll enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#francoishougaard #storytimepodcast #springbokrugby #rugby This week on Storytime, Joshua sits down with Springbok legend Francois Hougaard

All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa'i joins the Aotearoa Rugby Pod ahead of the clash with Ireland at Eden Park.Tupou opens up about becoming one of the All Blacks' biggest on-field menaces and how Brodie Retallick inspired it.He also explains why there is “no hiding anymore” in the new All Blacks regime and how Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan inspired one of his Super Rugby tries.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has one of the most remarkable stories in Australian rugby. He didn't even start playing rugby union until Year 12, yet just a few years later he was making his Super Rugby debut before earning his first Wallabies cap against the Springboks.In this episode of What a Lad, Lukhan opens up about the journey that shaped him. From missing representative teams as a teenager and using rejection as motivation, to becoming one of Australia's most respected forwards, playing for the Reds, Northampton Saints, the Rebels, the Barbarians and the Wallabies.He also shares his thoughts on missing this year's Wallabies squad despite making the Super Rugby Team of the Year, why he's at peace with the decision, and how becoming a father has completely changed his perspective on rugby and life.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- Starting rugby union in Year 12 after growing up playing rugby league- Missing representative teams and the conversation with his dad that changed his mindset forever- Earning his first Wallabies cap only a year after his Super Rugby debut- The influence Brad Thorn had on his career and development- His experiences playing for Northampton Saints, the Rebels, the Barbarians and against the British & Irish Lions- Why family now comes before rugby and what he hopes his kids remember about himLukhan is one of the genuine good guys in rugby. Honest, humble and incredibly resilient, this conversation gives a great insight into the mindset behind one of Australia's best forwards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Volavola has one of the most unique careers in world rugby. Across a 13-year professional journey, he's played for the Waratahs, Crusaders, North Harbour, Canterbury, Rebels, Racing 92, Bordeaux, Perpignan, Agen, Leicester Tigers, Queensland Reds and now returns home to join the Fijian Drua.A two-time Rugby World Cup representative and one of Fiji's most experienced first fives, Ben has experienced the highs of winning Super Rugby and the lows of missing a Rugby World Cup squad. Throughout it all, he's built a reputation as one of rugby's ultimate professionals and a respected teammate wherever he's played.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- Why rugby was the only plan he ever had growing up- The decision to represent Fiji after coming through the Australian pathway- What he learned from the Crusaders culture and why the best cultures win championships- The heartbreak of missing Fiji's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and how he found motivation again- Playing alongside stars like Israel Folau & Richie Mo'unga- Why he's returning home to join the Fijian Drua and help build the future of Fijian rugby- The lessons he's taken from playing professionally across Australia, New Zealand, France and EnglandBen has experienced almost every corner of professional rugby, but what stood out most was his humility, gratitude and perspective. This is a fascinating conversation about resilience, culture, leadership and what it really takes to build a long career in professional sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moana Pasifika's exit from Super Rugby has cast a spotlight on the sustainability and future of the competition. The team was placed into liquidation in May and last week it was confirmed it will not be involved in Super Rugby in 2027. Rugby reporter Joe Porter reports.

This weeks AI slop is brought to you by GLM 5.1 - a weird model I have never heard of before. Funnily enough, it kinda all sounds the same at this point. Still, half decent job I think. Episode 162 covers a sweeping range of domestic and international news. The budget has cleared the Senate with Greens amendments on NDIS oversight and the blocking of superannuation for housing purchases, while the opposition fumbles its response. Property markets are feeling the chill, with auction clearance rates down and investors spooked by negative gearing changes. In the UK, Keir Starmer has resigned after a failed premiership -- described by one BBC journalist as someone utterly disinterested in the basic skills of leadership -- and Andy Burnham looks set to take over, with market jitters already building around the prospect of Ed Miliband as Chancellor. The Iran memorandum of understanding gets a sceptical examination: it is little more than an agreement to talk, bought by a Trump administration desperate for a pre-midterm win. Meanwhile, US missile stockpiles are running critically low, with an $80 billion replenishment request and a $1.5 trillion total defence budget underscoring the cost of recent conflicts. Back home, One Nation's push for a "monoculture" and forced property sales for permanent residents gets a thorough dismantling, and the global football World Cup, Carlton's AFL resurgence, and England's cricketing woes round out the show.00:25 - Welcome and episode introduction; Hong Kong Jack checks in from a sweltering Hong Kong, discussing the annual exodus of expats on business-class contracts.01:50 - Ukraine's stunning military comeback: a single bridge now links Russia to Crimea, with the rest of claimed territory back in Ukrainian hands.02:38 - The budget passes the Senate. Greens wring concessions on NDIS oversight and block the use of superannuation for housing, but Hong Kong Jack notes the Greens have only agreed to extend the committee talking about the NDIS, not to the measures themselves.04:26 - The opposition's disastrous budget response. Dennis Shanahan's brutal assessment: Angus Taylor was handed a penalty shot with a prone goalkeeper and still missed. Toxic taxes, dangerous deals -- the alliteration that murdered a political attack.07:00 - Tax reform legislation passes the House: the 250 Working Australians Tax Offset, staged tax cuts, and early moves on CGT and negative gearing. But certainty is in short supply -- investors and superannuants are left wondering what the final rules will actually look like.08:31 - Two core failures of the budget: it does almost nothing for growth, and the consequences were not properly thought through.10:01 - Fuel excise suspension: a temporary reprieve, but as electric vehicles soak up 20% of the market and pay zero road tax, a new user-pays model is inevitable. Logbooks, GPS tracking, or something uglier?13:26 - Budget benefits feel distant to renters and the young, while the property market cools. Auction clearance rates have dropped to roughly 50%.16:58 - Negative gearing changes from July 2027: anecdotal evidence suggests investors are already looking to offload. The Treasury forecasts around 2% growth in residential property, but Hong Kong Jack argues a 5-10% drop is politically survivable for most homeowners.18:27 - Teaser for next episode: US congressional stock-picking, Trump and Putin, and broader corruption in public office.18:45 - UK politics. Keir Starmer resigns as Prime Minister -- the seventh PM in ten years. A devastating BBC assessment: "In all my years covering politics, I have never met anyone so lacking in an interest in the skills a leader needs."20:50 - Starmer's fatal flaw: like Kevin Rudd, he governed without the permission of his parliamentary party. He was dismissive of the collegiality Westminster democracy demands.22:57 - Starmer did not go to the palace -- he phoned in his resignation. Hong Kong Jack notes the contrast with Boris Johnson and Liz Truss making the journey to Balmoral.24:12 - Andy Burnham looks certain to become PM, with rivals bought off with portfolios. But if Ed Miliband is appointed Chancellor, bond markets could punish the UK hard.26:00 - UK gilt yields at 6%. The debt interest bill is enormous, and Burnham has not put forward a single policy for reducing government spending or creating growth.26:35 - Burnham's policies: incremental re-nationalisation of railways, and nationalising water services -- requiring massive compensation payments. Not one word on spending reduction.28:59 - Brexit has not delivered. The "Singapore of Europe" model that could have worked was never pursued. Instead, it has destabilised the UK politically and socially.32:06 - The political class resisted what voters wanted on Brexit. That disconnect with the electorate has still not been healed -- the rise of Reform is the evidence.33:47 - Burnham says this is Labour's last chance. Jack the Insider sees potential party fracture; Hong Kong Jack is not convinced it is the death of Labour.38:12 - Did Russia influence Brexit? Jack the Insider argues foreign interference at least played a role; Hong Kong Jack insists it was a genuine grassroots movement.38:56 - Grassroots movements are easily astroturfed. "You can take it to the bank that Putin is having a good old giggle about Brexit."40:50 - Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran threatened closure but CENTCOM reports the waterway remains open, albeit not operating normally.42:10 - The Iran MOU gives Trump the political fix he needs before midterms. Approval ratings have cratered to 30%.43:32 - The MOU is merely an agreement to sit down and talk. Nothing in it is guaranteed to appear in a final deal.44:49 - US missile stockpiles: Pete Hegseth requests $80 billion just to replenish. The US fired 130-250 SM-3 interceptors at $28.7 million each, up to 290 THAAD interceptors at $15.5 million each, and over 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles.47:58 - The conflict cost $29 billion in direct expenditures, exposing massive supply chain bottlenecks. The Trump administration now requests a staggering $1.5 trillion total defence budget for FY2027.49:12 - Military innovation Supercharges after conflict: drones, shoulder-fired interceptors, and cheaper alternatives to expensive missile defence systems.50:51 - Spending 3% of GDP on defence is fine in principle, but Australia has wasted enormous sums over decades. The money must be spent better.52:54 - Monoculture. Following Pauline Hanson's National Press Club speech, a deep dive into what "monoculture" actually means -- and whether it means anything at all.54:42 - Denmark's integration model: language tests, employment self-sufficiency periods, civic knowledge programs. Denmark insists migrants become Danish before gaining permanent status.55:41 - Europe's weakness: no pathway to become truly French or German. Turkish guest workers from the 1950s remain Turkish guest workers. Australia's approach has been different.56:32 - One Nation's policy would create tiers of Australians. The proposal to force permanent residents to sell their homes is legally questionable and politically volatile.59:04 - Can the High Court block forced property sales? Hong Kong Jack thinks it probably would not intervene. Jack the Insider sees ugliness: bailiffs at doors, fire sales of homes.01:01:35 - The distinction between permanent residents and citizens: most PR holders see it as a stepping stone to citizenship, but 5-6 year citizenship processing backlogs trap people in between.01:04:06 - Foreign Investment Review Board restrictions already limit student visa holders to properties capped at roughly $1-1.5 million, with mandatory sale within three years of departure.01:07:26 - The monoculture idea cannot work. You cannot have immigration and monoculture simultaneously.01:08:14 - Australian multiculturalism is fundamentally different to the European model that Merkel, Cameron, and Sarkozy all declared a failure in 2015.01:08:57 - One Nation's rise warrants closer examination of where the money and promotion are coming from. Teased for next episode.01:10:45 - Barbecue culture: the undeniable truth that four pints while barbecuing is perfectly acceptable, and Australian outdoor kitchens have reversed the old pattern -- cooking outside, bathroom inside.01:13:46 - FIFA World Cup. Australia's T20 series win over Bangladesh passes almost unnoticed.01:15:12 - 40,000 Colombians in Australia celebrating their team. The ABC tracks down Cape Verde's diaspora -- 20 people in Australia -- including a centre-back who got his international call-up via LinkedIn.01:16:36 - Australia vs Paraguay: a win guarantees progression. The entire nation may stop working at 1:30pm.01:18:27 - A blunt assessment of Australia's performance against the USA: 65% possession for the opposition, very shaky with the ball.01:18:47 - Netherlands looking the strongest at the tournament. Brazil, Switzerland, Norway, and Argentina all impressing.01:20:32 - Erling Haaland's charming post-match interview: "We have France next and they'll probably beat us, but then they'll probably go all the way and win the World Cup."01:22:39 - Rugby Union: is the death of Australian rugby overstated? Ticket sales for the Rugby World Cup are booming at 650,000, but Super Rugby is in decline and may not survive in its current format.01:24:39 - Anti-siphoning laws and the shifting broadcast landscape as telcos muscle into sports rights.01:26:06 - Carlton's extraordinary AFL season: won one, lost eight, sacked the coach, won five straight under an interim. Six players aged 21 or younger, two of them 18. Patrick Cripps is rattling up Brownlow votes.01:27:22 - Harry Dean should win the Rising Star. The forward line works without a monster key forward.01:30:06 - Wade Dirk, the rookie from Darwin, holds Jesse Hogan to one goal while getting 20 touches himself.01:30:52 - Fremantle look the best side in the competition. Buddy Franklin still tips Brisbane.01:31:58 - Collingwood: marking time. The senior champions are still carrying the side while the next generation struggles.01:33:14 - Ben Stokes recalled to the England cricket side -- essentially picked because he is captain. England thrashed by 253 runs by New Zealand at the Oval.01:35:22 - Gideon Ha's devastating summary of England's Oval test: "England hit bottom, keep digging. Five changes, two blokes unavailable because they were on the piss, one bloke out because his wife was pregnant, old stager as emergency captain, no spinner, a backstop as keeper, and four number 11s."01:36:26 - If England lose at Trent Bridge next week, there will be hell to pay. An Ashes tour looms next year.

The 2026 Super Rugby season is officially done and what a finish it was. The Hurricanes capped off a remarkable campaign with a dominant 60-5 victory in the final, producing one of the most complete performances we've seen in Super Rugby history.In this episode, we break down the final, review some of our preseason predictions, discuss the standout performers from the year and look at what made the Hurricanes such a dominant force throughout the competition.We also dive into Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad, discussing the bolters, unlucky omissions, selection surprises and what the squad tells us about how the All Blacks will look to play moving forward.Some of the topics discussed include...- We breakdown what we thought were the keys to the Hurricanes success- The players who stood out throughout the season- Who had the best predictions from the preseason epiosde- The biggest talking points from Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad- Which players were unlucky to miss selection- Who could become the All Blacks' best player in 2026- Predictions for the upcoming test season and South African tourAnd heaps moreWith the Super Rugby season wrapped up and a massive international season ahead, this was a great chance to reflect on the year that was and look ahead to what's shaping up as one of the biggest years for the All Blacks in recent memory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What an end to the Super Rugby season! It'd be safe to say just about no one was expecting the Hurricanes to dominate so easily. This week we pull out the ledger and see how close our preseason prediction have been. Spend some time on the final and rate the teams based on where se thought they'd end up. As always, we hope you enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lads unpack a massive weekend of finals rugby as the Northampton Saints are crowned champions of England and Leinster go back to back! We get stuck into how Saints proved they're more than just razzle dazzle, grinding out a proper final win over a very good Exeter side, with George Hendy coming up clutch yet again and Henry Pollock continuing his takeover as the main character. Hendy joins the pod from a beer garden fresh from the celebrations to talk through the win, the party, and George Furbank's fairytale Saints send-off . We also head to Croke Park, where Leinster absolutely blew the Bulls away to go back-to-back in the URC, with Sam Prendergast putting in a statement performance, Handre Pollard having a night to forget and some big Ireland injury worries coming out of it. Plus, there's chat on Leo Cullen's future, England XV's strange outing against France, the Boks battering the Barbarians, Super Rugby chaos and loads more. Settle back, enjoy, and make sure you're subscribed on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the two rugby franchises will hold the Super Rugby Pacific title for the first time in a decade after tomorrow's final in Wellington. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Our great coach on this episode is the Rugby Union coach John Mitchell.John retired as a player in 1995 and moved into coaching straight away as a a technical adviser/forwards with the Irish National team. In 2000 he returned to NZ as the head coach of the Chiefs in Super Rugby. He then went on lead NZ national team the All Blacks from 2001 to 2003, winning two Tri Nations titles and the 2003 Bledisloe Cup. In 2023 he was appointed as the head coach of the England women's team and led them to the 2025 world cup. How well am I putting people before performance or outcomes in the way I lead?What do my current behaviours say about my self-awareness, values, and the culture I'm creating?Am I communicating in a way that builds trust, understanding, and enough freedom for others to grow?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Super Rugby final, the first All Blacks squad of the Dave Rennie era will be named, Auckland FC coach departs and the All Whites match against Egypt on Monday at the Fifa World Cup among other sporting topics ahead of the weekend.

The 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki kicks off today and so are the Pacific Semis. Sky Sports' Taylah Johnson joins us live from Eden Park.