We got along to the Super Rugby 2026 launch and ended up with a proper sit-down yarn with Jeff Wilson. And as you’d expect, it didn’t take long before the conversation went well beyond just fixtures and formats.

Jeff talks honestly about where Super Rugby sits in the wider rugby ecosystem, why entertainment still matters, and how the competition can reconnect fans with the game. There’s plenty on how the modern game is being played, what’s changed since his era, and why instinct and belief still sit at the heart of great rugby.

We also get into the All Blacks, the weight of the black jersey, and why standards can never slip, especially with a new coach on the horizon and a massive South African tour coming up.

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The Six Nations is back, and we’re not easing into it. With a Thursday night (Friday morning New Zealand time) opener in Paris and pressure everywhere you look, this year’s championship already feels uncomfortably tight.

We’re joined by former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, who gives a brutally honest read on where Ireland actually sit right now, why France are more dangerous than their autumn form suggests, and how England have quietly rebuilt into a seriously hard team to beat. There’s plenty on injuries, ageing squads, momentum, and just how fine the line really is between a Grand Slam and a forgettable campaign.

We also look beyond the Six Nations to South Africa’s growing dominance, what the new Nations Championship really means, and why knockout rugby still changes everything.

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The Rugby Roundtable is back and there’s no easing into this one.

We kick off with a genuinely jaw-dropping sporting moment as 16-year-old Sam Ruthe breaks Sir John Walker’s New Zealand mile record, a mark that’s stood since 1982. Just how rare is what he’s done, and why does it matter so much for New Zealand sport?

From there, the conversation turns sharp. Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster being approached by New Zealand Rugby raises serious questions about planning, coaching depth, and whether the organisation is quietly panicking. Is this breaking glass in case of emergency, or just good optics masking a deeper issue?

We also dig into Super Rugby’s faster approach to officiating, why limiting the TMO actually improves the product, and whether it will ever translate to the international game.

Finally, we look north to the Six Nations, with France vs Ireland shaping as a blockbuster way to start the tournament.

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People are getting way too far ahead of themselves and we reckon it’s time to steady on.

On the DSPN today, we dig into Super Rugby Pacific’s recommitment to limiting TMO interference and why trusting referees might actually be the best thing for the game.

Martin delivers a full sermon on flow versus flawlessness, the price of perfection, and why rugby was never meant to be officiated frame by frame. We talk Six Nations, England hype, and why genuine hatred still matters in international rugby.

The Tight Five is back as well, with Sam Ruthe’s stunning mile, T20 World Cup build-up, Arsenal’s title push, NRL pre-season chatter, and a Super Bowl preview to wrap it all up. Plenty of opinions, plenty of disagreement, and absolutely no sitting on the fence.

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Super Rugby is nearly here and we’re back where rugby feels closest to the people. DSPN heads on tour to Sacred Heart College in Auckland for a stinking hot preseason clash between the Blues and the Hurricanes.

We soak up the atmosphere on a school field, chat to fans, parents, and rugby tragics, and get a real sense of what this competition still means when the sun’s out and the season’s just around the corner. There’s excitement, optimism, and plenty of opinions on where Super Rugby and the All Blacks are heading.

We also hear from coaches post-match on what preseason actually tells you, what matters and what doesn’t, and why games like this still matter in a professional era.

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Mailbag time on DSPN, and as always, the gloves are well and truly off. We dive into your comments, questions and hot takes from across YouTube and social, and there’s no shortage of strong opinions this week.

From where Max has gone, to player interviews that challenge lazy narratives, to claims we’re “too negative” about the All Blacks, we respond to it all. We unpack the current coaching situation, the state of New Zealand rugby, and why being honest isn’t the same as being negative.

There’s debate around governance, selection processes, overseas players, potential coaching combinations and whether the All Blacks job is still the most prized role in world rugby. Plus, a few lighter moments, some unexpected gifts, and the usual DSPN chaos that keeps the mailbag a must-listen every week.

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What does real belief actually look like when it’s earned, not gifted?

Brad Thorn joins Martin Devlin for one of the most open and powerful conversations we’ve had on the DSPN. From anxiety and self-doubt to faith, discipline and mental resilience, Brad reflects on the moments that shaped him long before the trophies arrived.

They talk through Brad’s new book Champions Do Extra, the lessons passed down from his father, the pressure of World Cup finals, State of Origin, and why belief only comes after the work is done. Brad also opens up about anxiety, leadership, coaching at the Reds, and why you’re never truly defeated if you’re willing to stand and fight.

It’s honest, grounded, and full of perspective from a man who’s been to the very top and knows exactly what it costs to stay there.

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This season comes with expectations, and Glen Jackson isn’t shying away from them.

The Fijian Drua head coach joins Martin Devlin ahead of Super Rugby Pacific to talk pressure, progress, and why making the playoffs is non negotiable. From paying their own way to New Zealand, to learning how to win away from Fiji, Glen gives an honest look at what the Drua are trying to fix this year.

They also cover the emotional week in Mount Maunganui, training alongside the Chiefs, the challenge of travelling as a young squad, and why staying grounded matters just as much as winning. Glen reflects on leadership, experience, and the balance between Fijian flair and shutting games down when it counts.

It’s a candid, thoughtful chat about growth, responsibility, and what success really looks like for one of Super Rugby’s most watchable teams.

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What happens when the game gets taken away from you for the first time?

Today on the DSPN, Martin sits down with All Blacks and Chiefs forward Tupou Vaa’i as he opens up about his knee injury, a long road back to fitness, and what being sidelined taught him about rugby and life.

From lonely mornings watching the boys on tour to finding clarity through family time, Tupou reflects on a season that changed him.

We also get into confidence, imposter syndrome, and the moments that helped lift his game to another level back in 2024. Tupou talks honestly about working alongside Scott Barrett, the impact of mental skills coaching, and how becoming a father shifted his entire perspective.

It’s a grounded, thoughtful conversation with one of the All Blacks’ most quietly important players.

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On today's Rugby Roundtable, we’re covering two very different sporting flashpoints that somehow end up in the same place. Pressure, performance, and who really controls the narrative.

We kick things off with the Coco Gauff racket smash at the Australian Open, and whether elite athletes should expect privacy anywhere off the court. Is it fair game, or are we crossing a line when emotion spills over away from the spotlight?

Then it’s full noise on the All Blacks coaching situation. From Scott Robertson’s exit to the narrow pool of available replacements, we dig into whether New Zealand Rugby actually had a plan. We talk Jamie Joseph, Dave Rennie, coaching depth, culture breakdowns, player management, and why Super Rugby fans keep getting short-changed. It’s passionate, frustrated, and very Kiwi.

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