Super Rugby is nearly back, and the pressure is already building. With preseason just around the corner, we sit down with Nigel Yalden to take a proper look at where the New Zealand sides are really at heading into 2026.

From the Highlanders’ continuity and depth, to the Crusaders being ruthless when it matters most, Nigel breaks down why some teams are judged differently, and why expectations don’t disappear just because names do. We get into the Hurricanes’ growing connection, the Chiefs’ unfinished business, and the Blues’ championship-or-bust mindset.

There’s also a wider conversation about player management, All Blacks workloads, squad depth, and why Super Rugby has no easy games anymore. Add in a detour through NFL misery and coaching pressure, and it’s a classic DSPN deep dive to kick the year off.

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This roundtable kicks off 2026 with the questions every rugby fan is already asking. What does this year actually hold, and how much hangs on what comes next?

We dig into preseason predictions across Super Rugby and the Six Nations, debate who’s best placed to lift silverware, and look hard at why South Africa looms as the defining tests for the year ahead. If you want a benchmark for where the game really sits, that tour is it.

The conversation then turns to the All Blacks end-of-year review. How transparent does it need to be, what should the public know, and where does accountability actually sit between coaches, players, and the board?

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A brand new year, and plenty to talk about.

We kick off 2026 by welcoming back Tony Johnson, as he joins Martin Devlin to lay out the five rugby storylines he’s most looking forward to this year. From Super Rugby and the Six Nations, to the All Blacks’ massive tour to South Africa, there’s no shortage of big questions.

Tony shares his thoughts on the Crusaders as defending champions, the Highlanders’ potential, Moana Pasifika’s importance to the competition, and what a new Christchurch stadium could mean for rugby in New Zealand. There’s also a frank discussion around refereeing, the role of the TMO, and whether the game needs to accept a bit more human error.

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Happy New Year and welcome to 2026 on DSPN! We kick things off with a sermon from Marty that sets the tone for what might be the most important year New Zealand rugby has faced in a long time.

This is a year of optimism, but also honesty. With a packed rugby calendar ahead, including Super Rugby, the Six Nations, major test matches and the long road toward the 2027 World Cup, we ask the big questions. How good are the All Blacks really? Are the players and coaches aligned? And can this group rebuild belief after a shaky season?

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The 1996 All Blacks tour of South Africa remains one of the most important moments in New Zealand rugby history, and in this DSPN Summer Series episode, Sean Fitzpatrick explains why.

Fitz takes Martin Devlin back inside that iconic tour, reflecting on what it meant to finally win a test series in South Africa after decades of heartbreak. He talks about the pressure of carrying history, the significance of neutral referees, the transformation of South Africa through sport, and the lifelong bonds formed with teammates.

Tony Johnson then joins Martin to revisit the most memorable All Blacks versus Springboks matches they’ve seen, including the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-final, Eden Park classics, Cape Town battles, and moments that swung entire campaigns in a single lineout or tackle.

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Running a Super Rugby franchise looks glamourous from the outside. The reality is a whole lot tougher.

On the DSPN, Marty sits down with Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee as he prepares to step away after more than a decade in the role. Avan reflects on the highs of winning in 2016, the lows of recent financial pressure, and what it’s really like trying to balance performance, people, and profit in modern rugby.

They get into crowd numbers, star power, NZ Rugby’s influence, player payments, and why Super Rugby viewership is booming while bums on seats are not.

Avan also opens up about leadership under scrutiny, tough calls, and the Hurricanes haka controversy, speaking candidly about what he learned from one of the most challenging moments of his career.

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What does it really take to be an All Black? According to Murray Mexted, it starts in the head.

In this DSPN Summer Series chat, Marty catches up with one of New Zealand rugby’s most respected voices to talk frankly about where the All Blacks are at and where they need to go.

Murray questions selection instability, constant experimentation, and the growing focus on fitness over mental toughness.

They discuss the pressure of wearing the jersey, the responsibility that comes with it, and why chopping and changing players risks damaging the All Blacks’ winning culture. Murray also reflects on the heavy Wellington loss to South Africa, the impact of replacements on team resilience, and why test rugby is no place for experimentation.

With a brutal South African tour looming, Murray believes this is the ultimate test. A chance to rebuild belief, consistency, and the All Blacks’ edge ahead of the next World Cup.

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Is rugby still working the way we think it is?

In this Summer Series episode of the DSPN, Martin Devlin and Mark Philpott from United Rugby Fans talk honestly about the state of the game, from grassroots clubrooms right through to the All Blacks.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about where rugby is thriving, where it’s broken, and why so many volunteers are holding the whole thing together with little support.

Martin reflects on his own journey as a rugby fan, the moments that hooked him for life, and what decades behind the microphone have taught him about fans, pundits, and the difference between opinion and reality. The chat dives deep into officiating, the role of technology, the frustrations around the TMO, and why rugby feels more complicated than it needs to be.

There’s also a blunt assessment of the All Blacks’ year, grassroots struggles, pathways for young players, and why winning still matters more than ever in New Zealand rugby.

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Being a Warriors fan isn’t for the faint hearted. And few people understand that better than Zane, also known as The Warriorholic.

In this chat on the DSPN, Marty catches up with one of the most passionate and positive voices in Warriors fandom. Zane talks about why perspective matters, how COVID changed the way he viewed sport, and why remembering players are people first has become central to everything he does online.

They dive into the Warriors’ recent seasons, expectations versus reality, Andrew Webster’s impact, squad depth, injuries, and what’s still missing to genuinely contend for a premiership. Zane also explains why his optimism isn’t blind faith, but grounded in watching reserve grade, tracking development players, and understanding how clubs actually build success.

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The DSPN summer series rolls on with one of the great characters of New Zealand cricket. Danny Morrison joins us for a wide-ranging chat about his Black Caps career, the era that shaped him, and why test cricket still matters.

We dive into replacing Richard Hadlee, touring with legends, facing the West Indies at their peak, and what it was really like being part of the so-called Wild Bunch. Danny reflects on the responsibility of leading the attack, the freedom of playing in a different time, and how much the game and the world around it has changed.

There’s also nostalgia for the 1992 World Cup, the romance of long days at the cricket, and frustration at a modern summer without test matches. Honest, funny, and full of heart, this is a love letter to cricket as it once was.

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