DSPN - RUGBY

Super Rugby is back and we’re ready for the chaos. Martin, John Day, and Watto tackle the massive blow for the Highlanders with Fabian Holland out, why we’re still pining for the South African teams, and why every round is basically an All Black trial for the tour to South Africa.

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We’re joined by the one and only Eddie Jones for a deep dive into the state of the game. Eddie doesn’t hold back on the All Blacks' coaching merry-go-round, why sacking a seven-time Super Rugby winner like Razor makes no sense, and how the "commercialization" of the jersey is affecting performance. We also look at the rise of the Warriors and why rugby league is winning the "working class" battle.

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We are back for the business end of the summer as Super Rugby Pacific finally kicks off. Martin and Tony Johnson break down a massive opening round, including why this is the perfect time for the Highlanders to strike a resting Crusaders side. Plus, we look at the Six Nations fallout: are England truly the second-best team in the world, and what on earth is going on with Welsh rugby?

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The first round of the Six Nations is in the books and it was a weekend of statements, heartbreaks, and one massive shock. Chris Jones joins us from England to break down how France bludgeoned Ireland, why England looks more professional than ever, and the absolute "car crash" currently happening in Welsh rugby. Plus, we look at Italy’s historic win and what it means for Gregor Townsend’s future.

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Super Rugby is officially back, and we’re straight into it at the launch with players, journos, coffee, and plenty of opinions flying around.

We chat to a stack of familiar faces about what’s changed, what’s working, and why less TMO might be one of the best things to happen to the competition. There’s talk around rule interpretations, fatigue, ball-in-play time, and why the fan-first mindset has brought Super Rugby back to where it belongs.

And of course, we can’t ignore the big question hanging over the season. Who should be the next All Blacks coach? We put it to players and pundits, get a few names thrown around, and unpack why that job is one of the toughest seats in world rugby. Add in team predictions, old rivalries, and a bit of nostalgia for 30 years of Super Rugby, and you’ve got a proper scene-setter for the season ahead.

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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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