Player welfare, and what that entails in the incredibly broad landscape that is now professional rugby, was the key topic when former Hurricanes and All Blacks great turned players advocate Conrad Smith joined Brett McKay & Harry Jones on The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast this week.

Now the Head of Rugby Operations for International Rugby Players, the global players association, Conrad goes into great detail about the sheer volume and breadth of discussions with World Rugby, national Unions, professional competitions, and individual player associations, as they educate players to help them during and after their rugby careers.

Plus: the knockout stage of the Champions Cup is here, and there’s top of the log blockbusters in Super Rugby Pacific and Major League Rugby.

Games of the Week:

• Champions Cup Round of 16: Glasgow v Leicester, the Scotstoun

• SRP Rd.8: Chiefs v Reds, Hamilton

• League One Week 16: Kobelco Kobe Steelers v Toshiba Brave Lupus, Kobe SUN

• MLR Rd.8: San Diego Legion v Chicago Hounds, San Diego

#rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #ChampionsCup #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #playerwelfare #ConradSmith #InternationalRugbyPlayers

Find us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones

Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio)

Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney

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