Super Rugby Pacific talked a big game this season, promising better, faster rugby and better contests on the field, and even more ambitiously, they promised better social media presence and a significantly better fan engagement. Stan Sport‘s Sean Maloney joined Brett McKay & Harry Jones on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast to concede that yes, they might just have ticked all the boxes.

The regular season of ups and downs has delivered the finals series combatants we probably picked in pre-season, but didn’t think we’d get for most of it, leaving three ripping Qualifying Finals this weekend coming. Also, a Player of the Year and Team of the Year have been crowned, so more boxes ticked.

Plus, it’s Semi Final weekend in the URC and the Premiership in England, and the final rounds of the Top 14 in France, and Major League Rugby in the States.

Games of the Week:

Super Rugby Pacific Qualifying Finals:

• Crusaders v Queensland Reds, Christchurch

• Chiefs v Blues, Hamilton

• ACT Brumbies v Hurricanes, Canberra

United Rugby Championship Semi Finals:

• Leinster v Glasgow, Dublin

• Bulls v Sharks, Pretoria

Premiership Semi Finals:

• Bath v Bristol at the Rec

• Leicester v Sale at Welford Road

Top 14 Round 26: Montpellier v Clermont, Montpellier

MLR Round17: San Diego v Old Glory DC, San Diego

#rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #URC #Premiership #Top14 #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #SeanMaloney #StanSport

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices