Rugby Direct

On a special edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier catch up with New Zealand Rugby's general manager - professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum, canvassing a range of rugby topics.

We delve into how his job has changed over time, sabbaticals and whether contracting is working the right way for New Zealand rugby, whether players will be selected from offshore in the next while, the future of Super Rugby and NPC, the Olympics and plenty more across nearly an hour.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam discuss the latest in Super Rugby as the Hurricanes bounce back, the Blues find their way late against the Rebels and the Crusaders sink again, this time to the Reds.

We also dig into talk of the Qataris investing into rugby's new Nations Cup and ponder the future of the Melbourne Rebels following another twist in the sorry saga.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Rugby Direct this week, Elliott and Liam debate whether the Hurricanes are still the Super Rugby favourites after their loss to the Brumbies, or whether the Blues now have claims to that title.

The Crusaders are back... or so Elliott claims, while we dive in-depth to talk about the Highlanders vs Force.

Liam also breaks some news around the Melbourne Rebels' future and debate whether an ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup test would work.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, we review the round that was in Super Rugby as the Hurricanes and Blues continue to soar and the Crusaders and Highlanders flop towards the bottom of the ladder after heavy defeats.

Liam and Elliott put their selection hats on and pick 33-man All Blacks squads for the July tests, if they were to be named this week.

We also dig a little deeper on the Crusaders' recruitment and future proofing, as well as discussing the union switch of Joey Manu and if he'll find success in the 15-man game.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode, Elliott and Liam ask... can anyone stop the Hurricanes this year? They review their win over the Chiefs as well as the other sometimes confounding results of week eight of Super Rugby Pacific.

We also dive into the Super Rugby Aupiki final and ask about the future of the competition, as well as a whip around of the week's other big news including the Club World Cup on the verge of confirmation, coaching movements abound and the news of Blues forward Cameron Suafoa's cancer battle.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam review big wins for the Blues and Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific, discuss the impending departures of Fergus Burky and possibly Josh Moorby and hail the success of the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens after winning the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens.

We also catch up with Black Ferns 15s assistant coach Steve Jackson to talk the Aupiki season to date and what he and the fellow coaches are looking for ahead of their first squad being named later this month.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam discuss the big breaking news that former All Blacks scrum doctor Mike Cron is joining Joe Schmidt's Wallabies coach and ask whether NZ Rugby should be worried.

We dig into Cam Roigard's likely lengthy sidelining through a knee injury and ask whether the Crusaders are back.

And we break down the governance issues plaguing NZR.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dive into round five of Super Rugby Pacific as the Hurricanes continue to surge, the Chiefs and Blues bank important wins and the Crusaders continue to crumble.

All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson also stops by for a chat to review the opening month and a half while we also talk the prospect of Sam Whitelock returning to the All Blacks in 2024 out of France.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the fourth round of Super Rugby Pacific, which has seen the Hurricanes continue their unbeaten run and the Crusaders continue their winless streak.

We review the Six Nations and cast an eye to the England tour of New Zealand later this year and where their strengths might lie.

And we discuss the news of the late Billy Guyton's CTE diagnosis and ask... where to for rugby?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier take a look at the Hurricanes being unbeaten in Super Rugby Pacific and the Crusaders yet to nab a win, Ireland lose in the Six Nations and Italy wins away at home for the first time in a long time.

We also stick our oar into the Hurricanes Poua haka saga which has dominated headlines for the past week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.