The Bonus Point

Fresh off an unforgettable trip to Baltimore — and battling a bit of post-travel sickness — I’m recapping a genuine rugby bucket-list experience: the All Blacks and Springboks in the United States, historic attendance at MT&T Bank Stadium, incredible access to the teams, and what an event of that scale can mean for rugby’s growth in America.

Then we get into a massive week across New Zealand rugby. I break down NZ Rugby’s reported $66 million financial challenge, why the NPC and Ranfurly Shield remain vital to the game’s future, and why it matters that players including Beauden Barrett, Noah Hotham, Cortez Ratima, George Bell, Emoni Narawa and others are returning to represent their provinces.

I also unpack the Black Ferns’ heartbreaking Red Roses defeat, Counties Manukau’s emotional Ranfurly Shield win, Northland’s incredible Shield journey, and the attacking ambition of Auckland’s Rico Simpson.

In the second half, it is all about one of the wildest Tests of the year: the Wallabies’ 42–38 win over the Springboks. Australia held on with just 11 men, lifted the Mandela Challenge Plate, and delivered a major statement against the reigning world champions.

Plus, I reflect on making my play-by-play commentary debut for UCLA Rugby’s last-minute win over Michigan, and look ahead to UCLA’s upcoming home fixtures against Brown and Southern Nazarene.

In this episode:

• Baltimore recap: All Blacks, Springboks and a record U.S. rugby crowd
• What NZ Rugby’s financial challenge means for the game
• Why All Blacks returning to the NPC matters
• Black Ferns v Red Roses reaction
• Counties Manukau win the Ranfurly Shield
• Wallabies survive with 11 men against South Africa
• UCLA Rugby commentary debut and upcoming matches

In Episode 80, Tj is joined by Dane Sherratt from Kick On Rugby to break down New Zealand’s strong tour start, including the win over the Stormers and the 54–0 result against the Sharks, before the final pre-Test audition against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

TJ and Dane also unpack the Springbok challenge: scrum pressure, the aerial battle, competing fly-half options, New Zealand’s outstanding lock and loose-forward depth, and whether the All Blacks can impose enough tempo to disrupt South Africa across a four-Test series.

In this episode:

• All Blacks tour takeaways from the Stormers and Sharks matches
• Bulls v All Blacks: the final Springboks Test audition
• Richie Mo’unga’s return and the No. 10 debate
• All Blacks injury and selection watch
• Cam Roigard, Kyle Preston and the scrum-half race
• How the All Blacks match the Springbok scrum and kicking game
• Springbok fly-half options: Libbok, Pollard or Feinberg-Mngomezulu
• Is the northern hemisphere finally closing the gap on the south?
• First-Test selection calls and series predictions

Subscribe to The Bonus Point Podcast, follow Kick On Rugby, and let us know: Who starts at 10 for the All Blacks in the first Test against South Africa?

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour is officially underway as the All Blacks open their South African campaign against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

In Episode 79, I break down the Stormers team and the biggest storylines heading into the match — including senior Stormers debutant Yaqeen Ahmed at fly-half, his huge matchup opposite Beauden Barrett, and why Hacjivah Dayimani is one of the most exciting hybrid loose forwards in rugby right now.

I also look at the All Blacks’ two potential debutants, the major selection calls shaping Dave Rennie’s squad, and the looming Springbok challenge. South Africa’s rotated front rows have continued to deliver dominant scrum production through the opening Nations Championship rounds, making set piece one of the defining battles of this tour.

In this episode:

• What Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour is
• Stormers v All Blacks preview
• Yaqeen Ahmed’s senior Stormers debut
• Why Hacjivah Dayimani is a hybrid-forward threat
• All Blacks selection and debutant watch
• The Springboks’ scrum depth and rotation
• The biggest questions before the All Blacks face South Africa

Who makes the biggest statement in the opening match: Yaqeen Ahmed, Hacjivah Dayimani, Beauden Barrett, or one of the new All Blacks?

#Rugby #AllBlacks #Stormers #Springboks #RugbysGreatestRivalry #RugbyPodcast #RugbyAnalysis

The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season wrapped with a statement as the Hurricanes crushed the Chiefs in a record-breaking final, and we break down exactly why they were the best team in the competition. From the key stats and standout performers to the breakout stars forcing their way into the All Blacks conversation, we dig into the numbers, the tactics, and the selection battles that are shaping the next era of New Zealand rugby.

In Episode 77, we break down a massive week in rugby, starting with the Super Rugby semi-finals, the big selection calls, and how the Australian teams have fared across the season. We also look at the launch of Super Rugby Aupiki and the exciting wave of new talent coming into the competition.

In the second half, we shift to the All Blacks, with Tony Brown joining the setup and Kieran Read raising questions about whether New Zealand still has the same edge and belief that defines South Africa. To finish, we get into the Barbarians squad announcement, including TJ Perenara, Duhan van der Merwe, and Kyle Sinckler, plus what it means to see Scott Robertson back in that space.

A big episode on finals rugby, national identity, and the players and teams shaping the next few weeks.

In Episode 76, we’re diving deep into the state of USA Rugby with Rob “The Hammer” Hammerschmidt and Scott “The Big Guy” Ferrara from the Rugby Rant podcast. With the Eagles set for a huge summer of Test rugby, we break down the upcoming Nations Cup fixtures, talk through who should be in the 23 for the first match against Portugal in Denver, and look ahead to what this stretch means for the future of the national team.

We also get into the current Major League Rugby season, including the latest standings, the teams building momentum down the stretch, and the ongoing challenges around viewing access and league growth in the U.S. From there, we zoom out to ask the bigger questions: is USA Rugby on track for 2031

If you’ve ever yelled at a ref… this episode might change your perspective. Or probably not as its a regular occurance amongst rugby fans. In this episode, we sit down with Caleb Greaves, a referee with 12 years of experience across five different associations and a current official in the North Harbour Premier Men’s competition Auckland, NZ. Caleb shares stories from the field, how referees manage chaos in real time, and why it might be one of the toughest jobs in sport. We also unpack his viral approach to recruiting new referees, including the now-infamous “do something dumb until someone signs up” challenge, + how the North Harbour Referees Instagram page is changing the perception of officiating. In the second half, we shift into Super Rugby — breaking down the state of officiating, the chaos at the breakdown, TMO influence, and how players are getting smarter at pushing the limits of the game. Our Bonus Point segment is a new segment we like to call “Whistle Blower” - Some quick fire questions and sure to be a doozy

In this episode, we break down a massive weekend of Super Rugby filled with upsets, tactical shifts, and standout performances.

We dive into the Chiefs knocking off the Hurricanes in a top-of-the-table clash, including where the game turned tactically and how Wallace Sititi made a huge statement on return from injury. We also get into the All Blacks back row debate and where Sititi fits in a stacked field.

Plus, we cover the Fijian Drua’s impressive away win, the Western Force upsetting the Crusaders (and the rise of Zach Lomax), and a Waratahs side starting to build momentum at the right time.

We also kick things off with a special segment from Japan, sharing the experience of attending Black Rams vs Honda Heat in Tokyo and why rugby truly feels like a global community no matter where you are.

Chapters:

• Japan rugby experience 🇯🇵

• Chiefs vs Hurricanes analysis

• Wallace Sititi & All Blacks selection talk

• Fijian Drua away win

• Force vs Crusaders upset

• Waratahs form check

If you’re into rugby analysis, Super Rugby breakdowns, and global rugby stories, this one’s for you.

Dave Rennie’s All Blacks era begins, and we’re diving straight into the deep end.In this episode of The Bonus Point (recorded live at Three Weavers Brewing Company in Inglewood CA), Tj is joined by Alfonso Horomia (Pig Athletic - Rugby Heads Podcast) to break down one of the biggest coaching storylines in New Zealand rugby: Dave Rennie replacing Scott “Razor” Robertson as All Blacks head coach. We unpack how Robertson’s tenure unraveled, what Rennie’s Māori and Cook Islands background and coaching journey (Chiefs, Wallabies, Glasgow, Kobe) bring back to the black jersey, and why current and former players are so bullish on his ability to rebuild culture, clarity and edge. We also look ahead to the brutal “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” tour of South Africa and ask what a long, old-school tour against the Springboks could do for this new-look All Blacks side.In the second half, we shift into Super Rugby Pacific mode. After four rounds, we talk through who’s actually setting the pace: the Brumbies’ consistency, the Chiefs’ attacking fireworks, the Hurricanes’ statement win, and what Beauden Barrett’s return means for the Blues. We pick out early-season standouts, surprise performers, and a few red flags for the traditional powerhouses.To finish, we hit our Bonus Point segment with some fast-paced, rugby-themed questions and predictions to tie everything together—Rennie, the Boks tour, and the Super Rugby race.

Super Rugby Pacific Round 1 delivered upsets galore—Highlanders shock Crusaders, Moana Pasifika conquer Drua in Lautoka, Chiefs steal one at Eden Park, plus big Aussie wins. We break down the key moments, a new segment "3, 2, 1's" for standout players, my Round 2 fantasy squad and tipping for round 2. Don't miss it! #SuperRugbyPacific