Pita Ahki is living proof that careers aren’t always built in a straight line.

From struggling for opportunities in New Zealand and watching contracts dry up, to being told by Toulouse doctors that he had a “bad knee” and might not even get signed — Ahki’s journey could have gone very differently. Instead, he backed himself, took the gamble, and went on to become a 5x Top 14 champion and 2x Champions Cup winner in one of the toughest competitions in world rugby.

In this episode of What a Lad, Pita opens up about the tough years at the Blues and Hurricanes, asking Super Rugby teams for any opportunity just to stay in the system, nearly walking away from the game after failing a medical in France, and the sliding doors moment that changed everything.

In this episode, we cover…

- Growing up in Auckland and the Kelston Boys brotherhood

- Making NZ U20s and starting NPC straight out of school

- The struggles of injury battles while trying to crack it

- Asking Super Rugby teams for wider training — and getting nothing

- Taking a six-month deal at Connacht just to stay alive in the game

- Flying to Toulouse, signing a pre-contract, and being told he had a “bad knee”

- Nearly walking away from rugby

- Starting a Top 14 final and chasing that feeling year after year

- Winning 5 Top 14 titles and 2 Champions Cups

- Life in France, the culture, and playing with Antoine Dupont

- Representing Tonga at a Rugby World Cup

- Why he returned to the blues

- And of course his memory of the classic Pita Pit prank!

This episode is a deep dive into resilience, growth, sacrifice, and what it really takes to turn rejection into legacy. It’s honest, reflective, and full of perspective from a man who’s seen both sides of the game. Pita is a champion man, such a legend and it's awesome seeing him back out there in Super Rugby!

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Tom Savage is one of those players who never took the easy route and deserves every bit of success that he gets!

From jumping from level five rugby to the Premiership in a single summer, to playing over 190 games for Gloucester, moving to Japan at the peak of his career, and now helping build something special at Moana Pasifika — Savage’s story is built on consistency, work ethic, and knowing exactly what he brings to a team.

In this episode of What a Lad, Tom opens up about having no academy pathway, cleaning changing rooms just to stay in the game, the shock of his Premiership debut at Franklin’s Gardens, and what it really takes to last at the top level for over a decade.

In this episode, we cover…

- Growing up without a clear rugby pathway and discovering the game later than most

- Choosing Hartpury as his only route into professional rugby

- How he managed to play 190+ games in one of the toughest competitions in the world

- Why he left Gloucester after eight years of loyalty

- The unexpected call to move to Japan

- The chaos of COVID and flying home to an empty Heathrow Airport

- What Japanese rugby is really like behind the scenes

- Joining Moana Pasifika and buying into the culture

- Leadership lessons learned across three different countries

- Differences between Premiership, Japan & Super rugby

This episode is a proper deep dive into resilience, professionalism, and building a career the long way. Plenty of lessons, plenty of perspective, and exactly what you’d expect from an all-time team man.

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Super Rugby is back! And so is the What a Lad Super Rugby Preview and who better to talk to than the great Searley from Searley Talks Sport to break down everything you need to know about Super Rugby 2026.

We go through every team, highlight key players and share some bold predictions as we look forward to what looks to be the tightest and most entertaining Super Rugby season ever!

In this episode, we cover…

- Why the Hurricanes are genuine championship contenders

- Whether this is finally the Chiefs year

- How the new Christchurch stadium could change the Crusaders style

- The Highlanders backline and their game-breaking X-factor

- What Aussie teams are a real threat

- Players who could force their way into All Blacks selection

- Why the Fijian Drua at home is one of the toughest trips in rugby

- The new law changes and how they may change the game

- Round one predictions and season top-four picks

- And heaps more!

If you're excited about Super Rugby than this episode is for you, and if you're not, well I suggest you give it a listen anyway and just feel your fizz levels for this great competition build aggressively.

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Manasa Mataele is one of the players who is incredibly hard to tackle! His power, speed, athleticism, and freakish offloads has made him hard to handle for any opposition! From growing up in Suva, Manasa’s journey has taken him from Fiji to New Zealand, across to Australia, and now back home with the Fijian Drua.

In this episode of What a Lad, Manasa opens up with rare honesty. He reflects on the highs of Super Rugby, the pride of representing Fiji, and the moments that nearly forced him away from the game altogether. From battling injuries and self-doubt, to losing his mum and questioning whether he could keep going, this is a powerful look at resilience, faith, and finding purpose beyond rugby.

In this episode, we cover…

- Growing up in Fiji and the environment that shaped him

- The sliding-doors moment that could have changed his life forever

- Moving to New Zealand and adapting to professional rugby

- His rapid rise through NPC and Super Rugby

- Almost signing with the Blues before a last-minute call from the Crusaders

- What it was like walking into a Crusaders locker room full of legends

- The mental battles that made him his own worst enemy

- His pride in representing Fiji on the international stage

- Losing his mum, fracturing his spine, and questioning his future

- The role faith played in getting him through his darkest moments

- Why returning home to play for the Fijian Drua means so much

- Wanting to give back and help the next generation of Fijian rugby players

As you'll hear Manasa is very articulate and honest about the journey rugby has taken him, he's such a good lad who will no doubt have a big season for the Drua!

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Chris Jack was one of the all time greats! A perfect combination of a massive workrate an incredible skillset, deceptive speed and a high rugby IQ which he showed during his 67 cap test career.

In this episode of What a Lad, you'll hear Chris like you've never heard him before. From the good times on winning championships to some of the struggles he faced, there is plenty in this one!

Some parts that stood out for me in this one were...

- How his brothers shaped his work ethic and toughness

- Making the Crusaders early and being thrown straight into a South Africa tour

- Old-school Crusaders culture and earning respect as a young player

- What it actually felt like being around All Black legends

- Scoring on debut and still feeling like he didn’t belong

- How he felt winning the NZ player of the year in 2002

- Dealing with shyness, pressure, and confidence off the field

- What happened during the 2007 RWC QF Loss

- Life after rugby and the lessons he learned

This episode is full of honest perspective from a man who always let his actions do the talking. Chris shares what the jersey meant to him, the cost that came with it, and why he wishes he’d enjoyed the moment more.

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Jeremy Manning’s rugby journey is anything but ordinary. At just 16 years old he was playing against for the Marlborough Red Devils in the NPC which included playing in a Ranfurly Shield game against Canterbury while still being at school. He made the NZ secondary schools team on the wing ahead of Hosea Gear and out of school decided to take up a year offer with the Munster academy. Fast forward a few years later and he's doing the Haka against the All Blacks for Munster in a match!

In this episode, we dive into:

- Growing up in Marlborough and spending hours kicking goals alone

- What it was like being a 16 year old playing with men under Grizz Wylie

- Making New Zealand Schools and then missing out on U19s and how that shaped his path

- Moving to Ireland and joining Munster

- Winning Heineken Cups and learning behind Ronan O’Gara

- Playing against the All Blacks for Munster and performing a Haka

- Why his time at Newcastle Falcons turned him off rugby

- Life after rugby, including working with the Royal Family

- Helping Fiji Sevens during their Olympic success

- The emotional journey of IVF, surrogacy, and becoming a father

Jeremy is a massive lad with an incredible story. His story is different to most and has had some unique challenges. The way he shares his story with such honesty and vulnerability is super powerful. I know you'll enjoy this one, so let me know what you thought in the comments.

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Cam McBride is the very talented man behind the camera responsible for bringing the Crusaders to life every week.

In this episode of What a Lad, Cam talks about his time in the police, finding a new career through content creation, and working behind the scenes at the Crusaders.

In this episode, we cover…

- What he's noticed from his first year working with the Crusader

- How he started working as a sports masseuse with sports teams

- Why he joined the New Zealand Police and working frontline for nearly a decade

- The toll it took on him and how hard it was witnessing some horrible scenes.

- Shooting everything from local rugby to weddings while still policing

- Applying for the Crusaders role and what set him apart

- Stepping into big shoes and overcoming imposter syndrome

- How trust with players is built behind the scenes

- What game day really looks like for a Super Rugby content creator

- Capturing iconic Crusaders moments — including finals runs

- His vision for the future of Crusaders content

This episode is an awesome insight into what's involved with being a content creator, huge insight, plenty of tips and all from a massive lad!

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produced and after this episode it’s easy to see why.

A 108-test All Black, multiple-time World Cup winner, and a cornerstone of the Crusaders’ most dominant era. Owen built his career on work ethic, consistency, and doing whatever it took to get himself in the best position to perform week in and week out.

In this episode of What a Lad, Owen opens up like never before. From earning respect as a young All Black, to facing a battle far bigger than rugby when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This is a rare look at what it actually takes to stay at the top — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In this episode, we cover…

- Growing up in Motueka with his brother Ben

- How he put on the size to become a front rower

- The brutal start to professional rugby dislocating his elbow in his first Canterbury scrum

- His All Blacks debut and why he never felt overawed

- What the All Blacks environment is really like behind closed doors

- Earning respect, driving standards, and ruthless competition

- Walking out for World Cup finals

- Why he went to the gym the next day after World Cup glory

- The battle that came with being diagnosed with testicular cancer

- Why chemotherapy was tougher than any rugby pain

- Life after rugby, coaching, and a new perspective

This is one of the most inspiring episodes ever from a man who was (along with his brother) certainly the most professional player I ever saw. He’s someone who deserved every bit of success he got and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one!

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Holly Parkes and Greg Johnson are two of the most purpose-driven people you’ll ever hear from.

Holly Parkes first came on the podcast during one of the toughest times of her life, sharing what it was really like trying to support someone battling a serious brain injury and searching for answers that never seemed to come. Greg is a former NZ SAS operator who spent years exposed to explosive blasts, before discovering his own brain injury had been misdiagnosed for years.

Together, they are now doing incredible work helping players, veterans, and everyday people who have struggled with brain injuries

From believing there was no hope to discovering a clinic that is actually helping people recover, this conversation is full of knowledge, and deeply important.

In this episode we dive into:

- Greg’s SAS career and how repeated blast exposure damaged his brain

- Being misdiagnosed with mental health issues instead of brain injury

- What brain injury actually does to your body, energy, personality and relationships

- Why so many athletes and veterans are slipping through broken pathways

- How Holly desperately searched for help and finally found a clinic doing things differently

- The Brain Health & Biofeedback Clinic in Dunedin and how it works

- Real people they are helping right now and the changes they’re already seeing

- Why brain injuries are not a death sentence

- What needs to change in sport, medicine, and support systems

And heaps more.

As you'll hear these two are super passionate about this topic which I know is a topic of relevance for many. The best thing about this episode is that if you are concerned or worried about your head there is hope!

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Reuben O’Neill has one of the most interesting stories in New Zealand rugby! A proud Taranaki lad, a cult hero in every team he’s played in, and a man who battled more adversity than most ever knew. From crippling cramps, constant injuries, and being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — to somehow rising all the way into an All Blacks camp before he’d even played Super Rugby.

In this episode some of the things we talk about were..

- How he's always embraced being himself

- Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and having no idea how to manage it

- The shock All Blacks call-up having played just a few NPC games

- The setbacks of a Neck fusion surgery, Achilles issues, stress fractures and how he kept coming back

- How injuries turned him into a DJ, a truck driver, a nutritionist and more

- The story behind “DJ Mince on Toast”

- Why he believes the Crusaders have had more success than the Chiefs

And he answers all your questions!

Rueben is a unique human, always happy to be himself, enjoys taking the piss and is not afraid of awkwardness. He's genuine lad and someone who makes every environment better in his own unique way. I'm sure you will enjoy this inspiring story from this great man!

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