What a Lad

Piri Weepu is a true NZ rugby legend, the instinctive halfback had a unique ability as a 9 and showed all his talents as he helped guided the All Blacks to the 2011 RWC when the nation started the 'Keep Calm Piri is on' movement.

We talk about plenty in this one like...

Piri's Tiki Tours and how he got his own TV show

Growing up in Wainuomata and his love for League

Making his way into the Wellington Lions and Hurricanes

The fog Final where he was KO'd

Missing out on the 2007 RWC with the All Blacks and how hard that was

How close he was to going to the NRL

Making the 2011 RWC and how he handled the pressure of the nation

His departure at the Hurricanes

The stroke he had at the Blues

His move over to the UK and France and why he feel out of love for the game

The struggles with life after rugby

And hard to believe but heaps more in this mammoth episode.

Piri is such a true character of the game and such a good lad, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. If you do please do us a huge favour and share it with someone you think would enjoy it.

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With the RWC just around the corner I managed to get the sport guru and absolute lad Searley back on What a Lad to talk all thing RWC and get the excitement levels humming for what is going to be a very special Rugby World Cup.

In this episode we talk about...

All the last warm up games and what those results mean

Our predictions for which teams will get out of pool play

We share our biggest concerns and what excites us the most for this RWC 

We have a go at picking the player of the tournament

And heaps more!

Plenty to enjoy in this one and make sure you get envolved with the RWC fantasy and join the What a Lad league Link here

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Brendan Chainsaw Laney was one of everyones favourite players in the late 90's, he had the skills and turn of pace to change a game and of course the Chainsaw try celebration!

In this episode we chat through...

How it was between boxing and rugby as a teenager,

Playing for South Canterbury while at school,

The good times playing for Otago and the Highlanders on and off the field,

Moving to Scotland and playing against the All Blacks twice in a week!

Handling the black lash that came with going to straight in to the national side,

Life after footy with commentating and owning his own business,

And heaps more.

As you'll hear theres a good reason why this man is so loved by so many, he is an absolute lad who enjoys a beer and a good time.

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Cory Jane is widely regarded as one of the all time great wingers with a combination of his sharp footwork, deadly fend and ability under the high ball. As his body slowed down he re-invented himself as one of the smartest defensive wingers in the game where he has now taken that knowledge and use it in the coaching world where he now coaches the Hurricanes.

Theres so much in this episode as we discuss

- All the different hair styles he's had.

- How he practiced his skills growing up by himself.

- His pathway to the All Blacks with included Hawkes Bay, NZ 7s, Wellington and the Hurricanes.

- Everything about the 2011 RWC including the infamous night out midweek.

- Ending his career in Japan and the battles with his injuries.

- His transition into coaching post footy.

- And as always lot's of your questions that came and heaps more.

As you'll hear Cory is a character and an absolute lad so if you enjoy this episode please give it a share.

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TJ Va'a was a school boy star and one of the brightest prospects coming through NZ rugby. The reality of this sport is that not every gifted young player gets to have the careers that they all hope for and TJ certainly fits that category. He  played for the Wellington Lions as a teenager and also made the Hurricanes wider squad and he was well on his way to becoming a household name. Unfortunately straight after school he went on a shocking run of injuries which lead him to retiring at the young age of 21!

The challenges of the transition to life after rugby is incredibly tough even after a full career let alone it being taken away from you 3 years in while hardly getting a shot. TJ talks about all the battles he faced mentally with the situation he was in and shares so much good advice for anyone transitioning or struggling with mental health or injuries.

I really enjoyed this episode, I think plenty will benefit from it so if you do enjoy it please give it a share.

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In this episode you'll hear the brutal reality of professional sport, one minute Ollie Hoskins has 2 more years left on his significant London Irish contract, the next minute he has nothing! What makes it worse is that there are now 50 other players in the same boat, on top of the players from Wasps and Worcester meaning that negotiation power as a rugby player is incredibly low. That's not to mention the staff either, so the collapse of London Irish has been very tough times for all involve. However it was great to get an insight into how thar whole process went down from the most passionate London Irish man I know. 

It was also cool to go through his journey from growing up in Perth and going from being a massive Western Force fan to becoming a Western Force player. A converted loosie who was moved into prop shares his battles with becoming a frontrower and all the mental struggles he had to overcome to get to where he is today. Even how Ollie became a one cap Wallaby is a fascinating story in itself!

So much in this episode to get your ears around and as you'll hear Ollie is an absolute lad!

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I'm super grateful to get Sione Havili Talitui on What a Lad this week, I know it's not easy to go on a podcast when English is your second language but I'm so glad Sione was brave enough to come on and share his story.

It's a story that I think will inspire many young islanders to chase their dreams and gives valuable insight into what a transition from Tonga to NZ as a schoolboy is like. I know Sione as one of the toughest players in the game, he's not a big man but not many hit harder than the Tongan axe. 

I really enjoyed hearing how he grew up in Tonga after being adopted at birth, how he handled his move to NZ without speaking any english and how the pressure of being the 'Golden Boot' winner at school level may have held him back more than it help him.

Sione has had a very successful career here in NZ winning 2 NPC titles and 4 Super Rugby title and about to head off to the RWC with Tonga.

As you'll hear Sione is an absolute lad who is an inspiration for so many. If you enjoy this epsiode please give it a share.

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When I saw Ryan Crotty strolling down my street the other day I thought I need to get this Canterbury, Crusader and All Black legend on the podcast because he is one of the great lads!

Fresh after returning from Japan after winning the Top League with Kubota, Crotts was straight back helping out at the Crusaders at training which basically sums up what a lad this man is.

In this episode he goes through his pathway through the NZ ranks which saw him go from being the ball boy for Dan Carter to playing outside him in the space of a few years. Ryan talks about some of his tougher years battling with injuries in particular concussion and also missing out on selection for the 2015 RWC. There was also plenty of good times to reminisce on as well, winning 7 NPC title, 3 Super Rugby titles, 5 Rugby Championships and heaps more.

As you will hear Ryan Crotty is one of those genuine good guys who has an awesome mindset towards life.

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For episode 200 I could not think of a better guest than the large chested All Black midfielder Jack Goodhue! It was so good to get him on What a Lad to share plenty of laughs and thoughts from his career to date.

Jack the proud Northland boy has had a career many dream of. Winning NPC titles with Canterbury, winning 6 Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders and becoming an All Black all make for a great CV. Amongst all that success is also a fair amount of hard times as well, in particular dealing with long term knee injuries. It was awesome to hear how he managed to deal with these and some advice for anyone in a similar situation.

He also talks about his beloved mullet, how one book changed his life and he even tells the story on why his testicles distracted him from is All Black call up.

I'm sure you will all enjoy this episode and if you do remember to please give it a share.

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When I think of Scotland Rugby I straight away think Greig Laidlaw, the absolute lad who has captained his country more than any other player.

He's also someone who has had so many great experiences playing all around the world which included Edinburgh in Scotland, Gloucester in England, Clermont in France and the Shining Arcs in Japan. Over his career he was known as one of the best goal kickers in the game and ended up with the 2nd most point ever scored for Scotland.

Having just retired from the game it's always cool to hear the story from the start all the way through and how he has gone straight into coaching next season in Japan.

Full of good stories this one and although I had never actually meet Greig before it felt like I'd known him for years, such a lad!

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