/podcasts/rugby-direct/rss ¾ÅÒ»ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ Every week, Rugby Direct gives you the lowdown on all you need to know from the rugby world. Whether it's the All Blacks, Black Ferns, NPC, Farah Palmer Cu Fri, 20 Jun 2025 01:11:34 Z en /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-167/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-167/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap the Super Rugby semi-finals and assess the way the Crusaders and Chiefs were able to get there in contrasting fashion. We look ahead to this week's final and discuss who has more to gain or lose by winning this weekend. We also select our prospective 35-man squads for the All Blacks test series against France, a week out from the real squad being named and drill down into who the new faces might be. Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:04:55 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-166/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-166/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier react to the breaking news of Mark Robinson's impending departure as the chief executive of New Zealand and reflect on how he will be remembered and where to next. We also wrap the week that was in a dramatic Super Rugby playoff round, with the Hurricanes gone and the Blues keeping their season alive but flipping the run to the trophy on its head. We also examine the mooted R360 franchise concept and pay our respects to All Blacks great Stu Wilson. Mon, 09 Jun 2025 01:19:04 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-165/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-165/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the last round of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season and assess the top 6 sides left standing. We review Moana Pasifika's breakout season and look over to Japan as Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell taste further success over there. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 23:09:35 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-164/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-164/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap up the penultimate round of Super Rugby Pacific - as the Chiefs make a statement against Moana Pasifika, the Hurricanes and Crusaders take contrasting wins with eight teams left standing in the playoff race. We also dissect the Black Ferns' big win over the USA and assess the impact of the Sevens stars, offer some thoughts on the All Blacks mix and dish out some MVP votes. Sun, 25 May 2025 23:48:17 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-163/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-163/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier reflect on Ardie Savea's standout game that inspired Moana Pasifika to their first victory over the Blues in a compelling Super Rugby Round 14 fixture and whether the man should be All Blacks skipper, along with wrapping the rest of the round. We also discuss the Black Ferns against Canada, the state of world sevens and we're also joined by injured Blues lock Sam Darry for a feature chat. Mon, 19 May 2025 02:38:45 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-162/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-162/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review a big weekend of Super Rugby with the Chiefs storming back to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch to move clear at the top of the table, while the Blues continue their playoff charge with a win over the Drua in Fiji. We also recap a bumper week for rugby news, with the Black Ferns and New Zealand Under-20 sides taking big wins, the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia is named and NZR post a big financial loss. And recently retired Blues midfielder Bryce Heem joins the podcast for an extended chat to look back at his career. Wed, 14 May 2025 02:36:59 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-161/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-161/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Nick Bewley wrap up round 12 of Super Rugby Pacific, in which the Hurricanes made a major statement and the Blues and Moana Pasifika kept on the tail of the playoff chase. We also discuss some major changes to the World Sevens Series and some big omissions from the first Black Ferns playing squad of the year. Mon, 05 May 2025 01:37:19 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-160/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-160/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap the week in Super Rugby and ask the vital questions, like whether the 'Cane Train' is back on the tracks with a win over the Brumbies in Canberra, whether the Blues have run their race in 2025 and can anyone stop a Chiefs-Crusaders final. We also delve into Portia Woodman-Wickliffe's return to the Black Ferns and whether she can be the catalyst for World Cup success. Sun, 27 Apr 2025 23:52:38 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-159/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-159/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier react to a busy week of news in the rugby world, including the breaking news of Portia Woodman-Wickliffe coming out of retirement to have a crack at the World Cup for the Black Ferns. We also discuss Rieko Ioane's shock loan move to Leinster and how he might be welcomed by the Irish fans and teammates given his spat with Johnny Sexton and we discuss where to next for the Blues with Mark Tele'a's move to Japan after this season. We also wrap the round of Super Rugby as the top six becomes increasingly murky. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 23:30:47 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-158/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-158/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith is joined by Gold Sport's Crusaders commentator Nick Bewley with Liam on sabbatical to dissect a busy weekend of action. We discuss the Super Rugby Aupiki final, with the Blues defending their title before digging into the weekend of Super Rugby men's action that leaves the Crusaders top of the table and the Blues beginning to find some form. We also discuss whether Joey Manu will land in Super Rugby and more.  Mon, 14 Apr 2025 02:45:53 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-157/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-157/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dive into the big topics of the week in rugby, beginning with Liam's quick trip to Suva to experience his first Drua home game and the Crusaders' drought-breaking win there, along with the other games in round 8 that included another win for Moana Pasifika and the Chiefs and Blues picking up victories. We also discuss how the talent in NZ Rugby can be spread more widely, the Super Rugby Aupiki final this weekend and the doomed ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup test concept in Perth. Mon, 07 Apr 2025 01:27:41 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-156/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-156/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier react to the breaking news around Damian McKenzie's re-signing and what the deal means for both himself and the All Blacks over the coming years. We also look back at round seven of Super Rugby Pacific as Moana Pasifika pull off the upset of the season against the Crusaders, while the Hurricanes give the Waratahs a reality check and put the competition on notice. We also delve into the thorny stadium saga in Auckland and the impact on rugby. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 31 Mar 2025 08:29:12 Z /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-155/ /podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-155/ This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier discuss the Crusaders' big win over the Blues - and dig further into just why the latter are struggling so bad in their title defence. We wrap the rest of round 6 in Super Rugby and also pose a few questions around international eligibility as well as the prospect of who Ian Foster might pick for the combined Australia-NZ team he's picking to face the British and Irish Lions in July. Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:54:59 Z