What a Lad

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...

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 ev...

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 havi...

The Welsh Rugby superstar Hadleigh Parkes is one of the great stories in rugby! A self described battler who played for Manawatu, Auckland, the Blues and the Hurricanes and at one point nearly walked away from the game altogether! It wasn't until a life changing call, a change of mindset and a move to Wales where he quickly turned himself into one of the best midfielders in the World!

In this episode here are some of the things we talk about:

- The glory days of ripping it up for Palmy boys with a...

Sam Lane is one of NZs very best hockey players and an absolute lad! He is 100+ gamer for the New Zealand Black Sticks, two-time Olympian, captain and full-time financial advisor… somehow all at once. His journey is one of the most unbelievable combinations of talent, tragedy, resilience and pure Kiwi grit you’ll hear.

This episode has everything — the brutal reality of playing for a national team with almost no funding, a run of injuries that would end most careers, the inspirational comeback to make the Paris Olympics, and the heartbreaking loss of his mum during the bigg...

Freedom Vaha'akaolo’s story is one of the wildest and most emotional you’ll ever hear. He is one incredibly talented rugby player who certainly didn't take the typical pathway.

From the age of just 11 years old he was homeless, eating from trash cans, and learning how to survive. Years later, he was scoring tries for Otago using his speed and power which earned him a spot with the Highlanders.

During that time he was involved in a cruel catfish scam almost ended it all.

In this episode, Freedom opens up about:

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is one of the most electric players in New Zealand rugby!

A proud Taranaki man, who went from Blues prospect to a Highlanders star as his story takes a wild turn when a routine game left him with a fractured neck!

What followed is a powerful story of perspective, gratitude, and rediscovering his love for the game. Jacob’s honesty and maturity in this chat is incredible and the way he speaks about identity, family and resilience is seriously inspiring.

Some parts that stood out for me were..

• Grow...

Two absolute lads on one outrageous mission. Alex and Ben decided they wanted to do something that would really push them to their limits for Movember so became the first ever to walk across New Zealand in a straight line. What followed was six days of chaos: rafting rivers in a leaking dinghy, crawling through blackberry, dodging bulls, and getting zapped by electric fences, all to raise money and awareness for men’s health.

In this episode they open up about around the challenges they have faced which included losing loved ones to prostate cancer and su...

Steve Devine is one of the toughest men to ever pull on a rugby jersey. A proud Aussie who moved over to NZ for an opportunity with Auckland, where he quickly made NZ home. Where the fearless competitive halfback played a huge part in Auckland and the Blues success. From that came an his chance to wear the All Black jersey which he managed to do 10 times.

But behind that toughness was a brutal reality, years of repeated head knocks that left him battling crippling migraines, light sensitivity, and a fight just to feel human again.

Tom Christie is one of the toughest workhorses in New Zealand rugby.

In this episode the multiple Super Rugby champion opens up on leadership, injuries, and why he’s leaving the Crusaders to chase a new challenge with Newcastle’s Red Bulls.

From captaining the NZ U20s to battling setbacks and rediscovering his love for the game, this is Tom Christie like you’ve never heard him before.

In this episode we chat about...

How he learnt to tackle as a young fella

What it meant leading the NZ...

Mitchell Scott was one of the most talented outside backs in New Zealand rugby, electric pace, unreal footwork, and a try-scoring instinct few could match. But behind the highlight reels was a rollercoaster journey through tragedy, addiction, injuries, and redemption.

From losing his father at just three years old, to wearing an ankle bracelet just months before representing New Zealand U20s in one of the greatest teams ever assembled. Mitch’s story is raw, honest and full of lessons.

In this episode we dive into:

- His early years an...

Jacob Ellison is one of Wellington’s great unsung heroes – a tough, mobile front-rower who gave absolutely everything every time he pulled on a jersey. From the Wellington Lions and Hurricanes to the Highlanders, the Māori All Blacks and several seasons in Japan, Jacob built a reputation as the ultimate team man.

But this chat is about far more than scrums. Jacob opens up about his remarkable life:

His unusual pathway from the wing to the front row

The shift from Hurricanes to Highlanders and life as a “middle-ground” pro

How...

Kylem O’Donnell is a lad who has truly lived the highs and lows of chasing the rugby dream. From starring at Hamilton Boys’ High to winning an NPC title with Taranaki and travelling the world with the All Blacks Sevens, he looked destined for it all. But behind the speed, fitness and flair, Kylem’s story is one of setbacks, mental battles, and resilience.

In this episode he opens up like never before from the challenge of dealing with injuries and non-selection, to a being on the receiving end of brutal bouncer assault. He even shares...

Mark Hammett has done it all in the game. With 81 games for the Crusaders, 4 Super Rugby titles, 29 Tests for the All Blacks and now a spot in the Crusaders Hall of Fame, Hammer’s rugby journey is an incredible one. Add in a coaching career that’s taken him from the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Cardiff Blues, Sunwolves, Tasman and Highlanders, the influence he has had on each side has been huge!

In this episode we dive into his remarkable journey: from a soccer player, to the early days of professional rugby, and the mindset that carried him thro...

Will Genia is one of the all-time great halfbacks and after this conversation I'm sure you'll understand why. With over 100 Tests for the Wallabies, a Super Rugby title with the Reds and stints with the Rebels, Stade Francais and the Kintetsu Liners Will had a bit of everything in his career!

In this episode we dive into his remarkable journey: from growing up in Papua New Guinea where he dreamt of becoming a cricketer, to falling in love with Rugby and the insane work ethic that took him from Colts to the Wallabies in the blink...

In this powerful episode I’m joined by Holly Parkes, someone who lived through the reality of caring for Shane Christie in his final years. Holly has bravely come on the podcast not for herself, but to continue Shane’s mission, to shine a light on the devastating impact of brain injuries and to give others a clearer understanding of what life with CTE really looks like.

She opens up about what it was like supporting Shane day-to-day, the heartbreaking changes she witnessed, and the strength it took to stand by him as he fought through some...

Du’Plessis Kirifi has had one of the more inspiring journeys to the top and is one heck of lad to top it off. From growing up in Taranaki and spending part of his childhood in Samoa, to working three jobs while chasing his rugby dream, Dups has had anything but a straight road to the top.

He opens up on the setbacks that shaped him — missing out on NZ U20s after being told he was “good enough but a bit of a dickhead”, the grind of trying to pack on size when everyone said he was too...

The latest Western Force signing George Bridge is our guest this week and what a lad he is! From humble beginnings in Gisborne, to carving up for Canterbury, the Crusaders, and then going on to wear the black jersey on the biggest stage of all! But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. George had his struggles moving down to Christchurch as a 17 year old, he had to deal with some brutal injuries – knees, pec tears, appendicitis, he had three surgeries in eight months! He even played a Super Rugby Final with a nasty vomit bug. Despite all that, he k...

For this one I am joined by one of the Black Ferns’ most exciting talents, Amy du Plessis. Amy’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring, from growing up in South Africa to becoming a Rugby World Cup winner with the Black ferns! Her silky skills and ability to play anywhere has made her a hugely valuable asset for NZ Rugby and now she’s now preparing to take on the world again in the 2025 Rugby World Cup! 

In this episode we chat about..

* Life growing up in South Africa and why her family...

Angus Ta’avao is one of the biggest characters in New Zealand rugby, someone who is always good value to be around and has a great ability to bring a side together with his personality.

Angus has done it all: NPC champ with Taranaki, Super Rugby champ with the Blues, he's an All Black, TV star, saxophone shredder and he is still playing rugby as good as he ever has! Angus is the ultimate lad.

In this episode we get into

- Why he has decided to move down to the Hi...

Oli Mathis is one of the most talented young players in the country. The Hamilton Boys star produced some of the most iconic NZ Schools performances we’ve ever seen. Whether he’s been playing loose forward or on the wing, the 20-year-old has been unstoppable playing for Waikato, the All Blacks 7’s side & the NZ U20s.

In this episode, we chat about:

Jamison Gibson Park has gone on to be without a doubt one of the best 9s in world rugby! He's one of my favourite players to watch the way he plays with speed and controls the tempo of games while always nailing the basics. He was also one of my favourite team mates to play with because he was just a massive lad. 4 years ago this episode was recorded where he had just debuted for Ireland so it's pretty cool to hear some of the conversations we had around his future plans to see how far he has exceeded...

Daniel Bell might not be a recognisable name for you all, but as soon as you hear that voice – you will definitely recognise the voice. The man widely regarded for having the greatest larynx in the country which we have heard delivering some of the great moments in Heartland Rugby! Donny Bell has an infectious love for the game and brings the fizz like no other.

In this episode, we chat about:

•Why he always wanted to be a commentator as a kid 

•Commentating with some of his childhood hero’s...

Sam Darry is a massive lad! Standing at over 2 metres tall and at just 24 years old the man has achieved and been through a lot! And it feels like he is still just getting started,

After dominating schoolboy footy, Sam signed with Canterbury young and then made a bold move to head north to the Blues, a decision that he felt gave him the opportunity to become one of the best young locks in the game. It's fair to say it's worked out pretty well for him, being an important piece of the puzzle in the...

No one has won more Super Rugby titles than Mitchell Drummond! A man who has done it all in the red and black jersey, Drummy has won 3 NPC titles with Canterbury and a ridiculous 8 Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders – yes, 8 titles! Add to that a test for the All Blacks, a stint with the Barbarians, over 100 games for Canterbury, and being the youngest ever Crusaders centurion and you start to get the picture.

But beyond the stats, Mitch has been the Glue Guy for the Canterbury Region for over a decade, a man who has genuinely pu...

Rugby fans don't get much bigger than Colin Mansbridge! Who also just happens to be potentially the most successful CEO in all sport, having been the Crusaders CEO for the last 8 years which includes 7 Titles! However, for many it was the way he handled himself and the organisation last season when Crusaders missed the top 8 which was most impressive!

In this episode, Colin brings plenty of honesty, insight, and laughs and we go through some of the challenges and triumphs of being the boss!

Some parts that stood out in this one were...<...

He’s trained the greatest All Blacks of the modern era, he's survived the pressure cooker of test rugby, and has done so for the past 18 years! Nic Gill, the legendary All Blacks trainer, sits down for one of the great yarns full of honesty, laughs, and elite-level insight.

In this episode we cover:

For this weeks Fan Favourite episode we throw back to one of the most powerful episodes to date, I’ll always remember this episode for the feeling of goosebumps I got down my spine as Michael Fatialofa shared his incredible journey. Fats was one of the toughest players on the field I ever played with and he proved he was even tougher off it after a life changing tackle.

The former Auckland, Southland and Hurricanes star was over in the UK playing for Worcester, when he was hit awkwardly in a tackle that caused him to be...

This one has it all — Scott Waldrom, one of the most explosive loose forwards to play the game, jumps on for an absolute ripper of a chat and does not hold back. From growing up as a rugby super fan idolising his hero’s to playing with legends like Jonah Lomu, Jerry Collins, Christian Cullen and Justin Marshall, to getting dropped from Sevens after a scrap in Lower Hutt, Scooters career is full of highs, lows, and unreal yarns.

We talk about:

Marty Banks was a cult hero, fans loved him. He looked like your average kiwi bloke, tall, low muscle mass and ran a distinctive curly mop. On the field he was a point scoring machine, he kicked goals from everywhere and made a habit of scoring long range tries which his deceptive pace.

That's the Marty we all knew from the screen. The Marty you'll hear from in this episode is the one who struggled with self confidence, the one who battled through serious injury pain and the one who has had his challenges transitioning into...

We got back to an early fan favourite for this one with the great Mark Stafford!

The beauty of a podcast, you think you know someone well, then you sit with them on the podcast and you are absolutely blown away with their story. That is exactly how this episode with the great man Mark Stafford aka Staffy went. 

Staffy has had an incredible journey to become the face of the TAB and the face of sport here in NZ but he certainly had a few bumps along the way. He shares some mind b...

"Who's that new hooker at the Crusaders?" That's a question I'm hearing everywhere! Well in fact that man is Ioane Moananu and this is your chance to hear all about this great man in his first ever podcast. Now Ioane is incredibly humble and down to earth with a infectious laugh and cool story. From struggling to start for Counties Manakau to becoming arguably the form hooker of Super Rugby Ioane has had an incredible 12 months and the future is so bright for this great man.

This episode is a good reminder of when you play...

Scott Fuglistaller was one of those champion team mates who did everything he could to be the best he could be. Unfortunately for the self acclaimed battler it was just never quite enough during his time at the Hurricanes competing with some pretty gifted athletes. He found a way though with moves to the Highlanders and then the Melbourne Rebels for him to become a regular Super Rugby starter and even captain. Sitting at a natural weight of around 80kgs, Scotty had to work so hard in the gym and with his diet to get to a weight that...

Voted by you guys as the funniest episode ever!

Charlie Gubb is one of my all time favourite Warriors, not just because of the way he played on the field (even though he was an absolute animal) but more importantly because of how big of a lad that he is off it.

Gubby is the kind of team mate everyone loves to have in the team environment, loves a yarn, loves banter and just loves being around the lads. What I didn't realise before going into this podcast was the incredible journey Rugby League took...

Taha Kemara is one of the most talented players in the country, he's fast, he's tough, he has an incredible skillset and more importantly he is a champion lad! For a 21 year old he has certainly experienced plenty of highs and lows from the game already some parts that stood out for me were..

- Growing up as a bigger sized kid which lead him to playing prop until college.

- His time at Hamilton Boys and the influence Nigel Hotham had on him

- Signing with the Crusaders for 3 years straight...

After 5 years of What a Lad here is one of your selected favourite episodes with the great Robbie Flynn. Robbie is was widely regarded as one of the most talented players in the country but as we all know talent will only get you so far. The beauty of this episode is how honest Robbie is with what held him back from fulfilling his potential.

Robbie Flynn really should be a household name. He should be known as a rugby player who played at the highest level, with the natural talent that he had. Unfortunately, Robbie...

Andy Ellis is one of the most well connected lads on the planet and after this episode it’s clear to see why. He’s the ultimate ‘yes man’, happy to give anything a crack which is evident by his list of achievements.

Some of his achievements include…

➖ Hosting the no1 TV show in NZ ‘Moving Houses’

➖ Having the no1 song in NZ with C-City Brothers

➖ Hosted the morning radio show

➖ Qualified landscaper

➖ Business owner of Black Origin (Wagu Beef), Gravity (internet company), Hello Kiwi (internet domains)

➖ NPC win...

Harry Wilson in 2023 missed out on the Wallabies RWC squad and was even struggling to make the Australia A side! Fast forward to 2024 and he is not just in the Wallabies but he's captaining his country to some of the best form they have been in for a long time. For the last 5 years Harry has been one of the best loose forwards in Super Rugby, where his work rate and collisions are up there with the best in the world! At only 25 years old, he's got a massive future still ahead of him!

Some other...

Kyle Preston is someone who deserves every bit of success he gets. His work ethic is unmatched and to hear his journey and how he has stuck to the plan even when he wasn't getting the rewards was truely inspiring. Having had one of the all time great Super Rugby debuts a few weeks ago scoring 3 tries, it was an opportunity for Kyle to show the world he was as ready as he knew he was. Whether it was doing body weight exercises till tears, kicking and passing at the park by himself for 2-3 a day or avoiding...

The fact that Christian Lio-Willie is a qualified dentist still blows my mind! Almost every player I have spoken to has said it's too hard to juggle both but this man has done it! How he has got to this point has been some effort, juggling huge days of study while playing professional rugby, he mentions he had to plan every minute of the day.

Having focused on his study straight out of school after a recommendation from his mum, Christian felt like he may have missed the boat on his rugby career as his peers...

Get ready for one of the most inspiring episodes yet with the legendary lad Morgan Mitchell. Born deaf, Morgan’s journey to becoming a professional rugby player was never going to be easy. Although he was an absolute beast on the rugby field from a young age, he was always told that he would never be able to play professional rugby. Thankfully the man who is known for his stubbornness was not having a bar of it and did manage to debut for his beloved Southland stags in 2014. He has since gone on to play over 50 games for the St...

With Super Rugby just around the corner, who better to talk to than the Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley. The fact that Jack was keen to come on What a Lad and share his very honest thoughts on the game and where it is heading, is proof that this man will do what he can to grow the game.

Transparency was a big part of what Jack wants to see going forward and he certainly leading the way with how open he was around the challenges Super Rugby is facing but also some great ideas he...

Tom Walsh has been one of the best shot-putters in the world for the last decade so it was an honour to get him on What a Lad for this one.

Plenty of people have suggested over the years to get him on and I can see why, he isn’t just good at what he does but he’s a massive lad with an incredible mindset which has seen him win Gold Medals at the World Champs (outdoor and indoor) and the Commonwealth games while twice picking up a Bronze at the Olympics

Some...

Everyone who has played with Brayden Mitchell will testify that he is one of the greatest lads to play the game, he was a champion team mate on and off the field, who loved a good time and could always back it up when on the pitch. Some of the stories and reflections that the man they call Scratcher has in this episode were incredible to hear. He was so honest, held back nothing and can tell a seriously good yarn!

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

How hard...

Mark Nawaqanitawase has had one of the most eventful 12 months in sport! Firstly heading to the Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies before changing code to the 7’s format of the game for the Paris Olympics, where he narrowly missed out on a medal. He then changed codes again, this time to the 13 man game playing NRL for the Sydney Rooster to cap off what was an incredible 12 months.

What stood out for me in this one was..

How his Fijian heritage plays a significant role in his identity and sports career.

...

The life of a head coach can be as brutal at times and it's fair to say that Rob Penney has been on the receiving end of his fair share of public criticism. However, what I am excited to share with you in this episode is just what a champion man he is. From playing 100 games for Canterbury as a tough loose forward to becoming a Head Coach who has coached all around the world, the Rob Penney journey is a fascinating one!

Some parts that stood out were...

Firstly hearing his thoughts...

This week on What a Lad we are joined by Hugh Pyle who in my opinion is the greatest Australian rugby player never to be capped by the Wallabies. Standing at over 2 meters tall, Hugh's combination of skillset and workrate has seen him have a remarkable career firstly in Australia with the Rebels before moving to France, where he became a centurion with Stade Français. He finished off in Japan with Toshiba before calling time on his Rugby career.

In his podcast debut, Hugh shares candid insights about his life post-rugby, including his transition to a...

Hamish Kerr is officially the greatest High Jumper in the world having recently won Gold at the Paris Olympics. However, what you're about to hear in this episode is an insight into the mind of the Olympic champion and you'll be amazed at how close he came to bowing out in the Qualifiers which in his mind would have meant retirement. The pressure that come on one single jump is insane and when you need to be relaxed and in flow when jumping how you handle that pressure is the difference.

Some other cool parts of...

Christian Cullen is a legend. You only have to watch a few minutes of his highlights package to remind yourself how good he really was. The speed and agility, his ability to change direction at full pace, his deceptive strength, add on top his attacking mindset and his braveness in defence! He was a joy to watch. He's also such a champion man who prefers not doing things like this so super grateful to get him on.

In this whopping 2 hour episode some parts that stood out for me

Casey Laulala is one of the most likeable characters you'll meet with an inspiring story from growing up in Samoa to becoming an All Black. 

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

Ross Filipo is one of the greatest lads in our game, whose journey through rugby has been nothing short of fascinating. Starting his rugby journey at 15, Ross shares his evolution from a talented but hesitant first five who could goal kick off both feet, to becoming the skilful and physical lock forward we knew him as.

In this episode we explore key moments throughout his career, including: 

Early Years: Ross always had the talent however he was naturally inclined to just cruise before a change of mindset saw a change in outcomes.

Becoming a...

When we talk about the greatest rugby family in this country ever, it's almost impossible to go past the Barretts. Kevin 'Smylie' Barrett was a Taranaki legend who also played for the Hurricanes, Beauden is a 100 game All Black, RWC winner and 2 x World Player of the year, Scott has captained the Crusaders to 4 Super Rugby titles and is the current Captain of the All Blacks, Jordie at just 27 has racked up over 50 games for the All Blacks and dominated where ever he plays. Kane was tracking the same path before 2 significant head injuries forced him to retire at...

Aaron Mauger loves rugby, he's so passionate about the game and he is so grateful for his involvement in the game and he's certainly been involved!

From playing for Canterbury straight out of school, to becoming a Crusader and All Black not long after. He then moved to Leicester were he won premierships over there, before injuries forced him to retire at just 30. Post playing he was always going to stay in the game and with his incredible rugby knowledge has gone on to become a great coach!

Some bit's that stood out for me...

Everyone loves a battler and when it comes to one of the greatest battlers to ever play the game the great Laurence Corlett has to be up there. The man who debuted for the Hurricanes 10 years after his first class debut for Canterbury, the man known as Frank put in a 7 minute shift that will never be forgotten at the Hurricanes. The story of Laurence Corlett is one that has so many layers, he's a true yes man who put himself out there and he can tell one heck of a story.

Some bits that stood out...

Colin Cooper is one of the great great human beings, he's one of the wisest souls on the planet – a true legend of rugby in New Zealand with an incredible career spanning over four decades!

Having played over 100 matches for Taranaki and represented the NZ Maori, and Junior All Blacks Colin has left a huge mark on the game as a player. After hanging up his boots, Colin transitioned to coaching, where he made his mark as the coach of the NZ U21s, an assistant at the Crusaders, the head coach of the Hurricanes, and the Ch...

Carlo Tizzano has burst on to the international rugby scene this season with an incredible work rate and tackle success rate and after this conversation it's easy to understand why.

Growing up as an angry child, with 3 other brother constantly winding him up the aggression in his game was always going to be there. Having started out as a winger, he decided to move in to 7 a move with had plenty of doubters and even cost him a spot in the academy. However, as you'll hear Carlo has an incredible self belief, while also having incredible discipline...

Ross Devlin was your classic old school player, he threw his body and head into everything and was too tough to ever want to come off. Now Ross is convinced that he has CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) from multiple concussions which included a very significant car crash. He now just wants to help others who may have it or even better prevent people from getting it.

The key message in this episode is to try and help players, coaches, parents or whoever, that concussions and multiple concussions need to be taken more seriously at all levels of...

Bailey Simonsson is one of the best outside backs in the NRL and it was crazy to hear how close he was to giving up on the game! After a couple of years with the BOP Steamers and a short stint with the All Blacks 7's side Bailey returned home back to Australia with no professional contract. 12 months later and he's playing in the NRL final for the Canberra Raiders.

This episode is another case of the different pressures that are placed on these guys in both codes of footy. The pressure to take your opportunities when...

The Chris Eaton episode is one that left my cheeks sore from laughing so much, while also pulled on the heartstrings to bring tears in the eyes. This story is one of the most incredible stories yet. 

From growing up in Flaxmere which he would describe as "the hood", staying out of trouble growing up was about as hard as keeping the Hurricanes 9 jersey off TJ Perenara.After several last chances with Hawkes Bay relating off field incidents and a contract which involved no alcohol, Chris got through it to end up playing 114 games for his beloved M...

This week I am joined by Japanese royalty Lomano Lemek! The Japanese rugby legend who has been to the Olympics with the Japanese 7s side who finished 4th, He’s been to 2 RWC’s and has recently signed with Honda Heat again to take him through to 19 years playing professionally in Japan. From a young age Mano wanted to be a professional rugby player and being in the 1st XV at the age of just 14 made that a really realistic dream. However, after that season he failed to make any rep teams which really tested his commitment and perseverance of t...

Tamaiti Williams is one of the most exciting talents in the game, he's a whopping 196cm (6ft4) and 140kg (308lbs) with the speed and light feet of an outside back. He's got the skillset of a playmaker and most importantly for his position he's a beast at scrum time comfortably playing both sides of the scrum. All this at just 23 years of age! The potential of this champion lad is huge and it was awesome to go through his journey up until now.

Some key bits that stood out for me...

Richard Kahui is one of those player that when fit was one of the best in the world and the unfortunate thing for him and all of NZ rugby fans was the fact that the "when fit" part was all to few and far between. The man known as Kaks had to go through 5 Full shoulder reconstructions plus another shoulder surgery in the space of 6 years which made fighting for the dream All Black 13 jersey a tough gig. It was also a real challenge mentally to continue to do everything possible to get back from these injuries only to...

Daryl Mitchell is the NZ Black Cap who deserves every single bit of success he gets! From battling away in the NZ domestic league to becoming one of the best all rounders in the world he has had a unique pathway to becoming a professional athlete with a mindset we can all learn from.

Some key parts of this chat were..

-Hearing how growing up with his dad John Mitchell who was an All Black coach and coached all around the world and the moves they made as a family.

-Mitchell talks about...

Joel Everson with potentially the craziest story ever on What a Lad! This episode will blow your mind and I’m sure it will also inspire you and I’m sure it will help many.

Joel Everson is the 2:06m lock who had a 12 year rugby career playing for Canterbury, Southland, the Crusaders, Clermont and Hino in Japan. It was his time in Hino where his life was flipped upside down, coming out of a night club in Tokyo, surrounded by Police to then being locked away in a Japanese prison for 23 days.

There’s soo mu...

Bryn Hall has not only been one of the best 9's in NZ rugby for the last decade but he's also been the voice of the game for many with his gift to articulate rugby union in a way to relate to the masses on the Aoteroa Rugby Pod and in Commentary.

What stood out in this episode for me, was just how dedicated Bryn was to achieving the dream of being a professional rugby player from a young age. Then once he was in there, it was his drive to compete and always grow his game...

Shiray Kaka is the NZ Black Ferns 7s star who is also one of the biggest personalities in the game! Her bubbly energy combined with a unique ability to be real and share her feelings, made her a dream guest for this. Her journey through professional rugby hasn't been an easy one and this episode reflects that with plenty of laughs, a few tears and plenty a relatable advice.

Some topics we cover in this episode are...

Timoci Tavatavanawi is the Fijian powerhouse who has quickly become the most destructive ball carrier in Rugby. The man is an absolute nightmare to tackle with his combination of power and leg drive and just the physique which is has hard as rock. I

t was awesome to get the man they call Jim on the share his journey from growing up in a Fijian village to playing for Tasman Mako, Moana Pacifica and the Highlanders. He talks about the importance of family and the Fijian community support and how important it is to give back to...

Jamie Hannah is one of the most impressive young players in our game, you don't often see forwards with the skillset and game awareness that this kid has as well as the engine and toughness to boot. He is one very impressive player.

He is also a massive lad as well, growing up in North Canterbury living the good life on the farm riding motorbikes and playing footy. Some key points in this episode were..

Cam Roigard is one of the most exciting talents in the game right now. In the last couple of years he has made every post a winner, rapidly climbing through the ranks after starring for Counties Manakau, carving up Super Rugby with the Hurricanes before heading of to the RWC with the All Blacks. It was here on the world stage where we all got to see the huge talent that this young man possesses and has got plenty excited about where he can get to.

The beauty of this story is that Cam wasn't the star...

Norm Maxwell was pound for pound the hardest hitter this game has probably ever seen. At just 90kgs the All Black lock through himself into collisions like no other every time he stepped on the field. However you tell Norm that he's tough and he's not buying it.

From growing up with feeling the field was the only place he was free and his first big collision being the first time he felt respected, Norm always was going to play rugby. His Crusaders contract came quicker than he'd ever thought and something that was was far from...

In this episode I am joined by the legendary Black Fern sisters Chelsea and Alana Bremner. These two champion humans have a very special bond, having grown up in the same room together until 17, to winning a RWC together. They have shared many special moments throughout their journey to becoming professional rugby players.

As you will hear both Chelsea and Alana are such great inspirations for all athletes in our game especially the young females.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are joined by the lad Peter Breen, who is the founder of Rugby Bricks which is responsible for improving goal kicking all over the world with the production of some of the great kicking tees ever. He’s also played the game professionally for Otago and Northland and has been coaching professionally all around the world, including plenty of NRL clubs and has just recently finished as an assistant coach with the mighty Matatu. Theres plenty of gold in this episode, whether you're an aspiring player, coach, business owner, content creator or father I'm sure you will le...

For this episode I jump on one of the biggest podcasts in the country, The Dom Harvey podcast which is of course hosted by the great Dom Harvey. I talk through everything from footy, coaching and podcasting. If you enjoy Dom's work go and check out his other episodes as well. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the great lads of Welsh and NZ rugby Johnny McNicholl is on What a Lad this week, after returning to Super Rugby in red hot form!

Having started in Christchurch with Canterbury and the Crusaders, Johnny then spent 8 seasons over in Wales with the Scarletts as well as playing international rugby for Wales. Now he has returned to where it all started and is back with the Crusaders passing on his wisdom and ripping it up on the field.

Some bits that stood out in this chat were...

How setbacks early...

For this episode I jump on the other side of the mic by going on the O-Studio podcast hosted by the 2 time What a Lad guest Tim Bateman and his co hosts Sophie and Matty. 

They do such an awesome job hosting as I share my journey and a few things I have learnt along the way.

To listen to more episodes of theirs head to the link below...

https://www.ostudio.co.nz/community/o-studio-podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Naki has to be one of the most likeable lads you'll meet. He's as down to earth as they come, he's quick witted, he loves a beer, he loves a punt and to his amazement he has somehow managed to get over 1 Million people along for his Blackjack journey of turning $1500 into over half a million dollars.

The champion Tim Naki will answer every question you have ever wanted to know about the man in this one some key topics...

How the idea started to bet 10c for every follower,

H...

Sam Whitelock is one of the all-time greats of rugby! In this episode he discusses his recent decision to retire from Rugby and future plans. The man who is the most capped All Black ever has had an incredible career which was so cool to go through with him. You will be sure to learn plenty in this one!

I loved hearing around Sam's mindset to the game, his consistency to perform in some of the biggest games has been special to witness. Also his leadership is something that has really stood out for anyone who has...

Dexter Dunn is one of the greatest Harness Drivers ever, period. His strike rate since he started out as a teenager speaks for itself. He was NZ's leading driver for 10 years straight, winning almost every big race there is to win in Australasia. He then moved over to America where he has quickly becoming the leading driver in America and the world winning over 50 Million in stakes!

In this episode you will hear an incredible insight into the life of a world leading reinsman, from how hectic his schedule is having up to 8 meetings a week to h...

Will Jordan is one of those rugby players who is just a joy to watch. He's fast, he's got all the skills and of course he scores plenty of tries. His strike rate speaks for itself, having scored 31 tries in 31 games for the All Blacks at international level and he's quickly approaching 100 if to add on his Tasman Mako and Crusader ones as well.

However as we always hear on these episodes, the rugby professional rugby career is not just all good fun and scoring tries there are always ups and downs to go through with Will...

What a Lad is a podcast by James Marshall who talks to some of the biggest names and best lads on the planet.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Todd is one of the most understated Canterbury, Crusader and All Black legend there is! A man who just went about his work consistently every week racking up 20+ tackles, missing none and doing it all again the following week! There’s not many tougher than the great Matt Todd!

Some highlights in this episode were…

How much passion he has for the game from a youngster up until now.

What he lacked in natural ability he made up for with hard work and the ability to keep turning up.

Why he n...

Mulls & John from The Sporting Rumble and Jimmy Marshall from What a Lad have joined forces to bring you the the perfect poddy to get fizzed up for Super Rugby Pacific.

On the show we preview the 6 kiwi teams (including Moana Pasifika), look at the Coaches, All Blacks Bolters, who'd you live in a tent with on a deserted island, and who will win Super Rugby Pacific? 

Follow The Sporting Rumble here: https://bit.ly/4bjy96U

Follow What A Lad here: https://bit.ly/3SFcJsi

Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

When I think of genuine superstars of Australian rugby, I think James O’Connor. He is the youngest ever player to play Super Rugby at just 17years old. He burst on to the rugby scene with his boy band looks and his incredible talent. At 18 he was playing international rugby for Australia and with that came high expectations of him as a role model, a role he wasn’t ready for.

I loved this episode so much because you can hear in raw honesty what these young professional athletes go through when bursting onto the scene. James has...

Not many thought I would be able to rope in the humble All Black legend Joe Moody on to What a Lad but here he is. In his first ever podcast, the great loose head prop (and a bit of tight head) shares his journey through his raw and honest nature that he approaches his life with.

Some of the highlights of this episode were...

Hearing how Joe grew up with 3 older sisters doing the odd dress up,

How he dominated for his country at wrestling up until the age of 21,

...

Brodie Retallick is one of the all time great All Blacks and also one of the all time lads so what better way to start What a Lad season 5 than with the great man himself! The man they call Guzzler has had an incredible journey and in his first ever long form podcast he goes through it all! Some highlights...

- Turning up to CHBS as the tallest kid in the school at Year 9.

- How he went from missing out on the Crusader Academy to becoming an All Black in the space of 3 years.<...

Here it is, the last episode of season 4 and as always I love to finish the season with one of the all time lads and who better than the All Black and Chiefs legend Anton Lienert-Brown. Anton in my eyes has been someone who has been a real trailblazer for keeping things real, openly speaking about the highs and lows of his rugby journey.

In this episode he goes in to detail about..

The recent Rugby World Cup and his feelings pre and post some of those special games

How he went from...

We always hear about the journey from an athletes point of view but never from the one behind the scenes doing all the hard work. However in this episode with Kayla Ahki we get the best of both. The former NZ 7s rugby super star was the best female player in the game in 2013 after switching from Netball not long before. She won World Series Circuits and even a Silver Medal at the Olympics, while her combination of speed and strength made her a genuine star of the game.

Now this is the part as males we...

Gambling addictions are growing in society rapidly and even more so if professional sport. Disposable income, plenty of spare time and chasing that buzz you get from professional sports make pro athletes high risk. As you'll hear in this episode with one of the greats Paul Iffil, it was those things that had him lose around 2 Million pounds in his career.

Paul was an English Football star playing in some of the biggest games against some of the biggest names. New Zealanders will know him more for his prolific goal scoring record with the Wellington Phoenix. Like...

The life after rugby transition has been a struggle for so many who have been through it and as you’ll hear in this episode with Ged Robinson, it doesn’t have to be that way. Our mindset around how we approach this next stage of our life needs to change and there are many pieces of absolute gold advice in here from Ged.

The former professional rugby player who played for plenty of teams including Manawatu, Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Canterbury and in Super Rugby played for the Hurricanes, Rebels, Highlanders, Crusaders has plenty of good stor...

Corey Flynn is the definition of a lad! He's just one of those truely genuine good blokes who has had a rugby career take him on some journey. He's had some huge achievements like winning the Rugby World Cup but hearing what he had to go through to get that opportunity made it so much more special then the trophy.

In this episode we got through plenty including,

The tough decision to leave Southland to go to Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Being named in the 2003 RWC squad out of no where (crazy story...

That’s it! The 2023 RWC is all over and man has that taken us on an emotional rollercoaster.

So much to discuss in this last ever episode of the Dance in France review show. It’s been awesome having Searley and Jacob Atkins join me for the RWC to give their analysis and for this one last time they go hard.

7 out of the 8 knockout games came down to the last play! Again the final was no different, the All blacks playing a majority of the game with 14 men, South Africa playing with plent...

Hugh Renton is one of the NZ rugbys hard men, he's tough, he's aggressive and he has a reckless regard for his body. He's also had to be very tough mentally with some of the challenges he has faced in his professional career to date. From being signed on a 3 year contract with the Hurricanes straight out of school with a non functional arm, to losing his Dad to suicide. Hugh has had plenty to deal with.

The best thing from all that, is he has learnt so much about himself and the mind through his journey...

Here it is! We are at the pinnacle of the sport a Rugby World Cup final with 2 of the most dominant teams in the history of the sport going at it as the mighty All Blacks get set to take on the Springboks. What a way to finish which has been such an incredible World Cup. So many good games and I’m sure this weekend will be no different.

As always on here, we are joined by two of the great rugby analysis in the form of Searley from Searley talks sport and Jacob Atkins as we...

Shane Christie is one of NZ's great lads! This is one of the the most honest, raw and engaging episodes I've ever done, as we talk about topics which are very close to home, like concussion in rugby and the incredibly sad passing of a good mate Billy Guyton.

Many will know Shane as a Super Rugby winner with the Highlanders, or an NPC winner with Tasman as both a player and coach, or maybe even for his time with the NZ Maori All Blacks. However I think what every one loves about Shane Christie, is he...

Before we start talking Semi Finals, lets sit back and take in what was the best weekend of Rugby you will see! Some of the most entertaining, competitive and intense games you will see, topped of by an All Blacks v Ireland game for the ages. 37 phases deep playing for the win, it truely was edge of the seat stuff. France v South Africa was in the same boat for intensity and drama! While both Wales v Argentina and Fiji v England both went right down to the wire. There's been lots of complaining about the draw but with...

Phill Jones is one of the best shooters of a Basketball this country has ever seen. He scored thousands of goals in his 23 year career, which included at least 163 games for the Tall Blacks. The Reefton Kid had plenty to discuss in this one which includes..

Coaching his son Hayden who at 16 is already playing in the NBL (his daughters Maia and Ava are also very talented)

Growing up in the small town of Reefton

His pathway from Nelson College to the Nelson Giants

Some crazy stories about playing basketball in...

How good is this Rugby World Cup! You couldn't ask for a more even, hard to predict quarter final games than what we have here. 4 Northern Hemisphere teams taking on 4 Southern Hemisphere teams, with all 4 Northern Hemisphere teams going in as favourites for the first time ever.

So much to talk about in this episode but before we look forward we must look back to the incredible week that has been with Portugal creating scenes winning their first ever RWC game. Ireland putting on an absolute clinic! France and the ABs way to good in their games...

Charlie Gubb is one of my all time favourite Warriors, not just because of the way he played on the field (even though he was an absolute animal) but more importantly because of how big of a lad that he is off it.

Gubby is the kind of team mate everyone loves to have in the team environment, loves a yarn, loves banter and just loves being around the lads. What I didn't realise before going into this podcast was the incredible journey Rugby League took him on! Some of the interesting points were..

How...

The last round of pool play is here and knockout rugby has come a week early for a few teams, which makes for a couple of mouth watering clashes to finish pool play.

Jake the snake and I first look back at the week that was where we talk about the absolute clinic the All Blacks put on Italy as well as all the other match ups from last week. 

I review my fantasy rugby week and how Darcy Graham changed my week and I think it's an easy week for fantasy players this week w...

Big Brad Mika was one of those guys I loved watching growing up, an absolute beast with the skill set of a back. Capped by the All Blacks just 3 times, after some outstanding years of Super Rugby, where he played for the Crusaders, Blues and the Hurricanes. He's now transitioned into Coaching where he has been coaching in Malaysia for the last 7 years.

In this episode we go through..

Life and coaching in Malaysia

Growing up doing every sport with his mum having to carry his passport

Playing 1st 5 through most...