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Rugby Unity goes big picture, then straight into the weekend’s rugby. David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie pull apart what the Football World Cup in the USA is teaching World Rugby ahead of 2031: fan energy, downtown stadium precincts, and the must-solve issue of NFL field dimensions for rugby. They also dig into hydration breaks and the brutal reality of modern media, where TikTok and video are reshaping how sport is sold and understood. Then it’s on to the results: Leinster thump the Bulls 36-7 in the URC final, Hurricanes destroy the Chiefs 60-5 in the Super Rugby final in wild Wellington wind, and Northampton edge Exeter 26-17 with yellow cards again impacting finals footy. The Third Voice returns with Wallabies selection heat, including Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Carter Gordon at 12, and how this awkward coaching transition compares to the old Eddie Jones handover.Also in this episode:● Football World Cup fans show rugby what’s possible● 2031 USA: rugby field dimensions vs NFL stadiums● Hydration breaks and the advertising money question● Reuters report: TikTok now drives youth news habits● Hurricanes’ front-row skill and post-contact dominance● Third Voice: Wallabies squad debates and centre combinationsPLUS: From fan behaviour to transparency, rugby’s next growth push is cultural and commercial.RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdoSIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rugby Unity goes global this week, with David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie pulling lessons from the football World Cup in the USA and asking what World Rugby must copy before Rugby World Cup 2031. Dynamic ticket pricing, host city negotiations, and fan culture are all on the table, plus how creator content could help Australia show off more than just the capital cities in 2027. Then it’s back to the pitch: the Super Rugby final is locked in, Hurricanes v Chiefs, after Hurricanes thumped the Blues and the Chiefs put the Crusaders away early. Ewen also shares a chat with Eddie Jones on why scores are blowing out: fewer contests, fewer scrums, but better instinctive support play and two-handed, straight running across the park. And there’s heat in the Premiership too, with the Joe Cokanasiga yellow card debate lighting up Bath v Exeter.Also in this episode:● Football World Cup USA buzz and World Rugby’s smile● Dynamic ticket pricing and what it means for 2031● Socceroos beat Turkey 2-0 with 28% possession● Super Rugby semis: Hurricanes and Chiefs set up final● Eddie Jones chat: instinctive support play beats structure● Premiership controversy: Cokanasiga yellow card hurts BathPLUS: A big push for rugby to learn from other sports, build international club followings, and make tournaments matter more than friendlies.RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Super Rugby has spat the Aussies out again, and David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie rip the Band-Aid off. Why were the finals blowouts when the stats looked tight? Ewen points to tackle breaks, post-contact metres, ruck speed and those brutal one-on-one moments, while also blasting the way yellow and red cards can hijack the contest. The chat moves to the URC, where Stormers’ three yellow cards helped swing Leinster’s 20–11 win, then into the Super Rugby semi-final picture: Chiefs v Crusaders and Hurricanes v Blues, with Ewen still liking the Hurricanes but fearing officiating deciding it. There’s Wallabies talk too: key positions to lock down, playing style options, and how Les Kiss coming in can shift belief. Plus, Waratahs recruitment, Mark Nawaqanitawase’s NRL confidence, Tony Brown’s All Blacks return, Andy Farrell’s Ireland extension, and Rugby World Cup 2027 ticketing.Also in this episode:● Australian Super Rugby teams eliminated, Wallabies talent debate● Ewen McKenzie’s card crackdown: keep it 15 v 15● URC: Leinster beat Stormers after three yellow cards● Super Rugby semis preview: Hurricanes, Chiefs, Crusaders, Blues● Waratahs underperforming and the non-negotiable of recruitment● Rugby World Cup 2027 marketing and “face” discussionPLUS: Rassie’s 21-uncapped player 51 man deep squad – the Springboks look terrifying! RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World Rugby drops what David Pembroke calls a vital strategic plan… and the game barely notices. David and Ewen McKenzie unpack why it landed with a thud, what better promotion could have looked like, and why rugby cannot afford to let alignment and transparency slide. Then it’s a fast, global whip-around: Super Rugby finals are set after Moana Pasifika knock over the Brumbies, the Force beat the Waratahs, and the Hurricanes look like the form team with the Crusaders surging. There’s URC semi-final talk (Bulls v Glasgow, Leinster v Stormers), Top 14 ladder chaos after Bordeaux-Begles’ European celebrations, Japan’s final (Kobe Steelers v Kubota Spears), and Worcester Warriors’ comeback title. Plus, big news bites: USA v Argentina XV in Fort Lauderdale, Australian men and women win in Valladolid, Shaun Edwards’ reported exit from France, and a blunt third-voice debate on Wallabies defence, sanctions, and soaring scorelines.Also in this episode:● Why World Rugby’s strategic plan got little attention● Super Rugby finals: Hurricanes, Brumbies, Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs, Reds● URC semi-finals and Top 14 ladder squeeze preview● Japan final: Kobe Steelers v Kubota Spears● Worcester Warriors win: 27-14 over Bedford● Wallabies defence, line speed, and modern kicking countersPLUS: Rugby’s future hinges on better storytelling, packaging, and global reach.RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdoSIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World Rugby’s strategic plan has finally landed, and David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie get stuck into what it says, what it dodges, and what it must deliver by 2031. Before the strategy chat, they react to a huge weekend in Bilbao: Montpellier smashing Ulster 59-26 and Bordeaux beating Leinster 41-19 in front of massive crowds, plus a debate on whether the Top 14 is now setting the pace. Ewen breaks down Bordeaux’s defence, Lucu’s standout influence, and a contentious yellow card for a hair pull on Joe McCarthy. Then it’s into the bigger picture: why rugby needs a clear plan, why “enriching lives” matters, and why accountability needs real numbers, not vague ambition. The episode also hits player welfare, the Nations Championship concept, women’s rugby investment targets, and the risk of relying on World Cup revenue. Eddie Jones is absent this week.Also in this episode:● Montpellier maul power overwhelms Ulster in Bilbao final.● Bordeaux out-defend Leinster as Lucu controls the match.● Debate: Top 14 now the premier domestic competition?● Player welfare concerns around Nations Championship travel and workload.● Women’s rugby growth targets and £50 million investment focus.● Crunch Creator shows new ways to build rugby fandom.PLUS: The episode pushes for real accountability in World Rugby’s strategy, with clear targets for participation, fans, and revenue.RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdoSIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Pembroke sits down with Rugby World Cup 2027 Managing Director Chris Stanley, the man overseeing planning, operations and delivery across 52 matches, 24 teams, and a tournament running 1 October to 13 November. Stanley walks through how a “pop-up” organisation goes from employee number one to a full-scale event engine, from locking in cities, venues and team base camps to wrangling hotels, flights and hundreds of contracts. They dig into what’s keeping leadership awake: cashflow timing, commercial partners still “waiting to see”, and global uncertainty that could impact travel. There’s also a clear-eyed look at ticketing after a first phase that sold 750,000 tickets across 135 countries, plus what to do in the current application window. Add in pricing from $40 seats (and $20 standing in Newcastle and Adelaide) to a $1,950 final ticket, and why Rugby World Cup revenues matter to World Rugby.Also in this episode:● Chris Stanley’s journey from UK to Australia● How Sydney 2000 shaped his event delivery mindset● Why Rugby World Cup crowds feel different to FIFA● Team base camps, hotels, training venues, and logistics● Ticket ballot explained: timelines, oversubscription, and October release● Partners, media rights, and building momentum with 500 daysPLUS: What a “uniquely Australian” Rugby World Cup fan experience could look like, from stadium food and drink to fan festivals and travel between cities.RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdoSIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rugby Unity starts with sad news, marking the passing of Scotland and British and Irish Lions great Scott Hastings, remembered as a top class player and an even better man. From there, the weekend’s rugby storylines fly: England’s Red Roses clinch another Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam with a 43–28 win over France in Bordeaux, as crowds and revenue figures underline the surge in women’s sport. David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie then unpack a weekend of monster scorelines across the Prem, URC and Super Rugby, and ask whether attack is now winning too easily. There’s also a sharp discussion on Henry Pollock’s growing profile, South Africa’s talk of leaving European competitions, and Eddie Jones being sanctioned by the Japanese Rugby Football Union after abuse towards match officials. Plus doping bans for Georgian rugby figures and Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, and listener questions on World Cup finals venues, Spain’s World Cup bid, and the Nations Championship player availability problem.Also in this episode:● Tribute to Scott Hastings and his rugby legacy● England Red Roses win Grand Slam in Bordeaux● Women’s sport revenue growth and rugby’s commercial gap● Big Premiership and URC blowouts raise balance questions● South Africa discuss leaving European competitions for welfare● Eddie Jones sanctioned after abuse of match officialsPLUS: The audience drives big calls on 2027 final venues, Spain’s World Cup bid, and Nations Championship selection windows.RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdoSIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 1 year of Rugby Unity, David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie unpack what’s working in the modern game (more wingers scoring, smarter kicking, lineout contests returning, less nonsense around yellow cards), and what’s still flashing red, especially Super Rugby crowds and rugby’s battle to stay relevant in a crowded entertainment market. They also spotlight the women’s game as the big success story: strong Six Nations crowds, huge engagement, and a style and connection with fans the men can learn from. Plus, a clear-eyed look at World Rugby’s Nations Championship and the real issue underneath it all: who actually has access to the top players. There’s European Cup semi-final wrap and finals in Bilbao, a nod to Louis Bielle-Biarrey, plus Rugby Europe scorelines, U20 Rugby Championship results, and World Rugby’s IMG deal ahead of 2031 and 2033.Also in this episode:● Wingers scoring more tries shows the game’s shift● Super Rugby trial laws and the end of caterpillar rucks● Women’s Six Nations crowds, humility, and fan connection● Nations Championship format excitement, but player access questions● Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals and Bilbao finals● Third Voice: Moana Pasifika, Ireland World Cup hopes, grassroots linksPLUS: A blunt look at how money, logistics, and culture shape rugby’s future.RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdoSIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.