Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Rugby Unity
SportsRugbyNewsSports News

Rugby Unity

contentRFC

Hosted by Eddie Jones, Ewen McKenzie, and David Pembroke, Rugby Unity is the global rugby podcast that tackles the game’s biggest issues — on and off the field.

This is where strong opinions meet smart analysis.

Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie bring decades of international coaching experience at the very top level, while David Pembroke draws on 35 years as a rugby journalist and strategist.

Together, they cut through the noise with insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Rugby Unity is more than a podcast. It’s a community of fans, players, coaches, and leaders committed to securing rugby’s future prosperity worldwide.

One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.


Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.au

Have your question answered on the show: Rugby Unity Survey

Get FREE exclusive content: Substack

Dive into the world of rugby: YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook

 

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

Play
Open in
  • 33 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 1 hr 8 min
  • English

Episodes 33

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S2 · E142
    August 24 · 1 hr 13 min

    Greatest Rivalry Test 1: Steve Hansen on the All Blacks beating South Africa

    New Zealand 1, South Africa 0, and Steve Hansen, Ewen McKenzie and David Pembroke pull apart a Test that felt on a knife-edge until the scrum flipped the night. The All Blacks’ 33–16 win (five tries to one) looks comfortable, but the big moment was South Africa turning down points for repeated scrum shots and watching momentum swing hard. The panel digs into why the Springboks couldn’t convert 22 entries, the All Blacks’ goal-line effort and ball-stripping pressure, and the fallout from injuries and HIAs. There’s plenty on bench splits, the bomb squad not firing, and what Rassie Erasmus might do at 9 and 10 next week in Cape Town. Plus: Matthew Carley’s refereeing, TMO pushback, and yellow card debates, the Black Ferns’ 66–19 win over the Wallaroos, and major updates on the UK concussion legal battle. Also in this episode: ● Scrum dominance swung All Blacks vs Springboks momentum ● Why South Africa wasted key 22 entries ● Jordie Barrett’s big plays and leadership praise ● Rassie Erasmus’ selection dilemmas at 9 and 10 ● Matthew Carley, TMO moments, and yellow card debate ● Black Ferns thrash Wallaroos, plus concussion court update PLUS: The panel weighs depth vs experience across a brutal four-Test series. 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: info@rugbyunity.com.au TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S2 · E137
    August 7 · 1 hr 6 min

    Steve Hansen on Stormers v All Blacks, Japan v Wallabies + Argentina v Springboks! Greatest Rivalry Tour kicks off!

    David Pembroke and Steve Hansen run the ruler over a massive weekend of international rugby. The All Blacks tour begins in South Africa with Stormers v All Blacks, and the chat zooms in on why Beauden Barrett looks refreshed, how opportunity really works inside a big touring squad, and what Dave Rennie will actually measure beyond the scoreboard. World Rugby’s push towards a faster, more attacking game gets a hard look, alongside fresh tension around referees, law clarity, and the reported end of pre-match coach-ref meetings. The focus then swings to Osaka where Eddie Jones’ Japan face Les Kiss’ Wallabies in brutal heat and humidity, with selections, tactics, and defence shaping the debate. There’s also South Africa v Argentina with major Pumas unavailability, plus Sevens scheduling and the cost of under-20 pathways. Also in this episode: ● Ewen McKenzie recovering in hospital, Steve Hansen’s injuries ● Beauden Barrett’s role, mindset, and All Blacks selection pressure ● Stormers v All Blacks: young Yaqeen Ahmed and Khan threat ● World Rugby and coaches tension over pre-match referee meetings ● Eddie Jones’ Japan v Les Kiss’ Wallabies in humid Osaka ● Argentina v South Africa, plus Sevens and under-20 funding debate PLUS: A bigger argument on how rugby balances attack, contest, and community foundations. SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈 Ask Eddie Jones, Steve Hansen 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: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks 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.

  • S2 · E136
    August 3 · 1 hr 4 min

    Greatest Rivalry: Springboks v All Blacks – Steve Hansen & Ewen McKenzie on the start of the tour!

    A hero’s welcome for the All Blacks in Cape Town kicks off a big conversation about why touring still matters, and why the New Zealand–South Africa clash has always felt like the sport’s true “World Championship”. David Pembroke, Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie unpack the build-up to the opener against the Stormers, the brutal reality of midweek games, and the All Blacks’ smart approach to PR, preparation and switching on at training. There’s also a close look at Rassie Erasmus taking a 26-man Springbok squad to Argentina, plus a preview of Japan v Wallabies in Osaka in serious heat and what Eddie Jones might spring to unsettle Australia under Les Kiss. Listener questions bring a straight-shooting chat on Zac Lomax leaving after a season and a half at the Force, plus a wider look at Samoa’s governance tensions and why Pacific rugby stability matters. Also in this episode: ● All Blacks get a huge Cape Town welcome ● Touring returns, with midweek games back on ● Greatest rivalry history: All Blacks v Springboks roots ● Stormers preview and All Blacks weekly preparation plan ● Japan v Wallabies in Osaka heat, Eddie Jones tactics ● Zac Lomax, Western Force fallout, and Wallabies selection debate PLUS: The panel also weighs Pacific rugby funding, accountability, and Samoa’s World Rugby tensions. 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: info@rugbyunity.com.au TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S2 · E131
    July 10 · 1 hr 17 min

    LIVE in Newcastle – Gary Gold on why Japan beating South Africa in 2015 will become more regular | Rugby Unity x Hunter Rugby

    Rugby Unity goes live from Newcastle as David Pembroke hosts Ewen McKenzie and Japan assistant coach Gary Gold ahead of Ireland v Japan, with a fundraiser for Hunter Rugby grassroots development. Gold breaks down what working under Eddie really feels like, why standards and detail drive everything, and how Japan’s “point of difference” is built on speed, ruthless recycling and repeatable performance. McKenzie sizes up Japan’s growth after beating Italy, and explains why Ireland’s reshuffled team, debutants and new combinations could open a real opportunity if Japan can back it up. The chat widens to the new Nations Championship and Nations Cup, what tournament rugby does to selection and pressure, and why global fixtures matter for emerging nations. Then it turns to the engine room: grassroots. Maitland’s under-sevens model, club culture, women’s rugby growth, and how unions must stop neglecting foundations. Also in this episode: ● Gary Gold’s coaching journey from Cape Town to Japan ● Inside Eddie Jones: standards, detail, and long days ● Japan’s speed, tackling, and finishing near the try line ● Nations Championship and Nations Cup: pressure, ladder, selection ● Maitland’s under-sevens program building a genuine pipeline ● Women’s rugby pathways and Rugby Australia investment concerns PLUS: A straight talk look at how rugby’s values and governance shape participation, funding, and the global calendar. 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: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks 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.

  • S2 · E130
    July 6 · 1 hr 19 min

    Steve Hansen on Nations Championship: All Blacks squeeze by France, Springboks power over England + Wallabies & Ireland chaos!

    The opening weekend of the Nations Championship (and the Nations Cup) delivered exactly what rugby needed: high quality, plenty of tries, and no shortage of arguments. David Pembroke, Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie break down a cracking All Blacks v France in the new Christchurch stadium, with a clear shift towards pace, ball in hand, and a young 10 taking charge. Japan’s historic win over Italy gets the spotlight it deserves, with Eddie Jones building a side around tempo, connection and new depth. In Sydney, Ireland edged Australia 33-31 in a 10-try thriller, but the post-match oxygen went straight into TMO and TV producer interference. South Africa’s 45-21 win over England raised bigger questions: discipline, aerial contests, and whether England even know how they want to play. Plus, the Nations Cup lit up North and South America with 59 tries and real World Cup 2027 talent emerging. Also in this episode: ● Nations Championship format excitement, but info hard to find ● All Blacks v France: pace, tries, lead changes ● TMO and TV producer influence sparks big frustration ● Japan beat Italy: Dearns, Leitch, Eddie Jones’ build ● Ireland v Wallabies: 10 tries, lineout pressure, forward pass debate ● South Africa v England: high balls, yellow cards, discipline crisis PLUS: PLUS: What rugby can learn from NRL clarity, pathways, and fan-first simplicity. 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: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks 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.

Showing 1–20 of 33 episodes