Rugby Direct

Rugby Direct - Episode 123

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott and Liam catch up with legendary All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith on a range of topics after the completion of his first season playing for Jap...

Rugby Direct - Episode 122

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier break down the news around Sam Cane's departure from New Zealand Rugby after this year and wh...

Rugby Direct - Episode 121

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier run through the reaction from their interview with Chris Lendrum, specifically the desire to ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 120

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On a special edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier catch up with New Zealand Rugby's general manager - professional rugby and perform...

Rugby Direct - Episode 119

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam discuss the latest in Super Rugby as the Hurricanes bounce back, the Blues find their way late against the...

Rugby Direct - Episode 118

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Rugby Direct this week, Elliott and Liam debate whether the Hurricanes are still the Super Rugby favourites after their loss to the Brumbies, or wh...

Rugby Direct - Episode 117

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, we review the round that was in Super Rugby as the Hurricanes and Blues continue to soar and the Crusaders and Highlanders ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 116

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest episode, Elliott and Liam ask... can anyone stop the Hurricanes this year? They review their win over the Chiefs as well as the other so...

Rugby Direct - Episode 115

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam review big wins for the Blues and Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific, discuss the impending departures of Fergu...

Rugby Direct - Episode 114

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam discuss the big breaking news that former All Blacks scrum doctor Mike Cron is joining Joe Schmidt's Walla...

Rugby Direct - Episode 113

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dive into round five of Super Rugby Pacific as the Hurricanes continue to surge, the Chiefs a...

Rugby Direct - Episode 112

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the fourth round of Super Rugby Pacific, which has seen the Hurricanes continue their ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 111

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier take a look at the Hurricanes being unbeaten in Super Rugby Pacific and the Crusaders yet to ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 110

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam review Super Round in Melbourne, with three teams still unbeaten after the opening two weeks of the compet...

Rugby Direct - Episode 109

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific and discuss the so-called mouth-guard controv...

Rugby Direct - Episode 108

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier sit down with New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson to discuss a wide...

Rugby Direct - Episode 107

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the first Rugby Direct for 2024, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier begin by looking back at a mega off-season of rugby news - from Joe Schmidt's appoin...

Rugby Direct - Episode 106

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the final edition of Rugby Direct for 2023, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier reflect on Ian Foster's tenure as All Blacks coach, with the benefit of a...

Rugby Direct - Episode 105

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier reconvene three weeks on from the World Cup final - to talk the latest in rugby news includi...

Rugby Direct - Episode 104

29 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest (and final) Rugby Direct from Paris, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the Rugby World Cup final, won by South Africa 12-11 in Paris....

Rugby Direct - Episode 103

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, the scene is set for the World Cup final and Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dive into the two sides named by the...

Rugby Direct - Episode 102

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the contrasting ways the All Blacks and Springboks punched their tickets to the Rugby...

Rugby Direct - Episode 101

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier check in from Paris after the All Blacks name their team to face Argentina in the World Cup ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 100

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, it's bonjour once against from Paris as we say Au Revoir to the Irish and the hosts France on a big 100th episo...

Rugby Direct - Episode 99

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the midweek edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB ) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald) discuss the breaking news out of Paris that Mark Tele...

Rugby Direct - Episode 98

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier convene post midnight to discuss Portugal's historic win over Fiji at the Rugby World Cup, be...

Rugby Direct - Episode 97

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott Smith and Liam Napier check in from Lyon to review the All Blacks side named to face Uruguay in their final RWC pool match (Live on Gold Sport...

Rugby Direct - Episode 96

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are in Lyon and assess the All Blacks' big win over Italy and how it reshapes the Rugby World...

Rugby Direct - Episode 95

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this midweek edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier assess the All Blacks side named to face Italy in their crunch World Cup Pool A...

Rugby Direct - Episode 94

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott Smith and Liam Napier jump on for Rugby Direct from Lyon, as the All Blacks take a backseat for a few days with the Rugby World Cup ramping up...

Rugby Direct - Episode 93

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam check in from Bordeaux - to discuss and update the midweek happenings at the tournament in Fra...

Rugby Direct - Episode 92

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam are in Toulouse to review the second week of the Rugby World Cup, including the All Blacks' win over Namib...

Rugby Direct - Episode 91

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier recap the opening weekend of the World Cup - leading with a big focus on the All ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 90

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott and Liam react to the All Blacks' 23 selected for the tournament opener against France Saturday morning NZT and react to the news that Emoni N...

Rugby Direct - Episode 89

03 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier count down to the opening weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup - looking at the All Blacks poo...

Rugby Direct - Episode 88

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are again in London for this week's Rugby Direct podcast, reviewing the All Blacks' worst-ever defeat in the Qatar Airwa...

Rugby Direct - Episode 87

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam are in London - as the All Blacks count down to their final World Cup warm-up match against the Springboks...

Rugby Direct - Episode 86

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are in Hawke's Bay - reflecting on the Rugby World Cup squad announcement the night before as...

Rugby Direct - Episode 85

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are in Christchurch after returning from Melbourne where the All Blacks decimated the Wallabi...

Rugby Direct - Episode 84

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam look ahead to the first Bledisloe Cup meeting of the year on Saturday and debate the selection conundrums ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 83

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the All Blacks' big win over South Africa in what was somewhat of a statement performa...

Rugby Direct - Episode 82

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the first All Blacks' test of season 2023, the big win over Argentina in Mendoza, whil...

Rugby Direct - Episode 81

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, we're in wine country in Mendoza counting down to the first test of Rugby World Cup year for the All Blacks - an assignment...

Rugby Direct - Episode 80

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap the Super Rugby final as the Crusaders ascended to Seventh Heaven with their seventh tit...

Rugby Direct - Episode 79

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam beam in from Te Awamutu to discuss the 36-man All Blacks squad named by head coach Ian Foster, who also dr...

Rugby Direct - Special Edition 15 June 2023

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are joined by Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan for a feature-length int...

Rugby Direct - Episode 78

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the Super Rugby quarter-finals and debate whether Ardie Savea scored that try and whet...

Rugby Direct - Episode 77

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, it's a bumper episode as we look at the Super Rugby regular season, a new rugby Knight and a couple of new coaches for the ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 76

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam recap a busy week of rugby news with Will Jordan re-signing with NZR top of the list, before offering thei...

Rugby Direct - Episode 75

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam discuss the breaking news out of Moana Pasifika that coach Aaron Mauger has resigned as head coach and won...

Rugby Direct - Episode 74

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, we review the Chiefs fall to their first defeat of the Super Rugby season while the Crusaders have the better of the Blue...

Rugby Direct - Episode 73

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier discuss the Fijian Drua's win over the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika's close loss to the Blue...

Rugby Direct - Episode 72

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier react to NZR re-signing Damian McKenzie and Ruby Tui for a couple more years each. They also ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 71

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Scott Robertson has announced his All Blacks coaching team for when he takes over after the World Cup. So what do Elliott a...

Rugby Direct - Episode 70

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's Blues/All Blacks commentator) is joined by Nick Bewley (Crusaders commentator) standing in for...

Rugby Direct - Episode 69

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam discuss the latter's exclusive around the probable make up of Scott Robertson's coaching team for the All ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 68

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier run the rule over the Chiefs beating the Blues and continuing their unbeaten start to season 2023. We a...

Rugby Direct - Episode 67

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam review the Super Rugby Aupiki decider which saw a shock win for Matatu. We also examine the latest in the ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 66

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On a special edition of the Rugby Direct podcast, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier discuss the appointment of Scott Robertson as the new All Blacks head ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 65

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier discuss the Crusaders' bouncing back with a win over the Blues at Eden Park, while the Highla...

Rugby Direct - Episode 64

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier analyse the state of the All Blacks coaching race after Joe Schmidt's withdrawal and whether ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 63

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (Chief sports writer - NZ Herald) debate the key issue...

Rugby Direct - Episode 62

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott and Liam are back to review the opening round of Super Rugby, as the Crusaders crumbled against the Chiefs, the Blues powered past the Highlan...

Rugby Direct - Episode 61

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elliot Smith & Liam Napier kick off 2023 by looking ahead at the busy year of rugby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby Direct - 2022 Year In Review

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (chief Sports writer at the New Zealand Herald) were poised to head off into summ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 61

20 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dissect the All Black's drawn test against England. Was it their best performanc...

Rugby Direct - Episode 60

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier have moved from Edinburgh to London ahead of the final All Blacks test of the ye...

Rugby Direct - Episode 59

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the All Blacks' victory over Wales, the Black Ferns' road to World Cup gl...

Rugby Direct - Episode 58

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's podcast, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the All Blacks' scratchy win over Japan in Tokyo and the Black Ferns thumping of Wales in...

Rugby Direct - Episode 57

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) review the Black Fer...

Rugby Direct - Episode 56

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) return from activati...

Rugby Direct - Episode 55

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Kate Wells (Newstalk ZB sport journalist) is joined by former Black Ferns captain and New Zealand Rugby board member Dr F...

Rugby Direct - Episode 54

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) look ahead to the Ru...

Rugby Direct - Episode 53

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) reflect on the All B...

Rugby Direct - Episode 52

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (chief sports writer - NZ Herald) review ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 51

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (chief sports writer - NZ Herald) are in ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 50

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) discuss the All Blac...

Rugby Direct - Episode 49

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) reflect on yet anoth...

Rugby Direct - Episode 48

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) discuss the All Blac...

Rugby Direct - Episode 47

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's - special edition - of Rugby Direct Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald's chief sports wr...

Rugby Direct - Episode 46

07 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's podcast Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald's chief sports writer) discuss the All Blacks l...

Rugby Direct - Episode 45

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's podcast Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald's chief sports writer) go international - with ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 44

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (Chief Sports writer at the NZ Herald) as...

Rugby Direct - Episode 43

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (Chief Sports writer at the NZ Herald) an...

Rugby Direct - Episode 42

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's podcast Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald's chief sports writer) discuss Ireland's first ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 41

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) discuss th...

Rugby Direct - Episode 40

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald rugby writer) react to a hecti...

Rugby Direct - Episode 39

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (Chief Sports Writer at the NZ Herald) br...

Rugby Direct - Episode 38

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, we go one-on-one with All Blacks coach Ian Foster about the 36-man squad named for the three-test series again...

Rugby Direct - Episode 37

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct:Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dissect the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals that went exactly to the formbook, ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 36

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier debate the final round of Super Rugby Pacific before the playoffs, including the...

Rugby Direct - Episode 35

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this weekend’s episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith is joined by Liam Napier, who returns from watching the other code in Brisbane to help anal...

Rugby Direct - Episode 34

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and special guest Christopher Reive from the New Zealand Herald (@ChrisReive) break down the wee...

Rugby Direct - Episode 33

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review week 12 of Super Rugby - as the Brumbies continued on their merry way agai...

Rugby Direct - Episode 32

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam discuss what amounted to a poor round for the New Zealand sides - even the ones that banked fu...

Rugby Direct - Episode 32

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier evaluate the Super Round in Melbourne and ask if it was really Super or if it ...

Rugby Direct - Episode 31

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this weekend’s edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier take the temperature of Super Rugby after the last round of all-New Zealand...

Rugby Direct - Episode 30

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott and Liam debate the weekend’s big rugby issues – primarily the closing moments of the Hurricanes...

Rugby Direct - Episode 29

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier delve into the weekend’s rugby issues and debate the red cards that were dished...

Rugby Direct - Episode 28

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elliott and Liam are back for another week of rugby discussion - with the big win for Moana Pasifika dominating discussion - the win no-one saw coming...