Good coach, great guy too. Simple approach to attack, but wants players to play their way within that approach.

Won't complicate things..

Footy Friday.

Which is as good a reminder as any to highlight a new initiative, in combination with the good folk at @89rugby.bsky.social, called "Ask The Ref".

Engage, think up questions for the next one, and let me know what you think.

#BestSeatInTheHouse
#ForTheLoveOfRugby
#Rugby
#PlayOnPod

Does Moana Pasifika situation force Super Rugby’s hand? | the AUS Rugby scene with Elliot Smith New Zealand rugby commentator Elliot Smith joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, with news of Moana Pasifika’s demise dominating all discussion around the competition. Please note,…

A timely chat with Elliot Smith on the AUS Rugby Scene this week, with the Moana Pasifika situation shining a light on #SuperRugbyPacific

He joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to dig into all the implications for the competition.

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods & Substack:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-xI...

“I don’t know if the Blues realise there’s two teams in Auckland, but we do know they don’t want us here"

Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga didn't miss back in March and sadly, the Blues might get their way

@bmcsport.bsky.social on Moana's impending demise: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

And then there were four!

The #ChampionsCup semis have been set, and @charliemorgan.bsky.social joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to debrief on QF weekend, setting up a couple of tantalising SFs next month.

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods and Substack!

youtu.be/J2ym5HR6DRY

The 8/9 Tipping Panel is out, and the selections are all over the place!

Who have @bmcsport.bsky.social Geoff Parkes, Sean Maloney + Martin Devlin picked for Round 9 of #SuperRugbyPacific?

And who has the AI Bot picked?

8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

1st v 2nd on Saturday at the Cake Tin. Hurricanes v Blues.

A corker, as they say. But can the Blues top the 'Canes?

Our NZ scribe Lawrence Mulvaney explores all the way the Blues can win. Or not.

8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

New AUS Rugby Scene is out, with more trans-Tasman input!

Jamie Wall joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to work out how what we've seen so far will make picking winners in blockbuster Rd.9 any easier

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods, and have your say on Substack: buff.ly/NwbEICu

Coin flips & brotherly bragging rights | the AUS Rugby scene with Jamie Wall New Zealand rugby writer and fellow Substacker Jamie Wall joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, with the curiosities of a short round over a long weekend quickly fading with the arrival…

New AUS Rugby Scene is out! And with a trans-Tasman feel, once again

Jamie Wall joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to work out how what we've seen so far will make picking winners in blockbuster Rd.9 any easier

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods, and have your say on Substack: youtu.be/9wy9YMtGrto

New 8/9 Rugby - with @caolanscully.bsky.social!

He joined @bmcsport.bsky.social for a deep dive into a really interesting weekend of Champions Cup Round of 16 matches, and the mouthwatering Quarters coming this weekend!

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods & Substack: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r2p...

Do we need to talk about the Queensland Reds?

They were supposed to be the best Australian #SuperRugbyPacific side in 2026, but really haven't risen to that mark yet. @bmcsport.bsky.social scratches the surface to wonder why...

8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

A first for 8/9 Rugby on Substack!

The first edition of our very special Members Q&A is out now, with @bmcsport.bsky.social & Geoff Parkes tackling questions posed by our subscribers

Got a question for next time? Become a paid subscriber!

8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

The 8/9 Tipping Panel is out a day early, which feels a bit weird for a short Round.

Who have @bmcsport.bsky.social Geoff Parkes, Sean Maloney + Martin Devlin picked for Rd.8 of #SuperRugbyPacific?

And will there be an upset somewhere?

8/9 Rugby on Substack: 89rugby.substack.com/publish/post...

New AUS Rugby Scene is out, with the great Tony Johnson joining @bmcsport.bsky.social for a great rugby chat!

A short round this Easter long weekend, but there’s a couple of Rd.8 games of importance for a few teams and for a few reasons

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods & Substack: youtu.be/FBddyHKNR08

New AUS Rugby Scene is out, with the great Tony Johnson joining @bmcsport.bsky.social for a great rugby chat!

A short round this Easter long weekend, but there’s a couple of R8 games of importance for a few teams and for a few reasons

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods & Substack: youtu.be/FBddyHKNR08

Zac Lomax: ‘He's an elite league player but it's a huge challenge with a short runway in union' How will Zac Lomax, Australia's latest cross-code convert from rugby league, adapt to rugby union with Western Force?

New AUS column on @rugbypass.bsky.social is up:

Zac Lomax may well debut this weekend, as the Force look to throw him in the mix. Nothing to lose, I guess.

Spoke to Laurie Fisher + Mick Colliss on the challenges and expectations of the hurried switch:

www.rugbypass.com/plus/hes-an-...

Finally time to watch the Champions Cup | 8/9 Rugby with Riaan Louw Riaan Louw, friend of the pod and star of the Rugby Update on YouTube is back with Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, because it’s time to get excited about the Champions Cup again. With the Round…

Great to have @ringo26.bsky.social back on 8/9 Rugby with @bmcsport.bsky.social again this week, because...

It's finally time to get excited about the Champions Cup again!

Round of 16 this weekend, Quarters next weekend. Should this just be the start of the comp?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EueT...

New AUS Rugby Scene is out!

John Ferguson joined @bmcsport for a think about what we're seeing in #SuperRugbyPacific this year that might be a bit different, and some tough roads ahead for teams.

Plus Aussie 10s, state of NSW + much more

8/9 Rugby on YouTube, pods & Substack: youtu.be/kHPQBhQ_QZU

This time every year, @bmcsport.bsky.social hands down his #SuperRugbyPacific report card, bundling everyone into three groups

- Teams he underestimated
- Teams he overestimated, and
- Teams doing exactly as expected

Who's done what in 2026? 8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

The Wrap is back for new rugby week!

Geoff Parkes is back with his weekly staple, this week bringing together big milestones, big hits on referees, and unintended consequences of Law Variations

8/9 Rugby on Substack - join the discussion with 700+ subscribers!

📰 open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

#SlippersforSlipper #SuperRugbyPacific #Slips203

Huge coup this...

@bmcsport.bsky.social was able to sit down and get right into the #SuperRugbyPacific weeds with CEO Jack Mesley, for a wide-ranging chat that covers off everything from Law Variations to fan engagement

LIVE NOW on 8/9 YouTube, Substack & pods everywhere!

youtu.be/XBL-Oj7XVKI

Six Nations: Exactly where we thought we’d be? | 8/9 Rugby with Huw Griffin Rugby YouTube star and wonderful content creator Huw Griffin is back with Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to wrap up what has been universally decreed as the best Six Nations tournament…

New 8/9 Rugby with @huwgriffinrugby.bsky.social!

Huw joined @bmcsport.bsky.social for a fun chat to wrap up an extraordinary #SixNations - but one that's left us right where we were before?

Has it all been a waste of time?! 🫨

8/9 Rugby on YouTube + All the pods: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8uH...

If it's Monday, do not miss The Wrap!

Geoff Parkes explores a #SuperRugbyPacific game in Brisbane best described as two separate games, an incredible, climactic finish to the #SixNations, and code switches of convenience.

8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

#89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific the Tipping Panel's selections are in for Round 5!

See who @bmcsport.bsky.social Geoff Parkes, Sean Maloney and Martin Devlin have lined up, and whether the AI Bot is getting and closer to domination.

8/9 Rugby on Substack: 89rugby.substack.com/publish/post...

New AUS Rugby Scene on 8/9 Rugby!

In a wonderful piece of coincidental timing, @bensmith94.bsky.social joined @bmcsport.bsky.social for a dive into the Western Force in exactly the week they signed Zac Lomax!

So we covered that, too. #SuperRugbyPacific

8/9 YouTube + pods: youtu.be/UEauyZcy5UU

We left the door open, and it's happened!

The Combo reunite this week, as @haribaldijones.bsky.social joins @bmcsport.bsky.social to recap a truly mad weekend of the #SixNations and contemplate what comes this weekend on Super Saturday

On 8/9 YouTube + all the pods

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dpw...

Wallaby franchises fall to earth with a bump after a bruising Super Rugby reality check Three losses in four proved a stark weekend for Australia's Super Rugby Pacific interest and they will be hoping to bounce back in Round 5

New Australian column on @rugbypass.bsky.social today:

"NSW now face four more of last year’s finalists in consecutive weeks. They might be doing well to win one game, in which case they would need to win virtually everything on the run home"

www.rugbypass.com/plus/wallaby...

#SuperRugbyPacific

Six Nations: Spoilers & Gainline monsters | 8/9 Rugby with Harry Jones Former co-host Harry Jones re-joins Brett McKay on the new 8/9 Rugby this week, with the rugby world still in shock from events of the penultimate weekend of this year’s Six Nations…

The Combo returns! 8 & 9 reunited!

@haribaldijones.bsky.social joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to wax lyrical about Scotland the Brave and Magnificent Italy, setting up a final #SixNations weekend to remember. What a treat of rugby we have coming.

On 8/9 YouTube + all the pods.

youtu.be/7DpwmqL0bRc

New from @bmcsport.bsky.social today:

To first see how the Qld Reds won in Canberra on Saturday night, it's worth rewinding ten minutes to realise how thoroughly in control of this game the Brumbies were

Features golf analogies & bare arses

8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...