Rugby Unity

Women’s Six Nations boom and world rugby’s bigger vision

David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie unpack a huge week for the global game, starting with the remarkable rise of women’s rugby after England drew more than 77,000 fans at Twickenham in the opening round of the Women’s Six Nations. From there, the conversation widens into a bigger question: what does rugby need to do now to secure its long-term future?They look at the value of proper tournament structures, the momentum building around the Pacific Four and Women’s Six Nations, and why the women’s calendar may actually be closer to a true global season than the men’s game. There is also a close look at the new World Rugby Nations Cup, why it matters for emerging nations, and how regular international competition can drive both performance and commercial growth.The episode also explores the return of long-form touring, the appeal of rugby’s travelling culture, the growing credibility of second-tier nations, and what it all says about the shape of the game in the lead-up to the 2027 and 2029 World Cups. Add in European quarter-final drama, Super Rugby refereeing flashpoints, and debate around All Blacks selection, and this becomes a broad conversation about where rugby is heading and how it can grow from here.Also in this episode:● England’s huge Women’s Six Nations crowd and what it signals for the game● Pacific Four results and the growth of women’s international rugby● Why tournament structure is key to rugby’s long-term prosperity● The World Rugby Nations Cup and new opportunities for emerging nations● Touring tradition, global calendars, and what rugby still does better than any sport● European quarter-finals, Super Rugby talking points, and All Blacks selection debateSIGN 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.auThanks 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.

Six Nations and Super Rugby through International Referee Angus Gardner

David Pembroke sits down with top referee Angus Gardner for a straight-talking look at what it really takes to run elite rugby, from Super Rugby to the Six Nations. Angus opens up on getting “poleaxed” in Chiefs v Highlanders, the back condition that ended his playing days, and how refereeing became his way to stay in the game. They unpack how referees manage 800 decisions a match, what the “critical few” actually means, and why transparency with fans could lift understanding fast. The big debates are front and centre: flow vs accuracy, the shape of the game, Mark Robinson’s review into yellow cards and the TMO, plus Eddie Jones’s idea of a centrally contracted World Rugby referee squad. There’s also a sharp chat on communication, profiling referees, and what a home Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027 could mean.Also in this episode:● Angus Gardner’s refereeing journey from age 15● Super Rugby’s “critical few” and weekly reviews● Flow vs accuracy: how referees balance both● Yellow card buckets and the 20-minute red● TMO scope: Super Rugby vs World Rugby rules● Nations Championship excitement and 2027 World Cup ambitionPLUS: Refereeing travel, downtime on tour, and the tight-knit elite officials group.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.auThanks 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.

Eddie Jones' work ethic and World Rugby’s big calls

David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie hold the fort while Eddie Jones is away touring with Japan U23, and it kicks off with a blunt reality check on what “tour” really means for staff: more toil, more review, and a constant hunt for one-percenters. From there, it’s a sprint through the weekend’s biggest talking points: the Investec European Rugby Championship’s eye-watering Round of 16 scorelines and why the tournament still struggles to cut through globally, plus Super Rugby’s Week 8 results and what the Western Force’s win over the Reds says about form, intent, and momentum. They also get into the uncomfortable truths around crowd numbers, the economics of attending live sport, and why rugby still lives and dies by referee interpretation, even with technology. Add in 2027 World Cup pillars, women’s rugby momentum, South African schools theatre, and Henry Pollock signing with Eddie Hearn.Also in this episode:● Eddie Jones touring: early starts, late finishes, relentless review● One-percenters in coaching: travel, jet lag, and talent ID● Investec European Rugby Championship lacks continuity and cut-through● Super Rugby Week 8: Crusaders, Chiefs, Force statement win● Referee profiles, 800 decisions a match, and TMO frustration● Women’s Six Nations, Pacific Four, and England ticket sales surgePLUS: The episode keeps circling one question: how rugby stays relevant, watchable, and financially sustainable.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.auThanks 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.

USA Rugby’s big build to World Rugby 2031: Bill Goren CEO of USA Rugby

USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren joins David Pembroke for a straight, practical look at what it will really take to grow rugby in the United States before LA 2028, then the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and women’s in 2033. From the grassroots reality of a niche, club-led sport across a huge country, to the push for high school varsity status, NCAA progress on the women’s side, and the challenge of making rugby easy to find in a crowded US sports market, Goren lays out the opportunities and the hard bits. There’s also the big-ticket showcase: All Blacks v Springboks in Baltimore, plus what USA Rugby must do to turn one-off events into lasting fans, participation, and community support. And with the Eagles qualified for 2027, the focus turns to getting more time together, improving faster, and building a genuine pathway from kids to Test rugby.Also in this episode:● Bill Goren’s background across US pro sports● Why rugby is still niche in the United States● Imagine Rugby reaches about 500,000 kids in three years● High school and NCAA status: the next big targets● All Blacks v Springboks Baltimore: fan experience and strategy● USA Eagles plans after qualifying for 2027PLUS: How USA Rugby plans to align grassroots, high performance, and values like inclusion.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.auThanks 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 CEO Alan Gilpin on Rugby’s Global Calendar, the Strategic Plan + RWC USA 2031

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin joins David Pembroke to discuss the real hard questions facing our sport at the moment – rugby’s global calendar, player safety and cashflow are just the tip of the iceberg. Gilpin breaks down the real tension World Rugby is trying to solve: accuracy and flow, without treating it as a trade-off, and why too many law tweaks make life harder for officials moving between competitions. He explains the Mark Robinson match officiating review, what “shape of the game” stakeholders are pushing for, and why the strategic plan (targeting an early May launch) is centred on fans, player welfare, and growing the sport’s commercial engine. There’s also a big look ahead: strong early Rugby World Cup 2027 ticket demand in Australia, the long runway to USA 2031 and 2033, and how rugby can win in a brutal “attention economy”.● Alan Gilpin’s rugby journey from Gloucestershire to World Rugby● Six Nations weekend: Scotland v France, Italy’s big moments● Match officiating: accuracy versus flow is not a trade-off● Law trials across comps make consistency harder for referees● Mark Robinson review: TMO use, philosophy, elite officiating model● World Rugby strategy: fans, player welfare, commercial growth, USA 2031PLUS: Gilpin argues rugby’s future is more fans consuming more rugby, more often.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.auThanks 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.