On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jason Pine for 26th March 2026, last night, the 2026 NPC draw was released and one of the team's schedules raised some eyebrows. After playing all of their home matches in 2025 at Porirua Park, the Wellington Lions will be returning to the 34,500 capacity Hnry Stadium for the upcoming season. This is despite the crowd sizes dwindling leaving a sea of yellow seats visible on the broadcast. Wellington Rugby CEO Tony Giles joined D'Arcy to discuss the decision.
D'Arcy shares his thoughts on Israel Adesanya returning to the UFC octagon this weekend against Joe Pyfer.
And D'Arcy and Piney reflect on the 5 match T20I series between both the Black Caps and the White Ferns against South Africa and discuss the All Whites ahead of their first match of the FIFA series against Finland tomorrow night.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello there and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast, brought
to you an association with GJ. Gardner Homes, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder. It is Thursday, March twenty six.
According to my calendar and according to my passport, I'm
Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
And according to my calendar it's exactly the same. I'm
not Jason pinin. I'ven't stolen your passport just yet. But
I see you in studios, So there must be a
massive Dame football coming up right there is indeed a
couple of massive games.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Actually we were as in the All Whites Face Finland
tomorrow night, Eden Park, Chile Monday night, same venue, so
important building blocks for Darren Baiseley's or white So I
want to kick that around in the chamber with you.
And also with the T twenty series between South Africa
and New Zealand and both genders now complete, how do
we reflect on those in terms of a voice on
(01:09):
the pod today who a we're hearing from.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Again to Wellington. Hey you like that, don't you, Tony Giles.
He's the chief executive of the Wellington lines. They draw
from the NCC came out last night they're taking all
of the games away from Jerry Collins Stadium, from Potty
Door and putting them all back at Henry Stadium in Wellington.
Will talk to him about that and why why would
(01:31):
you do that?
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Right?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I'm looking forward to his answers to those questions, lads,
And sports news coming your way too, so let's.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Get into it.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
In other news, Let's.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Get you underway with a look at some of the
big sports stories around today. More on A Pacific A
Chief executive Debbie Sorenson has revealed a high caliber of
coaches are on the franchise's candidate list for Super Rugby
next season. After Tana Umanger's decision to join Dave Ronnie
All Black Stars.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
It's well known that you know he was thinking about
living and that that was a likely permission. So yes,
we have had interest from international coaches as well as
Super Rugby coaches.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has credited fans coming out to
support the team in the PACIFICA round this weekend ticonds
have sold out ahead of tomorrow's home game against the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
O Fanta so cool. I think it's awesome that was
celebrating the city Guard to obviously be part of our
culture and Zealand culture also in just the NRL in general, and.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
No clues yet from All Whites coach Darren Baisley on
who his first choice goalkeeper is. New Zealand play matches
against Finland and Chile at Eden Park over the next
five days, with Max Crokham and Alex Paulson battling it
out for the number one spot.
Speaker 6 (02:38):
Yeah, we wanted to give everybody a day before we
made any decisions around the games. We'll see. We have
two games and we'll see who plays in them. But yeah,
there'll be some good discussions today.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Use and a villion It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine
and Dussy Walter Grave.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
As all more. Welcome to the Sports Fixed podcast. To
Tony Giles is the chief executive of the Wellington Lines.
The new program for the upcoming MPC has come out
and the Wellington Lines taken all their games away from
a Potty Dour they played there last year. Every game
this time around, every game is being played at the
(03:16):
Henry Stadium, So we're going to find out why, Tony,
why have you done this?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Hi Darcy, thanks very much. Listen. It's a wonderful opportunity
this year, isn't it. We are celebrating a fifty year
milestone of the NPC. How good this provincial competition twenty
six unions around the Mottu, fourteen of which you play
MPC and the Wellington Lions have had an incredible run.
Not only have we had six provincial championships, but two
(03:44):
in the last three or four years. In those couple
of years us we have played a number of our
games at Pial Park in this incredible city here in
the Wellington region, and last year we played all of
our games there in the good grace of the local council.
We've made an opportunity. We've made a decision this year
to look at things differently. As listen, it's been very
(04:08):
wide reported that Wellington Rugby has been going through a
bit of a fiscal challenge. We've looked at every part
of our business. We've had wonderful discussions with our partners
at the new Henry Stadium and we've made the call
to bring all all of our home games back to
the stadium for the start of the NPC and for
us that commences on the second of August.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
This is your decision. This is Wellington Rugby's decision. You
haven't been leaned on by anybody to take your games
back there.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Again, not at all, Not at all. I mean, we
have made informed decisions around the performance both on and
off the field of our team last year at Pottydoer,
the high performance environment that players need at this level,
a whole of sport approach for what rugby delivery looks like. Yes,
it is true that Wellington Rugby has an agreement with
(04:58):
the stadium and we do deliver test matches for New
Zealand Rugby at Henry Stadium, and we're delivering the July
eleven Test against Italy which we're all looking forward to
and that's exciting. But no, we haven't been forced at all.
This as a decision that we've made to coincide with
a fifty year milestone, to coincide with the NPC going
(05:20):
free to air television this year for the first time
in thirty years. We're coming off from behind the paywall
and taking away any financial barrier for any sports fan
that wants to engage in rugby. It's an incredible opportunity
and we see that as one that we can't walk
away from.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You've got to still rent the stadium out right, I'm
thinking maybe that's going to cost you quite a bit
of coin. Wouldn't it be cheaper to pot it? Does
that financial aspect come into it a tool, Tony.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
That's start of negotiation. Dark. We've got a good, a
very good relationship with the stadium. We do own the
rights to all rugby and perpetuity at the stadium, so
that gives us some leverage. Pooral Park was a wonderful
opportunity for us to connect with the community, but it
also provides some financial barriers that it's a pack and
pack out event. The Warrington Regional Sports Tradium now known
(06:11):
as Henry Stadium provides a plug and plate right so
we can go in there. We can have really strong
conversations with the management team there around how it is
we want to deliver what that looks like, and that
includes opportunities that don't just focus on the rugby on
the grass. For example, we are having conversations with the
(06:34):
stadium around a double header that's not rugby focused. That's
the event focus. So potentially a fan can come to
Henry Stadium and have a look at the rugby on
the grass and potentially also enjoy another event on the concourse.
So we're looking at really innovative ways to engage a
fan to coming back to provincial rugby.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Now call those activations I think in the modern parlance,
is that what you're referencing giving people many reasons to
come along these activations. Are they supported by various organizations?
Are they going to come in and write you a check?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Well?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
How does that operate?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Well? I think if you're going to have two iconic
Wellington events, one being the Wellington Lions playing in the
Mbasy and another one separate from rugby but partaking in
the stadium at the same time, that's a wonderful opportunity
for families and fans to come engage in two uniquely
Wellington opportunities. So I won't bust the bubble on that
we're still working through something.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
You're not going to tell me who it is then,
are you come on? Tony?
Speaker 4 (07:34):
But I mean we are in the fiftieth year, right,
there's a lot of really cool things happening rugby's on
a bit of a renaissance here. We've got great growth
in numbers at the college game in Wellington. Community Club
rugby starts from this weekend. We're seeing great growth in
the Woman and Girls continuing, four or five new premiere teams.
So yeah, there's a lot to be excited about. And
(07:56):
of course, Darcie, I will rub a bit of sault
in your wound. How good are the Hurricanes going? How
good are the Hurricanes going? Amazing? So if anyone wants
to come to the Henry Stadium this weekend afternoon for
what you on Saturday to see the Hurricanes play, jump
on board, go and support them playing the Reds. Rugby's
on fire.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I've got this on tape. You know I'm going to
play it back to you because the Hurricanes run home
is treacherous to say the least, so we will see.
It's not how you start, Tony, it's how you finish.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
They're doing well and we love it. There's a lot
of Wellington lines players involved in that team and we
support them wholeheartedly.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
When you look at what you're doing with these these
activations getting people in the door, and we look at
the rugby primarily to get people in. Is it based
on the promotion and what you put around it, the
advertising that telling people it's on or is it product based?
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Now I'm like any thank, it's telling the story Darcy, right.
I mean you talked about what you do a park.
I mean we've also played games at the hut Wreck
in the last couple of years as well. You know,
it's about providing the fan the easiest non fiscal barrier,
public transport focused. Henry Stadium has rail buses, car parking
(09:10):
all on site. Right, you get there and you walk
to the concourse. You play at Pottydo a park. That
kind of disenfranchises a lot of fans from the Hart Valley.
You play in the Hart Valley and it kind of
disenfranchise a lot of our folks over on the pottydo
A basin. So we've had opportunities in the last two
years to get a lot of data and how we
have been delivering the return on that data. What is
the best for the player, what is the best high
(09:31):
performance environment? And now we can look at doing all
of that at the Central Stadium again at the Homer
Rugby and look at what activations we can do to
support the brand.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vain and
Darcy Waldergrave.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Global sporting Superstar. You can't attach that label to many
New Zealand athletes, but you can attach it to Israel
Ads and he's fighting again this weekend. He has an
unrivaled record in middleweights in the UFC. He's had a
stunning time of it since he debuted all those years ago.
(10:11):
The last style bender has been something else. He's held
the UFC middleweight title twice. He's got the second longest
winning streak in the division, twelve in a row. He's
time for the most knockdowns in middleweights thirteen. He's been
inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame for his fight
against Calvin Gastolm. But he's on his way down. He
(10:31):
is a lion in winter. I don't like saying this,
I don't like pointing this out, but there's something about
a fighter who probably should know better, carrying on and
trying to recreate the glory of years gone by. Now,
if I was to say this to Israel this in
his face, he'd probably hit me. I'm just being honest
(10:54):
to me. He's one of the most explosive sporting personalities
I've ever seen. That's aside the fireworks he brings to
the octagon, his attitude, his free speech, his dance. He
really is a Finn dominant of the sport. I get
to see him every day when I walk to work.
There is a massive mural of his face on the
(11:14):
wall opposite the building. I have utmost respect for what
he has achieved, but after three consecutive defeats, he doesn't
look like he's got the fire anymore. He hasn't got
that in his eyes, first, his feet, his knees, and
to see him this weekend fight again, I sincerely hope
this comes back to bite me in the ass and
(11:36):
he lays waste to the young American rising star Joe
Pfeiffer in Seattle on Sunday. I have no idea what
happens in the wash up. Nobody does. I'd love to
see him recreate the glory days, but after watching him
get beaten by Sean Strickland, by drickist to Place and
by Nassilden Amimov, I can't see him coming back from that.
(11:59):
Please prove me wrong. I want to see one last
dominant dance from the style bender. But if he loses
this one, and there's a good chance he will, it
might be time to exit from the octagon. Stage left.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And to the chamber we go.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Want to talk all whites in a moment, But well,
our black Caps and White Ferns have just finished their
respective T twenty series against their South African counterparts. The
White Ferns four one victors, the black Caps vanquished by
three games to two. What's your overall reflection? Can we
start with the black Caps? What's your overall reflection of that?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Sy that? Deffinitely, I'd say the White fans and the
black Caps. I mean, the best way to it, wouldn't
it The black Caps? I fully understand. Maybe it's because
I'm entrenched in this role and this is what I do.
That this was a second string sounds rude, but it
wasn't the best team they've got because they're all off
to the IPL. You get that. We've known that for years.
(12:59):
This is not a surprise they had to play games
against South Africa. Weird it was after the T twenty
World Cup, but look that's what it was. So we
know about the strength of New Zealand cricket. When younger
guys or less experienced guys get dragged into the number
one team, the A team, they tend to perform. Why
(13:21):
is that, Oh, I know, because they've been there, done that,
so they'll be furious at especially when what six catches
got dropped grasses and they were leading that and then
they ended up losing it three too, they were losing
to one. So yeah, regretfully it didn't work, but I
know what they were doing. It wasn't a surprise. We
(13:43):
didn't sit there and suddenly all of these young players
walked out and hold on, who are these? So I'm
not too concerned. I'm really I take it for what
it is.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Right well, I'll take the name of the team you
shouted out, and rightly so. The White Ferns, who only
a few months out from their own T twenty World Cup,
were very differ. Of course, of course they'll tell you though.
It's not theirs to defend us. There's to go and win.
But I know exactly what you're saying. They won the
last one. They did a really good job. And you
look at some of these numbers and I'm not sure
(14:12):
that we are surprised anymore by Melly kirk her inning
seventy eight thirty two thirty thirty one and one hundred
and five two hundred and seventy six runs and an
average of fifty five and a strike rate of one
hundred and fifty nine. She is working, operating and rarefied
here now.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
She is, and we talk about, hey, Sophie Devine's good
night nurse, and we've lost a couple of these considerably.
She's just stepped into the breech and said, hold my beer,
that's okay, And you forgot about it bowling, because she's
bowling up a storm as well, and that's really how
she started things off, wasn't it. And in the field
she's throwing wickets down. I won't say unbelievable, because I've
(14:48):
seen it with my eyes. It's very believable. The asome.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
The only thing I'd say about the White fans is
they do have to sort out what they're doing in
the opening position. Georgia Plumber there they gave is he
gaze a go with a I think a thought that
she would be for someone to get the run rate
going nice and early, but scores of nought six seventeen
six and one don't speak to that success. That's successful
and experiment in that regard. They may continue along that
(15:12):
line and see if they can get her up to speed.
They obviously see something into her, and I like the
intent of a dasher at the top. But yeah, she
won't take great confidence from from the end all.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
The cz baits not being there though, because it's really
odd to me. It just doesn't seem right that she's
way down the end. But again, I suppose they're future proofing.
I'll like to be in the room when they told her.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
I think that's exactly what they're doing. They're future proofing,
and they're looking at something different. Everybody knows what Susie
Bates does. If as he gaze is an unknown quantity
for teams at the Tea twenty World Cup, then maybe
that's part of the appeal of it all. Hey, all whites.
She it's wet hair in Auckland today, so much so
that the all Whites who are going to train at
North Harbor I had to can that they're now at Allersley.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
I think that's probably a bit damp as well. Really,
I know you were down talking to a couple of
players yesterday, Ryan Thomas and Lachland Bayless. I've had the
chat chat to a few players as well. They're pretty
impressive young men, these guys. And I was thinking maybe
a big part of it is because they've almost had
to grow up beyond their years. They've gone away to
find success at a young age. Often have lived overseas,
(16:17):
you speak a couple of languages, have mixed with a
bunch of different cultures. They're just very well adjusted human beings.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Him talking to Baylis was great. He's so young. Was
he twenty two twenty three? And he was intent on
what he was doing. He knew what he had to
do and how it developed. And then talking to Ryan
Thomas about the last twelve ten twelve years since he's
been representing and how things have changed. Because when you
were young, and you were once as were I similar
(16:43):
kind of age, the thought of being a professional footballer
it was a pipe tream. It was like being a
Hollywood actor. Don't yous saily that never happens to his cylinders?
Does it happen now? You're damn right, it happens now.
And they know this and so they are developing at
a pace and they're seeing it on TV and they're
seeing it on social media. This is what it takes
to be a top footballer and they're becoming that way.
(17:06):
So this fight to get to that top eleven the
World Cup is awesome. Yeah, and they really want the roles.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
The extension of that Dars as well is that they
now believe that they belong on the same pitch, yes
as these plays as these other teams. In the past,
New Zealand teams would have been happy to be on
the same pitch as Egypt and Belgium. They're going to
the World Cup to win those games. You know that
their job as a professional football a day and day
it is to win games of football and that translates
across to the national team as well. So that has
(17:34):
been an absolutely significant attitude switch over the last little while,
driven by guys like Ryan Thomas and others who have
gone away to play professionally overseas and brought back that
winning culture into the national side.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
But all that ip and to keep talking about the
football intelligence that they bring back in these two games
coming up, he mentioned that the Finnish are typical Scandinavian teams.
They're very organized, they're very ordered, they're very structured, and
then you go to Cello and he goes gets a
bit aggressive. But it's nice to have those two different
stiles of football to come up again.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Absolutely right, And neither of those two teams are going
to the World Cup, and New Zealander is, but I
don't think that'll make the two games against those sites
any less any less competitive.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Do you miss Route one football?
Speaker 2 (18:16):
I don't miss it. I do not miss it. I
do love huge get up the guts, I mean huge
Kurdos to eighty two and twenty ten. Those teams were
trailblazers in their own right, but this is a different
this is a different kettle of fish. Looking forward to
seeing how the All Whites go against Finland tomorrow night
and Chile on Monday. That'll hear us in the chamber today.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Eating a vix.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
It's Sports Fix powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
And then I'll knock on the head the Sports Fix
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We love bringing the podcast to you. It's nothing without
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Speaker 3 (18:53):
Yeah, and use those ears. I choose someone's off and
say you should be listening to this too, and you
should subscribe. Tell your friends till your family, tell anyone
who'll actually listen to you. I say that because when
I open my mouth, people just walk away. These days, Bay,
get a monks, get involved, and if you'd like to
involve yourself on some standard radio, we've got that for
(19:14):
you too. Of course, News Talk ZB Monday through Friday
seven to eight pm, as Sports Talk Jason Pine's got
the Monday show. I do the rest of the week
and then we hand it over to Jason.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
For weekend Sports Saturday midday all three Sunday midday till
three and as you say, DAS, welcome all comers through
our lines of communication on all of those shows. Thanks
for listening, se tomorrow Das.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello there and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast, brought
to you an association with GJ. Gardner Homes, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder. It is Thursday, March twenty six.
According to my calendar and according to my passport, I'm
Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
And according to my calendar it's exactly the same. I'm
not Jason pinin. I'ven't stolen your passport just yet. But
I see you in studios, So there must be a
massive Dame football coming up right there is indeed a
couple of massive games.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Actually we were as in the All Whites Face Finland
tomorrow night, Eden Park, Chile Monday night, same venue, so
important building blocks for Darren Baiseley's or white So I
want to kick that around in the chamber with you.
And also with the T twenty series between South Africa
and New Zealand and both genders now complete, how do
we reflect on those in terms of a voice on
(01:09):
the pod today who a we're hearing from.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Again to Wellington. Hey you like that, don't you, Tony Giles.
He's the chief executive of the Wellington lines. They draw
from the NCC came out last night they're taking all
of the games away from Jerry Collins Stadium, from Potty
Door and putting them all back at Henry Stadium in Wellington.
Will talk to him about that and why why would
(01:31):
you do that?
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Right?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I'm looking forward to his answers to those questions, lads,
And sports news coming your way too, so let's.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Get into it.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
In other news, Let's.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Get you underway with a look at some of the
big sports stories around today. More on A Pacific A
Chief executive Debbie Sorenson has revealed a high caliber of
coaches are on the franchise's candidate list for Super Rugby
next season. After Tana Umanger's decision to join Dave Ronnie
All Black Stars.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
It's well known that you know he was thinking about
living and that that was a likely permission. So yes,
we have had interest from international coaches as well as
Super Rugby coaches.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has credited fans coming out to
support the team in the PACIFICA round this weekend ticonds
have sold out ahead of tomorrow's home game against the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
O Fanta so cool. I think it's awesome that was
celebrating the city Guard to obviously be part of our
culture and Zealand culture also in just the NRL in general, and.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
No clues yet from All Whites coach Darren Baisley on
who his first choice goalkeeper is. New Zealand play matches
against Finland and Chile at Eden Park over the next
five days, with Max Crokham and Alex Paulson battling it
out for the number one spot.
Speaker 6 (02:38):
Yeah, we wanted to give everybody a day before we
made any decisions around the games. We'll see. We have
two games and we'll see who plays in them. But yeah,
there'll be some good discussions today.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Use and a villion It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine
and Dussy Walter Grave.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
As all more. Welcome to the Sports Fixed podcast. To
Tony Giles is the chief executive of the Wellington Lines.
The new program for the upcoming MPC has come out
and the Wellington Lines taken all their games away from
a Potty Dour they played there last year. Every game
this time around, every game is being played at the
(03:16):
Henry Stadium, So we're going to find out why, Tony,
why have you done this?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Hi Darcy, thanks very much. Listen. It's a wonderful opportunity
this year, isn't it. We are celebrating a fifty year
milestone of the NPC. How good this provincial competition twenty
six unions around the Mottu, fourteen of which you play
MPC and the Wellington Lions have had an incredible run.
Not only have we had six provincial championships, but two
(03:44):
in the last three or four years. In those couple
of years us we have played a number of our
games at Pial Park in this incredible city here in
the Wellington region, and last year we played all of
our games there in the good grace of the local council.
We've made an opportunity. We've made a decision this year
to look at things differently. As listen, it's been very
(04:08):
wide reported that Wellington Rugby has been going through a
bit of a fiscal challenge. We've looked at every part
of our business. We've had wonderful discussions with our partners
at the new Henry Stadium and we've made the call
to bring all all of our home games back to
the stadium for the start of the NPC and for
us that commences on the second of August.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
This is your decision. This is Wellington Rugby's decision. You
haven't been leaned on by anybody to take your games
back there.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Again, not at all, Not at all. I mean, we
have made informed decisions around the performance both on and
off the field of our team last year at Pottydoer,
the high performance environment that players need at this level,
a whole of sport approach for what rugby delivery looks like. Yes,
it is true that Wellington Rugby has an agreement with
(04:58):
the stadium and we do deliver test matches for New
Zealand Rugby at Henry Stadium, and we're delivering the July
eleven Test against Italy which we're all looking forward to
and that's exciting. But no, we haven't been forced at all.
This as a decision that we've made to coincide with
a fifty year milestone, to coincide with the NPC going
(05:20):
free to air television this year for the first time
in thirty years. We're coming off from behind the paywall
and taking away any financial barrier for any sports fan
that wants to engage in rugby. It's an incredible opportunity
and we see that as one that we can't walk
away from.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You've got to still rent the stadium out right, I'm
thinking maybe that's going to cost you quite a bit
of coin. Wouldn't it be cheaper to pot it? Does
that financial aspect come into it a tool, Tony.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
That's start of negotiation. Dark. We've got a good, a
very good relationship with the stadium. We do own the
rights to all rugby and perpetuity at the stadium, so
that gives us some leverage. Pooral Park was a wonderful
opportunity for us to connect with the community, but it
also provides some financial barriers that it's a pack and
pack out event. The Warrington Regional Sports Tradium now known
(06:11):
as Henry Stadium provides a plug and plate right so
we can go in there. We can have really strong
conversations with the management team there around how it is
we want to deliver what that looks like, and that
includes opportunities that don't just focus on the rugby on
the grass. For example, we are having conversations with the
(06:34):
stadium around a double header that's not rugby focused. That's
the event focus. So potentially a fan can come to
Henry Stadium and have a look at the rugby on
the grass and potentially also enjoy another event on the concourse.
So we're looking at really innovative ways to engage a
fan to coming back to provincial rugby.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Now call those activations I think in the modern parlance,
is that what you're referencing giving people many reasons to
come along these activations. Are they supported by various organizations?
Are they going to come in and write you a check?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Well?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
How does that operate?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Well? I think if you're going to have two iconic
Wellington events, one being the Wellington Lions playing in the
Mbasy and another one separate from rugby but partaking in
the stadium at the same time, that's a wonderful opportunity
for families and fans to come engage in two uniquely
Wellington opportunities. So I won't bust the bubble on that
we're still working through something.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
You're not going to tell me who it is then,
are you come on? Tony?
Speaker 4 (07:34):
But I mean we are in the fiftieth year, right,
there's a lot of really cool things happening rugby's on
a bit of a renaissance here. We've got great growth
in numbers at the college game in Wellington. Community Club
rugby starts from this weekend. We're seeing great growth in
the Woman and Girls continuing, four or five new premiere teams.
So yeah, there's a lot to be excited about. And
(07:56):
of course, Darcie, I will rub a bit of sault
in your wound. How good are the Hurricanes going? How
good are the Hurricanes going? Amazing? So if anyone wants
to come to the Henry Stadium this weekend afternoon for
what you on Saturday to see the Hurricanes play, jump
on board, go and support them playing the Reds. Rugby's
on fire.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I've got this on tape. You know I'm going to
play it back to you because the Hurricanes run home
is treacherous to say the least, so we will see.
It's not how you start, Tony, it's how you finish.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
They're doing well and we love it. There's a lot
of Wellington lines players involved in that team and we
support them wholeheartedly.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
When you look at what you're doing with these these
activations getting people in the door, and we look at
the rugby primarily to get people in. Is it based
on the promotion and what you put around it, the
advertising that telling people it's on or is it product based?
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Now I'm like any thank, it's telling the story Darcy, right.
I mean you talked about what you do a park.
I mean we've also played games at the hut Wreck
in the last couple of years as well. You know,
it's about providing the fan the easiest non fiscal barrier,
public transport focused. Henry Stadium has rail buses, car parking
(09:10):
all on site. Right, you get there and you walk
to the concourse. You play at Pottydo a park. That
kind of disenfranchises a lot of fans from the Hart Valley.
You play in the Hart Valley and it kind of
disenfranchise a lot of our folks over on the pottydo
A basin. So we've had opportunities in the last two
years to get a lot of data and how we
have been delivering the return on that data. What is
the best for the player, what is the best high
(09:31):
performance environment? And now we can look at doing all
of that at the Central Stadium again at the Homer
Rugby and look at what activations we can do to
support the brand.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vain and
Darcy Waldergrave.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Global sporting Superstar. You can't attach that label to many
New Zealand athletes, but you can attach it to Israel
Ads and he's fighting again this weekend. He has an
unrivaled record in middleweights in the UFC. He's had a
stunning time of it since he debuted all those years ago.
(10:11):
The last style bender has been something else. He's held
the UFC middleweight title twice. He's got the second longest
winning streak in the division, twelve in a row. He's
time for the most knockdowns in middleweights thirteen. He's been
inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame for his fight
against Calvin Gastolm. But he's on his way down. He
(10:31):
is a lion in winter. I don't like saying this,
I don't like pointing this out, but there's something about
a fighter who probably should know better, carrying on and
trying to recreate the glory of years gone by. Now,
if I was to say this to Israel this in
his face, he'd probably hit me. I'm just being honest
(10:54):
to me. He's one of the most explosive sporting personalities
I've ever seen. That's aside the fireworks he brings to
the octagon, his attitude, his free speech, his dance. He
really is a Finn dominant of the sport. I get
to see him every day when I walk to work.
There is a massive mural of his face on the
(11:14):
wall opposite the building. I have utmost respect for what
he has achieved, but after three consecutive defeats, he doesn't
look like he's got the fire anymore. He hasn't got
that in his eyes, first, his feet, his knees, and
to see him this weekend fight again, I sincerely hope
this comes back to bite me in the ass and
(11:36):
he lays waste to the young American rising star Joe
Pfeiffer in Seattle on Sunday. I have no idea what
happens in the wash up. Nobody does. I'd love to
see him recreate the glory days, but after watching him
get beaten by Sean Strickland, by drickist to Place and
by Nassilden Amimov, I can't see him coming back from that.
(11:59):
Please prove me wrong. I want to see one last
dominant dance from the style bender. But if he loses
this one, and there's a good chance he will, it
might be time to exit from the octagon. Stage left.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And to the chamber we go.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Want to talk all whites in a moment, But well,
our black Caps and White Ferns have just finished their
respective T twenty series against their South African counterparts. The
White Ferns four one victors, the black Caps vanquished by
three games to two. What's your overall reflection? Can we
start with the black Caps? What's your overall reflection of that?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Sy that? Deffinitely, I'd say the White fans and the
black Caps. I mean, the best way to it, wouldn't
it The black Caps? I fully understand. Maybe it's because
I'm entrenched in this role and this is what I do.
That this was a second string sounds rude, but it
wasn't the best team they've got because they're all off
to the IPL. You get that. We've known that for years.
(12:59):
This is not a surprise they had to play games
against South Africa. Weird it was after the T twenty
World Cup, but look that's what it was. So we
know about the strength of New Zealand cricket. When younger
guys or less experienced guys get dragged into the number
one team, the A team, they tend to perform. Why
(13:21):
is that, Oh, I know, because they've been there, done that,
so they'll be furious at especially when what six catches
got dropped grasses and they were leading that and then
they ended up losing it three too, they were losing
to one. So yeah, regretfully it didn't work, but I
know what they were doing. It wasn't a surprise. We
(13:43):
didn't sit there and suddenly all of these young players
walked out and hold on, who are these? So I'm
not too concerned. I'm really I take it for what
it is.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Right well, I'll take the name of the team you
shouted out, and rightly so. The White Ferns, who only
a few months out from their own T twenty World Cup,
were very differ. Of course, of course they'll tell you though.
It's not theirs to defend us. There's to go and win.
But I know exactly what you're saying. They won the
last one. They did a really good job. And you
look at some of these numbers and I'm not sure
(14:12):
that we are surprised anymore by Melly kirk her inning
seventy eight thirty two thirty thirty one and one hundred
and five two hundred and seventy six runs and an
average of fifty five and a strike rate of one
hundred and fifty nine. She is working, operating and rarefied
here now.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
She is, and we talk about, hey, Sophie Devine's good
night nurse, and we've lost a couple of these considerably.
She's just stepped into the breech and said, hold my beer,
that's okay, And you forgot about it bowling, because she's
bowling up a storm as well, and that's really how
she started things off, wasn't it. And in the field
she's throwing wickets down. I won't say unbelievable, because I've
(14:48):
seen it with my eyes. It's very believable. The asome.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
The only thing I'd say about the White fans is
they do have to sort out what they're doing in
the opening position. Georgia Plumber there they gave is he
gaze a go with a I think a thought that
she would be for someone to get the run rate
going nice and early, but scores of nought six seventeen
six and one don't speak to that success. That's successful
and experiment in that regard. They may continue along that
(15:12):
line and see if they can get her up to speed.
They obviously see something into her, and I like the
intent of a dasher at the top. But yeah, she
won't take great confidence from from the end all.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
The cz baits not being there though, because it's really
odd to me. It just doesn't seem right that she's
way down the end. But again, I suppose they're future proofing.
I'll like to be in the room when they told her.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
I think that's exactly what they're doing. They're future proofing,
and they're looking at something different. Everybody knows what Susie
Bates does. If as he gaze is an unknown quantity
for teams at the Tea twenty World Cup, then maybe
that's part of the appeal of it all. Hey, all whites.
She it's wet hair in Auckland today, so much so
that the all Whites who are going to train at
North Harbor I had to can that they're now at Allersley.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
I think that's probably a bit damp as well. Really,
I know you were down talking to a couple of
players yesterday, Ryan Thomas and Lachland Bayless. I've had the
chat chat to a few players as well. They're pretty
impressive young men, these guys. And I was thinking maybe
a big part of it is because they've almost had
to grow up beyond their years. They've gone away to
find success at a young age. Often have lived overseas,
(16:17):
you speak a couple of languages, have mixed with a
bunch of different cultures. They're just very well adjusted human beings.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Him talking to Baylis was great. He's so young. Was
he twenty two twenty three? And he was intent on
what he was doing. He knew what he had to
do and how it developed. And then talking to Ryan
Thomas about the last twelve ten twelve years since he's
been representing and how things have changed. Because when you
were young, and you were once as were I similar
(16:43):
kind of age, the thought of being a professional footballer
it was a pipe tream. It was like being a
Hollywood actor. Don't yous saily that never happens to his cylinders?
Does it happen now? You're damn right, it happens now.
And they know this and so they are developing at
a pace and they're seeing it on TV and they're
seeing it on social media. This is what it takes
to be a top footballer and they're becoming that way.
(17:06):
So this fight to get to that top eleven the
World Cup is awesome. Yeah, and they really want the roles.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
The extension of that Dars as well is that they
now believe that they belong on the same pitch, yes
as these plays as these other teams. In the past,
New Zealand teams would have been happy to be on
the same pitch as Egypt and Belgium. They're going to
the World Cup to win those games. You know that
their job as a professional football a day and day
it is to win games of football and that translates
across to the national team as well. So that has
(17:34):
been an absolutely significant attitude switch over the last little while,
driven by guys like Ryan Thomas and others who have
gone away to play professionally overseas and brought back that
winning culture into the national side.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
But all that ip and to keep talking about the
football intelligence that they bring back in these two games
coming up, he mentioned that the Finnish are typical Scandinavian teams.
They're very organized, they're very ordered, they're very structured, and
then you go to Cello and he goes gets a
bit aggressive. But it's nice to have those two different
stiles of football to come up again.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Absolutely right, And neither of those two teams are going
to the World Cup, and New Zealander is, but I
don't think that'll make the two games against those sites
any less any less competitive.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Do you miss Route one football?
Speaker 2 (18:16):
I don't miss it. I do not miss it. I
do love huge get up the guts, I mean huge
Kurdos to eighty two and twenty ten. Those teams were
trailblazers in their own right, but this is a different
this is a different kettle of fish. Looking forward to
seeing how the All Whites go against Finland tomorrow night
and Chile on Monday. That'll hear us in the chamber today.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Eating a vix.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
It's Sports Fix powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
And then I'll knock on the head the Sports Fix
podcast for today. We greatly appreciate you downloading, subscribing, listening.
We love bringing the podcast to you. It's nothing without
your ears, though, so thanks for listening. In another episode tomorrow,
about the same time and in fact every day Monday
through Friday.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Yeah, and use those ears. I choose someone's off and
say you should be listening to this too, and you
should subscribe. Tell your friends till your family, tell anyone
who'll actually listen to you. I say that because when
I open my mouth, people just walk away. These days, Bay,
get a monks, get involved, and if you'd like to
involve yourself on some standard radio, we've got that for
(19:14):
you too. Of course, News Talk ZB Monday through Friday
seven to eight pm, as Sports Talk Jason Pine's got
the Monday show. I do the rest of the week
and then we hand it over to Jason.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
For weekend Sports Saturday midday all three Sunday midday till
three and as you say, DAS, welcome all comers through
our lines of communication on all of those shows. Thanks
for listening, se tomorrow Das.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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