On Sports Fix with Elliott Smith for 24 June 2026, today it was officially announced that New Zealand Rugby are not approving a license transfer for Moana Pasifika to participate in Super Rugby Pacific in 2027.
They have said they have explored every possibility for a long term solution but none of the interested parties were able to satisfy the capital and a business plan requirements needed to secure the license.
Lima Sopoaga is a former All Black and has been very vocal on his support for the franchise, he joined Elliott to discuss.
Elliott shares his thoughts on hydration breaks potentially hanging around after the Football World Cup.
And Elliott and Newstalk ZB head of sport Clay Wilson discuss Moana Pasifika not returning to Super Rugby in 2027 and the hydration breaks at the Football World Cup.
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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 podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome to Sports Fix for the twenty fourth of June
twenty twenty six. I'm Elliott Smith, coming up on today's episode.
Former All Blacks, Verse five Highlanders playmaker and some Mohan
playmaker as well. Limosopowunga joins us. He's been a passionate
advocate for Mowana pacificus, so what does he make of
the franchise shutting down today or not getting a license
(00:41):
from New Zealand Rugby the rescue bid falling flat unfortunately.
Limasopolwunga joins us on sports Fix. News Talk's ab Sports
News director Klay Wilson joins us in the chamber to
go across the issues of the day. And I've got
a few things to say about hydration breaks at the
Football World Cup. But let's get into it with the
wrap of the last twenty four hours here on sports Fix.
(01:01):
In other news, Croatias put themselves back in the frame
to make the Football World Cup playoffs thanks to a
superstar bond. The enz Wectors, Paps is off the Bats
and the Croatian class close to the four Croatia bes
and Panama one nil, then our third and group L
England and Ganner above them after then nill draw. Portugal
(01:24):
Beatsbekistan five mil. A lot of crickets to get through.
The White Fans have kept their slim hopes alive and
defending Crickets T twenty World Cup with a six wicket
win over Scotland and Bristol. They chased down one hundred
and thirty two for victory. Is the sharp scored a
career best sixty to two or forty three when.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
You needed a win.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
So just focusing on today and now we can move
to England game, which is another must win for us.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
But it's pretty cool coming off a couple of wins.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
So going into that England game, going to give it
our best and see how it goes.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Meanwhile, ahead of the third Test between England and the
black Caps, England coach Brenda McCallum is refuting claims of
a strained relationship with returning captain Ben Stokes.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
We are good friends. We work very well together. Obviously
we have those robust conversations but you've be incredibly disappointed
a few leaders of an organization having those robust conversations
to try and steer your team forward.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And the man at the center of one of the
saddest and most memorable moments in New Zealand sport has died.
Bob Leir died on his ninety fourth birthday in England's
famous New Zealand tale, not only in sport but New
Zealand folklore, coming out to bat on Boxing Day during
the Second Test against South Africa and Johannesburg in nineteen
fifty three, despite his fiance dying in the Tongue Wa
(02:32):
rail disaster on Christmas Eve of that year. Speaking in
the nineteen ninety two documentary from Clough, Cap to Helmet,
batting partner Burt Suckliffe describes the shock as Blear emerged
from the tunnel.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
I'm not afraid to it now. I cried when he
came out and showy eleven sod Africans on two empires,
and as Bob walked out was just a complete hush
of the ground.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
It was almost eerie.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
He rest in peace. Bob Blair leading a.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Vix We've got just the ticket. It's sports vix powered
by News Talks Ivy.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well, the hammer finally came down on wuer pacificate. Today
it became official that there will be no more ONEA
Pacific in Super Rugby in twenty twenty seven, New Zealand
Rugby deciding not to award a license to the rescue
bid that was coming through to try and save the
franchise for next year. They insist the door not entirely
closed for twenty twenty eight if some investors can come
(03:24):
to pass, but in its current form more ONEA Pacifica
is dead and will not be in the competition next year.
It will be a ten team Super Rugby. Joining us
now to discuss all of that is a passionate advocate
for rugby in the Pacific Islands and form All Blacks
verse five Limasopowanga joining us now on Sportspex limit. Thanks
so much for your time.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
It's great to catch up. Obviously a lot going on
in the rugby world right now, but none more so
than obviously the sad news today that more because no longer.
So that's a really really disappointing and sad thing to hear.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
What was your initial reaction I saw your post there
you had no words when you did hear the news,
how you're feeling a few hours on.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
Yeah, sure, I'm just really gutted, really sad for the group,
really sad for like the pathways that are potentially gone,
Sad for players ore in Sarmore and Tonga, sad for
those who are in the environment now now definitely looking
for contracts. It's it's just, yeah, it's heartbreaking. I've seen
(04:30):
clubs go under in my time in the UK, and
you know, some guys never make it back to professional
sports again. And yeah, I think of those little miracle
Phi lungies who are in some more right now wondering
what how do I play for my country? Et cetera.
(04:50):
And it's it's a it's a sad state of affairs.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Obviously, there are people coming together to try and save it,
put a bit of a rescue package together and ultimately
it didn't work, you know, and finances and all those
sort of things come into it. But you know how
disappointing to have that glimmer of hope the air and
then ultimately extinguished.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Yeah, I guess you know, like enstru and the powers
that be have exhausted every resource possible to try and
make this viable, you know, like there's probably no point
in having Muana for one more year and then we're
back in this situation again, chasing chasing our tails.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
So I'm sure it didn't come lightly.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
This decision. This decision would have been stewed over by many,
many people, and you know, it's gotten to this point
where in twenty twenty seven there's no Mouana And yeah,
it's like I said, I'm sure of button shock and
I'm pretty devastated for all parties evolved.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
What needs to happen now to help out players from
some More and Tonga, to get them Super rugby contracts,
professional contracts and maybe not even in Super Rugby but
abroad somewhere and ensure that there is a pathway even
and if it is not worth more uner PACIFICA.
Speaker 6 (06:11):
Look, I don't know if those pathways exist. I know
the NRAL pathways exist. You'll probably get your kids going
to France and UK and Japan and all sorts. So
without those opportunities or options for young players, they'll look elsewhere.
They'll look at other sports, they'll look at different avenues.
(06:32):
So I'm not sure there is a pathway forward for
those aspiring young rugby players.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
You've been obviously very passionate about more uner Pacifica, even
though you didn't play for them yourself. But it's that
next generation, isn't it the ones that have seen them
play and you know, wanted to play for them down
the tracks or what Miracle did, so what Artie did
last year that now will no longer have that opportunity.
And I think when we talked a few weeks ago,
you mentioned the NRAL and I think basketball, you know,
(06:59):
coming through and you know they'll be licking their lips.
I suppose with the kind of players that they will
now be able to get a closer.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Look at Yeah, exactly like I said, it.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
Opens the door for other codes to come in and
get that talent, and I hope those kids do go
off and use their talents and see the world and
become professional athletes. But a big to differ, like you know,
big the question that maybe that talent would have better
been used and rugby union where we could have seen
(07:32):
it on show week in week out and seen some
special players and humans come through the ranks, and we
won't see that, but other sports will benefits from that,
so that is also a positive. But I guess a massive,
massive loss for Aby Union.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
And one of the crazy things out of this is
that the new All Blacks captain doesn't have a super
rugby home, which I think is the first time it's
ever happened.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah, I'm not laughing because we all know he'll be.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
All right, but it'll be funny. Maybe he just says
that he's going to play for Orri's.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
For the next season.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
He's a well, you know, like, do we really see
Arty wearing a blues jusy, a crusader's jersey, a Highlander's jersey?
Like the Hurricanes have already said, you know, we probably
don't have room for them, and so it's like, well,
what are you going to do? Does he go back
overseas again and get another short term deal?
Speaker 5 (08:26):
I'm not too sure because for me personally, it just
feels wrong and looks wrong to see arguably our country's
best player.
Speaker 6 (08:37):
And another super rugby jumper.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
Just I just can't see it happening.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
But it's going to happen, right, And yeah that makes
me feel a little bit uneasy.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Do you think obviously you want a title with the Highlanders?
Do you think I'm muture they'll pick up Artie. But
do you think they'll be sort of the beneficiary or
hope to pick up some of these players that are
now without contracts.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Oh, for sure, I've already heard that someone.
Speaker 6 (08:59):
Like Patrick Pillergreen, he's already on his way. He's already
been signed by Jamie Joe. So there are definitely players
already on the radar. I seen Joel Lamb's already going
to the Highlanders, So definitely there's definitely openings everywhere. And yeah,
I wouldn't put it past Jamie Joe, that's for sure,
(09:21):
to find some money underneath a Metro summer and maybe
Entysidi down south for one year.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news cowered
by News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
And here we are at the end of the first
two rounds of the Football World Cup, with the Simultaneier's
knockouts starting tomorrow with the final match days. I'll give
it a positive mark so far. The forty eight teams
feel a little bloated, but fears it would be resulting
in a lot of lopsided matches have largely been unfounded.
A couple of examples aside. It's only going to get
better from here as well. We've got the simultane's knockouts
(09:57):
from tomorrow and they were into the round of thirty
two to two. But as anyone surprised that, despite the
fact that implemented them only for this tournament's hydration breaks
could be here to stay. Yes, it's warm, but not
to the point where legitimate hybration hydration breaks would be
called on every game like clockworks. Jarni and Fantina. The
fief of President says, and I quote, maybe the coach
(10:17):
can reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes, the players get
a little rest and come back in full speed. Well
is that bad necessarily? Maybe it's good? End quote. That
would lead me to seduce that hydration breaks in World
Cups are here to stay. Unfortunately, they've been the worst
part of the tournament. A pause that a natural one
at that in the flow of the game midway through
(10:39):
each half. That has changed entirely the way that the
sport should be played. One fee for president, one fee
for body has now turned a ninety minute game into
roughly twenty three twenty four minute quarters or thereabouts. No mistake,
the floodgates have been open now and I suspect it
will soon be in the Premier League, the Champions League
and maybe even the A League as well soon and
(11:01):
I hate it. We will jump in the chamber next
with Clay Willson, sport news director for newstalk zeb B.
We'll get his and the hydration breaks, but also more
Wana pacifica shutting down.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
The chamber is now in session on sports Fax.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Let's jump in the chamber now and joining us is
sports news director for newstalk Zibbie Clay Wilson. Clay, thank
you for your time in the chamber. As always, no problems,
well plenty to get stuck into. But the news of
the day more Onana pacifica shutting down. We knew this
was going to happen. At least no one's going to
take on their license. They've already essentially shut down. No
one's going to pick it up for next year. Not
a huge surprise, but it is a death now none
(11:37):
the less for a Pacific Island rugby in terms of
what they've contributed to Super Rabia. What do you make
of it? How big a loss is it?
Speaker 7 (11:44):
Yeah, I mean I think everyone acknowledges that it would be.
It would have been the preferable thing to keep the
team going right, both for the interests of the team,
what the team's kind of purpose is, but also for
the competition. You know, Super Rugby has been losing a
few teams in recent times, so to lose another one
(12:05):
now go down to ten teams in terms of the
integrity of their competition perhaps isn't the best thing either.
But like you say, it did kind of feel that
it was perhaps going that way. There was always that
little bit of hope that someone might come in, But
I mean New Zealand Rugby clearly wanted someone who had
a very good plan. I had a lot of money
behind them and weren't convinced that the bids that they
(12:25):
had we're going to seal that. And I think you've
got to be better safe than sorry in that instance.
You don't want to just take someone just because you
want to keep the team going. You have to be
sure that it's that it's going to be a group
that really do have that money, that have the nouns,
that have a plan to commercially keep the team afloat.
Otherwise that's not good for anyone. It's not good for
it's not good for the competition, it's not good for
(12:47):
Moliner and it's not good for someone and Tongue and
rugby pathways.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Because you can imagine year time this new license hold
whoever it might be, comes out and goes actually we
can't find it for twenty twenty eight. And in New
Zealand Rugby's got eagle on their faces. They had to
be absolutely sure and ultimately they weren't. And look, I
don't know that a ten team comp is overly sustainable
any more than an eleven team comp and superb but
at least for getting through next year and making sure it,
(13:12):
you know, goes and runs as it should, and especially
being a World Cup year, it's probably the only outcome
they could have arrived at.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Yeah, I think so. And you know they're clearly very
open to both New Zealand Rugby and Super Rugby Pacific
in terms of the commission to perhaps getting this back
up and running if someone does come in next year
and that just gives it a bit more time, doesn't it,
Or if it doesn't then you know, Super Rugby are
clearly going to investigate other teams and it does seem
(13:40):
like there were other interested parties out there outside of
you know, the Tongue and Samow and contingents and getting
Mowana itself back up and going so yeah, I think
it's the it's the sensible decision, but it is sad
news and ultimately not good news for the competition and
the team.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
No how much you enjoyed the hydration breaks in the
World Cup at the moment.
Speaker 7 (13:59):
Not as much as the FIFA bank accounts. Yeah, yeah,
I mean that seems to be the common opinion around this,
doesn't It Is that while in principle a hydration break,
you know, seems to be focusing on player welfare and
you know, the demands of the modern game. I'm not
sure what the stats are, but doesn't seem like many
(14:21):
of these tournaments would have met the kind of criteria
we see. I think the A League does these, but
only when it is thinking, oh yeah, they have a
set mark, a humidity, a Celsius kind of level you
have to get to before they bring this in, and
I mean, wy FIFA hasn't done that. Everyone is obviously
pointing to, you know, the air breaks, the money they
can make out of that, and it does. Outside of that,
(14:43):
it kind of the logic for it. It's hard to
stack up, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It really is The only benefit has been that I
can sort of time it and go get a coffee
from the kitchen and be back in time pressed the
pod machine, get it back to my couch in time
for resumption to play. That's about the only benefit I'm seeing.
But otherwise it it can go on the bin. Jackson
Forward out for the worry is ten to twelve weeks.
There's places in around about returning maybe early in the
(15:06):
finals or very late in the rig. The season they've
had obviously injury blows already, The season for sh Harris
is out currently, Hala Sema obviously, ton of Boy's gone
as well. Can they withstand losing Jackson Forward for the
next ten to twelve weeks?
Speaker 7 (15:21):
Well, I think there's multiple ways to answer this question
that the short answer to your question is yes, I
think they can. It isn't good news, and it's never
good news when you lose a player of that caliber
and a player who's you know, carebbeus form Jackson Ford
this year clearly, so losing him for a big chunk
of the back half of the season is not good news.
(15:42):
But I'm not sure the Warriors have been in a
better position to handle a loss of the significance perhaps
in their history, you know, and I think you can
look at not just prop or in the second row
where he does play sometimes as well, but there are
multiple positions across the field where you say the Warriors
have the depth in terms of bringing someone in that
(16:03):
first grade quality. That's going to be someone who's going
to be able to perform not just in the regular season,
but perhaps when it comes to a finals run as well.
So look, you want as much depth as you can,
and losing Jackson Ford knocks that. But in terms of
who you're bringing in, they have a lot of players
in Like you mentioned HeLa Semas, He's due to come
back pretty soon, Fisher Harris due to come back pretty soon.
(16:25):
We've seen what demetric Rymarga has been able to do tennis.
Dows Smith just continues, I think with every performance to
show that. You know, I think a lot of other
teams in the competition would be looking at a player
like that and saying, you know, he's a first grade
starter if you needed him. So look, in terms of
the position, that's probably the deepest position they have on
(16:46):
the field, those metal forwards. But just really sad for
him in terms of how well, the season was going as.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Well well exactly he was in with the chance of winning
the dally M voting has gone behind closed doors who
was behind Nathan Cleary. But there will certainly be no
chance now, which is really unfortunate because who knows what
might have happened over the closing weeks. You know, he
kept turning up, which he had been all season, might
have been with chance of winning that medal, which none
would have predicted at the end of the u in
which is a shame. Clay, thank you very much for
your time in the chamber, as always appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Needing a fix, We've gone just the ticket. It's Sports
Fix powered by News Talks IV.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode
of Sports X and if you want more sports content,
News Talk ZIB is your place seven to eight weeknights
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Speaker 1 (17:31):
We'll see you tomorrow for more from News Talks EDB
listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome to Sports Fix for the twenty fourth of June
twenty twenty six. I'm Elliott Smith, coming up on today's episode.
Former All Blacks, Verse five Highlanders playmaker and some Mohan
playmaker as well. Limosopowunga joins us. He's been a passionate
advocate for Mowana pacificus, so what does he make of
the franchise shutting down today or not getting a license
(00:41):
from New Zealand Rugby the rescue bid falling flat unfortunately.
Limasopolwunga joins us on sports Fix. News Talk's ab Sports
News director Klay Wilson joins us in the chamber to
go across the issues of the day. And I've got
a few things to say about hydration breaks at the
Football World Cup. But let's get into it with the
wrap of the last twenty four hours here on sports Fix.
(01:01):
In other news, Croatias put themselves back in the frame
to make the Football World Cup playoffs thanks to a
superstar bond. The enz Wectors, Paps is off the Bats
and the Croatian class close to the four Croatia bes
and Panama one nil, then our third and group L
England and Ganner above them after then nill draw. Portugal
(01:24):
Beatsbekistan five mil. A lot of crickets to get through.
The White Fans have kept their slim hopes alive and
defending Crickets T twenty World Cup with a six wicket
win over Scotland and Bristol. They chased down one hundred
and thirty two for victory. Is the sharp scored a
career best sixty to two or forty three when.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
You needed a win.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
So just focusing on today and now we can move
to England game, which is another must win for us.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
But it's pretty cool coming off a couple of wins.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
So going into that England game, going to give it
our best and see how it goes.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Meanwhile, ahead of the third Test between England and the
black Caps, England coach Brenda McCallum is refuting claims of
a strained relationship with returning captain Ben Stokes.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
We are good friends. We work very well together. Obviously
we have those robust conversations but you've be incredibly disappointed
a few leaders of an organization having those robust conversations
to try and steer your team forward.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And the man at the center of one of the
saddest and most memorable moments in New Zealand sport has died.
Bob Leir died on his ninety fourth birthday in England's
famous New Zealand tale, not only in sport but New
Zealand folklore, coming out to bat on Boxing Day during
the Second Test against South Africa and Johannesburg in nineteen
fifty three, despite his fiance dying in the Tongue Wa
(02:32):
rail disaster on Christmas Eve of that year. Speaking in
the nineteen ninety two documentary from Clough, Cap to Helmet,
batting partner Burt Suckliffe describes the shock as Blear emerged
from the tunnel.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
I'm not afraid to it now. I cried when he
came out and showy eleven sod Africans on two empires,
and as Bob walked out was just a complete hush
of the ground.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
It was almost eerie.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
He rest in peace. Bob Blair leading a.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Vix We've got just the ticket. It's sports vix powered
by News Talks Ivy.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well, the hammer finally came down on wuer pacificate. Today
it became official that there will be no more ONEA
Pacific in Super Rugby in twenty twenty seven, New Zealand
Rugby deciding not to award a license to the rescue
bid that was coming through to try and save the
franchise for next year. They insist the door not entirely
closed for twenty twenty eight if some investors can come
(03:24):
to pass, but in its current form more ONEA Pacifica
is dead and will not be in the competition next year.
It will be a ten team Super Rugby. Joining us
now to discuss all of that is a passionate advocate
for rugby in the Pacific Islands and form All Blacks
verse five Limasopowanga joining us now on Sportspex limit. Thanks
so much for your time.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
It's great to catch up. Obviously a lot going on
in the rugby world right now, but none more so
than obviously the sad news today that more because no longer.
So that's a really really disappointing and sad thing to hear.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
What was your initial reaction I saw your post there
you had no words when you did hear the news,
how you're feeling a few hours on.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
Yeah, sure, I'm just really gutted, really sad for the group,
really sad for like the pathways that are potentially gone,
Sad for players ore in Sarmore and Tonga, sad for
those who are in the environment now now definitely looking
for contracts. It's it's just, yeah, it's heartbreaking. I've seen
(04:30):
clubs go under in my time in the UK, and
you know, some guys never make it back to professional
sports again. And yeah, I think of those little miracle
Phi lungies who are in some more right now wondering
what how do I play for my country? Et cetera.
(04:50):
And it's it's a it's a sad state of affairs.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Obviously, there are people coming together to try and save it,
put a bit of a rescue package together and ultimately
it didn't work, you know, and finances and all those
sort of things come into it. But you know how
disappointing to have that glimmer of hope the air and
then ultimately extinguished.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Yeah, I guess you know, like enstru and the powers
that be have exhausted every resource possible to try and
make this viable, you know, like there's probably no point
in having Muana for one more year and then we're
back in this situation again, chasing chasing our tails.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
So I'm sure it didn't come lightly.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
This decision. This decision would have been stewed over by many,
many people, and you know, it's gotten to this point
where in twenty twenty seven there's no Mouana And yeah,
it's like I said, I'm sure of button shock and
I'm pretty devastated for all parties evolved.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
What needs to happen now to help out players from
some More and Tonga, to get them Super rugby contracts,
professional contracts and maybe not even in Super Rugby but
abroad somewhere and ensure that there is a pathway even
and if it is not worth more uner PACIFICA.
Speaker 6 (06:11):
Look, I don't know if those pathways exist. I know
the NRAL pathways exist. You'll probably get your kids going
to France and UK and Japan and all sorts. So
without those opportunities or options for young players, they'll look elsewhere.
They'll look at other sports, they'll look at different avenues.
(06:32):
So I'm not sure there is a pathway forward for
those aspiring young rugby players.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
You've been obviously very passionate about more uner Pacifica, even
though you didn't play for them yourself. But it's that
next generation, isn't it the ones that have seen them
play and you know, wanted to play for them down
the tracks or what Miracle did, so what Artie did
last year that now will no longer have that opportunity.
And I think when we talked a few weeks ago,
you mentioned the NRAL and I think basketball, you know,
(06:59):
coming through and you know they'll be licking their lips.
I suppose with the kind of players that they will
now be able to get a closer.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Look at Yeah, exactly like I said, it.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
Opens the door for other codes to come in and
get that talent, and I hope those kids do go
off and use their talents and see the world and
become professional athletes. But a big to differ, like you know,
big the question that maybe that talent would have better
been used and rugby union where we could have seen
(07:32):
it on show week in week out and seen some
special players and humans come through the ranks, and we
won't see that, but other sports will benefits from that,
so that is also a positive. But I guess a massive,
massive loss for Aby Union.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
And one of the crazy things out of this is
that the new All Blacks captain doesn't have a super
rugby home, which I think is the first time it's
ever happened.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah, I'm not laughing because we all know he'll be.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
All right, but it'll be funny. Maybe he just says
that he's going to play for Orri's.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
For the next season.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
He's a well, you know, like, do we really see
Arty wearing a blues jusy, a crusader's jersey, a Highlander's jersey?
Like the Hurricanes have already said, you know, we probably
don't have room for them, and so it's like, well,
what are you going to do? Does he go back
overseas again and get another short term deal?
Speaker 5 (08:26):
I'm not too sure because for me personally, it just
feels wrong and looks wrong to see arguably our country's
best player.
Speaker 6 (08:37):
And another super rugby jumper.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
Just I just can't see it happening.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
But it's going to happen, right, And yeah that makes
me feel a little bit uneasy.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Do you think obviously you want a title with the Highlanders?
Do you think I'm muture they'll pick up Artie. But
do you think they'll be sort of the beneficiary or
hope to pick up some of these players that are
now without contracts.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Oh, for sure, I've already heard that someone.
Speaker 6 (08:59):
Like Patrick Pillergreen, he's already on his way. He's already
been signed by Jamie Joe. So there are definitely players
already on the radar. I seen Joel Lamb's already going
to the Highlanders, So definitely there's definitely openings everywhere. And yeah,
I wouldn't put it past Jamie Joe, that's for sure,
(09:21):
to find some money underneath a Metro summer and maybe
Entysidi down south for one year.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news cowered
by News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
And here we are at the end of the first
two rounds of the Football World Cup, with the Simultaneier's
knockouts starting tomorrow with the final match days. I'll give
it a positive mark so far. The forty eight teams
feel a little bloated, but fears it would be resulting
in a lot of lopsided matches have largely been unfounded.
A couple of examples aside. It's only going to get
better from here as well. We've got the simultane's knockouts
(09:57):
from tomorrow and they were into the round of thirty
two to two. But as anyone surprised that, despite the
fact that implemented them only for this tournament's hydration breaks
could be here to stay. Yes, it's warm, but not
to the point where legitimate hybration hydration breaks would be
called on every game like clockworks. Jarni and Fantina. The
fief of President says, and I quote, maybe the coach
(10:17):
can reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes, the players get
a little rest and come back in full speed. Well
is that bad necessarily? Maybe it's good? End quote. That
would lead me to seduce that hydration breaks in World
Cups are here to stay. Unfortunately, they've been the worst
part of the tournament. A pause that a natural one
at that in the flow of the game midway through
(10:39):
each half. That has changed entirely the way that the
sport should be played. One fee for president, one fee
for body has now turned a ninety minute game into
roughly twenty three twenty four minute quarters or thereabouts. No mistake,
the floodgates have been open now and I suspect it
will soon be in the Premier League, the Champions League
and maybe even the A League as well soon and
(11:01):
I hate it. We will jump in the chamber next
with Clay Willson, sport news director for newstalk zeb B.
We'll get his and the hydration breaks, but also more
Wana pacifica shutting down.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
The chamber is now in session on sports Fax.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Let's jump in the chamber now and joining us is
sports news director for newstalk Zibbie Clay Wilson. Clay, thank
you for your time in the chamber. As always, no problems,
well plenty to get stuck into. But the news of
the day more Onana pacifica shutting down. We knew this
was going to happen. At least no one's going to
take on their license. They've already essentially shut down. No
one's going to pick it up for next year. Not
a huge surprise, but it is a death now none
(11:37):
the less for a Pacific Island rugby in terms of
what they've contributed to Super Rabia. What do you make
of it? How big a loss is it?
Speaker 7 (11:44):
Yeah, I mean I think everyone acknowledges that it would be.
It would have been the preferable thing to keep the
team going right, both for the interests of the team,
what the team's kind of purpose is, but also for
the competition. You know, Super Rugby has been losing a
few teams in recent times, so to lose another one
(12:05):
now go down to ten teams in terms of the
integrity of their competition perhaps isn't the best thing either.
But like you say, it did kind of feel that
it was perhaps going that way. There was always that
little bit of hope that someone might come in, But
I mean New Zealand Rugby clearly wanted someone who had
a very good plan. I had a lot of money
behind them and weren't convinced that the bids that they
(12:25):
had we're going to seal that. And I think you've
got to be better safe than sorry in that instance.
You don't want to just take someone just because you
want to keep the team going. You have to be
sure that it's that it's going to be a group
that really do have that money, that have the nouns,
that have a plan to commercially keep the team afloat.
Otherwise that's not good for anyone. It's not good for
it's not good for the competition, it's not good for
(12:47):
Moliner and it's not good for someone and Tongue and
rugby pathways.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Because you can imagine year time this new license hold
whoever it might be, comes out and goes actually we
can't find it for twenty twenty eight. And in New
Zealand Rugby's got eagle on their faces. They had to
be absolutely sure and ultimately they weren't. And look, I
don't know that a ten team comp is overly sustainable
any more than an eleven team comp and superb but
at least for getting through next year and making sure it,
(13:12):
you know, goes and runs as it should, and especially
being a World Cup year, it's probably the only outcome
they could have arrived at.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Yeah, I think so. And you know they're clearly very
open to both New Zealand Rugby and Super Rugby Pacific
in terms of the commission to perhaps getting this back
up and running if someone does come in next year
and that just gives it a bit more time, doesn't it,
Or if it doesn't then you know, Super Rugby are
clearly going to investigate other teams and it does seem
(13:40):
like there were other interested parties out there outside of
you know, the Tongue and Samow and contingents and getting
Mowana itself back up and going so yeah, I think
it's the it's the sensible decision, but it is sad
news and ultimately not good news for the competition and
the team.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
No how much you enjoyed the hydration breaks in the
World Cup at the moment.
Speaker 7 (13:59):
Not as much as the FIFA bank accounts. Yeah, yeah,
I mean that seems to be the common opinion around this,
doesn't It Is that while in principle a hydration break,
you know, seems to be focusing on player welfare and
you know, the demands of the modern game. I'm not
sure what the stats are, but doesn't seem like many
(14:21):
of these tournaments would have met the kind of criteria
we see. I think the A League does these, but
only when it is thinking, oh yeah, they have a
set mark, a humidity, a Celsius kind of level you
have to get to before they bring this in, and
I mean, wy FIFA hasn't done that. Everyone is obviously
pointing to, you know, the air breaks, the money they
can make out of that, and it does. Outside of that,
(14:43):
it kind of the logic for it. It's hard to
stack up, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It really is The only benefit has been that I
can sort of time it and go get a coffee
from the kitchen and be back in time pressed the
pod machine, get it back to my couch in time
for resumption to play. That's about the only benefit I'm seeing.
But otherwise it it can go on the bin. Jackson
Forward out for the worry is ten to twelve weeks.
There's places in around about returning maybe early in the
(15:06):
finals or very late in the rig. The season they've
had obviously injury blows already, The season for sh Harris
is out currently, Hala Sema obviously, ton of Boy's gone
as well. Can they withstand losing Jackson Forward for the
next ten to twelve weeks?
Speaker 7 (15:21):
Well, I think there's multiple ways to answer this question
that the short answer to your question is yes, I
think they can. It isn't good news, and it's never
good news when you lose a player of that caliber
and a player who's you know, carebbeus form Jackson Ford
this year clearly, so losing him for a big chunk
of the back half of the season is not good news.
(15:42):
But I'm not sure the Warriors have been in a
better position to handle a loss of the significance perhaps
in their history, you know, and I think you can
look at not just prop or in the second row
where he does play sometimes as well, but there are
multiple positions across the field where you say the Warriors
have the depth in terms of bringing someone in that
(16:03):
first grade quality. That's going to be someone who's going
to be able to perform not just in the regular season,
but perhaps when it comes to a finals run as well.
So look, you want as much depth as you can,
and losing Jackson Ford knocks that. But in terms of
who you're bringing in, they have a lot of players
in Like you mentioned HeLa Semas, He's due to come
back pretty soon, Fisher Harris due to come back pretty soon.
(16:25):
We've seen what demetric Rymarga has been able to do tennis.
Dows Smith just continues, I think with every performance to
show that. You know, I think a lot of other
teams in the competition would be looking at a player
like that and saying, you know, he's a first grade
starter if you needed him. So look, in terms of
the position, that's probably the deepest position they have on
(16:46):
the field, those metal forwards. But just really sad for
him in terms of how well, the season was going as.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Well well exactly he was in with the chance of winning
the dally M voting has gone behind closed doors who
was behind Nathan Cleary. But there will certainly be no
chance now, which is really unfortunate because who knows what
might have happened over the closing weeks. You know, he
kept turning up, which he had been all season, might
have been with chance of winning that medal, which none
would have predicted at the end of the u in
which is a shame. Clay, thank you very much for
your time in the chamber, as always appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Needing a fix, We've gone just the ticket. It's Sports
Fix powered by News Talks IV.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode
of Sports X and if you want more sports content,
News Talk ZIB is your place seven to eight weeknights
sports Talk and weekend sport with Jason Pine Saturdays and
Sundays midday till three.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
We'll see you tomorrow for more from News Talks EDB
listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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