July 8, 2026 • 13 mins
New Zealand Rugby have continued to bolster their stocks in the high performance space.
Former All Blacks centre Conrad Smith is the latest to sign with NZR as the new Head of Men's High Performance.
Conrad joined D'Arcy to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You see onder Rugby have continued to bolster their stocks
in the high performance space, this time hiring a name
we all know and love, Sneaky Conrad Smith has been
announced with Simon Insida as the new head of Men's
High Performance. He joins the organization early September, and the
man of the Hour of the Tower of Power himself
(00:33):
was on the line with us now haven't we chat
about it? Good evening, Conrad.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Good day to be speaking with you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
It's great to have you back on air again. It's
been a while, but I think you're going to be
front and center for a bit now. You do know
what you've taken on as the head of high Performance
for men, You're going to be right in the eye
of the hurricane.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah. Look, I I'm pretty excited about it. It's it's
a challenge, no doubt. We've receive it. The works we've
done I think in the space, but I'm not going alone.
And a big part of the reason I even applied
was was someone like Don Trucker, Who's he's in charge
and he'll be helping me a lot in the team
(01:15):
around us as I think building well, so he did
some challenges, but that's what excites Yeah. I was the
same as a player and I'm the same now. Those
things keep me out of bed and I'm just humped
to be back at the gen rugby and trying to
make us the best in the world.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
They didn't shoulder tap you, or did you shoulder tap them?
How did the process the unfold?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
No? Not, I mean there was a little bit of both.
It was I was made aware of the role, but
then went through a pretty rigorous process, really a couple
of interviews. I applied and then shortlisted for an interview
and then there was another interview. So it was really
a good process. So I really enjoyed it because it
sort of sharpened my thinking around the Soule space and
(02:05):
forced me to get are uncomfortable and pitch my thoughts
and views and vision around it and think. To me,
it was pretty aligned with it with Don's and that
they saw something that I could offer, and you know,
here we are and like I said, a massive challenging head.
But what I'm excited about?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
So what do you bring to the role. Then you've
obviously gone through this with the people who appointed you.
But you talk about yourself going hey, well this is
what Snakey's going to do. What do you bring?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
What?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
What's your effectiveness do you.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Think I'd like to think of I might be young
and in some respects, but a lot of experience around
by performance. Obviously what I played through an experience with
something pretty special. But even since then, I think my
own experience taking me to France and seeing something in
(02:57):
the high performance stay quite different, you know, and free Traugby.
I think that'd even admit the rich and resources and players,
but probably don't focus as much or as much as
the New Zealand does or has to do around the
support you provide to those plans and even the coaches,
(03:17):
the support staff. Like in New Zealand when we're at
our big environs, we create and I feel like I've
benefited from this a world class you know, we are
the best in the world. It's doing that when we
get it right, and I've seen the when it's done
well and equally it's someone experiences in France and then
even as a member of the Player Association, the International
(03:39):
Rugby Plas, I've seen high perform it to all around
the world over the last few years, ones that work,
ones that don't, And you know, I think that's enrichly
with a really good view of how we can do
it and what what the computeris, advantage of New Zealand
rugby is and what what how we have to lean
into that dispose and keep the most out of that.
(04:00):
So that's as I say, it's not it's not easier.
That's all talk at the moment, and I just to
make a difference there and work with a great team
at these general ad to see us doing your best
in the world in terms of the way we were
support and help our players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, obviously the things set between yourself and Don Tricker,
you've got to be I presume aligned on the same page,
but you also have to have the ability and the
want to stand up to go no, you're wrong. You
need that friction, don't you within the tops of high
performances role so you do actually unearth the best result
(04:37):
for the players.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yet, yeah, absolutely, I think that's a more part of
any high performance environment, like that competitive tension, that healthy
tension where again I've seen it where if you're all
aligned on what's best of the team and you've got
to challenge each other because you know that's what you're about.
You can't sit there and nod your heads and the
(05:00):
ground everything. And I know that's what don wants me
to bring. And you know it's not just online as
a being the woman's your black staff leaving your black team,
and I'd love to see it, think it, see that
it's a healthy relationship between us all that we challenge
each other because you don't know, we're not going to
improve just sticking to the status quo. Like there's some
(05:21):
big challenges in this country and around the game as
there is. You know, most unions would say the same.
So we just got to find a plan, commit to
it and bring everyone along with us. So there's a
whole lot of work involved in that. But as I
keep saying, like that's something that excites me.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Conrad Smith, there high performance for men's underneath do on
Tricker and enz O and appointed today high performance I'd
suggest to change somewhat since your you're healthy in days
what eleven, twenty fifteen, and just pick up yourself a
couple of World Cups that's over a decade ago. How
has it changed in your eyes? This high performance concept.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Well, you know, looks what I think. The principles have
always stayed the same. You know, you push us to
be the best they can, deem your support coaches, how
you throw referees, You try and create environments where everyone
wants to be better. And we talked about the way
they can challenge each other and bring the best out
in each other. There is no doubt since I played
(06:21):
there are a whole lot of different challenges and you
know there's three to other sports, the position I suppose
of rugby within the country, our feeling towards rugby and
those they will be challenges that we have to face
and talk about. But as I say that, the principles
(06:41):
remain the same and how you deal with them is
going to fall back on those principles. You get alignment
and you get everyone growing, and there'll be some challenges
and some hard conversations. You know, we want provincial unions
that know their place in the game, super right, be
the same New Zealand Rugby and the teams and black
they all got to be clear on what they're doing
(07:03):
and how they are all contributing to things getting better
for the game in this country. So you know, that's
the challenge, these new opsites that have changed some pramerically
since I've stopped playing some so but that's what I'm
going to enjoy, particularly as I start to get a
(07:23):
deeper understanding. I feel like I've got a pretty good idea.
I haven't been completely evident from the game. You've been
pretty involved. So it's just going to be around getting
closer to a lot of the coaches and support staff
and around the provinces of New Zealand and seen seeing
the challenges they face and getting giving their plans to hell,
(07:45):
can I check them?
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Well? You touch on pu He's going to be working
with super rugby players as well. Freeze your interaction. Have
you been given a couple of longs when it comes
to dealing with the players at the level and the
coaches and Don Tricker? Are they going to release you
like a hound to run around and savage?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Well, I haven't started yet, so we've I've got that's
all ahead of me. You know, we've had initial discussions
around how it could look, but those sort of interesting
see something that that will no doubt be planned out
in the coming weeks. You know, I've got to still
do a good job of transitioning out of my current
(08:25):
role and so there's a bit of time there before
I meet and feed under the desk sort of thing
at New Zealand Rugby, but that's you know where I'll start. Definitely,
it will be a lot of listening and seeing for
myself to the environments that are around New Zealand and as
I said before, some of the challenges that that people
were facing. But from men, Yeah, it's just a manner
of planning and a strategy that that's going to work.
(08:47):
And however that looks, I'm not sure, but I'm not
afraid if it means having you're getting involved and talking
to some people around the place, that that's I think
a big part of what I'm going.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To How do you know you've been successful? What do
you look at? Why are you those indicators that say
you know what you're right at this role? What do
you look to in good course?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
I think, like I said at the start, I want
to see players loving their foot I want to see
a country that's patched and that loves rugby, not just
the teams and black like that. It's a big part
we want to see are all blacks and black fums
and John sevens and our under twenties winning the tournaments
that they go and compete in, but also the kids
(09:30):
and on the Saturday mornings, you know, loving it and
being inspired by what they see. So there is a
whole lot in that, Like there's the community side, but
but I'm a big believer that that's not mutually exclusive.
We need the community firmly attached and that part of
our whole performance plan, so that that's what would be
success for me. You know that we're seeing at the
(09:51):
top end it's it's working and we're winning. But that
and then it flows down and this is a real
good feeling around the rugby we play and the values
and that that it features people because you know, that's
why I've lived and breathed it for a long time
and I still love the So I want to see that,
you know, spread far and wide, and I know there's
(10:12):
good people we can make that happen.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
A huge amount of change and thens are in the
last six months and your we are part of that.
You look at coaches, high performance directors that the list
goes on. There's a lot to deal with for the players.
For Dave Rennie, they've got one game under their belt.
What have you seen that you've enjoyed out of what
Dave Rennie is trying to put in place, because people
have been a bit critical, but it's one game. It
(10:36):
takes a lot to change the direction of a team.
What have you noticed?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah? I completely agree that. I don't think we can
judge completely new you know, Marge extent, completely new coaching
team just on that performance. That's a mind you know.
I was. It was a great game of rugby. I'll
speak time in France. I know how good that French
team is, and I get a little bit worried about
(11:04):
the attitude of Kiwi's when we teams coming down and
we write them off because they might not have a
few players that were part of a taluse team. I
get that, but that's the team that won the six Nations,
convincing me. They have been perceptionally good for a few
few years and they've built a huge amount of debt.
(11:24):
So a very good French team and they went at
it and we've got put under some pressure and we
ultimately turned around. I love the rugby we were playing
and look the result was there. So there's going to
be a lot they can improve and we'll judge them
on that and the weeks ahead, but in my mind
(11:44):
I was really impressed and pretty excited about what that
team can do.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Carry on with the optimism. Love that catch phrase that
Dave Rinny is using, but I think you should add
brutal optimism to the start of it. It makes me
feel a little bit about things. And one last thing,
Gonray Smith and thanks as always so much for your time.
What the hell's ma still playing at that level? For you?
You thought about maybe probably get Jersey on a gig
because he's putting a change.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I'll be I'll be trying to get him back to
New Zealand. It'll be my first job. The guy, the
guy's a legion. I think we'll appreciate just how good
he is, and well maybe we already do, but just
you can't do that by excellent play as long as
he can. Like, that's how professional the guy is, and
just how good he is in playing in the top fourteen,
(12:34):
which is no keep saying it's probably the toughest league
in the world now and yeah he's still fronting and
and doing this thing. So not he's he's a special
man and we need and we'd love to have more
like him coming through in New Zealand and we'll be
in a lot bitter place.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
There's plenty of them out there, mate, you've got to
go there and look and train them up. High performance
manager for me and that now insur. His name is
Conrad Smith and we thank him very much for joining
us here on News Talks. Be you look after yourself, Snakey.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
No problems.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You see onder Rugby have continued to bolster their stocks
in the high performance space, this time hiring a name
we all know and love, Sneaky Conrad Smith has been
announced with Simon Insida as the new head of Men's
High Performance. He joins the organization early September, and the
man of the Hour of the Tower of Power himself
(00:33):
was on the line with us now haven't we chat
about it? Good evening, Conrad.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Good day to be speaking with you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
It's great to have you back on air again. It's
been a while, but I think you're going to be
front and center for a bit now. You do know
what you've taken on as the head of high Performance
for men, You're going to be right in the eye
of the hurricane.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah. Look, I I'm pretty excited about it. It's it's
a challenge, no doubt. We've receive it. The works we've
done I think in the space, but I'm not going alone.
And a big part of the reason I even applied
was was someone like Don Trucker, Who's he's in charge
and he'll be helping me a lot in the team
(01:15):
around us as I think building well, so he did
some challenges, but that's what excites Yeah. I was the
same as a player and I'm the same now. Those
things keep me out of bed and I'm just humped
to be back at the gen rugby and trying to
make us the best in the world.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
They didn't shoulder tap you, or did you shoulder tap them?
How did the process the unfold?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
No? Not, I mean there was a little bit of both.
It was I was made aware of the role, but
then went through a pretty rigorous process, really a couple
of interviews. I applied and then shortlisted for an interview
and then there was another interview. So it was really
a good process. So I really enjoyed it because it
sort of sharpened my thinking around the Soule space and
(02:05):
forced me to get are uncomfortable and pitch my thoughts
and views and vision around it and think. To me,
it was pretty aligned with it with Don's and that
they saw something that I could offer, and you know,
here we are and like I said, a massive challenging head.
But what I'm excited about?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
So what do you bring to the role. Then you've
obviously gone through this with the people who appointed you.
But you talk about yourself going hey, well this is
what Snakey's going to do. What do you bring?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
What?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
What's your effectiveness do you.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Think I'd like to think of I might be young
and in some respects, but a lot of experience around
by performance. Obviously what I played through an experience with
something pretty special. But even since then, I think my
own experience taking me to France and seeing something in
(02:57):
the high performance stay quite different, you know, and free Traugby.
I think that'd even admit the rich and resources and players,
but probably don't focus as much or as much as
the New Zealand does or has to do around the
support you provide to those plans and even the coaches,
(03:17):
the support staff. Like in New Zealand when we're at
our big environs, we create and I feel like I've
benefited from this a world class you know, we are
the best in the world. It's doing that when we
get it right, and I've seen the when it's done
well and equally it's someone experiences in France and then
even as a member of the Player Association, the International
(03:39):
Rugby Plas, I've seen high perform it to all around
the world over the last few years, ones that work,
ones that don't, And you know, I think that's enrichly
with a really good view of how we can do
it and what what the computeris, advantage of New Zealand
rugby is and what what how we have to lean
into that dispose and keep the most out of that.
(04:00):
So that's as I say, it's not it's not easier.
That's all talk at the moment, and I just to
make a difference there and work with a great team
at these general ad to see us doing your best
in the world in terms of the way we were
support and help our players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, obviously the things set between yourself and Don Tricker,
you've got to be I presume aligned on the same page,
but you also have to have the ability and the
want to stand up to go no, you're wrong. You
need that friction, don't you within the tops of high
performances role so you do actually unearth the best result
(04:37):
for the players.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yet, yeah, absolutely, I think that's a more part of
any high performance environment, like that competitive tension, that healthy
tension where again I've seen it where if you're all
aligned on what's best of the team and you've got
to challenge each other because you know that's what you're about.
You can't sit there and nod your heads and the
(05:00):
ground everything. And I know that's what don wants me
to bring. And you know it's not just online as
a being the woman's your black staff leaving your black team,
and I'd love to see it, think it, see that
it's a healthy relationship between us all that we challenge
each other because you don't know, we're not going to
improve just sticking to the status quo. Like there's some
(05:21):
big challenges in this country and around the game as
there is. You know, most unions would say the same.
So we just got to find a plan, commit to
it and bring everyone along with us. So there's a
whole lot of work involved in that. But as I
keep saying, like that's something that excites me.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Conrad Smith, there high performance for men's underneath do on
Tricker and enz O and appointed today high performance I'd
suggest to change somewhat since your you're healthy in days
what eleven, twenty fifteen, and just pick up yourself a
couple of World Cups that's over a decade ago. How
has it changed in your eyes? This high performance concept.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Well, you know, looks what I think. The principles have
always stayed the same. You know, you push us to
be the best they can, deem your support coaches, how
you throw referees, You try and create environments where everyone
wants to be better. And we talked about the way
they can challenge each other and bring the best out
in each other. There is no doubt since I played
(06:21):
there are a whole lot of different challenges and you
know there's three to other sports, the position I suppose
of rugby within the country, our feeling towards rugby and
those they will be challenges that we have to face
and talk about. But as I say that, the principles
(06:41):
remain the same and how you deal with them is
going to fall back on those principles. You get alignment
and you get everyone growing, and there'll be some challenges
and some hard conversations. You know, we want provincial unions
that know their place in the game, super right, be
the same New Zealand Rugby and the teams and black
they all got to be clear on what they're doing
(07:03):
and how they are all contributing to things getting better
for the game in this country. So you know, that's
the challenge, these new opsites that have changed some pramerically
since I've stopped playing some so but that's what I'm
going to enjoy, particularly as I start to get a
(07:23):
deeper understanding. I feel like I've got a pretty good idea.
I haven't been completely evident from the game. You've been
pretty involved. So it's just going to be around getting
closer to a lot of the coaches and support staff
and around the provinces of New Zealand and seen seeing
the challenges they face and getting giving their plans to hell,
(07:45):
can I check them?
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Well? You touch on pu He's going to be working
with super rugby players as well. Freeze your interaction. Have
you been given a couple of longs when it comes
to dealing with the players at the level and the
coaches and Don Tricker? Are they going to release you
like a hound to run around and savage?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Well, I haven't started yet, so we've I've got that's
all ahead of me. You know, we've had initial discussions
around how it could look, but those sort of interesting
see something that that will no doubt be planned out
in the coming weeks. You know, I've got to still
do a good job of transitioning out of my current
(08:25):
role and so there's a bit of time there before
I meet and feed under the desk sort of thing
at New Zealand Rugby, but that's you know where I'll start. Definitely,
it will be a lot of listening and seeing for
myself to the environments that are around New Zealand and as
I said before, some of the challenges that that people
were facing. But from men, Yeah, it's just a manner
of planning and a strategy that that's going to work.
(08:47):
And however that looks, I'm not sure, but I'm not
afraid if it means having you're getting involved and talking
to some people around the place, that that's I think
a big part of what I'm going.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To How do you know you've been successful? What do
you look at? Why are you those indicators that say
you know what you're right at this role? What do
you look to in good course?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
I think, like I said at the start, I want
to see players loving their foot I want to see
a country that's patched and that loves rugby, not just
the teams and black like that. It's a big part
we want to see are all blacks and black fums
and John sevens and our under twenties winning the tournaments
that they go and compete in, but also the kids
(09:30):
and on the Saturday mornings, you know, loving it and
being inspired by what they see. So there is a
whole lot in that, Like there's the community side, but
but I'm a big believer that that's not mutually exclusive.
We need the community firmly attached and that part of
our whole performance plan, so that that's what would be
success for me. You know that we're seeing at the
(09:51):
top end it's it's working and we're winning. But that
and then it flows down and this is a real
good feeling around the rugby we play and the values
and that that it features people because you know, that's
why I've lived and breathed it for a long time
and I still love the So I want to see that,
you know, spread far and wide, and I know there's
(10:12):
good people we can make that happen.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
A huge amount of change and thens are in the
last six months and your we are part of that.
You look at coaches, high performance directors that the list
goes on. There's a lot to deal with for the players.
For Dave Rennie, they've got one game under their belt.
What have you seen that you've enjoyed out of what
Dave Rennie is trying to put in place, because people
have been a bit critical, but it's one game. It
(10:36):
takes a lot to change the direction of a team.
What have you noticed?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah? I completely agree that. I don't think we can
judge completely new you know, Marge extent, completely new coaching
team just on that performance. That's a mind you know.
I was. It was a great game of rugby. I'll
speak time in France. I know how good that French
team is, and I get a little bit worried about
(11:04):
the attitude of Kiwi's when we teams coming down and
we write them off because they might not have a
few players that were part of a taluse team. I
get that, but that's the team that won the six Nations,
convincing me. They have been perceptionally good for a few
few years and they've built a huge amount of debt.
(11:24):
So a very good French team and they went at
it and we've got put under some pressure and we
ultimately turned around. I love the rugby we were playing
and look the result was there. So there's going to
be a lot they can improve and we'll judge them
on that and the weeks ahead, but in my mind
(11:44):
I was really impressed and pretty excited about what that
team can do.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Carry on with the optimism. Love that catch phrase that
Dave Rinny is using, but I think you should add
brutal optimism to the start of it. It makes me
feel a little bit about things. And one last thing,
Gonray Smith and thanks as always so much for your time.
What the hell's ma still playing at that level? For you?
You thought about maybe probably get Jersey on a gig
because he's putting a change.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I'll be I'll be trying to get him back to
New Zealand. It'll be my first job. The guy, the
guy's a legion. I think we'll appreciate just how good
he is, and well maybe we already do, but just
you can't do that by excellent play as long as
he can. Like, that's how professional the guy is, and
just how good he is in playing in the top fourteen,
(12:34):
which is no keep saying it's probably the toughest league
in the world now and yeah he's still fronting and
and doing this thing. So not he's he's a special
man and we need and we'd love to have more
like him coming through in New Zealand and we'll be
in a lot bitter place.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
There's plenty of them out there, mate, you've got to
go there and look and train them up. High performance
manager for me and that now insur. His name is
Conrad Smith and we thank him very much for joining
us here on News Talks. Be you look after yourself, Snakey.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
No problems.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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