May 2, 2025 • 21 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine and D'Arcy Waldegrave for 2nd May 2025, The NZ U85kg Rugby team are on the way to Sri Lanka to play against the Tuskers, Sri Lanka's open weight rugby team, in what will be the U85kg teams inaugural tour. Patron of the team Sir Graham Henry joins the podcast to discuss the tour and the teams excitement for it.
Piney offers his thought on the sad saga of the Indian Panthers.
And the lads are in the chamber to the upcoming weekend of sport including Liam Lawsons hopes in Miami and can the Warriors equal their best ever 8 game start to a season.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio. This
is Sportsfix howard By News Talks ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into the back end of your week,
certainly as a calendar looks at it anyway. Friday, May
the second Today, this is the Sports Fix podcast in
association with G J. Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted
home builder. I'm Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
My name's Darcy Waldgrave and this is odd Piney. What
are we doing working on a Friday. This hasn't happened
in months.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
It seems like a while since the two of us
spoke together on a Friday, But I must admit it
is something I'm looking forward to because another big weekend coming.
Want to talk Super Rugby, want to talk Warriors, want
to talk Liam Lawson. I've got some thoughts on the Panthers.
Who is our guest today.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Sid Graham Henry aka tid Well. He's the patron of
the under eighty five men's rugby team. Just off on
tour and now to Sri Lanka. Apparently rocks stuff over
in Sri Lanka under raty five and I'd suggest through
throughout Asia that could be the next big step for
for global rugby.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Because we're not all monsters, right No, I think of
the two of us, you'd easily make the grade. Me
maybe not quite so much, but anyway, my playing days
are probably long gone anyway, looking forward to hearing from
Sir Heed. So let's get into it. In other news,
let's get underway with some of the big sports stories
(01:37):
around today are converted try conceded. After the siren has
seen the New Zealand under twenty rugby side draw with
Australia twenty nine or in the opening game of the
Under twenty Rugby Championship in South Africa, absol, What a
traumatic finish me ben to the first game in this
(01:58):
tournament a major hip two Nottingham Forest Champions League football aspirations.
It's Bradford fansto dancing in the rain in Nottingham today.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
A miss is a deep play for nudo seed.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
There all white. Chris Wood and his side have gone
down two nil to Brentford at home, leaving them sixth
on the Premier League ladder. A win would have moved
Forest up to third and Central Pulse recruit Gabby Simpson's
confidence she's up to the riggers of the A and
Z Premiership despite not having played a game of netball
since twenty twenty three. The former Australian Diamonds McCord has
(02:33):
been called in as a temporary replacement player at the
Pulse while Silver Fern's duo Maddie Gordon and Whitney Soonest
recomplete their recoveries from injury.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
I would call it I've been in a gap year,
but I have been playing AFL footy down in them
in Brisie, so I am well conditioned. I have been
moving around a lot and the question is where I
accidentally tackle someone while we're playing.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfix with Jason Vine and
Darcy Waldergrave.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
We'll join now in the Sports Fix podcast by former
All Black coach. In fact, I've got a list of
long as my arm about what he's done and what
has been involved in. But now he's the patron of
the New Zealand under eighty five kg men's side. Sir
Graham Henry joins us. Hello, Graham, Devan Jasey, You're off
on the way to Sri Lanka for this under eighty
(03:25):
five kg rep tour. This is fascinating and it's something
all the patron of. So could you just expand on this.
What exactly are we looking at? Where are we going?
What does it all mean?
Speaker 5 (03:37):
Well, it's the first underweight New Zealand rugby team, so
it's a national team to play for New Zealand with
a black jersey and a silver fern, supported by the
Barbarians Rugby club touring Sri Lanka playing the Tuskers. That's
the name of the Sri Lankan team if you all
bracked to the name of New Zealand team, so the
(03:59):
Tuskers obviously elephants. They are ranked thirty eighth in the world.
Rugby is very, very very popular in Sri Lanka. They
love the All Blacks. It's their second team. Raymond and
I have toured there before and we went to a
(04:20):
first fifteen game between two private schools, one in Candy
and one in Colombo, the two largest cities in Sri Lanka.
Twenty seven thousand people were at the game, so it's
a very popular sport. They're just not big enough to
compete it at the top level.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Obviously, the game itself under eighty five is increasing in
popularity due to the pretty much the way a lot
of smaller people are playing the game. What's the acceleration
like as far as engagement for the sport and picking
this sport up.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
I think it's very very important for New Zealand rugby.
These are quality rugby players who were good mast them,
probably played first fifteen at their schools, and they are
not big enough or have got other ambitions outside of
the game which doesn't allow them to play serious rugby
if you like, they still take it seriously, but you know,
(05:20):
trying to be a provincial player or a national player.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
For the All Blacks.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
So these are guys who love the game, we're not
big enough or got major interests outside of rugby, which
takes your time.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
So I'm presuming the quality here is of pretty high
standard if that's what you're fleeting on guys from first
fifteen and guys that can't go to the full professional.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
There is a national club competition for under eighty fives.
It's the only national club competition in New Zealand rugby.
I think there's a message there for the senior teams
to have a national senior champion in New Zealand. But
let's move on from that. Darcy. That's my little word
(06:02):
for today. But now, and there's fifty teams, fifty clubs
competed in that last year, Old Boys from christ Church
played pak Oranger from Auckland in the final. It was
played as a curtain raiser to the the Wallaby Test
in Wellington. Pack Oranger pipped up Old Boys in the
(06:24):
last minute, high scoring game in the thirties. Both teams,
wouldn't it game? Very athletic, very skilful, very fast. Yeah, no, brilliant.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
The Light Bears, the high school Old Boys team were
called the Black Panthers. So what are they calling the
under eighty five New Zealand Rep team.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Well, I think they're called the light Blacks, but that's
just my opinion. Maybe that'll that'll that'll stick. They want
to be the They want to try and be the
thirty seventh best team in the world by being in
the Sri Lankans were thirty eighth, and I think that
might be a talks tall ass because this is there. Obviously,
they're nash small men's team. The top team is Ri Lanka.
(07:11):
They just they beat Malaysia last weekend by fifty points,
so they're pretty tidy.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
With people playing the game and getting into the game
of under eighty five. And the increase in interest of this,
is this also a global desire? Is it likely to
get bigger than it is?
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Great? Well, it's interest in Australia and that is that's
really good because we're just across the ditch and we
can play in a regular basis. But actually can appreciate
you to think about Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia,
go on and on. So I think there's a real
(07:52):
target audience for lightweight rugby in the in the Asian region,
and obviously is a cost factor here as well. So
the Sri Lankan Rugby Union and the Sri Lankan Airlines
in Del Marti and other sor Ankan businesses have gone
(08:12):
behind this because it's costly. There's twenty six players and
I think eight management to get there and they're looking
after all internal costs. So pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
What about New Zealand Rugby's involvement in this. I think
Mike hess, the Rugby's head of rugby participation, is pretty
keen on that. But do they climb in much like
with any form of support the fiscal supporter.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
I'm not sure how it was all financed, to be fair,
they don't kill the patron that stuff, and the patriot
is not interested in that stuff. But Patron's very interested
in young people playing the game because I got so
much out of the game. You know, it was a
change changes your life. You have great friends and will
(09:02):
build resilience and a lot of fun and team teamwork
and camaraderi and all those things. So I just want
kids to be playing teen sports, and because I got
a huge amount out of it, and it's a good
way to put back into the game, you know, and
hopefully we can build the under eighty fives in every
province so it becomes a major part of New Zealand
(09:25):
rugby game forwards. It's a pretty big part already, and
we keep these young people in the game.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I'd suggest Graham, please don't hang up on me that
when you were playing eighty five, KG was probably quite
a sizable character in the game.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
No, I think that's fair. I probably played the game
at about seventy five, but that was one hundred years ago.
I see, you know, several generations since then. But today,
you know, like there's still a lot of I was
at the Jersey presentation on Tuesday night at a Coraca
(10:03):
rugby club in Auckland, and I was so impressed with
the quality of the young guys who are being selected,
and they look quite big and they're all taller than me.
They don't look they don't look under eighty five, but
obviously they have to be otherwise they would they couldn't
be selected as opposed to the patron whose shape has
(10:27):
changed to weep it you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
You're still in good shape though it's still in shape
regardless of what you think it is.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Oh, you're very kind.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Well. Lastly, Graham, thanks so much for joining us. Sky TV.
You're covering this as well so people can actually get
their eyeballs and look, if you can't see it, you
don't want to be it. That's really important that there
is a TV network who actually want to put this
to the air.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Yeah, which will be fabulous because these guys play a
very fast, open, skillful athletic game and you know, so
that's the way they play and that's the way they
enjoy it. And there's probably some messages there.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
But.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Yeah, because it's it's it's it's fabulous, you know, and
I'm very pleased that this is happening. You know. It's
it's a great advertisement for the game, and it's also
a big message for the young people out there who think,
after score, I might not play. And you've got guys
in their middle forties, maybe touching fifty, guys who was
(11:38):
seventy and eighteen playing in this grade. Some of them
have played in this grade for twenty five years. My
club University, Auburn University, have got three under eighty five teams,
So it's a very special part of the part of
the club.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Sports tacks a few thoughts on the sorry saga that
is the Indian Panthers basketball team and their suspension yesterday
from the National Basketball League. First and foremost, this is
hugely disappointing from the players' point of view. In fact,
the way the players have been treated in particular is unacceptable.
Anyone who signs up to play for a professional sporting
(12:18):
franchise signs a contract which says in exchange for playing
for this team, I'll receive payment, and they clearly haven't.
It just seems as though any due diligence that was
done on the Indian Panthers organization by those here in
New Zealand was not deep enough, was not extensive enough.
And while they've said we did do the due diligence
(12:39):
on them, we check them out clearly know where they're
enough was done. Everybody wants to play professional sport, and
these Indian players and some of the others who were
pulled into the team from New Zealand probably thought, hey,
here's our chance to play professional basketball. That's all very well,
but you can't be in the position where you play
a game on the weekend and then go to the
(12:59):
food bank on Monday in order to eat. At its
very base level, it's unprofessional at worst, it is blatant
exploitation of these players. I've set off and on my
weekend radio shows. Nothing should be off the table when
it comes to innovation. I'm a massive fan of trying
different things when it comes to looking for new ways
to promote your sport, because, as we all know, it's
(13:21):
a tough sporting market. When you're looking for sponsors, for viewers,
for TV numbers, all that stuff, you're not always going
to get it right. And they haven't got this one
right because they haven't done enough due diligence on it.
It doesn't mean they can't innovate again in the future,
but they need to quickly draw a line under the
Panthers and learn some pretty harsh lessons from it, because
(13:43):
this will go down in history as a very, very
unfortunate chapter in New Zealand basketball.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
End of the Chamber we go and as usual at
this end of the week, we look ahead of the
weekend and what might play out. Blues force tonight and
the Blues will win this, won't.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
They Well they should do. If they don't, they've got
no right to defend their title full stop. But when
you look at what they've done this year, you kind
of argue, wow, should they really be up there? But
the generosity of the top six is there for them
to take. There is still a route. It's not a
mathematical equation, but I suppose it is. But they can
(14:24):
still get there just when it's all they're going to do,
just when Boden Barrat's back playing. Well, they've got some
magnificent players in that side. But application is the key thing,
isn't it, And they've really struggled with that.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Well, if they win tonight they do. For the meantime, anyway,
go into the top six. There are other games, of
course to play across the weekend, but as you say,
the tightness of the table and the format of the
competition leaves it open for them. Game of the weekend
I think, without a doubt is my Hurricanes against the Chiefs.
I can't possibly speak in objective terms about this one,
so I'm going to ask you, can you see the
Hurricanes beating the Chiefs tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I'm not overly concerned because I've got no skin in
this game. Who wins? What? What I'm really interested, and
I think a lot of people are, is this nine clash.
You remember cam roy garb Well, he's the man of
the hour, the Tower of Paths, I mean, great form.
He looks like he is the all black number nine.
But then you've got Cortez Tima up north going well. Actually,
(15:19):
i'd like your jersey too, So I think the clash
of those two little men is going to be well
worth the admission price. Not that I'm going, and not
that I pay for tickets to Rugby anyway, but you
know what I'm saying that I mean, there are a
lot of a number of good classes. Because it's pointed
out by Liam Napley New Zealand Herald, we're starting to
skinning up our selections for the All Blacks for the
(15:40):
start of the second season in charge for Scott Robertson,
so he'll be running an eye over some of those
key players. I mean you look at the loose Fords
as well. There are some tremendous battles within that and
so many places up for grabs. And now we getting
to the point at the end of the season, pointy ish,
this is when guys are going to say, hey, I'm
actually peaking at the right time. Now you look at me.
(16:02):
And these classes, these local derbies are huge for that.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Absolutely every time in New zeal team faces another one.
Much as we don't want too many cliches, they are
quasi all Black trials and some regard and you've picked
out some great areas there, I mean even in the
even in the back three as well. A bit of
mail around about Kenny Nahol on whether he might perhaps
a be a bolter for an All Blacks position in
(16:28):
Morning Nadow Shawn Stevenson. The list goes on Ruben Love
and at first five Josh Jacob goodness me, so many
matchups looking forward to this one the game of the
weekend in Super Rugby without a doubt. Now if the
Warriors can beat North Queensland and around about the same
time Tomorrow night, another one of these divided focus Saturday nights.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Thirty minutes of rugby and if you need to bet
pause in what's the wise, you're more than welcome. So
it's not completely the same.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
No, it's not the same, but I mean are they
are two things I'm very very keen to keep an
eye on, Warriors Cowboys. I wouldn't say the Warriors would
be favorite. The Cowboys are playing pretty well at the moment,
tucked into sixth place. The Warrior is a fourth. If
the Warriors win this Tomorrow night, six and two, who
I think is their best ever eight game star to
a season, dus Well, that wouldn't surprise me.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
But they do have an issue in the form of
North Queensland Cowboys, because you'd expect with the weather, the humidity,
the rain, the heat, whatever, who is best prepped for
that merely by where they come from. That's the North
Queensland Cowboys. And we talk about teams flying under the
Raidar and we get that with the Warriors because then
our old three six and never want to talk about them.
But you'd say North Queensland are another team like that
(17:36):
could be spectacular.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
It could be a really good game. It's part of
Magic Round. Of course. The Cowboys put fifty on the Titans.
It was only the Titans last week they beat the
rabbit o's. They beat the Panthers as well, but everybody's
again it's probably quite a lover. Yeah, like it's a
rugby league. Fans delight in Brisbane across the weekend with
Super Round. I just need to get your view on
(17:58):
Liam Lawson as well. Unlike the start of the Formula
one season DUS when it seemed like we were talking
about Formula one and Liam Lawson and the others every day,
this where say Grand Prix is almost snuck up a
little a bit on me.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Is it on you?
Speaker 4 (18:12):
No?
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Of course it hasn't.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Silly question.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I've got the entire season tattooed on my forearm, on
my left forearm, on my right forearm, there's IndyCar because
IndyCar is on at five thirty five forty on Monday
morning at Alabama. Of course, a number of New Zealanders
involved in that, and then eight o'clock it's Miami. This
is Miami Race. I'm not a fan of the track.
(18:36):
I don't think it does anything for Formula One, but
I'm an old curmudgeon. But what we've got is carrying
on pushing into that marketplace in the United States of America,
which is massively important to Formula One. And everybody's coming
to a Miami party. You know what Liam Lawson's driving?
You what color is racing bullers this weekend? Tell me
(18:56):
bright pink?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Go on, go on?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I mean, I mean, this is Miami, after all their
rock stars are in me there. People are turning up
to the party. And there's another side of this to foss.
The fan base of the Ferrari are ialthy because someone's
put a blue hat on the Ferrari. They've got a
new sponsor and they've decided to know Schmid. The paint
(19:20):
job up a wee bit to celebrate and it's got
a great big blue top on it and it looks ridiculous.
But wait, there you go. You know the way happens
when you go to the States. It's it's also a
sprint weekend too, so not a lot of time to practice.
There's only one practice and Liam, like some other races
this year, has never raced at Miami, so we don't
(19:43):
know what he's going to do and how he's going
to perform. But I think it looks a lot more
comfortable in the racing ball car. And again it's not
about him in the field. It's about him and Isaac Hadger.
That's what we've got to watch. So two opportunities to
shine over the weekend for young Lim Lawson.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Good summary, Dark thanks indeed for updating us. There heaps
to look out for over the weekend. We'll do our
best to cover it off and maybe review a bit
of it for you on Sports Fix next week. Out
of the Chamber week.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Go beating a vis. We've got just the ticket. It's
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Speaker 2 (20:14):
And that is us on the Sports Fix podcast for today.
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(20:50):
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Speaker 1 (21:02):
For more from News Talks EDB. Listen live on air
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into the back end of your week,
certainly as a calendar looks at it anyway. Friday, May
the second Today, this is the Sports Fix podcast in
association with G J. Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted
home builder. I'm Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
My name's Darcy Waldgrave and this is odd Piney. What
are we doing working on a Friday. This hasn't happened
in months.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
It seems like a while since the two of us
spoke together on a Friday, But I must admit it
is something I'm looking forward to because another big weekend coming.
Want to talk Super Rugby, want to talk Warriors, want
to talk Liam Lawson. I've got some thoughts on the Panthers.
Who is our guest today.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Sid Graham Henry aka tid Well. He's the patron of
the under eighty five men's rugby team. Just off on
tour and now to Sri Lanka. Apparently rocks stuff over
in Sri Lanka under raty five and I'd suggest through
throughout Asia that could be the next big step for
for global rugby.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Because we're not all monsters, right No, I think of
the two of us, you'd easily make the grade. Me
maybe not quite so much, but anyway, my playing days
are probably long gone anyway, looking forward to hearing from
Sir Heed. So let's get into it. In other news,
let's get underway with some of the big sports stories
(01:37):
around today are converted try conceded. After the siren has
seen the New Zealand under twenty rugby side draw with
Australia twenty nine or in the opening game of the
Under twenty Rugby Championship in South Africa, absol, What a
traumatic finish me ben to the first game in this
(01:58):
tournament a major hip two Nottingham Forest Champions League football aspirations.
It's Bradford fansto dancing in the rain in Nottingham today.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
A miss is a deep play for nudo seed.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
There all white. Chris Wood and his side have gone
down two nil to Brentford at home, leaving them sixth
on the Premier League ladder. A win would have moved
Forest up to third and Central Pulse recruit Gabby Simpson's
confidence she's up to the riggers of the A and
Z Premiership despite not having played a game of netball
since twenty twenty three. The former Australian Diamonds McCord has
(02:33):
been called in as a temporary replacement player at the
Pulse while Silver Fern's duo Maddie Gordon and Whitney Soonest
recomplete their recoveries from injury.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
I would call it I've been in a gap year,
but I have been playing AFL footy down in them
in Brisie, so I am well conditioned. I have been
moving around a lot and the question is where I
accidentally tackle someone while we're playing.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfix with Jason Vine and
Darcy Waldergrave.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
We'll join now in the Sports Fix podcast by former
All Black coach. In fact, I've got a list of
long as my arm about what he's done and what
has been involved in. But now he's the patron of
the New Zealand under eighty five kg men's side. Sir
Graham Henry joins us. Hello, Graham, Devan Jasey, You're off
on the way to Sri Lanka for this under eighty
(03:25):
five kg rep tour. This is fascinating and it's something
all the patron of. So could you just expand on this.
What exactly are we looking at? Where are we going?
What does it all mean?
Speaker 5 (03:37):
Well, it's the first underweight New Zealand rugby team, so
it's a national team to play for New Zealand with
a black jersey and a silver fern, supported by the
Barbarians Rugby club touring Sri Lanka playing the Tuskers. That's
the name of the Sri Lankan team if you all
bracked to the name of New Zealand team, so the
(03:59):
Tuskers obviously elephants. They are ranked thirty eighth in the world.
Rugby is very, very very popular in Sri Lanka. They
love the All Blacks. It's their second team. Raymond and
I have toured there before and we went to a
(04:20):
first fifteen game between two private schools, one in Candy
and one in Colombo, the two largest cities in Sri Lanka.
Twenty seven thousand people were at the game, so it's
a very popular sport. They're just not big enough to
compete it at the top level.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Obviously, the game itself under eighty five is increasing in
popularity due to the pretty much the way a lot
of smaller people are playing the game. What's the acceleration
like as far as engagement for the sport and picking
this sport up.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
I think it's very very important for New Zealand rugby.
These are quality rugby players who were good mast them,
probably played first fifteen at their schools, and they are
not big enough or have got other ambitions outside of
the game which doesn't allow them to play serious rugby
if you like, they still take it seriously, but you know,
(05:20):
trying to be a provincial player or a national player.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
For the All Blacks.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
So these are guys who love the game, we're not
big enough or got major interests outside of rugby, which
takes your time.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
So I'm presuming the quality here is of pretty high
standard if that's what you're fleeting on guys from first
fifteen and guys that can't go to the full professional.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
There is a national club competition for under eighty fives.
It's the only national club competition in New Zealand rugby.
I think there's a message there for the senior teams
to have a national senior champion in New Zealand. But
let's move on from that. Darcy. That's my little word
(06:02):
for today. But now, and there's fifty teams, fifty clubs
competed in that last year, Old Boys from christ Church
played pak Oranger from Auckland in the final. It was
played as a curtain raiser to the the Wallaby Test
in Wellington. Pack Oranger pipped up Old Boys in the
(06:24):
last minute, high scoring game in the thirties. Both teams,
wouldn't it game? Very athletic, very skilful, very fast. Yeah, no, brilliant.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
The Light Bears, the high school Old Boys team were
called the Black Panthers. So what are they calling the
under eighty five New Zealand Rep team.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Well, I think they're called the light Blacks, but that's
just my opinion. Maybe that'll that'll that'll stick. They want
to be the They want to try and be the
thirty seventh best team in the world by being in
the Sri Lankans were thirty eighth, and I think that
might be a talks tall ass because this is there. Obviously,
they're nash small men's team. The top team is Ri Lanka.
(07:11):
They just they beat Malaysia last weekend by fifty points,
so they're pretty tidy.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
With people playing the game and getting into the game
of under eighty five. And the increase in interest of this,
is this also a global desire? Is it likely to
get bigger than it is?
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Great? Well, it's interest in Australia and that is that's
really good because we're just across the ditch and we
can play in a regular basis. But actually can appreciate
you to think about Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia,
go on and on. So I think there's a real
(07:52):
target audience for lightweight rugby in the in the Asian region,
and obviously is a cost factor here as well. So
the Sri Lankan Rugby Union and the Sri Lankan Airlines
in Del Marti and other sor Ankan businesses have gone
(08:12):
behind this because it's costly. There's twenty six players and
I think eight management to get there and they're looking
after all internal costs. So pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
What about New Zealand Rugby's involvement in this. I think
Mike hess, the Rugby's head of rugby participation, is pretty
keen on that. But do they climb in much like
with any form of support the fiscal supporter.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
I'm not sure how it was all financed, to be fair,
they don't kill the patron that stuff, and the patriot
is not interested in that stuff. But Patron's very interested
in young people playing the game because I got so
much out of the game. You know, it was a
change changes your life. You have great friends and will
(09:02):
build resilience and a lot of fun and team teamwork
and camaraderi and all those things. So I just want
kids to be playing teen sports, and because I got
a huge amount out of it, and it's a good
way to put back into the game, you know, and
hopefully we can build the under eighty fives in every
province so it becomes a major part of New Zealand
(09:25):
rugby game forwards. It's a pretty big part already, and
we keep these young people in the game.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I'd suggest Graham, please don't hang up on me that
when you were playing eighty five, KG was probably quite
a sizable character in the game.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
No, I think that's fair. I probably played the game
at about seventy five, but that was one hundred years ago.
I see, you know, several generations since then. But today,
you know, like there's still a lot of I was
at the Jersey presentation on Tuesday night at a Coraca
(10:03):
rugby club in Auckland, and I was so impressed with
the quality of the young guys who are being selected,
and they look quite big and they're all taller than me.
They don't look they don't look under eighty five, but
obviously they have to be otherwise they would they couldn't
be selected as opposed to the patron whose shape has
(10:27):
changed to weep it you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
You're still in good shape though it's still in shape
regardless of what you think it is.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Oh, you're very kind.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Well. Lastly, Graham, thanks so much for joining us. Sky TV.
You're covering this as well so people can actually get
their eyeballs and look, if you can't see it, you
don't want to be it. That's really important that there
is a TV network who actually want to put this
to the air.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Yeah, which will be fabulous because these guys play a
very fast, open, skillful athletic game and you know, so
that's the way they play and that's the way they
enjoy it. And there's probably some messages there.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
But.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Yeah, because it's it's it's it's fabulous, you know, and
I'm very pleased that this is happening. You know. It's
it's a great advertisement for the game, and it's also
a big message for the young people out there who think,
after score, I might not play. And you've got guys
in their middle forties, maybe touching fifty, guys who was
(11:38):
seventy and eighteen playing in this grade. Some of them
have played in this grade for twenty five years. My
club University, Auburn University, have got three under eighty five teams,
So it's a very special part of the part of
the club.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Sports tacks a few thoughts on the sorry saga that
is the Indian Panthers basketball team and their suspension yesterday
from the National Basketball League. First and foremost, this is
hugely disappointing from the players' point of view. In fact,
the way the players have been treated in particular is unacceptable.
Anyone who signs up to play for a professional sporting
(12:18):
franchise signs a contract which says in exchange for playing
for this team, I'll receive payment, and they clearly haven't.
It just seems as though any due diligence that was
done on the Indian Panthers organization by those here in
New Zealand was not deep enough, was not extensive enough.
And while they've said we did do the due diligence
(12:39):
on them, we check them out clearly know where they're
enough was done. Everybody wants to play professional sport, and
these Indian players and some of the others who were
pulled into the team from New Zealand probably thought, hey,
here's our chance to play professional basketball. That's all very well,
but you can't be in the position where you play
a game on the weekend and then go to the
(12:59):
food bank on Monday in order to eat. At its
very base level, it's unprofessional at worst, it is blatant
exploitation of these players. I've set off and on my
weekend radio shows. Nothing should be off the table when
it comes to innovation. I'm a massive fan of trying
different things when it comes to looking for new ways
to promote your sport, because, as we all know, it's
(13:21):
a tough sporting market. When you're looking for sponsors, for viewers,
for TV numbers, all that stuff, you're not always going
to get it right. And they haven't got this one
right because they haven't done enough due diligence on it.
It doesn't mean they can't innovate again in the future,
but they need to quickly draw a line under the
Panthers and learn some pretty harsh lessons from it, because
(13:43):
this will go down in history as a very, very
unfortunate chapter in New Zealand basketball.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
End of the Chamber we go and as usual at
this end of the week, we look ahead of the
weekend and what might play out. Blues force tonight and
the Blues will win this, won't.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
They Well they should do. If they don't, they've got
no right to defend their title full stop. But when
you look at what they've done this year, you kind
of argue, wow, should they really be up there? But
the generosity of the top six is there for them
to take. There is still a route. It's not a
mathematical equation, but I suppose it is. But they can
(14:24):
still get there just when it's all they're going to do,
just when Boden Barrat's back playing. Well, they've got some
magnificent players in that side. But application is the key thing,
isn't it, And they've really struggled with that.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Well, if they win tonight they do. For the meantime, anyway,
go into the top six. There are other games, of
course to play across the weekend, but as you say,
the tightness of the table and the format of the
competition leaves it open for them. Game of the weekend
I think, without a doubt is my Hurricanes against the Chiefs.
I can't possibly speak in objective terms about this one,
so I'm going to ask you, can you see the
Hurricanes beating the Chiefs tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I'm not overly concerned because I've got no skin in
this game. Who wins? What? What I'm really interested, and
I think a lot of people are, is this nine clash.
You remember cam roy garb Well, he's the man of
the hour, the Tower of Paths, I mean, great form.
He looks like he is the all black number nine.
But then you've got Cortez Tima up north going well. Actually,
(15:19):
i'd like your jersey too, So I think the clash
of those two little men is going to be well
worth the admission price. Not that I'm going, and not
that I pay for tickets to Rugby anyway, but you
know what I'm saying that I mean, there are a
lot of a number of good classes. Because it's pointed
out by Liam Napley New Zealand Herald, we're starting to
skinning up our selections for the All Blacks for the
(15:40):
start of the second season in charge for Scott Robertson,
so he'll be running an eye over some of those
key players. I mean you look at the loose Fords
as well. There are some tremendous battles within that and
so many places up for grabs. And now we getting
to the point at the end of the season, pointy ish,
this is when guys are going to say, hey, I'm
actually peaking at the right time. Now you look at me.
(16:02):
And these classes, these local derbies are huge for that.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Absolutely every time in New zeal team faces another one.
Much as we don't want too many cliches, they are
quasi all Black trials and some regard and you've picked
out some great areas there, I mean even in the
even in the back three as well. A bit of
mail around about Kenny Nahol on whether he might perhaps
a be a bolter for an All Blacks position in
(16:28):
Morning Nadow Shawn Stevenson. The list goes on Ruben Love
and at first five Josh Jacob goodness me, so many
matchups looking forward to this one the game of the
weekend in Super Rugby without a doubt. Now if the
Warriors can beat North Queensland and around about the same
time Tomorrow night, another one of these divided focus Saturday nights.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Thirty minutes of rugby and if you need to bet
pause in what's the wise, you're more than welcome. So
it's not completely the same.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
No, it's not the same, but I mean are they
are two things I'm very very keen to keep an
eye on, Warriors Cowboys. I wouldn't say the Warriors would
be favorite. The Cowboys are playing pretty well at the moment,
tucked into sixth place. The Warrior is a fourth. If
the Warriors win this Tomorrow night, six and two, who
I think is their best ever eight game star to
a season, dus Well, that wouldn't surprise me.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
But they do have an issue in the form of
North Queensland Cowboys, because you'd expect with the weather, the humidity,
the rain, the heat, whatever, who is best prepped for
that merely by where they come from. That's the North
Queensland Cowboys. And we talk about teams flying under the
Raidar and we get that with the Warriors because then
our old three six and never want to talk about them.
But you'd say North Queensland are another team like that
(17:36):
could be spectacular.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
It could be a really good game. It's part of
Magic Round. Of course. The Cowboys put fifty on the Titans.
It was only the Titans last week they beat the
rabbit o's. They beat the Panthers as well, but everybody's
again it's probably quite a lover. Yeah, like it's a
rugby league. Fans delight in Brisbane across the weekend with
Super Round. I just need to get your view on
(17:58):
Liam Lawson as well. Unlike the start of the Formula
one season DUS when it seemed like we were talking
about Formula one and Liam Lawson and the others every day,
this where say Grand Prix is almost snuck up a
little a bit on me.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Is it on you?
Speaker 4 (18:12):
No?
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Of course it hasn't.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Silly question.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I've got the entire season tattooed on my forearm, on
my left forearm, on my right forearm, there's IndyCar because
IndyCar is on at five thirty five forty on Monday
morning at Alabama. Of course, a number of New Zealanders
involved in that, and then eight o'clock it's Miami. This
is Miami Race. I'm not a fan of the track.
(18:36):
I don't think it does anything for Formula One, but
I'm an old curmudgeon. But what we've got is carrying
on pushing into that marketplace in the United States of America,
which is massively important to Formula One. And everybody's coming
to a Miami party. You know what Liam Lawson's driving?
You what color is racing bullers this weekend? Tell me
(18:56):
bright pink?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Go on, go on?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I mean, I mean, this is Miami, after all their
rock stars are in me there. People are turning up
to the party. And there's another side of this to foss.
The fan base of the Ferrari are ialthy because someone's
put a blue hat on the Ferrari. They've got a
new sponsor and they've decided to know Schmid. The paint
(19:20):
job up a wee bit to celebrate and it's got
a great big blue top on it and it looks ridiculous.
But wait, there you go. You know the way happens
when you go to the States. It's it's also a
sprint weekend too, so not a lot of time to practice.
There's only one practice and Liam, like some other races
this year, has never raced at Miami, so we don't
(19:43):
know what he's going to do and how he's going
to perform. But I think it looks a lot more
comfortable in the racing ball car. And again it's not
about him in the field. It's about him and Isaac Hadger.
That's what we've got to watch. So two opportunities to
shine over the weekend for young Lim Lawson.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Good summary, Dark thanks indeed for updating us. There heaps
to look out for over the weekend. We'll do our
best to cover it off and maybe review a bit
of it for you on Sports Fix next week. Out
of the Chamber week.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Go beating a vis. We've got just the ticket. It's
Sports Fix powered by News Talks IV.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
And that is us on the Sports Fix podcast for today.
We thank GJ. Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home
builder for looking after us on the podcast. If you subscribe,
a fresh episode will arrive on Monday, and there's lots
ort to be had. As far as News Talks EDB
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Speaker 3 (20:30):
There is between seven and eight Monday to Friday Sports
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(20:50):
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Speaker 1 (21:02):
For more from News Talks EDB. Listen live on air
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