February 14, 2025 • 41 mins
D'Arcy Waldegrave returned to wrap this week's sporting news, On today's agenda:
Sir Gordon Tietjens
Nic Benson - Major League Rugby CEO
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm going to breathe, I'm going to talk into the
microphone and I'm going to watch Super Rugby. Is the
Crusaders take on the Hurricanes down at the lean To
in christ Church. Two minutes in zip zip It is
talk extra long for them to get in the park.
It's like four Hurricanes captains to make their way out
(00:36):
there and talk to the men individual they didn't. I'm kidding.
I'll keep you up to date with that score as
it rolls on. Right. What have we got planned for
this evening? Well, my talking, you're talking. Eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty is the number to quarter context nineteen
ninety two. That is z b z B. Toward the
end of the program, a catch up with Nick Benson.
(00:57):
He's Major League Rugby's American Commissioner, the CEO, He's the
boss dude, talking about the start of the US season, which,
incident is the suite. They've got nearly as many teams
as Super Rugby has got. Granted it's a much bigger marketplace.
We'll talk about that. We'll talk about ESPN Wrights we'll
talk about sky TV. Look the list goes on. Nick
(01:20):
Benson joins us talking about United States of America Rugby Union.
When we get things going with Sir Gordon Titchens for
more Black Sevens head coach. As you all well know
about the vexed situation that the Sevens team find themselves in.
They're going to be wearing a training jersey and a
(01:41):
pair of shorts stained with the name of any us
I say staying because they don't play their bills, pay
their bills. Now are taking them to court. Yet, due
to a bit of a snafu around uniforms, they've got
to wear the same kit. I know that spray paint
over it, stick gaffer tape. I've got no idea. We'll
(02:03):
talk to Gordon about that, and of course the interruption
to the playing starf with this exterior noise plenty to
talk about. And then we'll ask you a very simple question.
It's Friday night. We need to keep it simple. Chians
that are actually cover the in our sponsorship up on
their Sevens jerseys. Is it a petty thing to do
cover it up or take some scissors to it and
(02:25):
cut them out, or is it worse to keep it there.
I don't know. Give me your twos and FROs, your
pros and cons around this when we open the lines
on eight hundred eighty ten eighty. But before we do
any of that, which we will do with Gusto, let's
do this sport today and in sport today, no Retchen Revengder.
(02:48):
For tonight's game versus Pakistan. It's the Champions Trophy warm
up match, same opposition, same park. It's just a not
a Champions Trophy match, but it's a try series and
there's something they're going to do and Lucky Ferguson is
gone as well as Rechen Revenger. Ah oh, coach Stad,
(03:08):
I feel your pain. I really do.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Luck he's been out there, he's at a couple of
bawls since he's been here, so lift the intensity up
a little bit. More pleased how he's tracking and certainly
we'll look to have him playing in one of the
next two games.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Nick's right back Corbyn Piper, is focused on the company line.
The coaches once in a simple way forward ahead of
their next five games. Well against teams who are in
the top six of the A League.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
We prepare the same for every team so it's just
work hard. We're just doing everything we can to get
the three points every week. Nothing changes from playing first
place to last place.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Standard. Rautlfer isn't particularly happy with Tennis's new take on
mixed doubles. In fact, it doesn't suit her aunt all.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
To get the opportunity to do that four times a
year is not honestly that much already, So to get
it taken away is yeah, it's disappointing for us. There's
not really any betefit.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
We love playing, yeah, thanks Erin of more concern is
the Hurricanes Crusaders match going on right now? Before we
hear from a duplus Carriffy, can you confirm this for me,
mister Andy Duff producer, extraordinary, it's Scott Barrett being sent already,
(04:28):
surely not? Is that a yellow card up there? Anyway?
Let's get back to nobody. Yes, he's gone. I thought
I saw him sit down out of a corn on
my line. I turned it back and there's a there's
a yellow mark up the top. He's got eight minutes
to go. Wow, I mean, so little more than four
minutes has already gone, dude. Anyway, Hurricane the plus Califfy
(04:49):
isn't writing the Crusaders off tonight, although now he might
have a right smile on his face.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Yeah, they didn't have the best year last year, but
on any given day they probably could have won. You
know a handful of those games that they lost. You know,
a different call or a different result at a scrum
means they score a try and win that game.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, that's quarter Captain Duplessi coffee from the Hurricanes. And
it looks like there's been a try as well as
I stare up toward the screen, there has been the Hurricanes.
After six minutes, I've rolled over. Harry Godfrey now lines
up the conversion and if we can just pad for
(05:26):
another couple of minutes, and I can tell you that
it should go to seven zip because that looks like
a pretty standard stab at the uprights. And it is
Hurricanes up seven zip six minutes gone. Wow, And that's
sport today, it really is. I joined now by sir
Good Intentions from All Black Seven's head coach. Crazy story
(05:50):
around in z Are. They've got jerseys and they've got
training jerseys, and they've got playing shorts that the sevens teams,
the Black Ferns and the All Black sevens be wearing
this weekend and Canada, but they've still got any US
sponsorship on the Hmm should they stay or should they go?
(06:10):
So Gordon joins us. Now evening mate, Yeah, evening does
odd situation ends that are find themselves in, isn't it.
They've started a fight, Well, they've poked the bear. There
is this enormous petrochemical company under the watchful life of
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and they're taking them to court. Yet
(06:31):
they're still stuck with jerseys for this event in Canada
that have got any US written all over them. Strange situation.
What do they do?
Speaker 7 (06:40):
Well?
Speaker 8 (06:41):
If I was coaching the team, I hope it wouldn't
distract my players when they when they go to the
tournament in Canada and you know you have to wear them.
Speaker 7 (06:49):
I suppose contractually that they're still.
Speaker 8 (06:51):
Aligned with them as well as a as a sponsor.
And I know it's here say, but I can't get
involved in the fact because I don't know what's been
going back with the fortunate and ends that are you
all I know and what we will hear is that
they run. They have been the installment that was required
for twenty twenty five so.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
They want to I believe change and they will next
time around. But at the moment they're just stuck because
they just can't get the gear fast enough. But you
mentioned distraction before. I suppose from an athletic point of
view and a coaching point of view, that is an issue.
That's a sideline that you probably don't need.
Speaker 8 (07:30):
No, you certainly don't know, not when you're going into
a tournament in the current World Series. And I suppose
of the management of talked to the players about it
not to get too distracted, keep away from the media,
I suppose, and we'll just wear what's put in front
of us. And perhaps it is a jersey with the
sponsor's name on there, you know.
Speaker 7 (07:51):
But I can't believe personally that I grad it ass And.
Speaker 8 (07:58):
I think if they supported what the or Beast wanted
and that was a brand new jersey for this particular tournament,
why couldn't they do it? I mean, I mean, I
work for an apparel company, I'm involved. We've done jerseys
in less than a week. I mean, it can be
done quite easily.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Man, how long does it take? I suppose that's that's
the question.
Speaker 8 (08:15):
But will you get to your factory and you you know,
the mock ups and everything are done pretty easily. You've
got you know, graphic design and that to design the jersey,
the patents and so on, and you go for it.
Speaker 7 (08:29):
We've done jerseys for the Newcastle Jets in three days. Wow,
that is quick. Yeah, it's quick. And that's in China.
That's and so edit.
Speaker 8 (08:39):
You pull some strings and ends that are you bring
edit days and then your request of new jersey. But
perhaps there's still a little bit of hope that they'll
they'll pay the installment and they'll remain a sponsor.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It's all what difficult, isn't it When you've got a
team and you've got your program in front of you
and what you need to do, but you're inextricably linked
with the decisions made higher up the food Chaine and
you talked about keeping the players away from that. It
can't be easy in this day and age, and as
you progressed in your career, the separation between the athlete
(09:12):
and everything else. How do you control that? Gordon?
Speaker 8 (09:16):
Well, yeah, you just made you just can't get involved
in I mean, but then you can't get away from
it either, because it's you know, there's just so much
in the media about what's actually happening, that they've fallen behind,
not paying this, and you know, I mean we're all challenged, challenged,
you tough times at the moment, you know, particularly own
sponsors and money and so on. And I suppose a
(09:40):
sponsor wants the best out of what he can get.
And let's face it, you know, on the orbit jersey,
it's pretty powerful. But you know, things haven't gone as
well as he's lost. I think he's a director or
an owner of Manchester United. They haven't been going particularly well.
We are buding some tough times. So but I just
(10:01):
look at it from the athlete's.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Point of view.
Speaker 7 (10:02):
You just can't get involved. It is what it is.
You get on and do job.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
And I don't think covering up the front of the
jersey if they have to wear it is the right
answer either personally.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Why not?
Speaker 7 (10:15):
Well, it just wouldn't look good. I just yeah, wow,
well you might be able to do it.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
I just can't believe they can't make a new jersey
without a sponsor. If you're going to cover it up,
that doesn't look particularly professional.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Put it that way down.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Interesting. You can't control these things with what the Union
do and what they make you wear and so on
and so forth. But it has come up recently with
Katen Clark not wanting to be involved in fantasy rugby.
I get that we've had Sunny Bill not wanting to
wear being Z. From your knowledge and experience, most athletes
they just wear whatever they're told to wear. That any
(10:52):
personal problem they may have just has to be pushed
to one size. Is that isn't its head during your
coaching those.
Speaker 8 (10:58):
Yet, No, I was actually trying to think back there
were there any disputed.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
At any time?
Speaker 8 (11:03):
And no, I mean when I started coaching the All
Blacks they were Canterbury and then there was a quite an.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
Easy transition over to audit asks.
Speaker 8 (11:11):
But no outside that, No, no, never al really had
any problems whatsoever.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
And even with sponsors.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
No.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, it's something I suppose that as time goes on,
will have to be looked at as personal IP and
so on and so forth goes through the roof about
what athletes expose themselves to and what they want to
be exposed to. It's difficult.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Yeah, we there's a lot of athletes out there that
certainly I know a lot of companies we've could approach
them about personal sponsorship.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
So there's a fine line.
Speaker 8 (11:41):
And obviously if you're an All Black, and as an
example of someone like Rique Joani was approached by Nike
or someone like that and said, we'd love to sponsor you,
and you've got to be very very mindful of the
fact there's probably contractual requirements anyway.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
That they can't do that while they're actually playing for
the All Blacks.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
But I mean, I know there's lots and lots of
different companies out there would love to align themselves with
a top class athlete, but there's certainly a lot of
paperwork involved, certainly if you're playing for a particular team
that are covered by a particular sponsor.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Let's look to the sevens while I've got here to
be rude, not to quite frankly, the women are leading
their competition only just after that crazy silver last time
around over in Perth. But the men, they're sitting down
in seventh place at the moment, and you've got a
three way tie at the top Fiji, Argentina. In Spain.
(12:37):
You wouldn't read about it, would you, Gordon?
Speaker 7 (12:40):
No, I know you certainly wouldn't read about it.
Speaker 8 (12:42):
I mean, Spain as an example, they put a lot
of emphasis in the sevens this year and they spend
I think a month in Fiji just playing the tournaments,
getting really battle hardened, I suppose, And it's just being
conditioned to the riggers because it was only the first
couple of tournaments, remember, and getting back into it if
you had a break, it's some really important. So they
(13:03):
prepared really well and they've beaten a lot of top
teams the way, and they find themselves top of the ladder.
Sure is after a couple of rounds. That's that's well,
not so much crazy, but who would have thought? And
I suppose, you know, with our girls, I think there's
always going to be Australia and New Zealander and who
turns up on the day with those two and they're
(13:24):
probably gonna, you know, have another fight in the upcoming
finals in Canada and so on.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
So it's challenging times, right.
Speaker 8 (13:33):
And as you said, you know, having news Zellan down
at seven and twelve, I wouldn't have thought. But I'm
sure that they can get back up there and secure
a few more points in the outcoming tournaments.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
In hope, as far as the women are concerned, not
all about the inns. As you know, France are breathing
down their neck too, which is again great to see.
I think they've picked up the third for the last
three tournaments, have and they so they're there and thereabouts.
Speaker 7 (13:57):
Yeah they have. Yeah, there's play.
Speaker 8 (13:59):
Probably two of the top teams are our black fans
of course in Australia, no doubt, and France is there
and sometimes on the a USA you know, and even
Japan can the odd timerit tear around and flying a
few teams, but it comes down to consistency and again
in the sevens game, and we've got to start being
(14:19):
there or thereabouts if we want to be a threat
to win the World Series.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
And is it down to anything simple? The rest of
the world have caught up maybe pasted?
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
First? I know you're say they're not fit enough because
that's how you based your career.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
On a got different systems and methods now in some ways,
but they've lost a heap of experience just recently and
that's obviously had quite an impact. And then then on
top of that you get some injuries at certain times
and crucial positions, and that also has an impact on
how you perform. But you can't bring younger guys through
(14:56):
if they haven't got the experienced guys around them, don't
bring them through. And that's what's happened, you know, losing
the dictions and the curries and and the Michaelson's all.
Speaker 7 (15:04):
At once was a huge, huge blow. But you don't know,
why do we get to that situation?
Speaker 8 (15:09):
And we just didn't bring a lot of other younger
players through at a certain time to learn off those
particular players who means we all know we're very very good.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Well, I love the next blockdown from DJ Forbes might
go and knock on Thor and say, bro, we need
you back.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
See what do you say made? He could play now?
Speaker 8 (15:26):
I mean I saw him just recently and he's incredibly
fat still and you know, amazing really and I mean
he could still go out there and just snowed out
like Ritchie mccour in the fifteenth game. He could go
out there and throw jews on and still get out
there and perform and be at the levels that are required.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Tell me about it to my scene, I think the
same thing, How on earth do you do this? Bra anyway?
On that so God intention to me, thank you very
much for your time. You have a wonderful weekend, enjoy
the Sevens. I'm sure we'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 7 (15:53):
Yeah, pleasure, thanks mate, thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
No need for the DMO. We've got the breakdown on
Sports Talk, Cool.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
News Talk.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Three four sevens coach to Gordon Titchens, they're are one
of the most successful sevens coaches globally in history. If
I don't mind saying so myself, and yea, it's so
right about DJ Forbes. I'll give you an update in
the rugby shortly that first take and listen to this.
Speaker 9 (16:24):
It's like, oh, short side lifted, intercepted by Kamata, a
double by the worst. This is the first yellow card
the tackles defend inside three and a half minutes and
what do you know, it's the all black skipper Scott
Barret's after the naughty.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Chie for teen Dackla gets on the ball five.
Speaker 9 (16:41):
Down, repeated infringements and the Crusaders down to fourteen men.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Shot that moment down.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
They were warned, Yes, the absolutely they were warned, and
the only positive things for the.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Crusaders was the defense.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
Of more from that line out, but now down to
seven forwards, a different proposition for them.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Shocking and it was repeated infringement's like in the first
three and a half minutes. First it was offside, then
there was a stripped ball, and then Scooter went and
put his hands in the ruck and got marched before
four minutes had ticked over. And just to add a
bit of heat to the situation, see no hold them
as well as limped off the field. Kyle Preston has
(17:24):
replaced him. And then the Hurricanes scored a try which
took it to seven to nil. And guess what just
happened here? They did it again. It's fourteen zip. The
Canes are over the Crusaders. The Hurricanes have scored out wide,
drawn in a ball or a drawn in a winger
(17:45):
and over they go on the wing themselves. Wow, what
a start for the Hurricanes. Enough of that. Twenty five
past a seven Sports talk on News Talk z B.
I want your thoughts on the situation around the seven side.
What happens now? Look, I'm a spiteful swine. If I
(18:06):
was injed Are and someone owed me a potload of
cash and wants to cut us off at the knees
to the tune of what eight ten million dollars? I
wouldn't be nice. They've already poked that bear. They're taking
them to court. They didn't pay for these jerseys. They've
got no right for these jerseys, these training jerseys and
(18:29):
these shorts to be on the players. Jed are appeal
like they don't want to ruffle anymore feathers. Too late,
the feathers are ruffled. You've actually plucked the entire turkey,
cut the sponsorship out, put masking tape over it. I
don't know, use some of Anios's fuel and burn the uniforms.
(18:52):
But I'm a little detached and irrational. I think you're
probably a little more sensible. So my question is that
should New Said on Rugby cover up the Ineos sponsorship
on their sevens shorts and training jerseys or do they
keep it there? Which way do you lean? Oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty, I'll get rid of it. That's gone.
(19:16):
They're already playing hardball. They've carried on playing it, So
why stop now. Twenty seven minutes after seven seventeen minutes gone,
fourteen zip Hurricanes over the Crusaders, and holy Hecker of
the Crusaders scored. No, it's been held up, old bugger,
This is sports Talk call News talks it beat.
Speaker 10 (19:41):
Heavy all night, no breaks. I'll tell no Gate ain't
got it.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Forget the riffs. Call you make a call on sports
Talk on your home of sport News talks it balk.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
A little word fidel like cellphone.
Speaker 9 (20:02):
Jordan edits Lyle Christen.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Under the post. The Crusaders head back, Antonio Chaufoon.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I think you were the playmaker their water pass.
Speaker 11 (20:15):
And it's pandemonium and christ chitch.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Fourteen seven canes over. Crusaders already had a yellow card.
Three tries are being scored, players of excellent through injury.
A debutante picks up himself a meat pie madness. I
tell you I'll keep you up today with this game
as an unfalse hurricane that be Crusaders, well until I
go home at eight o'clock when we let Marcus Slush
(20:52):
take it all over. Hit A few texts around the
uniform situation, I whip through some of them short and
before that that is go to the phones, Marry. I'm
doing good.
Speaker 10 (21:06):
I'm on the old hands free. But now I've just
pulled over there there the the signers just that didn't pay,
don't pay. Just just put it below the advertisement.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
On the chip.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Sorry put what I didn't hear that?
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Don't you.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Just sorry? Murray? I appreciate you took yourself of hands free,
but it sounds like you threw your phone into a
ditch only every second word. I wish I could get
to the bottom of what you were saying, something about
not paying it was the problem and he just didn't pay.
Go to the text line. I think bring the truck
(21:52):
is on with this next text So where the uniforms
inside out? End of story. Cheers Brent the trucky. I'm
not quite sure. I'll try to be happy with that
or Addy dass for that mine, but you know it's
a solution. I like the way you think you think
you break Now the Blake wants Towy beer on their shirts,
(22:14):
and that that makes sense. What did any of us do?
This text asks they haven't paid their bill and they
want to cut the sponsorship. It's quite a lot of money.
There's no money to the guy who owns the base,
but it's a lot of money to ends are. They've
tried to be nice and kind but nothing's happening, so
they have kicked them in the kneecaps said right you're
(22:36):
going to court. Brave moved from ends are But they've
got to draw a line. They have to. They have
no choice. As far as the logos on the shirts shorts,
they're quite within their right to gaffer tape o them,
spray paint over them, don't you think, Well we found
(22:59):
Murray again? OK mate, how are you?
Speaker 10 (23:01):
Yes? Typical bone service. They all don't need to do
is didn't pay on the jerseys, So keep the advertising
on there and then just put another sign by didn't pay.
I believe you wouldn't get better advertising than that.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Put a Red Cross invoice outstanding.
Speaker 10 (23:23):
I'll tell you what. Everyone would look at that, and
I mean you were just crimed. Wouldn't know if you
own the business.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Well, yeah, so you need like a transfer that's a
rubber stamp that says invoice not paid, just didn't pay,
embarrassment and that's the one correct, and you murray a
like the way you think. Thanks very much for calling
back as well. It's twenty six minutes to eight Sports
(23:51):
Talk here and News Talk z B Darcy. We're getting
a bit more sensible now, which is probably what we
need on Friday night. If the if you said a
ragby were to field super teams with a new logo
would undermine the tential payout and as they have to pay.
In essence, what it's saying is, if we play silly buggers,
(24:12):
they might might give them reason to dig in further
and for the courts to find in their favor. Well
ends Art, even though they've made some interesting financial decisions
over the last years. I'd suggest their boffins their legal department,
(24:32):
which will be fair swelling at the seams. They've done
enough work to know they've already kicked them, so maybe
just step back. Personally, I'm a vindictive swine. I don't
like it, but I'd say that inst Art are fairly
okay what has to happen now, So that's why they're
(24:52):
letting them wear the uniform. What about the players themselves?
Could they do something like sunny Bill god as Gaffe
Tate out didn't he all over as ben Z advertising?
Maybe they can do that themselves Anyway, John wants to
know one of the biggest results in snow sports and
(25:15):
skiing get any coverage tonight.
Speaker 7 (25:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Alise Robinson did very very well New Zealand's first FIS
Alpine World Championship medal twenty three year old Maine history
of the night. And when you look at what Ben
Richards has done on the free Ride tour are the
extraordinary achievements of Zoe Satowsky senate things are writing in
(25:39):
the Snowsport Injury. It's great to see. And whilst I
was turned my head, it looks like the Crusaders have
even the game up. It's now fourteen a piece after
twenty six minute crazy old game. Isn't it super rugby
for you? Looking forward to watching the rest of this
when I get home and the height owners and the
(26:00):
warrant task tonight. This News Talk's AB eight Sports Talk
(26:24):
on News Talks AB still fourteen a piece. Crusader's Hurricanes
tend to go on the first half of this first
up game. In Super Rugby Pacific, you go from one
side of the Pacific to the other. Now off to
the United States of America Commissioner CEO boss Man Nick
(26:45):
Benson of Major League Rugby joins us Now good evening, Nick,
good evening. Your competition starts this weekend as well.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Just like Super Bowl this weekend.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah, just like Super Rugby PACIFICA it's all on at
the same time. It starts off with a game the
Sharks and the Old Glory, then you've got five more games.
You can't. Petition is nearly as big as Super Rugby.
How did that happen?
Speaker 5 (27:11):
You know, we're people don't understand often how big of
a country it is. We got three hundred million people.
It's almost like, you know, five different countries within you know,
within one. So we're hyper regional, you know, we're hyper
focused on growth. So for us, what's really important is
being having teams in markets and having teams that are
in markets doing the work to grow the sport that
(27:32):
we play. Right, there's no better advocate for a sport
than a team owner who is making an investment in
a team and trying to grow the sport, building grassroots programs,
getting players and staff into schools, trying to get more
and more boys and girls playing the game. The long
term pathway to rugby being successful in the United States
runs through grassroots, and it runs through getting kids playing
(27:53):
the game, which starts with getting them exposed to the game.
And whether it's the school program, a PE class, an
MLR game, you know, whatever it is.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
So it's being talked about is a sleeping giant, but
not really roused from its doze at the moment, How
closed do you think United States of America is to
standing up and roaring? Because what you got the World
Cup coming in our twenty thirty one. Plainly, everything you're
doing right now must point to that. Because if that
doesn't wake you guys up or the public, more's the point.
(28:23):
I don't think anything will.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
So much of what we're doing right now is built
around twenty thirty one, and it goes, you know, right
down to the grassroots programs are building a fan base
and building exposure and building awareness for the sports that
we have. You know, we want to have a massive
Yeah we're gonna have visitors from overseas, but we want
to have American fans sitting in the stands. We want
to have American fans sitting in the stands cheering on
(28:46):
an American team. You know, there's a lot that's happening
to build that. You know, one of the big programs
that I would point to when we're trying to build
an American team is what we've done in with Anthem
as a North Carolina team. They play out of Charlotte.
That's actually a joint venture between MLR and World rugby,
and the purpose of that team is to get young
(29:06):
men American talent getting high level professional minutes. So you
know those are all we're almost all American players, with
a few strategic foreigners who come in for experience and
to kind of help anchor and and you know, to
coach up their their teammates. But it's an American focused team.
It's getting those young men minutes on the field. There's
no substitute for professional minutes when it comes to developing
(29:28):
an international rugby player. It's helping them build cohesion and
playing time playing together. You saw you saw much better
performance by the Eagles this last summer in their last
summer tour they want. They won a few key games
going in and more importantly, more than the results, you
saw much more cohesive and connected side. Scott Lawrence has
(29:50):
done a great job building that out over the last
over the last couple of years. He deserves a ton
of credit. And that's just one part of it. You know,
there's U twenties programs that that he's funding right now
through USA Rugby, taking tours to to to South Africa
and other places where you know they you're playing with
young men of similar age who have a higher sort
(30:11):
of rugby age because they've just been playing for longer.
That's our biggest challenge. We have talent. There's an abundance
of talent in this country, where you're a passive country,
there's an abundance of talent, but most of the talent
is picking up the game when they're fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
and it's very hard to develop an international player at
a key skill position who's picking up the game at
(30:32):
that age. Rights it hard to develop the instincts pathway wise.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
When you look at the pre eminent sports the United
States of America, we're talking at the highest level, serious
amount of income. You can see why young men specifically
moved toward those sports, especially the contact sports. Is that
holding back? Do you think the development of rugby union
lack of a pathway that may result in fame and fortune.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
Yeah, I mean it's not just an MLR issue. I
mean I think you know you're you're a benchwarmer in
the NFL makes more than the highest paid rugby player
probably in the world. It's it's dark, Yes, I think
it does. I don't think we necessarily need to be
in a position where we're competing, you know, dollar for
dollar with those salaries, but we do need to be
(31:22):
in a position where, you know, more and more, you know,
in the United States and across the world, there's a
credible career path through rugby for these young men and
hopefully in the future young women as well who want
to make rugby a career. And that's that's about It's
about the dollars, but it's also about creating a pathway
to speak, that starts, that is predictable, that starts at
(31:44):
you know, starts at the U nine level, and goes
through high school to a cohesive university system and on
into MLR, but also into the club game outside of MLR.
So to that end, a lot of the work that
we do when we're thinking about beyond twenty thirty one
and what the sport looks like after that, it's about, Okay,
how are we building up you know, our city programs
(32:07):
at the high school level that are now funded by
the high schools and the athletic associations and the sort
of the municipal level education systems and funded by the universities.
And so a big part of the work that we
do is work with the existing collegiate conferences and working
with high schools and high school systems to get more
kids playing rugby. I'll give you an example we did.
(32:28):
We did a program last week in Houston, Houston's ten
million city of ten million where we trained representatives from
every public public elementary school on how to teach rugby
and p classes. Right, So we're now going to deploy
that and if we can start deploying that in five, six, seven,
eight more cities. You know, the spillover is massive. It
(32:52):
takes time to build and it takes time to pay off.
But that's that's the long term play. That's why soccer
has been successful. Soccer football have been successful in the
United States. It's really about grassroots and the number of
people who have a touch point with the game.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Major League Rugby CEO Nick Benson joins the program. We
know Martin is playing San Diego. What other involvement have
New Zealand has had, kay It is to tap into
that ipay players, administrators and the like, as well as
there much of a connection and arrangement there.
Speaker 5 (33:22):
Nick, Yeah, there's there's actually a pretty significant uh, there's
a lot of crossover with New Zealand. You know, we
have a ton of players who actually play at NPC
during our offseason and go back and forth. That's continuing
to evolve. Those are team relationships. We have a ton
of Kiwi coaches. I used to be with the Utah
Warriors before I came back to the league office. You know,
(33:44):
we have Greg Cooper coaching there, so he's he's a
He's a great dude and a fantastic coach. You are.
Our twenty twenty three Player of the Year was Jason Petrose,
obviously a Kiwi are. Twenty twenty four Back of the
Year was Reese McDonald, so we haven't ye know. I
think I actually had someone pull this stat for me
(34:05):
before we can call. We have about sixty sixty Kiwi
players playing in the league, so for us, it's a
really important market.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
You've signed a deal with ESPN. How relevant is that?
How important is that? And does this mean New Zealand
audiences are going to be carrying on or be able
to carry on watching the MLL.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
So interesting that you should ask that question, because I've
got a piece of news. I'm and a break here
for you in a second. ESPN is hugely important. It's
the town square for sports in the United States, it's
got twenty eight odd million subs. You know, we love
TRN and we'll continue to operate TRN as a platform
for rugby fans. But if we're going to grow and
get outside of our ecosystem and bring new fans to
(34:48):
the sport, we have to go to where the sports
fans are. That's why we're going to ESPN for New Zealand.
We're actually finalizing a deal today with Sky New Zealand,
so Sky New Zealand will be carrying our games coming
into this year. They gave me permission about ten minutes
before I got on this interview to make that announcement.
So we're actually really really excited about that. So they'll
(35:09):
carry one game, We expect them to carry one game
live on Linear and the rest will be us streamed
by Sky New Zealand. So we're really excited about that
partnership because we know that's that's where, that's where rugby
lives in New Zealand, so we want to be there.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Fantastic News and I suppose whinnying up, what does success,
what shape? What form does success take for yourself in
Major league rugby and rugby as a whole. What are
you looking at what are you Marcus?
Speaker 5 (35:37):
I think when we look at rugby in the United States,
I think, you know, we have a clear sort of
a top five echelon in sports in the US. Right,
you have your Big four, you have you know, American football, basketball, baseball,
ice hockey, and soccer. Now, I think you know we're
successful when when we're challenging, when we're challenging those five,
(35:59):
when we're challenging those five for attention, and when we're
challenging those times for media time, those five for media time,
and challenging the way they perform commercially in terms of
in terms of sort of attendance, in terms of audience,
in terms of all of the metrics that make an
American sports league. I think I personally, you know, believe
(36:20):
that in a ten year, in a five to ten
year time horizon, MLR needs to be challenging the best
leagues on earth in terms of the quality of play
on the field. Right. If we don't have big ambitions,
there's no point in continuing, Right, So, you know, we
need to be challenging the best, and we need to
measure ourselves against the best, and that has to be
our target.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That's very American, and I do like the sound of that.
You guys gonna set up a super rugby franchise because
you know you are on the Pacific on the waist,
gist anyway and steam on over here over OWI is
it a possibility?
Speaker 5 (36:54):
You know, We're focused on building MLR and making MLR
and making MLR the highest, the highest level of rugby
the week and make it and making it as good
or better, but I do look forward to some crossovers. Actually,
our LA team played played the DRWA in a preseason
fixture two or three weeks ago. It was a pretty
competitive match, and we hope to have more of that,
(37:15):
you know, with the rest of the rugby world, because
if we're not measuring ourselves against the best rugby out there,
we can't hope, we can't hope to match it.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Love what I've heard, I'm sure the listeners have, as
well as the MLR CEO, Nick Benson. We thank you
very much for your time, your readiness to share all
of your information and the positive stories around the future
of our national sport in the USA. Nick, look after yourself,
have a great weekend, and I hope the opening round
goes as well as our opening rounds too. I love
(37:46):
the way it combines. It's a wonderful Thanks, Nick, thank
you so much.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
For having me.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports and men.
Have your say one hundred eighty eighty Sports Talk or
more on your home of sports news Talks it be.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
I shouldn't call them a CEO, but he's the commissioner.
But it's the same thing, right, It's a major league
rugby's man, Nick Benson joining us. So looking forward to
their season, to our season, to the contribution from New Zealand,
to players, to what's happening in the United States of
American equipped at the start that they sleeping giant hasn't
(38:22):
worked up. It's still a little bit of a campable
when it does. All dairy, dairy, deary me, So, Nick,
thanks very much for joining us. Twenty two fourteen. Going
into halftime, the Hurricanes are leading the Crusaders in christ Church,
and as far as fantasy rugby is concerned, I'm sitting
on one hundred and two points so far. I have
no idea how relevant that is because I don't know
(38:43):
who else is scoring. What Duff, what are you on? Producer?
Duff you're on he's on one hundred points. I got
a two point break and Dan Goodwin's on one hundred
and three. Yah. Wow, look at that one hundred and thirteen.
Sorry to be fair, I've got four Crusaders on my
(39:05):
side and you know so I'm not gonna score any
points in a lot of the other games, am I.
The news talks here be it's seven fifty two where
(39:30):
Hurricane see Crusades twenty two to fourteen halftime fist up
Super Rugby game came out tonight from a ten o'clock
Pakistan and taking on the black Caps in the final
of the mini series that we warm up series ahead
of the Champions Trophy. The same two teams when we're
playing at the same ground on Wednesday with the Champions Trophy,
starts talking about dress. So the trouble is there's a
(39:52):
couple of issues around injury in the black Caps camp.
To explain his coach Gary Stead.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
Yeah, well right, and obviously got that nasty blow and
Lahore to the forehead. So the pleasing thing is he's
progressing well. So we're following HIA protocols at the moment.
So he's had a headache for a few days, but
that's I guess subsiding, which is really good news. He
had a few balls tonight for the first time, which
is good, but it's still a few more steps for
(40:21):
him to go through before he would be considered fit
for play. And Lockie's been out there. He's had a
couple of balls since he's been here, so lift the
intensity up a little bit more tonight. Pleased how he's tracking,
and certainly we'll look to have him playing in one
of the next two games.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
It's Gary stand there talking about the injured players ahead
of tonight's game. Of course, the champions Trophy gets underway
on Wednesday. We get quite spread apart. We're playing like
on Wednesday, pretty much the first up game, and then
we're playing the last game against India before the semi
finals hit the ground running and their second game is
jammed somewhere in the middle. Quite nice rhythm, I think.
(41:03):
Thanks very much. Listen to the program. I hope you've
enjoyed it. Have a wonderful week. I'll be here tomorrow
morning on the Old Sports Breakfast from seven through until
nine Sady for Andy Duff. He's going to be here
producing me too. But thanks for all of your efforts
and thanks for listening, for calling, for texting Madame is
Darcy Watergrave look after Yourself.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm going to breathe, I'm going to talk into the
microphone and I'm going to watch Super Rugby. Is the
Crusaders take on the Hurricanes down at the lean To
in christ Church. Two minutes in zip zip It is
talk extra long for them to get in the park.
It's like four Hurricanes captains to make their way out
(00:36):
there and talk to the men individual they didn't. I'm kidding.
I'll keep you up to date with that score as
it rolls on. Right. What have we got planned for
this evening? Well, my talking, you're talking. Eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty is the number to quarter context nineteen
ninety two. That is z b z B. Toward the
end of the program, a catch up with Nick Benson.
(00:57):
He's Major League Rugby's American Commissioner, the CEO, He's the
boss dude, talking about the start of the US season, which,
incident is the suite. They've got nearly as many teams
as Super Rugby has got. Granted it's a much bigger marketplace.
We'll talk about that. We'll talk about ESPN Wrights we'll
talk about sky TV. Look the list goes on. Nick
(01:20):
Benson joins us talking about United States of America Rugby Union.
When we get things going with Sir Gordon Titchens for
more Black Sevens head coach. As you all well know
about the vexed situation that the Sevens team find themselves in.
They're going to be wearing a training jersey and a
(01:41):
pair of shorts stained with the name of any us
I say staying because they don't play their bills, pay
their bills. Now are taking them to court. Yet, due
to a bit of a snafu around uniforms, they've got
to wear the same kit. I know that spray paint
over it, stick gaffer tape. I've got no idea. We'll
(02:03):
talk to Gordon about that, and of course the interruption
to the playing starf with this exterior noise plenty to
talk about. And then we'll ask you a very simple question.
It's Friday night. We need to keep it simple. Chians
that are actually cover the in our sponsorship up on
their Sevens jerseys. Is it a petty thing to do
cover it up or take some scissors to it and
(02:25):
cut them out, or is it worse to keep it there.
I don't know. Give me your twos and FROs, your
pros and cons around this when we open the lines
on eight hundred eighty ten eighty. But before we do
any of that, which we will do with Gusto, let's
do this sport today and in sport today, no Retchen Revengder.
(02:48):
For tonight's game versus Pakistan. It's the Champions Trophy warm
up match, same opposition, same park. It's just a not
a Champions Trophy match, but it's a try series and
there's something they're going to do and Lucky Ferguson is
gone as well as Rechen Revenger. Ah oh, coach Stad,
(03:08):
I feel your pain. I really do.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Luck he's been out there, he's at a couple of
bawls since he's been here, so lift the intensity up
a little bit. More pleased how he's tracking and certainly
we'll look to have him playing in one of the
next two games.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Nick's right back Corbyn Piper, is focused on the company line.
The coaches once in a simple way forward ahead of
their next five games. Well against teams who are in
the top six of the A League.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
We prepare the same for every team so it's just
work hard. We're just doing everything we can to get
the three points every week. Nothing changes from playing first
place to last place.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Standard. Rautlfer isn't particularly happy with Tennis's new take on
mixed doubles. In fact, it doesn't suit her aunt all.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
To get the opportunity to do that four times a
year is not honestly that much already, So to get
it taken away is yeah, it's disappointing for us. There's
not really any betefit.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
We love playing, yeah, thanks Erin of more concern is
the Hurricanes Crusaders match going on right now? Before we
hear from a duplus Carriffy, can you confirm this for me,
mister Andy Duff producer, extraordinary, it's Scott Barrett being sent already,
(04:28):
surely not? Is that a yellow card up there? Anyway?
Let's get back to nobody. Yes, he's gone. I thought
I saw him sit down out of a corn on
my line. I turned it back and there's a there's
a yellow mark up the top. He's got eight minutes
to go. Wow, I mean, so little more than four
minutes has already gone, dude. Anyway, Hurricane the plus Califfy
(04:49):
isn't writing the Crusaders off tonight, although now he might
have a right smile on his face.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Yeah, they didn't have the best year last year, but
on any given day they probably could have won. You
know a handful of those games that they lost. You know,
a different call or a different result at a scrum
means they score a try and win that game.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, that's quarter Captain Duplessi coffee from the Hurricanes. And
it looks like there's been a try as well as
I stare up toward the screen, there has been the Hurricanes.
After six minutes, I've rolled over. Harry Godfrey now lines
up the conversion and if we can just pad for
(05:26):
another couple of minutes, and I can tell you that
it should go to seven zip because that looks like
a pretty standard stab at the uprights. And it is
Hurricanes up seven zip six minutes gone. Wow, And that's
sport today, it really is. I joined now by sir
Good Intentions from All Black Seven's head coach. Crazy story
(05:50):
around in z Are. They've got jerseys and they've got
training jerseys, and they've got playing shorts that the sevens teams,
the Black Ferns and the All Black sevens be wearing
this weekend and Canada, but they've still got any US
sponsorship on the Hmm should they stay or should they go?
(06:10):
So Gordon joins us. Now evening mate, Yeah, evening does
odd situation ends that are find themselves in, isn't it.
They've started a fight, Well, they've poked the bear. There
is this enormous petrochemical company under the watchful life of
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and they're taking them to court. Yet
(06:31):
they're still stuck with jerseys for this event in Canada
that have got any US written all over them. Strange situation.
What do they do?
Speaker 7 (06:40):
Well?
Speaker 8 (06:41):
If I was coaching the team, I hope it wouldn't
distract my players when they when they go to the
tournament in Canada and you know you have to wear them.
Speaker 7 (06:49):
I suppose contractually that they're still.
Speaker 8 (06:51):
Aligned with them as well as a as a sponsor.
And I know it's here say, but I can't get
involved in the fact because I don't know what's been
going back with the fortunate and ends that are you
all I know and what we will hear is that
they run. They have been the installment that was required
for twenty twenty five so.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
They want to I believe change and they will next
time around. But at the moment they're just stuck because
they just can't get the gear fast enough. But you
mentioned distraction before. I suppose from an athletic point of
view and a coaching point of view, that is an issue.
That's a sideline that you probably don't need.
Speaker 8 (07:30):
No, you certainly don't know, not when you're going into
a tournament in the current World Series. And I suppose
of the management of talked to the players about it
not to get too distracted, keep away from the media,
I suppose, and we'll just wear what's put in front
of us. And perhaps it is a jersey with the
sponsor's name on there, you know.
Speaker 7 (07:51):
But I can't believe personally that I grad it ass And.
Speaker 8 (07:58):
I think if they supported what the or Beast wanted
and that was a brand new jersey for this particular tournament,
why couldn't they do it? I mean, I mean, I
work for an apparel company, I'm involved. We've done jerseys
in less than a week. I mean, it can be
done quite easily.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Man, how long does it take? I suppose that's that's
the question.
Speaker 8 (08:15):
But will you get to your factory and you you know,
the mock ups and everything are done pretty easily. You've
got you know, graphic design and that to design the jersey,
the patents and so on, and you go for it.
Speaker 7 (08:29):
We've done jerseys for the Newcastle Jets in three days. Wow,
that is quick. Yeah, it's quick. And that's in China.
That's and so edit.
Speaker 8 (08:39):
You pull some strings and ends that are you bring
edit days and then your request of new jersey. But
perhaps there's still a little bit of hope that they'll
they'll pay the installment and they'll remain a sponsor.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It's all what difficult, isn't it When you've got a
team and you've got your program in front of you
and what you need to do, but you're inextricably linked
with the decisions made higher up the food Chaine and
you talked about keeping the players away from that. It
can't be easy in this day and age, and as
you progressed in your career, the separation between the athlete
(09:12):
and everything else. How do you control that? Gordon?
Speaker 8 (09:16):
Well, yeah, you just made you just can't get involved
in I mean, but then you can't get away from
it either, because it's you know, there's just so much
in the media about what's actually happening, that they've fallen behind,
not paying this, and you know, I mean we're all challenged, challenged,
you tough times at the moment, you know, particularly own
sponsors and money and so on. And I suppose a
(09:40):
sponsor wants the best out of what he can get.
And let's face it, you know, on the orbit jersey,
it's pretty powerful. But you know, things haven't gone as
well as he's lost. I think he's a director or
an owner of Manchester United. They haven't been going particularly well.
We are buding some tough times. So but I just
(10:01):
look at it from the athlete's.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Point of view.
Speaker 7 (10:02):
You just can't get involved. It is what it is.
You get on and do job.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
And I don't think covering up the front of the
jersey if they have to wear it is the right
answer either personally.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Why not?
Speaker 7 (10:15):
Well, it just wouldn't look good. I just yeah, wow,
well you might be able to do it.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
I just can't believe they can't make a new jersey
without a sponsor. If you're going to cover it up,
that doesn't look particularly professional.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Put it that way down.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Interesting. You can't control these things with what the Union
do and what they make you wear and so on
and so forth. But it has come up recently with
Katen Clark not wanting to be involved in fantasy rugby.
I get that we've had Sunny Bill not wanting to
wear being Z. From your knowledge and experience, most athletes
they just wear whatever they're told to wear. That any
(10:52):
personal problem they may have just has to be pushed
to one size. Is that isn't its head during your
coaching those.
Speaker 8 (10:58):
Yet, No, I was actually trying to think back there
were there any disputed.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
At any time?
Speaker 8 (11:03):
And no, I mean when I started coaching the All
Blacks they were Canterbury and then there was a quite an.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
Easy transition over to audit asks.
Speaker 8 (11:11):
But no outside that, No, no, never al really had
any problems whatsoever.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
And even with sponsors.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
No.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, it's something I suppose that as time goes on,
will have to be looked at as personal IP and
so on and so forth goes through the roof about
what athletes expose themselves to and what they want to
be exposed to. It's difficult.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Yeah, we there's a lot of athletes out there that
certainly I know a lot of companies we've could approach
them about personal sponsorship.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
So there's a fine line.
Speaker 8 (11:41):
And obviously if you're an All Black, and as an
example of someone like Rique Joani was approached by Nike
or someone like that and said, we'd love to sponsor you,
and you've got to be very very mindful of the
fact there's probably contractual requirements anyway.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
That they can't do that while they're actually playing for
the All Blacks.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
But I mean, I know there's lots and lots of
different companies out there would love to align themselves with
a top class athlete, but there's certainly a lot of
paperwork involved, certainly if you're playing for a particular team
that are covered by a particular sponsor.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Let's look to the sevens while I've got here to
be rude, not to quite frankly, the women are leading
their competition only just after that crazy silver last time
around over in Perth. But the men, they're sitting down
in seventh place at the moment, and you've got a
three way tie at the top Fiji, Argentina. In Spain.
(12:37):
You wouldn't read about it, would you, Gordon?
Speaker 7 (12:40):
No, I know you certainly wouldn't read about it.
Speaker 8 (12:42):
I mean, Spain as an example, they put a lot
of emphasis in the sevens this year and they spend
I think a month in Fiji just playing the tournaments,
getting really battle hardened, I suppose, And it's just being
conditioned to the riggers because it was only the first
couple of tournaments, remember, and getting back into it if
you had a break, it's some really important. So they
(13:03):
prepared really well and they've beaten a lot of top
teams the way, and they find themselves top of the ladder.
Sure is after a couple of rounds. That's that's well,
not so much crazy, but who would have thought? And
I suppose, you know, with our girls, I think there's
always going to be Australia and New Zealander and who
turns up on the day with those two and they're
(13:24):
probably gonna, you know, have another fight in the upcoming
finals in Canada and so on.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
So it's challenging times, right.
Speaker 8 (13:33):
And as you said, you know, having news Zellan down
at seven and twelve, I wouldn't have thought. But I'm
sure that they can get back up there and secure
a few more points in the outcoming tournaments.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
In hope, as far as the women are concerned, not
all about the inns. As you know, France are breathing
down their neck too, which is again great to see.
I think they've picked up the third for the last
three tournaments, have and they so they're there and thereabouts.
Speaker 7 (13:57):
Yeah they have. Yeah, there's play.
Speaker 8 (13:59):
Probably two of the top teams are our black fans
of course in Australia, no doubt, and France is there
and sometimes on the a USA you know, and even
Japan can the odd timerit tear around and flying a
few teams, but it comes down to consistency and again
in the sevens game, and we've got to start being
(14:19):
there or thereabouts if we want to be a threat
to win the World Series.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
And is it down to anything simple? The rest of
the world have caught up maybe pasted?
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
First? I know you're say they're not fit enough because
that's how you based your career.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
On a got different systems and methods now in some ways,
but they've lost a heap of experience just recently and
that's obviously had quite an impact. And then then on
top of that you get some injuries at certain times
and crucial positions, and that also has an impact on
how you perform. But you can't bring younger guys through
(14:56):
if they haven't got the experienced guys around them, don't
bring them through. And that's what's happened, you know, losing
the dictions and the curries and and the Michaelson's all.
Speaker 7 (15:04):
At once was a huge, huge blow. But you don't know,
why do we get to that situation?
Speaker 8 (15:09):
And we just didn't bring a lot of other younger
players through at a certain time to learn off those
particular players who means we all know we're very very good.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Well, I love the next blockdown from DJ Forbes might
go and knock on Thor and say, bro, we need
you back.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
See what do you say made? He could play now?
Speaker 8 (15:26):
I mean I saw him just recently and he's incredibly
fat still and you know, amazing really and I mean
he could still go out there and just snowed out
like Ritchie mccour in the fifteenth game. He could go
out there and throw jews on and still get out
there and perform and be at the levels that are required.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Tell me about it to my scene, I think the
same thing, How on earth do you do this? Bra anyway?
On that so God intention to me, thank you very
much for your time. You have a wonderful weekend, enjoy
the Sevens. I'm sure we'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 7 (15:53):
Yeah, pleasure, thanks mate, thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
No need for the DMO. We've got the breakdown on
Sports Talk, Cool.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
News Talk.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Three four sevens coach to Gordon Titchens, they're are one
of the most successful sevens coaches globally in history. If
I don't mind saying so myself, and yea, it's so
right about DJ Forbes. I'll give you an update in
the rugby shortly that first take and listen to this.
Speaker 9 (16:24):
It's like, oh, short side lifted, intercepted by Kamata, a
double by the worst. This is the first yellow card
the tackles defend inside three and a half minutes and
what do you know, it's the all black skipper Scott
Barret's after the naughty.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Chie for teen Dackla gets on the ball five.
Speaker 9 (16:41):
Down, repeated infringements and the Crusaders down to fourteen men.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Shot that moment down.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
They were warned, Yes, the absolutely they were warned, and
the only positive things for the.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Crusaders was the defense.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
Of more from that line out, but now down to
seven forwards, a different proposition for them.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Shocking and it was repeated infringement's like in the first
three and a half minutes. First it was offside, then
there was a stripped ball, and then Scooter went and
put his hands in the ruck and got marched before
four minutes had ticked over. And just to add a
bit of heat to the situation, see no hold them
as well as limped off the field. Kyle Preston has
(17:24):
replaced him. And then the Hurricanes scored a try which
took it to seven to nil. And guess what just
happened here? They did it again. It's fourteen zip. The
Canes are over the Crusaders. The Hurricanes have scored out wide,
drawn in a ball or a drawn in a winger
(17:45):
and over they go on the wing themselves. Wow, what
a start for the Hurricanes. Enough of that. Twenty five
past a seven Sports talk on News Talk z B.
I want your thoughts on the situation around the seven side.
What happens now? Look, I'm a spiteful swine. If I
(18:06):
was injed Are and someone owed me a potload of
cash and wants to cut us off at the knees
to the tune of what eight ten million dollars? I
wouldn't be nice. They've already poked that bear. They're taking
them to court. They didn't pay for these jerseys. They've
got no right for these jerseys, these training jerseys and
(18:29):
these shorts to be on the players. Jed are appeal
like they don't want to ruffle anymore feathers. Too late,
the feathers are ruffled. You've actually plucked the entire turkey,
cut the sponsorship out, put masking tape over it. I
don't know, use some of Anios's fuel and burn the uniforms.
(18:52):
But I'm a little detached and irrational. I think you're
probably a little more sensible. So my question is that
should New Said on Rugby cover up the Ineos sponsorship
on their sevens shorts and training jerseys or do they
keep it there? Which way do you lean? Oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty, I'll get rid of it. That's gone.
(19:16):
They're already playing hardball. They've carried on playing it, So
why stop now. Twenty seven minutes after seven seventeen minutes gone,
fourteen zip Hurricanes over the Crusaders, and holy Hecker of
the Crusaders scored. No, it's been held up, old bugger,
This is sports Talk call News talks it beat.
Speaker 10 (19:41):
Heavy all night, no breaks. I'll tell no Gate ain't
got it.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Forget the riffs. Call you make a call on sports
Talk on your home of sport News talks it balk.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
A little word fidel like cellphone.
Speaker 9 (20:02):
Jordan edits Lyle Christen.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Under the post. The Crusaders head back, Antonio Chaufoon.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I think you were the playmaker their water pass.
Speaker 11 (20:15):
And it's pandemonium and christ chitch.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Fourteen seven canes over. Crusaders already had a yellow card.
Three tries are being scored, players of excellent through injury.
A debutante picks up himself a meat pie madness. I
tell you I'll keep you up today with this game
as an unfalse hurricane that be Crusaders, well until I
go home at eight o'clock when we let Marcus Slush
(20:52):
take it all over. Hit A few texts around the
uniform situation, I whip through some of them short and
before that that is go to the phones, Marry. I'm
doing good.
Speaker 10 (21:06):
I'm on the old hands free. But now I've just
pulled over there there the the signers just that didn't pay,
don't pay. Just just put it below the advertisement.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
On the chip.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Sorry put what I didn't hear that?
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Don't you.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Just sorry? Murray? I appreciate you took yourself of hands free,
but it sounds like you threw your phone into a
ditch only every second word. I wish I could get
to the bottom of what you were saying, something about
not paying it was the problem and he just didn't pay.
Go to the text line. I think bring the truck
(21:52):
is on with this next text So where the uniforms
inside out? End of story. Cheers Brent the trucky. I'm
not quite sure. I'll try to be happy with that
or Addy dass for that mine, but you know it's
a solution. I like the way you think you think
you break Now the Blake wants Towy beer on their shirts,
(22:14):
and that that makes sense. What did any of us do?
This text asks they haven't paid their bill and they
want to cut the sponsorship. It's quite a lot of money.
There's no money to the guy who owns the base,
but it's a lot of money to ends are. They've
tried to be nice and kind but nothing's happening, so
they have kicked them in the kneecaps said right you're
(22:36):
going to court. Brave moved from ends are But they've
got to draw a line. They have to. They have
no choice. As far as the logos on the shirts shorts,
they're quite within their right to gaffer tape o them,
spray paint over them, don't you think, Well we found
(22:59):
Murray again? OK mate, how are you?
Speaker 10 (23:01):
Yes? Typical bone service. They all don't need to do
is didn't pay on the jerseys, So keep the advertising
on there and then just put another sign by didn't pay.
I believe you wouldn't get better advertising than that.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Put a Red Cross invoice outstanding.
Speaker 10 (23:23):
I'll tell you what. Everyone would look at that, and
I mean you were just crimed. Wouldn't know if you
own the business.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Well, yeah, so you need like a transfer that's a
rubber stamp that says invoice not paid, just didn't pay,
embarrassment and that's the one correct, and you murray a
like the way you think. Thanks very much for calling
back as well. It's twenty six minutes to eight Sports
(23:51):
Talk here and News Talk z B Darcy. We're getting
a bit more sensible now, which is probably what we
need on Friday night. If the if you said a
ragby were to field super teams with a new logo
would undermine the tential payout and as they have to pay.
In essence, what it's saying is, if we play silly buggers,
(24:12):
they might might give them reason to dig in further
and for the courts to find in their favor. Well
ends Art, even though they've made some interesting financial decisions
over the last years. I'd suggest their boffins their legal department,
(24:32):
which will be fair swelling at the seams. They've done
enough work to know they've already kicked them, so maybe
just step back. Personally, I'm a vindictive swine. I don't
like it, but I'd say that inst Art are fairly
okay what has to happen now, So that's why they're
(24:52):
letting them wear the uniform. What about the players themselves?
Could they do something like sunny Bill god as Gaffe
Tate out didn't he all over as ben Z advertising?
Maybe they can do that themselves Anyway, John wants to
know one of the biggest results in snow sports and
(25:15):
skiing get any coverage tonight.
Speaker 7 (25:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Alise Robinson did very very well New Zealand's first FIS
Alpine World Championship medal twenty three year old Maine history
of the night. And when you look at what Ben
Richards has done on the free Ride tour are the
extraordinary achievements of Zoe Satowsky senate things are writing in
(25:39):
the Snowsport Injury. It's great to see. And whilst I
was turned my head, it looks like the Crusaders have
even the game up. It's now fourteen a piece after
twenty six minute crazy old game. Isn't it super rugby
for you? Looking forward to watching the rest of this
when I get home and the height owners and the
(26:00):
warrant task tonight. This News Talk's AB eight Sports Talk
(26:24):
on News Talks AB still fourteen a piece. Crusader's Hurricanes
tend to go on the first half of this first
up game. In Super Rugby Pacific, you go from one
side of the Pacific to the other. Now off to
the United States of America Commissioner CEO boss Man Nick
(26:45):
Benson of Major League Rugby joins us Now good evening, Nick,
good evening. Your competition starts this weekend as well.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Just like Super Bowl this weekend.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah, just like Super Rugby PACIFICA it's all on at
the same time. It starts off with a game the
Sharks and the Old Glory, then you've got five more games.
You can't. Petition is nearly as big as Super Rugby.
How did that happen?
Speaker 5 (27:11):
You know, we're people don't understand often how big of
a country it is. We got three hundred million people.
It's almost like, you know, five different countries within you know,
within one. So we're hyper regional, you know, we're hyper
focused on growth. So for us, what's really important is
being having teams in markets and having teams that are
in markets doing the work to grow the sport that
(27:32):
we play. Right, there's no better advocate for a sport
than a team owner who is making an investment in
a team and trying to grow the sport, building grassroots programs,
getting players and staff into schools, trying to get more
and more boys and girls playing the game. The long
term pathway to rugby being successful in the United States
runs through grassroots, and it runs through getting kids playing
(27:53):
the game, which starts with getting them exposed to the game.
And whether it's the school program, a PE class, an
MLR game, you know, whatever it is.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
So it's being talked about is a sleeping giant, but
not really roused from its doze at the moment, How
closed do you think United States of America is to
standing up and roaring? Because what you got the World
Cup coming in our twenty thirty one. Plainly, everything you're
doing right now must point to that. Because if that
doesn't wake you guys up or the public, more's the point.
(28:23):
I don't think anything will.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
So much of what we're doing right now is built
around twenty thirty one, and it goes, you know, right
down to the grassroots programs are building a fan base
and building exposure and building awareness for the sports that
we have. You know, we want to have a massive
Yeah we're gonna have visitors from overseas, but we want
to have American fans sitting in the stands. We want
to have American fans sitting in the stands cheering on
(28:46):
an American team. You know, there's a lot that's happening
to build that. You know, one of the big programs
that I would point to when we're trying to build
an American team is what we've done in with Anthem
as a North Carolina team. They play out of Charlotte.
That's actually a joint venture between MLR and World rugby,
and the purpose of that team is to get young
(29:06):
men American talent getting high level professional minutes. So you
know those are all we're almost all American players, with
a few strategic foreigners who come in for experience and
to kind of help anchor and and you know, to
coach up their their teammates. But it's an American focused team.
It's getting those young men minutes on the field. There's
no substitute for professional minutes when it comes to developing
(29:28):
an international rugby player. It's helping them build cohesion and
playing time playing together. You saw you saw much better
performance by the Eagles this last summer in their last
summer tour they want. They won a few key games
going in and more importantly, more than the results, you
saw much more cohesive and connected side. Scott Lawrence has
(29:50):
done a great job building that out over the last
over the last couple of years. He deserves a ton
of credit. And that's just one part of it. You know,
there's U twenties programs that that he's funding right now
through USA Rugby, taking tours to to to South Africa
and other places where you know they you're playing with
young men of similar age who have a higher sort
(30:11):
of rugby age because they've just been playing for longer.
That's our biggest challenge. We have talent. There's an abundance
of talent in this country, where you're a passive country,
there's an abundance of talent, but most of the talent
is picking up the game when they're fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
and it's very hard to develop an international player at
a key skill position who's picking up the game at
(30:32):
that age. Rights it hard to develop the instincts pathway wise.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
When you look at the pre eminent sports the United
States of America, we're talking at the highest level, serious
amount of income. You can see why young men specifically
moved toward those sports, especially the contact sports. Is that
holding back? Do you think the development of rugby union
lack of a pathway that may result in fame and fortune.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
Yeah, I mean it's not just an MLR issue. I
mean I think you know you're you're a benchwarmer in
the NFL makes more than the highest paid rugby player
probably in the world. It's it's dark, Yes, I think
it does. I don't think we necessarily need to be
in a position where we're competing, you know, dollar for
dollar with those salaries, but we do need to be
(31:22):
in a position where, you know, more and more, you know,
in the United States and across the world, there's a
credible career path through rugby for these young men and
hopefully in the future young women as well who want
to make rugby a career. And that's that's about It's
about the dollars, but it's also about creating a pathway
to speak, that starts, that is predictable, that starts at
(31:44):
you know, starts at the U nine level, and goes
through high school to a cohesive university system and on
into MLR, but also into the club game outside of MLR.
So to that end, a lot of the work that
we do when we're thinking about beyond twenty thirty one
and what the sport looks like after that, it's about, Okay,
how are we building up you know, our city programs
(32:07):
at the high school level that are now funded by
the high schools and the athletic associations and the sort
of the municipal level education systems and funded by the universities.
And so a big part of the work that we
do is work with the existing collegiate conferences and working
with high schools and high school systems to get more
kids playing rugby. I'll give you an example we did.
(32:28):
We did a program last week in Houston, Houston's ten
million city of ten million where we trained representatives from
every public public elementary school on how to teach rugby
and p classes. Right, So we're now going to deploy
that and if we can start deploying that in five, six, seven,
eight more cities. You know, the spillover is massive. It
(32:52):
takes time to build and it takes time to pay off.
But that's that's the long term play. That's why soccer
has been successful. Soccer football have been successful in the
United States. It's really about grassroots and the number of
people who have a touch point with the game.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Major League Rugby CEO Nick Benson joins the program. We
know Martin is playing San Diego. What other involvement have
New Zealand has had, kay It is to tap into
that ipay players, administrators and the like, as well as
there much of a connection and arrangement there.
Speaker 5 (33:22):
Nick, Yeah, there's there's actually a pretty significant uh, there's
a lot of crossover with New Zealand. You know, we
have a ton of players who actually play at NPC
during our offseason and go back and forth. That's continuing
to evolve. Those are team relationships. We have a ton
of Kiwi coaches. I used to be with the Utah
Warriors before I came back to the league office. You know,
(33:44):
we have Greg Cooper coaching there, so he's he's a
He's a great dude and a fantastic coach. You are.
Our twenty twenty three Player of the Year was Jason Petrose,
obviously a Kiwi are. Twenty twenty four Back of the
Year was Reese McDonald, so we haven't ye know. I
think I actually had someone pull this stat for me
(34:05):
before we can call. We have about sixty sixty Kiwi
players playing in the league, so for us, it's a
really important market.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
You've signed a deal with ESPN. How relevant is that?
How important is that? And does this mean New Zealand
audiences are going to be carrying on or be able
to carry on watching the MLL.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
So interesting that you should ask that question, because I've
got a piece of news. I'm and a break here
for you in a second. ESPN is hugely important. It's
the town square for sports in the United States, it's
got twenty eight odd million subs. You know, we love
TRN and we'll continue to operate TRN as a platform
for rugby fans. But if we're going to grow and
get outside of our ecosystem and bring new fans to
(34:48):
the sport, we have to go to where the sports
fans are. That's why we're going to ESPN for New Zealand.
We're actually finalizing a deal today with Sky New Zealand,
so Sky New Zealand will be carrying our games coming
into this year. They gave me permission about ten minutes
before I got on this interview to make that announcement.
So we're actually really really excited about that. So they'll
(35:09):
carry one game, We expect them to carry one game
live on Linear and the rest will be us streamed
by Sky New Zealand. So we're really excited about that
partnership because we know that's that's where, that's where rugby
lives in New Zealand, so we want to be there.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Fantastic News and I suppose whinnying up, what does success,
what shape? What form does success take for yourself in
Major league rugby and rugby as a whole. What are
you looking at what are you Marcus?
Speaker 5 (35:37):
I think when we look at rugby in the United States,
I think, you know, we have a clear sort of
a top five echelon in sports in the US. Right,
you have your Big four, you have you know, American football, basketball, baseball,
ice hockey, and soccer. Now, I think you know we're
successful when when we're challenging, when we're challenging those five,
(35:59):
when we're challenging those five for attention, and when we're
challenging those times for media time, those five for media time,
and challenging the way they perform commercially in terms of
in terms of sort of attendance, in terms of audience,
in terms of all of the metrics that make an
American sports league. I think I personally, you know, believe
(36:20):
that in a ten year, in a five to ten
year time horizon, MLR needs to be challenging the best
leagues on earth in terms of the quality of play
on the field. Right. If we don't have big ambitions,
there's no point in continuing, Right, So, you know, we
need to be challenging the best, and we need to
measure ourselves against the best, and that has to be
our target.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That's very American, and I do like the sound of that.
You guys gonna set up a super rugby franchise because
you know you are on the Pacific on the waist,
gist anyway and steam on over here over OWI is
it a possibility?
Speaker 5 (36:54):
You know, We're focused on building MLR and making MLR
and making MLR the highest, the highest level of rugby
the week and make it and making it as good
or better, but I do look forward to some crossovers. Actually,
our LA team played played the DRWA in a preseason
fixture two or three weeks ago. It was a pretty
competitive match, and we hope to have more of that,
(37:15):
you know, with the rest of the rugby world, because
if we're not measuring ourselves against the best rugby out there,
we can't hope, we can't hope to match it.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Love what I've heard, I'm sure the listeners have, as
well as the MLR CEO, Nick Benson. We thank you
very much for your time, your readiness to share all
of your information and the positive stories around the future
of our national sport in the USA. Nick, look after yourself,
have a great weekend, and I hope the opening round
goes as well as our opening rounds too. I love
(37:46):
the way it combines. It's a wonderful Thanks, Nick, thank
you so much.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
For having me.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports and men.
Have your say one hundred eighty eighty Sports Talk or
more on your home of sports news Talks it be.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
I shouldn't call them a CEO, but he's the commissioner.
But it's the same thing, right, It's a major league
rugby's man, Nick Benson joining us. So looking forward to
their season, to our season, to the contribution from New Zealand,
to players, to what's happening in the United States of
American equipped at the start that they sleeping giant hasn't
(38:22):
worked up. It's still a little bit of a campable
when it does. All dairy, dairy, deary me, So, Nick,
thanks very much for joining us. Twenty two fourteen. Going
into halftime, the Hurricanes are leading the Crusaders in christ Church,
and as far as fantasy rugby is concerned, I'm sitting
on one hundred and two points so far. I have
no idea how relevant that is because I don't know
(38:43):
who else is scoring. What Duff, what are you on? Producer?
Duff you're on he's on one hundred points. I got
a two point break and Dan Goodwin's on one hundred
and three. Yah. Wow, look at that one hundred and thirteen.
Sorry to be fair, I've got four Crusaders on my
(39:05):
side and you know so I'm not gonna score any
points in a lot of the other games, am I.
The news talks here be it's seven fifty two where
(39:30):
Hurricane see Crusades twenty two to fourteen halftime fist up
Super Rugby game came out tonight from a ten o'clock
Pakistan and taking on the black Caps in the final
of the mini series that we warm up series ahead
of the Champions Trophy. The same two teams when we're
playing at the same ground on Wednesday with the Champions Trophy,
starts talking about dress. So the trouble is there's a
(39:52):
couple of issues around injury in the black Caps camp.
To explain his coach Gary Stead.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
Yeah, well right, and obviously got that nasty blow and
Lahore to the forehead. So the pleasing thing is he's
progressing well. So we're following HIA protocols at the moment.
So he's had a headache for a few days, but
that's I guess subsiding, which is really good news. He
had a few balls tonight for the first time, which
is good, but it's still a few more steps for
(40:21):
him to go through before he would be considered fit
for play. And Lockie's been out there. He's had a
couple of balls since he's been here, so lift the
intensity up a little bit more tonight. Pleased how he's tracking,
and certainly we'll look to have him playing in one
of the next two games.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
It's Gary stand there talking about the injured players ahead
of tonight's game. Of course, the champions Trophy gets underway
on Wednesday. We get quite spread apart. We're playing like
on Wednesday, pretty much the first up game, and then
we're playing the last game against India before the semi
finals hit the ground running and their second game is
jammed somewhere in the middle. Quite nice rhythm, I think.
(41:03):
Thanks very much. Listen to the program. I hope you've
enjoyed it. Have a wonderful week. I'll be here tomorrow
morning on the Old Sports Breakfast from seven through until
nine Sady for Andy Duff. He's going to be here
producing me too. But thanks for all of your efforts
and thanks for listening, for calling, for texting Madame is
Darcy Watergrave look after Yourself.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com