June 19, 2025 • 7 mins
The Crusaders take on the Chiefs in the Super Rugby final held in Christchurch tomorrow night.
With nearly half the games decided by 7 points or less, the recent games have been tight and entertaining, leading to a boost in viewer numbers.
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley says, 'law innovation’ and ‘close games and unexpected results’ have helped Super Rugby gain its recent boost in audience.
Crowd numbers are also up by 6% this year, despite fewer games. This increase is expected to continue next year.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk SEDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It's also Super Rugby Finale. We can the season reaches
its crescendo tomorrow, the Crusaders and the Chiefs playing out
the final in christ Church. The Chiefs by the way
with the wood on the Crusader so far with two
victories this season. Overall, Super Rugby has seen a significant
lift in interest this year. TV numbers are up. Nearly
half the games decided by seven points or less. It's
(00:37):
been good football. So Jack Mesley is the Super Rugby
Pacific CEO and joins us this morning. Cob ond to
you Jack, Morning Andrew, how are you very good? Really
looking forward to the game? I look forward also to
the semifinals and the whole lucky loser thing, which, to
be fair confused me. But the point is Super Rugby
(00:58):
is back with its mojo. So what changed.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, we've had a real focus on making sure that
our product on the field is as good as can be.
So we've had quite a bit of lower innovation over
the last couple of years and have worked really closely
with the match officials to really speed the game up
that's been a real improvement, and then the results this
year has been really really great in terms of how
(01:24):
much jeopardy we've had in the competition, with close gains
and unexpected results and teams that maybe hadn't done that
well last year doing really well, which I think generated
a lot of interest. And around that, you know, we've
added a lot of things for fans to engage with,
like fantasy rugby and things like that. So yeah, it's
been a great year and it all comes to a
head tomorrow night in a great Grand Final, and you.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Have to also thank Morana Pacifica and also the Fiji
and Drew for adding a whole lot of excitement and
also wins to it. Of course, we also saw the
removal of the Melbourne Rebels, so were those changes good?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, absolutely, I think you know, the Australian teams were
definitely stronger with that, with that additional depth of talent
with the Rebels players going to the other four franchises.
So yeah, we saw some improvements across the board from
the Australian teams and you know, Mowana Pacifica had their
best year yet on the field with much better results
(02:24):
just missing out on the finals. So yeah, I think
all of those things have made for the really compelling
competition this year. And you know, even our team that
finished last, the Highlanders, we had the between first and eleventh.
The number of points is the lowest since two thousand
and four in the competition. So you know, the Highlanders
(02:45):
just were so unlucky on so many occasions. And that
closeness of Cobb's been a real key thinking.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
About MAINA PACIFICA as well. They proved that North Harbor
Stadium cam worked. They had great crowds there, but the
crowd numbers generally they're a bit low. I was watching
the Chiefs of this as the Blues, of course, that
amazing game which the Blues won, and I was surprised
not to see at least close to us sellout. TV
numbers are up, the crowds are still lagging.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, I mean the crowds are up year on year.
We're up six percent year on year with a fewer
number of games than last year. But yeah, some of
those finals, early finals didn't sell out. We would have
liked to have sold those out. The finals are difficult
to sell out because you know you only have a
couple of days to know the result, get planned and
get up for sale. But you know, it's a key
(03:32):
focus of ours to increase the crowds. We're working very
closely with all of the clubs on that, and yeah,
I think we'll continue to work hard to get more
more bumps on seats.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, the crowds are very important. Of course, broadcasting rights
help pay for a lot of everything, but at the
same time, crowds as where you make your margin. And
I see the Crusaders complaining about the fact that they're
fifteen thousand sent to temporary stadium which is gone next year.
It's sold out, but they're only going to break even.
So we really need to get fifteen thousand or more
to these games. How can we do that, Well, we've.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Got to build the base, so we've got to bring
new fans in, and so a lot of our strategies
around around fantasy and gamification is to bring younger fans
to the games and start to really ensure that those
people are coming in and experience what a great product
we have. We got to do continue to get better
at our marketing, making sure everyone knows when the games
(04:30):
are on and those sorts of things, and then the
clubs are doing a great job about creating an amazing
experience in stadium, and we're pretty confident that when we
get more people in, they're going to see what a
great spectacle it is and what a great matchday of
the club's put on and come back. So it's all
of those things that requires a really concerted effort for
(04:51):
all parties and we're certainly focused on that.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Having said that, it's a bit disappointing that the cowbills
are not going to be allowed into the ground by
the Crusaders because that would have added to the spectacle.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, I mean the Crusaders have made that decision. I
love the fact that the Chiefs have now built an
app in which will play cow bells, and so I
think the Crusaders will probably have more cow bells and
maybe virtual cowboys and they ever thought imaginable in the
ground tomorrow night, so I'm sure we'll be hearing lots
(05:26):
of cow bells regardless.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I heard I heard some talk that the Crusaders or
the Canterbury people have invented an app that plays sheep
noises as well, so you could have the sound of
cow bells and sheep at this game.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Fantastic. I mean, I love the banter that's happening between
the two CEOs, creating some further interest in a big match, and.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It is a big match. I mean, the Crusaders have
been coming all season long. They've got better and better
and better. The Chiefs have been magic right from the
get go. But now we come down to the game.
So what do you reckon it's going to happen?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Yeah, as you said, I mean the Chiefs have got
a really good record against the Crusaders, not just this
year but from the last couple of years. I think
they've won five of their last seven matches against the
Crusaders and three of the last five down in christ Church.
So everyone knows about the you know, the Crusader's dominance
at home, but I think the Chiefs are the one
(06:24):
team that probably are not marred by that statistic as
our other clubs. So yeah, it's going to be a
cracking match. And the Chiefs the grand final in a row,
Clayton McMillan's last match for the Chiefs, they've got plenty
to play for, so yeah, and I think it's it's
set up to be an absolute cracking match. And the
(06:45):
conclusion of what's been a really good final series.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So onwards, onwards and upwards for Super Rubby. The Crusaders
get to Kaha the new stadium next year. Twenty five
thousand people are there, not fifteen thousand, and no drafts
and that's going to be brilliant. So the product's going
to get better down there. And I'm just like to
congratulate you and your organization, but most of all the
players for entertaining us on the field.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, thanks, Ed, You're right. It's the clubs and applies
to coaching staff that that have put on a great spectacle.
So we wish them all the best tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Night, good stuff. Jack Measley is a Super Rugby Pacific CEO.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
For more from News Talks at b listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk SEDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It's also Super Rugby Finale. We can the season reaches
its crescendo tomorrow, the Crusaders and the Chiefs playing out
the final in christ Church. The Chiefs by the way
with the wood on the Crusader so far with two
victories this season. Overall, Super Rugby has seen a significant
lift in interest this year. TV numbers are up. Nearly
half the games decided by seven points or less. It's
(00:37):
been good football. So Jack Mesley is the Super Rugby
Pacific CEO and joins us this morning. Cob ond to
you Jack, Morning Andrew, how are you very good? Really
looking forward to the game? I look forward also to
the semifinals and the whole lucky loser thing, which, to
be fair confused me. But the point is Super Rugby
(00:58):
is back with its mojo. So what changed.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, we've had a real focus on making sure that
our product on the field is as good as can be.
So we've had quite a bit of lower innovation over
the last couple of years and have worked really closely
with the match officials to really speed the game up
that's been a real improvement, and then the results this
year has been really really great in terms of how
(01:24):
much jeopardy we've had in the competition, with close gains
and unexpected results and teams that maybe hadn't done that
well last year doing really well, which I think generated
a lot of interest. And around that, you know, we've
added a lot of things for fans to engage with,
like fantasy rugby and things like that. So yeah, it's
been a great year and it all comes to a
head tomorrow night in a great Grand Final, and you.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Have to also thank Morana Pacifica and also the Fiji
and Drew for adding a whole lot of excitement and
also wins to it. Of course, we also saw the
removal of the Melbourne Rebels, so were those changes good?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, absolutely, I think you know, the Australian teams were
definitely stronger with that, with that additional depth of talent
with the Rebels players going to the other four franchises.
So yeah, we saw some improvements across the board from
the Australian teams and you know, Mowana Pacifica had their
best year yet on the field with much better results
(02:24):
just missing out on the finals. So yeah, I think
all of those things have made for the really compelling
competition this year. And you know, even our team that
finished last, the Highlanders, we had the between first and eleventh.
The number of points is the lowest since two thousand
and four in the competition. So you know, the Highlanders
(02:45):
just were so unlucky on so many occasions. And that
closeness of Cobb's been a real key thinking.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
About MAINA PACIFICA as well. They proved that North Harbor
Stadium cam worked. They had great crowds there, but the
crowd numbers generally they're a bit low. I was watching
the Chiefs of this as the Blues, of course, that
amazing game which the Blues won, and I was surprised
not to see at least close to us sellout. TV
numbers are up, the crowds are still lagging.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, I mean the crowds are up year on year.
We're up six percent year on year with a fewer
number of games than last year. But yeah, some of
those finals, early finals didn't sell out. We would have
liked to have sold those out. The finals are difficult
to sell out because you know you only have a
couple of days to know the result, get planned and
get up for sale. But you know, it's a key
(03:32):
focus of ours to increase the crowds. We're working very
closely with all of the clubs on that, and yeah,
I think we'll continue to work hard to get more
more bumps on seats.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, the crowds are very important. Of course, broadcasting rights
help pay for a lot of everything, but at the
same time, crowds as where you make your margin. And
I see the Crusaders complaining about the fact that they're
fifteen thousand sent to temporary stadium which is gone next year.
It's sold out, but they're only going to break even.
So we really need to get fifteen thousand or more
to these games. How can we do that, Well, we've.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Got to build the base, so we've got to bring
new fans in, and so a lot of our strategies
around around fantasy and gamification is to bring younger fans
to the games and start to really ensure that those
people are coming in and experience what a great product
we have. We got to do continue to get better
at our marketing, making sure everyone knows when the games
(04:30):
are on and those sorts of things, and then the
clubs are doing a great job about creating an amazing
experience in stadium, and we're pretty confident that when we
get more people in, they're going to see what a
great spectacle it is and what a great matchday of
the club's put on and come back. So it's all
of those things that requires a really concerted effort for
(04:51):
all parties and we're certainly focused on that.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Having said that, it's a bit disappointing that the cowbills
are not going to be allowed into the ground by
the Crusaders because that would have added to the spectacle.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, I mean the Crusaders have made that decision. I
love the fact that the Chiefs have now built an
app in which will play cow bells, and so I
think the Crusaders will probably have more cow bells and
maybe virtual cowboys and they ever thought imaginable in the
ground tomorrow night, so I'm sure we'll be hearing lots
(05:26):
of cow bells regardless.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I heard I heard some talk that the Crusaders or
the Canterbury people have invented an app that plays sheep
noises as well, so you could have the sound of
cow bells and sheep at this game.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Fantastic. I mean, I love the banter that's happening between
the two CEOs, creating some further interest in a big match, and.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It is a big match. I mean, the Crusaders have
been coming all season long. They've got better and better
and better. The Chiefs have been magic right from the
get go. But now we come down to the game.
So what do you reckon it's going to happen?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Yeah, as you said, I mean the Chiefs have got
a really good record against the Crusaders, not just this
year but from the last couple of years. I think
they've won five of their last seven matches against the
Crusaders and three of the last five down in christ Church.
So everyone knows about the you know, the Crusader's dominance
at home, but I think the Chiefs are the one
(06:24):
team that probably are not marred by that statistic as
our other clubs. So yeah, it's going to be a
cracking match. And the Chiefs the grand final in a row,
Clayton McMillan's last match for the Chiefs, they've got plenty
to play for, so yeah, and I think it's it's
set up to be an absolute cracking match. And the
(06:45):
conclusion of what's been a really good final series.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So onwards, onwards and upwards for Super Rubby. The Crusaders
get to Kaha the new stadium next year. Twenty five
thousand people are there, not fifteen thousand, and no drafts
and that's going to be brilliant. So the product's going
to get better down there. And I'm just like to
congratulate you and your organization, but most of all the
players for entertaining us on the field.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, thanks, Ed, You're right. It's the clubs and applies
to coaching staff that that have put on a great spectacle.
So we wish them all the best tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Night, good stuff. Jack Measley is a Super Rugby Pacific CEO.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
For more from News Talks at b listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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