The latest edition of 'The All-Star Panel' features Rugby Writer Jamie Wall and Graeme 'Sportsfreak' Beasley.

On this weekend's agenda... The Black Caps test and the embarrassment to ground staff, the New Super Rugby playoff system is announced, and the Football Ferns finally let go of their coach.

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Our resident Heartland rugby expert Kevin Hare joined the show to preview the fifth-round action from the 'Peoples Rugby' competition.

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The Ford National Hockey Championship hits Palmerston North from 15th–21st September 2024.

The competition is tiered across the men’s and women’s competitions with 'two tiers' in each competition - crowing the National champions.

D'Arcy catches up with GM of the Hockey Network Ken Maplesden to preview the week's action.

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David Nyika claims he feels like a different boxer after over two years under trainer Noel Thornberry.

The Kiwi cruiserweight's set to fight American Tommy Karpency in Auckland tomorrow night, after original opponent Aussie Blake Caparello tested positive for elevated testosterone levels 10 days out from the fight.

Nyika says he's reverted to his natural strengths, notably endurance and the ability to break opponents down.

D'Arcy Waldegrave catches up with former All Black Liam Messam who is fighting on the undercard.

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Auckland Storm captain Eloise Blackwell has said their match against Bay of Plenty in the Farah Palmer Cup this morning is essentially a must win.

The Storm are in need of points against the Volcanix in Tauranga after losing the last two on the trot - which Blackwell says the team's acknowledged.

D'Arcy catches up with Eloise ahead of their 150th first-class game.

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Davis Cup captain Artem Sitak has a plan to take out the doubles match in their tie against Luxembourg in Palmerston North this weekend.

The singles matches featuring Kiwis KP Pannu and Ajeet Rai will headline today as Finn Reynolds and Rubin Statham play New Zealand's doubles match tomorrow.

D'Arcy catches up with Artem to preview the weekend ahead.

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Someone always has a better idea. There is always an expert out there who knows best. Invariably it’s a detached non-stakeholder who claims to know the lay of the land better than the decision makers in the thick of the action. Such as people who understand the vagaries, the implications, the weight of the final call around key arrangements in competition structure and policy.

Yesterday the format for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season was released from its cage to roam amongst the public and the media.

The criticisms and ‘superior concept’ brigade sprang into action, decrying the masterplan, immediately looking for fishhooks and pulling apart the minutiae, expressing their concern and presenting what in their opinion, would be a superior competition build.

All strength to their arm, but it’s like naming an All Black team, your side doesn’t have to play, and you don’t know the finer details of team dynamics or the mechanics around playbook philosophy.

I’m not suggesting that people’s opinions are not valid or shouldn’t be aired. We’re all entitled to weigh into the discourse as we are the target. We’re the fans, we pay the bills, we’re particularly important. We are the why. I’m merely stating that in this situation, this fraught cobbling together of a scratchy competition, Super Rugby Pacific haven’t just pulled this structure out of a bin at the 2-dollar shop. They are in possession of every piece of a complex puzzle, so surely, they are in the best position to put it together in a manner which takes into account a gamut of requirements.

They have the most to lose here. This isn’t tiddlywinks, this is the preeminent rugby competition of the southern hemisphere.

People are too quick to shoot down new systems. This new format has been designed to enhance the product, not detract from it.

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, and dessert isn't served until February.

Have a spoonful, and another, finish the dish and see how it tastes.

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The latest edition of 'The All-Star Panel' features Rugby News Editor Campbell Burnes and Gold Sport Commentator Hamish McKay.

On this weekend's agenda:

The All Blacks are making a few changes ahead of second test match, South Africa apologies for disrupting the haka, and Israel Adesanya's run-in with a member of the public.

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