Rugby Unity

DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded in February 2026.David Pembroke sits down with Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa and a member of the World Rugby Executive Board, to talk about what it really takes to grow the game across a continent of 1.4 billion people. From picking up a rugby ball in England in 1966 to playing for Saracens and then being pulled into rugby administration in Ghana, Mensah lays out the hard truth: Africa’s total annual competition budget is just 675,000 pounds. He explains the push to unlock government backing, why South Africa and France matter for pathways and pre-match opportunities, and how Sevens and the Olympics shape the future. The chat also zooms out to the global game: revenue pressure post-COVID, the high-stakes plan for USA 2031, and why rugby must package itself smarter without losing what makes it special. Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie are mentioned by David at the close.Also in this episode:● Herbert Mensah’s first rugby memories in England● Saracens, injury, and the shift into rugby administration● The Max Brito tour and rugby’s unlikely Accra crowd● Rugby Africa’s 675,000 pounds budget reality check● Olympics and Sevens: Africa’s travel and cost challenges● World Rugby’s USA 2031 gamble and revenue debatePLUS: How rugby balances tradition with business reality, from Africa to the Executive Board.SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

Rugby Unity turns the spotlight on a hard truth: in Victoria, rugby union is fighting for oxygen while AFL and the Melbourne Storm keep winning hearts, crowds and talent. David Pembroke, Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie unpack what the AFL gets right (simple product, relentless promotion, tradition with modern polish) and why rugby is slipping, from missing pathways post-Rebels to a lack of media cut-through. The chat rolls into Super Rugby uncertainty, Moana Pasifika’s financial worries, and what rugby “owes” the Pacific as the NRL builds academies and pathways with real cash behind them. There’s still hope in the grassroots, with Eddie’s Japan Under 23s tour and strong club rugby energy, plus sharp takes on referee communication, Retallick’s longevity, and promotion and relegation for the Nations Cup and the Premiership. The episode finishes with a look at the Women’s Six Nations momentum and what rugby must do before 2027.Also in this episode:● Why AFL pulls 95,000 on a Thursday night● Rugby union’s visibility problem in Victoria’s media market● Melbourne Storm pathways hoovering up Pasifika talent● Super Rugby future: domestic comps then best-on-best● Referees explaining laws: better flow or inconsistency?● Women’s Six Nations crowds surge and fan connection growsPLUS: The panel debates how rugby markets itself, builds tribalism, and competes for young talent before the 2027 Rugby World Cup.SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie unpack a huge week for the global game, starting with the remarkable rise of women’s rugby after England drew more than 77,000 fans at Twickenham in the opening round of the Women’s Six Nations. From there, the conversation widens into a bigger question: what does rugby need to do now to secure its long-term future?They look at the value of proper tournament structures, the momentum building around the Pacific Four and Women’s Six Nations, and why the women’s calendar may actually be closer to a true global season than the men’s game. There is also a close look at the new World Rugby Nations Cup, why it matters for emerging nations, and how regular international competition can drive both performance and commercial growth.The episode also explores the return of long-form touring, the appeal of rugby’s travelling culture, the growing credibility of second-tier nations, and what it all says about the shape of the game in the lead-up to the 2027 and 2029 World Cups. Add in European quarter-final drama, Super Rugby refereeing flashpoints, and debate around All Blacks selection, and this becomes a broad conversation about where rugby is heading and how it can grow from here.Also in this episode:● England’s huge Women’s Six Nations crowd and what it signals for the game● Pacific Four results and the growth of women’s international rugby● Why tournament structure is key to rugby’s long-term prosperity● The World Rugby Nations Cup and new opportunities for emerging nations● Touring tradition, global calendars, and what rugby still does better than any sport● European quarter-finals, Super Rugby talking points, and All Blacks selection debateSIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

David Pembroke sits down with top referee Angus Gardner for a straight-talking look at what it really takes to run elite rugby, from Super Rugby to the Six Nations. Angus opens up on getting “poleaxed” in Chiefs v Highlanders, the back condition that ended his playing days, and how refereeing became his way to stay in the game. They unpack how referees manage 800 decisions a match, what the “critical few” actually means, and why transparency with fans could lift understanding fast. The big debates are front and centre: flow vs accuracy, the shape of the game, Mark Robinson’s review into yellow cards and the TMO, plus Eddie Jones’s idea of a centrally contracted World Rugby referee squad. There’s also a sharp chat on communication, profiling referees, and what a home Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027 could mean.Also in this episode:● Angus Gardner’s refereeing journey from age 15● Super Rugby’s “critical few” and weekly reviews● Flow vs accuracy: how referees balance both● Yellow card buckets and the 20-minute red● TMO scope: Super Rugby vs World Rugby rules● Nations Championship excitement and 2027 World Cup ambitionPLUS: Refereeing travel, downtime on tour, and the tight-knit elite officials group.SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie hold the fort while Eddie Jones is away touring with Japan U23, and it kicks off with a blunt reality check on what “tour” really means for staff: more toil, more review, and a constant hunt for one-percenters. From there, it’s a sprint through the weekend’s biggest talking points: the Investec European Rugby Championship’s eye-watering Round of 16 scorelines and why the tournament still struggles to cut through globally, plus Super Rugby’s Week 8 results and what the Western Force’s win over the Reds says about form, intent, and momentum. They also get into the uncomfortable truths around crowd numbers, the economics of attending live sport, and why rugby still lives and dies by referee interpretation, even with technology. Add in 2027 World Cup pillars, women’s rugby momentum, South African schools theatre, and Henry Pollock signing with Eddie Hearn.Also in this episode:● Eddie Jones touring: early starts, late finishes, relentless review● One-percenters in coaching: travel, jet lag, and talent ID● Investec European Rugby Championship lacks continuity and cut-through● Super Rugby Week 8: Crusaders, Chiefs, Force statement win● Referee profiles, 800 decisions a match, and TMO frustration● Women’s Six Nations, Pacific Four, and England ticket sales surgePLUS: The episode keeps circling one question: how rugby stays relevant, watchable, and financially sustainable.SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin joins David Pembroke to discuss the real hard questions facing our sport at the moment – rugby’s global calendar, player safety and cashflow are just the tip of the iceberg. Gilpin breaks down the real tension World Rugby is trying to solve: accuracy and flow, without treating it as a trade-off, and why too many law tweaks make life harder for officials moving between competitions. He explains the Mark Robinson match officiating review, what “shape of the game” stakeholders are pushing for, and why the strategic plan (targeting an early May launch) is centred on fans, player welfare, and growing the sport’s commercial engine. There’s also a big look ahead: strong early Rugby World Cup 2027 ticket demand in Australia, the long runway to USA 2031 and 2033, and how rugby can win in a brutal “attention economy”.● Alan Gilpin’s rugby journey from Gloucestershire to World Rugby● Six Nations weekend: Scotland v France, Italy’s big moments● Match officiating: accuracy versus flow is not a trade-off● Law trials across comps make consistency harder for referees● Mark Robinson review: TMO use, philosophy, elite officiating model● World Rugby strategy: fans, player welfare, commercial growth, USA 2031PLUS: Gilpin argues rugby’s future is more fans consuming more rugby, more often.SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE:https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE:https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈David Pembroke is joined by Ewen McKenzie (with Eddie Jones in San Diego) to rip through what’s changing in Super Rugby and what rugby still gets wrong off-field. Ewen breaks down the experimental laws: no more caterpillar rucks, faster ball, 30-second scrum set calls, and more quick taps that keep defences unstructured. They also flag a noticeable shift in how refs are handling intercept knock-ons and yellow cards, and the bigger issue: why World Rugby won’t clearly explain what’s changed. From there, it’s back to the Six Nations: what made it so competitive, why England’s Steve Borthwick looks set to stay through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and what selection and combinations might unlock them. Plus, Rugby Unity launches “The Big Three” on Substack, and they finish with Third Voice questions covering Wallabies physicality, Rugby World Cup 2027 conditions, alignment camps, and whether the Iran Israel War could disrupt the Nations championship.● Super Rugby law trials speed up rucks and scrums● Quick taps increase tempo and punish disorganised defence● Yellow card trend shifts on intercept knock-ons● World Rugby transparency and communication under the microscope● Six Nations competitiveness, England review, Steve Borthwick stays● Rugby Unity launches “The Big Three” Substack digestPLUS: David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie argue rugby must market itself harder, explain the laws better, and make it easier for fans to follow the game.Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

David Pembroke is joined by Mark Philpott, a New Zealander based in Cancun who’s building United Rugby Fans, a fast-growing movement aimed at giving rugby supporters a real seat at the table with unions and World Rugby. Mark lays out why he thinks the game’s finances, grassroots infrastructure, and volunteer fatigue are the biggest pressure points, and why “fan empowerment” matters more than likes and clicks. They talk lessons from Football Supporters Europe, how fans ended the proposed Super League and earned a seat on UEFA’s board, and what rugby can copy to unlock smarter decision-making and better investment. Mark outlines URF’s plan to gather large-scale polling and survey data, plus early projects including a charity division, URF TV with Stacey Paetz, and a new global rugby book with contributors including Gordon Bray. The big question: can rugby act before a crisis forces change?● United Rugby Fans aims for a seat at World Rugby● Mark Philpott’s global nomad path to Cancun● Grassroots rugby needs cash, facilities, and volunteer support● Data, polling, and surveys to map fan priorities● Football Supporters Europe model and UEFA board representation● URF TV, charity work, book, and global awardsPLUS: A practical debate on how rugby can grow revenue beyond the World Cup cycle.Check out United Rugby Fans here: https://www.urfans.org/ 👈Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.auThanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.TikTok | Instagram | YouTube