Building Rugby World Cup 2027 with Chris Stanley

World Rugby’s Strategic Plan + ERC Finals & Crunch Creator Sensation!

World Rugby’s strategic plan has finally landed, and David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie get stuck into what it says, what it dodges, and what it must deliver by 2031. Before the strategy chat, they react to a huge weekend in Bilbao: Montpellier smashing Ulster 59-26 and Bordeaux beating Leinster 41-19 in front of massive crowds, plus a debate on whether the Top 14 is now setting the pace. Ewen breaks down Bordeaux’s defence, Lucu’s standout influence, and a contentious yellow card for a hair pull on Joe McCarthy. Then it’s into the bigger picture: why rugby needs a clear plan, why “enriching lives” matters, and why accountability needs real numbers, not vague ambition. The episode also hits player welfare, the Nations Championship concept, women’s rugby investment targets, and the risk of relying on World Cup revenue. Eddie Jones is absent this week. Also in this episode: ● Montpellier maul power overwhelms Ulster in Bilbao final. ● Bordeaux out-defend Leinster as Lucu controls the match. ● Debate: Top 14 now the premier domestic competition? ● Player welfare concerns around Nations Championship travel and workload. ● Women’s rugby growth targets and £50 million investment focus. ● Crunch Creator shows new ways to build rugby fandom. PLUS: The episode pushes for real accountability in World Rugby’s strategy, with clear targets for participation, fans, and revenue. RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo [https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo] SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity [https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity] 👈👈 Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇 https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions [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 [https://rugbyunitypod.substack.com/]   📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software. TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rugby_unity_podcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rugbyunitypodcast/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Rugby_Unity] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Building Rugby World Cup 2027 with Chris Stanley

David Pembroke sits down with Rugby World Cup 2027 Managing Director Chris Stanley, the man overseeing planning, operations and delivery across 52 matches, 24 teams, and a tournament running 1 October to 13 November. Stanley walks through how a “pop-up” organisation goes from employee number one to a full-scale event engine, from locking in cities, venues and team base camps to wrangling hotels, flights and hundreds of contracts. They dig into what’s keeping leadership awake: cashflow timing, commercial partners still “waiting to see”, and global uncertainty that could impact travel. There’s also a clear-eyed look at ticketing after a first phase that sold 750,000 tickets across 135 countries, plus what to do in the current application window. Add in pricing from $40 seats (and $20 standing in Newcastle and Adelaide) to a $1,950 final ticket, and why Rugby World Cup revenues matter to World Rugby. Also in this episode: ● Chris Stanley’s journey from UK to Australia ● How Sydney 2000 shaped his event delivery mindset ● Why Rugby World Cup crowds feel different to FIFA ● Team base camps, hotels, training venues, and logistics ● Ticket ballot explained: timelines, oversubscription, and October release ● Partners, media rights, and building momentum with 500 days PLUS: What a “uniquely Australian” Rugby World Cup fan experience could look like, from stadium food and drink to fan festivals and travel between cities. RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo [https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo] SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity [https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity] 👈👈 Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇 https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions [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 [https://rugbyunitypod.substack.com/]   📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software. TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rugby_unity_podcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rugbyunitypodcast/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Rugby_Unity] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Eddie Jones Sanctioned + Rampaging Red Roses, Doping Bans, URC & Super Rugby Action!

Rugby Unity starts with sad news, marking the passing of Scotland and British and Irish Lions great Scott Hastings, remembered as a top class player and an even better man. From there, the weekend’s rugby storylines fly: England’s Red Roses clinch another Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam with a 43–28 win over France in Bordeaux, as crowds and revenue figures underline the surge in women’s sport. David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie then unpack a weekend of monster scorelines across the Prem, URC and Super Rugby, and ask whether attack is now winning too easily. There’s also a sharp discussion on Henry Pollock’s growing profile, South Africa’s talk of leaving European competitions, and Eddie Jones being sanctioned by the Japanese Rugby Football Union after abuse towards match officials. Plus doping bans for Georgian rugby figures and Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, and listener questions on World Cup finals venues, Spain’s World Cup bid, and the Nations Championship player availability problem. Also in this episode: ● Tribute to Scott Hastings and his rugby legacy ● England Red Roses win Grand Slam in Bordeaux ● Women’s sport revenue growth and rugby’s commercial gap ● Big Premiership and URC blowouts raise balance questions ● South Africa discuss leaving European competitions for welfare ● Eddie Jones sanctioned after abuse of match officials PLUS: The audience drives big calls on 2027 final venues, Spain’s World Cup bid, and Nations Championship selection windows. RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo [https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo] SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity [https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity] 👈👈 Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇 https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions [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 [https://rugbyunitypod.substack.com/]   📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software. TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rugby_unity_podcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rugbyunitypodcast/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Rugby_Unity] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The RFU backs Borthwick for RWC 2027 – Rugby Unity Reacts!

A big weekend of rugby, and Rugby Unity goes wide: Super Rugby’s finals race, the reality of Aussie inconsistency against the New Zealand sides, and what that means for Wallaby selection thinking. David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie also dig into the global game: Top 14 ladder pressure (and relegation nerves), the Premiership’s ugly scorelines (including Harlequins piling points on Newcastle), and the URC table that’s suddenly crowded and hard to call. There’s a sharp take on the player drain from New Zealand, sabbaticals, and where Japan fits in the modern rugby economy, plus a clear view on Richie Mo’unga’s eligibility call. Then it’s all eyes on the women’s Six Nations: record crowds, big scores, and a winner-takes-all England vs France decider in Bordeaux. Also in this episode: ● Super Rugby ladder squeeze for fifth and sixth spot ● Reds stung by a disallowed try and refereeing swings ● Wallaby selection: avoid knee-jerk calls, reward form over time ● New Zealand player drain and Japan’s star-studded competition pull ● Richie Mo’unga return rules and All Blacks eligibility line ● Women’s Six Nations records and England vs France finale in Bordeaux PLUS: The RFU backs Steve Borthwick - the panel reacts! RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo [https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo] SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity [https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity] 👈👈 Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇 https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions [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 [https://rugbyunitypod.substack.com/]   📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software. TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rugby_unity_podcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rugbyunitypodcast/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Rugby_Unity] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Can Ireland Win the Rugby World Cup?

After 1 year of Rugby Unity, David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie unpack what’s working in the modern game (more wingers scoring, smarter kicking, lineout contests returning, less nonsense around yellow cards), and what’s still flashing red, especially Super Rugby crowds and rugby’s battle to stay relevant in a crowded entertainment market. They also spotlight the women’s game as the big success story: strong Six Nations crowds, huge engagement, and a style and connection with fans the men can learn from. Plus, a clear-eyed look at World Rugby’s Nations Championship and the real issue underneath it all: who actually has access to the top players. There’s European Cup semi-final wrap and finals in Bilbao, a nod to Louis Bielle-Biarrey, plus Rugby Europe scorelines, U20 Rugby Championship results, and World Rugby’s IMG deal ahead of 2031 and 2033. Also in this episode: ● Wingers scoring more tries shows the game’s shift ● Super Rugby trial laws and the end of caterpillar rucks ● Women’s Six Nations crowds, humility, and fan connection ● Nations Championship format excitement, but player access questions ● Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals and Bilbao finals ● Third Voice: Moana Pasifika, Ireland World Cup hopes, grassroots links PLUS: A blunt look at how money, logistics, and culture shape rugby’s future. RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo [https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo] SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity [https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity] 👈👈 Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇 https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions [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 [https://rugbyunitypod.substack.com/]   📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software. TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rugby_unity_podcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rugbyunitypodcast/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Rugby_Unity] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.