The big marn joins us from Urayasu as he prepares for his first season in the Japan Rugby League One competition as a coach!

Rossy has just retired from a 19 year career that spanned across three countries and I was fortunate enough to get the play by play with him on all of it.

Yarns throughout this episode include:

• How it was growing up with both his Mum & Dad being All Blacks/ Black Ferns and how he navigated the pressures of being the first ever 'Baby Black'
• Discusses what it was like being traded by the Crusaders in his first year of playing for the club
• What his relationship with Brad Thorn was like
• What the major contributing factors were that resulted in his All Blacks selection in the 2009 season
• How he dealt with the hardships the following year and gives an intimate insight into what it's like being put in a bad light by the New Zealand media
• What it's like being a decade long player at a Japanese Club
• How close he was to becoming eligible for playing for the Japanese national side
• His transition as a player-coach in the USA & insight on the intricacies of what it takes to be a successful professional coach
• Why a trip to Mexico should be on all aging athletes bucket-list

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and much more!

Hopefully you enjoy this episode as much as I did

We have another 2 for 1 special for this episode having international front-rowers James Lay (Laser) & Karl Tu'inukuafe (Karlito) jump on the pod to share some of their most significant chapters of their journey.

The boys are both well respected and loved members throughout the rugby community, who are both good for some unbelievable stories

Yarns throughout this episode include:

• Laser's immediate impact on the Moana Pacifica Super Rugby franchise and how he was asked to be captain of the team in his first season with them
• Karl's unbelievable rise through the ranks which saw him signing 2-week contracts all the way until he was playing for the All Blacks
• Laser compares the 2 world cups he's been involved in with Manu Samoa
• Karlito discusses his love for Kava and how this passion has influenced every team environment he's been apart of
• The boys share some of their best touring stories
• Plus we nause out at the end of the episode and dive DEEP into the dark arts of the front-row. Which eventuates in the boys assembling their 'dream team' front row

and much more!

Hopefully you enjoy this episode as much as I did

Big Pasilio Tosi sits down and reflects on his whirlwind 2024 season which saw him shine for the table-topping Hurricanes, which then lead to his inclusion in the All Blacks squad. He provides an in-depth insight into how the year was for him and how his journey has been that lead to him up to this point.

Yarns throughout this episode include:

• Pasi's schoolboy rise and how he was nearly poached out of the 15 man game
• His unorthodox switch from the backrow to the frontrow and how it has benefited him in the long run
• His stint in Southland and why he decided to venture down to the deep south to go and make a name for himself
• Featuring in an asain-based club that lasted one game which created his opportunity to join the Bay of Plenty
• How he was approached by the Hurricanes and how he nearly joined a rival club before that

• What the contributing factors were to his breakout 2024 season
• Discusses the All Blacks environment and provides a breakdown of emotions and his thought process around some of the key moments he was involved in throughout the year

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and much more!

Hopefully you enjoy this episode as much as I did

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