New Zealand Rugby’s $66m warning + WXV Global Series & Wallabies Squad

New Zealand Rugby’s forecast $66 million loss has sparked a bigger question: are the All Blacks about to change how, and where, they play their biggest tests?

David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie unpack the Baltimore payday, NZR’s looming meeting of the code, and what it means for fans, provincial rugby, and World Rugby. They pitch bold options like taking Rugby Championship games to the USA and even rethinking the 2029 Lions tour venues, then preview Japan v Fiji in the Pacific Nations Championship final in Tokyo. Plus a huge women’s weekend: England v Canada at Sandy Park, Australia v France, Black Ferns v Scotland, Wales v South Africa, USA v Ireland, and the World XV Challenge Series in Hong Kong. Finally, Les Kiss’s Wallabies squad gets a run, including the flyhalf conversation and the Springboks test in Perth.

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In this episode:
00:00 🎙️ David Pembroke opens, Steve Hansen absent, Manly job
01:10 ⏸️ Ewen McKenzie on calendar “pause” and test windows
02:05 💷 New Zealand Rugby forecasts $66m losses over five years
02:55 💰 Baltimore All Blacks v Springboks brings in $9m
03:45 🧩 Fan connection risks if All Blacks offshore more tests
05:00 🏟️ Rugby league “creep” into Eden Park and Christchurch talk
06:10 🌍 Call for NZR to invite other unions into future talks
07:10 🏛️ World Rugby role questioned in NZR planning
10:55 🦁 Lions 2029 idea: All Blacks tests in Melbourne, Sydney
15:55 🇺🇸 Miami Rugby Championship Argentina talk, Ireland USA plans
23:25 🇯🇵 Pacific Nations Championship final: Japan v Fiji Tokyo
25:45 🧠 Eddie Jones chat: Japan 63-14 USA, Saito leadership
28:30 🏉 Women’s World XV Challenge Series in Hong Kong
30:40 🏴 England v Canada at Sandy Park preview
36:25 🇦🇺 Australia women to back up v France in Ong Provence
39:05 🖤 Black Ferns v Scotland and coaching shuffles discussed
45:05 📺 Top 14: Toulouse v Bordeaux scoreline, TV numbers
50:20 🦘 Les Kiss Wallabies squad, McLaughlin-Phillips, Petaia return
54:10 🗣️ Third Voice: referees, TMO, All Blacks basics debate
01:09:10 🇿🇦 Springboks unity and meaning beyond the scoreboard

Call to action:
📌 Should New Zealand Rugby take more All Blacks tests offshore to fix the finances?

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