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LIVE in Newcastle – Gary Gold on the impact of Japan beating South Africa in 2015 + Hunter Rugby
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Rugby Unity goes live in Newcastle with a fundraiser for Hunter Rugby grassroots development. With Ireland v Japan looming, and the big question is simple: can Eddie Jones’ Japan back up a statement win and rattle Ireland on “Tokyo by the sea”?
David Pembroke is joined by Ewen McKenzie and Japan assistant coach Gary Gold to unpack what makes Eddie tick, why Japan are building around speed and repeat performances, and how the Nations Championship is changing selection, travel and pressure week to week. Plus, Maitland’s junior blueprint, why club rugby cannot be neglected, a sharp audience question on AI in coaching, and a direct debate on what’s really being done for women’s rugby in Australia.
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Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇
tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈
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In this episode:
00:00 🏟️ David Pembroke welcomes Newcastle and Ewen McKenzie
02:00 👤 Gary Gold origin story: Cape Town rugby roots
04:00 🏆 London Irish Powergen Cup win and lessons
07:00 🧠 Coaching environment: standards and honesty in rugby
08:00 🎯 Eddie Jones in Japan: high standards, no negotiation
11:00 🖥️ Ewen McKenzie on early Super Rugby tech and Eddie
16:00 🇯🇵 Japan v Ireland preview: Nations Championship test in Newcastle
19:00 🛡️ Japan defence: tackling, pressure, and finishing critique
22:00 🌱 JTS pathway: Eddie Jones building Japan depth
26:00 ✈️ Travel impact: Tokyo to Sydney recovery and training loss
30:00 🌍 Global rugby fixtures: World Rugby ladder and opportunity
35:00 🧩 Ireland changes: debutants, new halves, and Japan chances
39:00 🏉 Grassroots focus: Pat Howard on Hunter Rugby participation
42:00 👶 Maitland under-sevens model and 10-year pipeline
51:00 🤖 AI in rugby: Gary Gold on data, VR, and coaching limits
57:00 🏅 Women’s rugby: pathways, 15s focus, and investment debate
01:03 🧱 Community rugby values: funding, governance, and club priority
01:14 🗓️ Newcastle hosting Rugby World Cup teams and fan welcome
Call to action:
📌 Can Japan’s Eddie Jones-led intensity punish Ireland’s new combinations in Newcastle?
Support Hunter Rugby here: hunterrugby.com.au
More about Pat Howard here: onthemic.me
📩 Got a question? Email us: info@rugbyunity.com.au
🔔 !
📲 Follow us on socials → TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook & LinkedIn @RugbyUnityPodcast
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