Episodes

  • the AUS Rugby scene: Life in the February Champions yet with Goeff Parkes

    the AUS Rugby scene: Life in the February Champions yet with Goeff Parkes
    Feb 18 2026
    Novelist and weekly author of The Wrap Geoff Parkes joins Brett McKay for a look back at first round of Super Rugby Pacific and all the surprises that came with it, on the latest episode of a brand new offering from 8/9 Rugby: the AUS Rugby scene. And it wasn’t without blemish, with the powers that be declaring on Monday morning a try should not have been awarded that was. In Round 2 this weekend, there is bounce-back factor in several games, while the teams that did win now have to back that performance up. Also, Brett and Geoff run you through what to expect on 8/9 Rugby on Substack, the new publishing venture they set up over the Australian summer. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific #89RugbyonSubstack Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we’re doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • Ep.3 – Scotland’s work here is done with Pat McCarry

    Ep.3 – Scotland’s work here is done with Pat McCarry
    Feb 17 2026
    Pat McCarry joins Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to take a look at the fallout from last weekend’s Six Nations results and another Calcutta Cup victory for Scotland, as well as a sneak peek to what’s coming for Round 3 this weekend. Seemingly, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has sorted his immediate future once again just by beating England. Ireland overcame a dogged and certainly no longer the easybeat Italy, and France beat Wales as you do. This weekend? It’s all eyes on Twickenham, where England’s reaction to a loss needs to be better than Ireland’s conviction that they’re getting better. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Pat McCarry’s Dirt Trackers Rugby Substack: https://dirttrackersrugby.substack.com/ Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we’re doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • the AUS Rugby scene: This has to be our year with Sean Maloney

    the AUS Rugby scene: This has to be our year with Sean Maloney
    Feb 11 2026
    Sean Maloney from Stan Sport joins Brett McKay to finalise preparations for the first round of Super Rugby Pacific which starts this weekend, on the latest episode of a brand new offering from 8/9 Rugby: the AUS Rugby scene. And they have declared that surely 2026 has to be the year an Australian team goes all the way through to the Super Rugby Final! ‘A long time between drinks’ only tells part of the story. The new season does shape as an intriguing one, however, with five match-ups in this weekend’s opening round that could be anything. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific #ACTBrumbies, #NSWWaratahs #QueenslandReds #WesternForce Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we’re doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Ep.2 – Dominating talking points with Huw Griffin

    Ep.2 – Dominating talking points with Huw Griffin
    Feb 10 2026
    Huw Griffin joins Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, for a look back at last weekend’s Six Nations results and to ponder the already shifting narratives for Round 2 this weekend. Already, we has to ask if we’re all maybe underestimating Italy? And how do Scotland have so much ball and not make one line break? France were excellent over a jury’s-very-much-still-out Ireland, and undoubtedly, England should have beaten Wales by a lot more. HG Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HuwGriffinRugby #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we’re doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • the AUS Rugby scene: Whose draw will actually help? With Ben Darwin

    the AUS Rugby scene: Whose draw will actually help? With Ben Darwin
    Feb 4 2026
    Ben Darwin from Gain Line Analytics joins Brett McKay for a Super Rugby Pacific preview, launching the brand new offering from 8/9 Rugby: the AUS Rugby scene. And with pre-season predictions a mug’s game at the best of time, Ben’s ability to dig into and find meaning in the numbers is a great insight. So with Round 1 just over a week away, it’s interesting to look at the squads in terms of experience – with perhaps some surprising results – and to look closer at everyone’s draw and see who really does have a good draw this season. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific #ACTBrumbies, #NSWWaratahs #QueenslandReds #WesternForce Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we’re doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Ep.1 - “Lads, it’s Spurs…” with Charlie Morgan

    Ep.1 - “Lads, it’s Spurs…” with Charlie Morgan
    Feb 3 2026
    Charlie Morgan joins Brett McKay to get 8/9 Rugby underway for 2026, and what better way to begin another year of Great Rugby Chats than to preview the upcoming Six Nations championship. And after injuries seem to been the story of the build-up, days out from the first match we start wondering about the rise of England, whether France are still in last year’s holding pattern of FRA, and just what is actually happening with Ireland? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we’re doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • 8/9 Rugby is back in 2026!

    8/9 Rugby is back in 2026!
    Feb 1 2026
    Brett McKay outlines the evolution of 8/9 Rugby, and what’s in store for 2026. TLDR: the Great Rugby Chats resume this week! The long list of guests will rotate through the co-host chair every week across two programs: the same 8/9 Rugby you know and love with guests from all around the rugby world, and the brand new AUS Rugby scene, focussing primarily on Australian rugby and Super Rugby Pacific And do check out 8/9 Rugby on Substack! Great rugby writers and opinions you know well, and the exclusive new home of ‘The Wrap’, Geoff Parkes’ well read and highly regarded weekly column. It’s all happening for 8/9 Rugby in 2026, and we hope you’re part of the discussion on video, on the pods, and now in written form, too. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #89RugbyonSubstack #internationalrugby #SixNations #SuperRugbyPacific #ChampionsCup #Premiership #UnitedRugbyChampionship #URC #Top14 #LeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #MLR RECAP: revisit Harry’s 8/9 Combo December 2025 announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9LG1xmZlB4 Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, and we’re trying to do more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • Ep.90 – The Finale: This has been a blast

    Ep.90 – The Finale: This has been a blast
    Dec 10 2025
    Brett McKay and Harry Jones come together for one last time on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast, to wrap up more than 300 episodes as a duo over four wonderful years. From their humbles beginnings on The Roar, Brett and Harry formed the 8/9 Combo and went large, catering for rugby fans all over the rugby world, with great discussion and banter with each other and almost a hundred wonderful guests, slick analysis and reaction, the occasional dodgy connection, and plenty of laughs every week. If you’ve watched and listened from the start, or you’ve only found the 8/9 Combo recently, the message is the same: Thank you. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins