The Bonus Point Rugby Podcast kicks off 2026 with a massive guest — newly appointed Scotland Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka. Host TJ Olsen sits down with Sione to unpack his journey from Brisbane State High to international coaching stints with Australia, the USA, and now Scotland.

They dive deep into the evolution of the women’s game, lessons from the 2025 Rugby World Cup, and what it takes to build successful high‑performance programs across different rugby cultures. Plus, TJ and Sione weigh in on the Super Rugby season ahead and the shock removal of Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach — one of the biggest stories in world rugby.

A perfect blend of coaching insight, international perspective, and rugby chat to start the year strong.

Episode 69 of the podcast features an insightful conversation with rugby journalist Jamie Wall, renowned for his deep knowledge and years covering the All Blacks and global rugby. Jamie shares his journey into rugby journalism, highlighting his work covering the All Blacks since 2017 and dives into the All Blacks’ complex and often scrutinized 2025 season, analyzing coaching challenges, standout players, and pivotal tactical decisions.

We also unpack the debates around the World Rugby Player of the Year awards, examining fairness in selection and overlooked players.

Lastly with the 2027 Rugby World Cup pools announced just yesterday, Jamie provides expert analysis on New Zealand’s draw, the expanded 24-team format, and the strategic path the All Blacks must follow to win the tournament. This episode offers a compelling mix of career insights, current rugby analysis, and forward-looking World Cup preview that any rugby fan will appreciate.

We catch up with Rob "The Hammer" Hammerschmidt (The Rugby Rant) to discuss the EOY tour squads for:

• All Blacks
• Wallabies
• All Blacks XV

We have included a sneak peak into the Rugby Rant's Podcast where we spoke about R360...a new and bold competition full of innovation. Is this new competition promising or a pipe dream??