Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has one of the most remarkable stories in Australian rugby. He didn't even start playing rugby union until Year 12, yet just a few years later he was making his Super Rugby debut before earning his first Wallabies cap against the Springboks.

In this episode of What a Lad, Lukhan opens up about the journey that shaped him. From missing representative teams as a teenager and using rejection as motivation, to becoming one of Australia's most respected forwards, playing for the Reds, Northampton Saints, the Rebels, the Barbarians and the Wallabies.

He also shares his thoughts on missing this year's Wallabies squad despite making the Super Rugby Team of the Year, why he's at peace with the decision, and how becoming a father has completely changed his perspective on rugby and life.

Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…

- Starting rugby union in Year 12 after growing up playing rugby league

- Missing representative teams and the conversation with his dad that changed his mindset forever

- Earning his first Wallabies cap only a year after his Super Rugby debut

- The influence Brad Thorn had on his career and development

- His experiences playing for Northampton Saints, the Rebels, the Barbarians and against the British & Irish Lions

- Why family now comes before rugby and what he hopes his kids remember about him

Lukhan is one of the genuine good guys in rugby. Honest, humble and incredibly resilient, this conversation gives a great insight into the mindset behind one of Australia's best forwards.

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Ben Volavola has one of the most unique careers in world rugby. Across a 13-year professional journey, he's played for the Waratahs, Crusaders, North Harbour, Canterbury, Rebels, Racing 92, Bordeaux, Perpignan, Agen, Leicester Tigers, Queensland Reds and now returns home to join the Fijian Drua.

A two-time Rugby World Cup representative and one of Fiji's most experienced first fives, Ben has experienced the highs of winning Super Rugby and the lows of missing a Rugby World Cup squad. Throughout it all, he's built a reputation as one of rugby's ultimate professionals and a respected teammate wherever he's played.

Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…

- Why rugby was the only plan he ever had growing up

- The decision to represent Fiji after coming through the Australian pathway

- What he learned from the Crusaders culture and why the best cultures win championships

- The heartbreak of missing Fiji's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and how he found motivation again

- Playing alongside stars like Israel Folau & Richie Mo'unga

- Why he's returning home to join the Fijian Drua and help build the future of Fijian rugby

- The lessons he's taken from playing professionally across Australia, New Zealand, France and England

Ben has experienced almost every corner of professional rugby, but what stood out most was his humility, gratitude and perspective. This is a fascinating conversation about resilience, culture, leadership and what it really takes to build a long career in professional sport.

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The 2026 Super Rugby season is officially done and what a finish it was. The Hurricanes capped off a remarkable campaign with a dominant 60-5 victory in the final, producing one of the most complete performances we've seen in Super Rugby history.

In this episode, we break down the final, review some of our preseason predictions, discuss the standout performers from the year and look at what made the Hurricanes such a dominant force throughout the competition.

We also dive into Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad, discussing the bolters, unlucky omissions, selection surprises and what the squad tells us about how the All Blacks will look to play moving forward.

Some of the topics discussed include...

- We breakdown what we thought were the keys to the Hurricanes success

- The players who stood out throughout the season

- Who had the best predictions from the preseason epiosde

- The biggest talking points from Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad

- Which players were unlucky to miss selection

- Who could become the All Blacks' best player in 2026

- Predictions for the upcoming test season and South African tour

And heaps more

With the Super Rugby season wrapped up and a massive international season ahead, this was a great chance to reflect on the year that was and look ahead to what's shaping up as one of the biggest years for the All Blacks in recent memory.

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