Rugby Unity

The Rugby World Cup is changing — and the stakes have never been higher. This week, David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie to unpack a huge weekend in world rugby: South Africa’s demolition of Wales, the Etzebeth eye-gouge incident, and the breaking news that R360 has been pushed back to 2028 . Eddie and Ewen give a candid, insider view on Wales’ deep structural problems, how So...

The November window delivered answers, questions and warnings. In this episode, David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones to dissect the Wallabies’ 2025 prospects, the rise of England, France’s stalled progress, and the tactical shifts redefining Test rugby. Eddie breaks down how Australia’s season unfolded, why depth remains the core issue, what Les Kiss will bring as head coach, and how selection,...

The Wallabies stand at a crossroads — and with a home Rugby World Cup approaching in 2027, the stakes have never been higher. In this episode, David Pembroke and former Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie take a clear-eyed look at where Australia really sits in the world game. From the selection volatility of 2024–25 to the strengths and weaknesses in each positional group, Ewen explains the structural...

The red/yellow card crisis and the terminal TMO delays intervened with another huge weekend of international rugby —this episode goes deep into the consequences. David Pembroke is joined by Ewen McKenzie and Eddie Jones to unpack Ireland v South Africa, the match that sparked global outrage and renewed calls for World Rugby to overhaul officiating and TMO protocols. Eddie details Japan’s gritty 25...

Red-card chaos, judicial backflips, and one of the biggest Autumn Nations weekends of the year — this episode has everything. David Pembroke, Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie open with the fallout from Franco Mostert’s and Harry Hockings’ overturned red cards, and what the mess reveals about World Rugby’s decision-making. Eddie explains the real-world disruption caused by mid-week hearings, the strai...

Game altering red and yellow cards continued to be flashed across the Rugby fields of Europe at the weekend with evidence piling up that these officiating decisions are playing a major role in determining results.  Across the weekend, yellow and red cards swung key matches, from Japan v Wales to Scotland v Argentina. David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie lay out why the current approach isn’t work...

England v New Zealand at Twickenham headlines a massive weekend of international rugby — and Eddie Jones believes this could be England’s breakthrough game . David Pembroke, Eddie Jones, and Ewen McKenzie unpack every major storyline, from selection surprises to tactical battles and referee influence. They break down why England may now be 12 months ahead of the All Blacks in their development, wh...

Eddie Jones says South Africa’s 32–17 win over France , achieved with 14 men in the second half was a masterclass in adaptability. Eddie breaks down the Springboks’ bench strength, tactical flexibility, and the controversial red card that changed everything. After a hard-fought 41–10 loss to Ireland, Japan’s improvement under Eddie Jones is clear — but the coach says there’s still plenty to fix be...

Europe’s rugby calendar explodes this weekend — and David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie are here to guide you through every major test match. From France’s emotional rematch with South Africa at Stade de France, to New Zealand’s century-long dominance over Scotland at Murrayfield, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Eddie Jones’ Japan face Ireland, the Wallabies return to Italy seeking redemption, and Arg...

England’s structure, South Africa’s power, and Japan’s painful lessons headline another massive week of international rugby. Host David Pembroke is joined by Ewen McKenzie and Eddie Jones to unpack the Wallabies’ 25–7 defeat at Twickenham, Japan’s heavy loss to the Springboks, and the chaotic All Blacks v Ireland clash in Chicago. From Eddie’s insights on South Africa’s evolution to McKenzie’s sha...

The Springboks are at full strength — and Eddie Jones’ Japan are the next to face them. This week, David Pembroke catches up with Eddie from London ahead of a colossal clash at Wembley, while Ewen McKenzie joins from Australia to preview England v Australia, Ireland v New Zealand, and the biggest weekend of international rugby this year. Eddie reflects on South Africa’s power, Japan’s preparation,...

November rugby is here — and it started with a statement in Tokyo. Japan pushed Australia all the way, proving they’re closing the gap and ready for regular clashes with Tier 1 teams. David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie break down what it means for both nations and where this rivalry goes next. With huge tests in London and Chicago — South Africa, England, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand all in ac...

Women’s rugby is entering a new era — and Japan is right in the middle of it. In this episode of Rugby Unity in Japan, David Pembroke speaks with Lesley McKenzie, Head Coach of Japan’s Women’s 15s team, about how far the program has come and what must happen next to unlock its full potential. From pathways and professionalisation to international partnerships and community investment, this is a ro...

From downtown Tokyo, David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie for a revealing look ahead to Japan v Australia — a test match full of pressure, pride, and opportunity. With Joe Schmidt naming a drastically changed Wallabies side, the trio unpack what this means for cohesion, confidence, and strategy. Eddie reflects on Japan’s strong week of preparation, how his young side is learni...

Japan is fast becoming one of rugby’s most exciting frontiers — but is it ready to stand among the world’s elite? In this episode, David Pembroke sits down with Glenn Delaney, Head Coach of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars, to discuss Japan’s rapid rise, its unique rugby culture, and what the nation brings to the global game. From the passion of local fans to the challenge of devel...

Australia A’s 71–7 win over Japan A was more than a scoreline — it was a snapshot of where Japanese rugby stands right now. In this episode, David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie dissect the match from Tokyo, joined by Eddie Jones, who explains what his players learned, how Japan must evolve, and why he’s focused on long-term growth over short-term wins. They also look ahead to this Saturday’s Japan v...

Welcome to Rugby Unity in Japan — a special international series exploring rugby’s global future. Host David Pembroke is joined by Will Genia, former Wallaby and now coach in Japan, to discuss how Japanese rugby has evolved into one of the sport’s most exciting frontiers. From the country’s grassroots tournaments to Eddie Jones’ revitalised national team, Genia shares rare insights into Japan’s un...

Rugby Unity hits the road this with David Pembroke heading to Land of the Rising Sun to understand how Japan can “help secure the future prosperity of Rugby Union around the world. Pemby joins Eddie Jones from a crammed space just outside the Men’s toilet at the Tokyo Club a week out from the anticipated Wallabies v Japan test — they are joined later by Ewen McKenzie to unpack selections, form, an...

Eddie Jones is once again in the spotlight — coaching against Australia for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup where just about everything went wrong for him. Host David Pembroke and co-host Ewen McKenzie discuss Eddie’s approach to coaching and how he will be planning to bring about an upset victory over the Wallabies. With international rugby taking a break ahead of the Autumn interna...

Rugby’s balance of power is changing fast. In this episode, David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones to break down the biggest stories shaking the sport — from Carter Gordon’s return to union to South Africa’s unstoppable rise and the looming impact of the rebel R360 League. Eddie reveals how he’s preparing Japan for clashes against the Wallabies and Springboks, why refereeing consistency is rugby’...

The Rugby Championship closes with two close contests — the Wallabies fell short against the All Blacks in a soggy Perth, while the Springboks ground past an energised Argentina at Twickenham to claim the title. David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie examine the defining moments from both matches, exploring where the Wallabies fell short, how New Zealand is evolving, and why South Africa’s power game st...

The compelling 2025 Rugby Championship reaches its conclusion this weekend. In this week’s episode of Rugby Unity, host David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie to unpack the headline battles, refereeing controversies, and what it all means for the future of the game. Eddie weighs in on Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s rise, presents a new idea for World Rugby to take control of the re...

England are deserved 2025 Women’s Rugby World Champions. The Red Roses claimed the title with a commanding 33–13 win over Canada in front of a world record 81,885 fans at Twickenham. But it was more than a victory —England set a new standard for the Women’s game. In this episode of Rugby Unity , host David Pembroke and co-host Bella McKenzie unpack the final, reflect on the stars of the tournament...

Another massive weekend of rugby. Host David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie to unpack the Wallabies’ fight at Eden Park, the Springboks’ demolition of Argentina, and England’s Red Roses securing the Women’s Rugby World Cup in front of 81,000 fans. From referee controversies to record-breaking performances, the trio explore the matches, the players, and the off-field governance...

The Rugby Championship is back — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this episode of Rugby Unity, David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie to unpack the Wallabies’ clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park. Both teams are unsettled, the weather’s turning ugly, and history looms large — will Australia finally break their 23-year drought at the home of New Zealand rugby? But that’s n...