The Huddle

We are lucky enough today to have Shingo Ina. Shingo does amazing work in the Futsal scene in New Zealand, he has a bucket load of achievements in his career, he has been the assistant coach for the Ford Futsal Ferns since 2019, he has been the Mainland Futsal Pride Assistant Coach since last year, and he is working at rangi ruru High school in their coaching staff. This is just the start of the t...

Today we were lucky enough to be able to talk to Manumaua Letiu  Manumaua is 19 years old playing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific. He also played in the u20 rugby world cup where they placed 3rd. He made his debut for the Crusaders in round 1 against the Hurricanes. 

Today were lucky enough to have Paul Holocher with us . Paul has had an amazing career. He has played in Austria and Major League Soccer in the US . He played 1 cap for the US national team.   Paul was the Academy Director for MLS club Houston Dynamo Paul is the current Head of academy and methodologies at Christchurch united.  

Today we are lucky enough to have Keeley O’Hagan . Keeley was born in Otaki. She is a high jumper who cleared 1.82m when she was just 15 years old. Keeley has a PB of 1.89m. She has done so much in her career so far including representing New Zealand on several different occasions. We are very excited to have her on the Podcast.

Heremaia is a 24 year old winger who has played for Northland, and this year made his debut for The Crusaders against the Fijian Drua. He played for The Blues, club rugby for Auckland Grammar and he came through the academy at Counties Manukau, being selected for a New Zealand U20s camp. We’ve loved watching him break through tackles and make some great runs. We’ve wanted to talk to him for a whil...

Today we are lucky enough  to have Jamie Hannah with us. Jamie is a 21 year old lock for The Crusaders. He made his debut for the Crusaders in 2023 when he played against the Brumbies. He played for the New Zealand Under 20’s team in 2021.

Today we have Amy Rule with us. Amy is a tight-head prop for Matatū and Canterbury. She has played professional rugby in Aussie for the Brumbies. She was also part of the women's Rugby World Cup winning team. 

Today we had Macca Springer with us. Macca is a rugby player for the Crusaders and the Tasman Mako. He also played in the u20 New Zealand World Cup Team. The positions that Macca plays are Wing and Fullback. It’s also his 21st birthday on Friday. 

We are so lucky to have Rivez Reihana joining us today. Rivez currently plays for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific and Northland in the Bunnings NPC. Rivez plays Fly-Half and Fullback. 

Laura Bayfield is a professional rugby player who plays lock for Canterbury in the FPC and Matatū in Super Rugby Aupiki. Laura has also played rep rugby for the Black Ferns 15. Her skills don't end there though, she is also a New Zealand Army Engineer (who also loves Moana).

Today we are very lucky to have the new head coach of the mighty Crusaders, Rob Penney with us. Rob is a former rugby union player who played as a loose forward for Canterbury. Rob has coached lots of teams including Canterbury, the Waratahs, The New Zealand under 20s and so many more. 

Sam is a lock for Canterbury in the Bunnings NPC and he also plays for the Blues in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. He was selected for New Zealand Schools as well as being a New Zealand Under-20 trialist. His Super Rugby debut was in 2021.

Today we are lucky enough to have Cole McConchie with us.  Cole is a professional cricket player who started his rep career with Canterbury at the Under 17 level back in 2008. He started his international career in 2021 against Bangladesh. Cole is a dynamic batting allrounder and has been described as a natural leader.

Today we are lucky enough to have Matt Todd with us. Matt is a former rugby union flanker who played more than 150 games for the Crusaders, 25 tests for the All Blacks and is currently an assistant coach for Canterbury.

Grace started out as a rower and now runs a podcast called Tall Poppy Talk where she interviews people in order to spread knowledge about tall poppy syndrome. Grace now lives in the USA. We wanted to talk to Grace because we are supporters of E Tū Tāngata and we like to understand how this message impacts the lives of the sportspeople we interview.

Born and bred in Christchurch, Billy is a New Zealand Rugby Union player who plays flanker for The Highlanders and is currently playing for Canterbury in the Bunnings NPC. He has played rep rugby from school age and has been part of the Māori All Blacks, the All Blacks XV and has toured with the All Blacks.

Blair is an outstanding winger for the Canterbury NPC team and was in the Crusaders Development Squad in 2023. He has also represented New Zealand Schools against Fiji, Australia and Tonga. Superstar in the making? We think so!

George is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays hooker for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific making his debut in 2022. George is also part of the Canterbury team in the Bunnings NPC. He has represented New Zealand at the Under 20 level and been part of the All Blacks XV.

Reed is a professional rugby player who plays Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and NPC for Canterbury. He started his professional career in 2015 and has been a regular part of the Māori All Blacks. Like many blindside flankers he is a tough defender and hard ball carrier.

Rosie is a rugby player who plays for Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup and Matatū in Super Rugby Aupiki. In 2023 Rosie became a contracted Black Fern and made her international debut against Australia. She plays fly-half and is an outstanding kicker. 

At the young age of 16 Lucy made her debut for Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup. Since then she has gone on to play for Matatū and was picked for the Black Ferns earlier this year 

Today we are lucky enough to have Eoghan Stokes. Eoghan is an Irish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Christchurch United in New Zealand. He has previously played for Leeds United, Bohemians, Derry City, Cork City, Airdrieonians, Dumbarton and is also a former Republic of Ireland U19 international.

Di Hiini is one of the best halfbacks in the country and already had an amazing career before joining Matatū in 2022. She has learned from one of the greats of the game (Kendra Cocksedge), has worn the 9 jersey for every game this season and was a key player for the eventual champions Matatū. After Aupiki, Hiini represented the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby W competition. She is playing at ha...

Atlanta is a try scoring, up and coming hooker for Matatū, Canterbury and the Western Force is Australia’s Super W. She is currently playing for Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup with her sister, Martha, who was our OG podcast guest.

Daniel is an outstanding prop for the Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific and in the Bunnings NPC he plays for his home province of Canterbury.