DSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network

Welcome to the debut of "Jeff the Ref." Seasoned referee Jeff McGregor joins Martin Devlin to break down the most contentious calls of the weekend. We tackle why the Tupou Vaa'i try was later "reversed" by NZR, the high tackle controversy, and why a dangerous high knee went unpunished. If you’ve ever screamed at the TMO, this is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

Mark Watson takes a victory lap after his "delusional" Scotland pick came true, while the Highlanders leave John Day eating humble pie. We’re tearing into the All Blacks coaching saga—is the Japan scouting trip just theater? Plus, we debate if Dalton Papali'i is a massive loss to New Zealand rugby and why State of Origin coming to Eden Park has Watto acting like the Grinch. Learn more about your a...

A true icon joins the studio. Sean Fitzpatrick, one of the greatest All Black captains of all time, sits down with Martin Devlin to talk about the current state of New Zealand rugby. From his thoughts on Super Rugby Round 1 to the looming coaching decision between Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie, Fitzy provides unparalleled insider insight. We dive into the "1996 blueprint" for winning in South Afric...

Is it taking too long? We’re standing at the window, staring down the drive, waiting for the next All Blacks coach to arrive. Martin Devlin breaks down the latest intel on Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie, why New Zealand Rugby’s rigid process feels like an eternity for fans, and why we can't afford a part-time boss turning up in late winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Huge news out of Eden Park today—State of Origin is officially coming to Auckland in 2027! Martin Devlin and Tony Johnson break down what this means for the stadium and the "relaxation" of laws that could finally turn Eden Park into a world-class venue. We also dive into the latest intel on the All Blacks coaching search and review a wild weekend of Six Nations action where Scotland turned England...

Super Rugby is back with a bang! Martin Devlin and Tony Johnson break down a wild opening round that saw the "worst" team beat the best. We dive into Cam Millar’s clutch penalty for the Highlanders, Moana Pasifika’s historic win in the graveyard of Lautoka, and why the Chiefs' win over the Blues proves they are the team to beat. Plus, we look at the breakout stars making an early claim for the All...

It’s official. State of Origin is coming to New Zealand. We catch up with Sir Graham Lowe, the only Kiwi to coach Queensland, after the massive announcement that Game Two will be played at Eden Park. Lowe calls it the biggest moment for rugby league here since the Warriors were born, and he’s not exaggerating. We talk expansion, tribalism, what makes Origin different to anything else in sport, and...

Mailbag time! We’re diving into the best (and worst) of your comments from the last few weeks. Martin and Lachlan tackle everything from the "Messiah" Scott Robertson to Simon Parker. Martin also weighs in on why the "Super Rugby is dead" crowd needs to find their remote controls, the state of the All Black player pool, and why we boomers actually get it right occasionally. Learn more about your a...

The wait is over—Super Rugby kicks off tomorrow night! Martin Devlin is joined by RNZ’s Jamie Wall for our first weekly Thursday preview. We tackle the "triple whammy" facing the Highlanders, why the Waratahs vs Reds is the rivalry to watch, and why the "early season" moaners need to pipe down. Plus, we look at the Six Nations odds where France and England look untouchable. Learn more about your a...

Super Rugby is back, and so are the refs. Martin Devlin sits down with old mate and professional referee Angus Mabey to pull back the curtain on life with the whistle. From training inside the Blues camp to dealing with "unhinged" social media abuse and the nuances of the deliberate knock-on rule, Angus explains why referees are the most misunderstood people in the game. Learn more about your ad c...

Super Rugby is back and we’re ready for the chaos. Martin, John Day, and Watto tackle the massive blow for the Highlanders with Fabian Holland out, why we’re still pining for the South African teams, and why every round is basically an All Black trial for the tour to South Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Super Rugby Pacific is back, and CEO Jack Mesley joins Martin Devlin to lay out the blueprint for the competition’s future. We tackle the hard questions: why South African teams are a thing of the past, the push for more afternoon and Sunday rugby, and the "World Club Cup" slated for 2028. Jack explains why re-engaging the "lapsed fan" is priority number one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

We’re joined by the one and only Eddie Jones for a deep dive into the state of the game. Eddie doesn’t hold back on the All Blacks' coaching merry-go-round, why sacking a seven-time Super Rugby winner like Razor makes no sense, and how the "commercialization" of the jersey is affecting performance. We also look at the rise of the Warriors and why rugby league is winning the "working class" battle....

We are back for the business end of the summer as Super Rugby Pacific finally kicks off. Martin and Tony Johnson break down a massive opening round, including why this is the perfect time for the Highlanders to strike a resting Crusaders side. Plus, we look at the Six Nations fallout: are England truly the second-best team in the world, and what on earth is going on with Welsh rugby? Learn more ab...

The first round of the Six Nations is in the books and it was a weekend of statements, heartbreaks, and one massive shock. Chris Jones joins us from England to break down how France bludgeoned Ireland, why England looks more professional than ever, and the absolute "car crash" currently happening in Welsh rugby. Plus, we look at Italy’s historic win and what it means for Gregor Townsend’s future....

Super Rugby is officially back, and we’re straight into it at the launch with players, journos, coffee, and plenty of opinions flying around. We chat to a stack of familiar faces about what’s changed, what’s working, and why less TMO might be one of the best things to happen to the competition. There’s talk around rule interpretations, fatigue, ball-in-play time, and why the fan-first mindset has...

We got along to the Super Rugby 2026 launch and ended up with a proper sit-down yarn with Jeff Wilson. And as you’d expect, it didn’t take long before the conversation went well beyond just fixtures and formats. Jeff talks honestly about where Super Rugby sits in the wider rugby ecosystem, why entertainment still matters, and how the competition can reconnect fans with the game. There’s plenty on...

The Six Nations is back, and we’re not easing into it. With a Thursday night (Friday morning New Zealand time) opener in Paris and pressure everywhere you look, this year’s championship already feels uncomfortably tight. We’re joined by former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, who gives a brutally honest read on where Ireland actually sit right now, why France are more dangerous than their autumn fo...

The Rugby Roundtable is back and there’s no easing into this one. We kick off with a genuinely jaw-dropping sporting moment as 16-year-old Sam Ruthe breaks Sir John Walker’s New Zealand mile record, a mark that’s stood since 1982. Just how rare is what he’s done, and why does it matter so much for New Zealand sport? From there, the conversation turns sharp. Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster being ap...

People are getting way too far ahead of themselves and we reckon it’s time to steady on. On the DSPN today, we dig into Super Rugby Pacific’s recommitment to limiting TMO interference and why trusting referees might actually be the best thing for the game. Martin delivers a full sermon on flow versus flawlessness, the price of perfection, and why rugby was never meant to be officiated frame by fra...

Super Rugby is nearly here and we’re back where rugby feels closest to the people. DSPN heads on tour to Sacred Heart College in Auckland for a stinking hot preseason clash between the Blues and the Hurricanes. We soak up the atmosphere on a school field, chat to fans, parents, and rugby tragics, and get a real sense of what this competition still means when the sun’s out and the season’s just aro...

Mailbag time on DSPN, and as always, the gloves are well and truly off. We dive into your comments, questions and hot takes from across YouTube and social, and there’s no shortage of strong opinions this week. From where Max has gone, to player interviews that challenge lazy narratives, to claims we’re “too negative” about the All Blacks, we respond to it all. We unpack the current coaching situat...

What does real belief actually look like when it’s earned, not gifted? Brad Thorn joins Martin Devlin for one of the most open and powerful conversations we’ve had on the DSPN. From anxiety and self-doubt to faith, discipline and mental resilience, Brad reflects on the moments that shaped him long before the trophies arrived. They talk through Brad’s new book Champions Do Extra, the lessons passed...

This season comes with expectations, and Glen Jackson isn’t shying away from them. The Fijian Drua head coach joins Martin Devlin ahead of Super Rugby Pacific to talk pressure, progress, and why making the playoffs is non negotiable. From paying their own way to New Zealand, to learning how to win away from Fiji, Glen gives an honest look at what the Drua are trying to fix this year. They also cov...

What happens when the game gets taken away from you for the first time? Today on the DSPN, Martin sits down with All Blacks and Chiefs forward Tupou Vaa’i as he opens up about his knee injury, a long road back to fitness, and what being sidelined taught him about rugby and life. From lonely mornings watching the boys on tour to finding clarity through family time, Tupou reflects on a season that c...