Outmuscled, outpriced and a Lions wake-up call

The British and Irish Lions rolled through Canberra — and while the rugby hit hard, the atmosphere didn’t. This week on Rugby Unity, David Pembroke and Eddie Jones break down what’s working, what’s missing, and what must change.From the Brumbies' brave but outgunned performance to Gibson-Park’s box-kicking masterclass, we analyse the tactics, the test selections, and the talent gaps between north and south. Is Finn Russell the most dangerous player in the series? Has Tom Hooper’s move to Exeter left a hole Australia can’t fill?But it’s off the field where the questions hit hardest.Why are ticket prices pricing fans out?Why does the stadium still feel quiet?And why did Rugby Australia ditch an Australia A match for a Lions “Barbarians” game featuring Kiwi players?Eddie calls it a “massive mistake” — and he’s just getting started.We also unpack rugby’s fading off-field theatre. Where’s the drama? The noise? The tension? With 10,000 minutes between matches, David argues we’re wasting the best chance to win hearts and headlines.The big question: The Lions look sharp. The Wallabies are prepped. But who’s winning the battle for hearts, minds and momentum?Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, tour guides, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | SubstackOne sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.📧 Get in touch: [email protected] TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lions were rattled. The Wallabies got lucky. And the Brumbies are next.After an eventful week of rugby around the world. The Waratahs showed just what it takes to upset the Lions while Rugby Australia put on a masterclass of fan-first engagement in Newcastle. Today Rugby Unity is back with a bumper Lions Tour special.David Pembroke is joined once again by former Wallaby and Brumbies stalwart Ben Alexander, and RugbyPass journalist Finn Morton, to discuss everything that matters about the Lions tour to Australia.This episode includes:Ben unpacks how the Waratahs rattled the Lions — and why Charlie Gamble’s four turnovers matter.Finn shares what it felt like inside a packed Allianz Stadium— has the “low-energy” tour turned a corner?David fires up over TMO chaos: is the obsession with perfection killing rugby’s momentum?They dig into Tupou’s scrum dramas, Noah Lolesio’s injury, and a potential James O’Connor comeback. Plus: Aussie fan culture, jersey pride, and the power of post-game singalongs.Then it’s onto Canberra, where the Brumbies aim to repeat their 2013 magic and knock over the Lions.Don’t miss THE FANZONE. Midday at The Dock — legends like David Nucifora, Laurie Fisher and Stephen Larkham, singalongs, raffles, and a legendary jersey auction. All proceeds support grassroots rugby. Get your tickets here.One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.📧 Get in touch: [email protected] | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan stuns Wales. The Lions underwhelm. The TMO ruins everything.In this episode, David Pembroke and Eddie Jones wrap a huge weekend of rugby from Kitakyushu in Japan to La Plata in Buenos Aires. Eddie unpacks Japan’s first Tier 1 win since 2019 and the leadership masterclass from 37-year-old Michael Leitch.The pair call out the Lions’ lack of cohesion against the Waratahs, highlight standout Wallabies like Harry Wilson and Taniela Tupou, and take aim at the TMO system that is frustrating fans all over the world.But it’s not all bad.The Fijians brought flair, the Wallabies delivered off the field, and Aussie kids swarmed the pitch post-match. Proof that a fan-first mindset still works.🎟️ LIVE IN CANBERRA THIS WEEK: Tickets here.Join us at THE FANZONE at the Dock– Brumbies vs Lions, rugby legends, live music, pie-eating comps, and a big singalong. Let’s bring the noise back to Aussie rugby.One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.📧 Get in touch: [email protected] TikTok | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this breaking news episode of Rugby Unity, Eddie Jones shares his views on what Owen Farrell’s inclusion in the British and Irish Lions team means for the series. Owen Farrell was captain when Eddie coached England in it's most successful era.One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.📧 Get in touch: [email protected] TikTok | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lions are in town — but where’s the bite?In this episode of Rugby Unity, David Pembroke and Eddie Jones call it how they see it: flat crowds, no fire, and not enough on-field edge.Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones breaks down the Reds’ lacklustre performance, while David doesn’t hold back — from questioning player standards to asking why no one in the media is telling the truth.They get into:Whether Finn Russell is test-ready or just coasting.Why Aussie teams are smiling after 40-point losses.The Lions’ lack of pace — and what the Wallabies need to exploit it.Joe Schmidt’s quiet masterplan and the players who must fire.Plus, they unpack how Andy Farrell is building something deeper than tactics — and why team-first culture could be the Lions’ real X factor.🎟️ Canberra, get ready for Rugby Unity's first-ever event at THE FANZONE: Lions vs ACT Brumbies. Food, laughs, legends, and the return of rugby singing. Tickets here.One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.📧 Get in touch: [email protected] TikTok | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Wallaby Ben Alexander joins journalist Finn Morton — who’s travelling with the Lions — for a wide-ranging chat with David Pembroke.They break down the Lions’ win over the Reds, preview the Brumbies’ big opportunity, and spotlight the players stepping up on tour. Ben reflects on how the role of the prop has evolved, while Finn offers a rare glimpse behind the Lions' media curtain and shares what life on tour is really like.It’s a mix of tour insight, selection chat, and front-row perspective — plus a sharp look at where Aussie rugby is falling short. They discuss player access, fan connection, media coverage and development pathways.Plus, Canberra gets ready for Rugby Unity’s first-ever live event during the Lions tour. Don’t miss the details:THE FANZONE: Lions vs ACT BrumbiesSpecial Event for CanberransGet in touch and be a part of the conversation: [email protected] | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lions are on the prowl. Fresh off their win against the Force, Eddie Jones and David Pembroke break down what the performance really told us—and why depth, cohesion, and power matter more than ever.From Finn Russell’s playmaking and Daly’s resurgence to why the Northern Hemisphere now leads in tactics, set piece, and strategy—this episode dives into the shifting global balance of power in rugby.We also look at:What Argentina is getting right (and others aren't)Why Japan’s young guns deserve more credit than they getThe brutal truth about Southern Hemisphere depthPlus, Canberra gets ready for Rugby Unity’s first-ever live event during the Lions tour. Don’t miss the details:THE FANZONE: Lions vs ACT BrumbiesSpecial Event for CanberransOne sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.Get in touch: [email protected] | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Rugby Unity, Eddie takes a breather—and for the first time, we welcome a very special guest to the show.Wallaroo and podcaster Emily Chancellor joins David Pembroke for a detailed look at the women’s game and what it’s going to take to grow women’s rugby into the future.With just 59 days to go to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in the UK, Emily gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how the Wallaroos are preparing. She talks visibility, investment, and why the women’s game is reaching new audiences the men’s game isn’t.They talk late starts, ACL comebacks, TikTok stars like Ilona Maher, and the kind of momentum you can’t ignore.If you care about rugby’s future, this is the podcast for you.One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.Get in touch and be a part of the conversation: [email protected] TikTok | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Rugby Unity, the R360 saga rolls on – and Eddie Jones and David Pembroke are back in the trenches to make sense of it all.With whispers turning into headlines and LinkedIn posts revealing mystery investors, the questions keep piling up: Who’s driving this? What’s the plan? And why is no one fronting the media?Eddie thinks it might just be the shake-up rugby needs. David isn’t buying it—and he’s worried the circus could blow up the Lions Tour before a ball is kicked.They cover:Why fans and clubs are right to be nervousThe media silence that’s fuelling speculationWhether player burnout is being used as cover for something elseAnd if R360’s secrecy is a sign of innovation—or chaosOne sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.Get in touch and be a part of the conversation: [email protected] | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest shake-up in rugby history—or just a fantasy?In this week’s episode of Rugby Unity, Eddie Jones and David Pembroke go head-to-head over the much-hyped R360 competition. Is it the catalyst rugby needs to force change, or a reckless distraction that threatens everything fans love about the game?David pulls no punches as he calls out what he sees as a media-fuelled fantasy built on fluff and fairy dust. Eddie sees it differently, drawing parallels with World Series Cricket and the IPL. The debate goes deep into what R360 could mean for the global game—from the money and logistics to tradition, values, and the future of international competitions.It’s a fiery episode that pits optimism against scepticism—and asks whether rugby’s future lies in tradition or transformation.One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity.Get in touch and be a part of the conversation: [email protected] TikTok | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.