Listen Now

Former All Black #1060 Neemia Tialata was one of the most feared props in rugby. He was capped 43 times for the All Blacks, played 101 games for the Hurricanes and 65 games for Wellington. He also played rugby in France for Bayonne, Toulouse, Narbonne. Neemia now runs a wine business called Deux Chevaux with his business partner Camille. Available on all major platforms click on link below. linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast Intro by: www.instagram.com/msphantompen Music by: www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

In our opinion, Christian Cullen (The Paekakariki Express) is the greatest fullback to ever play the game. He played 60 tests for the All Blacks and at the time of his retirement he was the All Blacks all-time leading try scorer. Christian also won a commonwealth games gold medal with the NZ 7s team.  He also played for the Māori All Blacks and played 85 games for the Hurricanes scoring 56 tries. Available on all major platforms click on link below. linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast Intro by: www.instagram.com/msphantompen Music by: www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

Our special guest on the show this week is Black Ferns own Stacey Fluhler. She is from Rūātoki and plays for Waikato in the Farah Palmer Cup. She has won a Rugby World Cup, a Commonwealth Games gold medal and a Sevens Rugby World Cup and she is only 24 years old! She’s also just released a new book: Stacey Waaka: World Champion Rugby Player. Available on all major platforms click on link below.  https://linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast   Intro by: https://www.instagram.com/msphantompen  Music by: https://www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

We have one of the greatest rugby players of all time on our show this week Wayne 'Buck' Shelford. He won a Rugby World Cup in 1987 and during his captaincy from 1987 to 1990, the All Blacks did not lose a single game. He is also regarded as one of the toughest rugby players to ever play the game. Available on all major platforms click on link below. https://linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast  Intro by: https://www.instagram.com/msphantompen Music by: https://www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

Our special guest this week is Liam Messam.  He is a 2 time commonwealth games gold medalist with the All Blacks Sevens, 2 time Super Rugby champion with the Chiefs, NPC champion with Waikato and Rugby World Cup champion with the All Blacks.  He talks about life on and off the field. Tune in to hear his inspiring story. Available on all major platforms click on link below. https://linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast Intro by: https://www.instagram.com/msphantompen Music by: https://www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

Bailey Mackey is from Gisborne and is an award-winning producer, writer, and director.   He is the former President of the Ngāti Porou East Coast rugby team and a former player of the famous 1999 side that won the NPC division 3 championship.  He was recently elected on to the NZ Rugby Board.  Tune in to his amazing story. Available on all major platforms click on link below. https://linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast  Intro by: https://www.instagram.com/msphantompen Music by: https://www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

Tune in to hear the amazing story of Richie Kahui....from Tokoroa to the big time!    An NPC winner with Waikato, a Super Rugby double champion with the Chiefs and a world cup winner with the All Blacks. Available on all major platforms click on link below. https://linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast  Intro by: https://www.instagram.com/msphantompen Music by: https://www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

Paora Ratahi is the Content Producer for Sky TV NZ and has produced a number of shows and documentaries about high profile rugby players and teams over the years from the Hurricanes and Warriors to Nehe Milner-Skudder, the Barrett brothers, Savea brothers, Aaron Smith, Israel Dagg, Kieran Read, TJ Perenara, and Portia Woodman - the list goes on! Available on all major platforms click on link below. https://linktr.ee/pickupthepace_podcast Intro by: https://www.instagram.com/msphantompen Music by: https://www.instagram.com/tcinthemix Enjoy the podcast and please subscribe, THANK YOU.

Podcast WORLD EXCLUSIVE: The incredible journey of Japan rugby captain Michael Leitch.

Tune in to hear our full podcast with special guest Todd Clever, the most capped player in United States rugby union history. Todd has played at multiple World Cups and played in many countries including New Zealand where he played with the late great Jonah Lomu.

Honey Hireme-Smiler is a top multi-talented sports athlete and a current player of the Kiwi Ferns rugby league team. Honey has won two rugby league world cups, a rugby sevens world cup and a rugby league nines world cup. Honey is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby league and is widely considered as one of New Zealand’s greatest ever sportsperson.

Wayne Smith nicknamed "The Professor" played 35 games, 17 of those were test matches for the All Blacks. He was head coach and spent 16 years as assistant coach of the All Blacks. Considered to be a rugby tactical genius, he has four Super Rugby titles under his belt, two for the Crusaders and two for the Chiefs. Most notable achievements are the two back to back Rugby World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015.

Tyla Nathan-Wong current Blacks Ferns 7's player and one of New Zealand's top athletes. Tyla was the youngest to ever be selected for the Black Ferns 7’s team when she made her debut as an 18-year-old in 2012. Tune in to hear her incredible journey.

Jamie Joseph is a former player for Otago, the All Blacks, Māori All Blacks and Japan and a former coach of the Wellington Lions, Māori All Blacks, Highlanders, and Sunwolves. He is coach of the Japan Brave Blossoms and famously led them to the quarterfinals at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Tune in as we have an in depth discussion with Jamie about his family, his playing career and his stellar coaching career.

Lote Tuqiri from humble beginnings coming from Namatakula village in Fiji and growing up in Brisbane Australia. In this podcast Lote shares his career stories and the transition between rugby league and rugby union. He grew up in Australia but his culture and  bond with his native land Fiji holds strong. Tune in to hear the brother's amazing journey.

Lance Hohaia NZ Warrior and Kiwi League legend on the mic with pick up the pace podcast crew. Lance talks about his time growing up in Huntly, playing for the NRL and UK Super League. Lance now resides with his family in Michigan America where he coaches rugby at Davenport University who are in the premier D1A competition. 

Sir Steve Hansen joins us for a very open discussion about his upbringing, family, rugby and his remarkable coaching career. One of his only interviews he has had since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

We speak to former NZ Sevens captain and legend Karl Te Nana about his family, his illustrious rugby career, and life after rugby as a commentator.

The coronavirus pandemic has crippled the whole world. Tune in as All Black Super Fan and Anaru Ryall discuss the effects this has has had on rugby and the wider sporting world.

We chat to Wellington Pride player Alice Soper about her rugby journey here in NZ and over in the UK. She gives us a special insight on the state of women's rugby as NZ prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2021.