The Huddle: Recent Episodes
Elroy, Archie, Kingi and Otis
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 while so we’re really happy he’s here.
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 halfback for Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup at the moment.
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.
Scott is currently the Goal Keeper for the Christchurch United Mens Premier League football team. United are currently sitting on top of the Southern League table. Scott and his defence have only conceded 6 goals all season which is a pretty remarkable achievement.
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.
Joe is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a loosehead prop for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific and Canterbury in the Bunnings NPC. He made his debut for the New Zealand All Blacks in 2014 and has since won 56 international caps. He is currently overcoming an injury.
Joe is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a loosehead prop for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific and Canterbury in the Bunnings NPC. He made his debut for New Zealand in 2014 and has since won 56 international caps. He is currently overcoming an injury.
Aaron leads the academy programme for The Canterbury Crusaders, the Academy aims to develop 50 young men a year to become one of the greatest. In 2022 Aaron ran 102 km to raise funds for The Child Cancer Foundation.
Marcelle is the captain of the Canterbury Rugby team competing in the Farah Palmer Cup. She played for Matatū in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Marcelle made her debut for the Black Ferns against France in 2018. She is an accomplished softball, netball and sevens player. Is there anything she can’t do?
Today we are lucky enough to have Sevu Reece the legend.
Sevu was born in Fiji but moved to New Zealand in 2014. He is an outstanding winger for the Tasman Mako, Crusaders and All Blacks.
James Marshall is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played in the First five-eighth, Fullback and occasionally Second five-eighth positions for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Tasman in the Bunnings NPC. He also captained the Taranaki Bulls in the ITM Cup. James also spent time playing overseas in the UK and Japan. He announced his retirement on his "What a Lad" podcast in January 2021 due to an ongoing injury to his hip. He is currently the assistant coach for the Crusaders.
Dom is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific. His playing position is flanker. He was named in the Crusaders squad for the 2023 season. He had a very successful season for Canterbury in the Bunnings NPC.
Today we were lucky enough to have Lilly Zwart.
Lilly has just been named to go to Chile in July with the Volley Ferns, New Zealand’s senior Women’s volleyball team.
In 2022 Lilly was named in the Junior New Zealand Volleyball team.
She is 18 and is from Nelson.
Lilly is also due to head to Nebraska on a full scholarship for study and Volleyball.
Oli is a 27 year old prop who originally hails from the Emerald Isle. He came to New Zealand to pursue his passion for rugby and initially got picked to play for Canterbury in the Bunnings National Provincial Championship and was later picked for the mighty Crusaders. In this episode we learn that Oli is an all round good bloke with a special love for Aotearoa and C & C (Chicken & Cornbread).
Today we were lucky enough to have Kelsey Berryman join us on the Huddle, Kelsey is a four time New Zealand national champion in Athletics. She was born in Christchurch and has lived there her whole life. She studied at the University of Canterbury whilst balancing international level sport. She is hugely passionate about athletics and has a strong background in touch rugby. She is now both competing in athletics and has a successful career in teaching.
Today we are lucky enough to be interviewing Grace Brooker, Grace is a New Zealand rugby union player. She made her test debut for New Zealand in 2019. She currently plays for Matatū in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Canterbury provincially.
Kendra Cocksedge really needs no introduction due to her being a deadset legend. She is a 34 year old retired professional rugby player with a truckload of awards. She has won the womens rugby world cup three times, played in the Farah Palmer Cup for Canterbury who are 5 time champions, won a World Sevens Championship, and has a New Zealand Order of Merit. And we haven’t even mentioned her cricketing skills and long list of other impressive achievements. She is a great half back who can goal kick too. It is our pleasure to have Kendra on The Huddle.
Hamish is a 26 year old Track & Field Superstar. He won the high jump gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and was the bronze medal winner at the 2022 World Indoor Champs in Belgrade, Serbia. Hamish's other achievements include being the record holder for both the Oceanian Indoor record and the New Zealand Outdoor high jump record. He's pretty tall, but is he as tall as Jay Geldard?
Georgia is an important part of our World Champion Black Ferns side doing the hard mahi as the starting hooker. She has also played in the Farah Palmer Cup for Canterbury winning 5 championships. It doesn't stop there though! Her most recent achievement is being part of the Matatū team that won Super Rugby Aupiki in 2023. It's a privilege to welcome Georgia to The Huddle (Check out our snazzy sweatshirts in the picture!!!).
Jack is part of the Crusaders development squad. He has also represented New Zealand Schools and the Under 20s. Jack is a strong scrummager and he is a hardworking, mobile prop. He is following in the athletic footsteps of his parents. Jack's father played for the Crusaders and his mother played provincial netball. Today's episode was recorded at Tūranga. A huge thanks goes to Sionainn and Liam for helping us develop our podcasting skills.
Karin Burger is a netball superstar. Originally from South Africa she is now smashing it for the Mainland Tactix and the Silver Ferns. She is known for delivering a defensive master class whenever she plays. She is also in the 'nicest human beings club' with Jay Geldard.
Christian is a 24 year old dynamic loose forward, who can play both 6 and 8. He is an Otago Bunnings NPC player who is currently playing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific. Christian talks about growing up in Auckland, playing for the mighty Crusaders and the importance of good dental hygiene.
Max is part of the Canterbury Rams basketball team. He has played in the ANBL for the Illawarra Hawks, became a professional at the age of 17 and has played in Europe.
Tamaiti is an up and coming tighthead prop who plays rugby for Canterbury and the Crusaders. He has also represented Aotearoa by being part of the New Zealand XV and the Māori All Blacks.
Jay is the founder of E Tū Tāngata and a netball superstar. He may also be the nicest person alive.
Manasa is a superstar winger who has won super rugby championships with the Crusaders. He talks to the boys about growing up and playing for the Fijian national team.
Elroy, Archie and Otis talk to Martha Mataele about her life as a professional rugby player. She talks about how she went from netball to being in the wider Black Ferns squad in 2022.