Author: Nick Wasiliev

This is a continuing series based on a letter correspondence I had with 72-veteran Wallaby, and highest capped Brumbies player in history, Ben Alexander. In our final section of this series, we discuss a topic high on the agenda of many rugby fans, around marketing and getting people to watch the game. NW: Marketing has always been a major issue for rugby; competing with the likes of League, Soccer and AFL, not to mention many associated perceptions around the game, and who plays it. For me, there are two things we need to focus on: how the game is perceived and…

This is a continuing series based on a letter correspondence I had with 72-veteran Wallaby, and highest capped Brumbies player in history, Ben Alexander. In part three, we followed on from our discussion around rugby culture and began to ask questions around the running of the game, firstly to resolve COVID-19, and beyond. This was written just after Peter Wiggs had resigned from the RA Board. BA: I’m an absolute tragic for the Batman Trilogy, and there’s a scene in the Dark Knight between Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes that I think has some relevance to what’s going…

This is a continuing series based on a letter correspondence I had with 72-veteran Wallaby, and highest capped Brumbies player in history, Ben Alexander. In part two, we followed on from our discussion around one thing we could change about rugby, and began to discuss rugby culture in Australia. BA: I agree that “whole game alignment” is absolutely vital to the game’s future. Until everyone is rowing towards the same bright future, I fear we will never get there. A centralised system will not only help with the on-field alignment, but if done well, should reduce operating costs for all…

What fascinating times we live in. Right now, in the time of COVID-19 and social distancing, the merit and fabric of our game, it’s management and it’s support networks have been put to the test in ways we’ve never experienced before. The result has led the public unearthing of many ugly sides to our game that have bubbled under the surface for years. While we now seem to have some sort of guarantee for the future of the game with a new chairman in Hamish McLennan, Dave Rennie staying on, and a new Super Rugby competition set for a July…

Head to our Twitter page if you need to consult the GAGR hotline after this episode. Where the hell to begin? Rugby Reg, Matt and Hugh finally sit down to chat about the last month of Australian rugby and, no holes barred, try to pick through where our game goes from here, if anywhere. The Three Brutally Honest Questions: 1. What’s been the single craziest thing to happen in Australian rugby in the last month? 2. Is this how it ends? 3. How can we come back? Check out Reg’s article referenced in this podcast here. 

Yep, they’ve given us another crack. The Dropped Kick-Off is back for the first time in 2020, here to talk about all the left-field and fun topics in rugby. With the game on hiatus, we decided to kick off the year with an old-fashioned Q&A, throwing it out to the Twitter-Sphere and asking for questions, thoughts, hot-takes and opinions. For our first Q&A, Nick was joined by the wizards behind our daily news bulletins, Jack O’Rourke, Nathan Williamson and Dylan Langes to give their thoughts. *WARNING: Mild Coarse Language* Topics of discussion: – Jamie Hevia/ Sydney NRC- Some people have…

Our new retro series continues yet again on the Green and Gold Rugby Show. This week, Rugby Reg, Matt and Hugh sit down with to talk about the famous Hong Kong Clutch, when the Wallabies finally broke their losing record in 2010 against the All Blacks with a clutch win after the siren. The lads were lucky enough to sit down with Wallaby and Brumbies legend (and champion Finska player), Ben Alexander, and hear his thoughts on the game. Watch the full match here.

Our new retro series continues on the Green and Gold Rugby Show. This week, Rugby Reg, Matt and Hugh sit down with to talk about the 2000 Wallabies victory in Wellington against the All Blacks, complete with a famous kick from John Eales to win the match. The lads were lucky enough to sit down with the Wallaby prop of that game, Fletcher Dyson, and hear his thoughts on a famous moment in Bledisloe history. Watch the full match here.

Times are tough, but when the going get’s tough, the tough return with a new series of classic podcasts analysing the greatest rugby performances of the last twenty years. Stay safe and get comfortable, the Green and Gold Rugby Show is back with a vengeance, and to kick off this new series Rugby Reg, Matt and Hugh start with the 2000 Tri-Nations opener between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. Even better, they’re joined by Wallabies legend and outside-centre in that match, Dan Herbert. Get your ears warm, more podcasts are on the way. And here’s the full match on YouTube:

Yep, it’s taken a while but the Green and Gold Rugby Show is back in 2020, and this week Hugh and Rugby Reg do a deep dive on the Super Rugby teams, the TV rights, and the social media storm whipped up by the GAGR faithful that has made it all the way to SANZAAR’s front door.

While this period of time over Christmas is traditionally supposed to be the ‘off-season’, the turn of events over the last few weeks has made this period so interesting that we’ve been semi-considering getting the news boys back out or doing new podcasts.  Rugby is in a very weird place right now, with the beginning of the Rennie era upon us, a board clean out on the cards, a critical new TV deal being negotiated, and players being signed up for long-term contracts left, right and centre. With all of this change comes the latest ringing out of demands from…

The Dropped Kick-Off returns for our final episode of the year, and we’ve got a beauty to bring our rugby coverage to a close for 2019. This week, Nick was joined by Wallaby great Richard Tombs to discuss his rugby career, what rugby means to him, his transition out of the game, how the community got behind him after his spinal injury, and why rugby has a culture like no other sport. Even comes with a couple of cheeky comments about the 2016 Shute Shield Grand Final. In addition, you can check out the amazing work Tombsy is doing with his foundation, Guns Out for…

With the Springboks winning the World Cup and the 2019 season coming to a close, the Green and Gold Rugby Show returns for our final podcast of the year (pending a potential Wallaby coach announcement). Rugby Reg, Matt and Hugh sit down to review the season that was, and look ahead with optimism to what lies ahead in 2020. The Five Burning Questions: 1. What were our thoughts on the Grand Final? 2. What was our highlight of the 2019 season? 3. Who was our player of the year? 4. What was the downer of the 2019 season? 5. What are you excited for about…

The Wallabies may be out, but the World Cup coverage continues on. The Green and Gold Rugby Show is back, and this week Matt, Hugh and Pfitzy sit down to dissect the semi-final games and look ahead to the big dance between the Poms and the Saffas. Warning – occasional coarse language The Four Burning Questions 1. England vs South Africa – what are our predictions? 2. The All Blacks defeat – a blip or a sign of bigger problems? 3. What are the latest developments with the Wallabies? 4. What else has happened around the grounds?

The battle for the Toast Rack is upon us! The Dropped Kick-Off is back for another week, and it’s time to cover the grand final match of 2019 National Rugby Championship! In our final podcast covering the NRC, Nick W sits down with Brett McKay once again to talk semis, give our thoughts on the grand final clash between the Force and Vikings, and talk about what may lie ahead for the future of the competition. The NRC Podcast Agenda: 1. Our favourite moment from the semi-finals? 2. Force vs Vikings: where will the grand final be won and lost for both teams?…

The wild ride is over for the Wallabies, as they crashed out 40-16 against the old enemy in the World Cup. With the Cheika era over and our World Cup dream finished for another four years, this marks what is going to be a significant episode of the Green and Gold Rugby Show.  This week, Rugby Reg makes his return, and sits down with Matt and Hugh to discuss the fallout of the loss, and the start of what could be one of the most significant changes in Australian Rugby history. Warning – occasional coarse language The Five Burning Questions:…

The Dropped Kick-Off is back for it’s third podcast covering the 2019 NRC. With the regular season over and Semi-Finals ahead of us, Nick W and Brett sat down to discuss the burning topics leading into the business end of the season. The NRC Podcast Agenda: 1. Was that the closest regular season of NRC we’ve had? 2. The NSW NRC Teams – pass or fail for 2019? 3. Which team was the big improver of the regular season? 4. Our predictions: who will win the NRC Rising Star Award for 2019? 5. Predictions for the weekend.

It’s quarter-finals time! For our second podcast of the week, Hugh sits down with JB and Tim from The Eggchasers to dissect the upcoming World Cup quarter final match between the Wallabies and England, where the game will be won and lost, and who is set to stand out from both sides.

The Pool stages are over, and quarterfinals are upon us. The first of a few special podcasts this week, Matt and Hugh were joined by Waratah and Wallaby legend Richard Tombs to talk about the best games of the pool stages, where the Wallabies are currently placed, and what bodes ahead for the upcoming quarter final clash with England. The Five Burning Questions 1. The Japan Victory – was that the match of the World Cup? 2. How would you rate the Wallabies pool performances out of 10? 3. How confident are you about the Quarter Final? 4. What do we…

Warning to all the other teams out there: if you are looking to score against Brisbane City, just be aware that they have this level of defensive capability in them. In front of a capacity crowd at Easts Rugby Club in Brisbane, Brisbane City put on an outstanding defensive display to beat a fast-finishing Melbourne Rising side 24-21. The win sees City creep into the top four earn the right to play semi-finals rugby, to extend their season for at least another week. The Match Heading into this game, City were sitting precariously in sixth place, only one point off…