February 19, 2025 • 6 mins
The All Blacks will be looking to avenge a historic defeat as part of this upcoming test season.
The Kiwi side will face off against Ireland in Chicago - nine years on from Ireland's first win between the countries.
NZ Rugby Chief Executive Mark Robinson says there's room to grow the sport in the US ahead of future World Cups.
"There's a lot of opportunities around the United States in general at the moment, we've talked a lot in recent times about the fact that the Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033 provide a real opportunity to build a long-term plan in the US."
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Frain Bridge.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
The All Blacks are looking to avenge one of their
historic defeats. The team will be playing a Test against
Ireland at Soldier Field in Chicago in November.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
You may recall at the last time.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
The All Blacks played Ireland at Soldier Field in twenty sixteen,
things didn't go too well for US. Ireland has beaten
the All Blacks the culmination of a historic week at Chicago,
Ireland forty New Zealand twenty nine. That was, of course
the first time that Ireland ever won a Test match
against New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
But they've gone on to.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Beat US four more times since then, not that we
need reminding. Mark Robinson is in New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive, Hi, Mark,
how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Good? Thanks many? How are you yeah good?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Thank you? Why Chicago?
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Look well, there's a lot of opportunities around the United
States and general at the moment. Was talked a lot
in recent times about the fact that the Rugby World
Cups in twenty thirty one and twenty thirty three provide
a real opportunity to build a long term plan in
the US and I think in this case the opposition
(01:06):
an Ireland provides a very opportunity to draw on some history,
the recent rivalry, and also providable a testing going into
into the United States, into a different environment than we
did last year with San Diego, which is obviously on
the other coast. So look, we're really excited. We're going
to build a huge week around the match. You know,
(01:26):
lots of different sectors and industries and fans from different
parts of the world gauging already, So we're looking forward
to it.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You need to get Trump involved like they did at
Daytona that was a master stroke.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Yeah, I mean we're obviously influencers are becoming a big
part of sport, you know, in different leagues and teams
and athletes around the world. So I don't know whatever
to think about that, but certainly last year we had
Jason Lamara on board with different ideas coming into this game.
So yeah, what's up.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
While we've got you? Are you do you reckon? You
can get any money out of any of us.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Hey, we're going all add at the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Know where are you still You're still talking to each other?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, yeah, we're going to some stage you know, look
to begin sticks to work through it and all the
rest of it. So it's obviously a shame to get
to the stage. But look, we'll be very constructive and
respectful in the process.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Would you try and settle ideally settled out of court?
I mean, you don't want to have to go to
court there.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Well, look, well we'll just see how the ongoing interaction
he received, you know, is he open? Oh? I think
both organizations, like I say, are are in contact and
we'll just carry on working for it.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Have you found a new sponsor yet? A.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Look, these things don't happen overnight. But we're really fortunate,
you know, obviously in regular contact constantly with existing partners
and prospects, and so certainly you know, the feedback we've
had from all our existing partners around the will and
domestically is hugely supportive around the value and the the
(03:05):
sort of behaviors we bring to these these partnerships.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So one of them might step up potentially.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Oh well, you know, we just to keep talking to
people certainly new, these new, these new prospects. As I say,
I'm taking off to London tomorrow night for anti meetings,
of which you know, a couple of those meetings are
going to be with potential partners and some existing ones
and and our team, you know, and all the work
they do in different territories. The fact we've played in
Japan and the Studs, the UK and Europe so much
(03:35):
in recent times means you know, there there's lots of
bologue with different parties in.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
The sky ideal. Are you guys going to take a
big hit on that? I mean, are you guys going
to have cash flow problems at all?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Look, we're really solid in terms of the financial position
we are, and you know there's always different speculation around
these things, Ryan, but if you look across the world
and rugby and also a majority of sporting organizations, we're
in a really you know, we're rapidly strong space and
we've got good partnerships. We've got a lot of revenue.
You know that that's locked them for a period.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And you know, I know you say that, but yeah,
I mean you haven't you haven't got it.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
You haven't got this guy I deal done yet, and
you haven't got a principal sponsor at this point.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Oh No, that's that's not totally true. We've got we've
got a range of principles and we've got a principal
and arrange global sponsors lockedown our You know, our sponsorship
revenue has grown by over fifty percent in the last
few years, so it's now significant part of the revenue
profile compete to the past. So those compensations.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Did that not include any of us, then it's part
of it as much has gone.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
If you let me finish. We've got other conversations going
on and like I said, they don't happen overnight, but
we're we're really positive about the value and the nature
our brand on the global stage. We'll keep working through that.
As it relates to the media rights, well, we'll continue
in the discussions we're having and I can't, for obvious reasons,
say too much about that. But when you look at
(05:09):
the quality of the calendar that we're bringing forward in
this next five year cycle, we've got two lines series.
With the invention of the Nation's Cup, which is going
to be a massive international competition, we got a global
club competition. Anyone that saw Super Rugby on the weekend
would have seen that. Absolute incredible footing in the engagement,
both in terms of broadcast and social media and just
(05:33):
general sentinel was incredible. So that we're in a good space.
We've had two consecutive years of community numbers growing. We've
got a whole lot of initiatives going into that area
starting as as we kick off the season now. So look,
there's lots of positives in forty Ryan and we're looking
forward to growing it throughout twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
All Right, Mark, sounds good. Thank you very much for
coming on the program.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Always appreciated, Mark Robinson, the Indian Rugby Chief Executive. For
more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to News
Talks it B from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Frain Bridge.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
The All Blacks are looking to avenge one of their
historic defeats. The team will be playing a Test against
Ireland at Soldier Field in Chicago in November.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
You may recall at the last time.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
The All Blacks played Ireland at Soldier Field in twenty sixteen,
things didn't go too well for US. Ireland has beaten
the All Blacks the culmination of a historic week at Chicago,
Ireland forty New Zealand twenty nine. That was, of course
the first time that Ireland ever won a Test match
against New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
But they've gone on to.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Beat US four more times since then, not that we
need reminding. Mark Robinson is in New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive, Hi, Mark,
how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Good? Thanks many? How are you yeah good?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Thank you? Why Chicago?
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Look well, there's a lot of opportunities around the United
States and general at the moment. Was talked a lot
in recent times about the fact that the Rugby World
Cups in twenty thirty one and twenty thirty three provide
a real opportunity to build a long term plan in
the US and I think in this case the opposition
(01:06):
an Ireland provides a very opportunity to draw on some history,
the recent rivalry, and also providable a testing going into
into the United States, into a different environment than we
did last year with San Diego, which is obviously on
the other coast. So look, we're really excited. We're going
to build a huge week around the match. You know,
(01:26):
lots of different sectors and industries and fans from different
parts of the world gauging already, So we're looking forward
to it.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You need to get Trump involved like they did at
Daytona that was a master stroke.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Yeah, I mean we're obviously influencers are becoming a big
part of sport, you know, in different leagues and teams
and athletes around the world. So I don't know whatever
to think about that, but certainly last year we had
Jason Lamara on board with different ideas coming into this game.
So yeah, what's up.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
While we've got you? Are you do you reckon? You
can get any money out of any of us.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Hey, we're going all add at the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Know where are you still You're still talking to each other?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, yeah, we're going to some stage you know, look
to begin sticks to work through it and all the
rest of it. So it's obviously a shame to get
to the stage. But look, we'll be very constructive and
respectful in the process.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Would you try and settle ideally settled out of court?
I mean, you don't want to have to go to
court there.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Well, look, well we'll just see how the ongoing interaction
he received, you know, is he open? Oh? I think
both organizations, like I say, are are in contact and
we'll just carry on working for it.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Have you found a new sponsor yet? A.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Look, these things don't happen overnight. But we're really fortunate,
you know, obviously in regular contact constantly with existing partners
and prospects, and so certainly you know, the feedback we've
had from all our existing partners around the will and
domestically is hugely supportive around the value and the the
(03:05):
sort of behaviors we bring to these these partnerships.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So one of them might step up potentially.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Oh well, you know, we just to keep talking to
people certainly new, these new, these new prospects. As I say,
I'm taking off to London tomorrow night for anti meetings,
of which you know, a couple of those meetings are
going to be with potential partners and some existing ones
and and our team, you know, and all the work
they do in different territories. The fact we've played in
Japan and the Studs, the UK and Europe so much
(03:35):
in recent times means you know, there there's lots of
bologue with different parties in.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
The sky ideal. Are you guys going to take a
big hit on that? I mean, are you guys going
to have cash flow problems at all?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Look, we're really solid in terms of the financial position
we are, and you know there's always different speculation around
these things, Ryan, but if you look across the world
and rugby and also a majority of sporting organizations, we're
in a really you know, we're rapidly strong space and
we've got good partnerships. We've got a lot of revenue.
You know that that's locked them for a period.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And you know, I know you say that, but yeah,
I mean you haven't you haven't got it.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
You haven't got this guy I deal done yet, and
you haven't got a principal sponsor at this point.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Oh No, that's that's not totally true. We've got we've
got a range of principles and we've got a principal
and arrange global sponsors lockedown our You know, our sponsorship
revenue has grown by over fifty percent in the last
few years, so it's now significant part of the revenue
profile compete to the past. So those compensations.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Did that not include any of us, then it's part
of it as much has gone.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
If you let me finish. We've got other conversations going
on and like I said, they don't happen overnight, but
we're we're really positive about the value and the nature
our brand on the global stage. We'll keep working through that.
As it relates to the media rights, well, we'll continue
in the discussions we're having and I can't, for obvious reasons,
say too much about that. But when you look at
(05:09):
the quality of the calendar that we're bringing forward in
this next five year cycle, we've got two lines series.
With the invention of the Nation's Cup, which is going
to be a massive international competition, we got a global
club competition. Anyone that saw Super Rugby on the weekend
would have seen that. Absolute incredible footing in the engagement,
both in terms of broadcast and social media and just
(05:33):
general sentinel was incredible. So that we're in a good space.
We've had two consecutive years of community numbers growing. We've
got a whole lot of initiatives going into that area
starting as as we kick off the season now. So look,
there's lots of positives in forty Ryan and we're looking
forward to growing it throughout twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
All Right, Mark, sounds good. Thank you very much for
coming on the program.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Always appreciated, Mark Robinson, the Indian Rugby Chief Executive. For
more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to News
Talks it B from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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