Rugby’s Next Step — And How Fans Can Shape It

Rugby’s Next Step — And How Fans Can Shape It

From Aotearoa Rugby Pod by Fandom Media

April 21, 2026 · 34 min · Season 7

About this episode

The episode discusses the evolution of rugby and how fans can influence its future.

Rugby is evolving — on the field, in the stadium and how fans experience the game. In this Aotearoa Rugby Pod interview, Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley explains how the sport is taking its next step — from faster, more engaging play to a match day experience that goes beyond the 80 minutes. We get into: Evolution of the on-field product The shift towards a bigger in-stadium experience Why rugby needs to think differently about entertainment And how fans play a role in what comes next The latest on Moana Pasifika's future Rugby’s core is strong — but the next level is about how everything around it continues to grow. What would you add to take rugby to the next level? Email your ideas to ARP@Fandommedia.co.nz — we’ll take the best ones forward to the powers that be. Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Guest: Jack Mesley

Topics covered

  • rugby evolution
  • fan experience
  • Super Rugby
  • match day experience
  • entertainment in sports

Keywords

  • rugby
  • Super Rugby
  • fan engagement
  • match day
  • entertainment
  • Moana Pasifika

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Super Rugby, Moana Pasifika, Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Fandom Media

Places: Aotearoa

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