Brett McKay

How have the ACT Brumbies started the #SuperRugbyPacific season so well?

It's more than just their academy, @bmcsport.bsky.social suggests. Look at how much experience isn't but still is on the field when games are there to be won...

New 8/9 Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

It's Monday, so it's time for The Wrap on 8/9 Rugby!

This week, Geoff Parkes wades through the leaks, whispers, and non-arguments from last week's Shape of the Game conference, in which scrums were going to be killed off, but then weren't.

North v South debates!

open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

8/9 Rugby hit a big milestone this week, and way quicker than expected!

Now, we'd love your help to help us build a great rugby community on top of the solid foundation laid over the last month.

There's so much great rugby to talk about!

Find us on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

Some things are hard to keep a lid on, right? And do the starts of the Waratahs & Brumbies put pressure on the Qld Reds now?

@BMcSport.bsky.social was joined on the AUS Rugby Scene by TV's Michael Atkinson for a closer look at #SuperRugbyPacific

On 8/9 YouTube & all the pods

youtu.be/sVaC2KNBVmg

Golden start for Waratahs and Brumbies lifts Australian hopes Two rounds, two bonus-point wins for the Brumbies and Waratahs in Super Rugby suggests both Australian franchises can be competitive in 2026

New Australian column for @rugbypass.bsky.social is up today, and I'm sure there is going to be a time coming soon enough where it's not all about the Waratahs and Brumbies.

But it does also feel like we need to strike while the iron's hot..

#SuperRugbyPacific
www.rugbypass.com/plus/golden-...

New 8/9 Rugby! @ringo26.bsky.social joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to wrap up the first 3wks of the #SixNations

Tired legs are now world-beaters. World-beaters now have tired legs. And Italy wore high school bomber jackets! 😆

Out on #89Rugby YouTube + pods everywhere

youtu.be/J8XOmXhs8QA

New 8/9 Rugby! With @ringo26.bsky.social joining @bmcsport.bsky.social to wrap up the first 3wks of the #SixNations

Tired legs are now world-beaters. World-beaters now have tired legs. And Italy wore high school bomber jackets! 😆

Out on #89Rugby YouTube + pods everywhere

youtu.be/J8XOmXhs8QA

My long unawaited return to the airwaves!

Are they doing 5 shows + 2 matinees a week?

It's notable that the Waratahs are playing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at 13 this season, and not at fullback.

But are they getting the most out of him?

@bmcsport.bsky.social rewatched his game against the Drua, to see how involved he was...

#89Rugby on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

Framed perfectly for a mega thought bubble!

👍 Pre-game reading!

How did your tipping go last week?

A mixed return for the 8/9 Tipping Panel - but at least we beat the AI Bot!

See who @bmcsport.bsky.social Geoff Parkes, Sean Maloney + Martin Devlin have lined up for #SuperRugbyPacific Rd.2 - and tell us you've picked!

open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

New AUS Rugby Scene on #89Rugby!

Geoff Parkes joined @bmcsport.bsky.social for a look back at Rd1 of #SuperRugbyPacific and all the surprises that came with it: strong performances, disappointing performances + refereeing fun!

On 8/9 Rugby YouTube, Substack & pods everywhere

youtu.be/vI9X0xVaDzU

Waratahs and Brumbies start Super Rugby Pacific in perfect style While the Waratahs and Brumbies top the standings early on, there are causes for concern in Queensland and Perth.

When was the last time two Australian sides started #SuperRugbyPacific with such authority?

Lots to like from the Waratahs & Brumbies, a little bit to do for the Reds & Force...

Some thoughts on it all, for @rugbypass.bsky.social

www.rugbypass.com/news/waratah...

Pat McCarry joins Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to take a look at the fallout from last weekend’s Six Nations results and another Calcutta Cup victory for Scotland, as well as a sneak peek to… Six Nations: Scotland’s work here is done | 8/9 Rugby with Pat McCarry

NEW 8/9 Ep!

Pat McCarry joins @bmcsport.bsky.social for a look back on #SixNations Rd.2 and all the Calcutta Cup goodness,

Plus, can Ireland's determination to be better cancel out England's determination to be better this weekend?

On 8/9 YouTube + pods everywhere

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqh6...

YouTube video by 8/9 Rugby Six Nations: Scotland’s work here is done | 8/9 Rugby with Pat McCarry

NEW 8/9!

Pat McCarry joins @bmcsport.bsky.social for a look back on #SixNations Rd.2 and all the Calcutta Cup goodness,

Plus, can Ireland's determination to be better cancel out England's determination to be better this weekend?

On 8/9 YouTube + pods everywhere

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqh6...

Right, hands up who had the Waratahs and Brumbies winning with BPs on the weekend?

No, neither did @BMcSport.bsky.social

But as he writes today, the way both teams put the foot down in the second half to dominate the contest was hard to ignore

#SuperRugbyPacific
open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

Ha, you may have had one of them..

Brett McKay (@bmcsport) This weekend’s #SuperRugbyPacific is: Unexpected! All five games had either an unexpected result, or an unexpected way to get to the expected result. Which, I suppose, is what makes following our ...

Who's up for a Sunday #SuperRugbyPacific debrief?

Reckon the theme for the weekend is: Unexpected!

Love to hear your thoughts over at @89rugby.bsky.social on Substack!

substack.com/profile/4347...

Sean Maloney from Stan Sport joins Brett McKay to finalise preparations for the first round of Super Rugby Pacific which starts this weekend, on the latest episode of a brand new offering from 8/9… Surely, this has to be our year! | the AUS Rugby scene with Sean Maloney

New episode of the AUS Rugby Scene is out!

@seanny202.bsky.social joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to declare once and for all, that surely this HAS to be Australia's year in #SuperRugbyPacific!

On the 8/9 YouTube + pods all over the place

Super Rugby Pacific Law Variations explained Experienced NSW referee and co-host of 'Play On - the Rugby Referee podcast', Rob McKay walks us through of new Law Variations in place for Super Rugby Pacific in 2026

#SuperRugbyPacific begins tomorrow night, and the 2026 season brings a new set of Law Variations.

But what's in them? How will they work?

That's where @robgmckay.bsky.social comes in, making his 8/9 Rugby debut to shed light on the new LVs

open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

Always a great chat with Seanny, this one was no different..

YouTube video by 8/9 Rugby Surely, this has to be our year! | the AUS Rugby scene with Sean Maloney

New AUS Rugby Scene is out!

@seanny202.bsky.social joined @bmcsport.bsky.social to declare once and for all, that this HAS to be Australia's year in #SuperRugbyPacific!

On the 8/9 YouTube + pods all over the place

youtu.be/guGBAfOn1cs

Opening salvos will dictate Australian Super Rugby Pacific fortunes With a home World Cup appearing on the horizon, Australia's Super Rugby Pacific franchises know they will be under more scrutiny than ever

As if there's not enough happening this week, the first AUS column for @rugbypass.bsky.social dropped as well:

"This season, the Australian teams can be grouped into two broad categories: the teams in a varying state of rebuild, and Queensland"

#SuperRugbyPacific
www.rugbypass.com/plus/opening...

YouTube video by 8/9 Rugby Six Nations: Dominating talking points | 8/9 Rugby with Huw Griffin

New Ep! @bmcsport.bsky.social with @huwgriffinrugby.bsky.social wondering how on earth Scotland had so much ball and made NO line breaks!?!

A Great Rugby Chat to ponder if actually, we're all estimating Italy?!

On the 8/9 Rugby YouTube + pods everywhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDbl...

We've been looking forward to this, the debut of The Wrap, Geoff Parkes' long-running, widely read weekly column which you'll now find every Monday on #89Rugby

And to bring in the New Year, GP has 'Wrapped' up the trans-Tasman summer in his unmistakeable style

open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

Is this their year? Part 3 – ACT Brumbies & Western Force They won’t be seen as being at the same level by the experts, but there’s familiar feel about the two rebuilding teams

The pre-season is nearly done, and over on the Substack page @bmcsport.bsky.social wrapped up the 'Is this their year?' series with the Brumbies and Force, which might join a few dots

open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

It's a really curious situation, and we will talk about it some time soon..

Loved this chat with Ben, a perfect way to start the new weekly AUS Rugby scene program..