DSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network

Mailbag time on DSPN, and as always, the gloves are well and truly off. We dive into your comments, questions and hot takes from across YouTube and social, and there’s no shortage of strong opinions this week.

From where Max has gone, to player interviews that challenge lazy narratives, to claims we’re “too negative” about the All Blacks, we respond to it all. We unpack the current coaching situation, the state of New Zealand rugby, and why being honest isn’t the same as being negative.

There’s debate around governance, selection processes, overseas players, potential coaching combinations and whether the All Blacks job is still the most prized role in world rugby. Plus, a few lighter moments, some unexpected gifts, and the usual DSPN chaos that keeps the mailbag a must-listen every week.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does real belief actually look like when it’s earned, not gifted?

Brad Thorn joins Martin Devlin for one of the most open and powerful conversations we’ve had on the DSPN. From anxiety and self-doubt to faith, discipline and mental resilience, Brad reflects on the moments that shaped him long before the trophies arrived.

They talk through Brad’s new book Champions Do Extra, the lessons passed down from his father, the pressure of World Cup finals, State of Origin, and why belief only comes after the work is done. Brad also opens up about anxiety, leadership, coaching at the Reds, and why you’re never truly defeated if you’re willing to stand and fight.

It’s honest, grounded, and full of perspective from a man who’s been to the very top and knows exactly what it costs to stay there.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season comes with expectations, and Glen Jackson isn’t shying away from them.

The Fijian Drua head coach joins Martin Devlin ahead of Super Rugby Pacific to talk pressure, progress, and why making the playoffs is non negotiable. From paying their own way to New Zealand, to learning how to win away from Fiji, Glen gives an honest look at what the Drua are trying to fix this year.

They also cover the emotional week in Mount Maunganui, training alongside the Chiefs, the challenge of travelling as a young squad, and why staying grounded matters just as much as winning. Glen reflects on leadership, experience, and the balance between Fijian flair and shutting games down when it counts.

It’s a candid, thoughtful chat about growth, responsibility, and what success really looks like for one of Super Rugby’s most watchable teams.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the game gets taken away from you for the first time?

Today on the DSPN, Martin sits down with All Blacks and Chiefs forward Tupou Vaa’i as he opens up about his knee injury, a long road back to fitness, and what being sidelined taught him about rugby and life.

From lonely mornings watching the boys on tour to finding clarity through family time, Tupou reflects on a season that changed him.

We also get into confidence, imposter syndrome, and the moments that helped lift his game to another level back in 2024. Tupou talks honestly about working alongside Scott Barrett, the impact of mental skills coaching, and how becoming a father shifted his entire perspective.

It’s a grounded, thoughtful conversation with one of the All Blacks’ most quietly important players.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Rugby Roundtable, we’re covering two very different sporting flashpoints that somehow end up in the same place. Pressure, performance, and who really controls the narrative.

We kick things off with the Coco Gauff racket smash at the Australian Open, and whether elite athletes should expect privacy anywhere off the court. Is it fair game, or are we crossing a line when emotion spills over away from the spotlight?

Then it’s full noise on the All Blacks coaching situation. From Scott Robertson’s exit to the narrow pool of available replacements, we dig into whether New Zealand Rugby actually had a plan. We talk Jamie Joseph, Dave Rennie, coaching depth, culture breakdowns, player management, and why Super Rugby fans keep getting short-changed. It’s passionate, frustrated, and very Kiwi.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices