What a Lad

Patrick Tuipulotu has been one of the most respected forwards in world rugby for over a decade. A powerful lock known for his physicality, leadership and work ethic, Patrick has built an incredible career with the Blues and the All Blacks, playing more than 50 tests for his country and captaining the Blues to Winning A Super Rugby title.

In this episode of What a Lad, Patty opens up like never before. From the highs of becoming an All Black to the setbacks that nearly ended his career, there are some unbelievable stories in this one.

Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…
- Growing up in Auckland and how his dad shaped his work ethic
- Switching from basketball to rugby and discovering First XV footy
- The moment John Kirwan told him he was an All Black
- The brutal injuries he’s battled throughout his career
- Missing the 2015 Rugby World Cup and how hard that was to take
- The mistake that cost him the chance to play the Lions
- The false positive drug test that nearly led to a four year ban
- Winning championships with the Blues and leading the club
- His perspective on rugby, family and life after the game

This episode is full of honesty, perspective and some unbelievable yarns from one of the most respected men in New Zealand rugby. Patty shares the highs, the lows, the mistakes, and the lessons he’s learned throughout his career.

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Tim Bateman is a former professional rugby player who has transitioned from pro sport into the world of business and for me personally is the smartest man I met in the game.

Every conversation I have ever had with him I have learnt something and this is certainly no different. From the structure and discipline of professional rugby to the chaos and pressure of running a fast-growing wellness franchise, Tim opens up about what it really takes to build something that lasts. He speaks honestly about fear of failure, responsibility, timing, sales, leadership, and why business can feel even harder than playing the game.

In this episode of What a Lad, Tim breaks down the framework he uses to think about business — PRIME — This is a real look at what works, what fails, and what most people get wrong before they even start.

In this episode, we cover…

- The fear of failure that drives him
- Why business is “sport on steroids”
- The first question you need to ask before starting a business
- Why opportunity comes before passion
- Why product is the most important part of any business
- The biggest factor in success (and it’s not talent or resources)
- Why great businesses can still fail
- Sales being the lifeblood of a business
- Building systems so your business doesn’t rely on you
- The importance of energy, language, and culture
- Risk, timing, and why waiting until you feel ready might be too late

Tim is articulate, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest about what life after rugby can look like. This episode is packed with practical wisdom for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone thinking about building something of their own.
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Pita Ahki is living proof that careers aren’t always built in a straight line.

From struggling for opportunities in New Zealand and watching contracts dry up, to being told by Toulouse doctors that he had a “bad knee” and might not even get signed — Ahki’s journey could have gone very differently. Instead, he backed himself, took the gamble, and went on to become a 5x Top 14 champion and 2x Champions Cup winner in one of the toughest competitions in world rugby.

In this episode of What a Lad, Pita opens up about the tough years at the Blues and Hurricanes, asking Super Rugby teams for any opportunity just to stay in the system, nearly walking away from the game after failing a medical in France, and the sliding doors moment that changed everything.

In this episode, we cover…
- Growing up in Auckland and the Kelston Boys brotherhood
- Making NZ U20s and starting NPC straight out of school
- The struggles of injury battles while trying to crack it
- Asking Super Rugby teams for wider training — and getting nothing
- Taking a six-month deal at Connacht just to stay alive in the game
- Flying to Toulouse, signing a pre-contract, and being told he had a “bad knee”
- Nearly walking away from rugby
- Starting a Top 14 final and chasing that feeling year after year
- Winning 5 Top 14 titles and 2 Champions Cups
- Life in France, the culture, and playing with Antoine Dupont
- Representing Tonga at a Rugby World Cup
- Why he returned to the blues
- And of course his memory of the classic Pita Pit prank!

This episode is a deep dive into resilience, growth, sacrifice, and what it really takes to turn rejection into legacy. It’s honest, reflective, and full of perspective from a man who’s seen both sides of the game. Pita is a champion man, such a legend and it's awesome seeing him back out there in Super Rugby!

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Tom Savage is one of those players who never took the easy route and deserves every bit of success that he gets!
From jumping from level five rugby to the Premiership in a single summer, to playing over 190 games for Gloucester, moving to Japan at the peak of his career, and now helping build something special at Moana Pasifika — Savage’s story is built on consistency, work ethic, and knowing exactly what he brings to a team.

In this episode of What a Lad, Tom opens up about having no academy pathway, cleaning changing rooms just to stay in the game, the shock of his Premiership debut at Franklin’s Gardens, and what it really takes to last at the top level for over a decade.

In this episode, we cover…

- Growing up without a clear rugby pathway and discovering the game later than most
- Choosing Hartpury as his only route into professional rugby
- How he managed to play 190+ games in one of the toughest competitions in the world
- Why he left Gloucester after eight years of loyalty
- The unexpected call to move to Japan
- The chaos of COVID and flying home to an empty Heathrow Airport
- What Japanese rugby is really like behind the scenes
- Joining Moana Pasifika and buying into the culture
- Leadership lessons learned across three different countries
- Differences between Premiership, Japan & Super rugby

This episode is a proper deep dive into resilience, professionalism, and building a career the long way. Plenty of lessons, plenty of perspective, and exactly what you’d expect from an all-time team man.
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Super Rugby is back! And so is the What a Lad Super Rugby Preview and who better to talk to than the great Searley from Searley Talks Sport to break down everything you need to know about Super Rugby 2026.

We go through every team, highlight key players and share some bold predictions as we look forward to what looks to be the tightest and most entertaining Super Rugby season ever!

In this episode, we cover…

- Why the Hurricanes are genuine championship contenders
- Whether this is finally the Chiefs year
- How the new Christchurch stadium could change the Crusaders style
- The Highlanders backline and their game-breaking X-factor
- What Aussie teams are a real threat
- Players who could force their way into All Blacks selection
- Why the Fijian Drua at home is one of the toughest trips in rugby
- The new law changes and how they may change the game
- Round one predictions and season top-four picks
- And heaps more!

If you're excited about Super Rugby than this episode is for you, and if you're not, well I suggest you give it a listen anyway and just feel your fizz levels for this great competition build aggressively.
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