Inside The Black Jersey: a new home for rugby conversation
Inside The Black Jersey: a new home for the conversation
There's always been a place for the big analysis, and there's always been a place for the highlights reel. What's been missing is somewhere fans can just sit in on the conversation: the stories behind the stats, the moments that don't always make the broadcast, the players talking about the jersey the way we all talk about it around the barbecue.
That's the gap Inside the Black Jersey is here to fill.
Launching this week ahead of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour, the new weekly show is hosted by former All Blacks halfback Brad Weber and sports broadcaster George Harper Jr, two voices who know the game inside out, and who know how to talk about it like fans rather than pundits. Expect the week's biggest talking points, a dive into the archives, questions pulled straight from the fanbase, and guests dropping in from around the rugby world. It's less studio panel, more two mates who happen to have unmatched access, pulling up a seat next to you.
WATCH: Episode one of Inside the Black Jersey feat Will Jordan
Ten episodes are locked in across the year, running through the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour, the Bledisloe Cup, and the Nations Championship in November, before wrapping the season and looking ahead to 2027 in December. And they've kicked off with a big one.
Episode 1: Will Jordan opens up
There's no better guest to launch the series than the man currently sitting atop the All Blacks' all-time try-scoring charts. Will Jordan joins Brad and George for a wide-ranging chat that fans have been waiting for: an injury update straight from the man himself, a look back at some of his favourite tries in the black jersey, and an honest read on how the camp is feeling heading into the four-Test series against South Africa.
It's the kind of conversation that gets to the player behind the highlight reel: what it actually feels like to wear this jersey, week in, week out, at the top of the game.
WATCH: Will Jordan's first 50 Test tries for the All Blacks
From the vault: the haka, revisited
No episode would be complete without a trip into the archive, and this one's a cracker. The lads break down some of rugby's most memorable haka responses, sparked by Ma'a Nonu's now-iconic one-man reply to the All Blacks haka while playing for the Sharks. It's a segment that'll only grow richer as the series goes on, and that's where you come in.
WATCH: Ma'a Nonu's emotional response to the All Blacks haka
Over to you: Fans call
This is built to be a two-way conversation. Got a question for a future guest? An archive clip you reckon deserves the "From the Vault" treatment? Send them through by dropping a comment on YouTube or on the All Blacks social channels. Brad and George want to hear what you want to see.
Inside the Black Jersey Episode One: Out Now
Inside The Black Jersey is out now on AllBlacks.com, the All Blacks YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with highlights and clips landing across NZR’s social channels throughout the week.
