Sam Lane is one of NZs very best hockey players and an absolute lad! He is 100+ gamer for the New Zealand Black Sticks, two-time Olympian, captain and full-time financial advisor… somehow all at once. His journey is one of the most unbelievable combinations of talent, tragedy, resilience and pure Kiwi grit you’ll hear.

This episode has everything — the brutal reality of playing for a national team with almost no funding, a run of injuries that would end most careers, the inspirational comeback to make the Paris Olympics, and the heartbreaking loss of his mum during the biggest years of his life.

In this episode, Sam opens up on:

- How NZ Hockey lost 60% of its funding overnight

- How humble the Black Sticks set up is with players literally having to take unpaid leave to represent their country

- The injury setbacks he's had including his knee exploding and his foot collapsing

- The emotional toll of losing his mum to cancer

- His partner Greta's horrific accident after being hit by a car

- The challenge to be available for the Paris Olympics

- What it’s really like playing in the Indian Hockey League

- And the mindset that’s kept him going through it all

He’s humble, tough, honest and one incredibly inspiring lad. I know you'll enjoy this one with the great kiwi Sam Lane!

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Freedom Vaha'akaolo’s story is one of the wildest and most emotional you’ll ever hear. He is one incredibly talented rugby player who certainly didn't take the typical pathway.

From the age of just 11 years old he was homeless, eating from trash cans, and learning how to survive. Years later, he was scoring tries for Otago using his speed and power which earned him a spot with the Highlanders.

During that time he was involved in a cruel catfish scam almost ended it all.

In this episode, Freedom opens up about:

- What made a kid with two loving parent want to be homeless

- What life was like on the streets as a young teenager

- The impact that moving to 7 new schools had on him

- His identity struggle coming from mixed heritage and the impact that had.

- How he made NZ schools in basically his first year of rugby

- His pathway into professional rugby and the challenges involved.

- How an online relationship turned into a disaster being catfished,

- And how he’s rebuilt himself through faith, therapy, and sport again.

It’s raw. It’s real. It’s one of the most powerful stories ever shared on What a Lad and that is no exaggeration. Let me know what you thought about it in the comments👇

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Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is one of the most electric players in New Zealand rugby!

A proud Taranaki man, who went from Blues prospect to a Highlanders star as his story takes a wild turn when a routine game left him with a fractured neck!

What followed is a powerful story of perspective, gratitude, and rediscovering his love for the game. Jacob’s honesty and maturity in this chat is incredible and the way he speaks about identity, family and resilience is seriously inspiring.

Some parts that stood out for me were..

• Growing up in Taranaki with his Fijian/Dutch heritage

• Breaking into Super Rugby straight out of school

• Losing the love for rugby and finding it again in Dunedin

• The incredible story of playing on with a broken neck

• How close he was to being paralysed

• The mindset shift that changed everything

• Life beyond rugby — content creation, purpose and gratitude

And heaps more

Jacob is genuine, humble and wise beyond his years. He's a real talent and someone I believe will have a massive future in the game. I'm sure you will enjoy this one!

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Two absolute lads on one outrageous mission. Alex and Ben decided they wanted to do something that would really push them to their limits for Movember so became the first ever to walk across New Zealand in a straight line. What followed was six days of chaos: rafting rivers in a leaking dinghy, crawling through blackberry, dodging bulls, and getting zapped by electric fences, all to raise money and awareness for men’s health.

In this episode they open up about around the challenges they have faced which included losing loved ones to prostate cancer and suicide. They found these challenges and Movember has given them a purpose bigger than themselves. They also reveal their next wild challenge as they continue their mission to get blokes talking and checking in.

Some bits that stood out for me were..

• Why they decided to walk in a perfectly straight line across NZ

• The madness of rafting rivers, bulls, and electric fences

• How the six-day adventure raised over $11,000 for Movember

• The deeper reason behind their mission – losing loved ones to men’s health battles

• The power of mateship during difficult times

• What they've got planned in the future

And heaps more!

It’s raw, funny and bloody inspiring. These lads are a serious reminder to talk to your mates, get checked, and step outside your comfort zone. If you've been thinking about getting something checked then get it checked today!

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Steve Devine is one of the toughest men to ever pull on a rugby jersey. A proud Aussie who moved over to NZ for an opportunity with Auckland, where he quickly made NZ home. Where the fearless competitive halfback played a huge part in Auckland and the Blues success. From that came an his chance to wear the All Black jersey which he managed to do 10 times.

But behind that toughness was a brutal reality, years of repeated head knocks that left him battling crippling migraines, light sensitivity, and a fight just to feel human again.

In this episode, Steve opens up on:

- Life growing up in Australia and why the move to NZ

- Stories from the Auckland and Blues glory days

- The 40+ concussions that changed his life

- The miracle treatment that helped him get his life back

- How he’s now leading the charge with NeuroCheck, a game-changing concussion scanner

- How he's found his transition with life after rugby becoming a fireman

And heaps more

Steve story is honest, powerful, emotional and even shocking at times. Sharing his story from a place of just wanting to help others and for no one having to go through what he has been through. He is such a champion lad and let me know what you thought of the episode in the comments.

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Tom Christie is one of the toughest workhorses in New Zealand rugby.

In this episode the multiple Super Rugby champion opens up on leadership, injuries, and why he’s leaving the Crusaders to chase a new challenge with Newcastle’s Red Bulls.

From captaining the NZ U20s to battling setbacks and rediscovering his love for the game, this is Tom Christie like you’ve never heard him before.

In this episode we chat about...

How he learnt to tackle as a young fella

What it meant leading the NZ U20s side

Life at the Crusaders and what it takes to stay consistent

How his mindset has changed around topping the tackle count

The injury battles and how he rebuilt his confidence

His honest reflections on missing All Blacks selection

How he's handled non selection better than anyone I have worked with

Why he's decide to move to Newcastle and the next chapter of his journey

And heaps more.

As you'll hear, Tom is such a champion and has played a massive part of the Crusaders success during his time. He's one of the most self aware and articulate players I have coached. While players love playing with him cause they just know he will never let you down. He is a lad!

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Mitchell Scott was one of the most talented outside backs in New Zealand rugby, electric pace, unreal footwork, and a try-scoring instinct few could match. But behind the highlight reels was a rollercoaster journey through tragedy, addiction, injuries, and redemption.

From losing his father at just three years old, to wearing an ankle bracelet just months before representing New Zealand U20s in one of the greatest teams ever assembled. Mitch’s story is raw, honest and full of lessons.

In this episode we dive into:

- His early years and the loss that shaped his drive.

- The influence of drugs and alcohol from a young age

- How he made the NZ 20s after just coming off home detention.

- Why he had to get out of Perth while playing for the force

- Addiction, psychosis and recovery

- Finding peace, purpose and passion again through coaching in Otago

- The power of mental health, routine, and clean living

- How he’s preparing for fatherhood and helping young players avoid his mistakes

And heaps more.

This episode sums up what the What a Lad podcast is all about, it’s brutally honest, funny, emotional, and inspiring, a true What a Lad story!

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Jacob Ellison is one of Wellington’s great unsung heroes – a tough, mobile front-rower who gave absolutely everything every time he pulled on a jersey. From the Wellington Lions and Hurricanes to the Highlanders, the Māori All Blacks and several seasons in Japan, Jacob built a reputation as the ultimate team man.

But this chat is about far more than scrums. Jacob opens up about his remarkable life:

His unusual pathway from the wing to the front row

The shift from Hurricanes to Highlanders and life as a “middle-ground” pro

How he's managed having epilepsy throughout his career

His powerful and emotional journey with IVF, loss and finally becoming a dad

The key to managing the life after rugby transition

Some classic stories including an interesting epilepsy diagnosis from a Japanese doctor

Learning the hard way about agents, contracts and preparing for life after rugby

And heaps more including your questions!

It’s funny, raw and inspiring – from yellow-jersey court sessions to Jamie Joseph’s sniper-rifle pep talks, right through to the lessons he passes on to young players today.

If you love genuine stories from genuine people, this is a special listen.

#WhatALad #RugbyPodcast #JacobEllison

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