Drop In with Naas Botha & Ryan Grobler: Rugby Talk the Way It Should Be

Rugby has always been about more than what happens during 80 minutes on the field. It is about the people, the rivalries, the traditions, the debates and, most importantly, the conversations that continue long after the final whistle.

That is what Drop In with Naas Botha & Ryan Grobler is all about.

Launched in 2026, Drop In is a weekly rugby show that brings together two former professional rugby players with South African roots for a relaxed, entertaining and straight-talking conversation about the global game. The show covers major international and club matches, team selections, tactics, refereeing decisions and the biggest issues affecting rugby on and off the field.

But Drop In isn't designed to feel like another traditional television rugby panel.

It's two rugby men sitting down and talking about the game they love.

Meet the Hosts

Naas Botha

For South African rugby supporters, Naas Botha needs little introduction.

The legendary Springbok flyhalf became one of the most recognizable figures in South African rugby and was eventually inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015. His career also took him beyond South Africa, including rugby in the United States and a brief opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.

After his playing career, Naas remained closely connected to rugby through broadcasting, commentary and analysis.

On Drop In, he brings decades of experience and an understanding of international rugby from the highest level. But viewers also get something different from the more formal television environment: a relaxed Naas Botha telling stories, debating selections, questioning decisions and sharing what he sees happening in the modern game.

Ryan Grobler

Alongside Naas is Ryan Grobler, another South African-born former professional rugby player whose rugby journey eventually brought him to the United States.

Ryan moved to America in 1998 on a professional-athlete visa after playing rugby in South Africa. He continued his playing career in the United States before eventually settling in the Kansas City area.

Ryan brings a different perspective to Drop In: the experience of South African rugby combined with decades of living, playing, coaching and following the sport in America.

That becomes particularly important as the United States prepares to host the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup.

Both hosts have spoken publicly about wanting to help grow rugby in America, introduce the sport to new supporters and build greater awareness ahead of 2031.

Their efforts have extended beyond the podcast to rugby watch parties and community engagement in Kansas City.

What Makes Drop In Different?

The idea behind Drop In is simple: keep it real.

There are no complicated formulas or attempts to make rugby sound more difficult than it needs to be.

Naas and Ryan discuss what they saw, what worked, what didn't and what they believe teams could have done differently. They debate selections, tactics, coaches, refereeing, disciplinary decisions and the direction in which the game is moving.

And they don't always agree.

That's part of the show.

The conversation is intended to feel much like the discussions rugby supporters have with friends after a Test match, except viewers are hearing the perspective of two men who have actually played the game professionally.

Recent episodes have included breakdowns of major international matches and competitions, including Springbok, All Black and Nations Championship rugby.

A South African Voice with a Global Outlook

Drop In has strong South African roots, and that will always be part of its identity.

The Springboks naturally generate plenty of discussion, but this isn't simply a Springbok show.

New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, France, Japan, Fiji, Canada, the United States and the wider international game all form part of the conversation.

Drop In also wants to tackle the bigger questions facing rugby: the financial sustainability of professional competitions, private investment, player movement, eligibility rules, the future of Super Rugby, development pathways and how the sport can grow in emerging markets.

The objective is to talk about where rugby is going, not only what happened last Saturday.

Growing Rugby in America

One of the show's biggest long-term ambitions is helping rugby establish a larger footprint in the United States.

America will become the center of the rugby world when it hosts the Men's Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2033.

That presents an enormous opportunity.

For millions of Americans, however, rugby is still a relatively unfamiliar sport. Drop In wants to help close that gap by making the game understandable and entertaining without losing the traditions and knowledge that longtime rugby supporters value.

Both hosts have described growing the game in America as part of their broader mission, and their Kansas City activities have already included introducing new audiences to rugby and bringing established supporters together.

More Than a Podcast

Ultimately, Drop In is about building a rugby community.

It is a place where a lifelong Springbok supporter in South Africa, an All Blacks fan in New Zealand, a rugby follower in Europe or someone discovering the sport for the first time in America can join the same conversation.

• There will be analysis.

• There will be opinions.

• There will definitely be disagreements.

• And there will always be rugby banter.

  
  

Drop In with Naas Botha & Ryan Grobler is rugby conversation without the unnecessary complications, two former players, two different perspectives and one shared passion for the global game.

Drop in. Join the conversation. And enjoy the rugby.