Gregor Paul
Rugby analyst
Rugby analyst and feature writer
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Gregor’s latest content
Gregor Paul: Behind the strategic timing of Mark Robinson's resignation
Robinson's tenure saw record revenue of $285m and $175m in reserves.
Gregor Paul: Why NZ rugby's biggest flaw remains unchanged
OPINION: The Crusaders dominated the Reds' scrum, showcasing NZ's rugby basics.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks revolution enters pivotal new phase in 2025
OPINION: Scott Robertson faced upheaval after Leon MacDonald quit as assistant coach.
Gregor Paul: Why NZ Rugby's financial struggles are far from over
OPINION: The protracted broadcast rights saga could halt fiscal progress in its tracks.
Opinion: The financial puzzle Super Rugby must solve for survival
The Hurricanes lost $2.1m in two years, seeking $1m from shares.
Gregor Paul: Why the Chiefs have looked a class above
OPINION: The Chiefs have shown determination after losing the last two Super finals.
Gregor Paul: NZ rugby must tackle its coaching respect issue
OPINION: Assistant coaches should not forget who's the boss.
How NZ Rugby plans to tackle Gen Z engagement challenges
David Kirk says rugby's main challenge is engaging young Kiwis.
Gregor Paul: How All Blacks sabbaticals create selection inequity
ANALYSIS: Sabbatical options offer virtual selection guarantees for experienced players.
Gregor Paul: Loyalty to Barrett reveals Robertson's unwavering vision
ANALYSIS: Ardie Savea is widely seen as a natural leader, sparking debate over captaincy.
Gregor Paul: Why the TMO's call against Moana might haunt Super Rugby season
ANALYSIS: The decision to disallow Millennium Sanerivi's try was an officiating error.
Moana Pasifika set to lose another star as Chiefs eye top talent
Moana Pasifika are set to lose another player to a New Zealand franchise.
Opinion: Ardie Savea's bold move to Moana redefines rugby career
Critics feared joining Moana would jeopardise Savea's All Blacks future.
'Common-sense victory': Schools win battle to retain top rugby team
NZR scrapped plans for an U-18 team after negotiations with schools.
Gregor Paul: How corporate greed could price fans out of rugby's biggest match
OPINION: Live entertainment seems to have lost the plot.
Papali’i v Savea: Blues man's chance to reignite All Blacks prospects
OPINION: Last month, Papali’i limited Savea’s impact in a game against the Blues.
Gregor Paul: Major leadership shake-up on the cards at NZ Rugby after $20m loss
OPINION: It is understood change is needed if NZR is to be financially solvent.
Gregor Paul: How NZ Rugby lost $19.5 million, despite record revenue
ANALYSIS: Revenue rose 7% to $285m, but expenses increased 10% to $304m.
Gregor Paul: How broadcasters fuel the F-bomb industry in rugby
OPINION: Collins' incident led to more in-game interviews seeking raw player reactions.
Red cards, red flags: The All Blacks' challenges in Razor's second year – Gregor Paul
OPINION: Scott Robertson faces pressure to improve the All Blacks' 71% win ratio.
Opinion: Australia's bold strategy may inspire NZ Rugby policy shift
OPINION: The plan challenges the belief that coaches need years to make an impact.
New name on the kit: All Blacks secure multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal
The deal replaces Ineos, who ended their sponsorship earlier this year.
Gregor Paul: Why writing off Tele’a could be a mistake for NZ rugby
OPINION: The Blues wanted to keep Tele’a for four more years despite his age.
Gregor Paul: Blues struggle to transition from champions to dynasty
OPINION: The southerners found their rhythm just as the Aucklanders slumped.
Gregor Paul: How Australian teams gained the upper hand in Super Rugby
OPINION: Moana Pasifika's presence is affecting NZ's talent pool and team dynamics.
Gregor Paul: Blues are not out of the Super Rugby race yet
OPINION: Why it's too soon to count out the reigning champions.
Gregor Paul: Why Ioane's Ireland stint isn't the win-win it seems
OPINION: Concerns arise over player fatigue, as Barrett faces two seasons without a break.
Gregor Paul: The surprising countries making charge for RWC hosting rights
Leaders of the global game are keen on Middle East investment.
Gregor Paul: Super Rugby player draft would boost competition
OPINION: A draft would be good for all sides and give athletes a chance to develop.
Gregor Paul: Does Scott Barrett want to be ABs captain?
OPINION: Handling on-field and off-field duties for the NZ side is a big challenge.
How Kiwi fans became an after-thought in NZ Rugby’s commercial strategy
OPINION: Reduction in home tests comes as commercial focus looks overseas.
Super Rugby: Winning the battle for the Kiwi broadcast audience
Dynamic play has made Super Rugby a more attractive broadcast product.
The $3.5b question: What is the value of Brand All Blacks?
Silver Lake valued the All Blacks brand at $3.5b in 2022. Is that still the number?
Gregor Paul: How Blues players are unfairly tarnished by anti-Auckland sentiment
OPINION: Lazy assumptions about Aucklanders count against top footy players.
Gregor Paul: How NZ Rugby reached settlement with departing sponsor
It is believed Ineos has paid New Zealand Rugby what it owed for 2025.
Gregor Paul: The All Blacks star who must shrug off ‘enigma’ tag
OPINION: McKenzie has spent 11 seasons trying to fit into the All Blacks puzzle.
Gregor Paul: Eden Park decision is bad news for All Blacks fans
NZ Rugby supports the Quay Park bid, preferring a modern venue for the national team.
Mark Robinson 2.0: Inside the rebranding of NZ Rugby’s CEO
Brown-jumper press call was watershed moment for branding of NZR boss
Gregor Paul: Inside the schools v NZ Rugby dispute over the black jersey
OPINION: Schools are right to resist NZR's push for a U18 team.
Gregor Paul: How NZ Rugby’s top players are cashing in by staying local
OPINION: Top players like Cane and Savea earn more by staying in NZ than going abroad.
Ranking NZ rugby’s 30 most influential power brokers
Gregor Paul reflects on who are the real movers and shakers in New Zealand rugby.
‘There is real anger’: Principals in standoff with NZ Rugby over international schoolboys side
Principals claim New Zealand Rugby is trying to take over schoolboy rugby.
Gregor Paul: The truth behind the Blues' sluggish start to the season
OPINION: The team's once-effective power play lacks the dynamism it had last year.
Gregor Paul: Why the world no longer looks to the All Blacks for inspiration
OPINION: More countries are adopting South Africa's approach, so why not NZ?
Gregor Paul: Why the ABs need to be worried about ‘B-team’ France
OPINION: Les Bleus may be sending a weakened side, but shouldn't be taken lightly.
Gregor Paul: Why NZR's billionaire partnerships were doomed from start
OPINION: What rugby decision-makers at NZR should consider is the power of saying no.
The 'unexpected' review pushing to merge New Zealand's rugby powerhouses
The mergers aim to reduce duplication and lower costs for the teams involved.
Gregor Paul: Free-to-air All Blacks? How TVNZ could decide rugby rights war
OPINION: Sky faces competition from streaming giant DAZN.
Gregor Paul: The truth behind NZ Rugby’s unstoppable coaching exodus
OPINION: NZ Rugby can't seem to keep the conductors.
New player enters race to challenge Sky for NZ Rugby broadcast rights
Kiwi fans could be forced to go elsewhere to watch our national game.
Gregor Paul: Why Super Rugby Pacific has come back better than ever
OPINION: Perennially tipped to struggle, the new season has so far captivated.
Gregor Paul: From rivals to allies – How will Kirk and Robinson navigate NZR’s new era?
ANALYSIS: Two former All Blacks now sit on the same side of the table.
Gregor Paul: Why the Wallabies might outperform the All Blacks by 2027
OPINION: Joe Schmidt has turned the Wallabies around and makes coaching them enticing.
Gregor Paul: NZR’s $60 million financial challenge
OPINION: NZR faces a big deficit next year due to lost sponsorships and reduced deals.
Gregor Paul: How Razor can win his battle over All Blacks eligibility
OPINION: Razor can't be made to feel that he has lost his licence to push the issue.
Gregor Paul: NZ Rugby’s murky sponsorship with Ineos ending as it began
A partnership with a petrochemical giant was always an odd fit for NZ Rugby.
Gregor Paul: The All Blacks who must make a Super Rugby statement
OPINION: Scott Barrett needs to remind his peers of why he's ABs captain.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks haka controversy reveals deeper unity issue
OPINION: There is a much bigger issue at play, which does not lie with what Perenara said.
‘Blindsided’: Behind the haka that divided the All Blacks
TJ Perenara's final haka was preceded by a mihi on the Treaty of Waitangi.
Gregor Paul: The moment Rieko Ioane put his money where his mouth is
OPINION: Maybe Rieko Ioane should spark a personal feud with everyone he plays.
Number crunch: How NZ Rugby board has struggled with maths on Silver Lake
Private equity deal proved challenging for NZ Rugby board.
Gregor Paul: How much NZR are expected to lose in next broadcast deal
OPINION: Silver Lake's expected boost falters as New Zealand Rugby faces further losses.
Gregor Paul: Why is NZR board earning more than All Blacks amid financial woes?
OPINION: Executive pay should be benchmarked against the finances of the organisation.
Gregor Paul: Scott Robertson reflects on sleepless nights, team turmoil and more
Exploring Razor's first year at the helm of the All Blacks with the man himself.
Inside Rugby: How the All Blacks are hoping to bring back Richie Mo'unga
OPINION: New Zealand Rugby's bid to bring Mo'unga home faces challenges.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks' messy win over Italy raises questions for coaches
OPINION: All Blacks win 29-11 in Turin but grapple with errors, lacking cohesion and flow.
Gregor Paul: Playing it safe or playing it smart? Razor's selection dilemma
OPINION: Why the All Blacks' strong line-up against Italy might be a double-edged sword.
Gregor Paul: Young All Blacks playmaker set for key role against Italy
OPINION: The All Blacks need a third option at first five given its high attrition rate.
Gregor Paul: How All Blacks can close gap on Springboks
OPINION: There are three key reasons to believe that they can.
Gregor Paul: In defeat, ABs might have hit on a winning formula
OPINION: The All Blacks hit on a refined game plan we should see more of.
Gregor Paul: Narrative that's plagued 2024 returns to haunt All Blacks in Paris
OPINION: Scott Robertson's side fell to a fourth loss of the year, in familiar style.
Inside Rugby: The big stain marring All Blacks v France clash
A prominent sponsorship issue ought to cause embarrassment.
Gregor Paul: Why Beauden Barrett got the nod over Damian McKenzie
OPINION: A high-impact punch in the closing stages appears crucial in selection.
Gregor Paul: Razor's success doesn't justify NZR's coach selection process
OPINION: NZR must not use confirmation bias to convince themselves they were right.
Gregor Paul: The moment Ioane showed he's a world-class centre
OPINION: Maybe Rieko Ioane should spark a personal feud with everyone he plays.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks show brains over brawn to put Ireland in their place
OPINION: Everything finally clicked for Scott Robertson's side at Aviva Stadium.
Gregor Paul: Razor’s All Blacks reawaken in Dublin
OPINION: The All Blacks now seem capable of consistent rather than sporadic brilliance.
Inside Rugby: Why Ireland can overtake the All Blacks as the game's biggest brand
OPINION: The next 10 years should see a seismic shift in the game's landscape.
Gregor Paul: Forget Springboks, Ireland is Robertson's biggest All Blacks test
OPINION: Saturday in Dublin will really show where the 2024 All Blacks are.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks must follow Ireland's example in filling hole at No 10
OPINION: New Zealand have stumbled where Ireland succeeded this year.