Amateur Rugby Podcast

My guest this week is former pro rugby player and now a Major in the British Army - Will Simpson. We talked about: Will's dream to become a pro player The steps and opportunities he took to achieve that goal Playing for Ampleforth, Loughborough Uni, Leicester Tigers A team and Doncaster Knights in The Champ His following career with the British Army, and the incredible playing opportunities that p...

My guest this week is former Scotland International and now wild swimmer, Suzy Rook. We talked about: The highs of her international career How far the Women's game has progressed Being diagnosed with cancer Wild swimming and the Polar plunge! This is a remarkable, feel-good, riot of an episode. - I hope you enjoy. LINKS Suzy's Just Giving page - https://www.justgiving.com/page/suzanne-rook-8   Su...

'Curtin' and I are Nomad friends, we met at a big floating conference on a cruise ship in the sea. We then spent 3 weeks living on a beach in Brazil with a load of other nomads where we surfed, worked, did Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and even took part in an Improv Comedy night. This interview was recorded in December of 2019 in Dubai and we talked about comparisons between Rugby and traditional American...

'Taff' and I played together for many years - bound up in the front row for both Old Colfeians and Kent. This interview was recorded November of 2019 in Amsterdam, where he's now living, to discuss a multitude of topics and some favourite stories ranging from why amateur rugby is a hotbed of creative thinking through to the magic of touring and the mysterious legend of the Kakadu Gnat. LINKS Taff...

My guest this week is Hollywood Movie director - James Griffiths. Griff was also my team-mate and captain at Old Colfeians but being a Hollywood Movie director sounds somewhat more impressive. This interview was recorded in September of 2019 and it went in all manner of directions. It really ebbed and flowed, not just through the highs and lows of rugby, but of life in general. Like you parents ou...

Geoff and I met while playing for Esher RFC, one of 4 Championship clubs he represented. Geoff was a powerful three-quarter and played a lot of 7's also. This interview was recorded in September of 2019, and we chatted through Geoff's career, and he shared his thoughts on player pathways, the National One sweet-spot and some interesting facts about Graham Dawe. He was due to be Episode 17, but I b...

My guest this week is Heath RFC's Chris Moore. We talked about: - Heath RUFC's rampant success in recent seasons. - How the club is run in a sustainable and fun way. - Chris's entry into the game at home-town club, Cobh Pirates, in Ireland. - Transitioning from the back-row into the front row. - What Chris learned when representing Yorkshire. - The huge number of clubs in the Calder Valley. - How...

Colm and I are former team-mates at Esher RFC and both fully paid up members of the front-row union. He is one of the most interesting and engaging characters that I have encountered in the game and I was very excited to sit down and chat with him. The interview was recorded in September of 2019 and we shared some stories about playing together, Colm's early rugby days, then really dug deep into t...

Now, Ben and I have never actually met, but he came with a very strong recommendation from a former team-mate of both of ours Geoff Griffiths. Ben has experienced all different sides of rugby over a lengthy playing career and his story is one that I really wanted to share with you. This interview was recorded in November of 2019 and we talked about life on the fringes of the professional game and...

My guest this week is Orkney RFC's Glen McLellan. We talked about: The travel challenges of playing rugby on a remote island Long away trips every other weekend! The Come Ashore Cup The joy of being involved in Penguins RFC, including plenty of tour stories Coaching kids in Mexico This is a proper rugby episode - I hope you enjoy. LINKS Orkney Rugby Football Club: http://www.orkneyrfc.co.uk/ & htt...

Former Cheltenham RFC President - Dave 'Towner' Townsend was my coach for Cheltenham Colts back in 1995/96 and is also the father of Matt Townsend from Episode No.2. Sadly, Towner is no longer with us, but it was lovely to hear his voice once more and to listen to all the nuggets of wisdom gathered over a lifetime in the game! This interview was recorded in August 2019 at Cheltenham RFC, where we...

The 2025 Autumn Internationals are in full swing, and the fourth weekend of fixtures did not disappoint. Join me as I discuss Ireland vs South Africa and England vs Argentina. GET STASH England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4 BUY ME A COFFEE Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcas...

The 2025 Autumn Internationals are in full swing, and the second weekend of fixtures did not disappoint. Join me as I discuss Scotland vs New Zealand, England vs Fiji and France vs South Africa. GET STASH England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4 BUY ME A COFFEE Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com...

The 2025 Autumn Internationals have started and it was a decent first weekend of fixtures. And as usual, I got a load of special guests to add some wonderful insight for England vs Australia and Ireland vs New Zealand. GET STASH England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4 BUY ME A COFFEE Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. http...

Hello Amateurs! We're back with another Classic episode and this one is with my former Cheltenham RFC team-mate and Prem Rugby Assistant Referee - Phil Watters. This interview was recorded in August of 2019 and we talked about playing and coaching the England Police and Phil's transition into refereeing including some incredible insights into the role of the modern day official. LINKS You can get...

My guest this week is Ellingham & Ringwood player and Defence Coach - Adam Higgins. We talked about: Adam's passion for defence What principles underlie his coaching Some of Adam's defence heroes A world tour of Adam's playing experience, including time in Canada, Australia and Cornwall! This is a fantastic episode - I hope you enjoy. LINKS Adam Higgins on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ad...

My guest this week is Bristol Bears hooker, Tom Lindsay. Tom and I first locked horns during a London 1 game between Sutton & Epsom and Old Colfeians. We later went on to become team-mates at both Blackheath and Esher. This interview was recorded August of 2000 and 19 and we took a lovely stroll down memory lane through Tom's career with some key learning points around player development, the role...

My guest this week is former Gloucester, Bath, and Dragons prop-forward Shaun Knight. We talked about: Breaking into the Gloucester side Playing in u20 World Cups The influence of some of the game's great props His most difficult opponent His return to boyhood club, Matson, as a player-coach. This is a great episode full of front-row chat - I hope you enjoy. LINKS Shaun Knight on Instagram - @Shau...

'Slem' was my captain and fly-half when I played at Esher, so it's highly appropriate that he should feature in episode 10 of the podcast. This interview was recorded in August 2019 and we chatted about the state of the professional game, lessons from captaincy and skills learned in rugby that can be transferred into business. LINKS David Slemen can be contacted on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin....

My guest this week is Strathaven RFC President - Colin Dalgarno We talked about: Raising £2.6 million Being awarded the British Empire Medal Incredible facilities development And how he broke his back playing the game we love. This is an unbelievable episode - I hope you enjoy. LINKS Colin Dalgarno on Facebook - https://facebook.com/chunkd1 Strathaven RFC on Facebook - https://facebook.com/stratha...

My guest this week is Dalkeith RFC President - Jamie Simpson We talked about: Winning the National Community Club of the Year award and all that entailed. Dalkeith's 125 Year anniversary and tour. The incredible growth of the Women's section. This is an inspirational episode - I hope you enjoy. LINKS Dalkeith RFC website - https://www.dalkeithrugbyclub.com/ Dalkeith RFC on Instagram - @ dalkeithrf...

The series is over, another 4 years to wait till we can join together and do it all over again. This one ended with the Wallabies roaring back to avoid a whitewash - and didn't they deserve it! Elko and I discuss all the major incidents and share our thoughts on the Lions tour as a whole and the Wallabies' prospects going forward. What do you think? #Lions #rugby #BritishandIrishLions #LionsLionsL...

That was an incredible Test Match in the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. So much incident, so many great bits of play and so much for myself and Elko to dig into! #Lions #rugby #BritishandIrishLions #LionsLionsLions #Wallabies GET STASH England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4 BUY ME A COFFEE  Coffee helps me make more and better episodes...

We discuss all the big incidents, refereeing decisions, momentum shifts and how the result of this game might affect the series going forwards. This is our Australia vs British & Irish Lions 1st Test Match Report. Settle in… https://tinyurl.com/ybwd4j87 What do you think? #Lions #rugby #BritishandIrishLions #LionsLionsLions #Wallabies GET STASH England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v Briti...

My guest this week is my former Bhubesi Pride teammate - Richard French. We talked about: Coaching rugby to kids in Africa Playing rugby in the British Army Experiences of the Army/Navy game Various roles within the British Army, including anti-poaching roles in Africa Finding Ultra marathons and how they are incredible for physical and mental health This is a truly inspirational episode - I hope...