Amateur Rugby Podcast

I've known Sammy for many years and we've been opponents and team-mates. We have some common interests, two of which are stats and sports. This was exemplified when Sammy thrust the book 'Moneyball' by Michael Lewis into my hand one day and said: "read this, you'll love it." 24hrs later, I'd read that and I'd loved it! This interview was recorded in August of 2019 and we talked about scrummaging,...

Ben is the Director of Rugby at Ealing Trailfinders and has been involved with the club since their days in London Div 2. He was fly-half and Head Coach during the 2012-13 season when I played my single season for the club. This interview was recorded August of 2000 and 19 at the always improving home of Ealing Trailfinders - Vallis Way. We covered some fascinating topics: The changes Ben has witn...

Geezer and I have crossed paths in rugby circles in almost every capacity as players, coaches, on the same team and on opposite sides. Now I have been retired for some time, it is with great clarity that I can say that Mike is the best coach I ever had - a superb mixture of incredibly detailed technical appreciation, motivational skills and the ability to create a culture that bred excellence are...

Rugby isn't black and white - Conor Mullin - #179 My guest this week is Otley RFC player and Mullin Strength and Fitness founder - Conor Mullin. We talked about: Developing late in the Ulster pathway Captaining Leeds Beckett University Getting selected for Yorkshire u20s Playing for a famous club like Otley Self-development and his desire for constant learning. Building a Strength and Fitness busi...

Andy was a former team-mate at Old Colfeians RFC and he also played plenty of rugby for Bedford Athletic and North Bristol. We talked about Mulders' rugby journey which flowed into very interesting topics like the rights and wrongs of team initiations and the pros and cons of earning money in the murky world of semi-professionalism. There are also a couple of truly heartwarming rugger tales. LINKS...

My guest this week is Ashby RFC Secretary and Women's Rugby lead - Claire Kurpil. We talked about: How Ashby RFC has grown a successful women's section in less than a year. The benefits of T1 rugby (but not at the expense of full-contact). The love of going on tour. How The Bullettes will be part of the very first T1 game at the Allianz Stadium. This is a fantastic episode, full of passion and pos...

I first met Rod Turner as a teammate at Esher RFC. An athletic 2nd Row, Rod is one of the most universally liked players I have encountered in our great sport. He's a real team man and social king. We had a brilliant chat about video stitch-ups, Italian flash-mobs and what it's like to play for the 2nd XV of every rugby club in London. LINKS Contact Rod via email -  rod@incomethroughproperty.co.uk...

My guest this week is the lead for MAN v FAT Rugby - Karl White. We talked about: .The history of MAN v FAT How MAN v FAT Rugby was born The specific benefits of group sport in the weight-loss journey Some incredible early success stories This is a fantastic episode - I hope you enjoy. LINKS MAN v FAT Rugby - https://manvfatrugby.com/ Just Ask A Question - https://jaaq.org/home Facebook -  https:/...

She's an England International, she's a World Cup winner and she's bossing it on Instagram! Vicky Fleetwood is on the pod! Vicky and I had a great chat about her amazing achievements, exciting developments in the women's game and developing the next generation at Old Colfeians RFC. LINKS @vickyfleetwood_ on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/vickyfleetwood_ Outside Centre Podcast -  https://open...

My guest this week is Chesham RFC's new Chair - Karl Cross. We talked about: Taking on the role of Chair. The challenges of recruiting and retaining volunteers. Advances in the Women's game A look forward to the Women's Rugby World Cup. This is a fantastic episode - I hope you enjoy. LINKS Chesham Rugby Club - Chesham Rugby Club BUY ME A COFFEE Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https:...

The 6 Nations is over and it was another fantastic tournament. Super Saturday dealt up three very decent games - all going to form! As usual, I got a load of special guests to discuss everything that happened. For France vs Scotland - I spoke with Bruce Aitchison - a frustrated but proud Scotsman.  For Wales vs England - I spoke with Huw Jones and we discussed England's record win against Wales. B...

The 6 Nations is going all the way to Super Saturday! Three great games this weekend, and as usual, I got a load of special guests to discuss everything that happened For England vs Italy - I spoke with Phil Greenaway about the Twickenham try-fest. For Scotland vs Wales - I spoke with Stephen Corlett who noticed some distinctly amateur behaviours from one of the Welsh players. But we start with th...

My guest this week is TRY IT Rugby Academy Founder - Josh Jones. We talked about the benefits of a Rugby League background, his time in Sale Sharks Academy, what it was like to play for esteemed rugby school - Kirkham Grammar, and the horrific injuries that stunted his playing days. But Josh is still playing for Preston Grasshoppers and coaching England Lambs alongside starting his own rugby acade...

The 6 Nations is in full swing now and the middle weekend of fixtures was made up of three very different games. And as usual, I got a load of special guests to discuss everything that happened. For Italy vs France - I spoke with Mike Petretta who spoke warmly about how well France played against his Italians. For England vs Scotland - I spoke with Phil Greenaway and we did our best to unpick a dr...

I spoke with some incredible rugby folk to analyse the upcoming games in Round 2 of the 2025 6 Nations. For Italy vs France - actually that was just me! For England vs Scotland - Former Gloucester Academy coach - Phil Greenaway For Wales vs Ireland - Former S&C Coach for London Scottish - Simon Elkinson Enjoy the games! GET STASH England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v British & Irish Lion...

CONTENT WARNING - This episode contains many sensitive subjects throughout such as substance abuse, mental illness and suicide. If that will be triggering for you then please feel free to give this episode a miss. Thank you. My guest this week was the star of his US college rugby team, he made a ton of money in tech, and he's now an author - he is Tyler Kania. Tyler has battled mental illness thro...

The 6 Nations is in full swing now and the second weekend of fixtures was made up of three very different games. And as usual, I got a load of special guests to discuss everything that happened. For Scotland vs Ireland - I spoke with Simon Elkinson who had some damning words about the Scottish performance. For England vs France - I spoke with Phil Greenaway and we did our best to unpick a wild enc...

I spoke with some incredible rugby folk to analyse the upcoming games in Round 2 of the 2025 6 Nations. For Scotland vs Ireland - Former S&C Coach for London Scottish - Simon Elkinson For England vs France - Former Gloucester Academy coach - Phil Greenaway For Italy vs Wales - Bargoed coach - Huw Jones Enjoy the games! GET STASH England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v British & Irish Lions...

The 6 Nations has started and it was a magical first weekend of fixtures. And as usual, I got a load of special guests to add some wonderful insight into what were three great games. For Scotland vs Italy - I spoke with Mike Petretta from the Fratelli D'Rugby podcast. For Ireland vs England - I spoke with Former Harlequins and Connacht player - Dave Slemen. But we started with France vs Wales wher...

My guest this week is Veor RFC player and Chairman - Scott Lake. Scott has done so much for the game of rugby and the community around Veor RFC in Cornwall that he was awarded the prestigious RFU Volunteer of the Year award. Shortly after that his family received the tragic news that his son, Riley had been diagnosed with the extremely rare Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The rugby family gathered an...

With the 2025 Six Nations fast approaching, I spoke with some incredible rugby folk to analyse the upcoming games in Round 1 of the 2025 6 Nations. For France vs Wales - Rugby YouTuber - Rugby Merlin For Scotland vs Italy - former player for Cumbernauld RFC - Chris Burns For Ireland vs England - Former Harlequins and Connacht player - Dave Slemen Enjoy the games! LINKS Rugby Merlin - https://www.y...

With the 2025 Six Nations fast approaching, I spoke with some incredible rugby-folk to get the inside line on each of the Nations. For Wales - Former Dragons Head Coach - Dai Flanagan For England - Former England 7's Captain - Mike Friday For France - Huge French Rugby fan - Jerome Moisan For Italy - Fratelli D'Rugby Podcaster - Mike Petretta For Ireland - Former London Irish Academy Manager - Pat...

Martin and I were teammates for many years at Old Colfeians RFC and spent three more seasons running the team as DoR/1stXV Manager. We are also former work-mates in the London Fire Brigade. Our rugby history goes back a long way! LINKS Old Colfeians announce Tim Tunnicliff as DoR –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jggtg4YnCD0 Croatia rugby kit – https://twitter.com/AlbionRFC/status/116161012324627...

'Towner' and I have played a lot of rugby over the years across many different teams - Cheltenham Civil Service, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Colts, Combined London Old Boys and of course Old Colfeians. We had a good dig through our rugby history and enjoyed reminiscing about the social side of the game. LINKS Towner kindly offered to provide some assistance and advice to anyone aspiring to a caree...

He ain't heavy... From tackling practice in the back garden to playing together for Cheltenham RFC and Gloucestershire Schools to recently coaching minis rugby at Ellingham and Ringwood RFC, it's been a long rugby-filled ride with my only sibling. LINKS Chris has kindly managed to offer a membership discount for any new mini or junior players that want to try rugby at Ellingham and Ringwood RFC. J...