B-Side Bois: A Rugby Podcast

Late release on the holiday weekend, but here is the Iowa State Men's Rugby 7s National Championship Celebration episode! Head Coach Ant Frein joins us in studio and we give his assistant coach and former player Owen McGuffin a call, and we call senior playmakers and captains Wes Cummings and Tyler Cahill! It's a fun episode but it's not all about Iowa State! We also talk about potenti...

Another jammed packed episode from the B-Side Bois with in-studio guest Parker Cziper Head Coach of West Des Moines Valley Boys' Rugby, and phone interview with Marc Blong of River City Rugby as he hypes up year 2 of Intracity 7s! Also: -Congratulations to Iowa State Men's Rugby on winning their first ever national title in D1A 7s of the ARC -Iowa Rugby Union Women's Rugby U23 Squad Wi...

A very special edition of the B-Side Bois where Mr. Gray interviews the BACK to BACK to BACK to BACK 1A State Champions, Waterloo Columbus Catholic players Mason Knipp, Connor Knudtson, Mason Burr, and head coach Kaleb Boleyn. Hear how this season compared to other seasons and also and inside look at what makes this team special. Really great interview from these kids who represent themselves so w...

HUGE EPISODE as we celebrate our 1 Year Anniversary by having UNI Alumni, IAYRA Multiple State Title Winning Coach, Bremer County Bucks, and West Des Moines Wombat legend, Jeremy Newman joins the show. We recap the IAYRA Boys’ State Championship Tournaments and preview the summer all while hearing tales from Jeremy’s career. It’s a fun episode and we can’t thank everyone enough for the support to...

Join us for a in depth recap of the All-Iowa Tournament, discussion on how to keep this tournament growing. We have a fantastic interview with Eddy Tapia as he went to the CRC 7s to referee and came back with great experiences and stories. We look at rugby through the lens of a referee and the huge impact they have on our sport. We then review Iowa State Men's National Championship Appearance...

The Bois talk to one of their newest sponsors, Bruce Dir of Tighthead Brewing Company! He is the founder, owner, and master brewer as well as our sponsor for all interviews on our show! Hear his story on how he got into brewing beer, how he founded Tighthead Brewing Company, what they're up to now, and how rugby has impacted his life! The Bois also recap the National Collegiate Rugby CRC 7s To...

We are back to our regularly scheduled programming with both Mr. Gray and Philly V talking about all things rugby related to Iowa! We have an interview with Landon Sanders of Iowa Falls Rugby, brought to you by Tighthead Brewing Company, to talk about All-Iowa and how he has helped grow Iowa Falls this spring. The Bois also take a look at the NCR CRC 7s as well as the IAYRA Boys' Standings! Jo...

Another special episode of the podcast where we interview University of Northern Iowa Women's Head Coach Meghan Flanigan. She fills us in on the prep and gameplan for the girls heading to the National Collegiate Rugby CRC 7s Tournament in Washington D.C. Meghan has been pretty prepping her team as well as returning to play for the Twin Cities Amazon Rugby Club as well as being inducted into th...

Join us for another special National Collegiate Rugby CRC 7s preview episode as we check back in with the head coach for the University of Iowa Women's team, Kathleen O'Neill! She's got some time on her hands as she's in between flights in Chicago on her way with her team to Washington D.C. Lots of great insight on what makes this team so special and why we'll be rooting for th...

Special National Collegiate Rugby CRC interview with Spencer Daves of Central College as they head down to Washington D.C. to compete in their 3rd straight Small College CRC Tournament. We thought it was time to shine the spotlight on one of the men's college programs in Iowa that doesn't always get the attention they deserve. A great look inside a very unique program. Interview only this...

Join Mr. Gray and Jeremy Newman as they commentate the matches from 4/21/23 in Week 4 of the Iowa Youth Rugby Association Boys' 7s Season. Reminder, they are not professional and are just winging it. They talk about the action, which you can watch on our Facebook page, and also talk about rugby in Iowa and in general. They are joined throughout by multiple guests who share their insight! It&#3...

Welcome to the Mid-Season Premiere Episode of Season 2! After 3 weeks of recovery from Nashville we are BACK! We have an amazing show for you with 3 fantastic interviews. Here's the run down: -Nashbash -Iowa High School Selects Boys Try Out April 23rd in Bondurant -NCR Open Letter -Collegiate Rugby Championships on April 28-30 in Washington DC -UNI Women, ISU Women, Iowa Women, Aquinas Women,...

Huge episode this week as we recap some of the rugby happenings in the state of Iowa. Lots of news with the Iowa Rugby Union Select Sides for Senior Men and U23 Women. UNI Men hosting clinics for high school kids, Twin City Amazon Rugby hosting college women for a clinic. Then we have one of our biggest guests on the show Tavius Sykora-Matthess of the American Raptors. He details what it's bee...

Niko Felice stops by the Wombat Den to talk with the Bois about his vast experiences with rugby! He started his career in high school with Southeast Polk High School under the guidance of Iowa Rugby Union Hall of Fame member and coach, Brent Wheeler "Cope," then continued in college at the University of Northern Iowa then finished at the University of Iowa. As a senior men's player, he played for...

Spring is here! And even though we may have gotten snow all across Iowa, that's not stopping all the rugby action. The Iowa Society of Rugby Referees added new referees this weekend while the Iowa Youth Rugby Association added new coaches at the Quad Cities USA Rugby Developmental Courses. Also, on Saturday, the Iowa AGM took place! We talk to Kelsie McDowell as she fills us in on the Iowa Rugby U...

Happy Friday! A great episode where we hear from TWO NEW programs joining the IAYRA this spring, Ames and Van Meter! We also take a look at the Midwest Rugby Union Competition Meeting Minuted and Notes, a look into the new USA Rugby program called the Hawks, previews for MLR, American Raptors, and 6 Nations while also including our normal banter and commentary!

Attention High School Rugby Players and High School Rugby Coaches, if you want to play at a high level during high school and beyond, this is the episode to listen to! Ethan Pougnet, the founder and head guy in charge of Rebel Rugby Academy, joins the show with one of his coaches and talent scouts, friend of the program Casey Hansen. They explain what Rebel Rugby is, why it's beneficial to you, ho...

In the Wombat Den, Jacob "White Rice" Sunde joins us for 90 minutes of great rugby talk! As one of the top young players in the Iowa Rugby Union, Jacob had the opportunity to go to a Premiere Rugby 7s combine and was selected to be a part of their player draft pool. We also talk about the changes and growth being made at his home club, Des Moines Rugby. Many fun stories about his college days star...

Join the Bois for the latest news in the Iowa Rugby Union as well as news on the opportunity to go to a Major League Rugby Match in Chicago on April 23rd as they interview Dan Brinks, the President of the Fox Valley Māori Rugby Club, who has set up this great event! The Bois also recap a busy weekend of rugby all across the world! Check it out! -Welcome -Roder Epoxy -Philly V Lifts Heavy Weights -...

The Bois talk with one of the coaches from the defending 2A Iowa Youth Rugby Association Boys' State Championship coaches, Casey Hansen of Waverly-Shell Rock. He gives us insight on how the program is looking to not only maintain their place at the top but also how they look to continue to improve. Casey also helps with many select side opportunities for our Iowa High School boys and he gives us a...

The Bois start the show with recaps from all over the Major League Rugby week 1 slate as well as taking a look at the American Raptors debut in Super Rugby Americas. No Iowa Rugby Union AGM this past Saturday meant the Wombats hosted a Chicago Hounds watch party at Pally's Bar & Grille in Clive. The Bois hear from Greg Rodrigue, coach of Indianola Boys rugby who are back from taking a couple o...

It's been a crazy week trying to get Mr. Gray and Philly V in the same room at the same time, but we don't want you to miss this great interview with the new president of the Iowa City Ducks, Joel Horne. He fills us in on his rugby story along with his plans to help push the Ducks forward. Mr. Gray then has updates with the Iowa Rugby Union Annual Grand Meeting in Iowa City is postponed, Kelsie Mc...

Happy Valentines Day and post Super Bowl Hangover Day from the B-Side Bois! We finally take a look at the open letter from the USA Board of Directors and talk about their plans to move forward followed by their interesting strategy with how they have chosen to "work" with National Collegiate Rugby on their upcoming CRC 7s Tournament. It's not pretty. We get back to Iowa rugby by interviewing Craig...

Mr. Gray flies solo today as he interviews Dennis Oliver of the Iowa Youth Rugby Association. The IAYRA boys' season is right around the corner and Dennis fills us in on all things youth rugby. Great insight from a guy who has been with the IAYRA since the start over a decade ago for both girls and boys. Dennis has coached, refereed, and been an administrator while pouring so much of his time into...

The Bois are back and have a great guest on today's episode. Brad Dufek of Madison United Rugby & Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex and National Collegiate Rugby joins us to talk about his new role with Madison United Rugby, the behind the scenes of NCR, and goals for this upcoming year. If you are truly interested in growing the game of rugby in your community, give this interview a listen. Brad...