Beyond the Breakdown

Sports EN ↓ 6 episodes

Rooted in Wales’ local clubs this new podcast, hosted by former Welsh international and Guinness World Record holder Richard Parks, brings together rugby greats and local clubs. Each week a legend of Welsh rugby shares stories of life in the game and beyond it. Recorded in the communities that shaped them, the conversations go deeper than results and rivalries, exploring identity, parenthood, and what happens when the boots are put away. Alongside personal journeys, the podcast shines a light on the real challenges facing grassroots clubs and the communities that hold them together — from risi...

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Beyond the Breakdown

Episodes

Summer special with Gareth Baber: “I recognise more now what it takes to be a top performer.” 02.07.2026 1:18:33

Beyond the Breakdown is a podcast rooted in Wales’ rugby clubs, with legends sharing stories of life in and beyond the game, and the challenges facing our communities and clubs. As Wales prepare to take on Fiji, our Summer special features a Welsh coach with some amazing stories from that remarkable and inspiring rugby country. We are talking to Gareth Baber, a coach and former player whose career...

George North: "I learned my biggest core values in rugby." 12.03.2026 1:22:47

In our sixth and final episode of this series we are talking to Wales’ top six nations try scorer and all-around superstar George North. Last but by no means least, this conversation saw us laugh, cry and really reflect on the ways in which rugby, and sport in general, can embellish your life. Together we traced the arc of his legendary career to look at the man behind the highlights – fatherhood,...

Dale 'Chief' McIntosh: We understood we weren’t just playing for ourselves 05.03.2026 1:02:33

In our fifth episode we are talking to Dale ‘Chief’ McIntosh. Chief made 454 appearances for Pontypridd RFC, and went on to coach for Wales and the Cardiff Blues among many other clubs like Brecon RFC and Pontypool RFC. Chief and Rich played together at Pontypridd, Rich’s place of birth, with Rich playing 4 seasons there, 3 wearing the black and white of the club and 1 wearing a blue, black and wh...

Scott Baldwin: "I just loved the high pressure." 26.02.2026 1:19:37

In our fourth episode we are talking to Scott Balwin – a former Ospreys, Quinns and Wales player now on an exciting journey as a coach. Scott sits at the intersection between rugby at an elite level and the game at grassroots, as a player and now as Head Coach at Bridgend Ravens. Bridgend Ravens was founded in 1878 and since then has produced 25 British and Irish Lions and a list of amazing player...

Adam Jones: "The club gave me my life." 19.02.2026 1:10:10

In our third episode we are talking to Adam ‘Bomb’ Jones, the cornerstone of the Welsh pack for over a decade, earning 95 caps and achieving a legendary feat of 3 Six Nations grand slams and 5 British and Irish Lions test caps. He’s a legend of the game on and off the field. We had our conversation at Neath RFC, home of the original all blacks. The Gnoll is a tough place to play and is home to a r...

Jon Fox Davies: "Being a professional rugby player in Wales, you understand responsibilities” 12.02.2026 1:19:44

In our second episode we are talking to Jon Fox Davies, a product of Carmarthenshire and Scarlets with 96 Welsh caps and 6 British and Irish Lions caps. Jon grew up in the hustle and bustle of his parents pub in Bancyfelin, where he gets his nickname from and as you’ll hear in our conversation today the place that raised and supported him still means as much today as it did back then. This episode...