Championship Clubs Podcast

Part two of this week's pod sees Gloucester Rugby mainstay Mark Atkinson join Mike & Gully in the studio!    With over 100 Premiership appearances Mark has recently been included in Eddie Jones 45 man training squad ahead of the Autumn Internationals but his route to the top had plenty of twists and turns.    Aki talks us through his memories of life in the Champ, which include being relegated fro...

This week's episode is so good we've split it into two parts!!!  Part one sees usual host Michael Casey back in the hot seat with his partner in crime Gully! The guest is Hartpury University Principle, Vice Chancellor & CEO Russell Marchant. Russell discusses Hartpury's phenomenal rise through the leagues, the vast scale of rugby played on campus every week as well as their frankly incredible list...

The Championship Clubs Podcast is back!  Following the first round of the 2021/22 season Gully is back in hot seat to talk all things  ‪@Champrugby. Ben is joined by guest host Dave Rogers, who kindly took time out of his busy schedule all in the name of talking Champ!    To kick things off the pair welcomed Alex Rae, who made the switch from Bedford Blues to Coventry this summer as Forwards Coach...

This week we’ve got two great guests on ‪#ChampClubsPod . The first is ‪@Saracens Chief Community Officer, Gordon Banks. Having held senior roles at Sarries since 2002, he gives us his verdict on ‪@Champrugby & the Wolfpack’s promotion winning Our second guest this week boasts over 250 games in the second tier; ex ‪Nottingham Rugby DoR, Glen Delaney. Formerly of @londonirish , ‪@Highlanders & ‪@sc...

With Gully away sunning himself on the English Riviera, host Michael Casey is joined in the co-host seat by Bedford Blues Chief Operating Officer, Gareth Alred! Gareth gives a synopsis of the past seasons streaming coverage. Then, ahead of this weekend’s Championship Final play off second leg between Saracens and Ealing at The StoneX, the pair are joined by two guys who have seen every club in the...

Northampton Saint Defence Coach Ian Vass joined Mike & Gully to talk about his time in the Championship with Bedford, Northampton & Harlequins as a player and then a coach.  Vassy talks about the role of the Championship, the progression it offers coaches as well as players. He also gives a frank assessment on promotion and relegation and the impracticalities of having a high number of EPS players...

Doncaster Knights Head Coach Steve Boden discusses his life in coaching and the Knights fine 3rd place finish to the 2021 campaign. 

Ealing Trailfinders Director of Rugby Ben Ward joins Mike & Gully to talk project Ealing Trailfinders as the Club go into the play-off finals with Saracens in a few weeks’ time. The former fly-half discusses the progress made on the pitch and off it as the Club launch their new women’s programme and continue to build their academy in association with Brunel University. He also discusses promotion...

Richmond wing Max Trimble is the week's guest on the show.  The former Coventry flyer discusses and contrasts life in a full time and part time environment as well as giving as insight into life at the RAG & how 'Mond has assisted with his transition to post rugby life.  

This week’s guest is ex Championship player turn best-selling author Ben Mercer.   Formerly of Plymouth Albion & Cornish Pirates & Rouen Normandie Rugby, Mercer joins us to discuss his unique experience of ‘Life on the Edge of Professional Rugby’.    On #MentalHealthAwareness week the trio have a discussion about the pressures of playing Champ rugby mentally and the language used around mental hea...

This is week Mike & Gully are joined by former Yorkshire Carnegie & Coventry hooker Phil Nilsen.  Phil played 11 seasons at Headingley before helping Coventry win promotion to the Championship & talks about the state of rugby union in the County of Broad Acres.  Now living and working in Gibraltar, Phil also discusses life after rugby and transitioning out of the game.  

Episode six of the Championship Clubs Podcast features Ampthill RUFC charismatic Director of Rugby Mark Lavery! Mark speaks about the Mob win over the Pirates last weekend, the impact of the Tongans and his long-term aspirations for Ampthill, in addition to discussing with Gully and Michael his club’s Championship experience to date and the importance of improving diversity and inclusivity in the...

Episode five of the Championship Clubs Podcast goes live today at 17:00.   The Podcast, which aims to provide a positive voice for the league, is available to listen to via Apple Podcast and Spotify and can also be watched on Youtube – just search Championship Clubs Podcast.   Episode five focuses on this weekend’s top of the table clash between Saracens and Ealing Trailfinders at The Stonex. Host...

In the latest episode of the the Championship Clubs Podcast Tom Youngs talks about how his time at Bedford Blues & Nottingham helped shape him into a British & Irish Lion with 28 England Caps. We also take a deep dive into the current Championship season with Jersey Reds hooker George Edgson. Edgy talks about his experiences in the league and as part of Premiership academy with Wasps and answer th...

The development Episode!  In a blockbuster edition of the show Mike & Gully are joined by Tomas Francis & Ali Price who boast 99 international caps between them. Long before they were setting the international scene alight they honed their skilled in the Championship.  Both players discuss the role Champ Rugby played in their development. 

In Episode 2 of the Championship Clubs Podcast Mike & Gully are joined by Phil Boulton & Peter Lydon. Phil has achieved over 300 Championship appearances with Coventry and previously Bedford Blues. He discusses his experiences of full and part time environments, the balance of work and rugby and where he feels the Championship fits in to the English rugby ecosystem! Secondly we have Peter Lydon. W...

🎙️𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 #𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙍𝙪𝙜𝙗𝙮 This week co-hosts Michael Casey & Ben Gulliver are joined by Cornish Pirates Head Coach Alan Paver. The trio discuss the Pirates fine start to the 2021 campaign, how the game has changed due to Covid & the true value of English rugby's second tier.