Rugby Through The Leagues Podcast

This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with George and Dave from Attica Rugby, the team behind the Aegean Rugby Festival, to talk about growing rugby in Greece through sport tourism. They cover the festival's origins, the vision of showcasing Greece as a sporting destination, and the reality of 2026 — a scaled-back event after travel uncertainty and rising costs forced multipl...

This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with Xhino, chairman of the Albanian rugby federation, for the story of how a sport almost nobody was playing became a national project. Xhino traces it back to 2010–2012, when a handful of students inspired by YouTube clips started throwing a ball around — through the founding of Tirana Rugby Club to official federation recognition in 2024. H...

German rugby is rebuilding — and new head coach Mike Poppmeier is the man tasked with leading it back. In this episode, Carl sits down with Mike Poppmeier, the new head coach of Germany and a former Germany international, for an open conversation about Rugby Europe, the national team's future, and the funding gap holding it all back. Mike talks through his South African upbringing, his German...

The Rugby Through the Leagues podcast welcomes Jordan, organiser of Heart of Wales 7s, and Stu from The Flaming Unicorns / Tough Enough To Care, to talk rugby, community and mental health. Jordan charts the tournament's growth from 16 men's teams to an 11-year event drawing around 1,500 people — with the goal of 6,000 — and the entertainment that's grown with it: Flamingo Bingo, box...

Former Wales and British & Irish Lions flanker Josh Navidi on the neck injury that ended his career and life after the game. In this episode: the injury & retirement call; Wales & Lions highlights; the transition out of pro rugby; advice for young players. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Passport P...

Sam Hollingsworth on swapping the RFU Championship for Spain's División de Honor — Nottingham to VRAC Valladolid, the ACL injury, and what English players should know about Spanish rugby. In this episode: leaving the English system; standard of the División de Honor; the ACL comeback; advice for imports. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱...

Copa del Rey winner Vidal Souza breaks down Alcobendas' 40–39 derby final win over Cisneros and the clutch mentality behind it. In this episode: the 40–39 final; turning late losses into a title; the Madrid derby; Spanish club rugby. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Clutch Mentality Intro 00:16 Podcast Wel...

Rugby TTL hosts Charlie from What's All the Ruckus to debate the future of tier 2 and tier 3 rugby and how to grow the game. In this episode: why tier 2/3 matters; Rugby Europe & MLR; World Cup 2031/2035; emerging nations. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Podcast Collaboration Intro 00:44 Why Cover Tie...

Fiji great Nikola Matawalu on the Aegean Sevens festival, growing sevens in Greece and the Fijian pathway. In this episode: the Aegean Sevens project; sevens in Greece; Fiji pathways; moving into coaching. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:36 How Nikola Joined Aegean Sevens 01:40 Greec...

A full Six Nations 2026 review — Ireland second, a Welsh revival, France edging England, and why rugby must market itself better. In this episode: championship review; Ireland, Wales & France; the new format; rugby's marketing problem. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Six Nations Recap 01:09 Format And...

Eleni Voultepsis on the rebirth of Greek rugby — national teams, Rugby Europe membership and youth pathways. In this episode: putting Greece on the map; national teams; Rugby Europe; youth development. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Meet Eleni of Greek Rugby 00:25 First Women’s XV Debut 01:01 Men’s Match vs A...

The panel recaps a huge Six Nations weekend — Ireland v England, Wales' collapse, France rolling Italy — plus fantasy rugby. In this episode: round-by-round breakdown; Ireland v England; Wales v Scotland; fantasy picks. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Hooker Depth Rant 00:24 Ireland vs England Reaction 02...

A midway Rugby Europe Championship review with Game Day Bites — Spain v Georgia, a Portugal preview, Romania's struggles and relegation chaos. In this episode: Spain v Georgia; Portugal preview; Romania; relegation race. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Welcome and Collab Intro 00:52 Meet Game Day Bites 01...

A deep dive into Super Rugby Americas with Joe Santamaria — the competition feeding Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil. In this episode: what Super Rugby Americas is; the South American pipeline; Pumas/Cóndores/Teros; where to watch. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:24 O...

Round 1 of the Six Nations reviewed, plus the fantasy picks that paid off and the ones that didn't. In this episode: round 1 results; team news; fantasy strategy. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and First Round Recap 00:15 Fantasy Rugby Picks and Strategies 02:56 Italy vs Scotland: A Surprisi...

With Rob & Rich from Rosbifs Rugby, we dig into French rugby development and its impact on the smaller Rugby Europe nations. In this episode: French rugby development; the JIFF rule; impact on Rugby Europe; club v country. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00.

The hosts build their Six Nations fantasy squads — the bankers, the differentials and the captaincy calls. In this episode: fantasy squad selection; value picks; captaincy; round 1 preview. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00.

Finlay Harrison, the 21-year-old head coach and director of rugby for Hungary, on building an international programme from the ground up. In this episode: becoming an international DOR at 21; growing Hungarian rugby; tier 3 coaching. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:17 Meet Finley Ha...

We reflect on a big 2025 for Rugby TTL and look ahead to 2026. In this episode: 2025 highlights; channel growth; 2026 plans. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Year-End Reflection 00:43 Team Expansion and Collaborations 01:58 Social Media Growth and Strategy 04:11 2025 Highlights and Key Episodes...

Ben Donald on an unlikely route to international rugby — from social rugby in the UK to a full Brazil cap. In this episode: the unlikely journey; qualifying for Brazil; social rugby to international; tier 2 life. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:40 Ben's Brazilian Roots an...

Polly, Keith and Adam continue the autumn international deep dive — Wales' problems, Australia's struggles and the global game. In this episode: autumn recap; Wales in crisis; Wallabies' decline; the global game. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Recap of Part One 00:21 Wales&apos...

Carl catches up with Edward Anderson (Senior Huevo) on Spain's Rugby World Cup draw and what's next for Los Leones. In this episode: Spain's World Cup draw; progress & potential; Los Leones; growing the game. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement 01:22 G...

Part 1 of our autumn internationals breakdown — standout performances, upsets and what they mean. In this episode: autumn internationals; team-by-team analysis; upsets; predictions. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:29 South Africa's Dominance in Rugby 03:29 The Impact o...

Sevens coaching icon Mike Friday holds nothing back — coaching at the top, World Rugby politics and what's broken in the game. In this episode: life at the top of sevens; World Rugby politics; coaching philosophy; fixing the game. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:40 Mike F...

James Kent on his journey from Spain to Luxembourg and building one of Europe's smallest national setups. In this episode: the journey to Luxembourg; building a tier 3 nation; part-time international rugby. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction 00:12 James Kent's Rugby Journe...