The London Welsh Rugby Club Podcast

Our guest this week, is former London Welsh Director of Rugby, Clive Griffiths.  Clive played Rugby Union for Llanelli whilst completing his A levels and then post University, combined teaching with playing for them.  He was a full back and had to wait his time behind JPR Williams to get his cap for Wales, when he made his debut vs England.  He then signed for St Helens and played Rugby League for...

Our guest this week is Dylan Pugh. Dylan came to London Welsh from Neath RFC after a couple of successful years being coached by Lyn Jones; playing with many who went on to represent Wales and the Lions with distinction.  His pathway to Neath wasn't typical as he was part of the Bath academy when Bath were in the pomp, but only played a couple of matches at senior level before he was snapped up by...

Our guest this week, is Club Captain Chris Lilly.  Before Joining Welsh, Chris had a rich rugby background, playing through the various Leinster age groups - A Schools, u18 etc. and got a rugby scholarship to UCD (University College Dublin). Chris then earned a place in the Leinster sub Academy for 2 years and started for the Leinster u20s during their winning interprovincial campaign. To top...

This weeks' guest is Will Taylor, Strength and Conditioning Coach at London Welsh RFC.  Will arrived at London Welsh in 2017 after Sonny Parker had got in touch with him to be part of the Coaching group with Cai and him, to take the club on a journey back up the leagues.  Will was working in a restaurant, but this moment was pivotal to Will's life as this provided the opportunity for him to open u...

In this weeks' episode we have our Christmas special, where we catch up with a number of guests to see how they are, how the club is fairing and how they will be spending Christmas.  We have an episode available on Spotify only due to music rights. Joint Club President - John Taylor  Life Member - Terwyn Williams  Club Chaplain - Paul Hill  Chairman - Danny Griffiths Director of Womens' and Girls...

Our guest this week, is Honorary Vice President Seb Scotney.  Seb has been volunteering at the club for over 30 years and has inspired hundreds of players who have been coached by him in our Little Wizards (under 6's).  A language graduate from Oxford University, who went on to have a successful career in the City, but found his Sunday home as he lived around the corner from Old Deer Park.  A pass...

This weeks' guest is former London Welsh front row player, Greg Bateman.  Greg arrived at Old Deer Park in 2011 giving up a full time job and moving from Dorking RFC to have a crack at being a full time professional rugby player with Welsh.  During that time he converted to hooker and played two years for the club, before a move to Exeter Chiefs to continue playing in the Premiership. &n...

This weeks' guest is former London Welsh and Wales International player, Rebecca Rowe.  Rebecca has represented her country at three different sports and holds a World Record at another.  Rebecca enjoyed five successful seasons at the club before she went on to play for Wales and then back to Harlequins in the Tyrrell Premiership at the Elite end of Womens' rugby.  A very impressive track record a...

This weeks' guest is Master of Wine and club patron, Greg Sherwood.  The whole ethos of this podcast series is to bring interesting characters we have connected to our club to a wider audience. Greg coaches his son in the Minis on a Sunday morning and is a regular at our club lunches and sponsored Rhodri Dawes last season.  You hear about his upbringing in South Africa and then he takes us through...

This weeks' guest is former dual code International, Wales Women Head Coach and London Welsh player and coach Rowland Phillips.  Rowland commenced his rugby journey in St David's and became a Neath RFC legend playing for them in the mid to late 80's before he took the decision to move to Rugby League.  Clive Griffiths brought Rowland back to Union at London Welsh where we turned professional for t...

This week our guests are all from the London Welsh Careers Hub.  Co-Leaders, Pete Leyborne and Haydn Parry and Player Representatives, Emily Alland and Rhys Tudur Davies.   Its imperative that all our Supporters are aware of our Career Hubs and they should think to themselves, how could they assist the Hub. The Hub is a unique initiative which draws upon the experience and expertise of t...

This weeks' guest is former benefactor, President, Chairman and current Life Member; Kelvin Bryon. Kelvin joined London Welsh as President in 1994 and remained actively involved with the club until 2016 when his wife's ill health meant he had to step away from London Welsh.  Kelvin's investment, meant that the club went from Level 5 to the Premiership in 15 years and was always there to ensure tha...

This weeks' guest is club mascot, Dewi Dragon.  This is the first time we hear the voice of Dewi and learn about his history.  We understand what the challenges are of being a mascot and if there is a rivalry between other mascots in rugby and beyond.  We really get to understand the character of Dewi and what he finds so inspiring in being associated with London Welsh. This podcast...

This weeks guests is Robert Martyn Jones, who is known to all of us as Joe.  A stalwart for nearly 50 years,  player,  volunteer, Supporters Club Committee, founder of the London Welsh RFC Choir, supporter and Club Hon Vice President; he tells us what being part of the London Welsh family really means to him and the many friendships and amazing experiences he had had being part of t...

Our guest this week is Tom Baldwin. Tom joined the club at the onset of project reset and was awarded his 50th cap at the recent end of season awards.  Our towering Second row takes us trough his rugby journey from Gwent to University in London and to the hallowed turf of Old Deer Park. He speaks highly of the environment that the coaches have created and the pride he has in playing for the c...

This weeks guest, is former Director of Coaching at London Welsh; Adrian Davies.  Adrian was a talented sportsman who can turn his hand to many sports and represented Wales at age grade Football and Rugby.  As an 18 year old, he played a season at Neath RFC with other former London Welsh stalwarts, Rowland Phillips and Lyn Jones before he went to Cambridge University.  A four time Cambridge blue,...

Our guest this week is Minis Chairman and current Vets player, Simon Staton.  Simon was brought up in Bridgend, played Youth rugby and then went to play at Loughborough University.  When he moved to London, the focus was on his career; but eventually he was convinced to come and play for London Welsh and had a few seasons playing for the Occies.  Simon introduced his family to Londo...

This weeks' guest is ex England International 15's & 7's player, Paul Sampson.  Paul was England U18 sprint champion; beating Dwain Chambers who later went on to represent Great Britain at the Olympics.  Paul chose Rugby Union and has been inducted in the Wasps Hall of Fame for playing over 100 times for the club and being their Premiership Top Try Scorer in one season.  Paul pl...

This weeks' guest is Rhianon Williams who has just been appointed Chair of the Supporters Club.  She hails from Bridgend has been an active member of the Supporters Club for 14 years and is relishing the prospect of taking the helm.  We get to understand her journey to ODP and her love for organising the Coach trips to away games and the infamous International away days to City Hall. &nb...

In this episode we catch up with former Chairman of London Welsh, Gwyn Williams.  Gwyn came to London and eventually found ODP a second home for his family.  From taking his son Griff to Little Wizards with Seb Scotney, getting involved with Coaching his year group and then stepping up to become Minis Chairman.  Gwyn was then convinced to be Amateur Chairman, when the 1st XV was in...

This weeks guest is Rhys Howells.  Rhys was convinced to join London Welsh by his University mates, Lloyd Davies and Morgan Browne who were already playing for the club.  Rhys had a successful School and University background, playing for Wellington School in the Daily Mail Cup, and representing them at the Rosslyn Park 7's.  This led to Rhys playing for the Welsh Exiles; which gave...

In this weeks' episode we hear from Directors about the key points they were getting across at the AGM Danny Griffiths - Chairman Haydn Parry - Vice Chair Michael Talbot - Operations Director Ruth Barton - Director of Women's and Girls Rugby Jonathan Shankland - Head of Mens Rugby Tim Boag - Commercial Director

In this weeks' episode we talk to Club Legend from both the Pro era and Amateurs', Pete Lowe.  Pete first came to London Welsh in the mid 90's and got involved with helping the Supporters Club.  Since Adrian Davies' time, he has been employed by the club to look after the Kit and in more recent times, been  a volunteer team manager, working with Cai Griffiths. He has been with London Welsh home an...

London Welsh backs Coach and current Ealing Trailfinders player, Steven Shingler takes us through his rugby journey, from Hendy RFC to Ealing.  He has played at the top level for a number years in the Pro 14, the English Premiership and Championship and a brief stint in D2 in France.  He could not have got closer to an International cap if he tried, with both Scotland and Wales vying for his servi...

This week we hear former London Welsh outside half and Old Deer park favourite, Gordon Ross as he begins his new Coaching role at Newport Gwent Dragons.  He tell us about his rugby journey from his time in School, then Edinburgh and the pathway to being an International for Scotland.  He explains why he moved down South to Leeds and the journey from there, which took in clubs like; Castr...