The Rugby Wrap

This week's guest, Wallaroo and Western Force Super W player Michaela Leonard, is so eloquent she makes us sound like English is our second language. Great to hear her enthusiasm for the game and the Force program. Plus we touch on the leaguie who's just signed with rugby. All technical glitches and internet drop outs thanks to my new upgraded iPrimus plan.

Really interesting chat with Super Rugby referee Graham Cooper, who talks about refereeing the breakdown, when a head clash warrants a card and what he looks for when awarding scrum penalties. A real good listen. Plus the mailbag and another shameless plug for our rugby world cup tour.

Great to catch up with Jeremy Thrush to talk Western Force and the local club comp in WA. In between, Mitch experiences a fire alarm, we talk about the new tackle rule and we dive into the mailbag.

Interestingly, the number of minutes this podcast goes for is less than the points differential between the Reds and the Force. It's been a tough week all round.  

Great to catch up with Western Force centre Hamish Stewart to chat about the win over the Rebels and to preview this week's match against the Reds. Plus the mailbag and another blatant plug for the Rugby Wrap's Rugby World Cup Tour. (All the details at rugbyworldcuptour.com)

We catch up with new Western Force captain, Michael Wells, to chat about the season ahead, why he came to the Force and why the Chicago Bulls could be playing a role. Plus a monster mailbag. It's good to be back!

We catch up with former Kalamunda Bull, Matt Durrant, the man behind 'Gold Digger - The search for Australian rugby', which airs on Fox Doccos straight after the Bledisloe, which we also talk about. Plus we wrap the Rugby WA grand final and dive into the mailbag. (This is one of those episodes where, the moment you finish, you think of all the things you forgot to talk about.)

We catch up with UWA's Jack Bromley and Wests' Josh Tinomana as we preview this weekend's grandfinal. We find out what happened to Tess's leg and then cover a number of topics in the mailbag that warrant far more time than we gave them.

A quick 'round the grounds' episode covering most of the hot topics in rugby.

Great to catch up with Rugby South Australia CEO, Carl Jones, on the eve of the Wallabies test at Adelaide Oval to talk about the state of the game in that part of the world. Plus Heath Tessmann talks about the scrum clock and we dive into the mail bag.

Former UWA player, Wallaby and RugbyWA President, John Welborn, talks about the new competition structure for 2023. Plus the mailbag and other consistencies, like Heath Tessmann being absent.

With no Wallabies games to review or preview, we shoot the breeze about some other issues in rugby, talk about Heath Tessmann's try for Nedlands, and talk up Scott Tolmie, the super sub from Soaks.

Heath Tessmann comes out of his trailer to join Mitch and Mick for an express Rugby Wrap, where we look at the Wallaby v England series after two games and ponder the ramifications of this weekend's round of matches in the Fortescue Premier Grade competition.

Two-thirds of the Rugby Wrap team review the first test, preview the second and then dive deep into the mailbag to look at new signings for the Force and some other things happening in the world of Australian rugby. 

You'd think after nearly 80 episodes we'd be a little more professional. We obviously have a long way to go. In this episode we wrap up Super Rugby, announce our last Hero of the Week and have a surprise special guest in the Mail Bag. 

Great to catch up with new Force coach Simon Cron. I think he'll fit in real well. Plus the mailbag and the penultimate round of Hero of the Week, won by Rory Anthony for nominating Roodogs hooker Scotty Cornell - who played his 150th premier grade game against Perth Bayswater. That's 150 consecutive, none missed at all. What a worthy winner. 

New RugbyWA President John Welborn talks us through his plans, Mitch and Tess name their Wallaby XV and Huw Tindall wins a beer voucher. What an episode!

For our 75th episode we catch up with Western Force backrower Tim Anstee, rummage through the mail bag and give away some beer.  Happy days.

RWC bid director Phil Kearns explains what hosting the sport's biggest event means to Australian rugby and we work through the scenarios on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.

Former Western Force player Johan Bardoul talks about his transition from professional player to club coach. Plus he shares his thoughts on the Force and what they need to do with their young talent. 

If you haven't seen any vision from All Abilities Rugby, have a look at this: https://www.facebook.com/westernforce/videos/382097073843371  We spoke to one of the founders, Michael Penhaligon from Southern Lions Rugby Club, about how much it means to the players and the Club as a whole. Great story.  It's everything that's good about the game.

This week's guest is former Crusaders and All Blacks No.10, Andrew Mehrtens. If that doesn't pique your interest, nothing will.

Former All Black and Western Force half, Alby Mathewson, talks a lot of sense. He highlights his concerns for the game and how ex players should be better utilised. A really good listen. Pus the Mailbag and Hero of the Week thanks to Heroes and Villains.

Absolutely fantastic to sit and chat with Fergus Lee-Warner about the Force and his exclusion from the Wallabies. What a champion fella. Plus the mailbag and Hero of the week. A ripping episode if we do say so ourselves.

It's almost hard to dislike the NSW Waratahs after catching up with their assistant coach, forwards, Pauli Taumoepeau. One of the game's genuine good guys. Plus the Mailbag and the beer voucher.