US Rugby Happy Hour

RWC25 Belle of the Ball, Eagle #316, Freda Tafuna In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Rugby World Cup 2025 Belle of the Ball, Freda Tafuna joins Bill & Fitzy to talk about her breakout performance, scoring 6 tries in two matches, and how a wakeup call from coach Sione Fukofuka helped her secure her RWC roster spot. Also, what’s next for her after graduating Lindenwood in the Spring? PWR? Switchin...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Rugby Commentator, The Rugby Rundown’s Co-Host, and Eagles #517, Will Hooley joins Bill and Fitzy to talk about USA Men finally qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and what it means for American rugby fans. Also, Will shares his opinions on USA Men’s Head Coach, Scott Lawrence’s comments about Canadian rugby, concentrating on American rugby over Canada and...

ARP’s Newest Side, Atlanta Premier Rugby - Daemon Torres & Francesco Balsas In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill welcomes two members of the newest American Rugby Premiership side, Atlanta Premier Rugby, Daemon Torres, who many of you may remember from his Rugby ATL and Dallas Jackal playing days, and ARP’s Head Coach, Francesco Balsas to talk about starting the program and how it was built....

In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and guest host, MLR Sideline Reporter, Thomas “Wheels” Grant are joined by this year’s Major League Rugby’s Number 1 overall draft pick, Will Sherman to talk about his rise at UCLA and becoming the 2nd player ever from UCLA to be drafted No. 1 overall, also what is he learning while playing for Randwick Rugby in Australia and what are his expectations for...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and Fitzy gave a fun and informative conversation with USA Eagle Tonga Kofe about his meteoric rise in rugby, going from American football players and wrestler to an international capped rugby player in merely a couple years, his success thus far resulting in a professional contract with Prem club, Leicester Tigers. The sky’s the limit for Tonga!   Follow...

RWC England Preparations, USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and Fitzy welcome back to the show, USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka, as he and the team prepare for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. Sione talks about the team’s performance against Fiji and Canada, and what will it take to defeat England in front of, what could be, the largest eve...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and Fitzy cover the latest in MLR news, specifically the news of NOLA Gold folding, perhaps just for the season, and the merger of both California’s teams. Then USA Women’s Eagle, No. 303, comes on the show to talk about her recovery from major knee injury, facing Canada this weekend and her World Cup preps. Oh, and we delve into her Trampolining past!!   ...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and Fitzy welcome USA Eagle, Makeen Alikhan to talk about making his debut. Did Canada ever come calling? Will Anthem win a game next season? And what will it mean to take the field against his former Quins teammates when USA faces England in DC. All that, and more! Be sure to tune into the 2nd half of the show with New England Free Jacks & Northland Taniw...

On this episode of US Rugby Happy Hour, New England Free Jacks and Northland Taniwha Head Coach, Ryan Martin, joins Bill & Fitzy to talk about the Free Jacks 3-Peat and all the players who made it possible, including Pala Balakana, Brock Webster and how impactful Harrison Boyle was to the team, leaving his attorney job to return to rugby.   Be sure to listen to the 1st part of the show with USA Ea...

In this episode of US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE, Bill and Fitzy breakdown last weekend's actions in Pawtucket, where the New England Free Jacks defeated the Houston SaberCats to win their record breaking 3rd straight championship. An achievement no other professional team in the US has done in 23 years! Who were the game changers and stars? How did the referees do? And, can New England do it again nex...

In this special live podcast, Bill Baker of American Rugby Rising, teams up with Ryan Ye and Matt Ye, of The Fantasy Ruckers, to bring you a live broadcast from the Major League Rugby Championship Fan Festival in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Bill, Ryan and Matt breakdown the matchup between the defending MLR Champs, New England Free Jacks, and the Houston SaberCats, making their first finals appearanc...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE episode, Bill and Fitzy return after a short sabbatical just in time to preview the MLR Championship match with the help of The Fantasy Ruckers’ Ryan Ye and the WER Legacy Cup with YSC Rugby’s Wendy Young! Who has the upper hand in Rhode Island, New England Free Jacks or Houston SaberCats? Can the New York Exiles upset the Denver ONYX in the inaugural WER Legacy Cu...

On this episode of US Rugby Happy Hour Podcast, Bill returns alongside Fitzy to interview USA Eagle and San Diego Legion Hooker, Shilo Klein. We discuss Shilos climb in New Zealand rugby, staring with the Baby Blacks in their U20 Champions runs, then moving his way through provincial and Super Rugby, on his way to Major League Rugby and USA Eagles.  Be sure to listen to the first part of the live...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE episode, Bill returns alongside Fitzy to interview Houston SaberCats and USA Eagle Prop Pono Davis. Pono is that rare crossover athlete success story, going from college football to pro football, to test rugby in a mere 5 years. Pono talks about making the move to rugby, trying out for American Raptors and eventually finding his way to Houston SaberCats and into an...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE episode, Fitzy and guest host, filling in for Bill, New England Free Jacks Director of Communications and Entertainment, and MLR Sideline Reporter, Thomas “Wheels” Grant, welcome USA Rugby Men’s Head Coach, Scott Lawrence. Scott, Fitzy and Wheels dive into the recently announced rugby calendar for both the men’s and women’s programs, who will be on this’ summer’s r...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE episode, Fitzy and guest host, filling in for Bill, YSC Rugby’s Wendy Young, welcome USA Eagle and Boston Banshee Foundational Member, Emily Henrich. Emily, deep into Banshee trainings, talks about her time in the PWR with Leicester Tigers and now a member of the inaugural WER Boston Banshee’s team, her teammates and more. What does it mean to her to be a part of t...

On this episode of US Rugby Happy Hour Podcast, Fitzy and guest host, filling in for Bill, YSC Rugby’s Wendy Young, welcome WER President and co-founder, Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf as part of an hour long show including Boston Banshee and USA Eagle, Emily Henrich. In this half of the show, Fitzy and Wendy talk to Jessica about the inaugural season kicking off very soon. Will there be a broadcast dea...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE episode, Fitzy sits down with the producers of the Amazon Prime rugby documentary, “Quest For The Shield” Producers, Deidre and Justin LePera. Deirdre and Justin share how the doc was made, getting great access to the players and getting them to open up to the camera about the team’s struggles, successes, and the family vibe inside the San Diego Legion camp.   Foll...

In this US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE episode, Bill and Fitzy welcome Major League Rugby Director of Match Officials, David Wilkinson on to talk about what is making the entire rugby world abuzz, new 2025 MLR Trialed Laws. Are they turning union into league? Will scrums suffer? Why these implementations and why in Major League Rugby? Also, who sets these laws, MLR or Rugby Union? Will they have an effe...

In US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE, 2024 Major League Rugby Rookie of the Year, Junior Gafa joins Bill and Fitzy to talk about signing full time with Anthem Rugby Club, his new teammates, the influence Coach Al (Alama Leremia) has on his life and career, 2025 hopes for the team’s success, and his future Eagles goals, hoping to cap for USA sooner than later! Follow @eaglesoverseas and @rugbymorning on Twi...

BONUS EPISODE: US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE Intro Jingles! For Season 5, Episode 5, we introduce The Rugby Rants’ Rob “The Hammer” Hammerschmidt, North American Rugby Database curator, James Deeley, and The Fantasy Ruckers’ Ryan Ye in a powerful way… it will make you want to punch someone in the face! . LYRICS: And now,  The M-L-R two thousand twenty-five Preview show BEGINS (let’s go!) James (Deeley)...

In US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE’s annual Major League Rugby Season Preview Show, Bill and Fitzy welcome The Rugby Rants’ Rob “The Hammer” Hammerschmidt, North American Rugby Database curator, James Deeley, and The Fantasy Ruckers’ Ryan Ye to break down each MLR team leading into the season. Who’s the cream of the crop, and who’s not? And, which teams are our picks to top each conference, and who wins...

BONUS EPISODE: US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE Intro Jingles! For Season 5, Episode 5, World Rugby GM US Operations, RWC31 - Ross Young is introduced in a very dramatic, broadway-esque, cartoon superhero way. Oddly enough, another guest who has never been introduced with a jungle. We are so futuristic! HA! . LYRICS: Let's welcome back to the show,  Former CEO of U-S-A Rugby Now World Rugby General Manage...

Bill and Fitzy kick off what hopefully will be an annual show about the preparations of the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups, hosting by USA Rugby by welcome World Rugby GM or US Operations, RWC31, Ross Young. We dive deep into the current status of their preparations, site surveys, what are they looking for in locations, any conflicts with NFL and College football seasons, or is World Rugby plannin...

BONUS EPISODE: US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE Intro Jingles! For Season 5, Episode 3, guest Wendy Young… YSC Rugby’s leader is introduced with this instant Top 40 hit! LYRICS: Hey, hey, it’s time Let's bring on the leader in women’s rugby coverage Your Scrum half Connection, The mastermind behind We’re assuming she once played scrum half Or has a thing for scrum halves… Former rugby referee, coach and p...