In the final episode of 2019, Lewis and Leon sit down to unpack where their lives are at after Rugby, including the lessons to be learned from failure and the importance of finding a passion outside of sport.

Leon confides in Lewis about his struggles with alcohol, how he felt distanced from his friends and team mates after retirement and in turn how these experiences fuelled him into his current line of work that aims to athletes transition out of sport and into other careers.

Lewis shares the incredible story of meeting and forming a strong bond with Joss Rowley-Stark in 2012 that inspired the launch of the Lewis moody Foundation, after the 14 year old rugby fan sadly lost his battle with cancer.

Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org

Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com

 

Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

The Former flanker and number eight who played with the Northampton Saints, and the British and Irish Lions, joins Lewis and Leon to discuss the highs and lows of his extraordinary career. 

In this episode, Rodber speaks candidly about his battle with self esteem while playing rugby and confessed that he wanted to leave the game because he doubted his talent in the sport. But it’s his high standards and relentless drive for success that has led him to achieve on the rugby field, in his role as as an army captain and in the business world where he currently resides. 

Although Rodber admits that he’s not a particularly reflective person when it comes to looking back on his life, he opens up about the emotion behind the iconic photo of him helping Pat Lam lift the Heineken Cup back in 2000, the people he considers his mentors,  what he describes as his tyranny as captain of the Saints and how he struggled to leave the discipline of being a sportsman behind in his retirement. 

Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org

Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com

 

Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Rav Wilding has been a permanent fixture on our screens ever since he got his first, unexpected TV presenting gig on Crimewatch back in 2004 - but that wasn’t the first career he had under his belt.. 

In this episode lifelong rugby fan, Rav, opens up about how his childhood dream of a career in the army were cut short when he sustained a serious leg break and was forced to leave the 5th Airborne Brigade specialist unit that he was serving in. The sadness and regret he felt about leaving not only his dreams behind but also his friends. 

A ‘sliding doors’ moment in his life led him to a career working as a security guard in Harrod’s before he then pursued a career in the Police Force. During this time Rav was posted to Peckham in Southwark to work on the estate where Damilola Taylor was murdered as part of a specialist unit specifically created in the aftermath of the tragic incident.

Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org

Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com

 

Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Leon turns the tables on Lewis as he grills his former team mate and 'Mad Dog'on his own life and career in Rugby. 

 

Lewis joined the Leicester Tigers in in 1996 and at just 18 became the youngest player to play a league game. His career went from strength to strength and he left the sport with a host of accolades to his name and an MBE to boot. 

 

In this candid conversation he chats to Leon about those eventful early years where he struggled to balance University life with Rugby, his passion for Leicester and reveals the devastation he felt when his contract was terminated in 2010 after 14 years - something he still finds difficult to deal with to this day. 

 

They talk about the moment Martin Johnson asked him to be captain of the England team, while stood in his back garden. The numerous severe injuries that plagued his career and caused him to miss the 2007 Six Nations Championship, and his silent battle with Ulcerative Colitis; which he hid from doctors, coaches, teammates and friends. 

 

Well known for his all or nothing style on the field, this approach has not come without some trouble attached, and Lewis is open and honest about that infamous red card he received in 2005 after being the first England player to be sent off at Twickenham for fighting with fellow Leicester teammate Alex Tuilagi. 

 

 

Former Coventry, Saracens and Bath player, Danny Grewcock MBE, is one of the most revered players of his generation. Now working in a role as High Performance Rugby Manager as Clifton College, Grewy shares the skills and knowledge that he has learned about the game throughout his stellar career onto to younger generations. 

After starting his career by moving into the professional ranks in 1996 - 1997 in his home city of Coventry, Grewy stacked up impressive career that culminated in him clocking up over 200 appearances for Bath during his 10-year stint at the club before retiring in 2011.  

Known as “The Enforcer” for his all or nothing playing style on the field, Grewy reflects on his playing days and reputation, that broken hand injury that saw him replaced by Simon Shaw at the 2003 World Cup, what he misses the most about the game since retiring and the passion he has for helping shape and inspire the next generation of players. 

 

 

Leon and Lewis jump on the phone to recap after England’s defeat in the World Cup final at the weekend and share their thoughts on what might have gone wrong for the team. They also discuss the hot topic of why the England players were within their right to remove their runners-up medals in the aftermath of the game and their hopes that the England team can see all that they have achieved once the dust has settled. 

 

This week’s interview is with Colonel David Richmond CBE, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who is the highest ranked officer to have been shot at and seriously wounded in 2008 during the Afghanistan conflict. 

 

He underwent four years of reconstruction surgery and rehabilitation and was medically discharged from the Armed Forces in April 2012. During this time he began working for Help for Heroes and went on to become their Recovery Director, helping thousands upon thousands of injured and sick servicemen, veterans and families.

 

In this candid conversation, David talks us through the moment he was struck in battle, the physical and mental challenges he faced and the dramatic changes he had to adapt to in both his personal and professional life. 

 

A lifelong rugby fan - and Bath supporter - David explains how close the links between military and athletic mindsets are and how his experience has helped him with his work at Switch The Play, helping athletes transition out of sport.

Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org

After England head towards the 2019  World Cup final they have the chance to win it for the first time since 2003 when they face South Africa in Yokahoma.

Lewis is joined by Mark “Ronnie” Regan who was also part of the winning team that brought England victory 16 years ago to bring their insight and experience on how the weekend’s game will go down and deliver some home truths about his own life and playing career. 

The former British Lions, England and Barbarians hooker could be considered one the most misunderstood players of his generation as he reveals that he has been profoundly deaf since childhood. His coping mechanism was to “clown around” in order to prevent people discovering his secret and admits that it had some impact on his relationships with players both on and off the field.

In this episode, Ronnie talks us through what he considers the triumphs and tragedies of his career. His tricky relationships with coaches such as Michael Foley and Clive Underwood, falling out with Robbo and the personal struggles he has battled with since retiring over ten years ago.

Meanwhile Leon catches up with former Wasps and England Flanker, Joe Worsely in Japan to hear about his World Cup memories. 

Find Mark on Twitter @MarkRegan 

Thanks to Beer52 and Harry’s for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget to cash in on your free beer at beer52.com/MOODY and order your Harry’s trial kit for just £3.95 at harrys.com/MOODY

 

Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org

Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play:  switchtheplay.com

 

Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Lewis is joined by Welsh rugby star and Bath player Jamie Roberts as they reflect on the latest Word Cup action, looking back on Wales vs France and make their predictions for the Wales vs South Africa and England vs New Zealand semi final game. 

While Leon is over in Japan (at last!) and brings us World Cup memories from former head coach of Scotland and Edinburgh rugby, Frank Hadden.

Newport born and Cardiff bred Jamie Roberts is not a man that likes to rest on his laurels. Whether he’s out on the field training, studying medicine, dabbling in punditry or playing on stage with the Manic Street Preachers, Jamie seizes an opportunity when he’s presented with it. 

In this episode, Jamie chats to Lewis about how he juggles life on and off  the field as he studies for his fourth degree, playing for the Harlequins, disappointments in the 2009 Heineken Cup, gaining perspective after career lows and why a move to France in  2013 marked the best year of his life to date. 

Keep across everything Jamie is up to @Jamiehuwroberts

Thanks to Beer52 for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget to cash in on your free beer at beer52.com/MOODY 

Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org

Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play:  switchtheplay.com

 

Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

The boys take a look back at the difficult past week in the Rugby World Cup 2019 with Japan proving their position in the tournament during their battle against Scotland and look ahead to the quarter finals, making their predictions for the England vs New Zealand and Wales vs France games. 

In this episode, Leon and Lewis take the podcast back to its origins and find out more about Leon’s own story and journey into rugby. From growing up in Coventry, scrapping at school, living with Johnson, finding a sense of discipline in sport and the mentor figures he encountered along the way thanks to Johnson, Neil Back and Rory Underwood. 

Leon shares the personal highs and lows he faced on his path to playing for Leicester Tigers and beyond.. 

Thanks to Beer52 and Express Vpn for sponsoring this episode. Check out this week’s special offers at beer52.com/MOODY and expressvpn.com/MOODY 

Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Your latest update on all of the 2019 Rugby World Cup action in Japan is this week's hot topic as Leon prepares to fly out to Asia and take up his post as judicial officer and the boys look ahead to the week's games.

Danielle "Nolli" Waterman is our special guest interview. With seven Grand Slams, a World Cup winners' medal and an Olympic Games under her belt, Nolli is one of the most decorated players in Rugby.

In this episode she chats to Lewis and Leon about her childhood in New Zealand, the  highs and lows of her 15 years playing international rugby, how the women's game has changed over the years and the changes she would still like to see implemented.

Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play:  switchtheplay.com/

Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music