In this week's roundtable, we welcome a man who is no stranger to hanging in the backyard - Sam Giordano. We cover a variety of topic including listener questions. What did Sam learn as a college club president? What makes for a great rugby tour? What's the ideal pair of shoes for Clarence? All this and more!

In our most important interview yet, we welcome Ryan Brennan to the backyard. Many know Ryan as someone who battled post-concussion syndrome for years, but that doesn't define who he is. A free spirit and true artist, Ryan takes us through his road to recovery, what he's learned from dance and music, and some important keys to life. This is a must listen not only for rugby coaches and players, but anyone going through personal challenges.

One of the unsung leaders in American rugby, Brandon Sparks is a coach and leader who puts his time and money where his mouth is. From founding Legacy Rugby Academy, to coaching Seattle Seawolves to the inaugural Major League Rugby title, and now in the front office with Utah Warriors, Sparks is all about opening doors for his athletes. If you support the growth of rugby in the USA, this interview is a must listen!

In the final Deep Dive of our opening series, Clarence and Alex talk about gameplay and how you plan your overall strategy. Whether it's a spread/pod system, loose framework, or support shape, the crew focus on playing to your strengths as a team and as a coach. Bringing together the themes from the previous Deep Dives on vision, space, principles and communication, we try to tie all the pieces together as you prepare for your season.

Scott Thomas joins the Backyard crew all the way from sunny San Diego. A long time coach and leader at University of San Diego - and BC High teammate of Alex - we talk about our favorite lifts, the East Coast vs West Coast differences in rugby, and more. Pull up a chair and join the convo!

The crew welcomes Tom Clark to the Backyard to discuss one of the most important roles in rugby - club and tour management. TC is a man who has worn many hats in his rugby career, from high school coach, academy manager, and college director of rugby. The guys discuss mentorship, organization, and much more. 

"Guys, we gotta communicate better!" This common phrase can be one of the most loaded statements in rugby. Clarence and Alex talk about what good communication means, the various aspects of communication, and how it can be the difference between good and great teams. Listen in and let us know what you think!

Clarence and Alex welcome Nick Maurer to the Backyard for a quick-hitting roundtable on crossover athletes coming to rugby. We discuss comments made by NFL punter Marquette King, the best sport to transfer to rugby, and some athletes we'd love to see on the field. Pull up a chair and join the discussion!

Kareem Afifi joins Clarence & Alex in the Backyard to talk about his journey through the coaching ranks. Coach K has worked with athletes in the Boston-area from high school to professional levels, and everything in between. Hear what he has learned along the way. 

Continuing the conversation from Episode 8, Clarence and Alex discuss their views on the core principles of defensive play. Using communication to tie everything together, the guys talk about a simple approach to stopping tries and stealing the ball. As we know - defense wins championships!