Emirates Dubai 7s - Tales from the Sand

Season Four of Emirates Dubai 7s, Tales from the Sand continues with a returning guest, the wonderful Nolli Waterman.

Nolli won the Rugby World Cup with England and played for Team GB in the Rio Olympics. She can now be found across television and computer screens presenting the game.

Nolli chats about the heartbreak of losing the medal match in Rio. Breaking into broadcast and her love of coaching. She is a Lvl 4 coach and leads programs in the UK and Italy.

Waterman is a ball of energy, super honest and engaging. This was a lot of fun!

Tales from the Sand speaks to the biggest names in the world of rugby while celebrating the best rugby 7s tournament in the world, the Emirates Dubai 7s. Join hosts Chris McHardy and Tom Burwell each week as they sit down with the great and the good of the game.

Season Four of Emirates Dubai 7s, Tales from the Sand kicks off with the irrepressible man-mountain James Haskell

Haskell played for the British Lions, England and clubs across the world and is now a well-known media personality featuring on I'm a Celeb and hosting Podcasts in Pop Culture and Sport.

James chats about his experience in the 2015 RWC and why it didn't work. Why the British Lions tour would have still been a huge amount of fun despite the pandemic and has some fun talking about his passion for DJing and staying true to himself on social media.

Tales from the Sand speaks to the biggest names in the world of rugby while celebrating the best rugby 7s tournament in the world, the Emirates Dubai 7s. Join hosts Chris McHardy and Tom Burwell each week as they sit down with the great and the good of the game.

Season Four of Emirates Dubai 7s, Tales from the Sand kicks off with popular South African flyer Bryan Habana.

Bryan Habana is widely considered one of the greatest rugby players of all time, and he's got the CV to back it up! In this wide-ranging interview to kickstart a brand new series of Tales from the Sandpit podcast, brought to you by Dubai Eye 103.8, the South African rugby legend looks back on some of the highs - and lows - from his illustrious, try-laden career.

From his unique insight on what it means to be a Springbok to outlining his biggest disappointment in rugby, Habana is at his candid best in this wide-ranging chat. He also reveals what made Jonny Wilkinson the best player he's ever played with, his childhood obsession with Brian O'Driscoll and opens up on the pressures of being an elite athlete.

Tales from the Sand speaks to the biggest names in the world of rugby while celebrating the best rugby 7s tournament in the world, the Emirates Dubai 7s. Join hosts Chris McHardy and Tom Burwell each week as they sit down with the great and the good of the game.

Tom is joined by a legend of the Rugby 7s world. He has coached USA, England & Kenya. Played on the series, played for London Wasps, coached all over the world and is the architect of many teams. Mike Friday chats all things rugby 7s from building teams, to the MLR, to changes needed on the series and his early memories of invitational rugby and playing on the sand in Dubai. Mike is not afraid to speak his mind and this is one of the best episodes yet!

Tom is joined by a legend of the XVs game and after dinner circuit, Simon Shaw. Simon has toured with England & The British Lions and is an advocate of touring from a young age. They chat Dubai, 7s, The British Lions, England, the modern game as Simon joins from Toulon and Tom in Dubai. 

He first came to the Dubai 7s when the tournament was played on sand, he went on to win a RWC7s with England despite only two training sessions and taking on the likes of Lynagh, Sella and Campese. 

He went to Hong Kong 7s and sadly had his career come to an end which set up on a path of transforming the game of rugby from outside the whitelines as head of the RPA. 

Recently awarded an MBE for services to rugby, Damian Hopley joins the show and talks about his 25-year love affair with the game of 7s and Dubai and why he thinks 'Dubai 7s is the best in the world'

Tom is joined this week by another Tom. Tom May played for Newcastle, Toulon, London Welsh and Northampton Saints in a career that saw him capped by England XVs and 7s. Tom is now a regular in the International Vets division here in Dubai for the Joining Jack Legends alongside former stars of Union & League. They have even had the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Owen Farrell as waterboy. Tom chats Falcon and Toulon, Jonny Wilkinson, lockdown, touring and the competitive mentality that never goes away. One not to be missed!

Alex Davis joins the show today. Alex has been a stalwart of the England 7s squad for the past six years and during that time he has faced a litany of career-threatening injuries. Alex talks about the impact this has had on him as a person and a player and how he has continued to bounce back. 

AD talks about the loneliness that can be felt as a professional sportsman both on tour and when left at home facing rehab and the building blocks he puts in place to succeed and stay positive. He talks about his gold medal moment when he was selected for Team GB and the desolation he felt when faced with calling his Mother & Sister to tell them he had been injured in the gym in Brazil.

Alex touches on the loss of his father and the keen sense of responsibility he has for representing his family when playing for England but also the importance of having more in his life than sport both with people and the things he does. 

This is an exceptional listen for anyone on their own mental health journey or someone who wants to understand how performance is not always about continuous pressure.

Tom is joined this week by two referees who have made their mark on the game of rugby & 7s. Richard Haughton scored 100 tries for England as part of a successful Hong Kong winning squad before now being the only official to keep up with the likes of Baker & Isles and he is joined on the pod by JP Doyle who started his international officiating career on World Series before going on to referee in the Premiership, Heineken Cup and Internationally.

They chat the role of the referee, what the series looked like 10 years ago compared to now. Why JP takes his training so seriously and an infamous Kangaroo Court in Dubai. Richard discusses Olympic aspirations and more.

Another Tale from the Sand, lets jump in!

TB chats with Lewis & Alex from the Cats & Beavers respectively who take part in the International Social Division each year. They talk about running their clubs, what it takes, why they come to Dubai and ultimately about it means more than just a tour.

The boys talk about gratitude, representing the charity and the tough challenges both clubs have faced with having to have a year on the sidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both the Beavers and Cats are a huge part of the foundation of the tournament and their experiences are as much what makes up the Dubai 7s as those of the international teams.