Full Contact CEO

Blaine headlines our 4th episode in the Captain America Mini Series. For a lot of US rugby fans, Blaine's career trajectory is one of perfection. Winning national titles with Cal, captaining the Eagles, and heading oversees where he consistently started for two massive European clubs, Cardiff and Leicester. Mags digs a little deeper to learn about Blaine's life after rugby that includes earning an MBA from Oxford, working in consulting, and even riding a John Deere lawnmower.

Kate Zackary is not only a menace on the pitch for the Eagles and Exeter Chiefs, but she's also a coach and balances a marketing career with a company all the way in San Francisco while she lives in England. She lets Mags in on the secret to balancing everything in her life as well as the importance of communication and strong leadership.

Todd Clever is probably the most iconic and most successful captain USA Rugby has ever had. From his home in Southern California Todd sits down with Mags to look back at his incredible career, recount some wild stories on tour, and give the listeners some insight into the Todd Clever Foundation which aims to develop grassroots rugby here in the United States. Oh, did we mention he apprehended some robbers in his Noodle Bagz?!

Dan Lyle is an American rugby pioneer. He spent years dominating the English Premiership at Bath and Leicester and even won the famed Heineken cup. Mags sits down with the towering giant to discuss his upbringing, a brief foray with the NFL, and what he's up to now as Director of Rugby at AEG as well as his work as analyst for NBC Sports.

Angela Ruggiero is a four-time Olympian and was the youngest player on the first-ever women's US Ice Hockey team where she won a gold medal. She also was the first female non-goalie to play on a men's professional hockey team. Today, she is Co-Founder and CEO of Sports Innovation Lab where her goal is to help the world's leading sports organizations identify and understand their fans, so they can create better fan experiences. We talk all things Olympics, how sports fans are changing, and her love for rugby culture.

The native New Englander embodies the word resilience. From the age of 8, Charlie Davies knew he wanted to be a professional soccer player. It was a 1994 World Cup game that sparked that dream, but little did he know his career would bring him around the world and provide incredible opportunities to play on the big stage. It also was almost snatched away from him not once but twice due to a car accident and an early cancer diagnosis. Throughout it all, Charlie has put in the hard yards and never quit, even when he wanted to. Dive into the incredible story that is, Charlie Davies.

Often imitated, never duplicated. James Haskell joins Mags to let us in on an incredible career and an incredibly busy life after rugby. He's an author of two books, with one more on the way, a DJ, and is often found touring the UK doing live shows. We learn about his favorite tour, what it took for him to get where he is, and how he's dealt with critics in the past. You don't want to miss this episode!

Court Jeske, the astute and entrepreneurial sports executive joins the pod to talk about his time at USA rugby, what it was like as the CEO of Nashville Soccer Club, as well as growing the MLS and USA Soccer. His wealth of experience taking a vastly growing sport like soccer to bigger stages in the United States provides an incredible template for MLR leaders to work off of.

Jared Orton is the President of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball team that has caught the attention of millions all over the country. Best known for their bright yellow uniforms, players introduce themselves as they walk up to the plate, and yes, of course, the Banana Nanas. But in order to create such a fanfare, Jared and Mags discuss what it takes to build a fan-first organization, the intricacies of "banana ball", and how Chic-fil-a has instilled all sorts of lessons into Jared's life.

Major League Rugby had an incredibly successful 2021. All 99 matches were played with zero cancellations with rapidly growing TV viewers and a lot of that had to do with leadership from MLR Commissioner George Killebrew. Tune in as Mags sits down with George to discuss the season gone by, what it takes to grow a blossoming rugby league in the US, and even get a few tips on building a championship side on and off the pitch. Full Contact CEO is back for a very exciting and jam-packed Season 3.