Bottom of the Ruck: Ted Hardy on Why Grassroots Rugby Matters (US & UK Challenges, Community, and Club Survival) The host welcomes Ted Hardy, founder of Bottom of the Ruck, a platform highlighting grassroots rugby through stories and club spotlights. Ted explains his earlier work covering elite rugby, becoming disillusioned, and returning to “boots on the ground” community rugby, choosing the name Bottom of the Ruck to reflect struggling clubs that keep getting back up. Based in North Carolina, he notes grassroots issues are similar worldwide: volunteer burnout, finances, attrition, and a disconnect with governing bodies. They discuss US rugby’s club-driven structure, college rugby’s challenges, long travel and forfeits, rigid league demands, and how Division 4 can be flexible with player sharing. Ted emphasizes rugby’s unique lifelong club community, the importance of social connection, alternative formats like touch and walking rugby, and how Clayton RFC funds itself through dues, fundraising, sponsorships, and field development. 00:46 Grassroots Rugby Welcome 01:50 Origin Story Bottom of the Ruck 05:16 Why the Name Matters 05:55 US Base Shared Struggles 08:19 Hooked on Community Rugby 10:56 College Rugby Reality Check 13:15 Youth Pathways and Retention 15:00 Pro Rugby Impact in USA 22:27 Travel Training League Pressures 24:18 US Divisions and Mismatches 28:39 Flexible Social Rugby Solutions 30:54 Walking Rugby Tryout 31:45 Touch Rugby Social Scene 33:57 Rugby Beyond the Pitch 36:05 Building Home Fields 37:30 Membership and Club Structure 38:48 Fundraising and Sponsors 41:54 Global Rugby Network 43:55 Grassroots Challenges Today 49:04 Starting and Keeping Clubs 54:26 Finding a Local Club 55:52 Sport Participation Culture 56:58 Final Thanks and Signoff

Welcome to Our Rugby Club! In this episode, we chat with Sean Phelan, a passionate advocate for grassroots rugby and the mind behind Fill Your Boots. He explains how his platform helps local clubs and players connect, preventing match cancellations and strengthening rugby union at its core. This initiative is vital for the future of world rugby, ensuring the sport thrives from the community level up.Fill Your Boots: Keeping Grassroots Rugby Alive with Sean PhelanIn this episode of Rugby Club, host interviews Sean Phelan, founder of Fill Your Boots, a platform launched in 2015 to help grassroots rugby teams find players and avoid match cancellations. Sean explains how his one-team club, Servis and Decca, has long struggled with player availability and pitch costs, leading them to leave league structures and focus on playing 5–6 “big occasion” matches per season while growing community activity through weekly walking rugby and non-contact options. He describes Fill Your Boots’ growth from social media to a global hub with 25,000+ followers, 1,800 site members, and 400 clubs across 24 countries, now covering topics like recruitment, marketing, match reports, coach development, and fixtures. Sean also discusses a new partnership with North Midlands RFU and urges people to “get the game on” through flexible participation.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:57 Why Start Fill Your Boots02:56 Community Rugby Values03:44 Club Origins and History06:01 Barely Fifteen Reality06:38 Fill Your Boots Beginnings08:17 Biggest Club Challenges09:51 Rebuilding and Rebranding12:48 Redefining Grassroots Rugby16:23 Get The Game On20:26 Flexible Rugby Club Identity22:57 What If The Club Folded24:53 Rugby Makes Friends25:55 Old School Club Culture27:05 How Big Is FYB29:22 Hot Topics And Templates31:41 North Mids Partnership34:48 Grassroots Versus Elite38:23 Funding And League Pressure41:04 Keep Playing Any Format44:42 Using FYB To Find Games46:11 How To Join FYB48:23 Final Thanks And Wrap

Welcome back to Our Rugby Club! In this episode, we continue our conversation with former Scotland international Ian Smith, a true rugby union legend and now a tik tok sensation. He shares his strong views on the modern game, from the elite level down to community rugby, making this a must-listen rugby podcast. You'll hear his thoughts on what needs to change in the sport, echoing the kind of honest discussion you might find on good bad rugby.Ian Smith on What’s Broken in Modern Rugby: Leagues, TMOs, and Saving the Community GameFormer Scotland international fullback Ian Smith, now in his eighties and a TikTok creator with 1.4 million followers, discusses what he believes is harming modern rugby from elite to community level. He argues official leagues reduce local rivalries and enjoyment, and that coaching-driven training demands push social players away, leading to difficulties raising teams and empty pitches. Smith criticizes growing administrative interference, long matches influenced by TMOs, and suggests separating the televised, TMO-driven elite game from most rugby played without such resources. He also raises concerns about the sport’s collision risks deterring families, and says high ticket prices prevent children from seeing heroes. He proposes a national cup-style competition to spread the game by bringing top clubs to local grounds.00:00 Welcome Back Intro00:53 Why Leagues Hurt Clubs03:55 Social Rugby Lost05:57 Empty Pitches Problem08:54 RFU And Governance10:36 TMO And Game Flow13:24 Split Pro And Community17:25 Fans Prices And Access21:21 Leagues Fix Kickoff Times25:15 Money And Professionalism26:57 Safety And Collision Fears29:36 FA Cup Style Rugby32:44 Wrap Up And Thanks33:20 Episode Closing OutroRecommended book: The Art of Corse Rugby by Miachael Green https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Coarse-Rugby-Michael-Green/dp/0090600320Ian Smith on TikTok: @writers.cramp with 1.4 million followers!

Ian Smith: Scotland Fullback, Dentist & TikTok Legend on How Rugby ChangedIn this first half of a two-part episode of Our Rugby Club, the host welcomes former Scotland international fullback Ian Smith, now in his eighties, a practicing dentist during the amateur era, and a TikTok figure with 1.4 million followers. Smith recalls school rugby in Edinburgh with 36 teams, closed former-pupils clubs, and a strong community pyramid that he believes is now collapsing as rugby drifted from schools to clubs. He describes becoming a fullback, Edinburgh University’s invention of the “miss one” and “miss two” moves that helped him score tries for Scotland, and the old game’s rules and tactics, including catch-and-kick fullback play, marks anywhere, a goal from a mark, and no lifting in lineouts. He criticizes leagues and modern lineout lifting as unsafe, shares a Japan tour story involving a former kamikaze pilot, and argues elite rugby has diverged from the community game.00:00 Welcome to the Club01:04 Meet Ian Smith02:53 Schoolboy Rugby Boom06:53 From Center to Fullback11:00 Closed Clubs Era13:00 University Tactics Revolution19:46 Old Rules Explained24:15 Lineouts and Lifting Debate26:12 Kamikaze Pilot Story31:04 Leagues Changed Everything35:40 Final Thanks and OutroRecommended book: The Art of Corse Rugby by Miachael Green https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Coarse-Rugby-Michael-Green/dp/0090600320Ian Smith on TikTok: @writers.cramp with 1.4 million followers!

In episode one of Our Rugby Club, host Gavin (“the ref cam”) is joined by Ryan “Pies” Yeoman—former player, coach, and now referee across Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall and beyond—to explain why this podcast focuses on community grassroots rugby rather than the elite game. Ryan shares how he got into rugby through school, progressed from Plymouth Albion’s junior setup into adult club rugby, played mainly as a number eight then blindside flanker, and later moved into coaching, club committee work, and refereeing. The conversation explores what rugby clubs mean beyond matchday: a diverse ‘tribe’ built on community, belonging, and social connection for players, families, and volunteers. They discuss how grassroots rugby differs from what’s seen on TV, the importance of simply getting games played, and challenges created by league structures, travel, player availability, and club poaching—arguing for more flexible ‘game on’ solutions. Ryan reflects on changes in the sport, including the growth of women’s rugby and kids being central to club life, shares memorable tour and matchday stories, highlights favorite club atmospheres (including Hale, St Austell, and Bude), and explains the origin of his ‘Pies’ nickname. He finishes with advice to keep clubs alive by sticking with it and keeping people smiling, and Gavin invites listeners to like, subscribe, share, and get involved in future episodes covering recruitment, volunteering, and club challenges.00:00 Welcome to Our Rugby Club00:39 Why Grassroots Matters03:03 Ryan’s Rugby Journey06:42 From Player to Ref08:53 What Clubs Mean10:25 Surprises of Club Life12:11 Rugby for Everyone12:50 Referees and Lifelong Rugby16:01 Tour Tales and Shenanigans20:34 Social Side vs Winning22:57 League Structure Struggles27:56 Game On Solutions29:57 Keeping Fixtures Alive30:52 Last Minute Fixtures31:20 Player Poaching Spiral33:48 Grassroots Changes Today35:28 Modern Club Community36:25 Keeping Rugby Relevant38:53 Toughest Referee Tests42:01 Best Grounds Atmosphere45:43 Origin of Pies Nickname47:33 Quickfire Ref Questions48:48 Why Clubs Matter50:45 Join Your Local Club53:52 Final Message Sign Off

Welcome to 'Our Rugby Club,' a channel dedicated to showcasing the heart of grassroots rugby.

We believe in inclusive sport, bringing together diverse voices from communities to highlight the true spirit of rugby union. This collaborative space focuses on teamwork and shared passion, rather than any single individual.

There are so many ex-players and celebrities talking about the elite game of rugby, internationals, six nations, premiership, championship and anything Level 6 or above. This channel is not a place where you will find any meaningful chat about any of these matches... frankly its not the game community grassroots rugby clubs, coaches, players & supporters have anything to do with!

If you are involved in the game of rugby and want to feature as a guest, this is the place for you.