On the Rugby Through the Leagues podcast, Carl speaks with Mitch McGann, head coach of Dutch club RC Eemland, a founding team in the new Ascent Rugby Series beginning 22nd August in Frankfurt and now expanded from six to seven teams, including two Dutch sides (RC Eemland and The Dukes). McGann explains Eemland's identity as a family-oriented club with a strong youth pipeline and a recent shift from a forward-heavy style toward more ball movement and flair, and discusses how playing styles vary by region across the Netherlands. They preview Eemland's pre-season fixtures in the series against Poland's Pogon and Czech powerhouse Tatra, touch on scouting and preparation, highlight key players and new Kiwi signings, and discuss facility challenges, youth development via regional academies, and broader ambitions for cross-border competition and Dutch rugby growth.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Series Intro

00:58 RC Eemland Identity

02:37 Dutch Rugby Styles

04:28 Regional Differences

06:39 Dukes Rivalry Talk

09:22 Preseason and Fixtures

10:44 Pogon Lessons and Plan

14:13 Joining Ascent Rugby

16:00 Players to Watch

19:30 Scouting and Hosting Plans

22:43 Pitches and Facilities

27:59 Dutch Rugby Growth Pathway

32:31 Domestic Pro Vision

34:36 Why Ascent Matters

37:58 Funding and Future Format

42:24 Wrap Up and Tickets

🎟️ Tickets: ascentrugby.com

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This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with George and Dave from Attica Rugby, the team behind the Aegean Rugby Festival, to talk about growing rugby in Greece through sport tourism. They cover the festival's origins, the vision of showcasing Greece as a sporting destination, and the reality of 2026 — a scaled-back event after travel uncertainty and rising costs forced multiple cancellations, yet still delivered with four men's and four women's teams, strong local support in Crete, and professional refereeing. Then the big one: plans for a bigger early-summer 2027 festival in Athens — rugby sevens, beach rugby, an all-inclusive option, a major closing party, and ideas for youth divisions, touch rugby, rugby tours and future 15s. Plus Andy Powell's sevens story, why legends add credibility, the Greek rugby leadership gap, and the philosophy of show up and build.

Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips.

⏱️ Timestamps
 (00:00) Welcome & Guests
 (00:56) Origins of the Aegean Festival
 (03:01) Greek Rugby Growth
 (05:22) Festival Vision & the Federation
 (09:15) Travel Chaos & Cancellations
 (11:01) Pulling Off the 2026 Event
 (13:13) Referees & Tournament Quality
 (16:47) 2027 Athens Teaser
 (18:48) Youth Division vs the Party
 (23:12) Future Formats & Rugby Tours
 (27:48) Streaming the Format
 (28:08) Tournament Week Blueprint
 (28:44) Event Weekend Integration
 (29:19) The Andy Powell Sevens Story
 (31:37) Legends Add Credibility
 (33:56) The Greek Rugby Leadership Gap
 (38:12) Show Up & Build
 (39:37) Celebrities Who Deliver
 (43:57) Rugby for Anyone
 (47:01) Touch Rugby Expansion
 (48:42) Early Summer 2027 Plans
 (50:30) Final Wrap & Callouts

🎧 Follow Rugby TTL wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're enjoying it, a rating or review genuinely helps us reach more people.
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This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with Xhino, chairman of the Albanian rugby federation, for the story of how a sport almost nobody was playing became a national project. Xhino traces it back to 2010–2012, when a handful of students inspired by YouTube clips started throwing a ball around — through the founding of Tirana Rugby Club to official federation recognition in 2024. He and Carl get into Albania's entirely self-funded growth, the touring sides making the trip out (the European Parliament Rugby Team and Nottingham Police Force among them), and why hospitality, raki and the post-match third half matter as much as anything on the pitch. Xhino lays out the pillars taking Albanian rugby forward: school programmes and touch rugby, building a base beyond Tirana in Durrës, French connections opening player pathways, women's rugby, and the long game — Rugby Europe membership and fixtures against Bosnia, Serbia and Greece.

Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips.

⏱️ Timestamps
 (00:00) Welcome & Guest Intro
 (01:06) Rugby Begins in Albania
 (02:18) Tirana Club & Touring Teams
 (03:31) Albanian Hospitality & Raki
 (06:02) The Road to Rugby Europe
 (06:53) Schools & Youth Pathways
 (08:02) France Links & Player Opportunities
 (13:44) Growing Beyond Tirana
 (18:35) Funding & Building an Ecosystem
 (20:24) The 5, 10, 15-Year Vision
 (22:46) Women's Rugby & the Balkan Schools Cup
 (28:21) Rugby League & Learning from the NRL
 (31:12) Media Buzz & Upcoming Fixtures
 (32:59) How to Connect & Visit
 (35:49) Final Thanks & Wrap Up

🎧 Follow Rugby TTL wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're enjoying it, a rating or review genuinely helps us reach more people.
 ▶️ Watch the full video: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL
 📸 Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod
 🌍 rugbyttl.com

German rugby is rebuilding — and new head coach Mike Poppmeier is the man tasked with leading it back.

In this episode, Carl sits down with Mike Poppmeier, the new head coach of Germany and a former Germany international, for an open conversation about Rugby Europe, the national team's future, and the funding gap holding it all back. Mike talks through his South African upbringing, his German/Austrian family roots and 11 years living in Germany, before laying out the real picture: how the lack of a professional environment and funding limits preparation, player retention, staffing and international fixtures.

He explains the value of cross-border competition like the new Ascent Rugby league (featuring Adler XV and Frankfurt), his role with dominant Bundesliga champions Frankfurt, and why Germany sits in the Trophy division while rebuilding its culture, behaviours and pathway by blooding young France-based prospects. Plus his coaching ethos — fitness, tempo and smart rugby — and the practical needs, from video analysis to aligned governance, that could unlock sponsorship and long-term growth.

Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips.

⏱️ Chapters
 00:00 Welcome & guest intro
 00:45 Mike's Germany journey
 02:19 Why Germany slipped
 04:50 Super Cup & pro pathways
 07:16 Ascent Rugby explained
 08:00 Bundesliga & Frankfurt dominance
 10:43 Adler XV selection plans
 13:26 Friendlies & travel budgets
 16:07 Rebuild in the Trophy division
 19:48 The funding mystery & next steps
 22:03 Squad identity plan
 22:45 Player release commitments
 24:58 Coaching ethos & style
 27:40 Prep time & logistics
 28:46 Video analysis & tools
 30:27 Head coach workload
 33:40 Five-year vision
 35:37 Funding & alignment
 38:59 Curtis Brayford addition
 40:25 Final message & legacy

🎧 Listen & follow: Spotify (open.spotify.com/show/511e8frgzJnY1CWe06GLyH) · Apple Podcasts · YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · rugbyttl.com

The Rugby Through the Leagues podcast welcomes Jordan, organiser of Heart of Wales 7s, and Stu from The Flaming Unicorns / Tough Enough To Care, to talk rugby, community and mental health.

Jordan charts the tournament's growth from 16 men's teams to an 11-year event drawing around 1,500 people — with the goal of 6,000 — and the entertainment that's grown with it: Flamingo Bingo, boxing, netball, charity matches and the famous naked run (which may hit 250–300 runners). He opens up on how it all came together: contacts, hard-won logistics lessons, a 10-person core crew, COVID refunds, and a relentless focus on retention, safety and experience.

Stu shares how The Flaming Unicorns began as a charity match supporting mental health after losing two friends to suicide — and how their distinctive branding creates safe spaces for conversations at rugby clubs, with Heart of Wales giving them a major platform alongside celebrity guests and the growth of women's rugby.

⏱️ Chapters
 00:00 Naked Run Cold Open
 00:12 Meet the Guests
 01:03 Heart of Wales Origins
 02:41 Growing Past Covid
 04:57 Behind the Scenes Crew
 07:19 Entertainment & Traditions
 10:38 Flaming Unicorns Join In
 12:39 Tough Enough To Care Story
 16:00 Why the Partnership Works
 18:19 Rugby Stars & Welsh Sevens
 22:06 Logistics Lessons & Burnout
 26:57 Post-Event Rituals
 31:02 Two-Week Build Plan
 31:39 Site Setup Week
 33:32 Rugby Star Ringers
 36:03 Women's Night Magic
 39:35 Growing Organically
 42:48 Welsh Sevens Series
 46:17 Sevens Media Value
 49:23 New Format Ideas
 52:14 Unicorns Mission
 57:36 Final Messages

🏉 Heart of Wales 7s: heartofwales7s.co.uk

💚 This episode discusses mental health and suicide. If you're struggling, you don't have to face it alone — in the UK & Ireland you can call Samaritans free, day or night, on 116 123. Find out more about Tough Enough To Care at toughenoughtocare.help.

🎧 Listen & follow: Spotify · Apple Podcasts · YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · rugbyttl.com

Former Wales and British & Irish Lions flanker Josh Navidi on the neck injury that ended his career and life after the game.

In this episode: the injury & retirement call; Wales & Lions highlights; the transition out of pro rugby; advice for young players.

Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00.

00:00 Passport Panic Intro
00:17 New Studio Welcome
00:34 Heart of Wales Sevens
01:55 Flaming Unicorns Charity
02:20 Neck Injury Retirement
05:15 Life After Rugby
06:06 England Rivalry Fire
07:27 Welsh Rugby Turmoil
10:04 Money, Depth and Regions
11:34 Player Workload & Burnout
12:45 Cap Rule Abroad Debate
15:35 Signs of a Wales Rebuild
18:26 Gatland Return and Legacy
21:51 2019 Grand Slam Memories
24:10 Alun Wyn Leadership
27:35 Leadership Core Talk
28:03 Gatland Training Intensity
29:24 Brutal Drills Build Edge
30:30 Lions Call-Up Chaos
35:00 Tour Life Under COVID
36:37 Keeping Shirts and Memories
37:03 DJing and Pink Bar Pivot
40:37 Building the Container Bar
43:34 Music Roots and Big Gigs
45:46 Career Moments to Relive
47:56 Heart of Wales Sevens Plug
48:59 Final Thanks and Sign Off

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL
Website: rugbyttl.com
Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod

Sam Hollingsworth on swapping the RFU Championship for Spain's División de Honor — Nottingham to VRAC Valladolid, the ACL injury, and what English players should know about Spanish rugby.

In this episode: leaving the English system; standard of the División de Honor; the ACL comeback; advice for imports.

Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00.

00:00 Career Turning Point
00:03 Meet Sam Hollingsworth
02:16 Nottingham and the Championship
03:10 Climbing the Leagues
05:48 COVID and Breaking Through
07:41 ACL Injury Breakdown
09:54 Rehab and the Mental Battle
12:59 Choosing Spain — The Offers
16:09 Spain Level Comparison
19:00 League Consistency Issues
20:37 The ABC Rule and Squad Building
23:10 U23 Pathway Levels
25:35 Loans vs Development
26:39 Spanish Rugby Momentum
27:30 Copa Del Rey Atmosphere
29:15 Spanish Celebrations
29:49 Learning Spanish On-Field
32:49 Family Multilingual Life
34:20 Coaching Vision Online
37:51 Video Analysis Mindset
42:04 Move to Spain Advice
43:02 Final Wrap and Plugs

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🏉 FOLLOW SAM HOLLINGSWORTH
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📸 Coached by Sam (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/_coachedbysam
💼 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sam-hollingsworth-7b18791a9

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🏷 ABOUT THE PODCAST
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Rugby Through The Leagues tells the stories you don't hear on mainstream rugby coverage — players, coaches and clubs from across the global rugby pyramid. From the Championship and National Leagues in England to División de Honor in Spain, Top 14 academies, Major League Rugby, and every emerging nation pushing for Tier 1 status.

#RugbyTTL #SpanishRugby #VRAC #DivisionDeHonor #ChampionshipRugby #ACLRecovery

Copa del Rey winner Vidal Souza breaks down Alcobendas' 40–39 derby final win over Cisneros and the clutch mentality behind it.

In this episode: the 40–39 final; turning late losses into a title; the Madrid derby; Spanish club rugby.

Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00.

00:00 Clutch Mentality Intro
00:16 Podcast Welcome Guest
00:58 Copa del Rey Thriller
02:24 Winning Tight Games
05:54 Rugby Journey Origins
08:22 Contracts & Club Culture
10:25 Rugby vs Career
12:59 Playoffs Focus: La Vila
14:58 Stopping The Maul
18:50 4G vs Grass
21:20 Wild División Season
24:22 Spain Rugby Rising
27:02 Elite A Closing Gap
30:08 Career Highlights & Farewell

🏉 ABOUT RUGBY THROUGH THE LEAGUES
Rugby Through the Leagues is the home of grassroots and tier 2/3 rugby — bringing you the players, coaches, and stories the mainstream rugby media overlooks. From Spain and Portugal to Uruguay, Brazil, Kenya, Fiji, Samoa, and beyond.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more interviews with players and coaches shaping the next era of global rugby.
👍 LIKE if you enjoyed this conversation with Vidal.
💬 COMMENT — who should we interview next from the División de Honor?

📲 FOLLOW RUGBY THROUGH THE LEAGUES

#SpanishRugby #CopaDelRey #Alcobendas #DivisionDeHonor #VidalSouza #RugbyTTL #RugbySpain #Cisneros #LaVila #BrazilRugby #CobrasXV #Rugby #WorldRugby #Tier2Rugby #RugbyPodcast

Rugby TTL hosts Charlie from What's All the Ruckus to debate the future of tier 2 and tier 3 rugby and how to grow the game.

In this episode: why tier 2/3 matters; Rugby Europe & MLR; World Cup 2031/2035; emerging nations.

Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00.

00:00 Podcast Collaboration Intro
00:44 Why Cover Tier Two
01:56 Grassroots Sports Magic
03:12 Guests And Ruck Debate
06:26 Interviewing Finnley Harrison
08:18 Future Of Tier Two Rugby
09:27 Nations Cup And B Teams
13:21 USA Rugby And MLR Reset
15:48 Super Rugby Americas Growth
19:26 2035 Spain World Cup Dream
21:37 Rugby Europe Super Cup Funding
24:31 Restructuring Rugby Europe
26:08 Fixing Tier Two Calendar
27:10 League Model Proposal
28:28 Travel And Notice Boost
29:27 Showcase Friendlies Examples
32:21 Marketing Beyond Rugby Bubble
37:14 Changing Rugby Perception
40:55 Atmosphere Pricing Lessons
43:59 Favorite Guests Stories
47:52 Ultimate Guest Dreams
49:56 Where To Find The Pod
51:47 Final Thanks And Signoff

Fiji great Nikola Matawalu on the Aegean Sevens festival, growing sevens in Greece and the Fijian pathway.

In this episode: the Aegean Sevens project; sevens in Greece; Fiji pathways; moving into coaching.

Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:36 How Nikola Joined Aegean Sevens

01:40 Greece Rugby Revival

02:55 Festival Vibe and Growth

04:26 Crete Connection and Timing

05:13 Masterclass Week Breakdown

06:21 Coaching Confidence and Fun

09:03 Learning Through Mistakes

10:30 Rugby Roots in Fiji

11:58 Village Life Builds Skills

15:43 Community and Youth in Greece

17:08 Tier Two Nations Rising

18:14 Retirement and Drua Dreams

19:20 Why the Drua Matters

20:09 HPU Pathways Rising

21:51 From Camps to Pros

23:01 Greece Sevens Growth

27:01 Fiji Hosting Tier One

28:53 Best Clubs Played

31:41 Coaching and Masters

33:08 Top Coaches Learned

34:43 Finn Russell Genius

38:46 Festival Farewell