Summary

Mark Witcher, assistant coach at Portsmouth Rugby Club, shares his rugby journey and experiences coaching at Portsmouth and Hampshire. He played for Portsmouth Rugby Club throughout his career and had the opportunity to captain the twos and the vets. Mark mentions players he played with who went on to make it, including Oscar Wingham and Brendan Tracy. He also talks about players who didn't make it but should have, such as Matt Brano and Rich Herring. Mark also discusses his coaching experience and highlights Abby Harding as a standout player he coached at Portsmouth. During the conversation, Mark Witcher and Carl discuss the progression of women's rugby during Mark's tenure as a coach. They mention the impact of televised games, initiatives like 'This Girl Can' and the Inner Warrior series, and the accessibility of women's rugby at the local level. They also touch on the challenges faced by women's rugby in terms of funding and opportunities for players to progress to higher levels. They discuss the need for a more open and inclusive approach in the sport, allowing for promotion and relegation and providing pathways for players who may not fit into the traditional academy system. They also highlight the importance of attracting and retaining top talent in order to compete with other nations. The conversation covers various topics related to rugby, including the promotion and marketing of the sport, the potential for the women's game to become a cash cow for the RFU, the challenges faced by grassroots clubs like Portsmouth Rugby Club, and the importance of sharing knowledge and supporting each other within the rugby community.

Matt McLean, the all-time highest point scorer in the National leagues of rugby, joins the podcast. He shares his rugby journey, starting from playing in Wales at a young age and progressing through school and university rugby. Matt highlights the importance of school rugby in Wales and the opportunities it provided, including touring Australia and playing in the World Schools Festival in Dubai. He also discusses the potential of the university system as a talent pool for clubs and suggests exploring alternative development pathways in rugby. Matt talks about his time in Worthing and his rugby career, including his experience with the Welsh Sevens team. He discusses how he ended up in Worthing and his initial reluctance to move there. He also talks about the family-oriented atmosphere of the rugby club and how he enjoyed playing for them. Matt reflects on his standout seasons and how he found success playing at the fly-half position. He also discusses the challenges and trade-offs of pursuing a higher level of rugby and the impact of injuries on his career. Matt reflects on his rugby career, discussing his achievements and the challenges he faced. He talks about his pride in representing England in the Rugby Sevens team and the difficulties of balancing training and work commitments. Matt also shares his transition from player to coach, highlighting the satisfaction he finds in developing players and seeing the team come together. He mentions some talented players he played with, including those who went on to achieve international success, and discusses the potential of players who didn't quite make it due to off-field discipline.

Michelle Holdsworth, captain of the England Deaf Rugby Union (EDIU), discusses the challenges faced by deaf rugby players and the need for financial support. She highlights the efforts of the team manager, Gloria, in securing sponsorship and funding for tours. Michelle also talks about the upcoming tour to South Africa and the fundraising efforts required to make it happen. She shares her personal rugby journey, including how she became deaf due to an injury on the field. Michelle emphasizes the importance of rugby as a supportive and inclusive community. The England Deaf Rugby Union (EDRU) team plays normal league games, ranging from low-level rugby to high-standard championship rugby. They train at Bromsgrove, with players travelling from all over the country, self-funded, to participate. The team uses sign language during training and games to communicate and has developed their own set of signs for different plays and strategies. The EDRU is trying to raise £10,000 to support their upcoming tour to South Africa. They have individual GoFundMe pages, and the EDRU has a presence on social media to raise awareness and encourage support.

Ed Birch, a rugby player from the Nags Charity Barbarians, shares his journey and the charity's fundraising events. The Nags Charity Barbarians is a grassroots level club that raises money for cancer research UK. They organize biannual fixtures against other clubs and also participate in crazy challenges to raise funds. Their first challenge was pulling a canal boat from Birmingham to Worcester. They have also done a canoeing challenge on the River Severn and climbed Mount Snowdon multiple times. They have raised over £210,000 so far and aim to reach a quarter of a million pounds. The conversation covers various topics related to rugby, including the development of young athletes, the need for specialized training, player safety, and the grassroots level of the sport. The hosts discuss the challenges of nurturing talent and the importance of proper coaching and player welfare. They also touch on the role of rugby clubs in bringing communities together and the potential for future charity events. Overall, the conversation highlights the passion and camaraderie that exists within the rugby community.

Liam Perkins shares his rugby journey, starting from a young age at Gosport and Fareham Rugby Club and progressing through the ranks. He talks about his time at Newbury, Ealing Trailfinders, and Worthing, where he served as club captain. Liam then discusses his current role as a player-coach at Petersfield Rugby Club and the club's aspirations to become one of the best clubs in Hampshire. He also mentions the challenges of sustaining a club at higher levels and the importance of building a strong foundation. The conversation covers topics such as the transition year at Liam's former rugby club, the challenges of coaching and playing at the same time, the players Liam has played with who made it to the professional level, the players who didn't make it but should have, the future of rugby and the need for accessibility and growth, and Liam's aspirations as a coach.

Si Pickett, creator of the Purple Cobra 7s team, discusses his rugby journey and the development of sevens rugby. He shares his experience playing with talented players who went on to make it in professional rugby, as well as those who didn't but should have. Si also talks about the growth of Havant RFC and the success of the Purple Cobras as a charity sevens team. The conversation covers various topics related to epilepsy and sevens rugby. Si discusses different types of seizures and the importance of spreading awareness and providing first aid for epilepsy. He also talks about the purple Cobras sevens team and their upcoming tournaments. The conversation then shifts to the role of sevens rugby in the overall rugby landscape. Simon shares his thoughts on whether sevens can be the saviour of rugby and the need for more characters and innovation in the sport. The discussion concludes with a conversation about the potential for private investment and franchise systems in sevens rugby. The conversation covers various topics related to the future of rugby, including the need for flexibility and adaptation, the potential benefits of scheduling games on weekdays, the importance of marketing and accessibility, the challenges faced by clubs in terms of geographical spread and financial stability, the impact of closed leagues and the lack of promotion and relegation, the potential for a cup competition involving lower-tier teams, the issues with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and its disconnect with regional teams and grassroots rugby, the potential decline of Welsh rugby, the inclusion of South African teams in the United Rugby Championship (URC), the lack of development opportunities in Wales, the need for a Wales A team, and the importance of player development and retention.

The conversation provides a compelling case for the future of English rugby, highlighting the potential for teams to develop, the accessibility and financial backing of the sport, and the investment in rugby, Six Nations and Women's rugby. It also addresses the challenges of player development, the reliance on foreign players in some countries, and the urgent need for changes to ensure the development of local talent. The conversation urges us to take bold steps forward and create our own brands, just like Joe Marler and James Haskell, and to strive for success in Rugby. It's time to invest in rugby and support its growth, recognizing its unique value and potential for greatness. The conversation discusses the movers and shakers in the Rugby Europe Championship too. 

Rugby Through the Leagues Podcast this week interviews Mark Pollard, who shares his rugby journey. Mark talks about his early days playing rugby, his experiences at different clubs, and the enjoyment he found at the highest level. He also discusses playing rugby while serving in the Navy and the opportunities it provided to play in different countries. The conversation touches on players who have made it professionally, the dedication required to succeed, and the importance of the social aspect of rugby. The conversation explores the challenges and sustainability of professional and amateur rugby. It discusses the financial viability of professional rugby and the limited opportunities for players outside the top 1%. The conversation also touches on the difficulties of developing professional rugby and the lack of a clear pathway. The impact of the pandemic on rugby clubs is highlighted, with many struggling to survive. The importance of community and family involvement in rugby clubs is emphasized, as well as the need to make the club attractive and inclusive for all members. The conversation explores the challenges of attracting crowds to rugby games and the lack of accessibility to top-level rugby clubs. The distance to travel and the cost of transportation are major barriers for fans. The conversation also touches on the importance of community rugby and the need for funding and support at the grassroots level. The hosts discuss the potential of adapting rugby at a community level, such as scheduling games on Saturday mornings to allow fans to attend matches in the afternoon. They also mention the importance of having a strong club structure and the financial implications associated with sustaining a higher level of rugby.

This episode of the Rugby Through the Leagues podcast introduces the purpose of the podcast, which is to shine a light on grassroots rugby and rugby below tier one. The host discusses the lack of coverage and exposure for rugby in non-tier one countries and emphasizes the potential for growth and development in these regions. He also highlights the success of teams like Georgia and Portugal in international competitions and the need for more opportunities for tier two nations to compete against tier one teams. The host concludes by expressing his ambition to visit and cover games in various European leagues and promote accessibility to international rugby.