Rugby Wrap Up

MLR Weekly: Youth Gurus Rob Banford/Steve Johnson, GARs Lance Cavanaugh, Phaidra Knight, Steve Lewis by Matt McCarthy

The Rugby Odds — Season 6, Episode 40

NEW YORK, NY - We're back from a short break and there's much to cover. Our All-Star panel has you covered after their collective 3-week sojourn, and they're in fine form.

In just 25 minutes, you'll get answers, opinions and predictions, along with exclusive highlights and pundit slap-fight or two.

THE PANEL:

John Bradshaw Layfield: #WWE legend & passionate rugby advocate. And he likes chicken. A lot.

George Hook: Fearless Irish pundit with zero filter

Mike Friday: 3X Olympic 7s coach and tactical mastermind

King Gift Egbelu: Inventor of Words and rugby evangelist

Matt McCarthy: Heroic host holding it together. Sort of.

The Rugby Odds — Season 6, Episode 40

NEW YORK, NY - We're back from a short break and there's much to cover. Our All-Star panel has you covered after their collective 3-week sojourn, and they're in fine form.

In just 25 minutes, you'll get answers, opinions and predictions, along with exclusive highlights and pundit slap-fight or two.

THE PANEL:

John Bradshaw Layfield: #WWE legend & passionate rugby advocate. And he likes chicken. A lot.

George Hook: Fearless Irish pundit with zero filter

Mike Friday: 3X Olympic 7s coach and tactical mastermind

King Gift Egbelu: Inventor of Words and rugby evangelist

Matt McCarthy: Heroic host holding it together. Sort of.

WHAT'S INSIDE:

What Caught Your Eye?

• Ma'a Nonu's haka

• Boks vs All Blacks

• USA wins again!

•17 tries in Currie Cup game!

Player of the Week

Who deserves the honors?

•Marcell Coetzee

•Colby Miln

•Chay Fihaki

Grown A$$ Man

The toughest of the tough:

•Neels Volschenk

•Harry Wilson

•Jed Melvin

AND DON'T MISS... MLR Weekly with USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren.

Find All Here:

-Web: http://www.RugbyWrapUp.com

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/RugbyWrapUp

@RugbyWrapUp, @Matt_McCarthy00, @JonnyLewisFilms, @LizardRugby, @LanningZach, @ColbyMarshall2, @Junoir Blaber, @JWB_RWU, @MeetTheMatts, @Declan Yeats.

-Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyWrapUp

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RugbyWrapUp

-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RugbyWrapUp

-Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/RugbyWrapUp

#USARugby #MajorLeagueRugby #RugbyWrapUp #OldGlory #RugbyATL #MLR2020 #SixNations #WorldRugby #SuperRugby #Top14 #PremiershipRugby #Pro14 #URC #UnitedRugbyChampionship #RugbyOdds #RugbyBetting

NEW YORK, NY - On the heels of last week's enlightening segment with National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) CEO Jeremy Treece, the most important executive on the American rugby landscape, USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren, addresses the college rugby mess, the partnership with CRAA (College Rugby Association of America), NCR's partnership proposal and the future of college rugby - a huge potential money-maker - in an exclusive MLR Weekly interview with host Matt McCarthy.

And be sure to watch a brand new The Rugby Odds, where John Bradshaw Layfield and Matt McCarthy battle for JWB's WWE belt. https://rugbywrapup.com/category/the-rugby-odds/

📩 Subscribe for weekly rugby updates: [https://rugbywrapup.com/weekly-updates/

🏉 Tag a rugby mate!

Find All Here:

-Web: www.RugbyWrapUp.com

-X/Twitter: @RugbyWrapUp @TheRugbyOdds, @MLRWeekly @Matt_McCarthy00, @CollegeRWU, @JonnyLewisFilms

-Face Book: Rugby Wrap Up

-Instagram: RugbyWrapUp

-YouTube: Rugby Wrap Up

-Reddit: RugbyWrapUp

🏷️ #Rugby #MLRWeekly #MajorLeagueRugby #RugbyWrapUp #TheRugbyOdds #MLRDraft #mlr2026 #BryanRay #JohnFitzpatrick #RugbyPicks #RugbyHighlights #RugbyMorning #AmericasRugbyNews #USARugby #OldGlory #RugbyATL #MLR2026 #SixNations #WorldRugby #SuperRugby #Top14 #PremiershipRugby #Pro14 #URC #UnitedRugbyChampionship #rfcla #californialegion #seattleseawolves #oldglorydc #anthemrugby #UtahWarriors #FreeJacks #chicagohounds #HoustonSaberCats #NOLAGold #LegacyCup #rugbyleague #sports #footy #rugbyunion #WER #WomensRugby #rugbyshow #UtahWarriors #scottlawrence #SVNS #HSBC7s #UrbanRugbyAmerica #MLR #MLRWeekly #CollegeRugby #svns

NEW YORK, NY - We're back with a BOOM from our brief vacation; a time spent collecting [some] of our marbles. Indeed our featured guest could all command a single show.

🎥 Here are our MLR Weekly top-notch guests:

-National Collegiate Rugby CEO Jeremy Treece, weighing in on his open letter re the NCR's heretofore neglected proposal to USA Rugby & CRAA (College Rugby Association of America) re a partnership.

-Aly Cunningham of the W.E.R. Champion Denver Onyx after her Player of the Match performance in the Women's Elite Rugby final.

-National Clubs 7s Champ's coach Steve Lewis after after Old Blue beat NOVA NOVA (coached at the last minute by Old Glory, DC owner Paul Sheehy)

-Can-Am Rugby Tourney Director of Rugby, Cam Moody, for a quick recap. Host Matt McCarthy is still whining about his banged-up body after playing.

Be sure to catch up on the The Rugby Odds, which will be back next week: https://rugbywrapup.com/category/the-rugby-odds/

📩 Subscribe for weekly rugby updates: [https://rugbywrapup.com/weekly-updates/

🏉 Tag a rugby mate!

Find All Here:

-Web: www.RugbyWrapUp.com

-X/Twitter: @RugbyWrapUp @TheRugbyOdds, @MLRWeekly @Matt_McCarthy00, @CollegeRWU, @JonnyLewisFilms

-Face Book: Rugby Wrap Up

-Instagram: RugbyWrapUp

-YouTube: Rugby Wrap Up

-Reddit: RugbyWrapUp

🏷️ #Rugby #MLRWeekly #MajorLeagueRugby #RugbyWrapUp #TheRugbyOdds #MLRDraft #mlr2026 #BryanRay #JohnFitzpatrick #RugbyPicks #RugbyHighlights #RugbyMorning #AmericasRugbyNews #USARugby #OldGlory #RugbyATL #MLR2026 #SixNations #WorldRugby #SuperRugby #Top14 #PremiershipRugby #Pro14 #URC #UnitedRugbyChampionship #rfcla #californialegion #seattleseawolves #oldglorydc #anthemrugby #UtahWarriors #FreeJacks #chicagohounds #HoustonSaberCats #NOLAGold #LegacyCup #rugbyleague #sports #footy #rugbyunion #WER #WomensRugby #rugbyshow #UtahWarriors #scottlawrence #SVNS #HSBC7s #UrbanRugbyAmerica #MLR #MLRWeekly #CollegeRugby #svns

CARY, NC - The first half the World Rugby Nations Cup has come to a conclusion, and USA Rugby handled everything Portugal, Zimbabwe and Spain could throw at them.

In the middle of it all (literally) was Brandon Harvey, the towering, young Chicago Hounds star. Brandon is one our two featured guests to chat with MLR Weekly host Matt McCarthy, Harvey discusses earning significant minutes with the Eagles, his development, and the confidence fueling Team USA's run.

Our other featured guest could arguably be the most important rugby executive on the American landscape. CEO Shane Young of the U.S. Rugby Foundation is charged with growing the game in places it doesn't exist and/or growing it where it may already exist. Just six months on the job after building Memphis Inner City Rugby and launching Urban Rugby Americas, Mr. Young peels back the curtain and chats openly about hurdles, hope and real change.

🎥 This Week's Featured Guests

🇺🇸 Brandon Harvey (USA Eagles & Chicago Hounds)

🏉 Shane Young (CEO, U.S. Rugby Foundation)

Don't miss The Rugby Odds: https://rugbywrapup.com/category/the-rugby-odds/

📩 Subscribe for weekly rugby updates: [https://rugbywrapup.com/weekly-updates/

🏉 Tag a rugby mate!

Find All Here:

-Web: www.RugbyWrapUp.com

-X/Twitter: @RugbyWrapUp @TheRugbyOdds, @MLRWeekly @Matt_McCarthy00, @CollegeRWU, @JonnyLewisFilms

-Face Book: Rugby Wrap Up

-Instagram: RugbyWrapUp

-YouTube: Rugby Wrap Up

-Reddit: RugbyWrapUp

🏷️ #Rugby #MLRWeekly #MajorLeagueRugby #RugbyWrapUp #TheRugbyOdds #MLRDraft #mlr2026 #BryanRay #JohnFitzpatrick #RugbyPicks #RugbyHighlights #RugbyMorning #AmericasRugbyNews #USARugby #OldGlory #RugbyATL #MLR2026 #SixNations #WorldRugby #SuperRugby #Top14 #PremiershipRugby #Pro14 #URC #UnitedRugbyChampionship #rfcla #californialegion #seattleseawolves #oldglorydc #anthemrugby #UtahWarriors #FreeJacks #chicagohounds #HoustonSaberCats #NOLAGold #LegacyCup #rugbyleague #sports #footy #rugbyunion #WER #WomensRugby #rugbyshow #UtahWarriors #scottlawrence #SVNS #HSBC7s #UrbanRugbyAmerica #MLR #MLRWeekly #CollegeRugby #svns

🏉 THE RUGBY ODDS — Season 6, Episode 39

NEW YORK, NY - First the first time in nearly a year, there will be no professional or international rugby. However, there is PLENTY for The Rugby Odds eclectic core to cover, including the completion of the first legs of the Nations Championship and World Rugby Nations Cup, and the conclusion of the U20s Championships. We also have the WER, Women's Elite Rugby, which is in its final week of the regular season.

In just 25 minutes, you'll get answers, opinions and predictions, along with exclusive highlights and pundit slap-fight or two.

The Panel/Ensemble:

💥 John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL), WWE Hall of Famer & rugby advocate

🇬🇧 Mike Friday – 3x Olympic 7s coach

☘️ George Hook – Filter-free Irish legend

🔥 King Gift Egbelu – “Inventor of Words”

🎙️ Matt McCarthy – Harried host

NOTE: Rugby Wrap Up's shows The Rugby Odds & MLR Weekly are available on Cox Media, FloRugby, RugbyPass and wherever you get your podcasts.

🔥 THIS WEEK'S SHOW

Panel Record: 9-7

👀 What Caught Your Eye?

• Soccer World Cup lesson for USA RWC 2031

• Fiji & Samoa off-field chaos

• USA win streak

• All Blacks

• Politics in Refereeing?

• World Rankings legitimacy

⭐ Player of the Week

Who deserves the honors?

•Josh Canham

•Paul Altier

•Ardie Savea

💪 Grown A$$ Man

The toughest of the tough:

•Jasper Wiese

•Ross Vincent

•Elis Genge

📰 Headlines with George Hook

•Shocking officiating

•Fiji's "home game" in Edinburgh

•Ireland's farcical ranking

🤔 Think Tank

•U-20s, Nations Championship, Nations Cup

🔮 Predictions

🏆 WER - Women's Elite Rugby

AND DON'T MISS... MLR Weekly: https://rugbywrapup.com/category/mlr-weekly/

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for weekly rugby talk with personality.

#Rugby #TheRugbyOdds #RugbyUnion #WorldRugby #Springboks #USA Rugby #IrelandRugby #EnglandRugby #ScotlandRugby #FijiRugby #NationsCup #U20Rugby #JBL #GeorgeHook #MikeFriday #KingGiftEgbelu #MattMcCarthy

🏉 THE RUGBY ODDS — Season 6, Episode 38

NEW YORK, NY - The Nations Cup and World Rugby Nations Cup seen both the predictable and unbelievable. Our eclectic expert panel is fully engaged and poses/answers questions like:

Can Australia play complete games like Scotland?

Can anyone match the Springboks physicality?

Are the French kidding with their depth of play-makers?

In just 25 minutes, you'll get answers, opinions and predictions, along with exclusive highlights and pundit slap-fight or two.

The Panel/Ensemble:

💥 John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL), WWE Hall of Famer & rugby advocate

🇬🇧 Mike Friday – 3x Olympic 7s coach

☘️ George Hook – Filter-free Irish legend

🔥 King Gift Egbelu – “Inventor of Words”

🔔 Proxy Zach Lanning

🎙️ Matt McCarthy – Harried host

NOTE: Rugby Wrap Up's shows The Rugby Odds & MLR Weekly are available on Cox Media, FloRugby, RugbyPass and wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ THE ECLECTIC ENSEMBLE

🏆 John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) – WWE Hall of Famer & rugby champion

☘️ George Hook – Ireland's fearless pundit with absolutely no filter

🇬🇧 Mike Friday – 3-time Olympic 7s coach & tactical mastermind

🌍 King Gift Egbelu – Rugby evangelist & inventor of... words

🎤 Matt McCarthy – Host desperately trying to keep the train on the tracks

🔥 THIS WEEK'S SHOW

Panel Record: 14-6

👀 What Caught Your Eye?

• Awful Welsh singing

• Scotland better than England

• Zimbabwe fans

• The Beastly Boks roll on

• Scottish schoolboys stun the Pumas

• Instant rugby classics

⭐ Player of the Week

Who deserves the honors?

•Will Jordan

•Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang

•Sione Tuipulotu

💪 Grown A$$ Man

The toughest of the tough:

•Fraser McReight

•Scott Cummings

•Corey Daniel

📰 Headlines with George Hook

Fixes for Nations Cup

Tango in Buenos Aeres

Scotland's grit

🔮 Predictions

🏆 Nations Cup

🏆 World Rugby Nations Cup

🏆 World Rugby U20 Championship

AND DON'T MISS... MLR Weekly: https://rugbywrapup.com/category/mlr-weekly/

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for weekly rugby talk with personality.

#Rugby #TheRugbyOdds #RugbyUnion #WorldRugby #Springboks #USA Rugby #IrelandRugby #EnglandRugby #ScotlandRugby #FijiRugby #NationsCup #U20Rugby #JBL #GeorgeHook #MikeFriday #KingGiftEgbelu #MattMcCarthy

LAKE TAHOE, CA - The World Rugby Nations Cup is littered with MLR stars, mostly on Team USA. With that, MLR Weekly host Matt McCarthy talked all things Major League Rugby and USA Rugby with American rugby legend, Lou Stanfill (3 Rugby World Cups, San Diego Legion, who "summers in Tahoe"), and rising USAR & MLR Anthem star Julian Roberts. Two completely different players, with a life-long bond.

🎥 Featured Guest: GM Lou Stanfill

🎥 Featured Guest: Julian Roberts

Don't miss The Rugby Odds: https://rugbywrapup.com/category/the-rugby-odds/

📩 Subscribe for weekly rugby updates: [https://rugbywrapup.com/weekly-updates/

🏉 Tag a rugby mate!

Find All Here:

-Web: www.RugbyWrapUp.com

-X/Twitter: @RugbyWrapUp @TheRugbyOdds, @MLRWeekly @Matt_McCarthy00, @CollegeRWU, @JonnyLewisFilms

-Face Book: Rugby Wrap Up

-Instagram: RugbyWrapUp

-YouTube: Rugby Wrap Up

-Reddit: RugbyWrapUp

🏷️ #Rugby #MLRWeekly #MajorLeagueRugby #RugbyWrapUp #TheRugbyOdds #MLRDraft #mlr2026 #BryanRay #JohnFitzpatrick #RugbyPicks #RugbyHighlights #RugbyMorning #AmericasRugbyNews #USARugby #OldGlory #RugbyATL #MLR2026 #SixNations #WorldRugby #SuperRugby #Top14 #PremiershipRugby #Pro14 #URC #UnitedRugbyChampionship #rfcla #californialegion #seattleseawolves #oldglorydc #anthemrugby #UtahWarriors #FreeJacks #chicagohounds #HoustonSaberCats #NOLAGold #LegacyCup #rugbyleague #sports #footy #rugbyunion #WER #WomensRugby #rugbyshow #UtahWarriors #scottlawrence #SVNS #HSBC7s #UrbanRugbyAmerica #MLR #MLRWeekly #CollegeRugby #svns

🏉 THE RUGBY ODDS | Season 6, Episode 37 | Rugby Chaos, Big Hits & Bold Predictions

NEW YORK, NY – Championships, rankings, pride... and plenty of opinions are on the line as our delightfully unpredictable panel tears through the biggest stories in world rugby. In just 25 minutes, you'll get sharp analysis, questionable humor, and fearless takes you won't hear anywhere else.

🎙️ THE ECLECTIC ENSEMBLE

🏆 John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) – WWE Hall of Famer & rugby champion

☘️ George Hook – Ireland's fearless pundit with absolutely no filter

🇬🇧 Mike Friday – 3-time Olympic 7s coach & tactical mastermind

🌍 King Gift Egbelu – Rugby evangelist & inventor of... words

🎤 Matt McCarthy – Host desperately trying to keep the train on the tracks

🔥 THIS WEEK'S SHOW

Panel Record: 13-3

👀 What Caught Your Eye?

• An Englishman playing like a Springbok?

• Fijian madness strikes again

• USA vs. Portugal draws a big crowd

• The Beastly Boks roll on

• Scottish schoolboys stun the Pumas

• Instant rugby classics

⭐ Player of the Week

Who deserves the honors?

•Chris Hilsenbeck

•Cam Roigard

•Kyle Rowe

💪 Grown A$$ Man

The toughest of the tough:

•George Martin

•Jack Conan

•Malcolm Marx

•Pita Gus Sowakula

📰 Headlines with George Hook

A different take on the Nations Cup

Wait... George has kind words for Joe Schmidt?!

George weighs in on Trump & FIFA

🔮 Predictions

🏆 Nations Cup

🏆 Nations Cup 2nd Tier

🏆 World Rugby U20 Championship

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for weekly rugby talk with personality.

#Rugby #TheRugbyOdds #RugbyUnion #WorldRugby #Springboks #USA Rugby #IrelandRugby #EnglandRugby #ScotlandRugby #FijiRugby #NationsCup #U20Rugby #JBL #GeorgeHook #MikeFriday #KingGiftEgbelu #MattMcCarthy

DENVER, CO - After USA Rugby's tension-packed win over Portugal in the [World] Nations Cup, star prop Jack Iscaro talks about the victory and adjusting from Old Glory, DC in the MLR to Stade Francais in the France's Top 14.

ALSO FEATURED:

• Rugby Morning's ☕️ John Fitzpatrick

•🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🏉Cam Moody re the 52nd Can-Am Rugby tournament later this month.

🎥 Featured Guest: GM Cam Moody

🎥 Featured Guest: Jack Iscaro

Don't miss The Rugby Odds: https://rugbywrapup.com/category/the-rugby-odds/

📩 Subscribe for weekly rugby updates: [https://rugbywrapup.com/weekly-updates/

🏉 Tag a rugby mate!

Find All Here:

-Web: www.RugbyWrapUp.com

-X/Twitter: @RugbyWrapUp @TheRugbyOdds, @MLRWeekly @Matt_McCarthy00, @CollegeRWU, @JonnyLewisFilms

-Face Book: Rugby Wrap Up

-Instagram: RugbyWrapUp

-YouTube: Rugby Wrap Up

-Reddit: RugbyWrapUp

🏷️ #Rugby #MLRWeekly #MajorLeagueRugby #RugbyWrapUp #TheRugbyOdds #MLRDraft #mlr2026 #BryanRay #JohnFitzpatrick #RugbyPicks #RugbyHighlights #RugbyMorning #AmericasRugbyNews #USARugby #OldGlory #RugbyATL #MLR2026 #SixNations #WorldRugby #SuperRugby #Top14 #PremiershipRugby #Pro14 #URC #UnitedRugbyChampionship #rfcla #californialegion #seattleseawolves #oldglorydc #anthemrugby #UtahWarriors #FreeJacks #chicagohounds #HoustonSaberCats #NOLAGold #LegacyCup #rugbyleague #sports #footy #rugbyunion #WER #WomensRugby #rugbyshow #UtahWarriors #scottlawrence #SVNS #HSBC7s #UrbanRugbyAmerica #MLR #MLRWeekly #CollegeRugby #svns