The London Welsh Rugby Club Podcast

In this weeks' episode we chat to former London Welsh and Leicester player Dai (David) Williams. Dai comes from great sporting stock with a strong athletic background from both sides of his parents family. He was raised in Leicestershire and made his way into the Leicester team full of seasoned internationals. A job move to Brighton a few years later and he came to London Welsh and played here for 7 seasons. Injury, form, selection; meant he wasn't always in the 1st XV, but if you wore a red shirt you were playing for the club. Post rugby, he played Vets, formed 'The Martini Club', a huge part of the Voyagers and coordinated the London Welsh former players lunch. A true London Welsh rugby man and a top fella to boot. Enjoy.

If any former players want to get on the mailing list for future lunches; please get in touch with Dai. [email protected]

Our guest this week is former London Welsh back row specialist, Mike Denbee. Mike born and bred in Somerset and was late to the game as a teenager; worked his way to the Weston Super Mare Colts, which helped him transition to senior rugby at the club. He was doing this whilst studying for a degree at Plymouth, but in his last year decide to have a crack at playing at Plymouth Albion with Graham Dawe in charge. He was offered a professional contract, but then he went on to play in Spain and Birmingham Solihull, before finding himself at London Welsh. Three great seasons at the club, especially the Promotion one with Lyn Jones. Mike quit professional rugby at the right time for him and then managed playing semi pro and his career in insurance for 5 years before he retired. Some great stories from Mike here and a honest assessment of his rugby journey. Enjoy

Our guest this week is former London Welsh full back Matt Vines. Born and bred in Wales, he made the move to St Mary's University in London and found himself at London Welsh at 19. Matt was selected by Mike Gosling for a few first team appearances in that first season when they were promoted to National 3. Matt tells us about the Clive Griffiths era and the Semi professional approach of the club and a really funny story about a new signing getting injured!!! Matt loved the environment and the group of players that Adrian Davies signed for the club and had his most successful spell in that first season in 2000. He explain why he left London Welsh to go to Rugby Lions and then comes back again and loved the tours that the players went on. A real honest account of a much loved player at London Welsh, with plenty of stories to boot. Enjoy.

Our guest this week is Academy Award winning producer James Gay-Rees producer of films including AMY, Senna and Diego Maradonna. Box to Box Films is an award documentary production company based in London, Paris and Los Angeles and they are the team behind Formula 1:Drive to Survive, Break Point, Full Swing, Unchained and the recently released SIX NATIONS:FULL CONTACT. James grew up in Richmond and Twickenham and played Mini rugby at London Welsh and has fond memories of watching the senior side in the 70's playing at Old Deer Park. We discuss his journey from Minis to top Documentary maker and the ins and outs of the new behind the scenes 6 Nations series. Very engaging chap, who would love to reconnect with London Welsh. There may even be a film in it. 😉 Enjoy

Morlais has been a player, team manager and supporter of London Welsh for 59 years. Brought up in Mynnydd Careg and wasn't allowed to play rugby until he left school. He played for Kidwelly RFC whilst in Wales and then made the move to Notting Hill. You will not believe which club he played for first, before he made the move to London Welsh in 1965. Played for 20 years across the Extra A's, A's, Dragons and Druids, before stepping into team management for the club. Morlais was appointed 1st team Manager in 1993 and he didn't miss a match until he retired from the role in 2007. We chat about tours as a player and a team manager, plus how he didn't let cancer beat him. A Man who has seen it all at the club and who has made so many lifelong friends at London Welsh. Enjoy

Our guest this week is Ben Whitehouse, WRU Professional Referee. A busy official who has just been been away for two rounds of European Cup duty as a referee and TMO; and is getting ready for the 6 Nations. We discuss what the Word Cup was like as part of the whole officiating squad and his role within it. We learn about his refereeing journey and get to understand who his role models are. A young referee with lots of experience; becoming more prominent in the International arena. Enjoy.

Our guest this week is former British and Irish Lion and Wales Scrum Half, Mike Phillips. Mike gives his tribute on the loss of JPR; a true Wales, Lions and London Welsh Legend. We discuss his forthcoming appearance at London Welsh dinner on Feb 9th as part of the club's England vs Wales weekend. We also chat about what he is doing now that he lives in Dubai, plus we spend some time reflecting on his media role during the Rugby World Cup and look forward to the 6 Nations. Enjoy.

Tickets for the Dinner are available on www.londonwelshrugby.club/

Our guest this week is former Premiership Hooker, Dan George. We discuss the many sliding doors moments of rugby and what rugby has given him and continues to give him as he enjoys coaching at Old Albanians and Ealing Trailfinders Academy. He started life in Wales, representing his country at U16, U18 and U21, whilst representing the Scarlets and playing for Llandovery College. He moved to London Welsh at the age of 21, playing over 90 matches across the 5 seasons and had his most consistent year; the year the club won promotion under Lyn Jones. This is a real honest account about the ups and downs of life of a professional rugby player, who went on and played at Gloucester, Worcester, Blackheath, Bedford, London Scottish and Chinnor. Enjoy

Our guest this week is Senior Men's Coach and Head Coach of Druids, Andrew Evans. Andy was late to the game of rugby, only taking it up in West Scotland at the age of 17; but there was plenty of rugby pedigree in his family. He started life on the wing and post school found himself working as a Coach for the Scottish Rugby Union. He was meant to go into the Army at 19, but decided to loved coaching so much and went to Wales to get a degree in Rugby Coaching. Post University, he landed a role as Community Coach at London Scottish and then came across to London Welsh to train and play for the club as a Hooker. He then got involved with coaching the U18's and that then developed into his current role. We discuss his role at Imperial College and we preview this weekends' London Welsh U20 clash with Richmond. Enjoy