The Tap and Go

What a man! This week I was lucky enough to be joined by the founder of the Rugby Players Association, Mr Damian Hopley.

Damian joined us very kindly on the morning before he flew off to the Alps to begin a charity challenge for his own charity Restart Rugby. We finish this episode by chatting all about Restart and the amazing job it has done for rugby players in the last few years.

I also get the chance to pick Damian's brains about his career, and how he ended up doing what he did for 24 years. Having started as a player and captaining England at sevens, Damian was an excellent player. Sadly, however, his career was cut short by injury. After a lot of operations he was told that it wasn't the right decision to keep playing, and so he decided to from the RPA. Originally without funding, Damian wanted to help the players and look after them. This was the start of what would be the creation of one of the most important organisations involved with rugby today.

I talk to Damian a lot about player welfare and two stores in particular which have dominated the press in the last few years. The story of Steve Thompson is one which is known all over due to the severity of it. Luther Burrell's is not far behind. Damian spoke incredibly about both of these two situations and if you're at all interested tune into the podcast and hear what he has to say. You won't regret it!

From everyone at The Tap and Go, we'd like to say a big thank you to Damian for coming on and we wish him the best of luck on his travels and hope that he completes the challenge safely and successfully. The link is below for anyone who can spare any money at all to support this wonderful charity.

See you next week!

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/damian-hopley6?utm_source=whatsapp

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are back!!!!!!!

I'm joined by the legend and current club captain of Wasps Joe Launchbury. I talked to Joe over the summer about his injury hit campaign of 2021-22 and about he managed to cope with it all. We also discussed the youthful nature of the Wasps side and how he see's the future of that squad evolving.

We also chat a little bit about Joe's England career and also the England squad at the moment. After a successful tour in Australia, the future is bright for the Red Rose and hopefully the Smith-Farrell combination can only get better and better. Away from the club and international game, one headline which has dominated world rugby is the one surround head collisions and concussion and the long-term damage it is causing.

Joe was honest, insightful, and entertaining and a fantastic way to kick start a new series. I hope you enjoy it, and any feedback or support is always welcomed!!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We know its taken a while but its finally here. After having to postpone twice due to covid we have finally got the season finale for you!

Matt and Freddie were joined by young star for the future Charlie McCaig. Charlie is currently plying his trade in the Exeter Chiefs academy while carrying out his studies at Exeter Uni. He is in his first year and yet a stalwart in the Exeter 1st XV. For anyone who knows anything about the standard of BUCS Super Rugby, you will know how impressive this is.

Charlie was really open with us as we chatted about all things uni! How he manages to balance being an 18/19 year old while playing the sport he loves so seriously. Matt and Charlie also compare their schedules and how university and college rugby compare. Safe to say this is an episode for the uni students with some classic storys!

We also picked Charlie's brain on the current six nations championship. Safe to say Matt and Freddie were both wrong while Charlie's Scottish roots may have helped him over the line!

To finish Matt and Freddie had one announcement to make. Part of the reason this finale has taken so long to film is the lives which Matt and Freddie are currently living. Him being in the US and myself in the UK and often our guest being in a 3rd timezone has made this such a tricky process to manage. Combining this with our busy lifestyles has made us realise that perhaps its time for a change.

The Tap and Go journey as you know it is sadly coming to a close. This is not the end, we're just making some changes. Freddie is going to be taking the podcast in a new direction on his own. The Tap and Go will be changing format, but who knows what the future holds and hopefully Matt will be able to come back as a guest from time to time.

This podcast has been the most surprising yet insane journey for both of us. We have learnt so much and had so much fun filming all of the episodes. If you had asked us during the first lockdown what we thought would happen, we both agreed we did not expect the success we've had. We want to thank you all for sticking with us and our guests for giving up their time and being so kind to let two boys pick their brains on everything from broadcasting to cooking! We want to thank all of our partners, and our team at Sports Social for letting us do what we do.

We will see you soon

Matt and Freddie

In the mean time we hope you enjoy this final episode.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are very fortunate to be joined by new Irish International and Leinster back row Will Connors.

After a man of the match display on his debut for Ireland in the Autumn, we speak to Will all about that day and the journey he has been on to get there. From training in the Leinster academy, to his childhood inspirations and family heritage. Will talks fondly and reminisces about his debut and how he went out there with freedom and an attitude to enjoy himself.

Wills break through season sadly came to an end early due to a knee injury and so we chat to him about the cruel process of injury lay off and how his progress is going and what he's been doing to try and maximise his potential upon his return. Will also briefly played for Ireland 7's and we chat to him about their meteoric rise in world 7's.

Finally, we felt that we had to ask Will about his opinions on the final test between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions. Who he felt would come out on top, his opinion Warren Gatland's selection and his thoughts on the rest of the series already. Upon reflection clearly Will is probably not one to back your money on when it comes to predictions!

Many thanks to Will, nevertheless, for giving up his time and coming on to speak to us. We loved chatting to him and wish him the best of luck in his future as we believe he is a very exciting prospect to come and expect we will hear lots from him in the future.

Don't forget to check out our instagram page @thetapandgo for exclusives and competitions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are very fortunate to be joined by up and coming Worcester Warriors fly half and the England U20 talisman Fin Smith.

After having his breakthrough season in the premiership, Fin, fresh out of school from Warwick, set the record of being the youngest starter ever for the club. We talk about his tough start against a strong Bath side and how he has found the transition into the life of a professional rugby player.

More recently Fin has taken centre stage in the U20 6 Nations and played a vital role in the victorious England team. We talk about life as a teenager in camp and how the RFU looked after and protected these young stars. Finn highlighted the excellent work which his being done at the warriors and by the RFU to look after these young players mental health.

Finally Fin gives us his thoughts on the big game between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa. His beliefs on Gatland's selection and whether he thinks the series will be decided in the 2nd test.

On the whole a thoroughly enjoyable talk getting the ins and outs of his career and picking his brains on different aspects of the game.

Don't forget to check out our instagram page @thetapandgo for exclusives and competitions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back again - after a few weeks of disturbances and issues we have finally got our premiership final review for you!

What a game it was and today we are joined by Harlequins back Oscar Beard. Although he wasn't directly involved with the final, Oscar was there with the boys. We talk through the game itself as well as the pre and post match content. Oscar provides insight and some good stories about the celebrations after!

We also talk to Oscar about his rise to the game and how he has got into the position he is today. The help he received from his school Cranleigh and the foundations of what we are sure will be a long and successful rugby career. After a storming debut against Sale this year, we look forward to watching him grow and continue to dominate next season.

Don't forget to check out our instagram page @thetapandgo for exclusives and competitions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back from our mid season break!

Today we get the inside knowledge of how the cogs turn within the most successful rugby team in the world's environment. Nic Gill has worked with the All Blacks for the last 3 Rugby World Cups and we discuss each in turn. The things that went well, and not so well.

We discuss the bare bones and the slightly more complicated things behind being an S&C coach, as well as the most impressive / funny things seen inside a gym. The current All Blacks squad is set to be announced in the coming days and we discuss what that means for him and how the process changes between cycles.

A slightly different episode to the rest of this season, but we hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it.

Don't forget to check out our instagram page @thetapandgo for exclusives and competitions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we're joined by another up and comer of the game. Harlequins and England U18 (hopefully soon U20) Prop Fin Baxter.

Fin talks us through his rise to the game and how he has ended up where he is today. Starting with the source of his love and passion for the game, to his days at Wellington College and the progression he felt there before moving up and into the Harlequins team culminating with his debut against Racing this year.

We also touch on his time with England U18's and the honour he experienced by captaining his country and what he looks from this. It is one hell of a journey for anyone of his age, let alone a tight head prop and we chat to him as well about the difficulties of his position, before moving onto the future and what he thinks lies ahead.

Tune in for what is a fantastic episode with one for the future, and who knows maybe an England international in the future. Many thanks to Fin for jumping on and hope you all enjoy it.

Don't forget to check out our instagram page @thetapandgo for exclusives and competitions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are very fortunate to be joined by Rugby United New York's very own Troy Lockyear. Despite having grown up in the UK and going to school here, Troy went to college at Berkley and has stayed out in the states ever since chasing a dream of playing rugby professionally. Now a crucial member in the MLR for New York.

We talk to Troy about his journey to date and how he has got where he is today. We question him about his brief partnership with the French legend Mathieu Basteraud and playing some true legends of the game who are now plying their trade over in the States.

We also chat briefly about his hobbies away from the game. Troy is not only skilled with a rugby ball but also with a pack of cards and we chat all things to do with his magic.

A really enjoyable conversation for both of us, especially Matt who's journey to date is one very similar to Troy's. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 3 of the series brings a guest who has applied his trade worldwide on both the World Series Sevens circuit and for his country in XV's. Now he finds himself in the US playing in Washington for Old Glory DC.

Danny Tusitala is a Samoan international who grew up in New Zealand with dreams of playing rugby professionally. It was not all that easy to begin with, however, working as a labourer and playing for his local rugby club it seemed unlikely that he was ever going to make it to the top level of the game. In this episode Danny talks to us about his journey which took him from the bottom to the top. A truly inspirational story which epitomises why so many love this beautiful game. He only needed one opportunity and took it.

It is clear to anyone who listens just how much this all meant to Danny. We also discuss the gruelling nature of the game and the effect it has on players mentally as well as physically. Having struggled himself personally, he tells the bemusing story of how his career stalled due to his own choice.

Matt and I both agreed we have never had an episode quite like this. It's unique in so many ways, thought provoking, emotional, funny, insightful and so many other things. We can't thank Danny enough for coming on and being so open with us and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Don't forget to check out our instagram @thetapandgo and to see our new partnership with @looseheadz where you can get 15% off with the code "tapandgo"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices