In this US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE episode, Bill and Fitzy welcome Major League Rugby Director of Match Officials, David Wilkinson on to talk about what is making the entire rugby world abuzz, new 2025 MLR Trialed Laws. Are they turning union into league? Will scrums suffer? Why these implementations and why in Major League Rugby? Also, who sets these laws, MLR or Rugby Union? Will they have an effect on USA Rugby’s performance against other nations not subjected to these laws? So much discussed, and so much learned. 

Follow @eaglesoverseas and @rugbymorning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news.

Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. 

http://www.eaglesoverseas.com

[email protected]

John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world.

[email protected]

http://www.rugbymorning.com

Show Links:

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In US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE, 2024 Major League Rugby Rookie of the Year, Junior Gafa joins Bill and Fitzy to talk about signing full time with Anthem Rugby Club, his new teammates, the influence Coach Al (Alama Leremia) has on his life and career, 2025 hopes for the team’s success, and his future Eagles goals, hoping to cap for USA sooner than later!

Follow @eaglesoverseas and @rugbymorning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news.

Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. 

http://www.eaglesoverseas.com

[email protected]

John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world.

[email protected]

http://www.rugbymorning.com

Show Links:

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BONUS EPISODE: US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE Intro Jingles! For Season 5, Episode 5, we introduce The Rugby Rants’ Rob “The Hammer” Hammerschmidt, North American Rugby Database curator, James Deeley, and The Fantasy Ruckers’ Ryan Ye in a powerful way… it will make you want to punch someone in the face!

.

LYRICS:

And now, 

The M-L-R two thousand twenty-five

Preview show BEGINS (let’s go!)

James (Deeley)

Rob (Hammer-Shmit)

Ryan (Yeeeeee)

[BUILD]

Utah Warriors

Seattle (Sea-wolves)

San Diego (Leegion)

NOLA (Gold)

Houston (Saber Cats)

Miami (Sharks)

Old Glory (D-C.)

Chicago (Hounds.)

Anthim (Rugby Club)

Los Angeles (Rugby F-C)

[DROP]

And reigning champs,

New England (Free Jacks)

Who wins it all!? (no one really knows)

Let’s discuss…

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In US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE’s annual Major League Rugby Season Preview Show, Bill and Fitzy welcome The Rugby Rants’ Rob “The Hammer” Hammerschmidt, North American Rugby Database curator, James Deeley, and The Fantasy Ruckers’ Ryan Ye to break down each MLR team leading into the season. Who’s the cream of the crop, and who’s not? And, which teams are our picks to top each conference, and who wins it al!?

Follow @eaglesoverseas and @rugbymorning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news.

Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. 

http://www.eaglesoverseas.com

[email protected]

John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world.

[email protected]

http://www.rugbymorning.com

Show Links:

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

BONUS EPISODE: US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE Intro Jingles! For Season 5, Episode 5, World Rugby GM US Operations, RWC31 - Ross Young is introduced in a very dramatic, broadway-esque, cartoon superhero way. Oddly enough, another guest who has never been introduced with a jungle. We are so futuristic! HA!

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LYRICS:

Let's welcome back to the show, 

Former CEO of U-S-A Rugby

Now World Rugby

General Manager of U-S Operations

Rugby World Cup Two Thousand Thirty One

Please welcome,

Ross Young

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Bill and Fitzy kick off what hopefully will be an annual show about the preparations of the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups, hosting by USA Rugby by welcome World Rugby GM or US Operations, RWC31, Ross Young. We dive deep into the current status of their preparations, site surveys, what are they looking for in locations, any conflicts with NFL and College football seasons, or is World Rugby planning to partner with the NFL. Can Ross and the other organizers learn from The Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, and other big events occurring in the US leading up to the 2031 Rugby World Cup, and so much more!

And another first, Ross has never been introduced via a jingle in his name! It’s Rugby meets WWF!

Follow @eaglesoverseas and @rugbymorning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news.

Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. 

http://www.eaglesoverseas.com

[email protected]

John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world.

[email protected]

http://www.rugbymorning.com

Show Links:

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

BONUS EPISODE: US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE Intro Jingles! For Season 5, Episode 3, guest Wendy Young… YSC Rugby’s leader is introduced with this instant Top 40 hit!

LYRICS:

Hey, hey, it’s time

Let's bring on the leader in women’s rugby coverage

Your Scrum half Connection,

The mastermind behind

We’re assuming she once played scrum half

Or has a thing for scrum halves…

Former rugby referee, coach and player,

2 states, she’s a 3-time Rugby hall of famer

Host with the most,

of a dose

of all things awesome

In women’s rugby

Let’s give it up

For Wendy Young!

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Sione Fukofuka, a newbie to being introduced via a jingle!

BONUS EPISODE: US Rugby Happy Hour LIVE Intro Jingles! For Season 5, Episode 4, USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka is introduced with this gem… also, Sione has never been introduced this way! A good thing? Maybe… Listen to our interview with Sione and Wendy Young on the latest up and coming USA Women’s Eagle stars.

LYRICS:

To him, coming on this show doesn’t phase.

From Brisbane to Colorado,

his American adventure continues to amaze. 

A loose head prop in his day,

at least, that’s what Wikipedia had to say.  (Who knows?)

It’s a Rugby World Cup Year

What does he have in store

for Eagle’s opponents to fear. (Kick ass!)

Freshly running from a forest fire,

A middle of the night escape.

But now safe at home,

in the snowy hills of his adopted state. (oh good!)

Let’s give a big “Guh'day mate”

To U-S-A Women’s Rugby Head coach

See-own-ee Foo-koh-foo-kah (Go Eagles!)

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Bill and Fitzy welcome USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka, back to the show, nearly a year since his first appearance on any podcast in America. How did 2024 go, did the team reach their goals? What does 2025, a huge year, look like for the team? Pacific Four, RWC Warm-ups, and what they all play for, the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. 

Be sure to check out part 2 of this show when we welcomed YSC Rugby’s Wendy Young to talk about the future of the Women’s Eagles, who are they? 

And a first, Sione is introduced via a jingle for the first time in his career? Is that a good thing? Maybe. 

Follow @eaglesoverseas and @rugbymorning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news.

Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. 

http://www.eaglesoverseas.com

[email protected]

John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world.

[email protected]

http://www.rugbymorning.com

Show Links:

• Eagles Overseas

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On this episode of US Rugby Happy Hour Podcast, YSC Rugby’s Wendy Young joins Bill and Fitzy to discuss the future of the USA Women’s Eagles and the current stars. The future looks bright as Wendy brings us down the road of some of the newest players to look out for, and how the game has grown in the US of late. 

The USRHHL Jingle writing team whipped up an instant hit for Wendy’s intro!  

Be sure to listen to the first part of the live show with USA Women’s Rugby Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka!

Follow @eaglesoverseas and @rugbymorning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news.

Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. 

http://www.eaglesoverseas.com

[email protected]

John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world.

[email protected]

http://www.rugbymorning.com

Show Links:

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