US Rugby Happy Hour

We're back with another excellent episode of U.S. Rugby Happy Hour! In this episode, hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick kick things off with a little sports banter before diving into the booming youth and high school rugby landscape on the West Coast. We are joined by Rugby NorCal CEO and Fresno-based coach Nate Dalena, who breaks down what makes Northern California the largest and most vibrant state youth rugby organization in the country.

Nate shares his expert insights on establishing structured league operations, bridging the gap between rugby and football through social media education, and the critical importance of introducing non-contact T1 rugby to younger age groups. We also explore the structural evolution of high school club and single-school divisions, the challenges of getting rugby on public school campuses, and why the future of American rugby is brighter than ever. Tune in for an inspiring, masterclass discussion on grassroots growth!

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Youtube: https://youtu.be/pm0Ibca65_E

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Check out americanrugbyrising.com for the latest on your USA Eagles, schedules, news and more!

Hosts, Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick are available for media opportunities and appearances. Contact information below.

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.americanrugbyrising.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]

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In this episode of Eagles Overseas with Bill Baker, host Bill Baker breaks down all the action from October 28 to November 1, 2026. We recap double-try performances in the PWR Next Gen Cup, key defensive efforts in Top 14 and ProD2, and standout performances from uncapped talent across the globe.

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Welcome back to another dynamic segment of U.S. Rugby Happy Hour featuring "The National Maul" with veteran journalist Martin Pengelly! In this episode, hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick sit down with Martin to break down the massive weekend of international rugby coming to Sports Illustrated Stadium, highlighted by the surging USA Women’s Eagles taking on the world-class England Red Roses.

Martin shares his expert analysis on the recent form of the USA squad, the phenomenal rise of breakout star Bella Vogel and Frida Tafuna, and why Canada’s historic back-to-back victories over England have completely shifted the global women's game. We also explore the men's international landscape, the realities of player development pipelines in the Top 14, and what to expect from the upcoming November tests. Tune in for an engaging, sharp-witted look at the state of rugby content and culture!

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Connect with US Rugby Happy Hour:

🎧 Listen to this and previous episodes of US Rugby Happy Hour on Youtube and your favorite podcast player today!

Apple: bit.ly/3Uuj9u7

Spotify: bit.ly/3ZxjAa0

Youtube: https://youtu.be/pm0Ibca65_E

Like, follow, and subscribe and please leave a comment!!

Check out americanrugbyrising.com for the latest on your USA Eagles, schedules, news and more!

Hosts, Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick are available for media opportunities and appearances. Contact information below.

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.americanrugbyrising.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]

Martin Pengelly is a Washington-based reporter and editor. His “The National Maul” Substack about rugby in the US. His first book, Brotherhood: When West Point Rugby Went To War, is published by Godine.

https://thenationalmaul.substack.com/

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

Welcome back to another fun episode of U.S. Rugby Happy Hour! In this episode, hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick kick things off with some lighthearted Halloween banter before diving straight into the massive weekend of international rugby coming to New Jersey's Sports Illustrated Stadium. We are joined by RugbyPass Contributing Writer and Women’s Rugby Editor Joe Harvey, who is live on the ground in the New York area to break down everything you need to know about the upcoming fixtures.

Joe shares his expert insights on the surging momentum of women’s test rugby, the monumental growth of the USA Eagles under head coach Jack Hanratty, and what it will take for the Americans to challenge the powerhouse Red Roses. We also explore the global landscape of the women's game, the impact of cross-over talents, and what to expect as the USA men's side prepares to face the Australia 15s. Tune in for an engaging, deep-dive discussion into the heart of international rugby!

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Connect with US Rugby Happy Hour:

🎧 Listen to this and previous episodes of US Rugby Happy Hour on Youtube and your favorite podcast player today!

Apple: bit.ly/3Uuj9u7

Spotify: bit.ly/3ZxjAa0

Youtube: https://youtu.be/pm0Ibca65_E

Like, follow, and subscribe and please leave a comment!!

Check out americanrugbyrising.com for the latest on your USA Eagles, schedules, news and more!

Hosts, Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick are available for media opportunities and appearances. Contact information below.

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.americanrugbyrising.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]

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

Join Bill Baker as he breaks down all the overseas rugby action featuring American Eagles from Wednesday, October 21 through Sunday, October 25, 2026. Highlights include AJ MacGinty leading Bristol Bears to a 20-7 win over Exeter, Renger Van Eerten making his season return for Provence, Nafi Ma’afu featuring in Montauban’s thriller, and Kristin Bitter making her Montpellier debut!

Players Featured:

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USA Women’s Rugby star Hope Rogers drops in to talk about the Women Eagles' thrilling four-game winning streak and the evolving team culture under head coach Jack Hanratty. From embracing a high-energy style of play to line dancing in Nashville, Hope shares behind-the-scenes insights into how the squad is building depth, developing rugby IQ, and preparing for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

In this open conversation, Hope candidly discusses her future in international rugby, her original retirement plans after the last World Cup, and what keeps her hungry for one last tournament run. Plus, she reacts to closing in on the all-time USA Women's scoring record and takes on a fun "Would You Rather" rapid-fire round. Tune in for an engaging look at one of the nation's top rugby talents!

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Connect with US Rugby Happy Hour:

🎧 Listen to this and previous episodes of US Rugby Happy Hour on Youtube and your favorite podcast player today!

Apple: bit.ly/3Uuj9u7

Spotify: bit.ly/3ZxjAa0

Youtube: https://youtu.be/4gDNrRIdl_Q

Like, follow, and subscribe and please leave a comment!!

Check out americanrugbyrising.com for the latest on your USA Eagles, schedules, news and more!

Hosts, Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick are available for media opportunities and appearances. Contact information below.

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.americanrugbyrising.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]

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

Join Bill Baker as he breaks down all the rugby action featuring American Eagles overseas from Wednesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 18, 2026. Highlights include Charlie Abel’s Pro D2 Team of the Week honors, Ale Heaney’s spectacular 2-try performance for Cornish Pirates, Morgan Freeman’s debut try for Saracens, and Declan Cadden commanding Leicester Tigers U23!

Players Featured:

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US Rugby Hall of Famer and dual-code Eagle Tony Ridnell steps into the booth with Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick to talk about his ambitious new historical book project, The Good, The Bad, American Rugby. From recounting his 1990s international playing days and navigating multiple severe concussions to examining the crucial off-field milestones that shaped the sport in the U.S.—including Title IX, the 2020 USA Rugby bankruptcy, and early struggles faced by the 1991 Women’s World Cup champions—Tony provides a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the legacy of the American game.

The conversation also covers modern developments across the domestic and international landscape. Tony discusses the game-day culture built by the Seattle Seawolves at Starfire, highlights the remarkable philanthropic growth of the XV Foundation supporting women's rugby, and offers honest commentary on the Men's Eagles' recent performances and World Rugby's scheduling decisions ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup.

Connect with US Rugby Happy Hour:

🎧 Listen to this and previous episodes of US Rugby Happy Hour on Youtube and your favorite podcast player today!

Apple: bit.ly/3Uuj9u7

Spotify: bit.ly/3ZxjAa0

Like, follow, and subscribe and please leave a comment!!

Check out americanrugbyrising.com for the latest on your USA Eagles, schedules, news and more!

Hosts, Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick are available for media opportunities and appearances. Contact information below.

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.americanrugbyrising.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]

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

On this segment of the US Rugby Happy Hour segment: The National Maul, Martin returns to discuss the shift toward NFL-style post-match locker room media access announced by Bristol Bears' Pat Lam. He draws on 25 years of journalism experience—sharing a classic 1990s locker room encounter with French legend Abdel Benazzi—to examine whether unfiltered access will survive high-stakes pressure, corporate media training, and press scrutiny.

The conversation then shifts to Martin’s latest writing on the deep history of rugby played on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. From tracing back to the Potomac Athletic Club (PAC) and its predecessor, Club Sudamericano de Rugby, to uncovering a forgotten 1970 Richard Burton essay on rugby, Martin highlights the rich culture that ties local D.C. watering holes like The Bottom Line to the sport. Finally, the trio touches on the state of the Congressional Rugby Caucus, proving how the shared camaraderie of rugby—and a drink at the pub afterward—can bridge even the deepest political divides.

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In this episode of Eagles Overseas with Bill Baker, host Bill Baker breaks down the weekend performances of American rugby stars in France's Top 14 and Pro D2, plus Round 4 of England's PWR Next Gen Cup. Features match reports, Team of the Week accolades, season stat tallies, and crucial player status updates.

Featured Players:

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