What a Lad

Gambling addictions are growing in society rapidly and even more so if professional sport. Disposable income, plenty of spare time and chasing that buzz you get from professional sports make pro athletes high risk. As you'll hear in this episode with one of the greats Paul Iffil, it was those things that had him lose around 2 Million pounds in his career.

Paul was an English Football star playing in some of the biggest games against some of the biggest names. New Zealanders will know him more for his prolific goal scoring record with the Wellington Phoenix. Like all athletes Paul had his struggles with injuries, form and non selection but the biggest struggle for him throughout his career was his gambling.

In this episode we go through some plenty including.. 

Why Paul's first pro Football contract worked out to be less than his academy contract.

How a scratchy addiction as a teenager turned into a gambling addiction.

How Paul ended up in NZ with the Wellington Phoenix.

Plenty of incredible gambling stories with some of the amounts mind blowing.

How his negative self talk held in back from becoming a English Premiership super star,

How Paul managed to eventually break his gambling addiction a become 6 years clean, 

And heaps more!

It's very rare to find someone willing to come on and talk about the dark side of a gambling addiction but super grateful to Paul for coming on and sharing so openly. If you know someone who needs to hear this one please forward it on to them and it might just make the difference.

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The life after rugby transition has been a struggle for so many who have been through it and as you’ll hear in this episode with Ged Robinson, it doesn’t have to be that way. Our mindset around how we approach this next stage of our life needs to change and there are many pieces of absolute gold advice in here from Ged.

The former professional rugby player who played for plenty of teams including Manawatu, Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Canterbury and in Super Rugby played for the Hurricanes, Rebels, Highlanders, Crusaders has plenty of good stories throughout his journey. However it's the life after rugby transition is where you will be inspired.

What we go through in detail in this episode is..

How Ged went from the chubby hooker that the academy didn't want to becoming a Junior All Black.

How what you learn in professional sport actually sets you up for an even bigger career after.

The challenges you will face when you hit life after rugby so you can prepare for what's ahead.

Plenty of tips for anyone approaching that next phase of their career,

And much more.

As you'll hear in this one, Ged is a natural story teller who is passionate about helping others through that next phase. A true lad who I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to.

To show your interest in Geds life after rugby transition course head to Betterman

To get your hands on some What a Lad Merch for the perfect Christmas gift head to What a Lad

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Corey Flynn is the definition of a lad! He's just one of those truely genuine good blokes who has had a rugby career take him on some journey. He's had some huge achievements like winning the Rugby World Cup but hearing what he had to go through to get that opportunity made it so much more special then the trophy.

In this episode we got through plenty including,

The tough decision to leave Southland to go to Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Being named in the 2003 RWC squad out of no where (crazy story how he found out)

A rough patch in his career much revolved around injuries and drinking

How he got out of that rough patch to force his way back into the All Blacks

His time in France and Scotland,

Even playing heartland for Westcoast,

and much much more.

I'd had plenty of requests to get Flynny and after this conversation I now know why, he's so honest and open in this episode as well as sharing plenty of good stories from his time. I know you'll enjoy this one!

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That’s it! The 2023 RWC is all over and man has that taken us on an emotional rollercoaster.

So much to discuss in this last ever episode of the Dance in France review show. It’s been awesome having Searley and Jacob Atkins join me for the RWC to give their analysis and for this one last time they go hard.

7 out of the 8 knockout games came down to the last play! Again the final was no different, the All blacks playing a majority of the game with 14 men, South Africa playing with plenty of passion, winning collisions. Tension was high, drama was even higher. You’ll hear all our thoughts in the episode but incredibly proud of the All Blacks and their performance.

We also talk the 3rd and 4th playoff game, how we think we can fix the TMO issue with our game, fantasy rugby wrap up and heaps more.

I’ve really enjoyed bringing these episodes to you, hopefully in 4 years time we are even bigger and better!

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Hugh Renton is one of the NZ rugbys hard men, he's tough, he's aggressive and he has a reckless regard for his body. He's also had to be very tough mentally with some of the challenges he has faced in his professional career to date. From being signed on a 3 year contract with the Hurricanes straight out of school with a non functional arm, to losing his Dad to suicide. Hugh has had plenty to deal with.

The best thing from all that, is he has learnt so much about himself and the mind through his journey and is wanting to share what he's learnt to help other. He has always had an incredible work ethic and his desire to become better, learn more about the mind, means he has plenty of good advice to share.

After releasing Shanes episode last week it's clear there is so much that needs to be done in this space so I hope that some of the tools Hugh shares are beneficial for you all.

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Here it is! We are at the pinnacle of the sport a Rugby World Cup final with 2 of the most dominant teams in the history of the sport going at it as the mighty All Blacks get set to take on the Springboks. What a way to finish which has been such an incredible World Cup. So many good games and I’m sure this weekend will be no different.

As always on here, we are joined by two of the great rugby analysis in the form of Searley from Searley talks sport and Jacob Atkins as we review last weeks semi finals. Plenty to review in those 2 games with the All Blacks being far too good for Argentina and South Africa using their get out of jail free card on England.

We obviously go through the final in an in depth review and try to predict what we can expect to see out there on Saturday night in France. Also touching on the Bronze playoff game .

Also to finish we share our initial thoughts to announcement of the new RWC format and the new Nations Championship.

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Shane Christie is one of NZ's great lads! This is one of the the most honest, raw and engaging episodes I've ever done, as we talk about topics which are very close to home, like concussion in rugby and the incredibly sad passing of a good mate Billy Guyton.

Many will know Shane as a Super Rugby winner with the Highlanders, or an NPC winner with Tasman as both a player and coach, or maybe even for his time with the NZ Maori All Blacks. However I think what every one loves about Shane Christie, is he always tells it how it is. That doesn't stop here either as he shares...

- His unique pathway to becoming a professional rugby player, which included building and playing Club for 7 years!

- The disappointing first season with the Crusaders.

- His move to the Highlanders and how they found success in 2015.

- How hard ending his career with concussion was

- The post footy transition into coaching

- The depth he has gone to to help recover from his concussion symptoms, and heaps more.

I've been waiting a long time to get this man on and I am so happy he agreed to come on, he's a true lad!

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Before we start talking Semi Finals, lets sit back and take in what was the best weekend of Rugby you will see! Some of the most entertaining, competitive and intense games you will see, topped of by an All Blacks v Ireland game for the ages. 37 phases deep playing for the win, it truely was edge of the seat stuff. France v South Africa was in the same boat for intensity and drama! While both Wales v Argentina and Fiji v England both went right down to the wire. There's been lots of complaining about the draw but with that weekend of rugby viewing I am not complaining.

We do also look forward to the Semi Finals in this episode, both Searley and Jacob Atkins share their thoughts for the games after some in depth analysis. I also share made fantasy rugby update and a surprise tactic I'm going to run this week to try and catch the pack.

So much in this one, if you enjoy it as always please give it a share

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Phill Jones is one of the best shooters of a Basketball this country has ever seen. He scored thousands of goals in his 23 year career, which included at least 163 games for the Tall Blacks. The Reefton Kid had plenty to discuss in this one which includes..

Coaching his son Hayden who at 16 is already playing in the NBL (his daughters Maia and Ava are also very talented)

Growing up in the small town of Reefton

His pathway from Nelson College to the Nelson Giants

Some crazy stories about playing basketball in Greece, Finland and Italy

Playing for the Tall Blacks at tournament like the World Champs and the Olympics

Playing against 'The Dream Team' and some of the best players in the world like Lebron James

Scoring 105 points in one game!

And heaps more.

Phill is such a good lad who has had an incredible career, it was awesome getting an insight into the world of professional basketball. After hearing Phill talk it's clear to see how he managed to play at such a high level for so long, he's as competitive as they get. Really enjoyed this one and I know you will too. 

To support the podcast head over to What a Lad and get your hands on some merch

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How good is this Rugby World Cup! You couldn't ask for a more even, hard to predict quarter final games than what we have here. 4 Northern Hemisphere teams taking on 4 Southern Hemisphere teams, with all 4 Northern Hemisphere teams going in as favourites for the first time ever.

So much to talk about in this episode but before we look forward we must look back to the incredible week that has been with Portugal creating scenes winning their first ever RWC game. Ireland putting on an absolute clinic! France and the ABs way to good in their games and heaps more.

Fantasy rugby has hit QF stages too so theres a few things to think about there and this is the toughest week for fantasy rugby yet. Seriously fizzed for this weekend of Rugby!

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