The Rugby Inheritance Podcast Sam Roberts

Using extracts from all the interviews we have conducted, we have put together a special episode examining the idea of 'What it takes to be an England Rugby player'. 

Focusing on the way resilience, commitment, perseverance and hard work plays such a key role in developing a young athlete, this episode explores how the sport's best performers got to the top. Listen to Chris Ashton, Tom Wood, Freddie Burns, Alex Goode, Mark Wilson and Jonny Wilkinson discuss moments in their career when it was tough, and how they found themselves overcoming obstacles to achieve their dreams. 

Adversity can often breed the qualities needed to be very successful and here are England Internationals describing how difficult it was for them to become the players they became. A great listen for anyone thinking success is easy to come by and an especially crucial listen to any young person looking to become a professional athlete.

Recorded live in front of a packed Captain's Lounge at Kingsholm, Jonny Wilkinson gives Sam Roberts and Ed Slater a rare insight into the way he played the game. He talks about growing up, his formative years with Newcastle, the move to Toulon and a decorated England career, which saw him win the Rugby World Cup in 2003. This is an indepth and fascinating interview revealing exactly what Jonny was dealing with and how, over time, he has come to realise what rugby has given him. He leaves Ed a superb piece of memorabilia to auction and relays one story to the Cherry & White faithful that has them smiling from ear to ear.

This podcast is produced in association with George Davies Turf - find out more here

It might be a name you don't recognise, but in rugby's inner circles, Mike Penistone is regarded as one of the game's great coaches. Having coached around the world, Mike was perhaps most influential in the Leicester Academy in the early 2000s and he continues to practice the art of coaching well into his 70s. In this episode, not only do we get truly unique and touching insights into Ed's career, but we also receive some incredible coaching tips to take with us into our worlds. Mike gives some invaluable pointers as to how to get your point across, explains where most coaches go wrong and leaves behind a very personal gift for us to auction to raise fund for the #4Ed cause. It is another wonderful episode along our Rugby Inheritance journey.

This podcast is produced in association with George Davies Turf - find out more here

Having played for over a decade for one of the most successful clubs in English Rugby, you would think that Sam Harrison's Rugby Inheritance would be relatively standard; it is anything but. This interview reveals a man who wrestled with his place in professional sport, struggled with addiction and is only now coming to terms with the amount of different things that rugby gave him. This is a sensitive, poignant and revealing insight into a career which saw him win trophies, yet always feel somewhat unfulfilled. This is a tender, revealing and at times, emotional interview and we are indebted to Sam for sharing his thoughts with us, even though, as he says in his own words, he hasn’t quite worked it all out yet. This interview does deal with sensitive issues and if you would like more information about dealing with and talking about alcohol addiction please visit -  www.drinkaware.co.uk

This podcast is produced in association with George Davies Turf - find out more here

Mark Wilson is an extraordinary athlete and stand-out rugby player. Having come through junior rugby with the likes of Penrith, Kendall, Tynedale and Blaydon, Mark Wilson ended up playing over 200 times for Newcastle Falcons. In this episode, he opens up about his personal journey, his favourite memories, his most painful moments and what he hopes he's left behind for those coming through. It is a very touching and honest appraisal of what he feels the game has given him and at the end, he donates a very personal gift for us to auction in aid of the 4Ed cause.

This podcast is produced in association with George Davies Turf - find out more here

Sarah Hunter is England's most capped rugby player and her legacy in the Women's game is hard to beat. In this enlightening episode, Hunter shares her story: from a seemingly innocent introduction to the game at primary school, through to winning the World Cup in 2014 and going on to make more appearances for her country than anyone else.  A proud Geordie, Hunter describes some of the resistance she met along the way, the heartbreak of losing the 2021 Final and her new role, coaching the Red Roses at the beginning of a new era. This episode is typically candid and revealing, and Sarah leaves behind a very special and poignant gift for us to auction for the #4Ed cause.

This podcast is produced in association with George Davies Turf - find out more here