Talking About A Carpool

Talking About A Carpool
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Talking About a Carpool takes you inside the real rugby journey. From schoolyard dreams to the professional stage, we unpack what it’s like to chase a contract overseas. Hear stories, lessons, and insights on pathways through Europe’s top competitions — Top 14, ProD2, Premiership, Championship, URC, and the European Cups. Whether you’re a young player, parent, or fan, this podcast helps you understand the opportunities, challenges, and choices behind pursuing rugby abroad — told with honesty, experience, and a carpool vibe.

  1. Talking About A Carpool: Episode 40 – Finals Season Wrap, All Blacks & Wallabies Named

    4 days ago

    Talking About A Carpool: Episode 40 – Finals Season Wrap, All Blacks & Wallabies Named

    This week on Talking About A Carpool, hosts ofahelotu (Sydney, Australia) and Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief" (Auckland, New Zealand), wrap up a massive finals weekend across four major competitions — URC, Premiership Rugby, Super Rugby, and the Top 14 semifinals — before breaking down the freshly named All Blacks and Wallabies squads. It's a big one for the Pacific rugby community, with new faces earning their first call-ups and familiar names making their returns. Segment 1: Talk StoryStarts at (0:29)Ofa kicks things off with a check-in on a hectic personal week — balancing family commitments, club coaching at Barker, and life beyond the rugby pitch. The boys set the tone for a lighter, conversation-heavy episode before diving straight into the highlights. Segment 2: Da Latest ScoopStarts at (2:10)The biggest segment of the episode. Leinster claim the URC title over the Bulls (36–7), with the boys breaking down how Ireland's layered attack shapes proved too much. Northampton Saints win the Premiership Rugby Grand Final over Exeter Chiefs (26–17), with Pollock taking Man of the Match. The Hurricanes dominate the Super Rugby Pacific Final against the Chiefs (65–5) in Wellington, and the Top 14 semifinals see Toulouse demolish Racing 92 (71–17) and Montpellier edge Stade Français to set up an all-southern-French final at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. Ofa and Semisi also discuss what Europe's expanding club scene means for Pacific players looking for opportunities overseas. Segment 3: Da Big WaveStarts at (29:42)Dave Rennie names his first-ever All Blacks squad, and the boys go through it name by name — fresh from this morning's announcement. New call-ups from the Hurricanes include prop Xavier Numia and loosehead Pasileo Tosi, with Anton Senio (Blues) earning his maiden nod, and Reuben Love (Hurricanes) in the mix at first five-eighth alongside Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie. Ardie Savea is confirmed as captain. The boys also work through Les Kiss' first Wallabies squad, talking through the return of Brandon Paenga-Amosa, the new overseas eligibility rule that brings Daniel Tupou into the fold, and the notable absence of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. Both squads face France, Italy, and Ireland in July — World Cup year is coming fast. OutroStarts at (42:42)The boys wrap their final regular episode of the 2025/26 season, with one more episode to come next week. Expect a look back at the season and a preview of what's next for the podcast — including standalone Kuleana drops and Big Wave episodes timed around the Nations Championship Tests. Got a question for the boys? Send it through. Follow us:IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpoolYouTube: @talkingaboutacarpoolEmail your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    46 min
  2. Da Kuleana: Rugby CV — How to Get Yourself Signed

    16 Jun

    Da Kuleana: Rugby CV — How to Get Yourself Signed

    Your rugby CV is the first thing a club, agent, or directorof rugby sees before they ever watch your highlights — and most players get itwrong. ofahelotu and Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief", walk youthrough every section of a professional rugby CV, from profile basics topassport eligibility, strength stats, playing history, references, andhighlights footage. Whether you're trying to break into the French leagues,move clubs at the end of a season, or just get yourself on the radar — this isthe blueprint. WHAT'S COVERED: TIMESTAMPS: (00:09) Introduction — what a rugby CV isand why it matters right now (03:33) Profile — name, height, weight, age, andpositions (08:13) Passports and visa eligibility — rules, history, and theFrench GIF system (12:21) Strength and conditioning stats — bench press, squat,Bronco, yo-yo (14:04) Playing history — how far back to go, rep rugby, clubhistory, titles (18:35) References — who to pick, real examples, contactdetails, and why you must warn your referees (25:08) Highlights reel — length,clip selection, jersey priority, collecting footage with Hudl (29:14) Full-gamefootage — what clubs are really looking for off the ball (30:30) Presentation —one page, photos, social media, agent contact, medical history (34:16) Finalchecklist — keep it clean, make it easy, link your YouTube highlights For the full episode — including the European rugbyplayoffs, Premiership and Top 14 semi-final wrap-ups, and live tips — check outEpisode 39 of Talking About A Carpool. Subscribe so you never miss a Kuleanadrop. Follow us: IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpool YouTube:@talkingaboutacarpool Email your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    38 min
  3. Talking About A Carpool: Episode 39 – How to Build Your Rugby CV

    16 Jun

    Talking About A Carpool: Episode 39 – How to Build Your Rugby CV

    This week on Talking About A Carpool, hosts ofahelotu(Sydney, Australia) and Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief"(Auckland, New Zealand), break down what's happening across the European rugbyfinals — Premiership, Top 14, and URC — before diving into the most practicalepisode of the season. The main focus is Da Kuleana: a step-by-step guide tobuilding a rugby CV that actually gets you signed, from profile stats toreferences to highlights reels. If you're trying to make the move into professionalrugby, or know someone who is, this one's for you. Segment 1: Talk Story Starts at (0:09) The boys check infrom Sydney and Auckland — cold weather in Auckland, a sick daughter missingher school's Mini Moss Marathon, and Moana 2 on a quiet Saturday night. Theyalso preview the Super Rugby final with Chiefs and Hurricanes heading into thedecider, debating form and the Chiefs' three final losses before this shot. Segment 2: Da Latest Scoop Starts at (13:13) Full Europeanrugby playoffs wrap. Northampton beat Leicester 45–31 in a try-fest Premiershipsemi, with the final set — Northampton vs Exeter at Twickenham. In Top 14,Racing 92 beat Pau to face Toulouse, while Stade Français dismantled LaRochelle 45–5 to set up a semi against Montpellier — all four games at theVélodrome in Marseille. The promotion/relegation playoff sees Perpignan retaintheir Top 14 spot at the expense of Provence. URC semis: Leinster vs Bulls. ProD2 champions: Vannes. Championship winners: Worcester. Tips are live, the boysdebate form, and the running tips competition heats up. Segment 3: Da Kuleana [Rugby CV — How to Get YourselfSigned] Starts at (28:24) This is the one to save and share. ofahelotu andSemisi walk through exactly what goes into a professional rugby CV, fromprofile details (name, height, weight, age, position — be honest) to passportsand visa eligibility, strength and conditioning stats (bench press, squat,Bronco/yo-yo), playing history, references, highlights reel, and full-gamefootage. They cover the French passport/GIF system, how to frame rep and clubhistory, the right way to present your highlights (three to six minutes,position-specific, rep jerseys first), how to collect and store video clipsthroughout the season, and why your references — and their contact numbers —can be the difference between a contract and a no-reply. Keep it to one page.Make it easy. Outro Starts at (1:06:30) The boys sign off with a look atwhat's ahead — daughters playing in NSW All Schools rugby, a school first-gradeclash between Gordon and Eastwood, and ofahelotu reading Shoe Dog. Tunein next week for the final European rugby champions and more. Got a question?Send it through. Follow us: IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpool YouTube:@talkingaboutacarpool Email your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    1hr 13min
  4. Talking About A Carpool: Episode 38 – European Rugby Finals Round-Up & State of Origin Game 2 Preview

    9 Jun

    Talking About A Carpool: Episode 38 – European Rugby Finals Round-Up & State of Origin Game 2 Preview

    This week on Talking About A Carpool, hosts ofahelotu(Sydney, Australia) and Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief"(Auckland, New Zealand), break down the business end of the European rugbyseason — Premiership Rugby, Top 14, Pro D2, and URC — before turning theirattention to the NRL State of Origin Game 2 squad announcements and the SuperRugby Pacific semifinals. It's a shorter episode than usual, but packed withthe wrap-ups and opinions that matter most right now before the finals actionkicks off. Segment 1: Talk Story Starts at (0:09) Ofa opens theepisode running on empty after a big long weekend on the sidelines for the NSWNetball State Carnival — with two daughters playing across the under-17s andunder-15s. The boys reflect on the emotional rollercoaster of being a sportsparent, the power of a tight-knit parent group, and why showing up even whenyou're gassed is a lesson rugby taught them both. Segment 2: Da Latest Scoop Starts at (5:15) The boyscover the final round of Premiership Rugby — Harlequins beat Northampton 38-31but fall just short of Champions Cup qualification, while Bath, Exeter,Leicester, and Northampton lock in the semifinals. In Top 14, Toulouse sit topon 86 points and save themselves for the finals while Bordeaux's late-seasonslip raises eyebrows. The URC semifinals are also wrapped — Bulls come from21-3 down after two Glasgow yellow cards to book a third consecutive URC finalappearance, and Leicester beat the Stormers to join them. The hosts also breakdown the Pro D2 promotion playoff system, Vannes' dominant season, and what thePerpignan vs Provence ascession match means for those clubs. Segment 3: Da Big Wave Starts at (28:53) No Kuleanathis week — instead the boys give their takes on the NRL State of Origin Game 2squad announcements. Queensland's named Caleb Ponga, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow backin, and Reece Walsh; New South Wales have named Izzy Katoa into camp and stillboast a loaded squad. The hosts preview Game 2 at the MCG in Melbourne in frontof an expected 80,000–90,000 crowd. They also touch on the Super Rugby Pacificsemifinals — Crusaders smash Blues 52-31, Hurricanes demolish Brumbies 66-12,and Chiefs beat Reds 46-24 — and question whether Super Rugby still has thepulling power it once did. Bonus: Japan Rugby League One final — Kobe Steelersbeat Kubota Spears 22-13 for their first title since 2018, with Dave Renniedeparting to take over the All Blacks. Outro Starts at (43:00) Next week the boys will beback with Da Kuleana, a full European finals wrap, and a look at the newNations Cup Championship format for Tier 1 and Tier 2 test rugby. Got aquestion? Send it through — they want to hear from you. Follow us: IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpool YouTube:@talkingaboutacarpool Email your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    45 min
  5. Da Kuleana: Leaving Home for Rugby

    2 Jun

    Da Kuleana: Leaving Home for Rugby

    Leaving home for rugby is one of the biggest decisions aplayer will ever make — and most of them make it without a roadmap. In thissegment, ofahelotu and Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief", shareexactly what it cost them to go: the conversations with family, the emptyapartments after evening training, the payphone calls home, and the gap betweengetting paid and actually being a professional. If you're weighing up thisdecision — or you're a parent, partner, or coach supporting someone who is —this is the conversation you need to hear. WHAT'S COVERED: For the full episode — including Premiership Rugby, Top 14,Pro D2, URC, and Championship Rugby results — check out Episode 37 of TalkingAbout A Carpool. Subscribe for a new Da Kuleana drop every week. Follow us: IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpool YouTube:@talkingaboutacarpool Email your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    37 min
  6. Talking About A Carpool: Episode 37 – Leaving Home for Rugby

    2 Jun

    Talking About A Carpool: Episode 37 – Leaving Home for Rugby

    This week on Talking About A Carpool, hosts ofahelotu(Sydney, Australia) and Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief"(Auckland, New Zealand), cover the business end of the European rugby seasonbefore getting into the conversation that matters most: what it actually coststo leave home for rugby. From empty apartments in Dijon to payphone calls tomum — this episode is for every player, parent, and partner navigating thatdecision right now. Segment 1: Talk Story Starts at (0:09) The boys open withwet weather woes in Sydney and Auckland, a local derby that nearly didn'thappen, a rugby lunch at Gordon, and State of Origin celebrations. They alsocheck in on a couple of injured club teammates — prop Adrian Brown and JustinLandman — and remind listeners why good technique and S&C aren't optional. Segment 2: Da Latest Scoop Starts at (6:10) The boys runthrough the final rounds of Premiership Rugby — Northampton leading, Bathsecond, and a crucial Exeter vs. Saracens decider for the last finals spot. Top14 wraps with Toulouse heading for the minor premiership, Montpellier and StadeFrançais locked into second and third, and a tight race for Champions Cupqualification between Bordeaux, Clermont, and La Rochelle. Pro D2 semifinalsare covered from (15:14) — Vannes demolish Oyonnax 48-7 and Provence upsetColomiers to book their final spot. URC quarterfinals from (18:43): Glasgow,Bulls, Stormers, and Leinster advance — with Leinster putting 59 on the Lions.Championship Rugby wraps the scoop with Worcester crowned champions after goingthrough administration in 2022 — one of the stories of the season. Segment 3: Da Kuleana [Leaving Home for Rugby] Starts at(26:04) Semisi and ofahelotu share their own stories of the moment rugby tookthem away from home — Semisi from Auckland to Dijon after being dropped fromthe NPC in 2006, and ofa from Melbourne to Canberra chasing a pathway thatsimply didn't exist in his home state. They talk about what they left behind:family, community, faith, routine, and the comfort of knowing mum would havefood on the table. They also share what surprised them on arrival — theloneliness of empty apartments, the language barrier, the gap between"getting paid" and actually being professional. The segment closeswith four clear takeaways: position yourself where opportunities are wider;know what being a professional actually requires before you get there; plan forthe loneliness if you're going alone; and if you have a partner and kids, bringthem — your family is not a distraction, they are your foundation. Thissegment is extracted separately as a standalone episode for listeners who wantthe education without the scores. Outro Starts at (1:03:34) The boys wrap up the Europeanseason, share what's coming up in their week — senior netball state titles forofa's daughters and Malakai's recovery from injury on Semisi's end. Next weekbrings URC semifinals (Glasgow vs. Bulls, Leinster vs. Stormers) and the Pro D2final. Got a question about leaving home, going pro, or anything in between?Send it through. Follow us: IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpool YouTube:@talkingaboutacarpool Email your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    1hr 8min
  7. Da Kuleana: Life After Rugby — Semisi's Transition from Pro Player to Wine Industry

    26 May

    Da Kuleana: Life After Rugby — Semisi's Transition from Pro Player to Wine Industry

    Most rugby players don't plan for life after the game — because everything in the professional environment tells you to focus on right now. Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief," is a Tongan New Zealander who played professional rugby in France for over a decade, and then did something very deliberate: he found his passion, used his rugby network to fund his education, competed for one of 13 spots in an MBA programme at the Burgundy School of Business, and built a career in the wine industry from the ground up. This conversation is for every player starting to feel the signs — and for the families supporting them through it. WHAT'S COVERED: • Why professional rugby's full-time demands make post-career planning hard — and why the transition still catches most players off guard • How Semisi first became curious about wine through faith, French family culture, and life on the road as a professional player • The family conversation: what his wife Alison, his mum, and his Tongan peers said when he told them he was going to study wine in France • Provale — the French player transition organisation that helped Semisi access government support, course funding, and 80% of his final salary during his study window (and what the equivalent looks like for players in other unions) • What studying wine while still playing professional rugby actually looked like: WSET books on the team bus, online courses at Carcassonne, and carving out Sunday and Monday study windows around the professional programme • How Semisi negotiated a package with an amateur club in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy — house, car, and MBA fees covered — in exchange for playing rugby, while completing his master's at the Burgundy School of Business (selected from 500 applicants for 13 places) • The bias Pacific Islanders still face in non-traditional industries, and how Semisi carries himself through it • What rugby skills — showing up, relationships, resilience under pressure — transferred directly into a career in wine sales • Semisi's direct advice to any player aged 24–28 playing overseas with no plan: find your passion, contact Provale or its equivalent, start talking, and start now • What Semisi would tell his younger, stressed-out self: chill out, talk to someone, and trust that making mistakes is part of building what comes next TIMESTAMPS: (00:09) Intro — why life after rugby matters and the context of Semisi's story (02:57) Rugby is only a sliver of your life — the professional era and what it cost players (04:08) When Semisi started thinking about what comes next — final seasons at Agen and Carcassonne (06:20) How wine entered his story — from church sacrament to French family dinners (08:18) Family reaction — wife Alison, his mum, his Tongan peers, and his rugby mates (10:46) Provale — France's player transition organisation and how to access support (12:46) What studying wine alongside professional rugby actually looked like (16:07) The MBA decision — Burgundy School of Business, 500 applicants, 13 places (22:05) Why being immersed in France made the learning stick (23:55) Doubt during the master's — and how rugby taught him to push through (29:09) What the wine industry taught him about himself that rugby didn't (32:09) What rugby still shows up in how he works every day (35:21) Advice for the player aged 24–28 with no plan and a body saying stop (39:25) What he'd tell his younger, worried self looking back For the full episode — including European rugby results, the Champions Cup final, and the Pro D2 barrage — check out Episode 36 of Talking About A Carpool. And if this kind of conversation is what you're here for, subscribe and you'll get Da Kuleana every week. Follow us: IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpool YouTube: @talkingaboutacarpool Email your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    45 min
  8. Talking About A Carpool: Episode 36 – From the Pitch to the Cellar: Semisi's Second Chapter

    26 May

    Talking About A Carpool: Episode 36 – From the Pitch to the Cellar: Semisi's Second Chapter

    This week on Talking About A Carpool, hosts ofahelotu(Sydney, Australia) and Semisi Telefoni, aka "The Wine Chief"(Auckland, New Zealand), open up about the weight of life off the field — ason's ankle operation, local derby prep, and three daughters representing atNetball Carnival. Then it's into the European rugby finals (Challenge Cup andChampions Cup), the Pro D2 barrage, and Championship Rugby's final four. Themain event is Da Kuleana: Semisi tells his full story — from Agen and Carcassonneto a Burgundy MBA — and shares exactly how he used rugby to build a secondcareer in wine, and what he'd tell every player staring down the end of theircontract. Segment 1: Talk Story Starts at (0:00:09) Semisi opens witha tough week — his son Malakai broke his ankle at school lunchtime rugby, hadsurgery, and is now in a cast for six to eight weeks with screws and a plate.ofahelotu shares his own week: round seven of the Sydney club season underwaywith Gordon facing local rivals Norths, and a proud family moment watching allthree daughters play together at the Northern Suburbs Netball Carnival. Segment 2: Da Latest Scoop Starts at (0:05:30) The Pro D2barrage results: Oyonnax defeated Valence-Romans 39–14, and Provence upsetBrive — setting up the semi-finals with Vannes vs Oyonnax and Colomiers vsProvence. In Championship Rugby, Bedford demolished Coventry 58–24, whileWorcester Warriors stunned unbeaten Ealing in the final two minutes — ending a26-match unbeaten run — to set up a Bedford vs Worcester final. Then the bigEuropean finals from Bilbao: Montpellier claimed the Challenge Cup over Ulsterwith clinical set-piece rugby, and Bordeaux-Bègles retained the Champions Cup,defeating Leinster 41–19 — back-to-back champions. The hosts also note astriking Six Nations post showing France and French clubs now hold every majortitle across men's, under-20s, and European club rugby. Segment 3: Da Kuleana [Life After Rugby — Semisi'sTransition Story] Starts at (0:21:11) This is the one to save and share. Semisibreaks down exactly how he went from a Tongan kid in Auckland singing in churchchoir to a professional lock in France — and then, as his body started tellinghim the truth in his final season at Agen, how he began building something new.He talks about finding wine through sacrament, French family dinners andteammates, and then actioning his curiosity: WSET books on the team bus, onlinecourses at Carcassonne, and eventually winning one of 13 places in acompetitive MBA program at the Burgundy School of Business in Dijon — where henegotiated a house, a car, and paid fees from a local amateur club inNuits-Saint-Georges just to be surrounded by the world's greatest pinot noirswhile he studied. He covers: how Provale (France's player transitionorganisation) helped unlock the system; what his wife Alison, his mum, and hisTongan mates said when he told them; how being Pacific Islander opened a doorat his first wine job back in New Zealand; and the bias he still faces in theindustry today. His advice to any player aged 24–28 feeling the signs: findwhat you enjoy, contact your players' association, start talking, and startnow. Note: Da Kuleana is also available as its own standalone episode on allpodcast platforms. Outro Starts at (1:06:11) The boys wrap with a call to thecommunity — send your questions to talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com. Next week,local derbies are on (Gordon vs Norths, Barker vs Trinity) and the Pro D2semi-finals hit — the season is heating up on both sides of the world. Got aquestion about the rugby pathway, playing overseas, or life after footy? Reachout. They want to hear from you. Follow us: IG & TikTok: @talkingabouta.carpool YouTube:@talkingaboutacarpool Email your questions: talkingaboutacarpool@gmail.com

    1hr 9min
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About

Talking About a Carpool takes you inside the real rugby journey. From schoolyard dreams to the professional stage, we unpack what it’s like to chase a contract overseas. Hear stories, lessons, and insights on pathways through Europe’s top competitions — Top 14, ProD2, Premiership, Championship, URC, and the European Cups. Whether you’re a young player, parent, or fan, this podcast helps you understand the opportunities, challenges, and choices behind pursuing rugby abroad — told with honesty, experience, and a carpool vibe.

Information

  • Creator
    Talking About A Carpool
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Talking About A Carpool
  • Show Website
    Talking About A Carpool