Rugby Through The Leagues Podcast

Rugby TTL
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 Rugby Through The Leagues (Rugby TTL) shines a light on rugby beyond the mainstream — tier 2 and tier 3 nations, grassroots clubs, Spanish rugby, Rugby Europe, Super Rugby Americas, sevens and the global game. Honest interviews and analysis with the players, coaches and characters the spotlight ignores. New episodes regularly — subscribe on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

  1. 22h ago

    Poland's Champions Take on Europe — Daniel Gdula, Pogoń Siedlce

    The Ascent Rugby Series miniseries continues. Carl talks to Dan Gdula, captain of Pogoń Siedlce — back-to-back champions of Poland — before their opening festival in Frankfurt against RC Eemland. Dan on a squad drawn from five nations, a game plan built on winning the collisions, and why this competition matters far beyond one weekend: Polish clubs have had no European pathway, the Super Cup move never happened, and the domestic league has been the ceiling. He points to Czechia and the Bohemian Warriors as proof of what club rugby in Europe does for a national team. Also: Poland's promotion back to the Rugby Europe Championship and what it costs a union short of players, coaches and money; the Switzerland lesson; the 68-24 win over Eemland in February he expects nothing like this time; and a club in Siedlce that fills a stadium and wants a festival of its own. 🎟️ ascentrugby.com · 📺 Festival #01 live on RugbyPass, with Carl on co-commentary. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com

    Poland's Champions Take on Europe — Daniel Gdula, Pogoń Siedlce

  2. 3d ago

    Ascent Rugby Series: Byron Schmidt, Frankfurt — The Coach Behind the Idea

    Frankfurt head coach Byron Schmidt on hosting the first-ever Ascent Rugby Series festival — and how the whole competition started as his idea. In this episode: how a cross-border youth format became Central Europe's newest senior series; Frankfurt's running brand of rugby and the players to watch; and what fans can expect in Frankfurt on 22 August. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱  00:00:00 Welcome to the Ascent Rugby Series 00:00:45 Meet Byron Schmidt, Frankfurt Head Coach 00:01:00 A Dominant Bundesliga Season 00:01:40 Where the Ascent Idea Came From 00:02:00 Building the Brand: Nico, Henry & Felix 00:02:30 Pre-Season Prep and Player Buzz 00:04:00 Why Every Club Treats Ascent as Pre-Season 00:05:00 Giving the Players a Mental Break 00:06:00 Eight Years at the Club and the Dukes 00:07:00 The Amateur Ethos: Rugby After the Whistle 00:08:30 Football Kids Crossing to Rugby 00:10:00 Coaches, Volunteers and Development 00:11:00 German Rugby on the Rise 00:13:00 Talent Coming Through the System 00:15:00 Central Europe's Heineken Cup? 00:16:00 From Parked Idea to Three-Year Plan 00:18:00 Frankfurt's Style: A Running Brand of Rugby 00:20:00 Rebuilding the Senior Section on Fundamentals 00:22:00 Players to Watch: Leo Wolfe Leads the Way 00:25:00 Mates Made at Festivals Like This 00:26:00 Frankfurt Hosts: What to Expect on the Day 00:27:30 On the Fence? Come and Watch 00:28:00 The Miniseries Ahead & Where to Follow

    Ascent Rugby Series: Byron Schmidt, Frankfurt — The Coach Behind the Idea

  3. Aug 12

    Ascent Rugby Series Preview with RC Eemland Head Coach Mitch McGann | Rugby Through the Leagues Podcast

    On the Rugby Through the Leagues podcast, Carl speaks with Mitch McGann, head coach of Dutch club RC Eemland, a founding team in the new Ascent Rugby Series beginning 22nd August in Frankfurt and now expanded from six to seven teams, including two Dutch sides (RC Eemland and The Dukes). McGann explains Eemland's identity as a family-oriented club with a strong youth pipeline and a recent shift from a forward-heavy style toward more ball movement and flair, and discusses how playing styles vary by region across the Netherlands. They preview Eemland's pre-season fixtures in the series against Poland's Pogon and Czech powerhouse Tatra, touch on scouting and preparation, highlight key players and new Kiwi signings, and discuss facility challenges, youth development via regional academies, and broader ambitions for cross-border competition and Dutch rugby growth. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Series Intro 00:58 RC Eemland Identity 02:37 Dutch Rugby Styles 04:28 Regional Differences 06:39 Dukes Rivalry Talk 09:22 Preseason and Fixtures 10:44 Pogon Lessons and Plan 14:13 Joining Ascent Rugby 16:00 Players to Watch 19:30 Scouting and Hosting Plans 22:43 Pitches and Facilities 27:59 Dutch Rugby Growth Pathway 32:31 Domestic Pro Vision 34:36 Why Ascent Matters 37:58 Funding and Future Format 42:24 Wrap Up and Tickets 🎟️ Tickets: ascentrugby.com 👉 Join free: rugbyttl.com/members 👉 Get the App: rugbyttl.app

    Ascent Rugby Series Preview with RC Eemland Head Coach Mitch McGann | Rugby Through the Leagues Podcast

  4. Jul 10

    Greece's Rugby Growth: Inside the Aegean Festival & Big 2027 Athens Plans

    This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with George and Dave from Attica Rugby, the team behind the Aegean Rugby Festival, to talk about growing rugby in Greece through sport tourism. They cover the festival's origins, the vision of showcasing Greece as a sporting destination, and the reality of 2026 — a scaled-back event after travel uncertainty and rising costs forced multiple cancellations, yet still delivered with four men's and four women's teams, strong local support in Crete, and professional refereeing. Then the big one: plans for a bigger early-summer 2027 festival in Athens — rugby sevens, beach rugby, an all-inclusive option, a major closing party, and ideas for youth divisions, touch rugby, rugby tours and future 15s. Plus Andy Powell's sevens story, why legends add credibility, the Greek rugby leadership gap, and the philosophy of show up and build. Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips. ⏱️ Timestamps  (00:00) Welcome & Guests  (00:56) Origins of the Aegean Festival  (03:01) Greek Rugby Growth  (05:22) Festival Vision & the Federation  (09:15) Travel Chaos & Cancellations  (11:01) Pulling Off the 2026 Event  (13:13) Referees & Tournament Quality  (16:47) 2027 Athens Teaser  (18:48) Youth Division vs the Party  (23:12) Future Formats & Rugby Tours  (27:48) Streaming the Format  (28:08) Tournament Week Blueprint  (28:44) Event Weekend Integration  (29:19) The Andy Powell Sevens Story  (31:37) Legends Add Credibility  (33:56) The Greek Rugby Leadership Gap  (38:12) Show Up & Build  (39:37) Celebrities Who Deliver  (43:57) Rugby for Anyone  (47:01) Touch Rugby Expansion  (48:42) Early Summer 2027 Plans  (50:30) Final Wrap & Callouts 🎧 Follow Rugby TTL wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're enjoying it, a rating or review genuinely helps us reach more people.  ▶️ Watch the full video: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL  📸 Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod  🌍 rugbyttl.com

    Greece's Rugby Growth: Inside the Aegean Festival & Big 2027 Athens Plans

  5. Jul 3

    Albanian Rugby's Rise: Chairman Xhino on Grassroots Growth & the Road to Rugby Europe

    This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with Xhino, chairman of the Albanian rugby federation, for the story of how a sport almost nobody was playing became a national project. Xhino traces it back to 2010–2012, when a handful of students inspired by YouTube clips started throwing a ball around — through the founding of Tirana Rugby Club to official federation recognition in 2024. He and Carl get into Albania's entirely self-funded growth, the touring sides making the trip out (the European Parliament Rugby Team and Nottingham Police Force among them), and why hospitality, raki and the post-match third half matter as much as anything on the pitch. Xhino lays out the pillars taking Albanian rugby forward: school programmes and touch rugby, building a base beyond Tirana in Durrës, French connections opening player pathways, women's rugby, and the long game — Rugby Europe membership and fixtures against Bosnia, Serbia and Greece. Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips. ⏱️ Timestamps  (00:00) Welcome & Guest Intro  (01:06) Rugby Begins in Albania  (02:18) Tirana Club & Touring Teams  (03:31) Albanian Hospitality & Raki  (06:02) The Road to Rugby Europe  (06:53) Schools & Youth Pathways  (08:02) France Links & Player Opportunities  (13:44) Growing Beyond Tirana  (18:35) Funding & Building an Ecosystem  (20:24) The 5, 10, 15-Year Vision  (22:46) Women's Rugby & the Balkan Schools Cup  (28:21) Rugby League & Learning from the NRL  (31:12) Media Buzz & Upcoming Fixtures  (32:59) How to Connect & Visit  (35:49) Final Thanks & Wrap Up 🎧 Follow Rugby TTL wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're enjoying it, a rating or review genuinely helps us reach more people.  ▶️ Watch the full video: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL  📸 Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod  🌍 rugbyttl.com

    Albanian Rugby's Rise: Chairman Xhino on Grassroots Growth & the Road to Rugby Europe

  6. Jun 26

    Mike Poppmeier: Germany's New Head Coach on Rebuilding, Funding & Rugby Europe | Rugby TTL Podcast

    German rugby is rebuilding — and new head coach Mike Poppmeier is the man tasked with leading it back. In this episode, Carl sits down with Mike Poppmeier, the new head coach of Germany and a former Germany international, for an open conversation about Rugby Europe, the national team's future, and the funding gap holding it all back. Mike talks through his South African upbringing, his German/Austrian family roots and 11 years living in Germany, before laying out the real picture: how the lack of a professional environment and funding limits preparation, player retention, staffing and international fixtures. He explains the value of cross-border competition like the new Ascent Rugby league (featuring Adler XV and Frankfurt), his role with dominant Bundesliga champions Frankfurt, and why Germany sits in the Trophy division while rebuilding its culture, behaviours and pathway by blooding young France-based prospects. Plus his coaching ethos — fitness, tempo and smart rugby — and the practical needs, from video analysis to aligned governance, that could unlock sponsorship and long-term growth. Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips. ⏱️ Chapters  00:00 Welcome & guest intro  00:45 Mike's Germany journey  02:19 Why Germany slipped  04:50 Super Cup & pro pathways  07:16 Ascent Rugby explained  08:00 Bundesliga & Frankfurt dominance  10:43 Adler XV selection plans  13:26 Friendlies & travel budgets  16:07 Rebuild in the Trophy division  19:48 The funding mystery & next steps  22:03 Squad identity plan  22:45 Player release commitments  24:58 Coaching ethos & style  27:40 Prep time & logistics  28:46 Video analysis & tools  30:27 Head coach workload  33:40 Five-year vision  35:37 Funding & alignment  38:59 Curtis Brayford addition  40:25 Final message & legacy 🎧 Listen & follow: Spotify (open.spotify.com/show/511e8frgzJnY1CWe06GLyH) · Apple Podcasts · YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · rugbyttl.com

    Mike Poppmeier: Germany's New Head Coach on Rebuilding, Funding & Rugby Europe | Rugby TTL Podcast

  7. Jun 19

    Heart of Wales 7s Special: Jordan & The Flaming Unicorns on Rugby, Community & Mental Health

    The Rugby Through the Leagues podcast welcomes Jordan, organiser of Heart of Wales 7s, and Stu from The Flaming Unicorns / Tough Enough To Care, to talk rugby, community and mental health. Jordan charts the tournament's growth from 16 men's teams to an 11-year event drawing around 1,500 people — with the goal of 6,000 — and the entertainment that's grown with it: Flamingo Bingo, boxing, netball, charity matches and the famous naked run (which may hit 250–300 runners). He opens up on how it all came together: contacts, hard-won logistics lessons, a 10-person core crew, COVID refunds, and a relentless focus on retention, safety and experience. Stu shares how The Flaming Unicorns began as a charity match supporting mental health after losing two friends to suicide — and how their distinctive branding creates safe spaces for conversations at rugby clubs, with Heart of Wales giving them a major platform alongside celebrity guests and the growth of women's rugby. ⏱️ Chapters  00:00 Naked Run Cold Open  00:12 Meet the Guests  01:03 Heart of Wales Origins  02:41 Growing Past Covid  04:57 Behind the Scenes Crew  07:19 Entertainment & Traditions  10:38 Flaming Unicorns Join In  12:39 Tough Enough To Care Story  16:00 Why the Partnership Works  18:19 Rugby Stars & Welsh Sevens  22:06 Logistics Lessons & Burnout  26:57 Post-Event Rituals  31:02 Two-Week Build Plan  31:39 Site Setup Week  33:32 Rugby Star Ringers  36:03 Women's Night Magic  39:35 Growing Organically  42:48 Welsh Sevens Series  46:17 Sevens Media Value  49:23 New Format Ideas  52:14 Unicorns Mission  57:36 Final Messages 🏉 Heart of Wales 7s: heartofwales7s.co.uk 💚 This episode discusses mental health and suicide. If you're struggling, you don't have to face it alone — in the UK & Ireland you can call Samaritans free, day or night, on 116 123. Find out more about Tough Enough To Care at toughenoughtocare.help. 🎧 Listen & follow: Spotify · Apple Podcasts · YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · rugbyttl.com

    Heart of Wales 7s Special: Jordan & The Flaming Unicorns on Rugby, Community & Mental Health

  8. Jun 5

    Josh Navidi: Forced Retirement, the Neck Injury & Lions Memories | Rugby TTL Podcast

    Former Wales and British & Irish Lions flanker Josh Navidi on the neck injury that ended his career and life after the game. In this episode: the injury & retirement call; Wales & Lions highlights; the transition out of pro rugby; advice for young players. Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · rugbyttl.com. ⏱ Add chapters from 00:00. 00:00 Passport Panic Intro 00:17 New Studio Welcome 00:34 Heart of Wales Sevens 01:55 Flaming Unicorns Charity 02:20 Neck Injury Retirement 05:15 Life After Rugby 06:06 England Rivalry Fire 07:27 Welsh Rugby Turmoil 10:04 Money, Depth and Regions 11:34 Player Workload & Burnout 12:45 Cap Rule Abroad Debate 15:35 Signs of a Wales Rebuild 18:26 Gatland Return and Legacy 21:51 2019 Grand Slam Memories 24:10 Alun Wyn Leadership 27:35 Leadership Core Talk 28:03 Gatland Training Intensity 29:24 Brutal Drills Build Edge 30:30 Lions Call-Up Chaos 35:00 Tour Life Under COVID 36:37 Keeping Shirts and Memories 37:03 DJing and Pink Bar Pivot 40:37 Building the Container Bar 43:34 Music Roots and Big Gigs 45:46 Career Moments to Relive 47:56 Heart of Wales Sevens Plug 48:59 Final Thanks and Sign Off Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL Website: rugbyttl.com Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod

    Josh Navidi: Forced Retirement, the Neck Injury & Lions Memories | Rugby TTL Podcast
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 Rugby Through The Leagues (Rugby TTL) shines a light on rugby beyond the mainstream — tier 2 and tier 3 nations, grassroots clubs, Spanish rugby, Rugby Europe, Super Rugby Americas, sevens and the global game. Honest interviews and analysis with the players, coaches and characters the spotlight ignores. New episodes regularly — subscribe on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

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