HG Rugby

Huw Griffin

Telling rugby's untold stories by meeting people, analysing data and starting conversations

  1. 3D AGO

    Headed For Disaster? - Inside Rugby's Chaotic Boardrooms ft. Nicks Johnston

    This week on the HG Rugby podcast I was joined by rugby governance expert Nicks Johnston to learn how sporting governance works and what challenges those governing rugby union are currently facing. Nicks explained to me what governance is and how different countries go about their rugby governance. She debates with me on the latest developments regarding the English PREM restructuring and why rugby clubs make such huge losses. We then turn our attention to the WRU and their 'amateurish' proposals for restructuring the game in Wales - what have they gotten so wrong and why are they wasting so much money? Finally, we discuss the R360 start-up and what allowed this chaos even to occur - leading us on to talk about the growth of women's rugby and how best to capitalise on a record breaking World Cup. #rugby #money #government #Wales #England #womensrugby #fail #investing #business Why Club Rugby Doesn't Work. Why Rugby Is Such A MESS. Why Rugby Faces Financial Disaster. Why English Rugby Is DESPERATE For Money. Why Welsh Rugby's Problems Run DEEPER Than You Think... The PROBLEM With Welsh Rugby's Plans... Is English Rugby Financially DOOMED? Headed For Disaster? - Inside Rugby's Chaotic Boardrooms Can Club Rugby Survive? The 'Amateurish' Plan Destroying Welsh Rugby. Chapters: 0:00 What Is Rugby Governance 5:55 Is Rugby Being Held Back? 8:32 English PREM Finances 12:20 Exeter Huge Losses 16:20 Not Enough Games? 19:45 Player Wages Issue 22:30 Welsh Reforms 'Amateurish' 31:00 WRU Leadership Issues 38:15 Government Intervention? 42:50 Terrible CVC Deal 49:35 Why Is R360 Happening? 55:00 Mocking R360 1:00:00 Women's Rugby Is Different Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 11m
  2. 12/30/2025

    Was This Antoine Dupont's Most Incredible Performance Ever? | TOP 14 Digest

    In this episode we break down Anotine Duponts incredible performance against La Rochelle along with the rest of the TOP 14 action from round 14 including Bayonne vs Stade Francais and the relegation battle Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous What Antoine Dupont Just Did Was Terrifying. Antoine Dupont Just DESTROYED La Rochelle! (It Was Terrifying...). Chapters: 0:00 TOP 14 Results 7:25 Bayonne vs Stade Français 14:20 TOP 14 Table 20:10 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 22:55 Anotine Dupont Masterclass 30:50 Best Signing In France 33:40 Fijian of the Week 36:50 Round 14 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    45 min
  3. 12/27/2025

    Scrums, Springboks & South America: The Alternative 2025 Review Ft. Harry Jones

    Reviewing rugby in 2025 with Harry Jones. In this podcast my  @megafoonrugby  colleague to talk scrums, Springboks and South America - the biggest storylines of rugby in 2025. Harry leads the debate on how rugby tried to kill drums, but the Springboks said no. I then bring up the contrasting conversations between rugby in North America and South America - how does the sport solve this conundrum? Harry then brings up the Lions tour and, perhaps more poignantly, what it means for Australia. Are they a team in limbo under Joe Schmidt and will Les Kiss be any better? Was their revival anything more than a flash in the pan? Next we chat about rugby journalism, where is it headed? Will the old-school written press continue to dominate the press conferences and the media rooms, or will YouTubers and podcasters take over? Who is better, for the fans, players and the sport? Finally, Harry and I debate (fiercely) whether or not the current day Springboks have overtaken the mighty 2015 All Blacks? Harry thinks yes... I think no! Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugbyFollow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103Follow Harry on Twitter: https://x.com/haribaldijones Chapters 0:00 Swearing in Afrikaans 5:18 Scrums Fight Back 12:43 North vs South America 25:20 What Next For Australia? 34:09 Rugby Journalism Shift 46:25 Springboks Greatest Ever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 8m
  4. 12/23/2025

    The Old Men Still CRUSHING It In France! | TOP 14 Digest

    In this episode we break down round 12 of the TOP 14 and talk about the older players who are still playing incredible rugby! From Levani Botia at La Rochelle to Benjamin Urdapilletta at Perpignan. Plus, we look at the Christmas offerings from Stade Francais... Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Paris Derby 7:35 Montpellier vs Castres 10:42 Xmas Shopping With Stade Francais 15:20 Perpignan vs Clermont 17:25 Fijian of the Week 18:35 Levani Botia 21:20 Top 14 R13 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    29 min

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Telling rugby's untold stories by meeting people, analysing data and starting conversations

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