RugbyKO (Katrina Oxenham)

#A Day In Union is about uniting and connecting the rugby community globally.  The initiative  of Greg Mumm and John Anderson, A Day In Union aims to bring rugby back to its grassroots and shift the narrative to a more positive one., uniting all. We discuss where the idea came from, how everyone can get involved, and what different clubs around Australia are doing to celebrate it. We also find out what John has been up to as president of The Rugby Club of Victoria, and how he's making the sport more inclusive. Gregg tells us about his international coaching experience, athletes and their life post professional sport, and how the Fijian optimism and cultural identity inspired him to do a master's degree. We discuss the challenges facing players dealing with the end of their professional careers, and what to look out for as A Day In Union (26th of March) approaches. 

• We chat about  how Gregg and John brought the concept of A Day In Union to life.  
• Bringing all levels of rugby together, with a united goal for rugby. 
• When A Day In Union is (26th of March), what it entails and how you can get involved. 
• What the clubs around Australia are doing to celebrate it. 
• Who is involved as ambassadors for A Day in Union.
• Taking the grass-roots approach, and the catalysts behind realising the efficacy of it. 
• Why giving back to communities and organisations will unify the game. 
• Shifting the narrative in the game from divisive to positive; Gregg’s initiatives.
• John’s role as the president of the Rugby Club of Victoria, and what this entails.
• Bringing wheelchair rugby into the rugby community. 
• Gregg’s experience of international coaching, and athlete management.
• Growing rugby in the Pacific: the benefits of Pacific clubs entering Super Rugby.
• How the Final Whistle supports the development of an athlete's identity outside of the sport. 
• John’s experience mentoring players to the end of their professional sporting career. 
• Why it's beneficial to invest in players' outside of rugby before the end of their career
• The lessons Gregg has learned transitioning from rugby to farming. 
• Using #ADayInUnion. 

“Rugby, unfortunately, as in most sports, was struggling with this concept of how to manage COVID and the impacts of it, so [A Day in Union] was about creating a good news story, about creating something to look forward to.” — John Anderson [0:02:06] .

“The game needs to go back to looking after its own people and own communities. This is hopefully a step in that direction, where we are reminded that the game’s great if we look after those communities and share the values and the fun and enjoyment that we grew up with.” — @gmumm1 [0:10:09]

“It’s almost been cooler in rugby circles to be divisive, lately, than it has been to be collaborative, so this is just reminding people that ‘let’s come together and tell good stories rather than bad stories’.” — @gmumm1 [0:12:24]

A Day In Union
John Anderson on LinkedIn
Greg Mumm on LinkedIn
The Positive Rugby Foundation
The Final Whistle
RugbyKO

Developing Rugby India with Nasser Hussain

Most nations that play rugby also play cricket. One notable exception is India, where rugby is still a fledgling sport currently categorised under ‘other sports’. Today, we talk to Nasser Hussain, the CEO of Rugby India and the man responsible for putting the game on the map in India. Tune in to find out how Nasser himself got involved in the game and why he felt it was important to become an accredited world rugby trainer. We learn about the two major challenges facing Rugby India (infrastructure and media exposure), and what Nasser and his team are doing to address these. From the union’s upcoming targets for the high-performance Asian Games and Olympic teams to maintaining rugby participation at a grassroots level through the pandemic while supporting the community in any way possible, Nasser and his team are doing an incredible job! Join us to learn all about how this inspiring man is rousing a nation to rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Who Nasser Hussain is and his journey from playing to chairing Rugby India. 
• The roles that Nasser and his father have played in Rugby India and the game itself. 
• His perspective on what being an accredited world rugby trainer means for Rugby India.
• How COVID-19 has affected participation in rugby in India and what Nasser has been doing to try and maintain it. 
• The role of commercial sponsors in supporting the growth of rugby in India. 
• How cricket and rugby in India co-exist and why Nasser feels they hold different spaces.
• The infrastructure across India that is a challenge to the growth of rugby. 
• The challenge of media exposure for rugby in India and what Nasser is doing to address it. 
• Rugby India's broad strategic plan to target the Asian Games and the Olympics.  
• The structure of Rugby India, from the union to the executive team and the roles of each. 
• What success to the administrative side of Rugby India looks like: good governance, model implementation, and improving high performance. 
• Why it’s important to move Rugby out of the ‘other sports’ category.
• What the Stand United movement was and how Rugby India supported the community through the pandemic. 

“What we identified within Rugby India was there are a lot of players, but not enough coaches, not enough match officials. I think that's [one of] the challenges for developing unions.” — Nasser Hussain [0:04:39] 

“During COVID, surprisingly, we’ve managed to get more partners on board. The fact that we didn’t have much to do on field [meant that] we spent time doing things which you put on the back burner and don’t prioritise, which are important as well.” — Nasser Hussain [0:08:30] 

“Our focus is to ensure [that] our management and administration is top-notch, and hopefully everything else follows suit.” — Nasser Hussain [0:19:56] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Nasser Hussain on LinkedIn

Rugby India

Government of Odisha

Blade India

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

BLK

Katrina Email Address

RugbyKO

Email RugbyKO

After his very recent retirement from playing Rugby, like many players, life after professional rugby can be difficult. Sam Wykes’ experience was no different at first. 

However, with some determined resolve,  he has created a wealth of opportunities for himself, from commentating to coaching and even corporate recruitment. 

We hear what Sam’s transition from the life of a professional athlete to a desk job  has been like, and how he has continued to give back to the rugby community. 

We find out how COVID-19 and injury combined to spell the end of his career, and how he handled the difficult emotions surrounding this. 

Sam also talks to us about his exciting new role and experience as a commentator for the Fijian Drua and some of the challenges he's faced, and what he is looking forward to this Super Rugby season.

We reminisce over his time at the Western Force and the Waratahs, and how the culture differs between these two teams. 

• Welcome to Sam Wykes, professional rugby player, commentator, and recruiter.
• What Sam enjoyed most about playing professional rugby, and what he’s going to miss most. 
• The lessons learned from transitioning from playing sport for a living into the corporate world: don’t expect to be good from the start, and adjusting to the office environment.
• Sam’s experience playing in Japan, from living there to learning from some of the best rugby minds in the world. 
• What Sam thinks the Fijian Drua will bring to Super Rugby. 
• Where to hear Sam commentating.
• The training he has received to prepare him for commentating, and the technical challenges that he faced. 
• Moving from the Western Force to the Waratahs and the differences Sam noticed between the two teams. 
• What Sam did during his time off due to injury, and the importance of giving back to the sport at the grassroots level. 
• The connections and social skills that will help grow the game, and getting the game back to where it was. 
• Skills that Sam transferred from rugby to working in recruitment (not computer skills).
• The importance of having tough conversations, from rugby to the corporate world. 

“You’re surrounded by good people, a lot. Whether you’re in a winning team or a losing team it doesn’t matter. And any time I treated rugby like a job, I was unhappy. Because at the end of the day you’re supposed to enjoy it.” — @SamWykes4 [0:01:24] 

“I always say ‘Yes’ to opportunities, even if I’ve got no experience, or probably no right being there.” — @SamWykes4 [0:11:21] 

“We need all our teams firing at the moment to have a strong Wallabies team. There’s enough talent out there. I just think we’re neglecting the grassroots or the public school system to be able to get rugby playing again.” — @SamWykes4 [0:17:33] 

“What I did is what I normally do, is just see if I can be of service to someone else. There’s always someone worse off than you, and there’s always someone better off than you. So, you just need to stay grateful.” — @SamWykes4 [0:19:28]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sam Wykes on LinkedIn

Katrina Email Address

RugbyKO

Email RugbyKO

Mick Byrne is the head coach of the Fijian Drua. Hear how Mick made the transition from playing AFL to rugby, to AFL coach, rugby assistant coach, and now Head Coach of the new franchise in the Super Rugby competition, the Fiji Drua. We dive into the lessons Mick has learned over his extensive career, and why he chose to enroll in a psychology course to address his own ideas when his coaching wasn’t being acted on. Find out what differentiates a great coach from a good one, and why team culture and giving everyone a voice is so key in maintaining the relationship between assistant and head coach when challenges arise. Listen in to hear why Fijian players are so passionate, what this means for their game, and how the inclusion of two pacific island teams into Super rugby is helping prevent the skills drain to offshore teams. We wrap up with Mick’s hopes and goals for the Fijian Drua, and what you can expect from them going forward. 

• An introduction to Mick Byrne, head coach of the Fijian Drua. 
• How Mick landed the job after his roles as head coach in Australian Rules and assistant rugby coach.
• Why Mick made the switch from AFL to rugby and his journey from player to coach. 
• What differentiates the good coaches from the great coaches like Mick: different approaches to discipline and Mick’s enrolment in a psychology course. 
• Being the assistant coach at the Wallabies and the All Blacks, and what Mick learned about the game of rugby in the country.  
• How Mick coped with agitation and disagreements with the head coach: creating a unified team culture. 
• Why rugby in Fiji has become part of the fabric of the nation and why so many are passionate players and also fans of the team and the game. 
• What the pacific island teams are bringing to the Super Rugby franchise. 
• Managing coaching the Fijian Drua through the COVID-19 pandemic; the pros and cons. 
• How the induction of the Fijian Drua into Super rugby is addressing the loss of local players to offshore teams. 
• The coaching staff involved in the Fijian Drua. 
• How World Rugby is supporting the Fijian Drua.
• Mick's advice to other coaches and what he's learned throughout his career. 
• Sticking it out when the team turns on you: Mick’s suggestions on building a good environment. 
• Why the Fijian Sevens' success hasn't translated to Fijian 15-a-side. 
• Mick’s plans for the Fijian Drua going into the next phase of the season.
• The Fijian Drua’s chances in the Super Rugby pool, and their goals. 

“I actually started to really enjoy the Aussie rules game. Running around fit my build. I was able to do a lot more in Australian Rules football with my build than I was able to do in rugby.” — Mick Byrne [0:02:24] 

“My message wasn’t getting through. I still believe I was giving out good information, but it wasn’t being heard, it wasn’t being acted on. Something had to change: either I was going to have to give coaching away and get a real job, or I was going to have to work on myself.” — Mick Byrne [0:05:28] 

“When it came to rugby, [Fijians] play the good parts of rugby. They don’t get caught up in the aspects of the game that are a bit stifling, they like to play the fun parts of the game.” — Mick Byrne [0:10:30] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mick Byrne on LinkedIn

Fijian Drua

Katrina Email Address

RugbyKO

A Force to be Reckoned With - Tim Sampson Western Force Head Coach

Tim was appointed in 2018 and has a strong commitment to the team and its community, underlining his philosophy about entertainment, involvement and community spirit in this wonderful conversation. Tim has also coached the Canberra Vikings and is the most capped first grade player at Sunnybank in Queensland.

This informative chat covers some of the challenges that the Force has encountered in recent years and the current excitement and determination around the return to the Super Rugby arena.

Tim shares some thoughts with us on the where he and the club are aiming to head next as well as the training schedule ahead of the looming restart of professional rugby. We discuss new ways to improve the game and increase fan engagement, looking at Global Rapid Rugby and the community aspect of club rugby.

Tim is a strong believer in the importance of all people connected to an organization and to him, the base of the pyramid is even more vital than the tip. For all this and a whole lot more, join us for the show.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The mood in Western Australian rugby around re-entering Super Rugby. 

• Locations and dates for the territory's return to domestic rugby in the coming months.

• Fan engagement and innovative ways to include the public in the restart. 

• Tim's career in club rugby and his feelings about loyalty and commitment in the space. 

• The pyramid of rugby and everyone's important role in the structure. 

• Tribalism and club rivalries in rugby; why Tim is all for promoting these feelings.

• Players at the Western Force and the maintenance of the current squad. 

• Relief measures around the club in reaction to the pandemic.

• Keeping kids involved in the game and the club and the strategies for achieving this 

• Rapid rugby and steps that can be taken to continue to improve the product on offer. 

• Looking at the Force's future involvement in Super Rugby and the key factors in this kind of agreement. 

• Tim's top priorities for rugby in Australia to improve and ensure the future of the sport.  

• How the Western Force managed the necessities of the pandemic as a club. 

• Considering the restart in July and the Force's readiness for the first game.

• A message from Tim to Western Australian rugby fans! 

Links

Western Force - https://www.westernforce.com.au/

Global Rapid Rugby - https://www.rapid.rugby/

The Minderoo Foundation - https://www.minderoo.org/

Australian rugby is in quite a state and today we have Brendan Cannon on the show to speak about the need for us to remedy this by reigniting a lost sense of community around our beloved game. For those who don’t know, Brendan was an Australian Wallaby from 2001 to 2006 and has a large number of games under his belt for the Queensland Reds, the Waratahs, and the Western Force too. In today’s show, we chat with Brendan about his personal journey, the obstacles he overcame to achieve what he has, and his views on the current and future state of Australian rugby. Brendan takes us through his formative years and his time with the Souths before getting into a topic that penetrates most of today’s conversation, the growing disconnect between professional and club rugby, causes for this, and the tremendous losses the game has experienced as a result. Our guest weighs in on changes in gameplay, the commercialisation of professional rugby, the effects of COVID on the industry, and what could be done to bring back our glory days. We also hear about some of Brendan’s personal experiences as a professional player such as his swift return to the game after a severe car accident, his transition from number eight to hooker, and his scrum injury that marked his final exit as a professional player. Don’t miss this amazing conversation with a man who brings a lifetime of perspectives from inside and out!

Key Points From This Episode:

 • Brendan’s rugby family legacy, love of the game, and childhood memories playing at Souths.

• The way famous players used to still play for their clubs, inspiring young players.

• Commercialization of pro rugby and reasons for its growing disconnect with amateur rugby.

• Why pro players should invest in their clubs and not forget about paying tribute to these roots.

• Prohibitive costs, sanitized product, less free gameplay, and other reasons rugby isn’t what it used to be.

• Brendan’s near-fatal car accident and what allowed him to return to rugby soon after.

• Why Brendan decided to transition from number eight to hooker and his experiences after.

• Brendan’s career-ending scrum injury and his perspectives on scrum adjudication.

• Contributors to Australian rugby’s bad state: dismissals, COVID, commercialization.

• The potential that bringing back a sense of community has to reignite Australian rugby’s spirit.

• Examples of brand ambassadorship shown by Andrew Demetriou and David Gallop.

• Cues to be taken from other sports about broadcasters being more critical of administrators.

Links from this weeks show:

Queensland Reds - Queensland Reds

NSW Waratahs - Waratahs

Western Force - Western Force

St Laurence's College - St. Laurence’s College

Souths Rugby - Souths Rugby Union Club

White Ribbon Day - White Ribbon Day

Today’s guest is David Mortimer AO, an eminent businessman and rugby patron with more accolades than we can fit here. In this episode, we talk to David about his contributions to rugby and his views on the state of Australian rugby. David shares the story of how he was approached to become the chairman for Rugby Australia and how his different views on the position prevented him from accepting the position. He explains the key role that a chairman plays in guiding CEOs before detailing the qualities that the upcoming CEO of Rugby Australia will need. We discuss issues related to Rugby Australia’s financial transparency and what their board composition should look like to ensure their success. Reflecting the realities, David emphasizes the fact that rugby fits into the entertainment industry and that Rugby Australia needs to focus on getting eyeballs on screens. David talks about the need to develop rugby at the school level before we ask him about how his leadership strengthened Sydney University rugby and how he helped set up the International Rugby Academy of Australia. At the end of the episode, David provides his views on Australia’s bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup and why this would be a fantastic opportunity for the country. David brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to the conversation — listen to this episode to get his insights on the state of Australian rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode:  

•    David shares how he nearly became the chairman for Rugby Australia.

•    The important roles that CEOs and chairmen play within an organization. 

•    What qualities the new Rugby Australia CEO needs to be successful. 

•    Qualities a constructive board needs to help steer the CEO.

•    David comments on Rugby Australia’s lack of financial transparency.

•    Hear what David would do if he were in charge of Rugby Australia. 

•    How David is trying to get young people to play rugby again. 

•    David provides an overview of how he views the state of Australian rugby.

•    David’s involvement in founding the International Rugby Academy of Australia

•    Why women’s rugby is so important to Australian rugby. 

•    Learn what David did to strengthen and grow Sydney University rugby. 

•    How hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup will benefit Australian rugby.

•    David’s final advice for Rugby Australia – remember that it’s an entertainment business.

Links from this Episode

Sydney University Football Club - Sydney University Football Club

International Rugby Academy of Australia - International Rugby Academy of Australia

Australian Schoolboys Rugby Foundation - Australian Schoolboys Rugby Foundation

Brando Va’aulu started his rugby career at the Sunnybank Rugby Club in Queensland. He went to Brisbane State High school and played juniors, then through to senior rugby at the club, being selected to play for Queensland in 2006. He played 34 times until 2010, then headed to Tokyo where he played until 2014. In 2013 he was selected to play for Samoa, and today he has returned to his grassroots club in Queensland where he devotes much of his time. 

Jack Bowen is 16 years old and began his Rugby career at  Chatswood Junior Rugby Club. He later moved to Mosman and represented Northern Suburbs Juniors where he was involved in the State Championship winning side in 2018. He has twice been selected for Sydney JRU team, and then after being identified as a promising player , became a member of the NSW Gen Blue academy program. He has been selected in the 'train on' Waratahs U18 and U20 training squads. He currently attends St Ignatius College Riverview in Sydney and first represented the First XV in 2019.  

In 2018 Will Harrison became the youngest player to sign a professional contract with the NSW Waratahs and is regarded as one of the game’s most promising young talents. The 19-year-old cut his teeth at Marcellin College in Sydney’s east and Harrison has come through the NSW Rugby pathway system but a bad leg injury hampered his 2017 season. Following an extensive rehabilitation program, he returned to his club side Randwick and went on to captain Australia in the Schoolboys Tri Series against New Zealand and Fiji that same year. He is an all-round athlete, who has also excelled in beach sprinting, winning a state gold medal in the discipline. He is also a member of the Coogee Surf Lifesaving club.

This weeks guest, Craig Morgan, understands how crucial local engagement is to the future of rugby. After all, a school visit by a rugby club president is what sparked his involvement in the sport at the age of seven. In our discussion, Craig talks about his position as the General Manager of Western Sydney Two Blues, and how his focus has been on strengthening the local community’s connection to rugby. Fully believing in the positive impact of rugby, Craig shares how his club uses rugby to teach leadership skills and to help ‘at-risk’ kids figure out what they want to do in life. After detailing their partnership with Western Sydney University, Craig talks about another of his club’s aims — to develop more inclusive rugby. 

We ask Craig about the successes of Two Blue’s wheelchair title-winning rugby team as well as the women’s group — one of Australia’s strongest teams. We talk about how Craig established the Central Coast Sevens, a major international fixture on the sevens rugby calendar and what led to his leaving the organisation. Craig then compares league and rugby, giving listeners an insider’s perspective on how money can change the game. We round the conversation off by discussing how sevens rugby complements traditional rugby and why the high-energy and quick nature of sevens is critical in engaging kids. At the end of the episode, Craig tells us what he would do if he were at the helm of Rugby Australia. Listen to this episode to hear how Craig and Two Blue’s are creating a stronger base for Australian rugby in Sydney's West.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• Craig gives some context on his club, Western Sydney Two Blues.
• The importance of showcasing junior clubs in engaging kids in rugby.
• What support is necessary for Sydney clubs to feel supported and increase participation. 
• How rugby clubs can approach schools to give kids a positive rugby experience. 
• The links between rugby, leadership, and learning 21st Century Skills.
• How Craig has partnered with Western Sydney University, benefiting students and his club.
• Learn about the Two Blues wheelchair rugby team, 2018 Shute Shield champions.
• How Two Blues is at the forefront of women’s rugby; the fastest growing area in rugby.
• The reach of the Central Coast Sevens, the competition that Craig established. 
• Why Craig left the Central Coast Sevens due to a lack of support.
• The role that sevens rugby can play in complementing traditional rugby.
• Hear about the success of the Two Blues sevens club and how it led to their junior program.
• League versus union rugby and the competition for players. 
• What Craig does to engage kids and keep them from moving to league rugby.
• Why enjoying playing rugby leads to better performance.
• Craig provides specifics on how money incentivises players to join league rugby.
• How Craig would fix Australian rugby if he were at the helm. 
• Hear why being a small club has been an advantage during the epidemic.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Craig Morgan - Craig Morgan on LinkedIn

Western Sydney Two Blues - Western City Two Blues

NSW Rugby - New South Wales Rugby

International Wheelchair Rugby - International Wheelchair Rugby Federation

Tiger Rugby - Tiger Rugby

Central Coast Sevens - Central Coast Sevens on Facebook

Dietrich Roache started playing rugby at the age of 15. He first played league, but following a family outing to the Sydney 7’s, fell in love with the game of 7’s and Rugby Union. 

He attended Patrician Brothers Fairfield and plays for the Western Sydney Two Blues in their colts program. He was named in the Sydney U18’s side, then NSWJRU U18’s squad and in the NSW Rugby 'Gen Blue' program. In December 2019, he was named in the Australian 7s team for the World School 7s Tournament held in New Zealand. He recently signed a two year deal with the Australian Mens 7’s side and is an exciting and promising new talent in the fast paced game of 7’s.

I talk to Dietrich about his pathway, about 7’s rugby and how rugby union has provided a community for him and others in the West of Sydney.

STOP PRESS JULY 2021 - CONGRATULATIONS TO DIETRICH WHO WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE AUSTRALIAN MENS SEVENS RUGBY TEAM FOR THE TOKYO OLYMPICS. 

Wests Scarborough product Brad Lacey is an electric outside back who looks to threaten the opposition every time he gets the ball in his hands. After spending a year away from WA the versatile winger will returned to Perth last year and made a huge impact for the Force. A product of the RugbyWA development pathway, Lacey spent a year with the Queensland Reds and Brisbane City in 2017 before returning to help Wests Scarborough to their second consecutive Premier Grade title that year. Lacey’s speed and strength with ball in hand will be a huge asset to the Force out wide.

Katrina spoke with Brad about rugby in Western Australia right now, the culture and the passionate fan base there, as well as the anticipation of the Force returning to the domestic Super Rugby competition.

From player to coach, Owen Finegan, our guest this week, has lived and breathed rugby from an early age. In this episode, we chat about his career and get his opinions on Australian rugby today. We start by asking Owen about his significant work as the CEO for the Kids’ Cancer Project, which funds childhood cancer research and looks for better ways to treat our kids. We then dive into his career and how he went from working as an electrician to being a professional rugby player. Delving into his career highlights, including being a foundation Brumbies player, Owen talks about the magical experience of playing for the Wallabies in Ireland at the 1999 World Cup finals — an event in which 45 of his Irish cousins were in attendance. We explore his ties with Randwick Rugby, the club that he played for before joining the Brumbies and which he coached from 2017-2018. Owen highlights the importance of junior clubs in building a rugby community and how the Randwick junior program is supported by local businesses. After talking about his role at the Rugby Club Foundation, we ask Owen what he would do if he was in charge of Rugby Australia and about his tenure playing rugby in the UK. Throughout our conversation, Owen points to a need to support grassroots rugby and to focus on the local, tribal side of rugby. Near the end of the episode, Owen gives advice to aspiring players and leaves listeners with a key message; that he sees a passion for rugby everywhere that he looks. While the game is going through an uncertain time, it’s not going anywhere. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Owen’s role within the Kids’ Cancer Project and how they’ve recently raised funds.
• Owen talks about his rugby career and how he became a foundational Brumbies player.
• What it was like to be a Brumbies player at the time when Rod Mcqueen was the coach.
• The highlights of Owen’s rugby career; from electrician to team captain. 
• The setbacks and medical problems that put Owen on the sideline. 
• Traveling to Ireland and scoring a winning try at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
• Owen’s early start at Randwick Rugby and his contribution to grassroots rugby. 
• Why junior rugby programs are vital in fostering next-generation rugby.
• How Randwick has grown its women’s rugby program.
• How the Rugby Club Foundation has been developing New South Wales rugby. 
• What Owen would do if he was in charge of Rugby Australia. 
• The challenges facing Australian rugby, particularly at a grassroots level.
• Why, at its essence, rugby is a game about tribalism.
• Why Owen loves Michael Hooper; he wants to play for his country.
• Comparing the current uncertain rugby environment with Owen’s era. 
• Owen’s experience playing northern hemisphere rugby in the UK.
• Why rugby might be thriving more in England than it is in Australia. 
• Hear Owen’s advice for up and coming players; it takes sacrifices.
• How seeing such passion for rugby means that Owen doesn’t worry about the game’s future. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Kids’ Cancer Project

Coogee Seahorses

Randwick Rugby

The Rugby Club Foundation

Sydney Junior Rugby Union

NSW Country Rugby Union

Rugby Australia

Leicester Tigers

Josh Flook started playing rugby at 6 years old for the Brothers Rugby Club in Queensland. He continued at the club through to playing colts and then first grade  in 2019 at the age of 17.  He was part of the Brothers Rugby Club squad that took part in the Queensland Premier Rugby grand final that year. 

He played in the first XV for Nudgee college for 2 years, in 2018 and 2019, winning the GPS competition with the team.

Last year he was captain of the Australian U18 team  and also captained the Australian Schoolboys.He received acclaim when named Queensland's U19's Player of the Year in 2019.

Josh has also secured his name in the Junior Wallabies' squad for the Oceania Rugby U20s Championship.

Josh plays at outside centre and has came through the pathways, including the Queensland Reds academy and is a very promising young talent.

I talk to Josh about his training, some wonderful highlights and insights and his career so far in the sport he loves.

While winning is important, rugby is a sport that values teamwork and community. Today’s guest is Rod Seib, Queensland Reds Rugby Academy head coach, whose love of the social aspects of rugby has created a life-long commitment to the sport. 

Our conversation revolves around his position coaching for elite rugby players and early in the episode, we ask him what it takes to coach at that high-calibre level. We then talk about how coaching is as much about managing people as it is about understanding the game. Rod discusses how he developed his coaching skills through experience and education before detailing the qualities that he looks for in his players. 

Rod explains the differences between club or grade rugby and the training at Queensland Red Rugby Academy. Apart from emphasising the physical demands, Rod focuses on the need to educate players and making sure they understand the ‘why’ of what they do. We look at how Rod’s coaching performance is measured on the success that players attain after leaving the academy and how Rugby League has affected his player base. Deep into the episode, we pop the question and ask Rod what he would do if he was in charge of Australian rugby. He highlights the importance of increasing participation rates, improving the Wallabies’ performance, and using Sevens and non-contact rugby as a gateway into the sport. 

Rod provides more of his well-developed perspectives on the game and at the end of the episode, he talks about the joys of coaching. Tune in to hear more of Rod’s views on coaching elite rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing the highlights of Rod’s rugby and coaching career. 
• How coaching elite rugby is as much about managing people as it is about the game. 
• How Rod’s experience and education have helped make him the coach that he is. 
• What Rod looks for in his players and why picking players is such a struggle. 
• The mental qualities of elite players; their will to bring out the best in themselves.
• Training differences between club or grade level rugby and elite play. 
• Why Rod places such an emphasis on educating players on the ‘why’ behind training. 
• Where Queensland Reds Rugby Academy finds his players — they’re all Queenslanders.  
• How Rod’s success is measured; looking at how players progress after the academy. 
• Why many elite rugby players have historically been produced from the GPS system.
• Why the allure and money of rugby league hasn’t affected Rod’s players. 
• What Rod loves about Union Rugby; the teamwork and the quality of people. 
• How Rod would fix Australian rugby if he were given the steering wheel. 
• Rod’s view on the new rugby rules and why he likes them.
• What the Queensland Reds Rugby Academy is focusing on in the future. 
• The schedule of senior academy players and why having coaching resources is better than having a large budget. 
• The joy that Rod gets from coaching rugby and the increasing focus on women’s rugby.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Rod Seib LinkedIn

Queensland Reds Rugby Academy

Queensland Country 

Brother’s Rugby Club

Brisbane City 

Rugby Australia

Phil Waugh was able to follow a clear pathway from being a ballboy and then playing for the Warringah Rats to eventually joining the Wallabies. These days the connection between community and professional rugby aren’t as clear. In today’s episode, we talk with Phil about the importance of grassroots rugby and we ask Phil, a non-executive director for Rugby Australia, for insights on where the organisation is headed. 

Phil discusses the challenges that Rugby Australia is facing and how it’s leaving stormy waters and shifting its attention from addressing controversy and back onto the game. Reflecting on the tenure of ex-Rugby Australia CEO, Raelene Castle, Phil provides an optimistic view on why the community was so polarized — it shows how much Australians care about the game. 

After chatting about what Phil is looking for in a new Rugby Australia CEO, we look at the struggles that they will need to overcome. Mirroring the conversations that we’ve had in our previous episodes, Phil agrees that investing in grassroots rugby should be Rugby Australia’s number one priority. Phil then provides his take on why the 2027 World Cup bid is so important for community rugby before explaining why making domestic rugby the best in the world will solve all of Australian rugby’s financial woes. Tune in to hear more of Phil’s insider perspectives on the world of rugby! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• How important club and school rugby was to Phil’s childhood.
• The need to connect community rugby back to professional rugby.
• Unblurring the lines when having young players represent their community.  
• Phil’s experience working within Rugby Australia and the challenges they’ve faced.
• How the polarized reactions to Raelene Castle’s tenure shows how much people care about the game.
• What rugby is to Phil; “our game is about community.”
• What Phil is looking for in a new Rugby Australia CEO and why the job is so difficult. 
• Hear how far along Rugby Australia is in appointing a new CEO.
• Why investing in grassroots rugby is Rugby Australia’s number one priority.      
• What Rugby Australia’s mission should be regarding the sport. 
• Questions around if investing in the 2027 World Cup bid is a reasonable use of funds. 
• How to keep players happy, remunerated, and playing in Australia.
• Why increasing the calibre of Australian rugby will bring money back to the sport.
• How discussions with broadcasters have been progressing.
• What Phil would do if he were appointed CEO of Rugby Australia.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Phil Waugh LinkedIn

Narrabeen Tigers

Warringah Rats

The Shore School 

Amazing Grace: Women’s Rugby with Grace Hamilton.

Despite having a relatively late start in rugby, Grace Hamilton’s commitment to the sport and excellence on the field led her to be named the 2019 Wallaroo of the year. 

In this episode, we speak with Grace about women’s rugby, her career and leadership challenges, and the future of the sport. 

We begin by talking about her start in rugby before diving into her career milestones.
Grace attributes her success to her drive to see how far she can push herself. We ask Grace about the difficulties of playing women’s rugby and she comments on how empowering the sport is for women. 

After discussing what it was like to train while studying her Master’s degree, we
talk about what the rest of 2020 looks like for women’s Australian rugby. As the Wallaroo
captain, she opens up about the difficulties of keeping her team motivated during the pandemic.

Grace also opens up about losing her father, her bedrock of support, while achieving some of her career highlights. With a focus on the future, Grace shares what she would do if she had a magic wand to grow the game for women in Australia before sharing her advice for young women who aspire to play rugby. Tune in to hear more about women’s rugby — an aspect of the sport that’s seeing an incredible uptake.

Key Points From This Episode:

Grace shares her love of rugby and what brought her to the sport at a young age.

Milestones in Grace’s career including being named the 2019 Wallaroo of the year.

Finding success, despite starting rugby at a relatively late stage.

Why rugby is an excellent sport for women to play.

What it was like for Grace to train for rugby while studying her Master’s.

What the end of 2020 looks like for women’s Australian rugby.

Maintaining discipline and motivation despite an uncertain future.

Playing as number 8 and the skills that Grace focuses on.

Leadership challenges and what Grace has learned from captaining the Wallaroos.

Why women’s sevens rugby has helped fuel the uptake in women’s rugby.

The importance of creating grassroots opportunities for women’s rugby.

Grace’s advice to aspiring young women who want to play rugby.

Getting back onto the field after losing her father.

The people who most inspire Grace to eventually “leave her jersey in a better place.”

What Grace would do if she were given a magic wand to improve women’s rugby.

The benefits of the Super W competition for women’s rugby.

“I was 21 when I first put on my rugby boots. Once I put my boots on, I never took them off.” — @GracieJHamilton [0:05:05]

“Young women should give it a go. Even if you don’t know if you want to play, head over to a training session and watch. You’ll see how fun it can be.” — @GracieJHamilton [0:16:12]

“I thrive over people who are passionate about the game. It makes me want to leave my jersey in a better place and make those girls proud.” — @GracieJHamilton [0:19:35]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Grace Hamilton on LinkedIn
Grace Hamilton on Twitter
Wallaroos
Rugby Australia
Black Ferns
2021 Rugby World Cup
Super W

We talk with Josephine Sukkar, Principal of Buildcorp about Rugby Australia’s incredible opportunity to redefine our approach to the sport and meet the challenges of modern rugby. Tied to this is the need to build greater inclusivity into the game, especially increasing women’s participation. A member of the Order of Australia, Buildcorp principle, and president of Australian Women’s Rugby, Josephine is an important rugby sponsor who has been integral in advocating for women’s rugby. We start our conversation by chatting about what sparked her passion for rugby and her company’s involvement in the sport. Josephine talks about witnessing the change in visibility for women’s games and the power that sevens rugby and the Super W competition has had in popularising women’s rugby. After opening up about why she pulled her sponsorship from the National Rugby Championship in 2017, we dive into her experience of sitting on the 2015 Rugby Australia nomination board. As Josephine explains, poor participation from key stakeholders led to false perceptions about the transparency of Rugby Australia’s nomination process. This leads to a discussion about the negative effects of having a divided rugby community. Josephine then reflects on the state of Australian rugby and how our federation system needs to adapt to ensure better sponsorship and to field more competitive teams — on both a national and international level. Near the end of the episode, we touch on the importance of Australia’s 2027 World Cup bid in providing vision for Rugby Australia. Tune in to hear more of Josephine’s insider-perspectives on Australian rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear about how Josephine developed her passion for rugby.
• Josephine’s journey sponsoring rugby starting in 1992, and why she likes giving to club rugby.
• The heightened importance of team or player behaviour in affecting sponsorship.
• Being on the front-lines of making women’s rugby more visible. 
• The importance of women’s sevens rugby in the Olympics for popularising the sport.
• Using sponsorship to nurture aspects of the game that are underdeveloped. 
• Why Buildcorp pulled their sponsorship from the NRC in 2017.
• Josephine shares her perspective on the Rugby Australia nomination process.
• False perceptions around the transparency of the Rugby Australia nomination process.
• Highlighting the need for workable solutions and not behaviour that destroys the game.
• Thoughts on Rugby Australia’s evolution, governing body, and structure.
• Why now is the time to have hard conversations and reimagine union rugby. 
• How ‘corporate courage’ and supporting leadership will allow rugby to survive. 
• Rebuilding trust in Rugby Australia through their new chair and CEO.
• Why the 2027 World Cup bid is providing vision for Australian rugby. 
• The work of the Buildcorp Foundation in giving back to the community. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sydney University Football Club Foundation

Australian Rugby Foundation 

Buildcorp Foundation

Rugby Australia

The Wallaroos

University of Sydney

Rockdale Rugby Union

Super W

AON Uni 7s

National Rugby Championship

2017 was a transformative year for the Melbourne Rebels. Having survived being axed from Super Rugby, they also transitioned from being privately owned to joining the Victoria Rugby Union stable. In today’s episode, we speak with Baden Stephenson about his greatest challenges and achievements since becoming the Rebels CEO in 2017. Considering the uncertainty of the time, Baden talks about his early priority in quickly building trust among stakeholders. Reflecting on the ‘start-up’ nature of the 2017 transitions, Baden highlights the importance of developing a club from the ground up. On the topic of sponsors, we talk about modern approaches to corporate partnerships, which involves aligning brands with your team’s culture. After sharing how the Rebels have been affected by COVID-19, Baden dives into his efforts in fostering the club’s accessibility and how management staff and players have helped grow community rugby. Baden then shares his perspective on Western Force getting cut from Super Rugby before touching on how the Rebels have developed talent and bring in local players. We discuss what Baden is hoping for in a new Rugby Australia CEO and why we need more positive messaging in the media. Near the end of the episode, Baden gives his insights on how we can make the game better for both broadcasters and viewers. Tune in to hear Baden’s fresh take on how we can improve the sport. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Baden shares his greatest achievements and challenges as CEO for the Melbourne Rebels.
• Connecting the Melbourne Rebels with the local community.
• What the Melbourne Rebels ownership and governance model has looked like. 
• The importance of spending the capital to properly set up a new club.
• The need to align sponsors with your club’s culture and players.
• Using corporate partnerships to expand community rugby. 
• How COVID-19 has affected the Melbourne Rebels. 
• Players as club ambassadors who connect with sponsors and the community.
• Creating a holistic rugby environment where top clubs can support local rugby. 
• Baden’s perspective surrounding Western Force getting cut from Super Rugby.
• Developing next-level talent without the NRC and bringing in local players.
• What Baden is hoping for in a new Rugby Australia CEO.
• Making the game more appealing for both broadcasters and watchers. 
• The future of Super Rugby and Australia’s place in the world of rugby. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Baden Stephenson on LinkedIn

Baden Stephenson on Twitter

Melbourne Rebels

Rugby Victoria

Rugby Australia

Western Force

National Rugby Championship

SAANZAAR

From country Tamworth, Mitchell Watts attends Calrossy School, where he has just completed his year 12 trials. He plays for the Tamworth Magpies in the second row. He was selected for Central North, NSW Country and the the NSW Junior Rugby Union U18’s. Mitch is beginning on his pathway to professionalism, but first hopes to achieve the marks to study commerce /law at university. I talk to the modest and self deprecating Mitch about rugby and his experiences so far in rugby union.

Some of the best referees rarely get noticed. And even if they make the right call, they’re likely to suffer abuse from crowds and players alike. With experience officiating over the highest levels of play, Scott Young is a veteran ref who can attest to being sworn at in several foreign languages. As today’s guest, we speak to Scott about our great sport and his career as a match official. After sharing his humble start as a referee — something he agreed to do at a pub — we talk about how referees train to keep up with players. We then dive into Scott’s career highlights, referee accreditation, and the elements that make up a good referee. He reveals some challenges in being a referee before commenting on Australia’s referee successes, including the rise of women referees. With new rugby rules and variations, we discuss how referees adapt to change and why Scott likes the 50:22 rule. Following the topic of rule changes, we ask Scott about the state of the scrum and his answer provides insight into how difficult scrums are to rule on. We touch on why referees can be over-technical, Scott’s perspective on blue and yellow cards, how the press amplifies incorrect information, and the level of support offered to Australian referees. Near the end of the episode, we explore Scott’s role in developing strategies for sevens rugby before we ask Scott what he would do to improve rugby. Tune in to hear more of Scott’s views on high-performance refereeing.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Scott became a match official and what he loves about refereeing.
• Training, fitness and decision-making ability as a high-performance referee.
• Hear about the highlights of Scott’s refereeing career. 
• Referee accreditation and the importance of progressive learning.
• Challenges to growing the number of match officials.
• How referees are adapting to new rugby rules and variations.
• Why Scott likes the new 50:22 rule; it increases the ball-in-play time. 
• Tracking referee success and the many aspects that go into judging a game. 
• Establish a World Cup standard for interpreting rugby laws. 
• What referees look for in a scrum and how it can remain a showpiece.
• Why referees can be overly-technical in their decision-making.
• Maintaining respect among players and referees.
• Why referees don’t aim to be loved.
• Scott’s support of the blue card and the dangers of concussion. 
• Using yellow cards to prevent ‘cynical’ play and keep the game safe. 
• Supporting officials and coming under fire after making high-stakes decisions. 
• Investing in referee coach programs; there are now more Australian refs fielded overseas than ever before.  
• Refereeing sevens versus 15 a side rugby and Scott’s contributions to each game’s officiating strategies.
• What Scott would change in rugby to cause the most impact. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Scott Young LinkedIn

Rugby Australia

University of Queensland

King’s College

St Leo’s College

Queensland Reds

Before Phil Thomson took over as CEO, the Brumbies were facing difficult times. They had posted a financial loss for both 2015 and 2016. Today, they boast a tidy profit and increased membership despite the pandemic. In this episode, we speak with experienced manager and Brumbies CEO Phil Thomson about his experience at the Brumbies’ helm and how the club is positioned to tackle the future. After sharing his career highlights, we ask Phil for his take on the Brumbies 2016 instability. We talk about how his time on the police force impacted his role as an integrity manager before he explains how team managers are responsible for everything that happens off-field. Phil discusses his relationship with sponsors and the need to align their interests with your team. On the subject of how the Brumbies increased their membership, Phil dives into the importance of connecting with their community, with added insights into how he’s engaged with this community during the pandemic. He also talks about sharing content that emphasizes the Brumbies’ story and how connecting players with their fanbase has been a key strategy. We explore how their local programs and academy provide pathways to play and Phil’s focus on investing in grassroots rugby. Near the end of the episode, Phil touches on how he’s growing women’s rugby, how the Brumbies make decisions based on their mission statement, and what Australian rugby needs to do to create a brighter future. Tune in to hear Phil’s perspective on the sport — brought to you straight from the CEO’s desk.

Key Points From This Episode:  

• We share Phil Thomson’s many career highlights.
• Why the Brumbies has had such a high CEO turnover over the years.
• What the Brumbies did to turn their tricky financial circumstances around. 
• Exploring Phil’s experience on integrity commissions and in the police force
• Phil’s journey as a team manager and what the role entails.
• Sponsorship struggles and the need to align your interests with your sponsors.
• Engaging with the Brumbies community and how this led to a membership increase.
• What the Brumbies have been doing to connect with their fans.
• Hear Phil’s take on what rugby will look like in 2021.
• Phil answers a looming question; will the Brumbies and the Rebels merge?
• What Brumbies community sport looks like and how it’s managed.
• Participation number and pathways to playing for the Brumbies.
• The importance of connecting your team with the local crowd. 
• Investing in rugby at the grassroots level when funding is limited.
• Pandemic-related stand-downs and soldiering on despite reduced capacity.
• What the Brumbies have done to increase participation in women’s rugby.
• Allowing your mission statement to drive your decision-making.
• What Australian rugby needs; stability, a future-thinking vision, and unity. 

“Our mission statement is to inspire and connect people — it brings people along on our journey and it’s how we tell our story to people.” — Phil Thomson [0:39:20]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Phil Thomson on LinkedIn
Brumbies Rugby
Marist College Canberra
The Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports
Australian Federal Police
ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union Limited Board
Canberra Kookaburras
Brumbies Rugby Foundation

Never underestimate the strength of a small but motivated rugby team. The first episode of our new Going Global format, today we hop over to Bermuda’s tropical beaches to chat with Jamie Barnwell, head coach for the Bermuda men’s national rugby team. 

Despite having fewer resources and a limited player pool, Bermuda rugby is thriving, in part due to Jamie’s training regime and unassailable optimism. We start our conversation by talking about what Bermuda rugby looks like and how Jamie landed a coaching gig soon after landing in the country. 

Jamie discusses some of his career highlights before reflecting on the differences in coaching in England versus in Bermuda. After Jamie shares his enthusiasm for coaching such a motivated side, we ask him about how the game has grown in the country. His answer touches on how he helped create an elite player development group and how youngsters are being brought into the sport. 

On the topic of his impact, we dive into how Jamie has shifted his team’s culture through
a collaborative coaching style, a focus on staying positive, and developing processes to deal with player mistakes. Near the end of the episode, we talk about what his team’s training regime looks like, the World Rugby Classic Event, and the rugby relationship between Bermuda and its neighbouring countries. A discussion revealing the vitality of Bermudan rugby, tune in to hear more insights from Jamie Barnwell.

Key Points From This Episode:
• Introducing Jamie Barnwell, head coach for the Bermuda men’s national team.
• How having a coffee at a local cafe led to Jamie coaching for Bermuda rugby.
• The state of Bermuda rugby and Jamie’s experience coaching there.
• From England and Malaysia to Bermuda, what coaching means in different countries.
• Creating an elite player development group in Bermuda.
• How the game has been growing for both men and women’s sides in the North Americas.
• Jamie shares his views on what Bermuda needs to go to the next level of rugby.
• Injecting positivity into Bermuda rugby through a collaborative coaching style.
• Developing a process to deal with mistakes — especially if your side often loses.
• Bringing in psychology to build your team’s momentum both off and on the field.
• What a typical week looks like when training the Bermuda national side.
• Hear about the World Rugby Classics, a Bermudan event dedicated to celebrating
international rugby.
• Jamie’s ambitions for the future of Bermuda rugby.
• Local pathways to play Bermudan national rugby and the prevalence of young players.
• The rugby relationship between Bermuda and its neighbouring countries.

“If coaching Bermuda rugby has taught me anything, it’s that you should never underestimate the power of what a small group of motivated people can do.” — Jamie Barnwell [0:05:36]
“We needed to understand how to deal with mistakes. Because if you’re on the losing end of things, you need a process to deal with speed bumps in the game, or you’re going to struggle.” — Jamie Barnwell [0:15:24]

Jamie Barnwell on LinkedIn
Bermuda Rugby
Bermuda Rugby on Facebook
Caribbean Rugby Championship
Rugby Americas North Region
Americas Rugby Championship
Bermuda Olympic Association
World Rugby Classic

Trae Stevens is a Bermudian local who began his rugby career in his final year of high school and has not looked back. 

He was selected in the U19 Bermuda squad, and today plays tight head prop for the Bermudian Mens national side. 

Last year they won the Rugby Americas North championships, becoming Carribean Champions, edging out Gutaloop, 

Trae has travelled the world playing rugby and is a promising and committed young rugby talent on the island of Bermuda.

I talk to Trae about staying safe in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in the approaching hurricane, his Rugby passion and career to date, all that Rugby in Bermuda offers him, on and off the pitch, the many countries that play rugby in his part of the world, and his motivations for playing the global game of rugby union.

Far from being a “dirty word,” fundraising is a critical part of supporting rugby. Importantly, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. Today, we speak with former Olympic rower and Executive Director of the Australian Rugby Foundation, Peter Murphy, about the role his foundation plays in funding rugby. Our conversation opens as Peter explores the Foundation’s purpose and the five major pillars that it focuses on, including women’s, grassroots, First Nations, and high-performance rugby, along with player welfare. We talk about how the foundation guides local clubs, providing them with toolkits and resources to help them fundraise. On the topic of transparency around spending, Peter discusses the systems and governance model that tracks every dollar that his foundation spends. We touch on the contributions made by John Howard the Foundation’s Chairman, how the Foundation operates with other fundraising bodies, and why coterie groups are an excellent fundraising model. Peter then shares details about his work as the high- performance manager for the Fiji Rugby Union, and the pride that this has brought him. Near the end of the episode, we dive into the foundation’s 2021 goals. Tune in to hear more about Peter’s work and how it enriches the world of rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Exploring the role of the Australian Rugby Foundation in funding Australian rugby. 

• Hear about the Australian Rugby Foundation’s five pillars of focus. 

• Shifting investment from high-performance play to grassroots rugby. 

• Why “fundraising” isn’t a dirty word; it’s a tool to enrich valuable projects. 

• How the Australian Rugby Foundation is making it easy for clubs to fundraise. 

• What the Australia Rugby Foundation does to create transparency around spending. 

• How their chairman, John Howard, has shaped their organisation. 

• The relationship between different fundraising bodies. 

• The psychology behind giving; you donate to what engages you. 

• How COVID has negatively affected community funds and player numbers. 

• Raising money through a coterie system or ‘giving circles.’ 

• Peter shares details about his work as the high-performance manager for Fiji Rugby Union. 

• Insights into the Foundation’s 2021 goals, emphasising women’s and grassroots rugby. 

“Fundraising is not a dirty word. The biggest mistake a club can make is not having a go at it. You’ll be surprised at what you have in your network.” — Peter Murphy [0:12:14] 

“We know that if we keep our talent in this game, playing rugby and not going to other codes — it’s a big investment that will create depth in rugby.” — Peter Murphy [0:29:38] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 
Peter Murphy on LinkedIn 
Australia Rugby Foundation 
Australia Rugby Foundation Toolkits 
Hearts in Union 
The Shore Foundation 
Rugby Xplorer 
Australian Sports Foundation J
John Howard 
Positive Rugby Foundation 
Queensland Reds Foundation  
The Future Force Foundation 
Brumbies Rugby Foundation 
Dr. Nicola Forrest 
Andrew Forrest  
Fiji Rugby Union 
World Rugby

The pandemic has shifted Australian rugby, causing it to focus on the aspects of the sport that matter the most, including fellowship, player engagement, and rugby’s ability to foster communities. All of these are hallmarks of grassroots rugby. Today we speak with Queensland Reds’ General Manager for Community Rugby, Gaven Head, about his role in promoting on-the-ground rugby. 
We open our conversation by chatting about how tackling COVID challenges has allowed him to accelerate the changes that he’s wanted to make. After sharing his team’s successes in maintaining participation rates, Gaven talks about how grants have empowered local rugby communities, leading to more players and coaches taking to the field. Considering his 2006 consulting work with Rugby Australia, we ask him if his recommendations were implemented. His answers touch on the executive turnover at that time, along with the sport’s general struggles with recruiting and retaining a customer base. We then discuss the incredible diversity of community rugby, the resilience of smaller clubs, and how rugby organisations and grant-funded programs are trying to align rugby with the grassroots game. 
A key initiative, we talk about how Queensland is raising mental health awareness before diving into Gaven’s take on the support that community rugby needs right now. Tune in to hear more about how Gavin is tackling the challenges of community rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Exploring Gaven’s role in promoting Queensland community rugby.
• Gaven shares some of his successes, including high participation despite the pandemic. 
• Hear about Gaven’s ‘roadshow,’ and how he’s engaging with the areas he serves. 
• How Rugby Australia’s emerging grants program is getting more players onto the field.
• Judging the 2006 recommendations that Gaven made while consulting for Rugby Australia.
• Why community rugby seems to have been neglected for such a long time. 
• Defining the incredibly diverse spectrum that makes up community rugby.
• Creating an atmosphere of fellowship and enjoyment in local games.
• Why rugby culture is realigning the sport with a focus on grassroots games and support.
• Raising mental health awareness and helping clubs develop mental health strategies.  
• Gaven discusses changes to the Rookies2Reds program.
• What community rugby is Queensland needs right now. 
• How you can ensure that schools and clubs can work together as a community unit.
• Models that allow local rugby communities to adapt to regional strategies.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Gavin Head on LinkedIn

Queensland Rugby Union

Sunnybank Rugby

Rugby Australia

The Emerging Schools Rugby Foundation

In Touch with Mental Health 

Rookies2Reds Program

Shute Shield Cup 

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 18% of Australians live with a disability,. With great resilience, and after a 2008 rugby accident resulted in quadraplegia, Mark Tonga has advocated for the rights of people with disabilities. Today we speak to Mark about the contributions that both he and the rugby community have made towards this cause. We open our conversation by exploring the advisory role that Mark plays on boards, as well as his Chairman role with the Disability Council of NSW. Mark talks about how he suffered his injury and his process in adjusting to his new life. We discuss the work that organisations like the Hearts in Union Rugby Foundation do to support those living with disabilities. After sharing how the rugby community has rallied behind the cause, we ask Mark for his thoughts on rugby and its combative nature. His answer highlights how the valuable skills that are learned by playing the sport far outweigh the low risk of injury. We touch on Mark’s motivations, greatest achievements, how technology assists him in daily life, and how Mark has discovered new passions — like opera. Near the end of the episode, Mark gives listeners his take on what he wants to see in Australian rugby. An inspiring example of resilience and positivity, tune in to hear Mark’s story. 

 Key Points From This Episode:

•    Exploring Mark's role as a disabilities advocate on various disability councils. 
•    Mark shares details of the catastrophic accident that left him as a tetraplegic.
•    Adjusting to your new life as someone with a disability. 
•    How Mark’s family dealt with his accident — it happened soon after his mother passed. 
•    The support that the Hearts in Union Foundation gives to people with disabilities. 
•    Insights into how the rugby community advocates for people with disabilities. 
•    What Mark would say to critics who think that rugby is too combative. 
•    Mark discusses his motivations in lobbying for change, along with his greatest achievements
Studying his Masters at UNSW on scholarship and how honoured he is
•    The perspective shifts around disability that Mark would like to see happen. 
•    With advances in technology, why now is a “good time to have a disability.”
•    Discovering new passions — as one door closes, another can open. 
•    Why Mark is looking forward to the next decade of Australian rugby. 
•    Mark talks about what the future holds for him. 
•    How Mark’s community and mentors helped him to rebuild his life. 

 “Respect, leadership, camaraderie. You pick these skills up while playing rugby and they far outweigh any risks from playing.” — @MarkTonga[0:15:16] 

"Medical science has allowed people like me, with high level serious disabilities, the technology to assist us and allow us to live a productive and full life"@MarkTonga[0:19:40]

Mark Tonga

Mark Tonga on LinkedIn

Mark Tonga on Twitter

Physical Disability Council of New South Wales          

Hearts in Union Rugby Foundation

West Harbour Football Club

People with Disabilities Australia

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia

For many, rugby has been an incredible outlet where people have found friendship and camaraderie. For Toutai Kefu — arguably the best number 8 that the Wallabies have ever had, transitioning into coaching was a natural step that allowed him to stay connected to the culture that he loves. 
Today we speak to Toutai about his career as an illustrious player and prolific coach. Early in our conversation, we chat about his love of coaching and the years he spent in Japan. Touching on his current role as a coach for the World Ten Series, we talk about the 10s format and how its focus on set pieces might attract rugby traditionalists. Following this, we discuss his work at Brisbane Boys’ College, what it’s like to work with his brother, Steve, changes to the Wallabies’ culture, and why forming a Pacific island rugby team is an opportunity to inject excitement into Super Rugby. 
After sharing his take that Rugby Australia could have better handled the controversy surrounding Israel Folau, Toutai dives into what he would do if he was in charge of Rugby Australia. With an international career spanning many areas of the game,
tune in to hear more insights from Toutai Kefu, the multi-faceted Tongan talent.

Key Points From This Episode:
• Introducing ex-Wallaby and prolific coach, Toutai Kefu.
• Toutai shares details about his career highlights as a player.
• Living in Japan and what their rugby following looks like.
• Hear what Toutai loves about coaching and how it keeps him connected to the sport.
• Comparing 10s rugby with other formats and why it might appeal to traditionalists.
• What it was like for Toutai to coach Brisbane Boys’ College with his brother.
• How Toutai would coach the Wallabies scrum if he were in charge.
• Why Toutai thinks that a Super Rugby Pacific island team is an incredible idea.
• Courting controversy; why Rugby Australia could have better handled the Israel Folau case.
• Repairing the Australian rugby’s relationship with the grassroots game.

“One of the biggest things that I love about rugby is that camaraderie and friendship. Being a
coach keeps you in that fantastic environment.” — Toutai Kefu [0:05:08]
“Everyone thinks that there will be cultural challenges with creating a Pacific island team but we all get along. We’re all Pacific brothers and we all know that.” — Toutai Kefu [0:13:25]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Toutai Kefu
Tonga National Team
Brisbane Boys’ College
Queensland Country
Kubota Spears
Queensland Reds
World Tens Series
The Season
Steve Kefu
Rod Macqueen
Taniela Tupou
Super Rugby
National Rugby Championship
Rugby Australia
Israel Folau
Qantas
RugbyKO

High-calibre play and healthy interschool rivalries make school rugby a key battleground for developing the next generation players. Today we speak with ex-Wallaby Tim Wallace about school rugby and his work in rugby development at the Shore School in Sydney. We open our conversation by discussing Tim’s career highlights in club and international rugby. After sharing his tips on competing for team spots, we talk about the link between effective school level coaching and building a rapport with your students. Tim then opens up about the challenges faced by Shore School rugby and the solutions they’re introducing to boost their level of play. We touch on the importance of school competition, how school rugby creates a pathway to professional rugby, and Tim’s views on other codes of football. He emphasises that the sport provides students with mentors and role models — irrespective of the code they play. Near the end of the episode, we reflect on why many students stop playing after leaving school, with personal insights into what helped Tim continue his rugby career. We round off our conversation by chatting about the Shore School’s 2021 goals. Tune in for more on how Tim is determined to take school rugby at Shore into a successful new era for the school. 

Key Points From This Episode:

 •    Comparing the experience of playing school, club, and international rugby.

•    Tim shares his fondness for old school rugby tours.

•    Advice on perseverance and competing over the same player position.

•    Hear about Tim’s work at the Shore School in Sydney.

•    Why the Shore School hasn't been able to land a rugby title in recent years. 

•    What the Shore School is doing to boost their level of play.  

•    The importance of strong school rugby rivalries.

•    How school rugby provides a pathway to the professional game. 

•    How pride in the school, the jersey, and playing the first XV is inherent at the school.

•    Tim discusses the factors that kept him playing after leaving school, but why others don't. 

•    Insights into coaching resources provided by Rugby Australia and GPS schools.

•    Tim opens up about the 2021 goals that he has for his team.  

“Old boys are proud to watch their school play. It becomes a breeding ground for professional athletes.” — Tim Wallace [0:16:53] 

 “For younger boys, if they have good role models, it doesn’t matter if they’re playing rugby union, league or AFL. They’re getting a good example of who they can aspire to be.” — Tim Wallace [0:19:37] 

 Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 Tim Wallace

Shore School

GPS Rugby

Barker College 

Wallabies 

Gordon RFC

Shore School

The King’s School

Rugby Australia

St Joseph's College

Newington College

The Scots College

Hadley Jackson

Waratahs

RugbyKO

With so many styles of play on offer, adaptability has become a necessary skill for the international and modern rugby coach. Today we speak with Curtis Bradford, one of the youngest national coaches in World Rugby, whose career has taken him to Malaysia, Wales, Finland, Rwanda, and Austria. After sharing his professional highlights, we chat with Curtis about his current role as the Head Coach of the Austrian Sevens team. Curtis provides insights into what rugby is like in a smaller nation, diving into their focus on player retention, the sports that rugby competes with, and what Austrian rugby is doing to ensure that each generation of players performs better than the last. We also touch on the state of Austrian women’s rugby before Curtis reflects on his experiences as a globe-trotting coach. Following this, we discuss the importance of adaptability to rugby coaching. Near the end of the episode, we explore Curtis’s work for the Friends of Rwanda charity. Tune in to hear more game-changing perspectives on coaching from Curtis Bradford. 

Key Points From This Episode:

 •    Introducing Curtis Bradford, the world’s youngest national rugby coach.

•    Hear about how Austria is faring under the pandemic. 

•    What led Curtis to find and then accept his Austrian coaching appointment.

•    Curtis shares details about what the Australian club rugby scene is like.

•    How Austrian rugby retains its players through high-quality programs. 

•    Exploring the opportunities presented by rugby’s international profile. 

•    Why Curtis’s priority as an Austrian coach isn’t to win titles.

•    Why the successes of Austria’s coaching approach will first be seen in sevens rugby. 

•    Discussing the state of women’s rugby in Austria.

•    How rugby fits into Austria’s sports landscape.

•    Curtis talks about the top experiences from his globe-trotting career. 

•    The importance of adaptability when coaching such an international game. 

•    We touch on Curtis’s work for the Friends of Rwanda charity. 

“In Austria, we’re focusing on player retention. The best way is to make sessions as high-quality as possible and to develop players as quickly as we can.” — Curtis Bradford [0:08:16] 

 “What we’re trying to do is to lay the platforms for the next group to come through. We aim to set up good pathways and leave the jersey in a better place than we found it.” — Curtis Bradford [0:13:12] 

How I speak to players in Byron Bay is completely different to how I speak to Malaysian players. With such an international game, you have to be adaptable in your approach.” — Curtis Bradford [0:22:13] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Curtis Bradford on LinkedIn

Austrian Rugby Federation

Waratahs

World Rugby

Kuala Lumpur Tigers 

Welsh Rugby Union

Friends of Rwanda

RugbyKO

From knowing your opponent’s key stats to studying their star players, preparing your team’s defence is as vital as their offence game. Today we speak with Wallabies defence coach Matt Taylor about his life, career, and what he does to develop a dogged defensive line. After touching on his professional highlights, we chat about his time coaching in Scotland and how he landed his job at the Wallabies. From there, we discuss his relationship with attack coach Scott Wisemantel and coach David Rennie. Matt shares insights into his defensive plan, what information he uses to develop his strategy, and which aspects of the Wallabies’ performance he aims to improve. We unpack how Matt adapts his plans on the pitch before we dive into his team’s coaching structure. As head coach David Rennie is a New Zealander, we ask Matt whether coach nationality impacts player patriotism and pride in wearing the jersey. Matt’s answer emphasises the importance of culture fit over nationality, along with why he believes David Rennie is the perfect coach for the job. Near the end of the episode, we explore the Wallabies role in reaching the grassroots game and how they are restoring faith in Australian rugby. Tune in to learn more about what Matt is doing to bring confidence back in the defensive aspects of the Wallabies. 

•    Introducing Wallabies defence coach Matt Taylor. 

•    Exploring Matt’s experience coaching in Scotland.

•    Hear about Matt’s current work at the Wallabies. 

•    Insights into Matt’s strategies for developing a team’s defensive capabilities. 

•    Why head coaches need to recognise the importance of a side’s defence. 

•    Which defensive areas the Wallabies need to improve.

•    The stats that defensive coaches use to formulate their defence plans.

•    How players adapt their defence plan during a game. 

•    Why the Wallabies have brought more young guns into the team.

•    We discuss the Wallaby coaching structure and team.

•    Whether nationality impacts the ability to instil patriotic pride in wearing the jersey. 

•    Matt shares his opinions on why David Rennie is the ideal Wallabies head coach.

•    How the pandemic has affected the Wallabies' plans to connect with the grassroots. 

•    Winning fanbase and restoring confidence in Australian rugby. 

“As a defensive coach, you have to study your opponent’s attacking stats, their star players, their speed of ball, what phases they score their tries in — it’s a big melting pot.” — Matt Taylor [0:12:04] 

 “One thing that’s impressive about David Rennie is he’s not afraid to give the young guys a go.” — Matt Taylor [0:17:01] 

 “As long as you understand the culture, your coach’s nationality doesn’t matter. There wasn’t an Australian coach that could have taken the role of Wallabies coach as well as David Rennie.” — Matt Taylor [0:21:54] 

 Matt Taylor

Wallabies

Glasgow Warriors

Scottish Rugby

Dave Rennie

Scott Johnson

Scott Wisemantel

World Rugby

European Rugby Champions Cup

Premiership Rugby

In the first episode of the 2021 season of Rugby KO, we talk to the talented Nick Piper, owner and producer of Onion TV.  His prolific sports documentaries have a combined almost one million views and he is now into the 7th series of The Season, his Rugby Union documentary series. He takes a close look at schools Rugby, and provides access to the inner sanctum of what makes a schools rugby team so entertaining.

Nick talks about his devotion to sport and profiling all sports, including Rowing, Rugby, Basketball, Netball, Baseball  amongst others and what are the key ingredients into producing reputable, high quality sports documentaries.

We discuss the name Onion TV and Nick provides interesting insights into why the company was named Onion, including the layers involved, standing out from a crowded and contrived production cohort , and that when you watch Onion TV you may just shed a tear or two with the intensity of the documentaries and the sporting highs and lows experienced.

Nick talks about some integral components to providing great content and a production that achieves the goals intended, including the importance of the audio insights, the microphone always on, cinematography and the tricks of the trade in capturing the best position for videoing. The detail in post production and the requirements to align with the ethos of schools in particular in generating a final product that is not only highly entertaining, but keeps to the professionalism, the spirit captured and honours the subjects in question.

He shares a story about launching the documentary and how fortunate he was in the game he produced in Queensland between Nudgee College vs Gregory Terrace. The match could not have been scripted better, with a packed school stadium of 12,000 spectators, a tied game, controversy over a final kick, and then the unbelievable applause and adulation of the emotional crowd. It launched his series and was the perfect rugby match that had it all for engaging an audience.

We talk about what in fact makes a great sports documentary, the rise of the category over the last 10 years, and what it takes to present the best possible content and viewing for a demographic that wants highlights and shorter excerpts of matches and regularly able to have access to it. We discuss how the landscape for media and sport in particular has changed.

Nick discusses his preliminary conversations with Stan and Nine Entertainment and the exciting future for Onion TV. He talks about his vision for the company, both short and long term and what he is planning immediately to take Onion TV and sports documentaries to the next level.

Watch his series on Rugby Pass, You Tube or the Onion TV website and see what we are talking about.

Episode Links

Nick Piper

www.oniontv.com.au
The Season

The Crew

The Code

Nudgee College

Gregory Terrace

Hamilton Boys College

Brisbane Boys College

The Brumbies

The Waratahs

Reesjan Pasitoa

Rugby Pass

Fox Sports

Stan Sport

Nine Entertainment

Mumbrella Awards

Loughborough University

The Big Breakfast UK

The Haka

Will Grant lives in Rouchel (pronounced 'Roo Kill' he tells me) - a small town in the Upper Hunter, and was introduced to Rugby Union when he started as a boarder at the Kings School in Sydney. He played his junior rugby as a rugby league player in the surrounding league competitions offered near his rural home. In his senior high school years, Will moved to Riverview College where he played in the first XV for two years and cemented his love of union. 

Following school , he headed to New Zealand and was signed to the provincial competition, the Mitre 10 Cup competition, playing for Northland. It is the second highest level of competition in NZ and Will is returning to NZ for the next season, leaving his beloved farming life again in Australia. 

Will talks about growing up in very rural and isolated NSW and playing rugby league asa youngster, with dreams of becoming a wests tigers player, his beloved team. 

He was introduced to Rugby Union when he attended boarding school in Sydney, and did not look back. Following school, he spread his wings and ventured to New Zealand, where he was picked up by the provincial club, Northland in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Will talks about his development as a player and person in New Zealand and how the rugby experience across the ditch has been invaluable in his understanding of the game and application of his rugby skills.

He is back in Australia on the farm, but talks about how keen he is to get back to NZ and play, following a Covid enforced break,  with aspirations of playing in a Super Rugby team, the next step for him in his career.

We talk about his desire to play for the Wallabies, and how he will need tor eturn to play domestically if he wants to achieve that goal.

We talk about the positive culture in NZ and the love of Rugby there, and the off field community feel to the game in the very successful rugby nation. We talk about the differences on the field with the way the game is played there, and what Will has learnt from many notable players he has had the opportunity to be exposed to and involved with in his time there.

We discuss how he was heavily influenced by Rugby league at a young age as rugby union did not have the same presence in the bush, and we talk about the lack of opportunity for country kids to immerse themselves in union due to the lack of nearby competitions. 

Will talks about the future, heading back to NZ, and how he has appreciated the huge rainfalls we have been experiencing which is helping farm life. He hopes to get Upper Rouchel in the spotlight one day when he pulls on the green and gold jersey and plays for the Wallabies. 

Upper Rouchel
Scone
Mitre 10 Cup
NZ Rugby
Super Rugby
Upper Hunter
Riverview College
The King's School
Dane Inman
Northland Taniwha
Hora Hora
Whangarei

Your mission with head safe and neck safe is ultimately to eliminate or reduce preventable neck and head injuries. Do you have any current information specific to sport in Australia around the number of head and neck injuries occurring in sport each year.

What can we do to prevent this or reduce this number? Concussion is of particular concern, even in junior sport. What can be done more actively to reduce the occurrence of this and what are the effects of experience a single concussion, and multiple concussions?

There is some litigious discussions currently with the English Rugby Union and Welsh Rugby Union in the form of a class action, taking World Rugby to task for not providing adequate player welfare and a safe playing environment for players. Some high profile ex players are saying that long term brain injuries have been endured as a direct consequence of head or neck injuries sustained while playing rugby. What are your thoughts on this and have we globally provided a safer playing environment now? 

Do measures such as Head injury Assessments HIA or the implementation of the Blue Card for example - indicating that a match official would like the player assessed for concussion or a potential head injury - do you think these measures are adequate and a step forward, or is there further to go to ensure player welfare in this combative sport.

There is a Gradual Return to Play protocol in Rugby Union, where anyone who has been confirmed medically as suffering a concussion must under specific guidelines for specific players, gradually return to full play following the injury. Can you tell us what is the required time for the injury to be deemed now safe to play again? 

Is there a standardised treatment, analysis and recommendations for head or neck injuries  across the board for all community rugby union and then also for all professional rugby union? Should there be a unified approach?

Is there a potential litigious situation for Australian Rugby Union in relation to providing a duty of care to players? What needs to be done immediately to avoid a litigious situation, but more importantly, to mitigate these risks and provide the safe environment needed and provide the highest level of care for all players?

Could you talk to us about NuroChek and its application in assessing brain function. I understand the FDA in the USA has adopted this technology, but it is not yet approved in Australia. Does this enhance the more precise diagnosis of a head injury, taking the subjectiveness out of it?

You have also introduced a training accreditation process for first responders to be trained in how to manage head and neck injuries correctly. Can you tell us about this accreditation process and can other first aiders in general do this course if they wish to be able to be informed and mange these injuries until more qualified expert attention can be given? 

You did some high level studies with players at Randwick rugby, measuring the force of impact, the frequency of impact and gathered much needed facts and data. What were the findings in general from that study?

Do you think this is a new problem and is it related to the pace and ferocity of the game and the way it is played now? Or, has concussion and related head and neck injuries always been prevalent in all full contact sports?

You have also provided medical teams to film sets and TV shows, such as Survivor, The Biggest Loser and others. Do you have any stories you can share where these medical teams were critical?

You are at the fore front of this important medical science. What do you need to ensure this important work is implemented, recognised so that globally we reduce and prevent head and neck injuries of players?

NUROCHEK
HEADSAFE
NECKSAFE
DR ADRIAN COHEN

Andy Lockwood grew up in PNG and the UK.  In 1999 he travelled to Perth to play some rugby and managed to get selected for the WA U19s.  

On return to the UK he attended University before starting a career in the British Army.  Rugby playing was put on hold for various periods as deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan were on the cards.

 In 2015 Andy started a part-time internship at Bath Rugby Academy within the Performance team.  At the end of the internship in 2018 he was left with no involvement in rugby after 30 years in the game as a player and coach.  This motivated him to start The Rugby Outreach Project and Rugby Vacancies.

The Rugby Outreach Project provides free fitness and Strength & Conditioning advice to teams around the world.  From international to grassroots level.  170+ teams have been assisted over the last three years.

Rugby Vacancies connects coaches and rugby people to jobs around the globe.  He has previously assisted the Crusaders and Fiji with their coach recruitment.

We talk about these exciting ventures in Rugby and their ongoing success, as well as his recruitment of rugby players into the WWE, world of wrestling. We discuss his 17 years in the British Army, and his thoughts on the game of rugby in Northern Hemisphere.

Rugby Vacancies
https://www.facebook.com/rugbyvacancies/
Rugby Outreach Project
https://www.facebook.com/rugbyoutreach/
Andrew Lockwood @ LinkedIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-lockwood-18a14864/?originalSubdomain=uk

Kerry Chikarovski is a former NSW Liberal Leader and was the first woman to lead a major political party in New South Wales. She is also the Founder and Director of Chikarovski & Associates, a governmental relations, community engagement and stakeholder relations consultancy, which she founded in 2003, whose expertise spans a wide range of industries including financial, government, community, property and technology start-ups. 

Kerry holds a number of non-executive board roles including, NSW Waratahs Rugby Union, Our Watch, Adopt Change, Road Safety Education and the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. She is the Chair of NSW Women’s rugby union, an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, and a mentor with the Minerva Network, supporting professional sportswomen on and off the field. 

Kerry can be seen and heard regularly as a media commentator across national television and radio channels including Sky News, ABC Weekend Breakfast, 2GB Radio, ABC The Drum, Q&A, Ch 7 Sunrise and was part of the key panel for the Seven News NSW 2019 State Election Coverage. 

We discuss her time in politics and her reasons for leaving the most rewarding job so far of her career. 

We discuss her role as a Director with the NSW Rugby Union, after originally being asked by Nick-Farr Jones to join the board, and the transparency and accountability moving forward of that board in relation to the Waratahs and the strategic decisions made.

We talk about the launch of her biography 'Chika', her involvement in women's Rugby Union as chair of the NSW Women's Rugby Union, the new competition named after her, the Chikarovski Cup and its progress in developing and nurturing the womens game. 

Kerry says she is encouraged by the Stan deal and its commitment to broadcasting more female rugby.

Kerry talks about her involvement in the Minerva Network, and the satisfaction of mentoring female athletes. We briefly discuss the Rugby World Cup bid and also Olympic bid, and also her day job with Chikarovski & Associates.

Kerry provides an insight into her passionate and committed approach to Rugby Union with a particular focus on the female game and is looking forward to more and more time on the sidelines supporting the game she loves.

Lolesio Sione played rugby union in his youth in Samoa. He and his family came to Australia in 2017, and settled in Melbourne. 

He has been ear marked as a grassroots gun, and a promising young talent in rugby union. He is now part of the Victorian Rugby Academy and developed his game at Wyndham City Rhinos.  The Backrower has also been recently asked to join the Rebels for preseason training with the club. He was also named in the junior Wallabies. 

He discusses training at the Rebels, the influence of his brother who also played union, his time at the academy in Victoria, nutrition, training, and learning all he can about playing rugby Union to achieve his goal of playing with the Wallabies.

Lolesio says he’s grateful for the exciting opportunity to fast track his development with the Melbourne Rebels and in Victoria and we chat about his love of rugby union and aspirations to continue on this trajectory.

Geoff Parkes is the author of ‘A World in Union - The Global Battle for Rugby Supremacy, published in 2017 to critical acclaim. He also writes for Australia's leading interactive sports website The Roar in his weekly column on rugby, 'The Wrap'. 
He has published almost 450 articles, with almost 2 million views. 

I chat to Geoff about Rugby, the writing he does for the sport, his views on where the game is at, and his views on the global game and its future 

Geoff talks about his journey with Rugby, writing for The Roar and writing his in depth book about global rugby.

He discusses the best article he has written for The Roar and how he measures success. Geoff talks about the Rugby World Cup and an experience of writing articles that were immediate, on the pulse and by being immersed in the experience, it  enabled the atmosphere to truly be captured.

Geoff says when writing online, the opinions of the general public appear live and are portrayed in a conversational way. He says it tests you as the rugby audience is informed, full of opinion and you must have your facts right, while also interacting with your readers.

Geoff  tells us about the motivation for writing his book and why it was well received and consumed by the rugby and wider sports audience. The motivation  Geoff says, was to address some discontent in the game and interview and discuss rugby people from around the globe. It evolved from there. World Rugby, SANZAAR, international competitions, media & broadcasting rights, weaker nations, and the impact of all of these on Rugby globally.

In the book it says 'A confused rugby calendar is subjected to a ‘land grab’ from clubs and national unions, all striving to maximize revenue.' We discuss whether the calendar has since been even more confused, particularly with the impacts of Covid globally. Geoff says it is not a clearer calendar or is there any real improvement in scheduling.  Various reasons, including the Northern v Southern Hemisphere scheduling that is layered and difficult particularly with club competition. Private equity have invested in the game, there is an increased self interest in the game and the calendar is full with conflicting schedules.

In the book he discusses player welfare and say ‘Player welfare concerns are cited by all and sundry, yet are cast aside as soon as there is a dollar to be made. ‘ We talk about this, what else can be done and the risks associated with  this highly combative sport.

We discuss  the sport becoming professional,  resources in the game broadly and how they are distributed, and the main globally challenges facing Rugby Union.

Geoff discuss how World Rugby has an Investment in developing parts of the game, non traditional markets, women’s, youth, developing nations and  a lot of resources poured into these areas, but there is always never enough.

He states the commercial base in the game is not large enough in Australia. Domestic pressures occur from significant other sports in Australia, and the sheer population size and followers of Rugby Union provide challenges compared to other nations.

 We talk about his thoughts on World Rugby bringing the sport together for a common goal globally when there appears a ’lack of a joined-up response from the major governing bodies whose self-interest is undermining the foundations of the sport ‘.

I ask Geoff if we have the right strategies and people in place to bring the game forward? Does he have faith in ‘the game they play in heaven’. and its future?

Geoff talks about his interest in writing a fiction book next time, his research into concussion in sport and his continuing support for Rugby Union.

On the 14th of January 2022, disaster struck Tonga and its surrounding islands in the form of a submarine volcanic eruption deemed to be hundreds of times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. For a country that is reliant on farming and rainwater, this incident has had devastating impacts on the Tongan people. In today’s episode, Peter Harding and Toutai Kefu, the CEO and Head Coach of the Tongan Rugby Union respectively, join us to share what the situation looks like on the ground at the moment and how you can assist the various organizations that are helping to rebuild Tonga. We can’t have a Rugby KO episode without at least a little bit of rugby talk, so at the end of the episode you’ll hear about what the past few years have looked like for the Tongan Rugby Union, and their exciting plans for the future. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How the recent Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano has affected Tonga. 
• One of the major benefits of sport, and why it’s needed in Tonga now more than ever. 
• Examples of how you can assist the people of Tonga through this challenging time.
• Peter explains how the donated goods will reach those who need them.
• Future struggles that Toutai and Peter anticipate for Tongans.
• How the government is assisting people living on the small islands surrounding Tonga. 
• Organizations that are assisting the people of Tonga.
• Assurance that your donations will get to where they are needed. 
• A rundown of what 2021 looked like for the Tongan Rugby Union.
• Plans for the future of the Tongan Rugby Union.

“Sport’s good for health but also good for mental health. And I can tell from talking to people over there, some people are going to need a bit of a lift because there’s a lot of hard work ahead.” — Peter Harding [0:03:56] 

“Anything we can take would help at the moment because there’s a lot of people without stuff over there at the moment.” — Peter Harding [0:06:38] 

“We rely a lot on the land to feed ourselves, and that has been compromised, so I think in the coming weeks that food shortage is going to be a real problem.” — Toutai Kefu [0:07:32] 

“We’re the smallest country in World Rugby, and our budget at the World Cup is the smallest, and we’ve got the smallest population, but we’ve got the best players.”  — Peter Harding [0:16:27] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

GoFundMe Tonga Tsunami Emergency Fundraiser

Tonga Rugby Union on Twitter

Tonga Rugby Union on Facebook

Youth In Union

Red Cross

New Zealand High Commission, Tonga

Katrina Email Address

RugbyKO

Email RugbyKO

Sport, rugby in particular, formed the foundation of Nick Leah’s childhood. Walcha where he grew up,  had several Ex-Wallabies and aspirational Wallaby trialists namely Peter Fenwick – who captained the Wallabies & Andrew Laurie who both along with his Dad drove  a lot of the sport in the town & coached Rugby and Cricket. His dad also coached NSW Country and various zone representative teams, and heavily involved in reviving Junior Rugby in Country NSW during the late 70’s and early 80’s.
 
This  passion for developing the next generation of players took Nick from a passionate player as a child into an equally passionate coach and development expert as an adult. 

Over the past 20 years Nick has worked with sportspeople at all levels all over the world (with a 1 in 4 record of producing professionally contracted players!), and today, he is the Global General Manager of 6 Degree Sports, an elite performance consultancy which he shares some details about in today’s episode. 

We also get into what drives Nick to do the work that he does, what he sees as the main issues preventing Australian rugby from thriving as it should, and why he believes that creating a clear vision is essential for the future of the game.

Key Points From This Episode:

• A rundown of Nick’s professional background.
• Nick explains the fundamental role that sport has played in his life since he was a child.
• Inspiration behind the founding of Ignite Rugby Group, now 6 Degree Sport.
• The key factor that made Nick’s hometown so successful in sports. 
• Nick’s thoughts on the current state of Australian rugby. 
• Characteristics that Nick believes make a good coach. 
• Some of the pros and cons of Australian rugby. 
• Learnings from a study that Nick conducted on a former NFL player. 
• Articles that Nick has written in the past. 
• What Australian rugby needs to do to gain back support of the players and the fans. 
• How women’s rugby is evolving across the world. 
• Nick explains what the 6 Degree Sport platform consists of. 
• A new Rugby App launching soon in conjunction with The NSW Positive Rugby Foundation.
• What the 6 Degree Sports platform consists of and how it will benefit rugby players.

“I saw what an organisation could do when everything is interconnected and there’s clarity around what you can do, and then I saw the exact opposite.” — Nick Leah [0:08:16] 

“The Ignite concept was born out of, “How do we create a platform that can provide the information that grassroots coaches can easily access and provide to the players?” — Nick Leah [0:10:08] 

“The best coaches provide a clear vision, can get people together, and are also looking at what’s next.” — Nick Leah [0:19:41] 

“In terms of skill development and acquisition, the body learns when the conditions for each repetition is slightly different – the body then has to adapt to get movement to a certain ‘end-point’.' — Nick Leah [0:26:51] 

Six Degree Sports
Six Degree Sports on Facebook
Six Degree Sports App
Chris Coyle
Nick Leah on LinkedIn
Walcha Rugby Union on Facebook
Country Rugby Union

Today’s guest, Robbie McRobbie, is a Scottish-born, British-educated, former police officer who is currently the CEO of the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU). Furthermore, he is a recipient of an MBE award for the role he has played in changing the lives of at-risk youth through sport, as well as the work he has done to advance UK/Hong Kong relations. 

HKRU was the only national sports association to have a charity component, and we hear about the success of HKRU’s Community Foundation.  Robbie's focus though is currently on the globally recognised Hong Kong Sevens Tournament, which Robbie is hopeful to have up and running again in November. The pandemic has meant that the past few years have not been easy, and Robbie speaks with humility about the challenges they have faced and the exciting plans he has for HKRUs future.

• Robbie shares what his journey from the Hong Kong Police force to the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) has looked like
• The honour that Robbie was awarded in 2019
• Work being done by Operation Breakthrough, and Robbie’s involvement in the organisation 
• HKRUs Community Foundation, and the instrumental role that Robbie played in setting it up. 
• How HKRU is working towards eliminating the polarisation which plagues Hong Kong. 
• Robbie explains how he feels about being the person in charge of the very successful Hong Kong Sevens Tournament.
• Some of the factors which he believes have contributed to the success of the Hong Kong Sevens Tournament. 
• The profound impact that the pandemic has had on HKRU.
• HKRU’s strategy for organisational sustainability.  
• The Growth being experienced by Hong Kong’s sports sector.
• Robbie explains how the Hong Kong Premiership works, and the differences between the men’s and women’s premierships. 
• A key focus of HKRU’s current strategic plan.
• The effort that HKRU is putting into promoting TRY Rugby, and the challenges of keeping the youth interested in the sport. 
• HKRU’s relationship with World Rugby and other rugby unions. 
• What the future holds for Hong Kong’s rugby teams. 

“[At Operation Breakthrough] we used sport and engagement with police officers to try and provide them with some positive role models and to try to break down barriers between the cops and the kids so the two sides stopped seeing each other as the enemy.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:06:39] 

“If you’re lucky enough to be handed the reins, the mantle, the opportunity to take a lead with the Rugby Sevens, you feel very much like you are being handed a family heirloom to look after.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:12:36] 

“Our hope and aim and objective is to get the Sevens back as soon as it is safe and practical. We have a date for November this year, so fingers crossed for that.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:18:59] 

“One of the key focuses of the current strategic plan is to become a more data-driven organisation.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:31:14] 

Hong Kong Rugby Union

Hong Kong Rugby Union Community Foundation

Operation Breakthrough 

Kai Tak Sports Park

Premier Sports Asia

Robbie McRobbie on LinkedIn

RugbyKO