Alex 'Apollo' Gray: Olympic Heartbreak, How NFL Can Help Rugby & Captaining England | Stick to Rugby EP 34

The latest episode of Stick to Rugby, brought to you by Defender, features ex-England Sevens player and now Gladiators star Alex Gray, alongside Topsy Ojo, Katy Daley-McLean, Scott Quinnell and Tom Shanklin From the Newcastle Red Bulls to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, and now starring as Apollo on Gladiators, Alex opens up about his unique journey across rugby, American football, and primetime TV. The panel dives into his transition between sports, why rugby lost him to the NFL, and whether he’d ever make a return. Alex shares what filming Gladiators was really like behind the scenes, how it pushed him physically and mentally, and the surprising pressures of fame. There’s plenty of rugby chat too—from the future of Sevens, to the talent coming through in the UK, and what it’s like forging a new identity beyond the pitch. 00:00 - On the Road Again 03:56 - Teaser 04:46 - Behind-the-Scenes & Delicacy of the Week 06:10 - How ‘Apollo’ Got His Name 07:26 - True or False: Quiz 10:15 - Diet, Training & Game-Ready Physique 12:13 - Gladiator Names 13:01 - Auditioning for Gladiators 19:47 - Gladiator Pressure & Nerves 23:50 - Early Life & Rugby Roots 29:44 - Topsy Ojo’s Memory of Young Alex 31:58 - Switching Codes: 15s to Sevens 36:00 - Rio 2016 Olympic Heartbreak 38:29 - Biggest Rugby Regret 40:13 - Women’s Rugby World Cup 48:16 - First Brit to Captain an NFL Pre-Season Game 54:52 - Rugby or NFL? 59:28 - Time at Bath Rugby 01:03:07 - Louis Rees-Zammit’s Return to Rugby 01:05:04 - Either/Or Quiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.