Talkin' Ruggers

3d ago

Tiarnan Neville — better known as The Rugby T — has one of the most international rugby journeys you’ll come across. Growing up playing rugby in Hong Kong , before moving through Ireland, England, and Canada , Tiarnan has experienced the game across multiple cultures, systems, and levels — all while chasing the ultimate goal of earning a professional contract. In this episode, Tiarnan breaks down how his upbringing in Hong Kong shaped his approach to the game, the realities of transitioning into UK university rugby, and what the current rugby landscape looks like in Canada. We talk openly about the pressures of playing fly-half , dealing with injuries, and the role good coaching and strong community play in developing players at every level. We also dive into how Tiarnan has used social media to build a personal brand alongside his playing career — sharing the positives, the challenges, and the realities of putting yourself out there in modern rugby. From online criticism to creating opportunities through content, this episode gives a real insight into how the game is evolving both on and off the field. If you’re interested in playing rugby around the world, building a personal brand as a player, or understanding where the modern game is heading, this one’s well worth a listen.

Dec 9

Old Novo is one of the freshest names in the ever-growing rugby fashion industry. Matt Dehaty, the founder, quit his job at Gymshark and drew on his experience as Global Product Manager for Nike Rugby to launch a brand for fans who want something a little more stylish than a replica match jersey on game day. In this episode, we get into how growing up in the sporting hotspot of the North East shaped his career, how to break into the sports industry, and how the game of rugby can be elevated both on and off the field. Matt’s journey — and the Old Novo brand — is rooted in connection and community. What began as an idea to bring ex-players together through a lifestyle brand has grown into something much bigger: a movement built on authenticity, brotherhood, and the shared identity that makes rugby special. With his marketing background and deep understanding of rugby culture, Matt has shaped Old Novo into a brand modern fans actually want to wear, blending tradition with fresh innovation. We dive into how Matt transitioned from player to brand-builder, why authenticity sits at the heart of great branding, and how rugby has the potential to evolve into a full lifestyle sport. We explore community engagement, how audience behaviour drives product development, and why passion and energy are non-negotiables in sports marketing. We also talk about the challenge — and opportunity — of evolving rugby apparel for a new generation while staying true to the culture that built the game.

Nov 25

If you’ve watched a rugby highlight compilation on YouTube in the last decade, chances are it came from Andrew Forde — but if you walked past him in the street, you’d never know it. Andrew has amassed hundreds of millions of views across his channel without ever stepping in front of the camera, shaping how fans experience the game through cinematic editing, storytelling, and world-class highlight reels. Andrew didn’t follow the traditional rugby media route. He started making highlight mixes as a passion project, teaching himself editing from scratch and slowly building a channel that became the go-to spot for rugby comps online. In this episode, we chat about how Andrew built one of the biggest rugby channels on the internet, how he researches, organises, and archives the game to create his professional-level compilations, and what it really takes to grow on YouTube in a sport where copyright is a constant battle. We also talk about how the rugby community can benefit from more accessible and engaging content, why consistency and fan engagement matter, how video games could help rugby reach a wider audience, and why promoting the sport beyond the pitch is essential for its growth. Follow Andrew on Instagram 👉 @andrew_forde Watch his YouTube channel 👉 Andrew Forde

Nov 18

Ever wondered how a pro rugby player turns early retirement into one of the biggest online rugby coaching brands in the world? Ben John (aka @therugbytrainer) shows us how it’s done. ⚡ Ben John — better known as The Rugby Trainer — grew up playing rugby in Wales during their golden generation. His love for all sports became his point of difference on the field — helping him rise through the Welsh age-grade system and eventually earn a spot with the Ospreys , one of Wales’ top professional rugby teams. 🏉 Repeated injuries and concussions forced him to retire earlier than expected… but this was only the beginning of his rugby journey. ⚡ After stepping away from the game to work as a personal trainer in London , Ben spotted a gap in the market during lockdown for high-quality online rugby coaching and practical rugby training tips — and, just like on the field, he took it. 💻 What makes Ben’s rugby coaching brand unique today is how he blends elite rugby playing experience with simple, practical coaching that players at every level can use to improve their rugby skills, fitness, and game performance . That approach has taken him from filming home rugby training sessions to working with some of the biggest teams and best players in international rugby . 🌍 In this episode, we chat about Ben’s journey from professional rugby player to rugby content creator , how he built one of the most recognisable online rugby coaching brands , and the systems he uses to help players develop their rugby skills and level up their game. 🎥 OJ and The Rugby Trainer dive into how rugby coaching is evolving in the digital age — from Ben’s transition from player to coach, to how playing multiple sports shaped his rugby IQ, and how injuries challenges reshaped his career path. They also discuss the importance of sports psychology , finding genuine passion in your work, and building a rugby coaching brand that balances purpose, structure, and creativity. 💡 Ben shares his proudest coaching achievements , lessons learned working with players at all levels, and strategies behind his social media growth for rugby coaching . The conversation highlights the evolving rugby community and why connection, communication, and belonging are more important than ever for the sport. 🏆 Follow Ben on Instagram 👉 @therugbytrainer 👈

Nov 11

“He’s been to the rugby corners of the world most people don’t even know exist.” 🌍🏉 If there’s rugby being played in some remote village halfway around the world, you can bet that Max Courtis has already found it, been there, and filmed a documentary about it... Drawing on his experience playing for Exeter University and representing England Students , Max first used rugby as a way to travel — chasing new playing opportunities and connections overseas. What started as a passion for the game soon evolved into a mission to tell the stories of rugby’s hidden communities across the globe. There’s no corner of the rugby world safe from CurtsCode’s expeditions — from the classic UK-to-Australia gap-year route to the more unexpected rugby outposts in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Driven by pure curiosity and a love for storytelling, Max has made it his mission to show that rugby connects people everywhere — no matter the language, location, or level. In this episode, Max reveals how he uncovers hidden rugby stories, his creative process behind filming and presenting, and his advice for creators looking to make their mark in the rugby space. 🎥✈️ Check out Max on Instagram 👉 @curtscode

Nov 4

Jake Colley-Davies — better known as Caradoc Conditioning — is one of the original and biggest online rugby strength & conditioning coaches. 💪 After completing his studies at Cardiff Metropolitan University, rather than the conventional route to full-time employment, Jake pioneered a path from the fitness industry into the rugby community, a transition that’s since inspired countless other coaches to follow. In this episode, we chat about how grassroots rugby is benefiting from the rise of accessible S&C knowledge, and how Jake has been leading the charge in sharing high-quality coaching insight for free online. We dive into the details of the social media skills and strategy that he has developed along the way and have built a following of over 100,000 which he has leveraged to create a thriving rugby performance business. Jake is doing great things for rugby through helping players everywhere get stronger, faster, and fitter, ultimately helping people enjoy the game more. 🏉 You can find more information on the Caradoc Conditioning coaching services on... Instagram 👉 @caradoc_conditioning Or his website 👉 caradocconditioning.com

Oct 28

Jack Wiles is the founder of RB Club (formerly Rugby Buckets) — a rugby lifestyle brand bringing something fresh to the game. But Jack didn’t take the most traditional route into the rugby industry… In this episode, we chat about the parallels between army and rugby culture, how he’s used lessons from his past to build his brand, and his mission to create the coolest brand in rugby! 🏉 Rugby is built on history and tradition — and while those values make the game what it is, they might also be what’s holding it back from growing… or worse, surviving. It’s people like Jack who are keeping the game alive through their modern approach — filling a gap in the market with something genuinely cool. Maybe even the coolest brand in rugby. 😎 Fancy some new garms for your next game day? Check out @_rbclub 👕

Oct 21

🤯 Will Owen from Squidge Rugby lifts the lid on how two brothers turned their rugby obsession into one of YouTube’s biggest rugby channels... Will Owen is one half of the iconic YouTube rugby duo — Squidge Rugby! 🏉 Arguably the original rugby content creators, the brothers first began posting videos about their beloved Ospreys back in 2018. Since then, they’ve used their deep rugby knowledge and sharp humour to produce over 400 videos and build an audience of more than 250,000 subscribers on YouTube! 🤯 Widely regarded as two of the brightest rugby minds in the game, they’ve helped fans see rugby through a new analytical — and often hilarious — lens. In this episode, we dive into the origins of their rugby story, explore the often-overlooked challenges of being a YouTube creator, and of course, put the rugby world to rights… This was a fascinating chat with an incredibly insightful and dedicated rugby nerd — we hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 🎙️ Find Will on Instagram 👉 @will_owen9 And, of course, check out the legendary YouTube channel 👉 Squidge Rugby