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Rugby Through The Leagues Podcast
Rugby Through The Leagues (Rugby TTL) shines a light on rugby beyond the mainstream — tier 2 and tier 3 nations, grassroots clubs, Spanish rugby, Rugby Europe, Super Rugby Americas, sevens and the global game. Honest interviews and analysis with the players, coaches and characters the spotlight ignores. New episodes regularly — subscribe on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Episodes
81 episodes
The City With 161 Rugby Clubs and No Rugby Balls — Max Derbyshire (DotDarbs)
Carl talks to Max Derbyshire, DotDarbs on Instagram, from a borrowed bedroom in Yerevan. Darbs has hitchhiked from Georgia, where he was filming the Didi 10, to spend time with Armenia's rugby community and the Iran national team.It all ...
EXCLUSIVE: Arthur Lennon Signs for Barça Rugby
Rugby TTL exclusive: Arthur Lennon reveals his move to Barça Rugby — with Carl and Pasquale from Game Day Bites.In this episode: the call from director Javier Soler and why a dropped-down Barça appealed more than the safe option; what ne...
35 Asked, 3 Said No — Dan Elsom, British & Irish Expats Rugby
Two days before British & Irish Expats Rugby play their first ever fixture, Carl talks to the man who built it.Dan Elsom grew up in Sydney, played Shute Shield, then spent five years in the English national leagues — and came home mi...
"If It Wasn't For Rugby, I Probably Wouldn't Be Here" — Nathan Mason, Match for Mental Health
A special one before the season restarts. Carl talks to Nathan Mason, the man behind Match for Mental Health — back at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday 30 October, kick-off 19:30, raising money for Tough Enough To Care and Looseheads RFC.Nath...
He Nearly Quit — Then Scored a Hat-Trick on Debut — Niel Otto, The Dukes
The Ascent Rugby Series miniseries continues. Carl talks to Niel Otto of The Dukes, Den Bosch, before their opening festival in Frankfurt — and the weekend after, when the Dukes host one of their own.Niel was at Griquas in the Currie Cup...
Poland's Champions Take on Europe — Daniel Gdula, Pogoń Siedlce
The Ascent Rugby Series miniseries continues. Carl talks to Dan Gdula, captain of Pogoń Siedlce — back-to-back champions of Poland — before their opening festival in Frankfurt against RC Eemland.Dan on a squad drawn from five nations, a ...
Ascent Rugby Series: Byron Schmidt, Frankfurt — The Coach Behind the Idea
Frankfurt head coach Byron Schmidt on hosting the first-ever Ascent Rugby Series festival — and how the whole competition started as his idea.In this episode: how a cross-border youth format became Central Europe's newest seni...
Ascent Rugby Series Preview with RC Eemland Head Coach Mitch McGann | Rugby Through the Leagues Podcast
On the Rugby Through the Leagues podcast, Carl speaks with Mitch McGann, head coach of Dutch club RC Eemland, a founding team in the new Ascent Rugby Series beginning 22nd August in Frankfurt and now expanded from six to seven teams, including ...
Greece's Rugby Growth: Inside the Aegean Festival & Big 2027 Athens Plans
This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with George and Dave from Attica Rugby, the team behind the Aegean Rugby Festival, to talk about growing rugby in Greece through sport tourism. They cover the festival's origins, the vision...
Albanian Rugby's Rise: Chairman Xhino on Grassroots Growth & the Road to Rugby Europe
This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with Xhino, chairman of the Albanian rugby federation, for the story of how a sport almost nobody was playing became a national project. Xhino traces it back to 2010–2012, when a handful of...
Mike Poppmeier: Germany's New Head Coach on Rebuilding, Funding & Rugby Europe | Rugby TTL Podcast
German rugby is rebuilding — and new head coach Mike Poppmeier is the man tasked with leading it back.In this episode, Carl sits down with Mike Poppmeier, the new head coach of Germany and a former Germany international, for an open conv...
Heart of Wales 7s Special: Jordan & The Flaming Unicorns on Rugby, Community & Mental Health
The Rugby Through the Leagues podcast welcomes Jordan, organiser of Heart of Wales 7s, and Stu from The Flaming Unicorns / Tough Enough To Care, to talk rugby, community and mental health.Jordan charts the tournament's growth from 16 men...
Josh Navidi: Forced Retirement, the Neck Injury & Lions Memories | Rugby TTL Podcast
Former Wales and British & Irish Lions flanker Josh Navidi on the neck injury that ended his career and life after the game.In this episode: the injury & retirement call; Wales & Lions highlights; the transition out of pro r...
Sam Hollingsworth: An Englishman in Spain's División de Honor | Rugby TTL Podcast
Sam Hollingsworth on swapping the RFU Championship for Spain's División de Honor — Nottingham to VRAC Valladolid, the ACL injury, and what English players should know about Spanish rugby.In this episode: leaving the English system; stan...
Vidal Souza: Inside Alcobendas' Copa del Rey Win | Spanish Rugby | Rugby TTL
Copa del Rey winner Vidal Souza breaks down Alcobendas' 40–39 derby final win over Cisneros and the clutch mentality behind it.In this episode: the 40–39 final; turning late losses into a title; the Madrid derby; Spanish club rugby....
The Future of Tier 2 & Tier 3 Rugby: Rugby Europe, MLR & World Cup 2031 | w/ What's All the Ruckus
Rugby TTL hosts Charlie from What's All the Ruckus to debate the future of tier 2 and tier 3 rugby and how to grow the game.In this episode: why tier 2/3 matters; Rugby Europe & MLR; World Cup 2031/2035; emerging nations.Sub...
Nikola Matawalu: Building Sevens in Greece & the Fiji Pathway | Rugby TTL Podcast
Fiji great Nikola Matawalu on the Aegean Sevens festival, growing sevens in Greece and the Fijian pathway.In this episode: the Aegean Sevens project; sevens in Greece; Fiji pathways; moving into coaching.Subscribe on YouTube (yo...
Six Nations 2026 Review: Ireland 2nd, Wales Bounce Back & France Edge England | Rugby TTL
A full Six Nations 2026 review — Ireland second, a Welsh revival, France edging England, and why rugby must market itself better.In this episode: championship review; Ireland, Wales & France; the new format; rugby's marketing proble...
Building Greek Rugby: Eleni Voultepsis on Rugby Europe & Youth Pathways | Rugby TTL
Eleni Voultepsis on the rebirth of Greek rugby — national teams, Rugby Europe membership and youth pathways.In this episode: putting Greece on the map; national teams; Rugby Europe; youth development.Subscribe on YouTube (youtub...
Six Nations Breakdown: Ireland Smash England, Wales Collapse & France Roll Italy | Rugby TTL
The panel recaps a huge Six Nations weekend — Ireland v England, Wales' collapse, France rolling Italy — plus fantasy rugby.In this episode: round-by-round breakdown; Ireland v England; Wales v Scotland; fantasy picks.Subscribe ...
Rugby Europe Championship 2026 Review: Spain v Georgia, Portugal & Romania | w/ Game Day Bites
A midway Rugby Europe Championship review with Game Day Bites — Spain v Georgia, a Portugal preview, Romania's struggles and relegation chaos.In this episode: Spain v Georgia; Portugal preview; Romania; relegation race.Subscribe...
Super Rugby Americas Explained: The Unseen Gem ft. Joe Santamaria | Rugby TTL
A deep dive into Super Rugby Americas with Joe Santamaria — the competition feeding Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil.In this episode: what Super Rugby Americas is; the South American pipeline; Pumas/Cóndores/Teros; where to watch.
Six Nations 2026 Round 1 Review & Fantasy Picks | Rugby TTL
Round 1 of the Six Nations reviewed, plus the fantasy picks that paid off and the ones that didn't.In this episode: round 1 results; team news; fantasy strategy.Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · Spotify · Apple Podc...
Is French Rugby Helping or Killing Rugby Europe? ft. Rosbifs Rugby | Rugby TTL
With Rob & Rich from Rosbifs Rugby, we dig into French rugby development and its impact on the smaller Rugby Europe nations.In this episode: French rugby development; the JIFF rule; impact on Rugby Europe; club v country.Sub...
Six Nations 2026 Fantasy Rugby Special: Our Squad Picks | Rugby TTL
The hosts build their Six Nations fantasy squads — the bankers, the differentials and the captaincy calls.In this episode: fantasy squad selection; value picks; captaincy; round 1 preview.Subscribe on YouTube (youtube.com/@Rugby...
