Rugby TTL - Series 2 - Episode 8 - Adam McBurney Interview

An Inside Look into Romanian Rugby with Adam McBurney | Rugby through the Leagues Podcast

In this episode of Rugby through the League podcast, host Carl welcomes special guest Adam McBurney. Adam shares his fascinating journey through various rugby teams, from his time at Ulster & Edinburgh to his current position playing rugby in Romania. McBurney discusses his experiences at clubs like Connacht and Gloucester, the challenges and cultural differences he has encountered in Romania, and his hopes for the future, including potentially playing international rugby for Romania. This episode offers a unique insider's view into the world of Romanian rugby and McBurney's personal and professional growth. Subscribe and follow us for more intriguing episodes with rugby personalities from around the world.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:23 Guest Introduction: Adam McBurney
00:49 Adam's Rugby Journey
01:47 Experiences in Edinburgh and Gloucester
02:48 Transition to Connacht
03:26 Challenges and Opportunities in Connacht
04:33 Move to Romania
06:07 Life and Rugby in Romania
08:05 Training and Team Dynamics
17:27 Fan Culture and Game Day Atmosphere
26:42 Perfect Timing in Career
27:12 Experiencing Romania
27:47 Contract Details and Future Plans
28:20 Ambitions in Rugby
29:10 International Rugby Aspirations
30:44 Romanian Rugby Culture
33:14 Challenges and Opportunities in Romanian Rugby
38:32 Grassroots Beginnings
48:20 Cultural Differences and Adaptation
51:48 Reflections and Future Prospects
53:13 Best Player Encountered
54:26 Closing Remarks and Future Guests

Transcript

Carl: [00:00:00] Hello and welcome to another episode of Rugby through the League podcast. Hope you're enjoying everything that we're doing recently on the podcast. And to make sure you keep abreast of everything that we're doing and every future guest and every future episode that we've got, make sure you subscribe.

Click that button in the little top corner. Obviously subscribing will help make us grow. And reach more and more people with a grassroots game and also tier two rugby. Then this week we have managed to get Adam McBurney on, so Adam McBurney has done his rounds through the URC over at Ulster, Edinburgh, little dabble at Connacht and Gloucester.

But he's now found himself over and playing rugby in Romania. You've popped over there, Adam, a little while ago. About three months. Mate. How are you finding it? And for everyone that isn't aware of your journey so far, can we, uh, can we enlighten everyone, please, pal? 

Adam McBurney: Yeah. I guess, uh, to start off, thanks for having me on, Carl.

Appreciate it. Uh, a bit about my journey. It's been, uh, it's been interesting to say the least over the last couple years, I think whenever I [00:01:00] started off in Ulster Academy, if you would've told me. 10 years later, I'd be playing in Romania. I would've been a wee bit shook by it and uh, wouldn't have known too much about it, but, uh, wanted to stay.

I'm extremely happy. Where I'm at now is an understatement, so I can't be playing at all. But yeah, I started in, uh, Ulster Academy whenever I was, 20, so about nine years ago now. Uh, came through there, played professionally, uh, there for four seasons. Uh, and then found out I had a Scottish grandmother, which I didn't know about.

Carl: Handy. 

Adam McBurney: So with that, obviously, uh, and being Scottish qualified, there was a link then to a slot at Edinburgh opening up. And, uh, I was sitting around sort of battling that second or third choice at holster whenever Rory Bested retired, uh, behind Rob Heron and fighting with John Andrews. So I did that for a couple of seasons and I thought the new opportunity there was something that I really wanted to take on and really enjoyed, uh, my time in Edinburgh.

Uh. The people I've met there was incredible. And the [00:02:00] city, as you know, I'm sure a lot of other people know, it's, it's got a lot to offer. So, uh, in terms of growing up and being able to experience that, I'm extremely grateful. Uh, and then coming to the end of my third year there, whenever I was going to be getting released, they let me know.

Early, which was good off them. Uh, an opportunity at Gloucester came to, uh, go down there and, uh, and uh, spend a few weeks there, uh, which was a great experience playing at Kingsholm home, being part of the team that beat Leicester for away. I think it was the first time in about 17 years. Uh, and then a knockout chance cup win was, again, a, a great experience.

So, really enjoyed my time there. It was short, but extremely fun going down there and knowing that you just have to do a job for them whenever you're, you're involved and you're going down there to play. And then off the back of that came opportunity to head across the Galway and to Connacht and, uh, I don't think I've been blessed with, uh

The weather in terms of, uh, the places [00:03:00] that I end up. Uh, uh, I've definitely been blessed with, uh, fun cities and, uh, I great bunch of boys at the clubs, and the game didn't play as probably as much as I would've hoped or would've thought have going into that environment. But I always felt that I tried my hardest and, and did my best thing with all of them.

So, uh, I had great experiences and don't have a bad word to say about any people out there. I'm extremely thankful for the opportunities at that. I did get, I guess, and then obviously a game with not playing the last few months at Corner and Opportunity Rules to uh, come to Romania, which I guess is where I'm at now in my career.

Mm-hmm. 

Carl: So obviously. Galway, what a beautiful, you've, you've seem to have done the rounds mate, to be fair. In some decent places. As you said, like I love Galway. It's probably one of my most favorite cities to go to. If I tell anyone to go to Ireland, I tell 'em to go to Galway. 'cause what a place it is. Yeah.

I've got the 

Adam McBurney: Galway's. 

Carl: Good 

Adam McBurney: so much to offer in terms of the, the culture, the bars, [00:04:00] uh, whenever it does get a good bit of Weller or a good death weller, there's, there's nowhere like it, it stunning. So like around that West Coast, it's just like, It's views upon views . So, uh, like I said, I've been blessed with areas like that, uh, to be able to experience.

Uh, however, I guess whenever you say you go there for the weekend, it's, it's good fun. I'm there trying to play rugby and the wind's coming across sideways and pissing down on and your training and that. So I guess you just have to embrace it. And I think if you look at Connacht it's a club. It is a team of players who have came from all sorts, have came from other provinces in Ireland.

They let go from other places and they all come together with that mentality that it's about Doging it out. And whenever Connacht are successful and they've won the league in the past, it's. That's because they're a really hard team to beat because they're a team that's, I guess, full of dogs who are, yeah, they're willing to embrace those challenges over there.

In 

Carl: that culture, obviously [00:05:00] Stuart Lancaster has just gone there as well, mate. So how much do you think that's going to change the, the Connacht way, or do you think that's gonna really play into the way that they, they set up over there? 

Adam McBurney: Well, I guess I, I wouldn't know sure personally, but I just probably know as much on, on my, as the next person, but.

I think for that group to have that refresher in terms of a new head coach, a new boss, and being able to bring the best outta those players, it can only do good for them there. There was a lot of talent in that squad, but there was just something missing that made it all click, and I think someone of Stuart's profile will be able to come in and bring the best out of the quality in that group, which will be real exciting for them.

They've gotten, you have the form center and other things along with that, which, uh. They will really try to make, uh, the Dexcom now it's called, uh, a Fortress because there's not many times that I've chatted to that enjoy traveling to the west coast of Ireland, and they need to play on that as a, as a massive factor for them.

Carl: Yeah, I can [00:06:00] imagine. And, uh. It's a beautiful place and it's great to see when Kort do sort of turn up, they d they, they get some amazing results. Great group of fans over there as well. It's a great place to watch rugby and yeah. Obviously you were there for pretty much the season. Obviously you struggled to sort of get in invite, you've got one, one appearance pretty much.

Was that how that fell? Yeah, I was, yeah. Obviously not here to sort of throw hand grenades in laps. 'cause obviously you've still got a career, but, uh, how, what, what sort of happened there, mate? Was it just wrong place, wrong time for that move for you? Or as you said, you sort of likely touched on earlier opinion of, of what they needed at the time.

Was, was that it and then. You got the opportunity to, to get yourself outta that, that fire pit potentially before it got too bad. 'cause you've gotta, you've gotta be playing games now, won't you really? E 

Adam McBurney: Exactly. That's it. And I guess the, the stage I was at was that I didn't want to be going to another club where, uh, whenever I was living in Edinburgh that [00:07:00] I wouldn't been playing at.

So if I would've known, known the situation, I wasn't just picking up a contract for the psych office, I was going there with the conversations being that. My game time would've been a lot higher, and obviously it went out. And then after two weeks of pre-season, I found out that I was way down the pip in order What I did in those two weeks, I, I did not know in pre-season.

And like I said too, there, there's never any hard feelings with that, but uh, it just is what it is. And. I said I was happy how playing in preseason and, and went on. And if you aren't getting the opportunities to then put your game out there, that, that's just the way it is. And, uh, it's not just me.

Something like that would happen to you. And yes, there's probably other times you, you could play betterton, you could do different things, but, uh, I was happy with what I had offered at training and any opportunity I got in a games or what it was, I was happy enough and that was the main thing for me. So, uh, that happened and the tail end of it.

Don't play. You aren't. someone's cup the tea, it is what it is. Life goes on and [00:08:00] you look for the next opportunity, which is basically what we sat down and done and this is where this came to an eye. 

Carl: How does that come about mid-season? Because obviously the remaining season sort of started a little bit later than it started sort of the end of end of March, done it because of the Rugby Europe championships and probably a few other bits.

Had, had your agent already put out the flyers to say that you are available or somebody sort of see, see your, uh, senior, your CV and said, actually, we need that to, to come over because you're over at, uh, dmo bu Bure at the minute, aren't you? So they've got a pretty well stack side of remaining internationals as, as well around how did that call come about?

I guess 

Adam McBurney: so. Obviously from that first conversation finding out I was down the peck and early doors, there was red flags on the wall straight away because like I said, I wasn't over there just to pick up a paycheck. I was over there to, to play rugby. Yeah. I was coming to, I was just turning 27 when I went over there.

Uh, just [00:09:00] turned 28. Can I can remember. That's a bad sign. Uh, uh, just turned 21, I'll say that. 21. But, uh, whenever I went over there, uh, I was at that stage of my career where you need to be playing games if you, if you want to continue, as you know, at the minute, the way rugby is, like you have to be playing in the shop window or else it's gonna be very hard to continue with your career.

So the red flags were on the door from then, but then we said we'd give it a crack to see whenever opportunities would come up. We thought through injury R three rotation, things would, uh, would still sway my way and I'd be able to get the opportunity and it never did. So after Christmas, then we have a chat with the agent again and we see if there is any opportunities out there.

Will it be medical or X, Y, and Z now, or something like that does come up. You would have to then go to do Connacht or your club and discuss with them and say Yes and how they would fail it if you were to obviously leave the contract early or go away for a few months. They would have to look at [00:10:00] where their peck an order is in depth.

Do they have cover if someone gets injured? And thankfully whenever this opportunity came up, they were sufficient enough that they felt that with three senior hooker and one in the academy all fit, that there would be able to be enough cover and they were willing to release a narrative. 

Carl: But was that literally just.

Tear up the contract there and then handshake. Thank you very much. Or is there sort of a sweetener put in place between teams or is it just a case of a freedom of just trying to get your game time out there? How does, how does that sort of work on the inner, inner side or do you leave that to your agent to deal with, I, 

Adam McBurney: I guess I leave all that, that side to my agent.

I do know the discussions which are going on and the reasons why. So it probably took me about three and a half, four weeks to manage to come. Okay. Whenever the actually get out. And that was one that. There was potential off if someone went down that I would've been playing next. Uh, and other reasons around that.

Now, [00:11:00] obviously on my side, I'm like, I can't wait on potentials. Yeah. Uh, and so it was frustrating from my side. At that time, our head coach had just went off sick. Uh, so there was discussions around that obviously that there was, it has to go through probably four or five sets of hands for it all to be cleared.

Uh, and we were waiting on a hooker coming back from injury who was maybe. A couple of weeks away whenever I needed to get out before that. So all this is happening behind the scenes and you're sitting there as a player being like, where, where's this gonna sit? In terms of, yeah. The contract of there and all of things.

So it's, it's quite a nervous time, I guess, whenever you're going and seeing people every day who's making the decision and yeah, the decision made. Um, you're obviously contracts on the line elsewhere, so it's an interesting time. And then the players find out and then they're asking what's going on, and you don't actually have the full answer yet.

So there's a lot of background noise with it, but you just stay calm, stay patient, and trust that. [00:12:00] If you have a good agent, which thankfully I do, uh, that will be able to sort things out in the background and you just get onto to your training and, and do your job. I guess 

Carl: it must be weird training alongside the lads that you're also hoping don't get injured so that you could still move on as well.

So you, every time they, they probably pull up or grab their leg, you're, you're probably the first one there before the medical team to make sure that they're all right. 

Adam McBurney: It's funny because I can't who we were, uh, basically it was last Saturday. It was all away. Sorry. Yeah. And, uh, I had to travel as 24th man to swans.

Mm. Uh, that if no one get into that game, I was good to go on the, the Sunday, the day after to leave. The boys obviously all knew this around me, so like anytime they, if it was cramp or taking a knee or something, I was sitting there with my head in my hands being like, they haven't injured all season.

Bearing in mind I was like, if this happens in this game, I think it was something [00:13:00] like I. 40 points to 43. So the amount of running in it, I was like this as a calf injury, written all over it. So I was sitting on the side, on the bench crapping myself. All the other boys, the subs and the boys traveling were all taking the piss off me.

Oh, bet. Yeah. But I was just game only I so time my whole career where I couldn't actually watch some of the rugby because of an individual reason. But, uh, yeah, there, there was that sign off at too. That's badness, isn't it? 

Carl: So obviously over in Bucharest now you've gone, gone over there, managed to get a few games already under your belt.

What's the startling difference between rugby and Romania and, and sort of don in the shirt for the likes of Edinburgh, Olster and stuff like that? Is there a clear difference between the, the, the league level of the teams you're playing or is it a, an undiscovered gem of, of a league that's got really competitive?

Adam McBurney: I guess the, the main thing would, would probably be a bit of the rugby IQ [00:14:00] and the way the game's played. 

Carl: Mm-hmm. So 

Adam McBurney: I actually say it is, it's quite difficult in some aspects, it's almost more difficult in the pro game and in other aspects it's a, it's a bit off. It's the best way. So in terms of structure, not much to an attack.

Uh, but in terms of physicality, you've got extremely passionate big men. You are defending against a non-structured attack so they can come and get you pretty hard. Yeah. So not getting the ball flat standing still, you get hit harder probably than what you get hit in the pro game because in the pro game back home you have so many options that it's hard for defenders to fly off and actually hit you man and ball or, or hit you in twos and three.

So in, in that way it's different. But I think just in terms of game management playing in the right areas. Uh, being able to manipulate the fences and attack back home. Obviously for years and years, that's been a massive go-to. [00:15:00] Uh, but again, going to the set pace side of things that some of the scrums I've been in have been as hard as any game I've been in back home.

And again, you can do these passionate, uh, Romanians or islanders that we're playing against who are coming at all angles at times, uh, to get you in the front row. It's definitely a learning experience, so it's actually hard to adapt to that because you've been taught to do something one way. Yeah, from young age 16, 17, which I guess back in BRC and Prem, that's the right way to do things over here.

You have to adapt to what's going on at the moment. And try to solve that problem. You definitely do. Learn the hard way. 

Carl: Yeah, definitely. What's, what's like the facilities like as well? Are they, are they pretty well kitted out? 

Adam McBurney: Yeah, so we're, we're pretty lucky. So in that first block anyway, initially, uh, we had a lot of home games and we played their away games.

We're still in book rest. Now we have to go to Tim by Mario and Kluge. Which is all [00:16:00] quite a bit outside, big rest. 

Carl: Mm. 

Adam McBurney: Uh, so I haven't experienced that. I've heard about the atmosphere and that's pretty hostile and, uh, I, I'm looking forward to going, experiencing that. Yeah. But in terms of our facilities, so Dymo RE is a massive sports club, almost like complex.

So there's maybe 15 or 16 different sports that go on. 

Carl: Oh, okay. 

Adam McBurney: So, uh, and there's facilities for players to stay. Within the club there, there's a gym, there's rugby pitch, there's football pitch, handball, volleyball, TaeKwonDo, like a lot of different things going on. Uh, so you go into the campus and some city university campus, but it's all for sport.

Uh, however, we just moved recently to the arc, which is uh, remaining National Team Rugby stadium. Uh, so we play there and it's lovely pitch train there most of the week. Uh. Gym. Small, but new, new equipment, uh, food's good there. So, [00:17:00] uh, in terms of all that, it's exactly what you'd expect at a, a club back home where or elsewhere.

And it's probably 10, 12, 5 seat now. We, we don't feel that or get close to it, but, uh, it's a nice size stadium. They would play the likes of, uh, uf. Uh. Under 20 tournaments there, football wise. Uh, so it is a well kept pitch and everything's been good that way. I haven't played on a really bad pitch or anything like that.

Carl: Amazing. So obviously you, you went just after the end of the Rugby Europe championships had occurred, so probably most of the squad had just, just sort of made their way back after that. Was, um, did, did you manage to catch up with any of them about, obviously their time playing for Romania during the, the competition and stuff, or.

Because they didn't have the greatest of at attend, uh, of perform, uh, performances in the, in a thing. But a lot of them have managed to qualify for the World Cup through, through Automatic, but they, they obviously put one hell of a performance in against Portugal to, to end up [00:18:00] finishing third in the, in the tournament.

Did um, did you get a chance to catch up with many and were they still talking about the, uh, their trip to Lisbon when you arrived? 

Adam McBurney: I guess whenever I first came in, that was very much head down. Yeah. Over able to, again, get. Get involved and, and get plans. So it wasn't so much about catching up in terms of rugby, Romania as a whole, I've, I've learned a bit about it like later on in the time here and it's been more so chats about the World Cup and how big that is and.

Being able to represent there. And they're obviously away in summer turn now. Mm-hmm. So in the the league, there's different requirements of how many certain players you're allowed to play. Oh, okay. And this again, to the development of Ru Menez. So, uh, there's a certain number of under 20 threes you have to play in your team.

I guess that's for the development, obviously, of the youth. Certain, there's a lot of players. So whenever you would've looked at our team sheet or our squad list, you would've seen a lot of South African and and players from maybe some more Fiji. So [00:19:00] obviously if you spent five years in a company, you can become eligible for that company.

Yeah. So there's lot of players who signed five year contracts at a young age, who then, obviously in our team anyway, we have quite few who's about to become remaining qualified. Okay. They signed five year contracts, obviously back then, and then it obviously pays off for the national team of depth of squad whenever they become eligible.

And then there's a certain amount of foreigners and then a certain amount of remaining internationals that fill up the squad. 

Carl: A really good way to, to get the teams to play together as well, the, the lads that want to come through. So that's, that's, that's something that I wasn't aware of as well. So that's, that's really interesting and it's good to hear that Romania are trying to build that.

What is. What is the sort of the fan base over there? Like, is it as passionate as other places or have they got their own little bubble that, that no flare, no party sort of no pyro, no party sort [00:20:00] of situation? Or is it everyone just sort of turns up, which is the game and goes home? How, how's the, what's the sort of fan base like out there?

Adam McBurney: Yeah, so I've had a couple of different experiences with soap. Some of our games are at 12 o'clock on a Friday, so in the afternoon potentially do with TV rights or what it is. A lot often is around that time or on a Friday at three o'clock or whatever it is. So, uh, we'd probably get between a thousand, 2003 game, uh, would be a rough estimate now, uh.

With that. I believe it's free entry for a lot of them. But saying that we played, uh, so going back to Dymo, uh, Dynamo's, a police team historically is where it started from, and star who would be, uh, Dynamo's rival, and you might have heard of the football, is it's a massive rival, Dymo versus, and the remaining football, uh, we were playing them the same weekend that on the Wednesday night the football teams were playing.

So. [00:21:00] A couple of us went to the football game on the, on the Wednesday and it was, yeah, it's nothing that we've ever seen before. It was like over the stadium announcer was, was he had this place rocking anyway, like Yeah. Sent all as you can imagine, and this is over the announcement, uh, which was a crazy experience, but because of that, there's connections.

So, so the fans, there's s obviously for the football teams, uh. Because of that connection that some of the players in the, the remaining players in the rugby team, uh, Dinamo and Steaua brought some operas to, uh, the rugby game. Wow. And all I remember is doing the warmup. And I've never have Jenna, I never heard noise lige.

And this would, remember they were outside the stadium. We were just doing the warmup and with flares and smoke and, and chair. That was, it was actually like, I had no idea what was going on. It was very hostile. But we, we were playing at home, so I was like, couple days and yeah, you've seen the Romanian players flick a [00:22:00] switch.

You could tell that, like what that meant to them more than anything else. So it was small numbers, but once they get going, they, they get going and it doesn't feel that there's only a couple thousand there, you know? 

Carl: That must be weird though, playing it like midday on a Friday. That must be really odd. 

Adam McBurney: So hard to get start because Romania is two hours ahead of the.

Yeah, so I fly there on a Monday. Uh, obviously still getting used. It's only two hours, but still getting used to it. And we were playing on the Friday, um, so technically in the uk that's 10 o'clock for me. 

Carl: Yeah, 

Adam McBurney: in the morning was our kickoff time. So you're leaving the hotel at half seven in the morning.

Wow. To get to the hotel to get to the ground for half eight. Uh, like it's, it's very early, you know what I mean? Uh, but no, actually it's great because as you said, you've been to progress and a stag before, but, uh, yeah. So our kickoffs at 12 o'clock on a Friday. So you're finished up at two and you go [00:23:00] upstairs for food and a couple of beers, and that's you done for the weekend.

Nice. So, and now I'd be used to playing in the New York C at eight o'clock or 7 35 on a Saturday evening. Yeah. So your whole week is basically gone. So it's actually the complete opposite over here is that you, you manage to get your, your full weekend, uh, and especially now, anyway, the, the, well, there's actually a storm here today, but, uh, it's 31, 30 degrees at a minute.

Uh, I'll be like that going up into high thirties for until probably September. So. Able to have your weekend and not, well, there's something I can't complain about. 

Carl: So you, you given the full weekend off, there's no training you can just go out and do, do what you've gotta do or do you just sort of totter in, meet up with the lads in the gym or, uh, what's, what's usually a weekend then?

Adam McBurney: Yeah, I, I guess like on a, on a Friday after a good win with any time, as you could imagine, there's a big, uh, I'm a big fan of paddle tennis. I don't know if you've played much right. In Spain. Okay. 

Carl: No, I haven't yet. It's on my list to get done, but I should have, should have started by now. But seems to be the new wave [00:24:00] that everyone's playing in it battle.

It's, uh. 

Adam McBurney: Crazy man. Well, that's my favorite sport in the world to play, I'll tell you that. Uh, unbelievable. And you can play at, at sort of all levels. So there's a grip offers that, play a bit of that to, to get moving again. And there's a, there's a pool, uh, at dinner, outdoor pool, uh, saunas. So you can go do a bit recovery there, sit in the sun.

Uh, so there's a lot, a lot of stuff to do, you know, uh, because there's, uh, I guess when I was telling you about all those players coming from South Africa and elsewhere, uh. Let's say this. So I am single, don't have, uh, kids, so my commitments are obviously very low. Mm-hmm. Uh, and most rugby clubs we go into professionally, it's probably six or seven like that.

And others are a lot younger or have misses, families, kids. So yeah, in terms of like getting a group together to be able to do that is a lot harder. Over here, there's probably bit 20 office, there's, there's always people. Who are wanting to do stuff or wanting to [00:25:00] go out for food or, or do something. So I, in terms of free time, I guess that last block was playing every week.

So you still have a bit less free time, obviously whenever you're playing, but knowledge or preseason, your free time opens up even more. So try to explore a bit, a bit rest, try to get out to, uh, the seaside times and stuff too, and explore all that because there is such a group willing to. I guess get around and do stuff because we'd all just, were sitting on our ones all day.

If, uh, we weren't. 

Carl: So obviously when it, when it come around and you, you got told Romania was an option, what was your first thought? I know obviously you probably, you, you don't wanna piss off your, your new teammates and stuff, but you must have thought, hold on. What's really, what was, how did that go? Yeah, 

Adam McBurney: I, I guess you look at, in terms of my career, like I said too, because my commitments are so low.

You obviously look at the contract and you look at, uh, are you at a stage where you're willing to experience something new? Uh, and you put that [00:26:00] together, uh, with security and the new experience, and you're like, why not? Because if you look at the rapid big market back home, and I spoke about this before, it's like, it's dog eat dog with the club going bust.

Then if you're a player in my suggestion there, who, who wasn't in the shop window? He wasn't playing a lot, uh. Competing against other players. And there's internationals here at the contract in minister don't have a club. Uh, there's a lock still going on behind the scenes that you don't want to be outta contract this late on.

Uh, so whenever I cross, I feel like I was in a position that I was blessed. I was able to do that. Now some people might have looked at it if they had kids misses to relocate to Romania. Uh, it might be a lot harder, but I think this was one of those cases where. It was perfect place, perfect timing for me at my career.

And luckily I'd been that same rest of November too, visiting a friend who was, he ran a, he ran a marathon in every city, uh Oh wow. During, so it was two a week, [00:27:00] uh, over the coast of, I think, don't wanna get this wrong, it'll show you happen. It may be 90 days. So, uh, something like that. And then he finished actually with running a hundred miles doubling.

We, uh, Belfast for November. So luckily I had a bit of time off of Connacht and he was in Res at the time. Yeah, so I came in November visit and so I obviously knew a bit about big rest and how nice of a city it was. So whenever I'd seen a, I probably wouldn't have been as shocked as a random person who had only heard about Romania and never actually been to visit.

Uh, yeah. And whenever I say coming over here, how helpful and how nice tidy, uh. I'm stunning. Some of the places are over here, uh, extremely to live. The bang for your buck you get is, is crazy. So everything like that has just worked out the best for me. 

Carl: So how long's the contract you've got over there? 

Adam McBurney: Uh, so it's a two plus one.

Okay. Uh, yeah, so obviously all being well, I stay on and, and after that I sign again as would be my, my, [00:28:00] my current plan. Uh, I've enjoyed it that much so far. I'd be more than happy to. There is, obviously I am a bit older, but in five years you would be technically remaining qualified and the last stage I'd be 33 and with how my body's at minute, there was obviously more opportunities to hopefully come from that and something like that will be a goal for me long term too.

I guess the, the here and now is about really adding tomo and I guess push beyond where we are currently and. You might have heard before me speak about the, the challenge cup was wonderful. The reason why it attracted me to come over here, uh, to be part of, I guess, a team that's currently not sitting at, in, in that level, but as ambition to, to get there.

And I think in rugby, you, you have all different kinds of opportunities and goals to win things and, and do X, Y, and Z, but there's not many players come across and one do win things, but. To, to be able to be part of a [00:29:00] club that comes from below the, the highest leagues to then challenge in the European rugby would be such a good story for me in my career.

Carl: I was, I was just about to ask you that actually. 'cause obviously you, you've got a, you've got a few appearances for Ireland under 20. You've obviously, you're, you're Scottish qualified as well. Is, is the target to still try and get a. Few international caps under your belt and potentially eventually with Romania.

If you, if you managed to do the five years plus, is, is that your, the intention, I know probably of every rugby player, but do you think that's still an opportunity you're gonna have presented to you? 

Adam McBurney: I guess five years is a, is a long time away, but I don't think there's any rugby player out there in the world who, if they're offered a chance to play international rugby is, is ever gonna turn it down.

So my, my main focus right now, like I said, is trying to be part of. Add to data mode to get them to the objective, which is a team that can compete in the challenge Cup. And I believe if I'm able to do [00:30:00] that, that will result in hopefully getting closer to the five years and playing well, will obviously give me an opportunity to represent, uh, an international level.

So, uh, there's a long way to go and it's a long process, but again, it's every spin too. Rugby. So we keep the head down and if that comes to you, of course I'll grab it. 

Carl: Yeah, it'd be amazing. 33. Not that old. Even in rugby now, is it obviously with, uh, with the amount of. Aftercare that players are, are, are afforded to, and, and by the sounds of it, you're well, well equipped over in DMO as well with, with a plethora of other opportunities to recover and stuff like that as well.

And it'd be be an exciting journey to follow, mate. Do you, um, have you, have you had chance to see much of the remaining sort of international team? Obviously they're going over to, I think they're playing Chile and stuff like that in the, in the summer or the la. The lad's sending you the link to watch when you're, uh, when you're there?

Or have you managed [00:31:00] to Yeah, 

Adam McBurney: from our team there was, uh, I think there was three called up. Uh, however, I think one might be injured. I'm not too sure what the c with that, but obviously that they're away games. So, uh, I think the summer obviously a massive opportunity to, uh. Sit down with the boys here and, uh, watch your main end games with them or go out to a pub and see what the, the culture is like that in terms of following the, the national team.

Yeah. I'd be interesting to see is how our boys get on at, at that level and hopefully they, they play at home again soon. I'll get down to those games to, to actually see what it's like in person, because I've never experienced, I was actually in 20, 20, 21. I was part of the Scotland summer. Squad that were meant to go and play Georgia in Romania.

Okay. So that was, that was canceled with, uh, COVID. Uh, so actually would've been a funny story if, obviously the link for against [00:32:00] Romania. Uh, I've never actually, uh. Apart from the World Cup, obviously they were in the same group as, uh, Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa. So they had a hard enough World Cup pool.

But, uh, I think the people here at the article, I'll definitely get out to, uh, cheer our boys on anyway and see how they get on. 

Carl: It's a pretty impressive, um, stadium, if it's the same stadium they opened up the, the Rugby Europe Championships against, uh. Against Germany as well. It was a Friday night Lights game.

They seem to like a game on a Friday in Romania. It seems to be a fairly normal thing, but um, obviously they've got the Rugby Europe Super Cup coming up as well, which has got the Romanian walls in, uh, which is, I think's a mixture of multiple players available. As, uh, as, has anyone sort of mentioned that or is that one of them?

You're gonna have to see what comes up. I think that's sort of a October time rugby, Europe Super cut where they get. Basically a club based version of the Romanian [00:33:00] players together to, to try and take on like the likes of black lines. But the rumblings, I'm hearing that they're not gonna be around in that tournament any longer because they're off, they're off to try and find a league that they can play regular rugby in.

Is um, yeah. Anyone mentioned the wol to you yet? 

Adam McBurney: Yeah, so what I've, uh, I guess learned about Will is, so what was interesting whenever I looked at my season calendar was, was probably only 20 games and. Our season. Mm-hmm. Uh, in terms of dinner. Uh, and the reason because of that is one with the, the weller conditions, it's really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer.

Obviously we can't fill games there. And then also in that break in, uh, October, November time, uh, the remaining wolves come around to, again, from what I get, is players who are about to be eligible for Romania. Oh, okay. Along with, uh, young players. Who are remaining qualified in the game time, and then maybe senior players [00:34:00] who have come back from injury and, uh, that sort of amalgamates the squad.

Now obviously I'm four and eight months out of being, uh, four years, eight months out of being remaining qualified, so I don't think I would tick that box. No. But, uh, I, I guess with. The little game time I've played over the last couple of years, if they came to me, I was like, look, we'd like you to give it a crack in this year.

And it's, uh, a bit of a higher level against teams across, obviously, as it's being Georgia, uh, and elsewhere. Yeah. And, and traveler doing that for a couple months out. I wouldn't be hesitant against the, but uh. Way or another bit of doing that. We also have a very long off season, so, uh, that's probably win-win either way.

Carl: How, how would you cope with that, uh, such a long off season? 'cause you probably do, you're not used to that. Well, obviously you, you're in camp. If you're not playing, you're still sort of part of it, it, when you're in the, the URC and the likes, what, what's the pla of, they, they still got [00:35:00] you in camp? Or are you just sort of free to go and explore again?

Or how, how does that long break work? Because that must be because. Does that long break go all the way through to the end of the Rugby Europe championship again? Or is there another period of games in between or, 

Adam McBurney: so I obviously haven't, haven't been through it yet. Mm-hmm. Uh, and obviously Hogie came in as a head coach new this season two, so, uh, I'm not a hundred percent sure on his plans.

Well, he'll do it from, what I do get is, so if you're losing players to the Rugby Europe Super Cup mm-hmm. And the remaining world. Your squad size is probably one half, so they're probably only about 15 or 16 players left. So what you can actually do with that group is probably pretty limited. Yeah. Uh, and then ask why get, they get eight to 10 weeks off and then they come in for a pre-season.

So. They're, I get three weeks off there just recently. Now most teams in the ERC will probably be getting six [00:36:00] if they aren't in the finals now. Oh, okay. So obviously this was a midseason break for me, so it was quite strange only having the three, but to obviously know that like extend that Brett's coming, which is longer than I've probably had the four mm, it was uh, is quite rewarding to know that obviously you work hard, now you've got time off.

Go and I guess pick options, whether that be that I do travel for a bit and then come back, or I look at the potential of going in and training with the club. Yeah. Uh, and stem that when I guess keeping my eyes sharp, uh, for any opportunities that come up and then obviously go back for the preseason. Uh, there'll be different things I guess at the time.

Uh, which I'll look at and see what's gonna be most beneficial for, I guess, me coming back into, uh, re as, uh, uh, the best player I can be with that extended break off. I was 

Carl: gonna say, do they sort of loan you out like they do in [00:37:00] um. Obviously America football and that, and the MLS, they sort of have the off season and players disappear off to the prem or into into Europe for a bit.

Is that something that would interest you or do you fancy just actually having a break as a rugby player and think, right, I've done that hard season. I, I, I've got a five year plan that I want put on a remaining shirt. I don't wanna, I don't wanna bust me bollocks in the first season. Is that, what's your, what's the mindset there?

Adam McBurney: I, I guess I'll probably come to it a bit closer at the time, but, mm-hmm. Head coach might watch this and be like, um, says this, he's getting eight to 10 weeks off. We'll give him to you off. Um, he brings us in five months preseason, so, uh, I don't wanna get ahead of myself too much there, but, uh, until I figure out what that will actually look like.

But, uh, again, it would depend on the opportunity, what, what makes sense at the time, and if it does make sense for me to get a bit more game time. The hobby thinks that's the right thing and the club think's the right thing. We, we do that. Or if it's just [00:38:00] reset, you've had a long year? Uh, technically I've been going for probably this will be month 13 now, and by the time that I do get extended break, I'll probably be 17, 18 months maybe.

So, uh, it would be quite a long season. Well, we'll look at that opportunity whenever it comes, but I'm definitely not the person just to turn something down because I don't fancy it. I'll have a good look at it and. And see if it makes sense and, uh, and go that way. 

Carl: Some of the All blacks, they disappear often go and play for their, uh, grassroots clubs when they started.

Was, uh, what, what was your, what was your first club you ever started at? Where did, where did it all begin? 

Adam McBurney: First club was Ramstein Rugby Club and honestly, so I played there until I was at 18. So yeah, I didn't play rugby at school. Uh, I came from a football in school, uh, so I played there once, a trained there once a week on a Wednesday and played from the club on Saturday and.

And if it wasn't for them, uh, the grassroots level and the people there, I don't think I would've, one, [00:39:00] enjoyed my rugby enough to keep going. Right. Or two, had the motivation to, to get to the standard where I'm at. Uh, 'cause that was always my, I guess, driver was to, to pay that back of what they all put in me.

And, uh, I still go down preseason. They do, uh, tag rugby, go down there and play. My last year at Allstar, I coached their first for the, the season, which was great. So, uh oh, wow. I absolutely love my dog there. And if there was an opportunity to go play for lamb, I would take that with two hands, but I don't know if I'd be able to play at their, their level a minute, but hopefully they, they, they keep going and, uh, yeah, I'd love one day anyway, to go out there.

On the red and white, actually the same color as Dymo. Uh, yeah. Great for me and playing with some boys that I, I played with. 

Carl: Grassroots is obviously one of the big things that we try to promote as part of the podcast and stuff to. To make sure that that ga that part of the game keeps growing. But obviously if you can't get to the top of the game, you, the rest of it doesn't, doesn't [00:40:00] grow alongside.

And it's always interesting to hear the, the journey that players that have made it pro from, from where they've started as well. 'cause it's usually down to that one coach or that one decision to be able to get into that club that is, put 'em wherever it is and. What's, um, what's your, what's your favorite moment to have ever playing for him?

Because obviously I'm sure you moved on before, obviously once you got into the Ultra Academy and stuff, there was a certain time that you probably, but what was, what was the one memory that sticks out for you there? 

Adam McBurney: So we were playing in the under 18 cup, uh, semi-final. And, uh, it was in the weekend where there was an iris under eight teams training camp, uh, which I was involved in.

Uh, and my coach asked for the game to be moved. Uh, and this club we were playing refused to move it purely for that reason. Yeah. Uh, so anyway, we played, they played a game without me. Uh, and at that level you have to have playing cards. You're playing cards. [00:41:00] Yeah. Uh, every player to say that they're registered and, uh.

Everything, all, all the same. And there was massive arguments with coaches. And anyway, this team we were playing didn't have their playing cards. So I went to the branch, the team that beat us in the semi-final who didn't move the, the fixture originally, uh, got kicked out. So, uh, we made it to the final, uh, played at Kingspan.

I was back grid day. We didn't win the final, but, uh, to be was, uh, was, was unbelievable. Uh, that that's one, one of the best memories. 

Carl: Uh, I have. They try to play it dirty by, uh, by not moving it, and then ended up shagging themselves with a bit of, bit of admin. That's, that's rugby for you at times, aren't it?

It's, it's a great, great story. So you mentioned Hogie, is that, that's not Stuart Hog, is it Hogie that's over there with you or 

Adam McBurney: it's not? No, no. I was gonna say, 

Carl: I thought, 

Adam McBurney: yeah, that's Carl Hog. Funny enough, I think they're from the, the same area. So Carl Hog would be [00:42:00] from Melrose originally. Yeah. Uh. He spent maybe 15 years at Gloucester.

Uh, he is been at Osprey, uh, deal o work was at the time, uh, been involved in the Scotland National setup. So he is been around and experienced a lot of things, but he's a good man to have out here. We've got him and then Alex Jordan is, uh, English s and c to, uh, spend better time with the Remain international team too.

So obviously to have that link in terms of. English and Scottish and Irish, uh, in the setup is obviously for me, it's, it's quite ly in a way. Mm-hmm. Uh, uh, uh, they've been great to me, so they came out and made me help, made me fit in. Sorry. I really well, so yeah. Uh, I've definitely that aspect too. 

Carl: How did they ended up there then?

Did they, did they sort of get the same opportunities as you or they thought Right. They actually wanna be part of something that's, that's growing. Have you sort of. Cool. Chatted them to them about that? Or did you know 'em beforehand or, 

Adam McBurney: uh, I didn't know 'em [00:43:00] beforehand and uh, obviously when I came over, you don't ask too deeply what their obviously motivat profession is around it.

But from what I get from Hoge is, it's like you said, for, for him to come over. And like, in terms of the cha, it's a completely different challenge. One as a player.

Structures and the policies and regulations were all set up and the background takes care of itself. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Adam McBurney: Like Hogie would have so much to work with in terms of trying to bring what he obviously has as a plan over here because things are done different and you just have to adapt. But trying to change things to make it better is then obviously where the challenge lies.

Yeah. Uh, and that, that's a massive part of his job while he's obviously, uh, taking defense for his units, being head coach. Trying to develop youngsters. So, wow. You can imagine, right, sitting his plate, uh, is, is massive. So, uh, I guess that's a [00:44:00] completely different challenge because what works back home doesn't necessarily work here.

Carl: Yeah, you 

Adam McBurney: have to find a different way. And it's the same as a player, like I said, like you could do everything, best practice that you thought you were taught back home, but you have to do something a bit different over here to actually be effective to, to play the game. So. I guess then with AJ too, it's an opportunity to come over, be involved in as a young SSC coach in a, uh, internationally with rugby, Romania, be involved with the international team to come into the club team where it's playing, uh, at a decent level.

It's obviously great for him to experience that while being away from home too. I 

Carl: can imagine this. That must be an amazing experience. 'cause on the last episode, so we had, uh, Ben Herring on, who used to play for Leicester Tigers and does the Coaching culture podcast with, uh, he had like Eddie Jones on and stuff like that already.

And he was saying the best challenge he ever made was going to Japan to start his sort of [00:45:00] coaching career properly. So he started in Leicester after he'd retired, after he had his concussion and stuff. And then he sort of went to. Japan 'cause it was just something, the first thing that was available. Um, we obviously joked about the money was worthwhile as well.

So he uh, he jumped at the opportunity there. But he said, he went there thinking, right, I'm gonna try and do this, this, and this. And he tried to then take the Leicester away with him and he soon realized that that didn't work. He said, 'cause it was a completely different culture. He said it was the best thing I could ever do as a coach, really early on, because it taught me to understand more than just.

Doing the technical side, I had to learn all the other bits. And that must be a similar situation to what you, you have to do as well as a player and also other coaches that go over there. There is that language barrier there is that there's certain bits that you'd ex, you'd expect of your teammates to.

Back in England or back in the, in the URC and stuff. But you have to try and get that across in a different manner. How [00:46:00] does that work? Have you got a certain set of calls or is it just a case of you've learned the Romanian for those calls or everyone just does English? Or is it numbers, colors? How, how does it work?

Adam McBurney: I think, I think it's a bit of both and uh, I would say it is not necessarily the line weight. That would be their shoe. It's. Figuring out that everyone has a different background and culturally it's different to what you'd be used to in the UK and Ireland. So like, like I said before, with your mate going through Japan, the coach is like culturally that's completely different.

And how they're approaching, they've all been taught that is like, you are the outsider. Don't think that because you know something and the wrong, it's actually like, how can you actually learn? What they're thinking and then be able to challenge it in a way that's beneficial to the group rather than coming in, being like, this is what I know, this is how we should do it.

And that's it. It's [00:47:00] asking questions. It's my first segment. Whenever I went over there, I said for first eight weeks if I play to buy a crap, but I get respect like of the boys. Yeah. That's actually a big to me than going over there and being like, this is how I do things, this, so how I'm doing it, and that's it.

Actually earning the respect out of the Romanians and the playing group in those first few weeks was so important to me that the plan almost came second. Because if I come over there and they think I'm a dickhead, that I'll probably get the door quicker than I would if I couldn't hit a line out, you know?

And so, uh, there's a massive part of that, and that's what I'm learning is that like. You obviously wanna be with different clubs. You, you realize it was different ways just gonna cut and yes, but in some sort of way it's similar, uh, in the new RC or the prem or what it is. It's all some sort of outside thinking that it's all towards a similar sort of plan or structure.

Over here, it can be completely different and you just have to at times [00:48:00] keep your mouth shut and think and talk later rather than talk in the moment. Think about what they're thinking behind the scenes and the reason why they believe something should be done a certain way, and then challenge it in an appropriate way, or have the word and decide and be like, how can we come to sort of a median on how we do things?

Carl: What's the, what is the biggest cultural difference that you've come across since you've moved there? 

Adam McBurney: I guess the, the passion, so it's a cliche, but. Like whenever they believe in something, they believe in something, if you know what I mean. It's like there was almost that you have to vet them, not cool down, but there's no point trying to have an argument with the, or a discussion.

It's 'cause whenever they play you, you see it in all the collisions and you fill it in all the collisions once you receive it. Yeah. Uh, the losses a bit of that for us. I guess You say obviously have pride to play for the team, but there is like, it's almost steam like the years at [00:49:00] times. So it's about being able to like understand like how proud they are to one play for a minute.

Two, play for dymo. And like, yes, you may think that you want to challenge someone to do it, but actually just letting them let off all that steam could actually be better for. The team rather than trying to actually calm it down in a way. Uh, yeah, so that's probably the biggest cultural difference. The food too, obviously.

But uh, uh, apart from that there, it's definitely there with the passion. 

Carl: Yeah, that must be hard as well. 'cause coming from sort of England, Scotland, Ireland, you used to be able to put your point across and have that discussion. Sometimes it turns to 50 cuss if needed. And then, uh, you must, it must, it must be quite difficult just to sort of just stand back, leave them to deal with what they, 'cause that's, that's probably the, the hu the easiest way to lose the respect, as you said, that, if that's the, that's the crucial part is to get that buy-in from 'em to, [00:50:00] to then understand that what you are trying to put a point across later down the line is probably of benefit to them rather than just some jumped up.

English. Yeah. Irish, Scottish, geez has turned up trying to tell you, this is how we play rugby over there. They're like, yeah, that's cool, but look, this is rugby here. 

Adam McBurney: And that's what I guess I, like I said to you, I still have a lot to learn off them about how to play rugby in this league. And that's the important thing too, is that like that I really want to learn what they think is the best way of doing things here and being able to maybe go to other clubs in UK, Ireland.

You're trying to piece together the best parts of each club to then make you a complete player. And that's the same over here as, yes, I've learned X, Y, and Z, but over here it's completely different that I actually need to pick up on other parts of my game, which if I add them and do things a wee bit different, I can actually add to the team and perform better.

So again, I'm picking their brains as much as at times if we picking mine and it's, [00:51:00] it's just about making sure that both. The respect and being able to understand each other and speak to each other in the manner which both of you understand is, is an important part. And the more I learn, learn the language, the more respect I get from playing everything that comes across.

You get closer off the pitch, then you can have those conversations that it doesn't matter what you say, you each, everyone knows that there's no hard feelings with it. And uh, it's getting to that stage because back home. You obviously have four or five best mates you say anything to, and it doesn't really matter.

They know that you're obviously taking the piss or else you're, you're being genuine about like, this is what needs to be done. Yeah. But, uh, like finding that with everyone and putting the cultural differences together to, to do that. 

Carl: What time to do it though as well. As you said, obviously going over there at 28, you're at, at your prime of your career, at the opportunity to, you can go and throw yourself into that situation as well.

That must be. So your mates must [00:52:00] have thought you've, you're mental, but you've probably sit back and think, actually this is probably one of the better things I could do in life. Like we moved to, moved to Spain as well, right in the middle of, obviously our kids are still really young and it was the best thing we ever did to go and explore another culture for them and for us as a family.

And for, for you to have that opportunity at 28 still must be really refreshing. 

Adam McBurney: And, and that's like, like you said, you moving across the Spain or something. But I think we live in a world where. So many people are used to the norm, whereas, and if you step out of that, you're seen as like almost outsider, but if you actually look at it like you're living your best life.

Yeah. Like me over here, I couldn't be happier, uh, in terms of experience something new. And there's one day where we're 50 60 where we, we won't be able to have what we say to go across. Yeah. And like to be able to, to have the conversations about what you experienced while you could, is. So important to me, uh, yeah, I'm sure to do, to be able to give that to your kids because something is much better than staying around the same place and [00:53:00] not getting outta your comfort zone.

Uh, there's plenty of time just sitting around wherever your, your old grand bald, but for now, you might as well explore things. Yeah, exactly that. 

Carl: So I'm gonna leave it on the, on this last one then. Right. So obviously you've been around a little, little while now. Who's the best player you've ever been able to play the play the game with or against?

On the same pitch, 

Adam McBurney: I'd say with was probably Bill Matt or Charles Peau with 

Carl: Wow. Charles Peau. What a player. Uh, what is, he is as good in real life as he looks on the telly. 

Adam McBurney: I think at times. I remember whenever I was playing with him, we had a play that was, I'll never forget it. It's like you've seen it before.

It was a classic Joe player. It was like a two phase return. Uh, and then Charles would come back in at the rock. We've seen teams use it before where the props usually stand out in a rock and you fall drowned and then the fallback comes through. Yeah. Playing that game, [00:54:00] like playing rugby OE in beginner mode, whenever you give the balls a to, it was just straight through every single time and you knew your swimmer as you won the line out, threw the ball, and that was a play.

It was going to be very close to a try, not a try. So, uh, 

Carl: I must be quite handy to having your locker every time knowing that you haven't got a chase after him as well. Probably. 'cause he's already dealt with it 

Adam McBurney: a hundred percent. That was good to have 

Carl: Adam. It's been an absolute pleasure mate, and uh, I'm sure there's a another revisit a bit further down the line once you've got yourself a little bit more embedded into Romania.

But I just wanna say thank you for your time, mate. Really appreciate you jumping on and. Sort of showcasing a little bit of Romanian rugby to, to everyone that doesn't, hasn't had the look in yet. 

Adam McBurney: No, that's great. Thanks for having me and hope you enjoy your time with Spain and uh, we will chat soon. 

Carl: Yeah, a hundred percent.

Uh, for everyone that wants to keep abreast of everything we're doing on rugby, TTL, make sure you comment, like, follow, subscribe. We're on all the social media platforms, uh, for many more guests coming up. [00:55:00] We've got Hugh Griffin on the next one to talk for a line special and we've also got Mario Bacardi, the Spain captain coming on in a couple of weeks time.

So make sure you, you follow on and get yourself following, uh, Adam as well on Instagram and everything. He's got some, uh, good photos of his holidays and obviously you also get the, keep abreast of everything can remain Romania as well. So thank you and goodbye.