Episodes

  • #187 - Adam Higgins - Attack wins games but defence wins titles
    Oct 12 2025

    My guest this week is Ellingham & Ringwood player and Defence Coach - Adam Higgins.

    We talked about:

    • Adam’s passion for defence
    • What principles underlie his coaching
    • Some of Adam’s defence heroes
    • A world tour of Adam’s playing experience, including time in Canada, Australia and Cornwall!

    This is a fantastic episode - I hope you enjoy.

    LINKS
    Adam Higgins on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-higgins-85b2a883/
    Adam Higgins on Instagram - @Adam.higgins13 - https://www.instagram.com/Adam.higgins13
    Ellingham & Ringwood RFC - https://www.errfc.com/
    Bournemouth RFC - https://bournemouth-rugby.co.uk/
    Brothers RFC - https://brothersrugby.com/

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    44 mins
  • CLASSIC - I got filled in most weeks - Tom Lindsay - #11
    Oct 5 2025

    My guest this week is Bristol Bears hooker, Tom Lindsay. Tom and I first locked horns during a London 1 game between Sutton & Epsom and Old Colfeians. We later went on to become team-mates at both Blackheath and Esher.

    This interview was recorded August of 2000 and 19 and we took a lovely stroll down memory lane through Tom’s career with some key learning points around player development, the role of the coach and especially team culture.

    LINKS

    You can get in contact with Tom:

    @tomlindsay02 on Twitter (https://twitter.com/tomlindsay02)

    @tomlindsay02 on Instagram (https://instagram.com/tomlindsay02)

    Rugby Players Association (https://therpa.co.uk/)

    Restart Rugby (http://restartrugby.org.uk/)

    Tom also mentioned my Instagram which is @tunnocks_world_tour (https://www.instagram.com/tunnocks_world_tour/)

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • #186 - Shaun Knight - He gave me a couple of painful nights at Welford Road
    Sep 14 2025

    My guest this week is former Gloucester, Bath, and Dragons prop-forward Shaun Knight.

    We talked about:

    • Breaking into the Gloucester side
    • Playing in u20 World Cups
    • The influence of some of the game’s great props
    • His most difficult opponent
    • His return to boyhood club, Matson, as a player-coach.

    This is a great episode full of front-row chat - I hope you enjoy.

    LINKS
    Shaun Knight on Instagram - @ShaunKnight3 - https://www.instagram.com/shaunknight3/
    Matson RFC - https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/matson/
    Gloucester Rugby - https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/
    Cinderford RFC - https://www.cinderfordrfc.co.uk/
    Birmingham Moseley RFC - https://moseleyrugby.co.uk/
    Dragons Rugby - https://www.dragonsrfc.wales/
    Bath Rugby - https://www.bathrugby.com/
    Rouen Rugby - https://rouennormandierugby.fr/

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    39 mins
  • CLASSIC - Tackling Christian Cullen - David Slemen - #10
    Aug 31 2025

    'Slem' was my captain and fly-half when I played at Esher, so it’s highly appropriate that he should feature in episode 10 of the podcast.

    This interview was recorded in August 2019 and we chatted about the state of the professional game, lessons from captaincy and skills learned in rugby that can be transferred into business.

    LINKS
    David Slemen can be contacted on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslemen/) and Twitter @DaveSlem (https://twitter.com/DaveSlem)
    Elite Performance Partners (https://eppartners.co.uk/)

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    59 mins
  • #185 - Colin Dalgarno - We raised £2.6 million
    Aug 24 2025

    My guest this week is Strathaven RFC President - Colin Dalgarno

    We talked about:

    • Raising £2.6 million
    • Being awarded the British Empire Medal
    • Incredible facilities development
    • And how he broke his back playing the game we love.

    This is an unbelievable episode - I hope you enjoy.

    LINKS
    Colin Dalgarno on Facebook - https://facebook.com/chunkd1
    Strathaven RFC on Facebook - https://facebook.com/strathaven.rugbyclub
    Strathaven RFC links - https://linktr.ee/strathavenrugby
    Hearts & Balls charity - https://heartsandballs.org.uk/jim-taylor-justjim/ https://scottishrugby.org/kings-birthday-honour-for-dedicated-strathaven-president/
    https://www.glasgowwarriors.com/articles/news/012269.phphttps://scottishrugby.org/strathaven-stalwart-named-bt-volunteer-of-the-month/

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    44 mins
  • #184 - Jamie Simpson - Celebrate the small successes
    Aug 16 2025

    My guest this week is Dalkeith RFC President - Jamie Simpson

    We talked about:

    • Winning the National Community Club of the Year award and all that entailed.
    • Dalkeith’s 125 Year anniversary and tour.
    • The incredible growth of the Women’s section.

    This is an inspirational episode - I hope you enjoy.

    LINKS
    Dalkeith RFC website - https://www.dalkeithrugbyclub.com/
    Dalkeith RFC on Instagram - @dalkeithrfc - https://www.instagram.com/dalkeithrfc/

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    37 mins
  • #183 - Match Report | 3rd Test [Australia vs British & Irish Lions 2025]
    Aug 2 2025

    The series is over, another 4 years to wait till we can join together and do it all over again. This one ended with the Wallabies roaring back to avoid a whitewash - and didn’t they deserve it!

    Elko and I discuss all the major incidents and share our thoughts on the Lions tour as a whole and the Wallabies' prospects going forward.

    What do you think?

    #Lions #rugby #BritishandIrishLions #LionsLionsLions #Wallabies

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    46 mins
  • #182 - Match Report | 2nd Test [Australia vs British & Irish Lions 2025]
    Jul 26 2025

    That was an incredible Test Match in the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. So much incident, so many great bits of play and so much for myself and Elko to dig into!

    #Lions #rugby #BritishandIrishLions #LionsLionsLions #Wallabies

    GET STASH
    England Rugby Store - https://ers.pxf.io/KjV30v
    British & Irish Lions Store - https://bil.sjv.io/9gNaL4

    BUY ME A COFFEE
    Coffee helps me make more and better episodes. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amateurrugbypodcast

    PATREON
    Join The Amateur Rugby Podcast Patreon community for some extra amateur rugby goodness! (https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast)

    SUPPORT
    If you would like to support the podcast in some way there are plenty of options for you on my Support the Podcast (https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/) page.

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    44 mins