What happens when grassroots rugby meets social media advocacy? In this captivating episode, we're joined by Mark Williams, a multi-faceted rugby coach whose TikTok presence (@MWRUGBYCOACHING) is helping shine a light on the beautiful game at its foundation.

Mark takes us into the trenches of community rugby, revealing the stark reality that many clubs are fielding fewer teams than a decade ago. "Preston Grasshoppers had six teams ten years ago. Now maybe four," he observes, highlighting the post-pandemic participation crisis. But this isn't just doom and gloom – it's a rallying cry for what makes our sport special.

The conversation weaves through the challenges of player retention, especially that crucial transition from youth to adult rugby. We explore the growing issue of payment at lower league levels, with Mark offering fascinating insights into how clubs like Lymm RFC have bucked the trend by creating exceptional culture rather than opening their chequebooks.

As a technical coach with a specialty in mauling (the self-proclaimed "Maul Doctor" of TikTok), Mark shares wisdom about what grassroots players and coaches should focus on to improve their game. His experience coaching university rugby also reveals how this pathway is evolving as a route to professional rugby, offering late bloomers another chance to get noticed.

The episode isn't all grassroots, though – we dive into detailed analysis of both the Lions' performance against Argentina and England's match against France, with Mark providing a coach's perspective on what worked and what didn't.

Whether you're a player, coach, or passionate fan, this episode captures the essence of what makes grassroots rugby worth fighting for. As Mark perfectly puts it: "There is no better feeling than when you come off a rugby pitch and everything hurts, you're bleeding, covered in mud, and you've just nicked the game."

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