Rugby Lives

The Rugby Journal

Rugby Lives brings you interviews with people from beyond the sport of rugby to talk about their passion for the oval ball. From the makers of The Rugby Journal. Head to therugbyjournal.com for more.

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20 episodes
Updated May 27

Episodes20

Newest first

May 27 · 1 hr
EP16: Kim Littejohn & Tim Swinson on 'fake' professionalism, saving the 1994 Rugby World Cup & Glasgow glory days
As part of the Vodafone clubs.connected programme, Rugby Lives headed to Highland Rugby Club to meet Kim Littlejohn, former captain of Scotland, and Tim Swinson, who won 38 caps for Scotland. They talk us through their colourful careers, from lifting weights with a one-legged man called Bob to saving the 1994 Rugby World Cup.
May 13 · 1 hr 15 min
EP15: Deborah Griffin on life as RFU President, how she founded the women's Rugby World Cup and her love for Richmond FC
This week we meet Deborah Griffin, the first female president of the RFU, at her home club of Richmond FC to talk about her long rugby life, and how against all odds she established the women's Rugby World Cup.
May 7 · 1 hr 6 min
EP14: Mike Rayer on why Champ Rugby deserves promotion, 20 years at Bedford, Wales memories and Frank Warren
Rugby Lives meet Mike Rayer at Goldington Road, the home of Bedford, where he has spent over 20 years at the helm. He talks the state of the Champ, promotion and relegation, retrospective tries and Frank Warren.
April 29 · 1 hr 24 min
EP13: Dick Best on East London upbringing, what Harlequins was REALLY like, Grand Slams with England, London Irish and plenty more stories ...
Former Harlequins, England and British & Irish Lions coach Bick Best joins Rugby Lives to talk about what it was like joining Harlequins as a working class youngster from East London, how he ascended to become head coach, then took on the mantle with England and the Lions, winning Grand Slams and almost toppling the All Blacks. With countless stories along the way, this is his Rugby Life.
April 22 · 1 hr 4 min
EP12: Gavin Hastings & Lee Cockburn on Grand Slam titles, amateur rugby days, being run over by your teacher and Luton Van transport
Rugby Lives heads to Hamilton Rugby Club to meet two greats of the Scottish game, Gavin Hastings and Lee Cockburn, who tell tales of the winning Grand Slams for Scotland and what it was really like in the days of amateur rugby.This podcast was brought to you in partnership with Vodafone as part of the clubs.connected programme, providing Scottish grassroots rugby clubs with 12 months of free, high-speed broadband to enhance digital capabilities, such as live streaming, contactless payments, and improved guest Wi-Fi.
March 20 · 49 min
EP11: Donna Kennedy & Matt Scott on the first ever Scotland women's Test and becoming Currie's first international
As part of the Vodafone clubs.connected programme, Rugby Lives headed to Linlithgow Rugby Club to meet Donna Kennedy, who has done more has for Scotland than any other player, and Matt Scott, who not only earned 40 caps for Scotland, but also won the Premiership with Leicester. This is their Rugby Lives.
March 12 · 1 hr 2 min
EP10: Kenny Logan on surviving cancer, the 'happiest days of his life' on the farm, and 70 caps for Scotland
A born and bred farmer, when rugby turned professional Kenny Logan's life became unrecognisable, from tending to his cows in rural Scotland to living it up in Chelsea and playing for the all-conqueuring Wasps. Now, having won 70 caps for Scotland and stared cancer in the face, we meet Kenny at the Coach Makers Arms in Marlybone to learn all about his Rugby Life.
March 6 · 1 hr 8 min
EP9: Dusty Hare on his world points record, Maurice Colclough, and beating the All Blacks
The game's most prolific points machine, Leicester and England fullback Dusty Hare joins us on Rugby Lives to talk us through his career highs and lows. There's stories of Maurice Colclough, sheep farming, the Lions and what it takes to bring through the next generation. This is his Rugby Life.
February 25 · 1 hr 11 min
EP8: Delon Armitage on dustbin cricket in Trinidad, almost missing his England call-up and THAT Toulon team
Playing dustbin cricket in Trinidad, he couldn’t even dream of being Brian Lara because he wasn’t left-handed. Instead, he had to settle for playing rugby for England and becoming a European champion alongside some of the game’s greatest players, all while living in the south of France. So, tell us, Delon Armitage, where did it all go wrong? This is his Rugby Life.
February 18 · 1 hr 3 min
EP7: Graham Dawe on his Brian Moore rivalry, CRAZY two-year training schedule & the Battle of Cardiff
This week we chat to Graham Dawe, the farmer who trained for two years straight to win his place in the England team, was part of the greatest Bath side ever, was in the thick of things at the Battle of Cardiff, and almost took Plymouth Albion to the Prem. This is his Rugby Life.
February 11 · 1 hr 7 min
EP6: Victor Ubogu on moving from Nigeria to Devon, Bath Rugby's glorious decade, playing for England, limousines and Shoeless Joe's
Former England and Bath prop Victor Ubogu joins us to talk us through his Rugby Life, from learning the game in the snow drifts of Devon to being part of one of the best club sides of all time at Bath, playing in two World Cups for England, turning up to training in a limousine and Shoeless Joe's.
February 4 · 56 min
EP5: Julian White on winning the World Cup, his rivalry with Phil Vickery, and being operated on by JPR Williams
Julian White has won a Rugby World Cup with England, three Premiership titles with Leicester Tigers and played for the British & Irish Lions, but now the fearsome prop forward spends his days farming his South Devon cows. We caught up with him at The Coachmakers Arms in Marylebone, along with chef director at Cubitt House pubs Ben Tish, to learn all about his Rugby Life.
January 29 · 1 hr 31 min
EP4: Fran Cotton on the unbeaten 1974 Lions, Nelson Mandela, and why he was BANNED from rugby for life
From stories of the unbeaten 1974 Lions to Nelson Mandela, the state of English rugby, and how he was given a life ban from the sport, this is the Rugby Life of Fran Cotton.
January 22 · 1 hr 2 min
EP3: Peter Winterbottom talks England, Lions, Erika Roe and his new job as a curry taster
A career that crossed borders into New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, brought 58 caps for England and and two British & Irish Lions tours, and the most memorable of international debuts thanks to Erika Roe, this is the Rugby Life of professional curry taster Peter Winterbottom.
January 15 · 55 min
EP2: Ryan Wilson on his unusual route to the pro game, THAT 2018 Calcutta Cup, and why he loves golf
The man behind the famous melee ahead of the 2018 Calcutta Cup, we talk to former Glasgow Warrior and Scotland flanker Ryan Wilson about his unusual route to professional rugby, dealing with ADHD and his new love of golf. This is his Rugby Life.
January 8 · 1 hr 12 min
EP1: Tom Shanklin on rise and fall of Welsh Rugby, and the 2005 Grand Slam
It hadn't even been a year since Wales had made history, winning a first Grand Slam since the 1970s in 2005 under Mike Ruddock, but Tom Shanklin, who had played a key role in Wales' rise back to the top, had a front row seat as it all fell apart, again. This is his Rugby Life. Follow the link to help rebuild Penarth Athletic Club -> https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/fc7d003113da7701a742ddf282f3af54
Jul 24, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
EP4: Adam Jones - 2013
As one of the few players in Welsh rugby history to have won three Grand Slams and been on two Lions tours, former prop Adam Jones has solidified himself as a rugby legend. Now he has the chance to reflect on coming through at Neath, starring for Ospreys, and his experiences on two Lions tours to South Africa and Australia. This is his Rugby Life.
Jul 17, 2025 · 1 hr 27 min
EP3: John Bentley - 1997
As possibly the greatest Lions tourist of all time, John 'Bentos' Bentley has plenty of stories to tell. From getting into a fight with Wade Dooley and thinking Jeremy Guscott was soft, to switching codes and scoring one of the greatest tries in Lions history. This is his Rugby Life.
Jul 10, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
EP2: Richard Hill - 2001
From the delights of the early days of professionalism at Bramley Road to the heights of three Lions tours, Richard Hill takes us on his rugby journey. Hear about fights with Lydney RFC in the cup, being mistaken for the Fiji captain and why he never actually got his 2005 Lions call-up. This is his Rugby Life.
Jul 3, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
EP1: John Taylor - 1971
We kick off Series Two with former Wales and British & Irish Lion John Taylor, who remembers when he first came across JPR Williams, the victory of 1971, refusing to play against apartheid South Africa, rooming with the great Willie John McBride, and becoming mates with George Best. This is his Rugby Life.