My guest this week is former pro rugby player and now a Major in the British Army - Will Simpson.

We talked about:

• Will's dream to become a pro player
• The steps and opportunities he took to achieve that goal
• Playing for Ampleforth, Loughborough Uni, Leicester Tigers A team and Doncaster Knights in The Champ
• His following career with the British Army, and the incredible playing opportunities that provided
• The genesis of Real Meal - his meal replacement bar, and why it's cornered the market.

This is a fascinating insight into the world of rugby just below the elite - I hope you enjoy.

LINKS

Use code TARP at checkout and subscribe for more savings! - https://realmeal.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-simpson-54657b67/

https://www.menshealth.com/uk/fitness/a70865848/army-dad-real-world-training-approach

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.

My guest this week is former Scotland International and now wild swimmer, Suzy Rook.

We talked about:

• The highs of her international career
• How far the Women's game has progressed
• Being diagnosed with cancer
• Wild swimming and the Polar plunge!

This is a remarkable, feel-good, riot of an episode. - I hope you enjoy.

LINKS
Suzy's Just Giving page - https://www.justgiving.com/page/suzanne-rook-8
Suzy Rook on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SwimQueenSuzy
Suzy Rook on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/swimqueensuzy/
Suzy Rook on x - https://x.com/suzyhex
Suzy Rook on tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@swimqueen
Stewartry Rugby Club - https://www.stewartryrugby.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.

'Curtin' and I are Nomad friends, we met at a big floating conference on a cruise ship in the sea. We then spent 3 weeks living on a beach in Brazil with a load of other nomads where we surfed, worked, did Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and even took part in an Improv Comedy night.

This interview was recorded in December of 2019 in Dubai and we talked about comparisons between Rugby and traditional American sports, Curtin's extensive experience of playing all around the world, from America to England, Italy, Austria, Uganda, and China!

Oh, and you can't miss his story about how he attempted to get a Fijian to play in the NFL!

LINKS
Greg Curtin Email (gregcurtin@yahoo.com)
Curtin's website (https://americarex.com/)
Nomad Cruise (http://nomadcruise.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.

'Taff' and I played together for many years - bound up in the front row for both Old Colfeians and Kent.

This interview was recorded November of 2019 in Amsterdam, where he's now living, to discuss a multitude of topics and some favourite stories ranging from why amateur rugby is a hotbed of creative thinking through to the magic of touring and the mysterious legend of the Kakadu Gnat.

LINKS
Taff can be contacted via email stephenabroad@gmail.com or on twitter @stephencorlett (https://twitter.com/stephencorlett)
A Beautiful Constraint: https://amzn.to/2TmxFHJ
Guardian article about lack of creativity: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/09/the-breakdown-rugby-union-numbers-game

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.

My guest this week is Hollywood Movie director - James Griffiths. Griff was also my team-mate and captain at Old Colfeians but being a Hollywood Movie director sounds somewhat more impressive.

This interview was recorded in September of 2019 and it went in all manner of directions. It really ebbed and flowed, not just through the highs and lows of rugby, but of life in general.

Like you parents out there who are not supposed to have a favourite child, I'm not supposed to have a favourite podcast… But, if I did, then it might just be this one. Shhh, don't tell the others….

LINKS
You can get Griff on Facebook, Twitter (@jgriffter) or Instagram (@griffter71)
Leon Lloyd's social enterprise - Switch the Play (https://switchtheplay.com/)
Bollywood rugby movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHPULyEpNc)

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.

Geoff and I met while playing for Esher RFC, one of 4 Championship clubs he represented. Geoff was a powerful three-quarter and played a lot of 7's also.

This interview was recorded in September of 2019, and we chatted through Geoff's career, and he shared his thoughts on player pathways, the National One sweet-spot and some interesting facts about Graham Dawe.

He was due to be Episode 17, but I brought him forward to this episode - Number 16 - Make sure to listen to the end to find out why…

LINKS
@GeoffGriffiths on Twitter (https://twitter.com/GeoffGriffiths)
Geoff on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffmgriffiths/)
Geoff's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/geoff.griffiths/)

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.

My guest this week is Heath RFC's Chris Moore.

We talked about:

- Heath RUFC's rampant success in recent seasons.
- How the club is run in a sustainable and fun way.
- Chris's entry into the game at home-town club, Cobh Pirates, in Ireland.
- Transitioning from the back-row into the front row.
- What Chris learned when representing Yorkshire.
- The huge number of clubs in the Calder Valley.
- How Heath is helping kids transition into senior rugby.

This is a laugh-a-minute episode, but it's all chock full with real value. - I hope you enjoy.

LINKS
Contact Christopher Moore on Instagram - @dougalmooreheath24 - https://www.instagram.com/dougalmooreheath24/
Heath RUFC - http://www.heath-rugby.co.uk/
Cobh Pirates RFC - https://bcrugby.com/clubprofile/8477/
Dolphin RFC - https://dolphinrfc.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
https://patreon.com/amateurrugbypodcast

SUPPORT
https://www.amateurrugbypodcast.com/support/ page

Colm and I are former team-mates at Esher RFC and both fully paid up members of the front-row union. He is one of the most interesting and engaging characters that I have encountered in the game and I was very excited to sit down and chat with him.

The interview was recorded in September of 2019 and we shared some stories about playing together, Colm's early rugby days, then really dug deep into the role of business and business people in rugby.

LINKS
Rugby Business Network (https://therugbybusinessnetwork.com/)
Rugby Business Network on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rugby-business-network/)
@RugBizNetwork on Twitter (https://twitter.com/rugbiznetwork?lang=en)

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.