Former England international and current Gloucester Hartpury attack coach Matt Banahan joins Teddy Draper, Mark Atkinson and Kathryn Buggy in the Blindside Lounge for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about rugby on and off the pitch.

Matt opens up on the reality of moving from player to coach, the pressure of joining a dominant Gloucester Hartpury side, and why team culture can’t simply be bought. He breaks down the coaching job market, the challenges of progression without an agent, and how COVID shaped an entire generation of coaches and players.

The panel also dive deep into:

• Gloucester’s recent performances, recruitment and squad balance
• Why the spine of a team (8–9–10) matters more than ever
• The growth - and growing pains - of the women’s game
• Six Nations predictions and England’s centre conundrum
• The first Women’s Lions tour and what success should really look like

Plus, Matt reflects candidly on his England career, selection politics, versatility, and why he has no regrets about how it all played out.

Step into The Blindside for an exclusive look behind the scenes at Gloucester Rugby. In this episode, we dive into the world of elite rugby medicine with Rhys Hughes, exploring how the medical team keeps players fit, manages injuries, and boosts morale.

We also shine a spotlight on the special 745 feature, supporting the fight against MND, with heartfelt stories, player tributes, and why this game means so much. Plus, we tackle the biggest talking points in rugby right now: the rise in women’s attendances post-World Cup, the Cherry & Whites league starts, both men’s and women’s, and the debate around ‘hybrid’ players.

A new lounge, a new show, and a fresh look at how rugby really works, from the kitchen to the kick-off. We pull back the curtain with Gloucester Rugby Performance Nutritionist James Hudson to explore the hidden engine of form: fuelling the whole week, not just match day. James breaks down position-specific body composition goals, why style of play should shape the plate, and how simple, affordable choices, think eggs, rice, chicken, and yes, chocolate milk, can beat expensive supplements for recovery and consistency. When food tastes good and fits the schedule, players stick with it. When emotions spike after a tough loss or a selection shock, routines bend without breaking. That’s the difference between surviving the season and stacking quality sessions.

Momentum on the pitch mirrors momentum off it. We dissect Gloucester’s opener against Sale: the missed launch chances, line-out frustrations, and George Ford’s elite game management that nudged the game away. Then we widen the lens to what’s making rugby more watchable: longer ball-in-play, smarter risk in the right areas, and refereeing that rewards continuity. On the other side of the sport, women’s rugby just owned a defining stage at Twickenham, delivering a style built on evasion, pace, and space that drew families and first-time fans at scale. That surge isn’t a sideshow, it’s a growth play for the entire game.

We close with the league’s bigger currents: Red Bull’s investment at Newcastle and what it means for the North’s grassroots pipeline, potential pathways for the women’s game in the region, and the shockwaves from Steve Diamond’s exit. It all ties back to the same pillars: clear strategy, sustainable support, and game plans, on the field and at the table, that people can actually follow. If you’re curious about how culture, nutrition, and tactics combine to create wins, this is your new monthly fix. Enjoy it?

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Join us on the sofa for one last time before Christmas as Afo Fasogbon and Max Llewellyn join Aki to find the ultimate mince pie.

Dom Waldouck joins Aki on the sofa to discuss the 745 charity game in aid of 4Ed and Caolan Englefield chats about his experiences working with Tomos Williams.

Toti & Joni Benz-Salomon join Aki on the sofa, after the pair became the first twins to play a professional game together for Gloucester Rugby!

Freddie Thomas and Arthur Clark chat to Aki and we here from Gloucester-Hartpury's Andrew Ford in this week's episode of Akcess All Areas.

Olympic Silver Medalist and Gloucester super-fan, Tom George, joins Aki and his mate, Ollie Thorley, on the sofa to talk all things Olympics, Gloucester and the upcoming derby fixture with Bath.