Liam Squire was one of the most feared players in world rugby, he had an incredible ability to throw his body into contact with zero thought of self preservation. While that approach helped Liam Squire the player, it's taken a serious toll on the body of Liam Squire the man. He's had an endless amount of injuries throughout his career and is now left with serious hip pain, shoulder pain and knee pain as he moves into the next chapter of his life.

In this Fan Favourite episode of What a Lad, Liam opens up about the full journey through rugby and life. From growing up in Tokoroa and finding his way into professional rugby, to becoming an All Black, dealing with injuries, stepping away from the 2019 Rugby World Cup and ultimately being forced into retirement.

Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…

How quickly his rise from provincial rugby to becoming an All Black

Dealing with the fame of becoming an All Black

Winning a Super Rugby title with the Highlanders and the culture that made that team special

Why he never felt completely comfortable in the All Blacks environment

The pressure and scrutiny leading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup

His battles with injury and the mental toll of spending so much time on the sidelines

Being told by a surgeon that if he wanted quality of life later on, it was time to retire

How he has adjusted to life after rugby and what retirement has really been like

This episode was recorded back in 2021 but this conversation shows a side of him that most people have never seen. Honest, reflective and incredibly open, this is a fascinating insight into the highs and lows of professional rugby and the price that can come with giving everything to the game.

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Jayden Broome is one of the most inspiring young rugby players you'll come across. A proud Gore local who spent his childhood with a rugby ball in his hands with a dream to become a professional rugby player. He was doing everything he could to reach that dream and everything was tracking that way. He captained all Southland age grade sides before leading New Zealand Māori Schoolboys to a historic victory over New Zealand Schools and even earned a preseason opportunity with his beloved Southland Stags.

Then one moment changed everything for Jayden. After falling from a roof at a flat, Jayden suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him fighting for his life. He was placed in an induced coma, spent months in hospital and was ultimately forced to make the heartbreaking decision to walk away from the game he loved.

Despite everything he's been through, Jayden's outlook on life, positivity and determination to keep moving forward is what makes this episode so special.

Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…

- Walking 40 minutes to school and back every day and how that shaped him

- Writing down his rugby goals as a teenager and dreaming of one day becoming an All Black

- Getting his opportunity with the Southland Stags and realising he was good enough to compete at that level

- The night of the accident and the reality of waking up after weeks in a coma

- Learning just how close he came to losing his life

- Coming to terms with the fact he would never play rugby again

- Why he chose life over rugby and the powerful message he now wants to share with others

- What his plans are in the future and how he wants to stay in the game

This is a story about much more than rugby. It's about resilience, perspective, gratitude and finding purpose when the path you thought you were on suddenly disappears. Jayden's maturity, positivity and self-awareness at such a young age make this one of the most powerful conversations we've had on the podcast.

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Kieran Read is one of the greatest All Blacks of the professional era. A two-time Rugby World Cup winner, four-time Super Rugby champion and former All Blacks captain, Kieran built a career defined by consistency, leadership and an incredible work ethic.

From a typical Kiwi childhood in Papakura, to representing Counties in both rugby and cricket, Kieran's path to the top wasn't as straightforward as many would think. He wasn't a player who came through every representative system, and by his own admission was a shy kid who often kept to himself. Yet through hard work, resilience and a constant desire to improve, he became one of the most respected leaders New Zealand rugby has ever produced.

Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…

* Why cricket was arguably his best sport growing up and how close he came to pursuing it professionally

* The moment rugby went from being something he loved to something he wanted to chase seriously

* Making New Zealand Secondary Schools despite not being part of the traditional rugby pathway

* Playing 49 consecutive games at the start of his Crusaders career

* Becoming Canterbury captain at just 22 years old

* His memories of winning Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015

* Taking over from Richie McCaw as All Blacks captain and learning to lead in his own way

* The sacrifices that come with professional rugby and being away from family for long periods

* The leadership lessons he's taken from rugby into business and life after retirement

Kieran is one of those rare people whose achievements speak for themselves, yet remains incredibly humble. This episode is packed with stories from one of rugby's greatest careers, along with plenty of lessons on leadership, resilience and personal growth.

Let us know what you thought of this episode in the comments 👇

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