Players Podcast
Episodes
Ken Owens on Welsh Rugby’s Reality
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Former Wales captain Ken Owens joins Conrad and Rachael for a candid discussion on the state of Welsh rugby. From governance and decision-making to pl...
...And Justice for all? How Rugby's disciplinary system works
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When a player gets a ban for something that happens on the pitch, we love to debate whether it was too harsh, too lenient or just right. So, to learn ...
Rugby: A Complex Game?
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of the Players Podcast, Conrad and Rachael look back at the recent Shape of the Game conference and discuss the big issues, incl...
Players Podcast: The Shape of the Game
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With Rugby bosses, coaches, refs and players coming together in London next week to discuss the big issues facing the sport, Conrad and Rachael chat w...
Players Podcast: Rugby Laws, Refs & the State of the Game with SA's Felix Jones
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa's Rugby World Cup winning assistant coach Felix Jones sits down with Conrad and Rachael to discuss laws of the game, the state of rugby i...
Players Podcast Ep 7: Review of the Year 2025
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's almost the end of the year so Conrad and Rachael sit down to look back at 2025. Whether it's referees, laws of the game to standout players and t...
Players Podcast Ep 6: What does the future hold for Sevens?
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sevens coach Mike Friday joins Conrad and Rachael on the show to discuss Sevens, the challenges it faces...and possible solutions. Subscribe to make s...
Players Podcast Ep 5: Player load and burnout - how much is TOO much?
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former Northampton lock and current head of the Rugby Players Association in England, Christian Day, joins Conrad and Rachael to discuss player load, ...
Players Podcast Ep 4: All you need to know about the Nations Championship
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After the announcement this week that the Nations Championship and Nations Cup will kick off in 2026, Conrad and Rachael examine the plans for the new...
Players Podcast Episode 3: Referees and the challenges they face
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 3 of the Players Podcast, Conrad and Rachael speak with World Rugby referee manager Brendon Pickerill, who discusses some of the issues fac...
The Players Podcast Episode 2: 20-Minute Red Card & the Women’s Lions
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Players Podcast from International Rugby Players Association. In this episode, we dive into two compelling stories: the im...
The Players Podcast: R360, New Comps and Women's Rugby World Cup
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The new-look Players Podcast is back! Check out the latest episode where Conrad Smith and Rachael Burford discuss R360, new rugby competitions and l...
Players Podcast Episode 19: Omar Hassanein
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
During the Covid-19 lockdown, a lot has been going on behind the scenes around a future Global Season for Rugby. Episode 19 of the Players Podcast tal...
Players Podcast Episode 18: DeMaurice Smith
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fresh from negotiating and agreeing one of the most high-pressure deals in sport, NFL Players’ boss DeMaurice Smith joins us for Episode 18 of the P...
Players Podcast Episode 17: How to win a Rugby World Cup: Conrad Smith
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Conrad Smith knows a thing or two about winning Rugby World Cups - the former All Black centre was part of the team that claimed the William Webb Elli...
Players Podcast Episode 16: How a players association helped win the Rugby World Cup
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One of the boldest moves made by South Africa's Rugby World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus was to include the head of the country's players associat...
Players Podcast Episode 15: Steve Hoiles
08 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Hoiles grew up learning from the Australian greats in Randwick before going on to win over 100 Super Rugby caps with the Brumbies and a Super Ru...
Players Podcast Episode 14: Law Reviews
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 14 of the Players Podcast is all about the Laws of the Game. Ahead of a major Law Reviews meeting in London last week, International Rugby P...
Players Podcast Episode 13: Chris Wyles and Alistair Hargreaves
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 13 of the Players Podcast, we hear from former Saracens team-mates Chris Wyles and Alistair Hargreaves who set up Wolfpack Lager. As they w...
Players Podcast Episode 12: Brendan Schwab
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 12 of the Players Podcast we speak to the head of World Players Association, Brendan Schwab. World Players is a group that advocates for ...
Players Podcast Episode 11: Alain Rolland
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In a Rugby World Cup year, the focus is on match officials more than ever. Big calls, controversial cards, TMO decisions, offside lines…they’re a...
Players Podcast Episode 10: Andries Pretorius
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 10 of The Players Podcast speaks to a South African man that ended up playing for Wales before having to retire from a rare and cruel illness ...
Players Podcast Episode 9: Ross Tucker
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest on Episode 9 of the Players Podcast is one of the foremost sports scientists and researchers in Rugby...and a man with a lot of views on the...
Players Podcast Episode 8: Marco Bortolami
19 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With 111 international caps, Marco Bortolami is one of the true legends of Italian Rugby. The former second row, who played his club rugby across Ita...
Players Podcast Episode 7: Ian Prendergast, Australian Rugby League
12 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Rugby League often battles Rugby Union in Australia for audience and fans, TV ratings, sponsorship and newspaper column inches in one of the most comp...
Players Podcast Episode 6: Melodie Robinson
29 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand's Melodie Robinson is one of the legends of women's Rugby and since she hung up the boots in the early 2000s, she's made a name for hersel...
Players Podcast: Episode 5 Dan Sheridan, Rugby Photographer
22 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If a picture speaks a thousand words, INPHO's Dan Sheridan has told millions of stories. One of the world's top rugby photographers, he has travelled...
Players Podcast Episode 4: Beau Robinson
19 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"A professional rugby player is what you are...not who you are" It's not all champagne and limos for professional players and Australian flanker Beau...
Players Podcast Episode 3: Isa Nacewa
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One of the legends of the game, Isa Nacewa's career spanned almost every position in the backline as well as both hemispheres. Now busy in the finan...
Players Podcast Episode 2: Rob Vickerman
06 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Vickerman is one of the game's colourful characters - the Yorkshire man played the 15s and 7s version of the game, leading England 7s at one stage...
Players Podcast Episode 1: Blaine Scully
25 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Blaine Scully is our guest on the first episode of the Players Podcast, which looks at the stories behind our players. Blaine is not only the captai...