Rugby Through The Leagues Podcast

Rugby Through The Leagues (Rugby TTL) shines a light on rugby beyond the mainstream — tier 2 and tier 3 nations, grassroots clubs, Spanish rugby, Rugby Europe, Super Rugby Americas, sevens and the global game. Honest interviews and analysis with the players, coaches and characters the spotlight ignores. New episodes regularly — subscribe on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Rugby Through The Leagues Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by Rugby TTL, with 75 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Rugby TTL hosts Rugby Through The Leagues Podcast, a sports show with 75 episodes published.

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  Rugby Through The Leagues Podcast

  Ascent Rugby Series Preview with RC Eemland Head Coach Mitch McGann | Rugby Through the Leagues Podcast

  Aug 11, 202643 min

  On the Rugby Through the Leagues podcast, Carl speaks with Mitch McGann, head coach of Dutch club RC Eemland, a founding team in the new Ascent Rugby Series beginning 22nd August in Frankfurt and now expanded from six to seven teams, including two Dutch sides (RC Eemland and The Dukes). McGann explains Eemland's identity as a family-oriented club with a strong youth pipeline and a recent shift from a forward-heavy style toward more ball movement and flair, and discusses how playing styles vary by region across the Netherlands. They preview Eemland's pre-season fixtures in the series against Poland's Pogon and Czech powerhouse Tatra, touch on scouting and preparation, highlight key players and new Kiwi signings, and discuss facility challenges, youth development via regional academies, and broader ambitions for cross-border competition and Dutch rugby growth. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Series Intro 00:58 RC Eemland Identity 02:37 Dutch Rugby Styles 04:28 Regional Differences 06:39 Dukes Rivalry Talk 09:22 Preseason and Fixtures 10:44 Pogon Lessons and Plan 14:13 Joining Ascent Rugby 16:00 Players to Watch 19:30 Scouting and Hosting Plans 22:43 Pitches and Facilities 27:59 Dutch Rugby Growth Pathway 32:31 Domestic Pro Vision 34:36 Why Ascent Matters 37:58 Funding and Future Format 42:24 Wrap Up and Tickets ️ Tickets: ascentrugby.com Join free: rugbyttl.com/members Get the App: rugbyttl.app

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  Episode #40

  Greece's Rugby Growth: Inside the Aegean Festival & Big 2027 Athens Plans

  Jul 9, 202652 minS2

  This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with George and Dave from Attica Rugby, the team behind the Aegean Rugby Festival, to talk about growing rugby in Greece through sport tourism. They cover the festival's origins, the vision of showcasing Greece as a sporting destination, and the reality of 2026 — a scaled-back event after travel uncertainty and rising costs forced multiple cancellations, yet still delivered with four men's and four women's teams, strong local support in Crete, and professional refereeing. Then the big one: plans for a bigger early-summer 2027 festival in Athens — rugby sevens, beach rugby, an all-inclusive option, a major closing party, and ideas for youth divisions, touch rugby, rugby tours and future 15s. Plus Andy Powell's sevens story, why legends add credibility, the Greek rugby leadership gap, and the philosophy of show up and build. Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) Welcome & Guests (00:56) Origins of the Aegean Festival (03:01) Greek Rugby Growth (05:22) Festival Vision & the Federation (09:15) Travel Chaos & Cancellations (11:01) Pulling Off the 2026 Event (13:13) Referees & Tournament Quality (16:47) 2027 Athens Teaser (18:48) Youth Division vs the Party (23:12) Future Formats & Rugby Tours (27:48) Streaming the Format (28:08) Tournament Week Blueprint (28:44) Event Weekend Integration (29:19) The Andy Powell Sevens Story (31:37) Legends Add Credibility (33:56) The Greek Rugby Leadership Gap (38:12) Show Up & Build (39:37) Celebrities Who Deliver (43:57) Rugby for Anyone (47:01) Touch Rugby Expansion (48:42) Early Summer 2027 Plans (50:30) Final Wrap & Callouts 🎧 Follow Rugby TTL wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're enjoying it, a rating or review genuinely helps us reach more people. ▶️ Watch the full video: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL 📸 Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod 🌍 rugbyttl.com

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  Episode #39

  Albanian Rugby's Rise: Chairman Xhino on Grassroots Growth & the Road to Rugby Europe

  Jul 2, 202637 minS2

  This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with Xhino, chairman of the Albanian rugby federation, for the story of how a sport almost nobody was playing became a national project. Xhino traces it back to 2010–2012, when a handful of students inspired by YouTube clips started throwing a ball around — through the founding of Tirana Rugby Club to official federation recognition in 2024. He and Carl get into Albania's entirely self-funded growth, the touring sides making the trip out (the European Parliament Rugby Team and Nottingham Police Force among them), and why hospitality, raki and the post-match third half matter as much as anything on the pitch. Xhino lays out the pillars taking Albanian rugby forward: school programmes and touch rugby, building a base beyond Tirana in Durrës, French connections opening player pathways, women's rugby, and the long game — Rugby Europe membership and fixtures against Bosnia, Serbia and Greece. Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) Welcome & Guest Intro (01:06) Rugby Begins in Albania (02:18) Tirana Club & Touring Teams (03:31) Albanian Hospitality & Raki (06:02) The Road to Rugby Europe (06:53) Schools & Youth Pathways (08:02) France Links & Player Opportunities (13:44) Growing Beyond Tirana (18:35) Funding & Building an Ecosystem (20:24) The 5, 10, 15-Year Vision (22:46) Women's Rugby & the Balkan Schools Cup (28:21) Rugby League & Learning from the NRL (31:12) Media Buzz & Upcoming Fixtures (32:59) How to Connect & Visit (35:49) Final Thanks & Wrap Up 🎧 Follow Rugby TTL wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're enjoying it, a rating or review genuinely helps us reach more people. ▶️ Watch the full video: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL 📸 Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod 🌍 rugbyttl.com

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  Episode #38

  Mike Poppmeier: Germany's New Head Coach on Rebuilding, Funding & Rugby Europe | Rugby TTL Podcast

  Jun 25, 202643 minS2

  German rugby is rebuilding — and new head coach Mike Poppmeier is the man tasked with leading it back. In this episode, Carl sits down with Mike Poppmeier, the new head coach of Germany and a former Germany international, for an open conversation about Rugby Europe, the national team's future, and the funding gap holding it all back. Mike talks through his South African upbringing, his German/Austrian family roots and 11 years living in Germany, before laying out the real picture: how the lack of a professional environment and funding limits preparation, player retention, staffing and international fixtures. He explains the value of cross-border competition like the new Ascent Rugby league (featuring Adler XV and Frankfurt), his role with dominant Bundesliga champions Frankfurt, and why Germany sits in the Trophy division while rebuilding its culture, behaviours and pathway by blooding young France-based prospects. Plus his coaching ethos — fitness, tempo and smart rugby — and the practical needs, from video analysis to aligned governance, that could unlock sponsorship and long-term growth. Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Welcome & guest intro 00:45 Mike's Germany journey 02:19 Why Germany slipped 04:50 Super Cup & pro pathways 07:16 Ascent Rugby explained 08:00 Bundesliga & Frankfurt dominance 10:43 Adler XV selection plans 13:26 Friendlies & travel budgets 16:07 Rebuild in the Trophy division 19:48 The funding mystery & next steps 22:03 Squad identity plan 22:45 Player release commitments 24:58 Coaching ethos & style 27:40 Prep time & logistics 28:46 Video analysis & tools 30:27 Head coach workload 33:40 Five-year vision 35:37 Funding & alignment 38:59 Curtis Brayford addition 40:25 Final message & legacy 🎧 Listen & follow: Spotify (open.spotify.com/show/511e8frgzJnY1CWe06GLyH) · Apple Podcasts · YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · rugbyttl.com

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  Episode #37

  Heart of Wales 7s Special: Jordan & The Flaming Unicorns on Rugby, Community & Mental Health

  Jun 18, 202659 minS2

  The Rugby Through the Leagues podcast welcomes Jordan, organiser of Heart of Wales 7s, and Stu from The Flaming Unicorns / Tough Enough To Care, to talk rugby, community and mental health. Jordan charts the tournament's growth from 16 men's teams to an 11-year event drawing around 1,500 people — with the goal of 6,000 — and the entertainment that's grown with it: Flamingo Bingo, boxing, netball, charity matches and the famous naked run (which may hit 250–300 runners). He opens up on how it all came together: contacts, hard-won logistics lessons, a 10-person core crew, COVID refunds, and a relentless focus on retention, safety and experience. Stu shares how The Flaming Unicorns began as a charity match supporting mental health after losing two friends to suicide — and how their distinctive branding creates safe spaces for conversations at rugby clubs, with Heart of Wales giving them a major platform alongside celebrity guests and the growth of women's rugby. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Naked Run Cold Open 00:12 Meet the Guests 01:03 Heart of Wales Origins 02:41 Growing Past Covid 04:57 Behind the Scenes Crew 07:19 Entertainment & Traditions 10:38 Flaming Unicorns Join In 12:39 Tough Enough To Care Story 16:00 Why the Partnership Works 18:19 Rugby Stars & Welsh Sevens 22:06 Logistics Lessons & Burnout 26:57 Post-Event Rituals 31:02 Two-Week Build Plan 31:39 Site Setup Week 33:32 Rugby Star Ringers 36:03 Women's Night Magic 39:35 Growing Organically 42:48 Welsh Sevens Series 46:17 Sevens Media Value 49:23 New Format Ideas 52:14 Unicorns Mission 57:36 Final Messages 🏉 Heart of Wales 7s: heartofwales7s.co.uk 💚 This episode discusses mental health and suicide. If you're struggling, you don't have to face it alone — in the UK & Ireland you can call Samaritans free, day or night, on 116 123. Find out more about Tough Enough To Care at toughenoughtocare.help. 🎧 Listen & follow: Spotify · Apple Podcasts · YouTube (youtube.com/@RugbyTTL) · rugbyttl.com

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