Championship Clubs Podcast

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 10 | Ben Ward

Ealing Trailfinders Director of Rugby Ben Ward joins Mike & Gully to talk project Ealing Trailfinders as the Club go into the play-off finals with Saracens in a few weeks’ time.

The former fly-half discusses the progress made on the pitch and off it as the Club launch their new women’s programme and continue to build their academy in association with Brunel University.

He also discusses promotion and relegation and the need for clarity and stability to allow clubs to plan for their futures.

Championship Clubs Podcast is on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Just search @ChampClubsPod to listen, watch and join in the conversation.

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 9 | Max Trimble

Richmond wing Max Trimble is the week's guest on the show. 

The former Coventry flyer discusses and contrasts life in a full time and part time environment as well as giving as insight into life at the RAG & how 'Mond has assisted with his transition to post rugby life.  

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 8 | Ben Mercer

This week’s guest is ex Championship player turn best-selling author Ben Mercer.

 

Formerly of Plymouth Albion & Cornish Pirates & Rouen Normandie Rugby, Mercer joins us to discuss his unique experience of ‘Life on the Edge of Professional Rugby’. 

 

On #MentalHealthAwareness week the trio have a discussion about the pressures of playing Champ rugby mentally and the language used around mental health.

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 7 | Phil Nilsen

This is week Mike & Gully are joined by former Yorkshire Carnegie & Coventry hooker Phil Nilsen. 

Phil played 11 seasons at Headingley before helping Coventry win promotion to the Championship & talks about the state of rugby union in the County of Broad Acres. 

Now living and working in Gibraltar, Phil also discusses life after rugby and transitioning out of the game.

 

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 6 | Mark Lavery

Episode six of the Championship Clubs Podcast features Ampthill RUFC charismatic Director of Rugby Mark Lavery!

Mark speaks about the Mob win over the Pirates last weekend, the impact of the Tongans and his long-term aspirations for Ampthill, in addition to discussing with Gully and Michael his club’s Championship experience to date and the importance of improving diversity and inclusivity in the sport!

Championship Clubs Podcast is on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Just search @ChampClubsPod to listen, watch and join in the conversation.

We would also like to thank Trojan Engineering & Fabrication (part of the MF Hire Group) for sponsoring the podcast. We are still looking for up to two other corporate partners to assist us in covering our production costs!

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 5 | Baz Barrington & Guy Thompson

Episode five of the Championship Clubs Podcast goes live today at 17:00.

 

The Podcast, which aims to provide a positive voice for the league, is available to listen to via Apple Podcast and Spotify and can also be watched on Youtube – just search Championship Clubs Podcast.

 

Episode five focuses on this weekend’s top of the table clash between Saracens and Ealing Trailfinders at The Stonex. Hosts Michael Casey and Ben Gulliver welcome Saracen’s Richard “Baz” Barrington and Ealing’s Guy Thompson to the mic in a new format for the show this week.

 

Baz and Guy pull no punches when they discuss all the hot topics in rugby right now - ring-fencing and the importance of promotion and relegation to the rugby pyramid, funding to the sport, the value of the Championship as a development pathway and their experiences at Jersey Reds in addition of course to their preparation for this Sunday afternoon!

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 4 | Tom Youngs & George Edgson

In the latest episode of the the Championship Clubs Podcast Tom Youngs talks about how his time at Bedford Blues & Nottingham helped shape him into a British & Irish Lion with 28 England Caps.

We also take a deep dive into the current Championship season with Jersey Reds hooker George Edgson.

Edgy talks about his experiences in the league and as part of Premiership academy with Wasps and answer the questions the question we have all been asking....are you @champ___life?

Check us out on Insta & Twitter @Champclubspod

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 3 | Tomas Francis & Ali Price.

The development Episode! 

In a blockbuster edition of the show Mike & Gully are joined by Tomas Francis & Ali Price who boast 99 international caps between them.

Long before they were setting the international scene alight they honed their skilled in the Championship. 

Both players discuss the role Champ Rugby played in their development. 

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 2 | Phil Boulton & Pete Lydon.

In Episode 2 of the Championship Clubs Podcast Mike & Gully are joined by Phil Boulton & Peter Lydon.

Phil has achieved over 300 Championship appearances with Coventry and previously Bedford Blues. He discusses his experiences of full and part time environments, the balance of work and rugby and where he feels the Championship fits in to the English rugby ecosystem!

Secondly we have Peter Lydon. Whilst Peter is currently tearing up the French D2 for Richard Hill’s Rouen, he speaks about his experiences with London Scottish, & Ealing Trailfinders and compares the French and English second tiers. 

Championship Clubs Podcast is on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Just search @ChampClubsPod to listen, watch and join in the conversation.

 

Championship Clubs Podcast | Episode 1 | Alan Paver

🎙️𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 #𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙍𝙪𝙜𝙗𝙮

This week co-hosts Michael Casey & Ben Gulliver are joined by Cornish Pirates Head Coach Alan Paver. The trio discuss the Pirates fine start to the 2021 campaign, how the game has changed due to Covid & the true value of English rugby's second tier.