Players Podcast

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 the Try of the year - we got you covered! Make sure to subscribe to the Players Podcast to get EVERY episode from International Rugby Players Association!

Sevens coach Mike Friday joins Conrad and Rachael on the show to discuss Sevens, the challenges it faces...and possible solutions. Subscribe to make sure you get EVERY episode of the Players Podcasdt from International Rugby Players Association.

Former Northampton lock and current head of the Rugby Players Association in England, Christian Day, joins Conrad and Rachael to discuss player load, match and training limits as we ask - how much is too much? Subscribe to make sure you get EVERY episode of the Players Podcast from International Rugby Players Association!

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 global tournaments which kick off in 2026. Subscribe and check out International Rugby Players Association on Instagram and YouTube for more info!

In Episode 3 of the Players Podcast, Conrad and Rachael speak with World Rugby referee manager Brendon Pickerill, who discusses some of the issues facing international refs and what the governing body are doing to tackle issues around laws of the game. Make sure to subscribe to get the latest episodes as they drop and get more details on rugbyplayers.org!

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Players Podcast from International Rugby Players Association. In this episode, we dive into two compelling stories: the impact and controversy of the 20-minute red card rule in modern rugby, and an in-depth look at the Women’s British & Irish Lions ahead of their landmark 2027 tour.

The new-look Players Podcast is back! Check out the latest episode where Conrad Smith and Rachael Burford discuss R360, new rugby competitions and look back on the success of the Women's Rugby World Cup.

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 talks to our very own International Rugby Players CEO, Omar Hassanein, who's been involved in the discussions with Rugby's power brokers since the Rugby came to a shuddering halt in March 2020. This episode comes as Rugby marks it's 25th anniversary of professionalism and so we look back on what professionalism has brought us - good and bad - and...

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 Players Podcast. A former trial lawyer, Smith talks candidly about the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between players and owners and how it’s one of the most stressful deals he’s ever done. He also talked about the resistance from some players to adding an extra game to the season, the impact of social media on the deal and how players were...

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 Ellis trophy in 2011 and again in 2015. In conversation with Eoin McHugh, the Taranaki native talks about the dark days in the aftermath of New Zealand’s early exit from RWC 2007, rebuilding the squad, the pressures of playing in a World Cup on home soil...and doing it all over again in 2015. But his main message to those wanting to win a Rugby...

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 association in his management team for Japan 2019. Eugene Henning, CEO of MyPlayers, was appointed player affairs manager and helped make sure the schedule was manageable, the environment was positive and that the squad were treated as "humans first". Eugene told the Players Podcast about his time with the RWC winners, his role... and how it could set...

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 Rugby championship with the Waratahs along with the Wallabies. Always a straight shooter, Steve spoke to Eoin McHugh about the state of Aussie Rugby, their chances in the upcoming RWC and what he’s been doing since retirement.

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 Players got the views of our top players from the Men's 15s and 7s game. After the forum, we spoke to player reps David Quinlan and Rachael Burford who represented our 15s & 7s players, to dive deeper into the discussion about the current laws and some proposals to make the game safer. From the 50:22 rule to tackles above the waist, there's lots...

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 were coming towards the end of their playing days, where they won both European and English premiership silverware, they started to look at business opportunities and started selling beer - something they were both passionate about! From selling pints out the back of a bus, to now having their product in 250 to 300 bars around the UK and the...

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 the rights of players and athletes and brings sports together to knowledge share and learn from one another. Brendan, an Australian who is passionate about Players Rights, previously worked with the international football players union (FifPro) and is now taking on the challenge of everything from the rights of athletes to challenge governing...

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 all under the microscope. The man in charge of those officials is Alain Rolland, who joins us for Episode 11 of the Players Podcast. A former player turned referee, Rolland took charge of a Rugby World Cup final, 3 European Cup finals and many other massive games – before taking over as World Rugby Referees manager for the 15s game. On the Podcast,...

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 called Isaacs Syndrome. Andries Pretorius has since gone on to run the Welsh Rugby Player’s Association but his story starts working as an electrician in the mines in rural South Africa, before playing for Cardiff Blues, Worcester and getting capped for Wales at international level. A fascinating story that shows resilience and bravery and the...

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 mechanics and politics of our game. Dr.Ross Tucker is a sports scientist and researcher, currently working alongside World Rugby on how to reduce concussions, head impacts and the possibility of reducing the tackle height. In a fascinating chat, Ross discusses his work, the various issues around doping and WADA, concussion and head injuries,...

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 Italy, France and England, was Italy's youngest ever captain at just 22, scoring a famous intercept try against the All Blacks. With strong views on how Italy can grow the game, Marco spoke to the Players Podcast about the challenges for the Italians, where they can go and the need for belief among players. He also lists the toughest players he's...

Rugby League often battles Rugby Union in Australia for audience and fans, TV ratings, sponsorship and newspaper column inches in one of the most competitive sporting markets in the world. In Episode 7 of the Players Podcast, we speak to Ian Prendergast, CEO of the Rugby League Players Association. Often on the front pages as much as the back pages, we spoke to Ian – a former AFL player – about the challenges faced by his Players Association, the growth of the International game in League,...