Talkin' Ruggers

🏉 From Norfolk to Leicester Tigers, Will Findlay’s rugby journey has taken him from playing the game to helping develop the next generation of athletes as a strength and conditioning coach.In this episode of Talkin’ Ruggers, Will shares the lessons he’s learned from working around elite rugby environments, why coaching is about far more than physical development, and the importance of patience, communication and emotional intelligence when working with young players.We also get into Will’s personal experiences with OCD and mental health, the importance of breaking the stigma around seeking help, and how he’s channelled his experiences into charity work and community initiatives.A conversation about rugby, coaching, personal development and using the game to make a difference beyond the pitch.

From county rugby to playing professionally for Leicester Tigers, Tomiwa Agbonbon has taken a pretty unique route through the game — and now he’s building an entirely different career through social media as TikTok Tommy.In this episode of Talkin’ Ruggers, Tomiwa talks about his rugby journey, from starting out at New Hall School and making the move to Loughborough, through to breaking into professional rugby and experiencing life around Premiership players.We also get into how TikTok and content creation have changed his life, why consistency and authenticity matter more than trying to be perfect online, and how young rugby players can use social media to build their own personal brand.We chat about the changing culture of rugby, the personalities helping make the sport more entertaining, the influence of players like Joe Marler, regional identity in rugby, and what the future could look like as the sport continues to embrace digital media.Topics include: professional rugby, Leicester Tigers, county rugby, TikTok, content creation, personal branding, rugby culture, social media and advice for aspiring rugby players and creators.

James Naylor from Rugby Reality has taken a pretty unconventional route through the rugby world — from grassroots rugby in North Yorkshire to university rugby, Loughborough, and eventually representing England Sevens. 🏉In this episode, James talks openly about the setbacks, rejection and challenges that have shaped his career, and why resilience is so important when things don’t go to plan. We get into the realities of chasing professional and international rugby, the importance of university rugby as a development pathway, and how the journey is rarely as straightforward as it looks from the outside.We also chat about balancing playing rugby with content creation, using social media to share the journey, and why having something beyond rugby can be valuable for both your personal brand and your mental wellbeing.James also shares his ambitions for the future, his thoughts on rugby development and coaching, and why enjoying the game and staying connected to the rugby community should never get lost along the way.

Henry and Alex — the two customizers — are bringing art, culture and storytelling into rugby through their unique custom boot designs. 🎨🏉What started as a passion for rugby and creativity has grown into collaborations with professional players and major brands, creating personalised boots that tell stories far beyond what happens on the pitch.In this episode, we get into how their journey began, the process behind designing custom rugby boots, and what goes into creating something that genuinely represents an athlete’s personality, heritage and interests. We also discuss their experiences navigating university rugby, professional pathways and building a brand through content creation.From working with players like Marcus Smith to collaborating with brands such as Canterbury, Henry and Alex explain how they’re using art, social media and storytelling to create a different kind of connection between players, fans and the game.We also look at the future of rugby culture, sports marketing and how creativity could help rugby reach new audiences. 🎨

Amy Humphries, better known as Rugby With Amy, has gone from playing the game to building a career around making rugby entertaining online. 🏉After discovering rugby through grassroots sport, Amy’s playing career was eventually disrupted by concussion — but rather than stepping away from the game, she found a new way to stay involved through content creation.In this episode, we chat about the evolution of rugby on social media, why personality and authenticity are becoming more important than polished production, and how finding a niche can help creators stand out. We also get into building communities, growing personal brands, collaborating with players and clubs, and the opportunities social media can create for rugby.Amy shares plenty of practical advice for anyone looking to start creating content, from overcoming the fear of putting yourself out there to simply being consistent and asking for opportunities. 📱A conversation about rugby, content creation, women’s rugby, personal branding, community and where the game goes next.