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.
Scott Smith has spent his career designing products for some of the biggest names in sport, including Nike, ASICS, and Canterbury. Now, he’s bringing everything he’s learned into his own venture: Code 15 — a rugby lifestyle brand built on heritage, quality, and storytelling.In this episode, Scott shares his journey from rugby player to product innovator, reflecting on how the game has shaped his career both on and off the pitch. We dive into what goes into creating world-class sports apparel, the influence of rugby culture on product design, and the lessons he learned working with some of the biggest brands in the industry.We also explore the vision behind Code 15, the importance of authenticity and exclusivity in rugby branding, sustainable product design, and where Scott believes the future of rugby fashion is heading. If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of the world’s biggest rugby brands, this is the episode for you.
Darian Ducci is the creator behind Bok On Tour and Off The Pitch, two platforms helping rugby reach new audiences through storytelling, social media, and behind-the-scenes content.In this episode, Darian shares his rugby journey from South Africa to the UK, discussing the influence of coaching, school rugby, and the culture that makes South African rugby so unique. We explore how he built his platforms, the challenges of creating rugby content, and why passion and consistency are essential for anyone looking to grow an audience.We also dive into player access, media restrictions, the role of social media in modern rugby, and why better storytelling could be one of the keys to growing the game globally. Along the way, Darian gives fascinating insights into South African rugby culture and how content creators can help rugby connect with a new generation of fans.