The Whiteboard Rugby Podcast

The Whiteboard Rugby Podcast

The rugby podcast allergic to hot takes. Sam Roberts and Sam Larner guide you through the World of rugby, picking out the big stories, controversial topics, and exciting developments of the game we all love. In the companion Blindside podcast, you'll hear interviews with big, and not so big, names from around the game, plus Q&As with the Sams, and conversations with fans both of pro teams and dedicated followers of grassroots rugby. Sam Roberts is a rugby commentator with too many years of experience to list. You will have heard him on the Rugby Inheritance Podcast with Ed Slater as well as on countless broadcasts. Sam Larner is an analyst and journalist with a passion for numbers. You can read his work in Rugby World and on Rugby Pass and he's never too far from guesting on someone else's podcast. If you have questions or feedback you can reach out directly to Sam Roberts (@SamRobertsComms) or Sam Larner (@SamLStandsup) on Twitter.

Episodes

26: Blindside: Matt Banahan

November 15, 2024 • 34 mins
Matt Banahan joins the show to talk about his move to coaching with the Scottish women's team, plus his return to playing in the historic cross-code 745 game at Headingley. The game will be played in tribute to Rob Burrow and organised by Ed Slater and tickets can still be brought here - https://www.therhinos.co.uk/rob-burrow-cbe/the-745-game .
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25: Blindside: Rocky Clark

November 12, 2024 • 30 mins
Sam Larner is joined by Rocky Clark to talk about her exceptional career and what comes after the boots are hung up.
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24: 2025 Rugby World Cup

November 11, 2024 • 28 mins
Sam Roberts is away this week, but his replacement is Rugby World Cup winner Rocky Clark. In this episode, Sam Larner and Clark talk about the upcoming Rugby World Cup and which teams will enjoy success in the UK.
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23: Blindside: Luke Pearce

November 4, 2024 • 38 mins
Sam Roberts and Sam Larner are joined by the ever excellent Luke Pearce to talk about refereeing in the age of social media, plus Luke is asked what happens if a mascot tries to interfere in play...
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22: Autumn Internationals Preview and Hakagate

November 1, 2024 • 36 mins
Sam Roberts and Sam Larner return to preview the four home nations chances ahead of the Autumn Internationals. Plus, they discuss the storm in the teacup which is Hakagate!
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21: Blindside: Gavin Thomas

October 28, 2024 • 34 mins
Gavin Thomas is a grassroots legend. He's been involved in running clubs, running competitions, and most importantly playing over 500 grassroots matches. Gavin tells us stories about the game, why he loves it, and what he thinks about the future.
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20: Blindside: Israel Dagg

October 21, 2024 • 36 mins
Sam Larner and Sam Roberts are joined by their biggest guest to date; Israel Dagg. The All Blacks' legend tells them about his humble upbringing, his unplanned retirement, and the northern hemisphere club he almost signed for.
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19: Kiwis Abroad and Premiership Underperformers

October 18, 2024 • 36 mins
Sam Roberts and Sam Larner return to pull together their XV of New Zealanders who played in Britain and Ireland. Plus, should Exeter or Gloucester be more optimistic of turning things around? Finally, news of an enormous guest who will be gracing us with their presence on Monday's Blindside edition.
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18: Blindside: Dan Cooper

October 14, 2024 • 34 mins
Sam Roberts is joined this week by Bath's Head of Analysis Dan Cooper to talk about what an analyst actually does and what clubs focus on behind closed doors. He is also joined by Sam Larner who hops the fence this week and sits in the guest chair to discuss the differences between in-club analysis and social media analysis.
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17: Law Changes!

October 11, 2024 • 33 mins
In light of the recent proposed law changes by World Rugby, the Sams discuss what they might mean for the game, plus which are inspired and which should be chucked out immediately!
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16: Blindside: Charlie Morgan

October 7, 2024 • 34 mins
One of the smartest rugby minds, Charlie Morgan of the Telegraph joins us to talk about his journey in journalism and what the future looks like. Plus, we talk about the perils of criticising players you might then end up in the vicinity of.
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15: WXV Trends and Rugby Finances

October 4, 2024 • 35 mins
Sam Roberts and Sam Larner discuss the first round of WXV 2024 and why it should give some countries reason to be optimistic. Plus, are rugby's finances as concerning as they seem? The Sams disagree on that. Finally, 1/6th of the way through the season, what is happening in ProD2?
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14: Blindside: Lance Bradley

September 30, 2024 • 32 mins
Osprey's CEO Lance Bradley joins the podcast to discuss the business of rugby. Is rugby actually financially healthy, why don't teams drop ticket prices, and what are the benefits of playing matches elsewhere? This episode covers all that and more to get behind the scenes on what it's like to run a rugby business.
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13: Championship Beginnings and Argentine-Thriller

September 27, 2024 • 40 mins
The Championship returned on the weekend and Sam Roberts launches a passionate case for why we should all get behind the second tier of English rugby. They also discuss what the future might be for the league. Plus, there's discussion about Argentina's recent success plus stats and what they outline. 
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12: Blindside: Christian Day

September 23, 2024 • 35 mins
In this Blindside edition, Sam Roberts and Sam Larner spoke with Christian Day, the General Secretary of the Rugby Players Association (RPA) about some of the reasons to be positive about rugby. Earlier in the month, the RPA co-signed the professional game partnership (PGP) to hopefully set rugby on a more solid footing. Christian talks about the impact of that as well as how else the RPA assists players.
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11: Grassroots Rugby and Prem Preview

September 20, 2024 • 35 mins
Sam Larner has some grassroot rugby frustrations to get off his chest and Sam Roberts previews Newcastle's season and gives his opinion on whether Christian Wade can set the Premiership try scoring record or not. Plus, we share some deep heat based stories.
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10: Blindside: Will Roberts

September 16, 2024 • 38 mins
Will Roberts is better known as the creator of the Young Rugby instagram page. He is an expert in all things youth rugby and in this edition of the Blindside he talks us through some of the challenges and opportunities young players have, plus, he gives us the low down on the future stars of the game!
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9: Worries in Oz and Dream Fifteens

September 12, 2024 • 39 mins
Sam Roberts and Sam Larner are back to discuss the significant worries facing rugby down in Australia and what it might mean for the Lions tour. Plus, we follow the lead of Hever Castle and copy a meme. Can men really just have fun naming old sports people?
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8: Blindside: Charlie Beckett

September 10, 2024 • 32 mins
What does the life of a journeyman rugby player hold? Charlie Beckett has recently retired from his playing career and started his new role as a coach at Loughborough Lightning. In this episode, Charlie lays clear the frankly astonishing mismanagement that goes on at some clubs and why players are right to be disloyal when it comes to jumping ship.
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7: Cap Limits and the Limits of Fandom

September 6, 2024 • 37 mins
Sam Roberts returns to the podcast after a week away and we discuss whether there's still a place for cap limits and national team selection restrictions in the modern game. Plus, we talk about how the relationship between fans and players might have changed.
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