Rephonic
Artwork for Rugby Lives
British and Irish Lions
Bath Rugby Club
Women's Rugby World Cup
New Zealand
John Bentley
England
Kenny Logan
John Taylor
London Welsh
Saracens
England National Rugby Union Team
Rugby Union
Adam Jones
Lions Tour
Bath Rugby
Graham Dawe
Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago
Scotland National Rugby Union Team
Rugby
Bedford Rugby Club

Rugby Lives brings you interviews with people from beyond the sport of rugby to talk about their passion for the oval ball. From the makers of The Rugby Journal. Head to therugbyjournal.com for more.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes29Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsRugby

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Rugby Lives

Latest Episodes

As part of the Vodafone clubs.connected programme, Rugby Lives headed to Highland Rugby Club to meet Kim Littlejohn, former captain of Scotland, and Tim Swinson, who won 38 caps for Scotland. They talk us through their colourful careers, from lifting... more

This week we meet Deborah Griffin, the first female president of the RFU, at her home club of Richmond FC to talk about her long rugby life, and how against all odds she established the women's Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Lives meet Mike Rayer at Goldington Road, the home of Bedford, where he has spent over 20 years at the helm. He talks the state of the Champ, promotion and relegation, retrospective tries and Frank Warren.

Former Harlequins, England and British & Irish Lions coach Bick Best joins Rugby Lives to talk about what it was like joining Harlequins as a working class youngster from East London, how he ascended to become head coach, then took on the mantle with... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Flats and Shanks
Flats and ShanksFlats & Shanks
The Rugby Pod
The Rugby PodThe Ringer
Rugby Union Weekly
Rugby Union WeeklyBBC Radio 5 Live

Recent Guests

Kim Littejohn
Scottish international rugby player, pivotal figure in the early Scotland women's team
Scottish Rugby
Episode: EP16: Kim Littejohn & Tim Swinson on 'fake' professionalism, saving the 1994 Rugby World Cup & Glasgow glory days
Tim Swinson
Scottish international rugby player, experienced club and international career
Scotland Rugby, Glasgow
Episode: EP16: Kim Littejohn & Tim Swinson on 'fake' professionalism, saving the 1994 Rugby World Cup & Glasgow glory days
Deborah Griffin
Former RFU president and pioneering organizer of the Women's Rugby World Cup
RFU (Royal Frog? RFU)
Episode: EP15: Deborah Griffin on life as RFU President, how she founded the women's Rugby World Cup and her love for Richmond FC
Mike Rayer
Former Bedford and Wales rugby player, long-time Bedford coach
Bedford RFC
Episode: EP14: Mike Rayer on why Champ Rugby deserves promotion, 20 years at Bedford, Wales memories and Frank Warren
Dick Best
Former Harlequins captain, England coach, and director of rugby who led Harlequins through the early professional era
Harlequins, England Rugby
Episode: EP13: Dick Best on East London upbringing, what Harlequins was REALLY like, Grand Slams with England, London Irish and plenty more stories ...
Gavin Hastings
Scottish rugby legend, Grand Slam winner
Scotland National Team
Episode: EP12: Gavin Hastings & Lee Cockburn on Grand Slam titles, amateur rugby days, being run over by your teacher and Luton Van transport
Lee Cockburn
Scottish rugby player and Lions participant
Scotland/Lions
Episode: EP12: Gavin Hastings & Lee Cockburn on Grand Slam titles, amateur rugby days, being run over by your teacher and Luton Van transport
Donna Kennedy
Scotland's most-capped female rugby player
Scotland Rugby
Episode: EP11: Donna Kennedy & Matt Scott on the first ever Scotland women's Test and becoming Currie's first international
Matt Scott
Former Scotland international and Leicester Premiership champion
Scotland Rugby / Leicester Tigers
Episode: EP11: Donna Kennedy & Matt Scott on the first ever Scotland women's Test and becoming Currie's first international

Host

Alex Mead
Host of Rugby Lives; interviewer and facilitator of conversations with rugby figures; connected to Rugby Lives and The Rugby Journal

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Rugby

    This podcasts are spot on keep them coming

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    orchardcatering
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Frustrating

    Decent content but in the name of all that is holy , sort the levels out

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ?!,'zz
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Great stories behind the game

    A laid-back listen with great guests and real insight into the game. Perfect for fans who love the stories behind the sport.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SRFC vet
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Love this!

    Such a great listen. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HoffLondon
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some callers feel level setting and production levels could improve.
Fans appreciate the behind-the-scenes rugby history and personal journeys.
Listeners praise deep storytelling and strong guest lineups.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#181
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#106
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#147
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#102
France/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#233
Australia/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#62
Sweden/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP2: Richard Hill - 2001
Q: When did it start to feel like professional rugby was the new reality for you and the team?
It took about a year and a half; the club had only a handful of professional players at first, and slowly more players signed up, the training, facilities, and the overall approach becoming recognizably professional.
EP2: Richard Hill - 2001
Q: What was Saracens like before professionalism set in, and how did the club start to change?
It was definitely pre-professional; players were signing contracts, but the club was still a mix of amateurs and budding professionals, with big signings and a sense that things would shift as rugby moved toward professionalism.
EP1: Tom Shanklin on rise and fall of Welsh Rugby, and the 2005 Grand Slam
Q: How did injuries impact Tom's Lions tour and career thereafter?
Serious knee issues around the Lions tour curtailed his participation, leading to a year out and a gradual decline in playing power, followed by retirement discussions.
EP1: Tom Shanklin on rise and fall of Welsh Rugby, and the 2005 Grand Slam
Q: What was the dynamic in the changing room during the 2005 Grand Slam run, especially around leadership and bench roles?
Steve Hansen, Scott Johnson, and leadership from players like Mike Ruddock and Gareth Thomas helped shape a new mentality, with pivotal moments created by strategic changes such as Mark Taylor's wing debut.
EP1: Tom Shanklin on rise and fall of Welsh Rugby, and the 2005 Grand Slam
Q: Tell me about the decision to move back to Wales and pursue playing for Wales regularly.
Tom explains moving to Cardiff to play regularly for Wales and to gain visibility with selectors, with steady opportunities that built his international career.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Rugby Lives

What is Rugby Lives about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Rugby Lives offers long-form conversations with prominent rugby figures and industry insiders, often blending personal career stories with broader histories of the sport. Episodes mix reminiscences from elite players and administrators with behind-the-scenes context on governance, club development, and the shift from amateur to professional rugby, plus occasional crossovers into farming, hospitality, and food. Noteworthy is the show's willingness to foreground governance, women's rugby milestones, and the human side of athletic evolution, all anchored by a storytelling tone that invites fans to hear about legacy, culture, and life beyond the pitch.

Where can I find podcast stats for Rugby Lives?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Rugby Lives. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Rugby Lives and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Rugby Lives get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Rugby Lives, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Rugby Lives?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Rugby Lives, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Rugby Lives have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Rugby Lives has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Rugby Lives?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rugby Lives:

1. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
2. Flats and Shanks
3. For The Love Of Rugby
4. The Rugby Pod
5. Rugby Union Weekly

How many episodes of Rugby Lives are there?

Rugby Lives launched a year ago and published 29 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Rugby Lives?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Rugby Lives?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Rugby Lives from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Rugby Lives?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Rugby Lives. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Rugby Lives?

Recent guests on Rugby Lives include:

1. Kim Littejohn
2. Tim Swinson
3. Deborah Griffin
4. Mike Rayer
5. Dick Best
6. Gavin Hastings
7. Lee Cockburn
8. Donna Kennedy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days