Tight 5 talks

Sitting down with All Black, Crusader, Hurricane, Northampton Saint LEGEND and the newest scrum coach for the Llanelli Scarlets in Wales, Ben Franks. Ben has won just about everything there is to win, he squats all the weights and blows up all the scrums, all over the world.

Screen Shot 2020-06-09 at 2.52.59 PM.png — The One with Charlie Purdon

Our buddy Charlie catches up with us about becoming a full time Head Coach at USD, working with Perry Baker and American Youth Rugby, Post Covid Rugby outlooks, Super Rugby’s return to New Zealand and how in the hell I’m going to make it to the Lions Tour of South Africa in 2021

Charlie grew up in the farm land outside of Cape Town, SA where he eventually played in the Natal Sharks set up. His Pro rugby took him to Scotland and eventually Southern California where I would compete against him and eventually with him at San Diego Pro - The Breakers and then coaching together at Rugby Academies, Team Trainings and Camps. If you don’t know already check Charlie and all of his very cool rugby mates out at charlierugby.com

Get to catch up with former Natal Academy, Edinburgh Gunners and now Head Coach of University of San Diego Charlie Purdon after being trapped in his home country South Africa during the COVID pandemic. I first met Charlie as a player when he was with the mighty Santa Monica Dolphins while I was playing for San Francisco Golden Gate.

Screen Shot 2020-06-09 at 3.02.26 PM.png — The One with Naima Reddick

My good friend Naima joins the chat to discuss USA Rugby from an elite women’s perspective, her experiences through 3 Rugby World Cups, US Club & Collegiate Rugby and many things that women’s rugby has faced as they struggle to find equality in the great game on a global scale. We’ll let the conversation flow from there but it has been a great pleasure to have met Nai while she was preparing for RWC France in 2010 as a strength & conditioning coach and to later be club mates and friends as we chased each other around the Bay Area. Give it a listen!

This time around we talk to International Front Row Forward, USA Eagle and good friend of the cast Naima Reddick. I've had the pleasure of knowing Nai for 11 years now and we catch up about the good ol' days of training together in Oakland, CA, the state of women's rugby and the many disparities woman face playing the Inclusive Game of Rugby both here in America and around the globe.

Wales+v+New+Zealand+International+Match+huASqweK3OBx.jpg — Tight 5 Talks - The One with Kane Hames

Amazing opportunity to sit down with All Black Prop Kane Hames! Kane has an amazingly kiwi story of becoming a professional rugby player and All Black. Kane suffered a couple of serious concussions during his last AB tour and since then has been coaching and (hold for dramatic pause) reffing matches in the Nelson area.

Screen Shot 2020-11-11 at 4.59.23 PM.png — Tight 5 Talks - The One with Laurence Christie

Epic talk today with Laurence Christie of the St. Andrews School in South Africa. Laurence is front rower with a wealth of experience and knowledge and now the Director of Athletic Performance at St. Andrews School in Grahamstown, South Africa..

Tight 5 Talks - The One with Ashely Jones

This was a special sit down for me as I've followed the preachings of Ashley Jones for 17 years! Coach Jones has worked with athletes across 3 professional sports and his CV is too long for this description but it includes The All Blacks, The Wallabies, Scotland National Team, The Crusaders and most recently is sharing his incredible knowledge base with The Houston Sabre Cats in America's Major League Rugby (MLR). Coach Jones has seen and worked with the best as an S&C coach and his work for NSCA, Pro Basketball in Australia and grass roots rugby is truly legendary. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that has the experience level combined with a genuine love of his profession and that love comes out in how open, honest and the insane amount of material he shares with anyone willing to take it on board. I was absolutely blown away with how much Coach Jones shared with a nobody like myself and he continues to inspire and innovate after nearly 30 years in Strength & Conditioning, Professional Sport and Rugby. Thanks again to Coach Jones!

This was a special sit down for me as I've followed the preachings of Ashley Jones for 17 years! Coach Jones has worked with athletes across 3 professional sports and his CV is too long for this description but it includes The All Blacks, The Wallabies, Scotland National Team, The Crusaders and most recently is sharing his incredible knowledge base with The Houston Sabre Cats in America's Major League Rugby (MLR).

Screen Shot 2020-11-11 at 5.36.47 PM.png — Tight 5 Talks - The ONe with James DeLacey

James was good enough to sit down with the Prop Cast and chat about the S&C coaches journey that took him from Auckland to Austin, Texas and then to Bucharest, Romania! James has been working with the Romanian National Rugby Team since 2015 and his world champion athlete wife have been stranded in Romania as there is only 1 flight a month from Bucharest to Auckland where they both live. Seeing as he's stuck and there's no rugby on he took some time to talk about rugby, travel, neck strengthening and how it relates to sports & general health and a few bits & bobs from our personal lives.

James was good enough to sit down with the Prop Cast and chat about the S&C coaches journey that took him from Auckland to Austin, Texas and then to Bucharest, Romania!

Tight 5 Talks

Tight 5 talks