Rugby Hive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by current USA Women’s 15s Head Coach Jack Hanratty for #RugbyHive Episode 38.Originally from Skerries, County Dublin, Hanratty has rapidly become one of the most respected young coaches in world rugby. His coaching journey began with Leinster Rugby before moving into the Rugby Canada pathway, where he climbed from age-grade rugby into senior international coaching.Hanratty first made waves on the international stage with Canada Women’s Rugby, serving as assistant coach during the 2022 Rugby World Cup before taking charge of Canada Women’s Sevens. Under his leadership, Canada became one of the most exciting and dangerous teams on the HSBC SVNS circuit, highlighted by a silver medal performance at the Paris Olympics in 2024.Now leading the USA Women’s Eagles program, Hanratty has relocated to the United States to guide the team into an exciting new era ahead of Rugby World Cup 2029 and the massive opportunity of Rugby World Cup 2033 on American soil.In this episode, we dive deep into Jack’s coaching philosophy, his upbringing in Ireland, and the influences that shaped his approach to leadership and high performance. We unpack Canada’s remarkable run to Olympic silver in Paris, including the incredible comeback victory over Australia in the semifinals, and what it takes to build belief within an elite environment.We also discuss the future of USA Women’s Rugby, talent identification across North America, the balance between 7s and 15s development, and why women’s rugby is entering a golden era globally. Hanratty also shares insights into athlete management, pressure moments at the Olympics, and what success could look like for the Eagles over the next four-year cycle.We hope you enjoy this episode with one of the brightest coaching minds in international rugby — a coach already shaping the future of the women’s game across two nations.The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by Springbok legend and one of the greatest fly-halves in rugby history, Naas Botha, for #RugbyHive Episode 37.Botha won 28 Test caps for the Springboks between 1980 and 1992, scoring 312 points — a South African record that stood for over a decade. His tally was passed by Percy Montgomery in his 50th match, while Botha had only played in 28. Botha’s weapon of choice was the drop goal: 18 in Test rugby, and a record 273 in domestic rugby. He scored a record 2,511 points for Northern Transvaal (now Blue Bulls) during his career between 1977 and 1995. He captained his province on a record 128 occasions and secured nine Currie Cup titles.In this episode, we go right back to the beginning — Naas's upbringing in Brits and where his obsession with the boot truly started. We explore the extraordinary story of his Dallas Cowboys trial, and the fascinating chapter of his life where he went on to win the 1984 USA Rugby National Club Championship with the Dallas Harlequins. We also dive into his time playing for Rugby Rovigo Delta in Italy and Northern Transvaal in South Africa at the same time!We hear about his 30-year broadcasting career at SuperSport, and the potential next chapter in his broadcasting career, taking rugby to a new audience in America, having recently moved to Kansas.To date, Botha holds the record as the longest on-air talent career in the history of SuperSport, testimony to his enduring abilities. We also delve into some of his favorite Springbok team mates, plus the best scrum-halves and fly-halves he has seen.We hope you enjoy this episode which provides a rare and deeply personal look at one of South African rugby's most iconic figures — a man who broke records, crossed codes, and shaped a sport across five remarkable decades.The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legends Shiray & Gillies Kaka for #RugbyHive Episode 36.Shiray Kaka is a Black Ferns 7s sensation representing New Zealand on the world stage since 2013, earning recognition for her incredible work rate and try-scoring ability. She has been a key player in the Black Ferns 7s success, winning a Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Silver medal at the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7s in Cape Town and Bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Over the last decade New Zealand has won the Sevens World Series in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023.Gillies Kaka played for the All Blacks 7s from 2013 to 2016, winning Sevens World Series titles in 2013 and 2014, and represented New Zealand at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He was known for his leadership, speed and vision on the field, helping New Zealand win Silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.After retiring, Gillies made the transition into coaching, bringing his experience and knowledge to the next generation of players. Together, Gillies and Shiray have built impressive careers in rugby, while balancing family life and supporting each other's growth on and off the field.In this episode, we dive into Gillies and Shiray’s backgrounds, their journey in rugby, and their path to represent their country at the Olympic Games. We delve in Gillies’ transition to a Cowboy, from player to coach after turning down a ‘real’ job, exploring his coaching ambitions and his experience representing MacDowell Rugby and Canada at the 2024 Global Youth Sevens. We hear from Shiray about her Gold medal highs and lows, plus how she found coaching the next generation of Canadian talent at the 2024 Global Youth Sevens.We also hear about life on the farm, and then a MASSIVE news drop while recording: Shiray is pregnant!! Wishing the Kaka family all the best during this exciting time!We hope you enjoy this episode which provides an inspiring look at two of rugby's most entertaining athletes, their journey together in the world of rugby, and the balance between family, farming, coaching and comedy in Rayze The Roof!The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legend Krissy Scurfield for #RugbyHive Episode 35.Scurfield is a Canadian rugby sensation who played a pivotal role in securing a Silver Medal for Rugby Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Known for her electric speed and unmatched resilience, Krissy’s rise to the top of international rugby has been nothing short of extraordinary.Originally from the picturesque town of Canmore, Alberta, nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Krissy’s early years were defined by a love for sports, particularly ice hockey. She grew up playing on the ice, embodying the quintessential Canadian spirit, before making a transformative switch to rugby. This transition wasn’t just about changing sports; it was about embracing new challenges and opportunities on the global stage.After her debut on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Krissy quickly became a standout player, and in 2022, she earned a spot on the Vancouver Sevens Dream Team. During the 2023/2024 Series, Scurfield scored 20 tries in 37 matches. Scurfield’s road to the Paris Olympics was a tough one, marked by both triumphs and setbacks. Despite an injury during the Games, Krissy showed incredible grit and determination, helping Canada secure a historic Silver Medal. In this episode, we talk about her journey to Paris, the devastating injury she picked up on day one of competition, and the overwhelming support from her family and teammates.After the Olympics, Krissy continued her career with the Loughborough Lightning in the UK, where she embraced a new challenge playing in the Premiership Women's Rugby competition. We discuss her transition to the UK, a memorable coast-to-coast try she scored, and how her sevens experience has helped her thrive in the 15s format, with the goal of playing in the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England!Off the field, Krissy is making a mark as the founder of Scurfield Athletics, a personal training business where she helps others unlock their athletic potential. She shares the rewards and challenges of coaching and mentoring young athletes, offering invaluable insights into what it takes to succeed both on and off the field.Join us as we dive into Krissy Scurfield’s remarkable journey from the Canadian Rockies to the Olympic stage.The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legend Spiff Sedrick for #RugbyHive Episode 34.Sedrick is an American 7s player from Salt Lake City, Utah, who has represented Team USA on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series since 2021 and competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games winning a Bronze Medal. She scored one of the most iconic tries in rugby sevens history this year, with an 85-meter solo effort in the final play of the Bronze Medal match against Australia, then kicked the conversion to win the first ever medal in sevens for Team USA! It was a pivotal moment for rugby in North America, resulting in trailblazing businesswoman and investor Michele Kang immediately donating $4 million to the USA women's sevens team.Sedrick debuted for the USA Eagles at the 2021 Dubai Sevens, placed 4th at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town and won Gold at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She also won the Premier Rugby Sevens title with the Northern Loonies in 2021 and in 2023 won the United Championship with the Rocky Mountain Experts.In this episode we talk about how Sedrick found rugby at Herriman High School, her journey playing the sport collegiately at Life University and winning the prestigious MA Sorensen Award for the top collegiate women’s rugby player in the country. We talk about her time playing in the Premier Rugby Sevens including two years being coached by Robin with the Northern Loonies. We delve into “that iconic match-winning try” plus the whole 2024 Paris Olympic Games experience including the record crowds for women’s sevens rugby! Sedrick also reveals more about being on Team USA with sensation Ilona Maher and how she will do on Dancing with the Stars!The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legends Kieran and Nicole Crowley for #RugbyHive Episode 33.Kieran played in the backline for the All Blacks from 1983-1991 (19 Caps) winning the 1987 Rugby World Cup on home soil. He was also part of the New Zealand team that won the Bledisloe Cup in 1985, 1990 and 1991. Kieran played 199 times for club team Taranaki, scoring 1,723 points, and later coached Taranaki from 1998-2007.Kieran spent eight years coaching the Canadian Men’s 15s team, taking them to the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. He then spent five seasons with Benetton in Italy, which is when this interview was recorded during 2020. Since we spoke, Kieran was named Coach of the Year while at Benetton Rugby guiding them to a Pro 14 Rainbow Cup Championship (2021), before being selected as the Head Coach of Italy in May of 2021. He led Italy to a 22-21 win over Wales in the 2021 Six Nations, and then recorded one of the biggest upsets to date for the Azzurri by defeating Australia 28-27 in the Autumn tours of 2022.Kieran’s daughter, Nicole, also grew up New Zealand until she moved to Canada with her family at 12 years of age. She played for Team BC in 7s and 15s, captaining them to a National Championship. At just 18 years old while completing an internship at Rugby Canada, Nicole got the opportunity to become Manager of the Canada Women’s 15s team. From there she worked on contract with Rugby Canada while finishing her Business degree at the University of Victoria, where she was also a member of the UVic Vikes rugby team. Nicole managed the Women’s 15s side through their 2017 World Cup campaign as well as the Women’s 7s team to the Pan American Games, HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and Olympic Qualification.Since our interview, Nicole moved North with her partner (who works in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), living in the remote sub-Arctic in the Northwest Territories, in a town of only 450 people and with no roads connecting it to other towns. Nicole is the Director of Recreation for the municipality where she is highly involved with Special Olympics NT and Sport North, where she works to help disadvantaged and remote kids from communities like hers, access sporting opportunities.In this episode we talk about Kieran and Nicole’s rugby backgrounds, their accomplishments in the sport, and how they both used rugby as a vehicle to live and work in different countries and experience new cultures.The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legend Kelly Griffin for #RugbyHive Episode 32.Griffin signed a full-time training contract in 2011 with USA Rugby, and along with 7 other teammates to became the first group of professional women’s rugby players in the United States. She played on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series from 2011 to 2016, leading the country in tournament appearances, and was the only athlete of the "original eight" to have remained in residency throughout the four-year in the build-up to the 2016 Olympics.Griffin was part of the USA team that medaled at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens, going undefeated in pool play, and claiming the Bronze Medal by beating Spain in sudden death overtime. She also competed as part of Team USA at the Pan American Games claiming a Bronze Medal.Griffin made history by captaining the USA Women's Olympic rugby team, which competed in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, the inaugural Olympiad to include women's rugby.She has transitioned to a successful coaching career at the University of Santa Barbara, and also the Premier 7s Women’s Loonies in 2021/2022, leading them to the Inaugural Championship title in Memphis, Tennessee!In this episode we talk about the development of the women’s game in the USA, the Olympic Games, and various dream team players that Griffin played alongside and against. We also look at the Premier Rugby 7s in North America, coaching the game to newer players, and that famous rugby tattoo!The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legend Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi for #RugbyHive Episode 31.Soyizwapi is the South African 7s (known as the Blitzboks) Captain, who has represented his country on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series since 2016, winning the prestigious Series title in both 2017 and 2018. He captained South Africa to a Gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, with the Blitzboks defeating Fiji 31-7. At the time of this recording Shakes has scored over 130 tries on the Series, the 4th highest try scorer in history for the Rainbow Nation, behind Fabian Juries (179), Cecil Afrika (179) and Seabelo Senatla (230).In this episode we talk about Soyizwapi’s family, his time in the Eastern Cape at Dale College, and rising in the rugby ranks through the Kings, Stormers and eventually the successful Blitzbok 7s side. We talk about hosting the recent Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town, and Head Coach Neil Powell’s final event after 15 years inside the South African 7s setup.Soyizwapi reveals his South African 7s Dream Team, plus the best opponents he has ever faced, and cracks us up with some hilarious pranks on tour!The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legends Jerry Tuwai and Ben Gollings for #RugbyHive Episode 30.Tuwai is a two-time Gold medal winner with Team Fiji, having won the first ever Olympic medal for Fiji at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 event. He then captained Fiji 7s to their second Gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He is the current top try scorer of all-time for Fiji on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with 134 tries, and was named World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2019.Tuwai comes from humble beginnings in Suva, and credits his parents for his achievements, and cites them as his main motivation to perform and achieve accolades in rugby. When he was young, Tuwai’s father and mother saved enough money to buy him his first pair of rugby boots. As his mother handed them over she said to him “ this is your knife and fork".Gollings, who still holds the record for most points scored on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, is the new Fiji 7s Head Coach. He represented England 7s from 2000 to 2011, amassing 2,652 points.In today's episode we chat with Jerry Tuwai about his two Gold medal experiences, growing up in Fiji, and his new player/coach role alongside Ben Gollings. We also find out about his ability to avoid a fitness test, and how Fiji's preparations are going ahead of the Rugby World Cup 7s, Commonwealth Games and remaining stops on the Sevens Series.The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive

Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by legend Andrew Swain for #RugbyHive Episode 29.Swain began his career in sports broadcasting working for Triple M in Brisbane, Australia, whilst also playing grade rugby for the famous Brothers Rugby Club.He moved to Sydney to work for Fox Sports News in 2007 covering everything from Ice Hockey toSuperCars to Rugby World Cups. Whilst honing his commentary skills, he won a Judd Cup for local club Colleagues. He started calling rugby at club level, and moved on to calling Super Rugby, Test Rugby, Sevens, U20s to become one of the most respected play by play commentators in world rugby.In today’s episode we talk about his extensive broadcasting background, rugby in Australia, and the next generation of Women's 7s stars from his country. Please note this episode was recorded back in 2020, and our first podcast where our guest recorded in his car.The Rugby Hive Podcast is brought to you by:The Rugby Broadcast AcademyMacDowell RugbyTsunami SportGilbert Rugby CanadaBiltong CanadaRugbyCoffee🛒 Pick up your sensational merchandise from our online store at World Rugby Shop!🔗 Episodes, YouTube & Socials: linktr.ee/RugbyHive#RugbyPodcast #RugbyLegends #RugbyHive