Talkin' Ruggers

🏉 Starting a business at 13 with just £100 and five rugby jerseys isn’t your typical entrepreneurial journey. Fast forward a few years and Harvey McNamara is now running The Blind Side Box full time, with around 500 jerseys in stock and ambitions to build something much bigger than a vintage rugby shirt business.In this episode of Talkin’ Ruggers, we sit down with Harvey to discuss how he turned a simple rugby jersey mystery-box idea into a growing business, the challenges of sourcing authentic vintage shirts, and what it takes to build a brand from scratch while still at school.But The Blind Side Box is becoming about much more than selling jerseys. Harvey explains his ambitions to bring rugby, fashion and content creation closer together, working with players, creators and rugby archives to tell the stories behind some of the game’s most iconic shirts.We also get into rugby kit culture, vintage designs, club heritage, creator collaborations and why bringing new audiences into rugby is so important for the future of the game.💬 In this episode:Starting The Blind Side Box at 13 with just £100Growing from five jerseys to around 500 in stockHow creator collaborations helped kickstart the businessThe challenges of sourcing and selling vintage rugby shirtsTurning a jersey business into a rugby media brandWorking with Welsh rugby archives and Liam WilliamsThe best vintage rugby shirts and iconic club designsWhy rugby, fashion and fan culture belong togetherBuilding a community around rugby content and clothingWhat’s next for The Blind Side Box🎙️ Subscribe to Talkin’ Ruggers for more conversations with the players, coaches, creators, entrepreneurs and personalities shaping the world of rugby.#Rugby #RugbyJerseys #Entrepreneurship

🏉 Former England international Charlie Hodgson joins Talkin’ Ruggers to discuss his journey through professional rugby and the lessons he’s learned about performance, coaching and player development.From the evolution of the professional game to the importance of mental skills, Charlie explains why self-awareness, resilience and understanding your own process are essential to becoming a better rugby player.We also discuss goal-kicking under pressure, supporting young players through setbacks, how coaching philosophies have changed, and what the future holds for rugby development.Whether you’re a player looking to take your game to the next level or a coach looking for new ways to develop your team, this episode offers practical insight into the mental side of rugby and the pursuit of continuous improvement.

🏉 From Norfolk to Leicester Tigers, Will Findlay’s rugby journey has taken him from playing the game to helping develop the next generation of athletes as a strength and conditioning coach.In this episode of Talkin’ Ruggers, Will shares the lessons he’s learned from working around elite rugby environments, why coaching is about far more than physical development, and the importance of patience, communication and emotional intelligence when working with young players.We also get into Will’s personal experiences with OCD and mental health, the importance of breaking the stigma around seeking help, and how he’s channelled his experiences into charity work and community initiatives.A conversation about rugby, coaching, personal development and using the game to make a difference beyond the pitch.

From county rugby to playing professionally for Leicester Tigers, Tomiwa Agbonbon has taken a pretty unique route through the game — and now he’s building an entirely different career through social media as TikTok Tommy.In this episode of Talkin’ Ruggers, Tomiwa talks about his rugby journey, from starting out at New Hall School and making the move to Loughborough, through to breaking into professional rugby and experiencing life around Premiership players.We also get into how TikTok and content creation have changed his life, why consistency and authenticity matter more than trying to be perfect online, and how young rugby players can use social media to build their own personal brand.We chat about the changing culture of rugby, the personalities helping make the sport more entertaining, the influence of players like Joe Marler, regional identity in rugby, and what the future could look like as the sport continues to embrace digital media.Topics include: professional rugby, Leicester Tigers, county rugby, TikTok, content creation, personal branding, rugby culture, social media and advice for aspiring rugby players and creators.

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.

Dylan Kay is the founder of Kick IQ, a rugby kicking coach and content creator helping players better understand one of the most important — and misunderstood — skills in the game.In this episode, we dive into Dylan’s journey from rugby player to specialist coach, how he built Kick IQ through content creation, and why enjoying the game is still the foundation of long-term success.We also get into the technical side of goal kicking, discussing different kicking styles, common mistakes, mental approaches under pressure, and the practical adjustments players can make to improve their accuracy and consistency.Whether you’re a goal kicker, coach, or rugby fan, this episode is packed with insights to help you see the game differently.