Bottom of the Ruck: Ted Hardy on Why Grassroots Rugby Matters (US & UK Challenges, Community, and Club Survival) The host welcomes Ted Hardy, founder of Bottom of the Ruck, a platform highlighting grassroots rugby through stories and club spotlights. Ted explains his earlier work covering elite rugby, becoming disillusioned, and returning to “boots on the ground” community rugby, choosing the name Bottom of the Ruck to reflect struggling clubs that keep getting back up. Based in North Carolina, he notes grassroots issues are similar worldwide: volunteer burnout, finances, attrition, and a disconnect with governing bodies. They discuss US rugby’s club-driven structure, college rugby’s challenges, long travel and forfeits, rigid league demands, and how Division 4 can be flexible with player sharing. Ted emphasizes rugby’s unique lifelong club community, the importance of social connection, alternative formats like touch and walking rugby, and how Clayton RFC funds itself through dues, fundraising, sponsorships, and field development. 00:46 Grassroots Rugby Welcome 01:50 Origin Story Bottom of the Ruck 05:16 Why the Name Matters 05:55 US Base Shared Struggles 08:19 Hooked on Community Rugby 10:56 College Rugby Reality Check 13:15 Youth Pathways and Retention 15:00 Pro Rugby Impact in USA 22:27 Travel Training League Pressures 24:18 US Divisions and Mismatches 28:39 Flexible Social Rugby Solutions 30:54 Walking Rugby Tryout 31:45 Touch Rugby Social Scene 33:57 Rugby Beyond the Pitch 36:05 Building Home Fields 37:30 Membership and Club Structure 38:48 Fundraising and Sponsors 41:54 Global Rugby Network 43:55 Grassroots Challenges Today 49:04 Starting and Keeping Clubs 54:26 Finding a Local Club 55:52 Sport Participation Culture 56:58 Final Thanks and Signoff

Welcome to Our Rugby Club! In this episode, we chat with Sean Phelan, a passionate advocate for grassroots rugby and the mind behind Fill Your Boots. He explains how his platform helps local clubs and players connect, preventing match cancellations and strengthening rugby union at its core. This initiative is vital for the future of world rugby, ensuring the sport thrives from the community level up.Fill Your Boots: Keeping Grassroots Rugby Alive with Sean PhelanIn this episode of Rugby Club, host interviews Sean Phelan, founder of Fill Your Boots, a platform launched in 2015 to help grassroots rugby teams find players and avoid match cancellations. Sean explains how his one-team club, Servis and Decca, has long struggled with player availability and pitch costs, leading them to leave league structures and focus on playing 5–6 “big occasion” matches per season while growing community activity through weekly walking rugby and non-contact options. He describes Fill Your Boots’ growth from social media to a global hub with 25,000+ followers, 1,800 site members, and 400 clubs across 24 countries, now covering topics like recruitment, marketing, match reports, coach development, and fixtures. Sean also discusses a new partnership with North Midlands RFU and urges people to “get the game on” through flexible participation.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:57 Why Start Fill Your Boots02:56 Community Rugby Values03:44 Club Origins and History06:01 Barely Fifteen Reality06:38 Fill Your Boots Beginnings08:17 Biggest Club Challenges09:51 Rebuilding and Rebranding12:48 Redefining Grassroots Rugby16:23 Get The Game On20:26 Flexible Rugby Club Identity22:57 What If The Club Folded24:53 Rugby Makes Friends25:55 Old School Club Culture27:05 How Big Is FYB29:22 Hot Topics And Templates31:41 North Mids Partnership34:48 Grassroots Versus Elite38:23 Funding And League Pressure41:04 Keep Playing Any Format44:42 Using FYB To Find Games46:11 How To Join FYB48:23 Final Thanks And Wrap

Welcome back to Our Rugby Club! In this episode, we continue our conversation with former Scotland international Ian Smith, a true rugby union legend and now a tik tok sensation. He shares his strong views on the modern game, from the elite level down to community rugby, making this a must-listen rugby podcast. You'll hear his thoughts on what needs to change in the sport, echoing the kind of honest discussion you might find on good bad rugby.Ian Smith on What’s Broken in Modern Rugby: Leagues, TMOs, and Saving the Community GameFormer Scotland international fullback Ian Smith, now in his eighties and a TikTok creator with 1.4 million followers, discusses what he believes is harming modern rugby from elite to community level. He argues official leagues reduce local rivalries and enjoyment, and that coaching-driven training demands push social players away, leading to difficulties raising teams and empty pitches. Smith criticizes growing administrative interference, long matches influenced by TMOs, and suggests separating the televised, TMO-driven elite game from most rugby played without such resources. He also raises concerns about the sport’s collision risks deterring families, and says high ticket prices prevent children from seeing heroes. He proposes a national cup-style competition to spread the game by bringing top clubs to local grounds.00:00 Welcome Back Intro00:53 Why Leagues Hurt Clubs03:55 Social Rugby Lost05:57 Empty Pitches Problem08:54 RFU And Governance10:36 TMO And Game Flow13:24 Split Pro And Community17:25 Fans Prices And Access21:21 Leagues Fix Kickoff Times25:15 Money And Professionalism26:57 Safety And Collision Fears29:36 FA Cup Style Rugby32:44 Wrap Up And Thanks33:20 Episode Closing OutroRecommended book: The Art of Corse Rugby by Miachael Green https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Coarse-Rugby-Michael-Green/dp/0090600320Ian Smith on TikTok: @writers.cramp with 1.4 million followers!