B-Side Bois: A Rugby Podcast

Today is the official start of the Rugby Iowa High School Girls' Rugby 7s Season and to kick things off, we talk to Jenni Laferriere, professional rugby player for the Boston Banshees of Women’s Elite Rugby, coach, commentator, social media ambassador, referee, and so much more, to prep us for this season! Hear her story of how she went from finding the game to getting the opportunity to play professional! She shares advice for our high school players as well as give us more information on the world of Women's Rugby! Then tonight, check out our livestream on our YouTube Channel, of Week 1 action live from Fort Dodge Rugby Club!

Fall rugby is officially underway, and the B-Side Bois are diving headfirst into everything happening across Iowa and beyond. The boys break down Iowa State’s tight 26–22 win over Iowa Central, the changing landscape of college rugby, early results from the Iowa club season, and what we’re seeing from the Wombats, Bremer County, Dubuque, Iowa Falls and other programs across the state. There’s also some big news from inside the show as one of the Bois takes on a new role as Commissioner of the Great Plains Rugby Conference. Plus, “What the Ruck?” tackles the confusing world of international rugby competitions, tiers and championships—and why even longtime rugby fans can struggle to keep it all straight. Then Iowa Rugby Union President Sage joins the show for a deeper conversation about the future of rugby in Iowa. We talk growing participation, strengthening D-III and D-IV rugby, developing the women’s game, Select Sides, live scoring, supporting players and their families, and what it will take to continue building a stronger rugby community across the state. The Bois also preview the upcoming Iowa vs. Iowa State women’s rugby livestream and the B-Side Bois live show at the Wombats Rugby Social at SingleSpeed Brewery benefiting Animal Lifeline of Iowa. Fall is here. Rugby is back. LET THE FALL BEGIN! Sponsored by KnoPros Remodeling, Jenny Farrel RE/MAX Concepts, Iowa Beef Steakhouse, and Revelton Distilling Company. LIVE from the AKC Andrew Downs Studio.

Nichols breaks down the New Zealand tour of South Africa!

Join us for episode 180 as the Bois are joined by guest host Julien Hall where they talk about all the hot rugby topics blowing up social media. Who are the best crossover athletes? Why do we see high school clubs die? They also recap the USA Club Rugby 7s Nationals and cover other rugby news. Hear interviews from UNL Rugby’s Olympic Hopeful Drew Moser and hear from Iowa State Men's Rugby’s Head Coach Ant Frein! A little bit of everything! Laughs, Insight, Debate and more! Join us!

Chris shares the inspiring story behind building an independent media network, surviving life's toughest challenges, creating opportunities for passionate creators, and why community always comes first. Plus, the guys discuss the welcoming culture of rugby, local and regional news, Wayne State's new coaching hire, and what's ahead for the sport in Iowa and beyond. Whether you're a lifelong rugby fan or discovering the game for the first time, this episode is all about growth, opportunity, and the power of giving passionate people a platform. Sponsored by Styled by JJ Boutique, Jenny Farrell RE/MAX Concepts, Iowa Beef Steakhouse, and Revelton Distilling Company Pallys Bar Grill, Single Speed, KnoPros Remodeling. Work Flow LIVE from the AKC Andrew Downs Studio

The B-Side Bois are back, and now on video! In this episode, we discuss how the 2027, 2029, 2031, and 2033 Rugby World Cups could grow rugby in the United States, what USA Rugby must do to attract new fans, and the outlook for the USA Men’s and Women’s Eagles. We also preview the college rugby season in Iowa, break down the South Carolina coaching situation, discuss Iowa high school girls’ 7s, celebrate the Chicago Hounds’ MLR Championship, and debate the future of Major League Rugby with laughs a plenty! Plus: 🏉 Arkansas Men’s Rugby Head Coach Lance Cummings 🏉 The College Rugby Show's Darian Lovelace 🏉 New “What the Ruck?” rugby explainer segment presented by Try Line Photos 📺 Upcoming rugby matches and streaming information 📣 Rugby referee and coaching certification opportunities Subscribe for rugby news, interviews, match previews, college rugby, Major League Rugby, USA Rugby, Iowa rugby, and more! #Rugby #USARugby #RugbyPodcast #MajorLeagueRugby #MLR #CollegeRugby #IowaRugby #RugbyWorldCup #WomensRugby #Rugby7s #ChicagoHounds #BsideBois

We've got a quick interview with Casey Hansen, director of High Performance Rugby for Rugby Iowa (Iowa Youth Rugby Association). We also take a look back at the Waverly-Shell Rock boys 7s State Title, Iowa High School 15s, Iowa Selects, and preview the Mid Summer Classic Tournament!

-Interview w/ Morgan Linck of UNI Women's Rugby -CRC 7s Recap -Iowa High School Boys Rugby -And more!

Nichols and Mr. Gray talk high school rugby, CRC 7s, CRAA 15s, SVNS Rugby, Women's International Rugby, and some silly stuff along the way! Join us!

Episode 174 is here and we’re going all in on college rugby! 🎙️🏉 This week, we’re joined by special guest Zach Lanning of The College Rugby Show to break down everything you need to know ahead of Selection Saturday for the CRC 7s National Tournament. Zach gives us an inside look at their upcoming show, what goes into the selection show planning process, and which teams could make some serious noise on the national stage. We also dive into the current state of college rugby, storylines to watch, and how the game continues to grow across the country. On top of that, we’ve got you covered with: Local rugby updates from around Iowa USA Rugby news and notes Iowa high school boys 7s action and what to watch for this week Some International news as well! It’s a packed episode full of insight, energy, and everything rugby.

Listen to our Rugby Iowa HS 7s recap and preview and hear from Thomas Naughton UNI Men's President!

Quick Episode previewing the first week of high school boys 7s rugby in Iowa as well as some other news and notes!

Episode 171 is packed with great conversations and plenty of rugby talk. We kick things off with a phone interview with Adam Simiele from Northeast Iowa Barbarians Rugby to talk about the upcoming Turkey River 50th Anniversary 10s and what makes this event such a special tradition. Then we are joined in studio by Drew Johnston, owner of Platinum Fitness and 8035 Fitness, to talk about training, strength, and what it takes to become the best athlete you can be. It is a great perspective from someone outside the rugby world, especially with the high school boys season right around the corner. We also debut a new Speed Round segment covering a bunch of quick hitting rugby topics and put a bow on the Rugby 6 Nations. Give it a listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and if you enjoy the show be sure to follow, share with a friend, and leave us a 5 star review!

We're talking high school and college rugby!

Episode 169 of the B-Side Bois Podcast is packed with rugby talk from Iowa to the international stage. The crew opens the show with a debate sparked by a viral ESPN Milwaukee clip. Do people who talk about sports actually have to play sports to have credibility? Where is the line between analysis and experience? We also remind everyone about the upcoming USA Rugby Referee Level 1 Clinic and give a shoutout to our sponsor MonStars Trading Cards before diving into Wombats updates including the start of spring practices on March 18 and the 6 Nations Finale Watch Party on March 14. On the local scene we break down the Hawkeye Classic 7s, look at which teams have already qualified for CRC 7s, and highlight upcoming Midwest college rugby action including the UNI, Iowa, and Iowa State men's spring schedules. Iowa takes on Air Force this Saturday in Des Moines in 15s and high school boys programs across the state are beginning their spring seasons. We also preview the massive 16 team D2 Great Midwest Tournament coming April 11 and shout out the College Rugby Show ahead of their next episode featuring Iowa Women's rugby coach Kathleen O Neil. We are also joined by Patrick Lausen of Cedar Rapids Wash for a phone interview to talk rugby and what is happening around the game. Internationally we recap the latest Six Nations results, table standings, Pick 'Em updates, and preview Round 4. We also look at the latest World Rugby rankings, USA Men's and Women's 7s performances, discuss referee Hollie Davidson, and even get into Tom Brady's unexpected connection to rugby. We close the episode with a thought provoking discussion sparked by broadcaster John Inverdale's comments about World Rugby and the future of the sport. Rugby talk, hot takes, and plenty of laughs as always.

Episode 168 – Iowa to Nebraska and Everywhere in Between Episode 168 is loaded with interviews, updates, and plenty of classic B-Side banter. Mr. Gray, Nichols, and Gimli kick things off reacting to an Amy Poehler podcast clip about rugby before rolling into a Referee L1 Clinic reminder and showing love to our friends at MonStars Trading Cards. In studio, we’re joined by Bryant Reynolds for a great conversation you won’t want to miss. Then we head to the phones with Gillian McRae from the University of Iowa Women’s Rugby team and Coach Ray Harrower from Big Red Rugby to talk development, growth, and what’s ahead this spring. We also cover: Cornhusker 7s results at ICCC Hawkeye Classic 7s Wayne State canceling their men’s 7s season WashU launching a Pharmacy school while absorbing UHSP On the domestic front, we discuss the MLR Championship heading back to Chicago and preview the first MLR match on March 28 as California Legion takes on Anthem RC. Internationally, we break down results, the current 6 Nations table, our Pick ’Em standings, a Week 4 preview, and updated World Rankings. Hot takes, real conversations, and everything you need to stay plugged into the rugby scene. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Episode 167 of the B-Side Bois Podcast is a certified bro-sesh. Victor Wong — Head Coach of Valley Boys High School Rugby and President of the West Des Moines Wombats — joins Mr. Gray in studio for a wide-ranging, laugh-filled episode packed with real rugby talk and a few hot takes along the way. We kick things off with reminders about the Referee L1 Clinic, shout out our friends at MonStars Trading Cards, and dive into the latest All-Iowa updates, new teams popping up across the state, and the big question… what’s going on with Men’s D4? From there it’s all things Wombats: the 5-Year Anniversary Touch celebration, banquet plans, 6 Nations watch party, and spring practice right around the corner. We also break down: • Rugby Iowa Boys HS 7s teams • University of Iowa & UNI men’s spring schedules • CRC vs CRAA Rant from Mr. Gray • MLR & Players Association agreement • USA Women’s upcoming tour on home soil • 6 Nations results, table, Pick ‘Em update & Week 3 preview • World Rankings shakeups • USA Men’s 7s first outing of the year in SVNS2 And to close it out? A debate on the hardest position in rugby. Plenty of insight. Plenty of laughs. Plenty of strong opinions. Very biased towards props. Hit play and join the conversation.

Episode 166 is packed from Iowa to international rugby. We talk the upcoming Iowa Referee Level 1 Clinic and why officiating is critical to the sport’s growth, plus the Wombats’ new head coach announcement. In-studio, Ant Frein joins us to discuss new sponsorship momentum and Iowa State’s spring outlook, and Andrew Ridgway breaks down his move from coaching to refereeing. Anna Degen calls in to talk her new podcast, the Hawkettes, and Iowa Rugby Union updates. We also cover the new Iowa boys high school structure, Chicago Hounds heading to Nashville, Club Nationals in Chicago, and full 6 Nations Week 1 reactions — results, table, Pick’em standings, and a Week 2 preview. Growth, governance, and a little chaos. Let’s get into it.

🚨 SEASON 5 STARTS NOW 🚨 Episode 165 is LIVE and we’re kicking off 2026 with a loaded Season 5 Premiere , brought to you by our brand-new sponsor MonStars Trading Cards 🃏🔥 We’ve got the full crew in the Wombat Den and we’re joined in-studio by fan-favorite guests and friends of the show : 🎙️ Casey Hansen 🎙️ Erik Frana 🎙️ Joe Lippert 🎙️ Jeremy Newman On this episode we dive into: 🏉 The upcoming Iowa High School Rugby season 🇺🇸 A spirited (and honest) debate on what’s missing from USA Rugby — on the field and in growing a real fan base ahead of the World Cup 🏆 A quick Six Nations preview 😤 Our biggest rugby pet peeves 🔮 And what we’re most excited about heading into 2026 This one has big conversations, real laughs, strong opinions, and elite vibes — exactly how we wanted to set the tone for Season 5. 👉 Go follow Joe Lippert’s Substack (https://substack.com/@joelippert1) 👉 Smash that like, share, subscribe , and drop a 5-star review — those little things help more than you know 👉 Hit play and ride with us into 2026 Season 5 is here. The tone is set. Join us. 🎧🔥

🎙️ Episode 164 is LIVE — and it’s the perfect way to wrap up a huge year of rugby! The Bois cover everything happening in the rugby world right now: from our Spotify Wrapped results and Wombats Scholarship launch, to a wild college coaching story, major college commitments, and a big opportunity for UNI Women and the HOA All-Stars. We also dive into USA Rugby updates, and the latest shakeups across domestic rugby, including the newly announced MLR structure and Natey Burgey’s retirement. Nichols takes us through the early Rugby World Cup pool breakdowns, global rankings, international fixtures, Eben’s 12-week suspension, growing youth numbers in the U.S., and the state of world rugby round out a loaded international segment. To close out the show, we look back on the best rugby moments of 2025, share our Christmas wishes for the 2026 season, revisit last year’s predictions, and make bold new predictions for the year ahead. 💬 Drop a comment: What was your favorite rugby moment of 2025? Who should be our dream guest in 2026? And what’s your bold prediction for the new year? Join the conversation and kick off the holiday rugby vibes with us! 🏉✨