My Life in Rugby

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s My Life in Rugby news, interviews, opinion and other content.

My Life in Rugby with Ian Whitten: ‘I think I took more good options than bad ones’

2 July 2023 0 comments

The former Ireland, Exeter and Ulster centre talks about his life in the game PULLING on the Ulster jersey for the first time in 2009 […]

My Life in Rugby with Nili Latu: ‘Playing for my country was never about money’

25 June 2023 0 comments

The former Tonga, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Newcastle, Green Rockets and Red Dolphins No.8 My playing career with Tonga (a record 54 caps) really came about as […]

My Life in Rugby with Darren Garforth: ‘Not bad for a stocky centre-forward convert’

18 June 2023 0 comments

The former England, Leicester & Nuneaton prop talks about his life in the game As I write this, a group of 50 of us are […]

My Life in Rugby with Wayne Kilford: ‘Moore told me – The work starts now’

11 June 2023 0 comments

The former Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Midlands full-back talks about his life in the game My first captain in senior rugby was Brian Moore, at […]

My Life in Rugby with Allan Jacobsen: ‘Simple Minds? No, I put up posters of David Sole’

4 June 2023 0 comments

The former Scotland prop and all-time appearance record holder for Edinburgh When I was a boy growing up in the 80s I didn’t have posters […]

My Life in Rugby with Byron McGuigan: ‘Nothing could top that 38-38 draw with England’

28 May 2023 1 comment

The former Scotland, Glasgow, Exeter and Border Bulldogs winger, who has just brough the curtain down on his playing career at Sale Sharks, talks about […]

My Life in Rugby with Alex Tait: ‘Being a one-club man means so much to me’

21 May 2023 0 comments

The former Newcastle and England U20s full-back and winger talks about his life in the game I am immensely proud to have finished my professional […]

My Life in Rugby with Graham Childs: ‘Your only job is to pour champagne’

14 May 2023 0 comments

The former England, North, Wasps and Newcastle centre talks about his life in the game I went on the first post-Falklands War, England tour to […]

My Life in Rugby with Peter Mensah: ‘So glad I left the bank to turn pro with Quins’

7 May 2023 0 comments

The former England A, Harlequins and GRAN Parma centre/winger talks about his life in the game One of the things I am very proud of in […]

My Life in Rugby with Simon Mannix: ‘I looked confident but, inside, I was a mess’

30 April 2023 0 comments

The former New Zealand, Wellington, Hurricanes, Sale & Gloucester fly-half who has coached at Racing 92, Munster and Pau talks about his life in the game […]

My Life in Rugby with Matt Greenwood: ‘We got Eddie Butler blind drunk on Dark & Stormies’

23 April 2023 0 comments

The former England A, Roundhay, Nottingham, Wasps & Wakefield loose forward talks about his life in the game I snapped my ACL when I was […]

My Life in Rugby with Phil Boulton: ‘It was a real honour to lead Cov to promotion’

16 April 2023 0 comments

The former Leicester, Rotherham, Bedford & Coventry prop talks about his life in the game Growing up in North Lincolnshire, Leicester Tigers were my club. I […]

My Life in Rugby with Paul Jarvis: ‘Dream start with six tries at Twickenham’

9 April 2023 0 comments

The former Hartpury, Doncaster, Coventry and Darlington Mowden Park full-back talks about his life in the game Not many players will be able to say […]

My Life in Rugby with Vaughan Going: ‘Second-best in the world, but on bench’

26 March 2023 0 comments

The former Hong Kong, Waikato, Harlequins, London Welsh, Sale, Beziers, Bristol and Northampton full-back talks about his life in the game Super Sid Going did […]

My Life in Rugby with Andy Booth: ‘I’ve got every cap bar the senior one’

19 March 2023 1 comment

The former Neath, Swansea, Cardiff, Cambridge University and Wales B scrum-half talks about his life in the game I played back in the days when […]

My Life in Rugby with Dave Tiueti: ‘I loved the Mem – it got me a Tonga recall’

12 March 2023 1 comment

The former Tonga, Bristol, Neath & Ospreys centre talks about his life in the game Fond memories: Dave Tiueti in action for Bristol PICTURE: Getty […]

My Life in Rugby with Stu Turner: ‘I thought England call was a wind-up’

5 March 2023 0 comments

The former England, Waterloo, Orrell, Worcester, Rotherham and Sale Sharks prop Stu Turner Triple top: Stu Turner won three caps for England PICTURE: Getty Images […]

My Life in Rugby with Andy Long: ‘Bitter-sweet Test career taught me a hell of a lot’

26 February 2023 0 comments

The former England, Bath, Munster, Rotherham, Newcastle and Northampton hooker talks about his life in the game When I was with Matt Perry the other […]

My Life in Rugby with Derek White: ‘I got up at 4am on the morning of my first cap’

19 February 2023 0 comments

I grew up in Dunbar, on the coast, which isn’t exactly steeped in rugby history but both my brother Alaister and I played at school. […]

My Life in Rugby with Charlie Walker: ‘Abrupt end to a great nine-year stay at Quins’

12 February 2023 0 comments

The former England 7s & U20s, Harlequins, Zebre and Ealing winger, now at Rosslyn Park, talks about his life in the game Having joined Leicester […]

My Life in Rugby with Steve Lander: ‘Controversy inevitable when you’re a referee’

5 February 2023 1 comment

The former international referee, who took charge of 18 tests from 1995 to 2003, talks about his life in the game Centre stage: Steve Lander […]

My Life in Rugby with Ryan de la Harpe: ‘Playing at Twickenham was my lifelong dream’

29 January 2023 1 comment

The former Namibia, Lancashire, Moseley & Fylde scrum-half Ever since I was a kid growing up in Namibia, my biggest dream wasn’t to play for […]

My Life in Rugby with Matt Symons: ‘From Voldemort to NZ, it’s been a blast’

22 January 2023 0 comments

The former Harlequins, London Irish, Wasps, Canterbury & Waikato Chiefs second row talks about his journey in the game, that took him to the other […]

My Life in Rugby with Keni Fisilau: ‘Gregory’s got me cheering on rivals’

15 January 2023 1 comment

The former Plymouth Albion & Tonga centre, and father of wonderkid Greg Fisilau, talks about his life in the game On the ball: Keni Fisilau, […]

My Life in Rugby with Will Hooley: Rollercoaster ride full of cool stuff along the way

8 January 2023 0 comments

The US Eagles, San Diego Legion and former Exeter, Northampton, Saracens & Bedford fly-half talks about his career in the game Making headway: Will Hooley […]

My Life in Rugby with Joe Simpson: I loved Adams Park when it was rocking

31 December 2022 1 comment

The former England, Wasps, Gloucester, Saracens, Bath & Sale Sharks scrum-half My professional career has now come to an end and I look back with […]

My Life in Rugby with Kevin Yates: ‘I waited ten years for my next England cap!’

23 December 2022 0 comments

The former England, Bath, Sale and Saracens prop Man in black: Kevin Yates playing for Saracens PICTURE: Getty Images When my dad retired from the […]

My Life in Rugby with Edd Thrower ‘Going to Italy was the best move I ever made’

18 December 2022 0 comments

The former London Irish, Wasps, Saracens, Crociati, Bedford, London Welsh, Massy & Piacenza full-back on his life in the game Loving life: Edd Thrower flying […]

My Life in Rugby with Nic Groom: ‘It was my warrior spirit that paid off with Rassie’

4 December 2022 0 comments

The former Western Province, Stormers, Northampton, Lions, Edinburgh and London Irish scrum-half talks Jon Newcombe through his journey in the game My last game was for […]

My Life in Rugby with Nick Fenton Wells: ‘Uncle Nick gave me the perfect grounding’

6 November 2022 0 comments

The former Western Province, Stormers, Saracens, Bedford & Bristol back row People might not be aware but former Springbok player and coach Nick Mallett is […]

My Life in Rugby with Joe Maddock

30 October 2022 0 comments

The former Crusaders, Bath, Treviso and Saracens winger, now attack coach at Bath They say one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and that was […]

My Life in Rugby with James Bailey: ‘1995 World Cup left a big impression on me’

16 October 2022 0 comments

Inspired: James Bailey became a real fan of players like Serge Blanco David Campese I come from a very sporting family – my dad boxed […]

My Life in Rugby with Johnny Leota: ‘Playing for Samoa gave me my identity’

9 October 2022 0 comments

Wow, the last decade has flown by so quickly. It doesn’t seem that long since I left New Zealand for Manchester to start my first […]

My Life in Rugby with Dan Norton

2 October 2022 0 comments

The former Great Britain and England Sevens star and Gloucester, Bristol, Moseley and London Irish 15s winger talks about his career Even at the age […]

My Life in Rugby with Richard Barrington

25 September 2022 0 comments

I had two years still on my contract at Jersey but when Saracens came in for me after my first year there it was an […]

‘False start at Gloucester took me on scenic route’ – My Life in Rugby with Guy Thompson

11 September 2022 0 comments

The former Wasps, Leicester, Jersey and Ealing back rower talks about his life in the game I think I am right in saying that I’m […]

My Life in Rugby with Simon Hammersley

4 September 2022 0 comments

The former Newcastle and Sale full-back Seeing as I’m starting my first job in ‘the real world’ as an investment banker tomorrow, it was good […]

My Life in Rugby with Jonny Hylton

28 August 2022 0 comments

The former Wasps, Worcester, Cornish Pirates and Esher winger One of the things you can’t coach is pace and I was very fortunate to have […]

“I just ran around and smashed everything” – My Life in Rugby with Martin Purdy

14 August 2022 0 comments

The former Wasps, Bath, Gran Parma, L’Aquila, London Welsh, Massy and Grasse lock discusses his career As a professional sportsman you always try and maximise […]

“I learned my trade on the world’s big stages” – My Life in Rugby with Simon Hunt

7 August 2022 0 comments

The former England Sevens/U21s, Rosslyn Park, Narbonne, Perpignan, Pertemps Bees, Ebbw Vale, Newport, Bristol, Moseley & Dings Crusaders winger Playing a bit of rugby league […]

My Life in Rugby with Olly Morgan: I was so proud to be a king of Kingsholm

31 July 2022 0 comments

The former England and Gloucester full-back talks about his career Kingsholm, particularly the Shed, has a very well-deserved reputation for being the most hostile ground […]

My Life in Rugby with Matt Powell: Call-up was a case of mistaken identity

24 July 2022 22 comments

The former Saracens, Worcester and Harlequins scrum-half Unstoppable: Matt Powell charges through the Bucuresti Oaks defence for Worcester PICTURE:Getty Images Twice in my career I […]

Scrum-half or full-back? I made the right choice

19 June 2022 2 comments

BEN FODEN – 34-capped England International SCRUM-HALF or full-back? My dad still has that debate with me every time I go back home! There was […]

My body tells me to quit, but I just can’t!

12 June 2022 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY SOANE TONGA’UIHA THE FORMER TONGA, BEDFORD, NORTHAMPTON, RACING 92, OYONNAX, BRISTOL AND AMPTHILL PROP AND CURRENT PLAYER-COACH AT CHINNOR RFC IT […]

I learned via the school of hard knocks

22 May 2022 1 comment

MY LIFE IN RUGBY IAN KENCH THE FORMER OXFORD UNIVERSITY, LOUGHBOROUGH, SALE, NOTTINGHAM AND ESHER LOCK WHEN Mike Brewer came in at Sale, we had […]

Hong Kong triumph built on sand of Bali

8 May 2022 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE FORMER ENGLAND SEVENS INTERNATIONAL AND NORTHAMPTON, SALE, TREVISO & CALVISANO CENTRE WHO NOW COACHES ITALY SEVENS ANDY VILK Crowd pleaser: […]

I’ve gone over THAT try a million times in my head!

1 May 2022 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE FORMER ENGLAND, LIONS AND SALE SHARKS WINGER MARK CUETO ABOUT six months after we came back from the 2007 World […]

It was a roller coaster ride around England

3 April 2022 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE FORMER PLYMOUTH, BRISTOL, WORCESTER, LONDON WELSH, SALE, LEEDS, ROUEN AND NEWCASTLE FULL-BACK/WING TOM ARSCOTT MY playing career has been a […]

Time to pass on the Kingsholm clippers

20 March 2022 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY FORMER ENGLAND, GLOUCESTER AND MOSELEY WINGER CHARLIE SHARPLES I REMEMBER being chuffed to bits that I got picked for Stroud District […]

Andre offered me a route back from sea

13 March 2022 2 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY CARL KIRWAN THE NOTTINGHAM FLANKER, FORMERLY OF ROTHERHAM, LONDON WELSH, WORCESTER & CHINNOR Mixing it with the best of them: Carl […]

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