Blood & Mud Rugby Podcast · Blood & Mud Rugby Podcast

422: "Visibly defined arms, shoulders and legs"

October 8, 2025·1 hr 40 min·5 clips

Dan Alsabrook names Clive Evans as the only player who backed WRU's plan to cut two regions.

This episode of the Blood & Mud Rugby Podcast features host Josh and guest Dan Alsabrook from Gwald Rugby discussing recent Welsh rugby controversies. They analyze the fallout from a Welsh Rugby Union survey where only one player reportedly supported plans to cut two professional regions. The hosts speculate this lone supporter could be Clive Evans, playing a long game for future WRU influence, or perhaps Callum Sheedy, whom they jokingly label a "teacher's pet." They note the awkwardness this creates, as players who voted against the cuts will soon share gyms and team rooms with the sole supporter. The conversation shifts to the sad news of Lewis Moody's MND diagnosis, linking it to concerns over player welfare and head injuries in rugby. They criticize a column by Will Greenwood for framing the disease as a "battle" and reducing Moody to just his reckless on-field persona. The hosts then discuss the new R360 competition, noting a joint statement from most major unions opposing it, with Wales and Argentina notably absent. They examine the potential impact of R360 on grassroots funding and the WRU's short-term, profit-focused thinking. A lighter segment covers a Player Spotted submission about Gavin Henson shopping at M&S, leading to a debate on the ultimate rugby team composed of only two players, settling on eight Gethin Jenkins and seven Justin Tipurics. News topics include Steve Diamond's swift dismissal from Newcastle and the launch of rugby Barbie dolls, which the hosts critique for using standard Barbie bodies instead of athletic sculpts. The episode's core is an interview with Dan about the Gwald Rugby alternative survey to the WRU's, which garnered over 1,200 responses and was picked up by mainstream media. A surprising insight is the detailed speculation about the identity of the single pro-cut player, treating it like a witch hunt or mystery. The hosts express frustration that rugby institutions are not funding thorough research into links between the sport and conditions like MND. They find it cynical that Mattel announced proper athletic Barbie dolls but won't release them until 2026. The tone is conversational, humorous, and often sarcastic, blending serious critique with playful banter and tangents about IKEA blinds and chocolate. This episode will appeal to fans of Welsh rugby who enjoy insider gossip and critical analysis of the game's governance. Listeners seeking only straight match analysis or who are uncomfortable with strong language and speculative humor might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A rugby hangout where a toy-launch rant opens into broader, opinionated chat.

Blood & Mud settles into its usual groove: rugby chat that begins as a gag and then tightens into a proper argument. Josh brings in Dan Alsabrook for Lee and flags the unusual pleasure of being early, before the conversation turns to the rugby Barbie rollout and the curious…

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Why you'd press play

For when you want rugby chat that starts with a doll and ends in Welsh rugby reality.

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