Rugby careers, told the long way.
What a Lad follows rugby people through the messy shape of their careers, from school days and selection calls to injuries, family, and life after playing. The conversations are relaxed and matey, but the best moments land because the show gives guests room to tell the long version.
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What a Lad is a rugby interview show that treats a career as a sequence of lived moments rather than a list of achievements. It likes the story behind the jersey. A guest might start with school, a club chance, a provincial trial, a positional switch, or a phone call that changed the week. From there, the conversation usually opens out into the practical stuff: who had no money, who fed them, who told them they were ready, who doubted them, and what the body could or could not handle. The tone is relaxed. The questions are direct. The show is at its best when it lets a guest talk long enough for the funny details and the harder truths to sit beside each other. Marc Ellis brings old rugby chaos, selection memories, jokes, and a stubborn belief in dreaming. Cam Suafoa’s episode is much heavier, following illness, treatment, marriage, travel, rugby pride, and the effort to stay positive without pretending things are simple. Pasilio Tosi’s story turns on weight, scrummaging, changing position, Hurricanes and All Blacks opportunities, music, and family. Paul Tito’s conversation is built around work rate, leadership, Cardiff, coaching, standards, and respect across teams. Tane Edmed talks about pressure, tunnel vision, North Harbour, a Wallabies call, and a debut that went sideways almost immediately. Patrick Tuipulotu’s episode covers the dream of becoming an All Black, surgeries, a positive test, Japan, time away from family, and what fatherhood changed. There is plenty of banter. There is also a clear appetite for honesty. What separates the show from highlight-driven rugby chat is its patience with the unglamorous parts: contracts, rehabs, confidence, missed chances, and the people holding everything together off the field.
Made for: For rugby listeners who want career stories, rugby detail, and candid player interviews more than hot takes or match previews. It especially suits fans of New Zealand, Australian, provincial, Super Rugby, and international rugby pathways.
What sets it apart: The show gives guests space to trace the full route, from early doubts and odd breaks to injuries, selection, family life, business lessons, and coaching standards. Its strength is the relaxed trust that lets funny stories and serious turns share the same conversation.
What a Lad is a podcast by James Marshall who talks to some of the biggest names and best lads on the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
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