Rugby League Outsiders Podcast

Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Winner James Simpson & Edinburgh Giants Head Coach Martyn Gill

In this episode, hosts Karl Walker & Craig Williams chat with Wheelchair RL World Cup winner James Simpson & Edinburgh Giants head coach Martyn Gill.

👉 About James Simpson
Former England and Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair star and current Leads Rhinos Coach James Simpson became a household name as the RLWC2021's Wheelchair Tournament Ambassador.
James undertook several overseas missions in his ten-year stint in the military from Central America to Iraq. 
In 2009, while on deployment in Afghanistan, James tripped an IED whilst on a routine patrol, causing life-changing injuries that saw him lose both legs, three fingers and the muscle from his right forearm.
Following a lengthy recovery process discovered the sport of Wheelchair Rugby League whilst watching his beloved Leeds Rhinos at Headingley in 2013. 
After a training session with the Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair team, James was hooked and has not looked back, going within a whisker of lifting the World Cup with England in 2017 and finally winning the World Cup title in 2021.

↪ Leeds Rhinos Website - https://www.therhinos.co.uk
↪ Leeds Rhinos Foundation - https://www.leedsrhinosfoundation.org

👉 About Martin Gill
Martyn, from Castleford, has extensive experience coaching at Castleford Tigers, Newcastle Thunder and most recently in Wheelchair Rugby League with Leeds Rhinos and England Wheelchair RL.
Martin took Leeds Rhinos from the bottom of the league to Grand Finalists & Challenge Cup runners-up in 2016.
As England's Coach, he guided the team to winning the Home Nations in 2014 and the Euros in 2015, losing out in the 2017 World Cup final.
Martin relocated to Edinburgh in 2020 and was asked to do the Dream team for RLWC for Wheelchair and, as a result, launched Edinburgh Giants, who recorded their first-ever league win this weekend.

↪ Edinburgh Giants Website - giantswhrl.com
↪ Edinburgh Giants Insta - @giantswhrl

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this fantastic sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TWITTER - https://twitter.com/rloutsiders
📍 INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 WEBSITE - https://rugbyleagueoutsiders.com

Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Winner James Simpson & Edinburgh Giants Head Coach Martyn Gill

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

The 2023 Season So Far | Midlands RL Round Up - Ep 12

In this episode, host Karl & Craig sit down and discuss the 2023 season so far, including:

- Change of chairman at the Birmingham Bulldogs.
- The battle of the West Midlands.
- North Wales Crusaders Rugby League Club vs Midlands Hurricanes
- Hayden Freeman breaks the playing record for the Midlands. 
- The launch of the women’s Midlands Super League. 
- A player receiving two yellow cards and a red in one match. 
- RFL accreditation for the rugby league outsiders.

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this fantastic sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TWITTER - https://twitter.com/rloutsiders
📍 INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 WEBSITE - https://rugbyleagueoutsiders.com

The 2023 Season So Far | Midlands RL Round Up - Ep 12

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

Midlands Hurricanes Rugby League Club Hospitality Day Review - Ep 11.

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig review their recent hospitality experience watching the Midlands Hurricanes v Rochdale Hornets at Alexander Stadium.

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this fantastic sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TWITTER - https://twitter.com/rloutsiders
📍 INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 WEBSITE - https://rugbyleagueoutsiders.com

Midlands Hurricanes Rugby League Club Hospitality Day Review - Ep 11

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig sit down with head coach Dave Moll & Chairman James Husband of the newly formed, Lincoln based rugby league club, the Lincolnshire Lions. We chat to them about their routes into the game, how the Lincolnshire Lions came about, tips for tarting a rugby league club and more.

↪ Lincolnshire Lions on Facebook
↪ Lincolnshire Lions on Instagram

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this fantastic sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK
📍 TWITTER
📍 INSTAGRAM
📍 TIKTOK
📍 WEBSITE

Meet Dave Moll & James Husband of the Lincolnshire Lions Rugby League Club - Ep 10

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig sit down with Sean Sudworth & Stuart Hood of Birmingham Bulldogs. Birmingham is the longest-surviving rugby league team in the Midlands and won the Midlands Cup last year. Recently they are undergoing an administrative re-development with a view to introducing a women and girls and youth team.

👉 GUEST 1 - SEAN SUDWORTH

Sean has been the chairman of Birmingham Bulldogs for 5 years and started playing rugby league aged 7 in his home town of Wigan. He relocated to the Midlands with his wife, originally from Bromsgrove, for work.

👉 GUEST 2 - STUART HOOD

Stuart discovered rugby league at school through his PE teacher, a Hull KR fan. Stuart is the incumbent chairman of the Bulldogs and is looking to transform a well-established team into a club in the 2023 season.

Birmingham Bulldogs - https://www.birminghambulldogs.co.uk

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this fantastic sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK
📍 TWITTER
📍 INSTAGRAM
📍 TIKTOK
📍 WEBSITE
Meet Sean Sudworth & Stuart Hood of Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League Club - E9 

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

Meet Toby Whelan & Pete Gatenby From The Leamington Royals Rugby League Club - Ep 8

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig sit down with Pete Gatenby & Toby Whelan of the Leamington Royals.

👉 Toby Whelan

Born in Leeds but grew up in Leamington/Warwick. I’ve only been playing league for 3 years (all with the Royals), but played Union my whole life & support the Bulls. Mostly play wing for the Royals but bit of a utility back, and does the social media. Play Union for Harbury & brought half our team over to play for the Royals.

👉 Pete Gatenby
Grew up in West Yorkshire, and played rugby league through secondary school, uni and open age, bouncing around the world I had to switch codes in the US, and having a couple of years away from rugby league, I then returned when back at uni after a shoulder op (where I really decided this was the sport for me), I then ended up with a trial in NZ playing for Glenora Bears in the Fox Prem - I did that for a season. But came back to the UK, found me in the midlands in 2014, and 2015 was my first season for the Royals. And I've been there ever since and as captain since last year.

↪ Leamington Website

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

Meet Sherwood Wolf Hunt Chairman & Ireland Team Manager Adam Bates - Ep 7

This week on the Rugby League Outsiders podcast, we are joined by special guest, Adam Bates Chairman of Sherwood Wolf Hunt & Team Manager for Ireland in the 2022 World Cup.

• Video episode available here

Specifically, we ask:

• BACKGROUND - Can you tell us about your background in rugby league and how you became involved with Sherwood Wolf Hunt and the Irish national team?
• CHALLENGES - What are some of the challenges you face as Chairman of a rugby league team in a non-traditional area like Nottinghamshire?
• STARTING OUT - How did the Sherwood Wolf Hunt team come together and what are your goals for the team in the coming seasons?
• WORLD CUP PREP - As Team Manager for Ireland in the 2022 World Cup, what were your expectations for the team and how did you prepare for the tournament?
• GROWTH IN IRELAND - Can you speak to the growth of rugby league in Ireland and what opportunities there are for expansion in the country?
• THE FUTURE - What role do you think smaller teams like Sherwood Wolf Hunt play in that future?
• ADVICE FOR YOUNG PLAYERS - What advice do you have for young players who aspire to play at a high level in rugby league, either domestically or internationally?
• UPCOMING GAMES - Are there any upcoming games or events that you're particularly looking forward to?
• SHERWOOD SOCIALS 

https://www.wolfhuntrl.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/WolfHuntARLFC

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

Meet Rugby League Referees Mark Austin & Lewis Collins - Ep 6

We had a great recording session with Lewis & Mark. Very insightful chat about community-level refereeing, how to manage a game and more 💪

🏉 ABOUT LEWIS COLLINS

Originally born in Cornwall, Lewis discovered the game through his Halifax-born dad and progressed through Rugby Union as a player and referee before switching codes as COVID hit. Lewis now referees in the Midlands and is also an assistant coach at the Shrewsbury Lions Junior RL club.

🏉 ABOUT MARK AUSTIN

Initially born in Widnes, Mark discovered Rugby League at school, instantly became a Widnes fan, and has held a season ticket for over 30 years. Mark became a referee as his playing days grew to a close and wanted to extend his journey through the sport and play his part in ensuring the game survived here in the Midlands.

We covered so much; hearing a referee’s take on things was great. Check it out.
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The latest RL Outsiders episode ... Is Live Now.
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WE ASKED:
✅ What inspired you to become a rugby league referee, and how did you start?

✅ What qualities are necessary to be a thriving rugby league referee, and how do you cultivate those skills?

✅ Can you describe a particularly challenging or memorable match that you officiated and how you handled the pressure and intensity of the game?

✅ How do you prepare for a match as a referee, both mentally and physically, and what rituals or routines do you have to help you focus?

✅ How do you manage conflict or difficult situations on the pitch, and what strategies do you use to defuse tensions and keep the game flowing?

✅ What advice would you give to aspiring rugby league referees, and how can they best prepare themselves for the challenges of the job?

It's a belter 👉 Listen & Share 👉 https://youtu.be/GK4nlLWtFgw

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this fantastic sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TWITTER - https://twitter.com/rloutsiders
📍 INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@rugbyleagueoutsiders
📍 WEBSITE - https://rugbyleagueoutsiders.com

Meet Rugby League Referees Mark Austin & Lewis Collins - Ep 6

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig sit down with Molly Cairns following her first season with the Leamington Royals. Having never played the sport again, Molly was an instant fan and spoke candidly of the need to get more women playing Rugby League.

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed to find that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as it was in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into all things rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this amazing sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/rugbyleagueo...
📍 TWITTER - https://twitter.com/rloutsiders
📍 INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/rugbyleague...
📍 TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@rugbyleagueou...
📍 WEBSITE - https://rugbyleagueoutsiders.com

Meet Women Rugby League Player Molly Cairns From Leamington Royals WRL

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

Meet Junior Rugby League Club, Shrewsbury Lions Head Coach & Diddy Rugby Founder, Alex Smith - Ep 5

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig sit down with Alex Smith.

👉 Alex Smith is heavily involved in several RL clubs; he’s a regular touch rugby league player, UKCC level 2 qualified coach with 25 years of coaching adult and junior rugby and treasurer of the Telford Raiders.

↪ Shrewsbury Lions Website
↪ Diddy Rugby

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed to find that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as it was in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into all things rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this amazing sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/rugbyleagueo...
📍 TWITTER - https://twitter.com/rloutsiders
📍 INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/rugbyleague...
📍 TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@rugbyleagueou...
📍 WEBSITE - https://rugbyleagueoutsiders.com

Meet Junior Rugby League Club, Shrewsbury Lions Head Coach & Diddy Rugby Founder, Alex Smith - Ep 5

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig sit down with the Midlands Hurricanes Rugby League Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Greg Wood.

Enter the Midland Hurricanes triple ticket giveaway here.

👉 ABOUT GREG
Greg cut his teeth in professional cricket as a pro player before switching to corporate employment. Following various operational management positions, Greg took a position as Group Operational Director at The Big Red and took up the CEO role with the Hurricanes in 2021.

↪ Midlands Hurricanes Website
↪ Twitter
↪ Facebook
↪ Instagram

🏉 ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this fantastic sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 Rugby League Outsiders FACEBOOK
📍 Rugby League Outsiders TWITTER
📍 Rugby League Outsiders INSTAGRAM
📍Rugby League Outsiders  TIKTOK
📍 Rugby League Outsiders WEBSITE

Meet Midlands Hurricanes Rugby League Club CEO Greg Wood - Ep 4

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

In this episode, hosts Karl & Craig sit down with MND Fundraiser and Lifelong Wigan fan Graham Berry and Director of Rugby at the NEW Ravens RLFC, Jason Spafford.

👉 Graham Berry - Born in Wigan, Graham was destined to be involved in Rugby league from a young age. Graham talks about finding touch RL in Telford after relocating to the Midlands and eventually going on to raise over £7000 for the MND Association through challenging ultra-running events.

Graham is currently in training for the Trans-Pennine Ultra - a 91-mile run from the DW Stadium to Headingley in Leeds.

↪ MND Link
↪ Fundraising Link

👉 Jason Spafford - Jason has been heavily involved in the development of the Rugby League in the Midlands since as early as 1996 and is now the Director of Rugby at the NEW Ravens club in Redditch. Born in Kent, Jason found Rugby League after a career-ending boxing injury and was immediately hooked.

↪ New Ravens
↪ Follow Jason on Instagram

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

In this episode, host's Karl & Craig sit down with Telford Raiders chairman and former coach Fred Baker and senior player Matt Evans.

👉 Fred - Provides a ‘behind-the-scenes’ summary of the past, present and further of rugby league in the Midlands as well as his unique perspective on what is required for the game to grow outside of the traditional rugby league heartlands. 

👉 Matt - Describes some of the highlights of his great amateur rugby league career including multiple caps for England Lions and GB Lions.

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire

ABOUT THE RUGBY LEAGUE OUTSIDERS PODCAST
Welcome to Rugby League Outsiders, where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed to find that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as it was in their former homes.

However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.

Tune in every week as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into all things rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.

Like and share this video and help spread the word about this amazing sport in the Midlands.

LINKS:
📍 FACEBOOK
📍 TWITTER
📍 INSTAGRAM
📍 TIKTOK
📍 WEBSITE

SPONSOR: This episode was sponsored by Pot Leadle - Digitial Marketing & SEO Specialists in Cheshire