Épisodes

  • From MLR Player to MLR GM, Chicago Hounds’ Will Magie

    From MLR Player to MLR GM, Chicago Hounds’ Will Magie
    Oct 30 2025
    In this episode of the US Rugby Happy Hour, hosts Bill and Fitzy MLR’s hottest new general managers, Will Magie, of the Chicago Hounds. The guys dive into the electric atmosphere surrounding the massive Ireland vs. New Zealand rematch at Soldier Field, with Will sharing what it's like to host the Irish national team at the Hounds' facility and what these international events mean for rugby in Chicago. Will also discusses his rapid transition from player to the front office and his mission to build a championship-winning culture for the Hounds. He offers a candid, inside perspective on the MLR offseason, navigating the challenging player market, and the strategy behind key signings like Tavite Lopeti and Santiago Videla. Plus, get the scoop on how the Hounds are developing future stars like Peyton Wall through their performance squad and academy pathway. Don't miss this in-depth chat about the present and future of the Chicago Hounds and Major League Rugby. Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: American Rugby Rising Rugby Morning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 min
  • “Fight and Don’t Cry”, Eagle #319, Erica Jarrell-Searcy

    “Fight and Don’t Cry”, Eagle #319, Erica Jarrell-Searcy
    Oct 17 2025
    In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, USA Eagle #319, Erica Jarrell-Searcy, one of the breakout Rugby World Cup 2025 stars, recaps her RWC experience, taking it all in, and we dig deep in how she got there! Perhaps one of the only equestrian to rugby crossover athletes we know of. How competitive is her family and how did a "friendly" game of ‘Fight and don’t cry’ with her brother made her who she is today on the rugby field. Well, kind of. Erica also shares about the Sale Sharks expectations this upcoming 2025 season and what are her future goals. Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: American Rugby Rising Rugby Morning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    53 min
  • RWC25 Belle of the Ball, Eagle #316, Freda Tafuna

    RWC25 Belle of the Ball, Eagle #316, Freda Tafuna
    Sep 25 2025
    RWC25 Belle of the Ball, Eagle #316, Freda Tafuna In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Rugby World Cup 2025 Belle of the Ball, Freda Tafuna joins Bill & Fitzy to talk about her breakout performance, scoring 6 tries in two matches, and how a wakeup call from coach Sione Fukofuka helped her secure her RWC roster spot. Also, what’s next for her after graduating Lindenwood in the Spring? PWR? Switching codes to League? The sky is the limit for Freda! Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: American Rugby Rising Rugby Morning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 min
  • USA Men Qualify for RWC27! Will Hooley Breaks it Down

    USA Men Qualify for RWC27! Will Hooley Breaks it Down
    Sep 18 2025
    In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Rugby Commentator, The Rugby Rundown’s Co-Host, and Eagles #517, Will Hooley joins Bill and Fitzy to talk about USA Men finally qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and what it means for American rugby fans. Also, Will shares his opinions on USA Men’s Head Coach, Scott Lawrence’s comments about Canadian rugby, concentrating on American rugby over Canada and Pacific Islander players, a comment that hasn’t sat well with our neighbors to the North. Also, we analyze Eagles performances against Samoa and who we’re missing still. Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: American Rugby Rising Rugby Morning The Rugby Rundown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 5 min
  • ARP’s Newest Side, Atlanta Premier Rugby - Daemon Torres & Francesco Balsas

    ARP’s Newest Side, Atlanta Premier Rugby - Daemon Torres & Francesco Balsas
    Sep 11 2025
    ARP’s Newest Side, Atlanta Premier Rugby - Daemon Torres & Francesco Balsas In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill welcomes two members of the newest American Rugby Premiership side, Atlanta Premier Rugby, Daemon Torres, who many of you may remember from his Rugby ATL and Dallas Jackal playing days, and ARP’s Head Coach, Francesco Balsas to talk about starting the program and how it was built. Where do the players come from, what happens to the players when the season is over? Were all of the other South clubs on board with Atlanta Old White starting an ARP side with USA Rugby South backing? And, who should rugby fans keep an eye out for when watching Atlanta play this Fall? Canada’s Matt Heaton is certainly one, and also a player they can all learn from. Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: American Rugby Rising Rugby Morning Atlanta Premier Rugby USA Rugby South Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 min
  • Thin UCLA Freshman to MLR #1 Overall Draft Pick, Will Sherman

    Thin UCLA Freshman to MLR #1 Overall Draft Pick, Will Sherman
    Sep 4 2025
    In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and guest host, MLR Sideline Reporter, Thomas “Wheels” Grant are joined by this year’s Major League Rugby’s Number 1 overall draft pick, Will Sherman to talk about his rise at UCLA and becoming the 2nd player ever from UCLA to be drafted No. 1 overall, also what is he learning while playing for Randwick Rugby in Australia and what are his expectations for Anthem Rugby? Does Will aspire to be an Eagle soon and maybe represent the USA in the 2031 World Cup!? Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: American Rugby Rising Rugby Morning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 min
  • From Wrestler and Defensive Tackle, to Internationally capped Prop, Tonga Kofe

    From Wrestler and Defensive Tackle, to Internationally capped Prop, Tonga Kofe
    Aug 21 2025
    In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and Fitzy gave a fun and informative conversation with USA Eagle Tonga Kofe about his meteoric rise in rugby, going from American football players and wrestler to an international capped rugby player in merely a couple years, his success thus far resulting in a professional contract with Prem club, Leicester Tigers. The sky’s the limit for Tonga! Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: American Rugby Rising Rugby Morning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 min
  • RWC England Preparations, USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka

    RWC England Preparations, USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka
    Aug 13 2025
    RWC England Preparations, USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka In this US Rugby Happy Hour episode, Bill and Fitzy welcome back to the show, USA Women’s Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka, as he and the team prepare for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. Sione talks about the team’s performance against Fiji and Canada, and what will it take to defeat England in front of, what could be, the largest ever women’s 15 crowd on August 22nd? Sione also looks back at the 18 months he’s been in charge of the women’s program and how has the team grown since taking over the program? Follow @americanrugbyrising and @rugbymorning for the latest in USA Rugby and MLR news. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated American Rugby Rising (Eagles Overseas Rugby) since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. http://www.eaglesoverseas.com eaglesoverseas@comcast.net Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. John@rugbymorning.com http://www.rugbymorning.com Show Links: Eagles Overseas Rugby Morning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 min