Backyard Rugby with Clarence Picard & Alex Brussard

The Big Easy is back! In late October and early November the island nation of Bermuda will be hosting the World 10s, featuring the Ohio Aviators along with seven other star studded teams. Former guest John Sullivan returns to talk about the Aviators roster and all that has gone into preparing for the international competition. 

Clarence and Alex catch up after a week off. Alex begins working with his team at Tufts and discusses the recruiting process. Stay tuned on Thursday for an interview with John Sullivan before he leaves for the World Tens in Bermuda.

Award winning teacher and coach Alex "Ox" Peck joins us in the backyard to talk about "positive conditioning," how he connects with young students, and some other important advice for youth and high school level coaches. Keeping in the roundtable spirit, he also shares his expert Pro Wrestling XV. Enjoy!

Clarence and Alex are thrilled to welcome national champion and all-time tough guy Nick Sylor to the backyard. Nick talks about his transition from wrestling to rugby, helping establish success with St. Bonaventure and Rocky Gorge, and now coaching wrestling in Washington DC. Nick's thoughtful intensity makes an impact on the people around him and is a good listen for any coach or athlete.

As sports return, injuries become a reality once again. From bar league softball to the NFL, staying healthy is critical for athletes - and it's their coaches job to help with that physical preparation. Clarence and Alex talk about preparing for non-contact and collision injuries, and sprinkle in some other news. 

With the Men's Rugby World Cup bidding process beginning for 2027 and 2031, rumors are flying that the United States will be in contention to host. Clarence and Alex talk about the likelihood of that happening, and also touch on some of their unpopular opinions, and other rugby news. 

Clarence and Alex bounce around topics: Fudruckers closing, specifics of coaching the push pass, and the growth of rugby since it turned pro 25 years ago. Pull up a chair and join the chat.

The backyard crew is back to go around the horn on a variety of topics. Clarence talks about his plans for practice this week, Alex laments about his golf game and we even get into some US Open tennis coverage. Stay tuned as we transition to a Tuesday-Thursday release schedule for the fall.

Kyle Ciquera joins Clarence and Alex in the backyard to talk about his journey through the American rugby ranks. A big man on the field and a bigger personality off it, the New England Free Jacks prop known as "The Bald Eagle" has been around the world even though he is still early in his rugby development.

This episode covers it all. CJ Maurer is not only a former Atlantic 10 champion in swimming and diving, and an expert in jersey analysis, he is an experienced marketing professional and podcaster. We welcome previous guest Nick's brother to the backyard for an energetic episode. Our first non-rugby guest, CJ tells us how he would promote the sport, and how good he'd be playing it. Enjoy!

For 10 weeks we've had our guests say the growth of rugby starts with the kids - now we sit down with two guys who are making that happen. Union County (NJ) is one of the most successful youth flag and tackle programs in the country. Hear John McElroy and Owain Rees tell us about the club's roots and why it's been so successful.

After a gentle disclaimer about loving their players as people, Clarence and Alex bring the heat about the importance of winning on the field. We've covered building things the right way - but at the end of the day winning attracts the resources and support needed to make your program sustainable. 

Classic dude Brad Naughton joins Clarence and Alex in the backyard for one of our most fun roundtables yet. We cover serious and light topics, including leadership and vision, plus fly fishing, drive in movies and road tripping. Lots of laughs and good stories too - pull up a chair and enjoy!

Kevin McCorry is an American rugby story. From backup on his high school team, to all-time leading scorer at St. Bonaventure, to now playing a major role in the success of Rugby ATL, McCorry has evolved right along with the American game itself. Join the backyard crew as McCorry talks about taking that leap of faith, and making his rugby dreams come true.

In the second episode of our series on program building, Clarence and Alex talk about player development, on and off the field. "You win with people," and that is at the heart of this episode. Right now culture is a popular topic, but we also double down on the importance of being precise when coaching each area of the game, giving athletes the best chance to succeed. 

On this week's backyard rountable we welcome Rachel Noone - former St. Bonaventure women's rugby captain, current Buffalo fly half, and dog mom to Quincy the Aussie. We talk about growing the women's game, creativity (when it comes to Halloween costumes), and some questionable first-game decisions. 

Clarence and Alex sit down with Josh Macy, head coach at Lindenwood University, to hear how he's found success while remaining humble and driven. From getting coaching reps out of the spotlight, to competing everyday in practice, Coach Macy knows how to get the most out of his teams. A must listen for every coach who wants to learn from the best.

It's one thing to win a game, or even have a winning season. But establishing a winning program over the years takes a lot of moving parts. In the first of three episodes on program building, Clarence and Alex discuss all the people and departments that need to come together at a college to establish long-term success. With a focus on embodying the school and representing your club on and off the field, the crew talks about step one on the journey to success. 

This week's roundtable is high-energy as we welcome Bob Owens to the show. Founder and championship retriever trainer with Lone Duck Outfitters & Kennels, Bob is passionate about his rugby. The crew covers everything from taking risks on the field and in business, to Bob's all-dog XV.

We take a pause this Friday to thank our listeners for all their support, and look ahead to our next series of deep dives and interviews. We'll be getting into program building and technical skills in August and beyond. Be sure to send feedback and questions to Backyard Rugby Podcast on Facebook, and @backyard_rugby on Twitter.

In this week's roundtable, we welcome a man who is no stranger to hanging in the backyard - Sam Giordano. We cover a variety of topic including listener questions. What did Sam learn as a college club president? What makes for a great rugby tour? What's the ideal pair of shoes for Clarence? All this and more!

In our most important interview yet, we welcome Ryan Brennan to the backyard. Many know Ryan as someone who battled post-concussion syndrome for years, but that doesn't define who he is. A free spirit and true artist, Ryan takes us through his road to recovery, what he's learned from dance and music, and some important keys to life. This is a must listen not only for rugby coaches and players, but anyone going through personal challenges.

One of the unsung leaders in American rugby, Brandon Sparks is a coach and leader who puts his time and money where his mouth is. From founding Legacy Rugby Academy, to coaching Seattle Seawolves to the inaugural Major League Rugby title, and now in the front office with Utah Warriors, Sparks is all about opening doors for his athletes. If you support the growth of rugby in the USA, this interview is a must listen!

In the final Deep Dive of our opening series, Clarence and Alex talk about gameplay and how you plan your overall strategy. Whether it's a spread/pod system, loose framework, or support shape, the crew focus on playing to your strengths as a team and as a coach. Bringing together the themes from the previous Deep Dives on vision, space, principles and communication, we try to tie all the pieces together as you prepare for your season.

Scott Thomas joins the Backyard crew all the way from sunny San Diego. A long time coach and leader at University of San Diego - and BC High teammate of Alex - we talk about our favorite lifts, the East Coast vs West Coast differences in rugby, and more. Pull up a chair and join the convo!

The crew welcomes Tom Clark to the Backyard to discuss one of the most important roles in rugby - club and tour management. TC is a man who has worn many hats in his rugby career, from high school coach, academy manager, and college director of rugby. The guys discuss mentorship, organization, and much more. 

"Guys, we gotta communicate better!" This common phrase can be one of the most loaded statements in rugby. Clarence and Alex talk about what good communication means, the various aspects of communication, and how it can be the difference between good and great teams. Listen in and let us know what you think!

Clarence and Alex welcome Nick Maurer to the Backyard for a quick-hitting roundtable on crossover athletes coming to rugby. We discuss comments made by NFL punter Marquette King, the best sport to transfer to rugby, and some athletes we'd love to see on the field. Pull up a chair and join the discussion!

Kareem Afifi joins Clarence & Alex in the Backyard to talk about his journey through the coaching ranks. Coach K has worked with athletes in the Boston-area from high school to professional levels, and everything in between. Hear what he has learned along the way. 

Continuing the conversation from Episode 8, Clarence and Alex discuss their views on the core principles of defensive play. Using communication to tie everything together, the guys talk about a simple approach to stopping tries and stealing the ball. As we know - defense wins championships!

Clarence and Alex welcome Jonathan Garbin to the Backyard. The crew discusses changes to rugby over the past decade, some of their favorite memories as players and fans - and of course their ideal backyard. Pull up a chair and join us for our new-look roundtable format!

High school coach and special education teacher, Dan Hager talks to Clarence and Alex about his evolution from a successful club career with South Buffalo to leading a thriving program at Grand Island High School. Dan brings positivity and perspective to the show, and a few laughs.

In a lively discussion, Clarence and Alex talk about the principles of play – with a focus on attack – that any team can use to organize their approach to the game. The guys go through each of the four principles, and how they relate to space and numbers in developing your team's style of play.

Join us in the Backyard as the crew talks about their priorities headed into next season. Clarence and Alex discuss their approach to team communication during the summer, preseason plans, and honing an overall vision into the structure of a season.

One of the up-and-coming coaches in the Northeast, Taye Daniel-Ayibiowu of Nazareth College, joins us to talk about his passion for coaching, approach to skill development, and goals for his second year program.

The contest to control space on a rugby field is at the heart of our game. Clarence and Alex talk about how they teach spatial understanding to their teams, and how it impacts their overall approach to coaching.

Today in the Backyard, Clarence and Alex discuss some of their favorite resources to learn and reflect about the coaching trade. From Instagram and Twitter follows, to psychology books, the guys offer a variety of ways to improve and prepare for the future.

Former St. Bonaventure All American and MLR player John Sullivan joins the Backyard crew for a discussion about his rugby journey and how a young player can make it in the pros. Hard work, risk, and commitment are at the heart of John's story.

Clarence and Alex discuss a topic they consider to be at the heart of any successful program. Today in the Backyard, we share how a coach can build their team on and off the field beginning with a firm belief in a clear vision.

Welcome to Backyard Rugby with Clarence Picard and Alex Brussard! Our opening roundtable features our hosts sharing their vision for the podcast. Stay tuned for more exciting content to help get through the pandemic and better prepare for the next time we can play rugby – whenever that may be.