After The Whistle with Lewis Moody

The Former flanker and number eight who played with the Northampton Saints, and the British and Irish Lions, joins Lewis and Leon to discuss the highs and lows of his extraordinary career. In this episode, Rodber speaks candidly about his battle with self esteem while playing rugby and confessed that he wanted to leave the game because he doubted his talent in the sport. But it’s his high standards and relentless drive for success that has led him to achieve on the rugby field, in his role as as an army captain and in the business world where he currently resides. Although Rodber admits that he’s not a particularly reflective person when it comes to looking back on his life, he opens up about the emotion behind the iconic photo of him helping Pat Lam lift the Heineken Cup back in 2000, the people he considers his mentors, what he describes as his tyranny as captain of the Saints and how he struggled to leave the discipline of being a sportsman behind in his retirement. Thanks to Express VPN for sponsoring this episode. Claim your special offer expressvpn.com/MOODY Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Leon turns the tables on Lewis as he grills his former team mate and 'Mad Dog'on his own life and career in Rugby. Lewis joined the Leicester Tigers in in 1996 and at just 18 became the youngest player to play a league game. His career went from strength to strength and he left the sport with a host of accolades to his name and an MBE to boot. In this candid conversation he chats to Leon about those eventful early years where he struggled to balance University life with Rugby, his passion for Leicester and reveals the devastation he felt when his contract was terminated in 2010 after 14 years - something he still finds difficult to deal with to this day. They talk about the moment Martin Johnson asked him to be captain of the England team, while stood in his back garden. The numerous severe injuries that plagued his career and caused him to miss the 2007 Six Nations Championship, and his silent battle with Ulcerative Colitis; which he hid from doctors, coaches, teammates and friends. Well known for his all or nothing style on the field, this approach has not come without some trouble attached, and Lewis is open and honest about that infamous red card he received in 2005 after being the first England player to be sent off at Twickenham for fighting with fellow Leicester teammate Alex Tuilagi. Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Leon and Lewis jump on the phone to recap after England’s defeat in the World Cup final at the weekend and share their thoughts on what might have gone wrong for the team. They also discuss the hot topic of why the England players were within their right to remove their runners-up medals in the aftermath of the game and their hopes that the England team can see all that they have achieved once the dust has settled. This week’s interview is with Colonel David Richmond CBE, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who is the highest ranked officer to have been shot at and seriously wounded in 2008 during the Afghanistan conflict. He underwent four years of reconstruction surgery and rehabilitation and was medically discharged from the Armed Forces in April 2012. During this time he began working for Help for Heroes and went on to become their Recovery Director, helping thousands upon thousands of injured and sick servicemen, veterans and families. In this candid conversation, David talks us through the moment he was struck in battle, the physical and mental challenges he faced and the dramatic changes he had to adapt to in both his personal and professional life. A lifelong rugby fan - and Bath supporter - David explains how close the links between military and athletic mindsets are and how his experience has helped him with his work at Switch The Play, helping athletes transition out of sport. Follow more of David's work @davidhopalongLewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Lewis is joined by Welsh rugby star and Bath player Jamie Roberts as they reflect on the latest Word Cup action, looking back on Wales vs France and make their predictions for the Wales vs South Africa and England vs New Zealand semi final game. While Leon is over in Japan (at last!) and brings us World Cup memories from former head coach of Scotland and Edinburgh rugby, Frank Hadden.Newport born and Cardiff bred Jamie Roberts is not a man that likes to rest on his laurels. Whether he’s out on the field training, studying medicine, dabbling in punditry or playing on stage with the Manic Street Preachers, Jamie seizes an opportunity when he’s presented with it. In this episode, Jamie chats to Lewis about how he juggles life on and off the field as he studies for his fourth degree, playing for the Harlequins, disappointments in the 2009 Heineken Cup, gaining perspective after career lows and why a move to France in 2013 marked the best year of his life to date. Keep across everything Jamie is up to @JamiehuwrobertsThanks to Beer52 for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget to cash in on your free beer at beer52.com/MOODY Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Your latest update on all of the 2019 Rugby World Cup action in Japan is this week's hot topic as Leon prepares to fly out to Asia and take up his post as judicial officer and the boys look ahead to the week's games. Danielle "Nolli" Waterman is our special guest interview. With seven Grand Slams, a World Cup winners' medal and an Olympic Games under her belt, Nolli is one of the most decorated players in Rugby. In this episode she chats to Lewis and Leon about her childhood in New Zealand, the highs and lows of her 15 years playing international rugby, how the women's game has changed over the years and the changes she would still like to see implemented. Find out more about what Nolli is up to on Twitter @nolli15 or check out her Try Hards podcast via your favourite podcast app. Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.orgLeon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com/Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

Andrew Steele is an Olympian who spent 12 years professionally competing in track and field; specialising in the 400 metre and the 4x400 metre relay for Great Britain. In 2017 he became an Olympic medallist after he was retrospectively upgraded from 4th place to 3rd from the Beijing 2008 games as a direct result of the Russian doping scandal. In this episode, Andrew shares the story of his sporting triumphs and failures as a professional sportsperson and how they inadvertently led him to his current role as one of the founding team at DNAFit, as he speaks honestly about the depression he suffered when he missed out on the London 2012 Olympics due to injury and illness. Andrew Steele and DNAFit: dnafit.comLewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.org Leon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music

After making his debut for England in the 2002 Six Nations, Steve “Tommo” Thompson was once England’s most capped hooker. Standing at 6ft tall, he was a formidable force on the field and a key player in England’s victories over New Zealand and Australia during the 2003 Rugby World Cup that led the team to victory. But his playing years didn’t always run so smoothly... In this inaugural episode of After The Whistle, Tommo shares his remarkable journey of resilience and recovery through two severe neck injuries which forced him to retire from the sport on two occasions; once in 2007 and a final time in 2011. His story is one of true heroics, pain and ultimately, immense passion and drive that saw him grow from from a young teenager first developing his skills at Northampton Old Scouts through to the Rugby legend that stands before us today. Lewis Moody Foundation: thelewismoodyfoundation.orgLeon Lloyd and Switch The Play: switchtheplay.com Music is City Drive by DMJ-Music: audiojungle.net/user/dmj-music