2/11/26 B-Side Bois w/ Andrew Ridgway & Ant Frein

About this episode

The episode discusses various aspects of rugby from officiating to sponsorship and includes insights from guests Andrew Ridgway and Ant Frein.

Episode 166 is packed from Iowa to international rugby. We talk the upcoming Iowa Referee Level 1 Clinic and why officiating is critical to the sport’s growth, plus the Wombats’ new head coach announcement. In-studio, Ant Frein joins us to discuss new sponsorship momentum and Iowa State’s spring outlook, and Andrew Ridgway breaks down his move from coaching to refereeing. Anna Degen calls in to talk her new podcast, the Hawkettes, and Iowa Rugby Union updates. We also cover the new Iowa boys high school structure, Chicago Hounds heading to Nashville, Club Nationals in Chicago, and full 6 Nations Week 1 reactions — results, table, Pick’em standings, and a Week 2 preview. Growth, governance, and a little chaos. Let’s get into it.

People in this episode

Host: B-Side Bois

Guests: Andrew Ridgway, Ant Frein

Topics covered

• rugby officiating
• Iowa rugby updates
• coaching to refereeing transition
• sponsorship in rugby
• high school rugby structure
• 6 Nations preview and reactions

Keywords

• rugby
• officiating
• Iowa Referee Clinic
• sponsorship
• 6 Nations
• high school rugby
• coaching
• Wombats
• Chicago Hounds

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Iowa Rugby Union, Wombats, Chicago Hounds

More episodes of B-Side Bois: A Rugby Podcast

• 4/29/26 B-Side Bois w/ Morgan Linck · April 29, 2026 · 1h 18m
• 4/22/26 B-Side Bois Quick Rugby Update Episode · April 22, 2026 · 1h 25m
• 4/15/26 B-Side Bois w/ Zach Lanning of The College Rugby Show · April 15, 2026 · 1h 8m
• 4/8/26 B-Side Bois w/ Tom Naughton and Week 1 Recap · April 8, 2026 · 1h 38m
• 4/2/26 B-Side Bois Rugby Iowa High School Boys 7s Week 1 Preview · April 2, 2026 · 28 min
• 3/25/26 B-Side Bois w/Adam Simiele and Drew Johnston · March 25, 2026 · 2h 14m