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PODCAST

US Rugby Happy Hour

American Rugby Rising

US Rugby Happy Hour, hosted by the dynamic duo of Bill Baker of American Rugby Rising and John Fitzpatrick of Rugby Morning, is a captivating blend of insightful rugby discussions, entertaining banter, and a celebration of the sport’s spirit. With their wealth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, Bill and Fitzy create an engaging space for rugby enthusiasts to connect and revel in the game’s glory. Whether delving into the latest matches or sharing anecdotes with special guests, this live show is

sports rugby

All Episodes

4:04

Eagles Overseas: Strong Wins and Standout Starts, AJ...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/10/05

In this episode of Eagles Overseas, host Bill Baker recaps action from Saturday’s domestic and international matches across Premiership Rugby, Top 14, and the Next Gen Cup for the week ending, October 4th, 2026.Players featured in this episode: AJ MacGinty (10 - Fly half / Bristol Bears - Gallagher PREM Rugby) Jack Iscaro (1 - Loosehead Prop / Paris - Top14) Lotte Sharp (11 - Left Wing / Saracens - Next Gen Cup) Morgan Freeman (7 - Openside Flanker / Saracens - Next Gen Cup)

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4:12

Eagles Overseas: Big Wins and Debut Starts - Sept....

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/28

In this episode of Eagles Overseas with Bill Baker, we recap match results and individual player performances from our USA Eagles across the globe, from matches played Sept. 23-27, 2026 Featured players in this episode: Lotte Sharp (Left Wing / Saracens - Next Gen Series) Tess Feury (Full back / Leicester Tigers - Next Gen Cup) Nick James (Loosehead Prop / Sale Sharks - Next Gen) Nafi Ma’afu (Reserve / Montauban - ProD2) AJ MacGinty (Fly half / Bristol Bears -

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53:38

USA U20 Assistant Coach Marcel Brache on Junior World...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/24

Former USA Eagle #503 and San Diego Legion standout Marcel Brache joins the show to share his journey from international play to coaching the next generation of American talent. Brache reflects on his recent experience as Assistant Coach for the USA Men’s U20 team at the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia. He breaks down the squad’s resilient second-half performance against Uruguay, the fine margins separating American players from Tier 1 nations, and why exposure to top-tier

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25:16

National Maul Edition: Comeback Victories, Classic...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/23

Get ready for an energetic session on US Rugby Happy Hour’s National Maul edition! Guest columnist Martin Pengelly breaks down an action-packed slate of rugby action, contrasting the USA Men’s frustrating loss against Canada with the USA Women’s heroic second-half comeback victory over Ireland. We discuss smart bench management, reflect on the electric atmosphere and 68,000-strong crowd at the All Blacks vs. Springboks match in Baltimore, and dissect what it really takes to grow and "Americanize"

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3:53

Eagles Overseas: Sharp Scores Twice in PWR Next Gen...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/21

It was a big weekend of rugby from Friday through Sunday across France, New Zealand, and England. From debuts in Champ Rugby to multi-try performances in the PWR Next Gen Cup, here is the full breakdown of how American players fared abroad.Charlie Abel (Tighthead Prop / Oyonnax - ProD2) Nafi Ma’afu (Number 8 / Montauban - ProD2) Jake Turnbull (Loosehead Prop / Wellington Lions - Hilux NPC) Aidan King (Openside Flanker / Doncaster Knights - Champ Rugby) Lotte Sharp (Left

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52:56

Inside USA Women’s Rugby with Head Coach Jack Hanratty

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/17

Welcome back to another exciting episode of US Rugby Happy Hour! Kick starting the show with our signature customized, quirky intro jingle teasing Jack Hanratty's Irish adventures—complete with Guinness factory stairs and chasing deer in Phoenix Park—hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick sit down for a fun, candid chat with the USA Women's Rugby Head Coach. Returning for his fourth appearance on the podcast, Jack opens up about bringing the USA Women’s squad to train in Dublin at his hometown club

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4:37

Eagles Overseas: ProD2, Top 14, Premiership Cup & NPC

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/14

Welcome to US Rugby Happy Hour BONUS Segment: Eagles Overseas, We are tracking American rugby players competing across top-flight leagues and developmental setups across the globe.Today, we break down action from this past weekend, September 11-14, 2026. Player Performance Breakdown: Nafi Ma’afu (Montauban - ProD2) Kapeli Pifeleti (Provence Rugby - ProD2) Charlie Abel (Oyonnax - ProD2) Jack Iscaro (Stade Français Paris - Top 14) AJ MacGinty (Bristol Bears - Premiership

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24:24

USA Men's Eagles Face Eddie Jones & Japan in Pacific...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/10

Hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick break down the USA Men’s Eagles roster as they prepare for a high-stakes test match against Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup. Facing a fast-paced Japanese side coached by Eddie Jones, the panel examines the challenges ahead following last year’s 47-21 defeat in Sacramento. The episode sets up the key focal points for Scott Lawrence’s squad, including the battle upfront, midfield stability, and dynamic options across the backline. The hosts walk through the

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32:43

The National Maul - Honoring 9/11 & High-Stakes...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/10

On this edition of US Rugby Happy Hour, hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick reflect on rugby’s deeply poignant connection to 9/11, honoring heroes like Mark Bingham, Jeremy Glick, and Rick Rescorla. The conversation kicks off with our signature introduction jingle, "Use it or lose it all—time for The National Maul with Martin Pengelly!" setting the stage for a deeply reflective yet expansive conversation on the game's cultural footprint. Martin details his research into historical rugby

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5:31

Eagles Overseas: Season debuts in France, PREM Cup...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/08

Welcome to US Rugby Happy Hour BONUS Segment: Eagles Overseas, We are tracking American rugby players competing across top-flight leagues and developmental setups across the globe. Today, we break down action from this past weekend, September 4-7, 2026. Player Performance Breakdown 1. Nafi Ma’afu (Lock | US Montauban – ProD2) 2. AJ MacGinty (Flyhalf | Bristol Bears – Gallagher PREM Cup) 3. Jake Turnbull (Prop | Wellington Lions – Hilux NPC) 4. Charlie Abel (Prop | Oyonnax – ProD2) Learn

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55:24

Rivalry Heat & Grassroots Explosions - Martin...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/09/03

Martin Pengelly returns with his popular segment The National Maul to debate whether the historic Springboks vs. All Blacks match in Baltimore truly deserves the title of "rugby's greatest rivalry". Martin takes us down memory lane with high school battle stories and dives into MLR player overseas developmental moves. Later in the show, the heavy-hitting intro jingle ushers in Zach Bateman from Rugby Riot. Zach shares how his media movement is spotlighting the next generation of American talent

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38:27

Future Stars of American Rugby: 2026 MLR Draft...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/08/28

The latest episode kicks off with our high-energy introduction jingle before diving straight into the major takeaways from the 2026 Major League Rugby Draft. We sit down with two of the draft's brightest young stars: #2 overall pick Solomon Williams out of Cal and #6 overall pick Mario Storti from Saint Mary's. Discover what it feels like to hear your name called on draft night, how these elite college programs prepare athletes for the professional ranks, and what fans in Seattle and Washington

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69:21

Celebrating US Rugby Hall of Famer Alex Goff -...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/08/20

Welcome back to another episode of U.S. Rugby Happy Hour, kicked off with our signature, high-energy intro jingle that gets you ready for the best rugby talk in the country. In this episode, hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick sit down with newly inducted US Rugby Foundation Hall of Famer and legendary analyst Alex Goff to discuss his storied career and the state of American rugby. Goff dives deep into the realities of high school and youth rugby development, the complexities and ongoing divide

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41:00

USA Rugby & CRAA Joint Venture: Unlocking the Future...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/08/07

Welcome back to another packed episode of U.S. Rugby Happy Hour! We kick things off celebrating Bill's Emmy win! and with our high-energy, unapologetically American intro jingle before diving into "The National Maul" segment with journalist Martin Pengelly, where we break down the latest Major League Rugby structural updates and college rugby governance.Later in the episode, we sit down with USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren and CRAA Executive Director Paul Keeler to discuss the landmark strategic

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51:29

Unpacking the Eagles’ Progress with USA Head Coach...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/07/24

Welcome back to another packed episode of U.S. Rugby Happy Hour! We kick things off with a high-energy intro featuring our proud, unapologetically American theme song. Then, we sit down for an extensive, incredibly candid conversation with USA Men's Rugby Head Coach Scott Lawrence to break down the summer test series, player development, and the path forward.Coach Lawrence opens up about the squad's performance during the recent Nations Cup, utilizing data to shape team identity, and navigating

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51:43

Building the American Identity with Dominic Besag &...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/07/17

Join us on this week’s U.S. Rugby Happy Hour as we explore the heart and soul of the American game. We kick things off with our signature "National Maul" segment, featuring the insightful and always opinionated Martin Pengelly, who joins us to discuss the unique challenges of American rugby infrastructure and the evolution of the USA Eagles’ identity. In our main segment, our jingle department's latest masterpiece—a cello-accordion techno anthem that you absolutely have to hear to believe! Then,

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50:09

USA Rugby Future: Bella Vogel’s Rise & The National...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/07/10

Join us on U.S. Rugby Happy Hour LIVE as we dive into the latest developments in the American game. We open the show with Martin Pengelly of The National Maul, who breaks down the cultural identity of the USA Eagles under Scott Lawrence, shares his thoughts on the new Rugby Nations Championship, and explores the viral moments that define the sport. We also feature our signature, slightly chaotic, jingle-filled introduction that has become a staple of the show. In the second half, we are thrilled to

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46:41

Rugby Culture & MLR Championship Preview: Chicago vs....

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/06/19

Join us for an expert breakdown of the MLR Championship between the Chicago Hounds and California as we chat with rugby journalist Martin Pengelly and announcer Ben Holden. Subscribe to our channel for the latest US rugby analysis and interviews: [Link to Channel]In this episode, we preview the upcoming MLR final, discuss the evolution of American rugby club culture with Martin Pengelly, and get a behind-the-scenes look at broadcast preparation from Ben Holden. Don’t miss out on our analysis of

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47:12

MLR Finals Return to Chicago: A Weekend of Rugby,...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/06/12

Join us for an exclusive, high-energy breakdown of the upcoming Major League Rugby Finals returning to Chicago this June! First, on this week's National Maul segment with Martin Pengelly, Martin looks back at least week's National Maul newsletter interview with Alex Magleby, a 2026 season review, and what does he have planned for this week? Possibly profiling USA Eagle, Dylan Audsley and his social media ventures with Culture RFC? We'll see! Then, we’re joined by our frequent guest, Mags, who

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48:20

Unleashing the Dogs: The 61-Man USA Eagles Roster &...

US Rugby Happy Hour ·

2026/05/29

Get ready to rumble as the US Rugby Happy Hour kicks off with a retro flair, dropping a brand-new, 1980s TV-show-inspired introduction jingle that sets a high-energy tone for an jam-packed episode. Co-hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick sit down with veteran rugby journalist Martin Pengelly, author of The National Maul Substack. Pengelly lends his sharp perspective to the evolution of American rugby media, sharing elite-level stories from his 25-year career—including walking the streets of

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