Welcome back to Our Rugby Club! In this episode, we continue our conversation with former Scotland international Ian Smith, a true rugby union legend and now a tik tok sensation. He shares his strong views on the modern game, from the elite level down to community rugby, making this a must-listen rugby podcast. You'll hear his thoughts on what needs to change in the sport, echoing the kind of honest discussion you might find on good bad rugby.Ian Smith on What’s Broken in Modern Rugby: Leagues, TMOs, and Saving the Community GameFormer Scotland international fullback Ian Smith, now in his eighties and a TikTok creator with 1.4 million followers, discusses what he believes is harming modern rugby from elite to community level. He argues official leagues reduce local rivalries and enjoyment, and that coaching-driven training demands push social players away, leading to difficulties raising teams and empty pitches. Smith criticizes growing administrative interference, long matches influenced by TMOs, and suggests separating the televised, TMO-driven elite game from most rugby played without such resources. He also raises concerns about the sport’s collision risks deterring families, and says high ticket prices prevent children from seeing heroes. He proposes a national cup-style competition to spread the game by bringing top clubs to local grounds.00:00 Welcome Back Intro00:53 Why Leagues Hurt Clubs03:55 Social Rugby Lost05:57 Empty Pitches Problem08:54 RFU And Governance10:36 TMO And Game Flow13:24 Split Pro And Community17:25 Fans Prices And Access21:21 Leagues Fix Kickoff Times25:15 Money And Professionalism26:57 Safety And Collision Fears29:36 FA Cup Style Rugby32:44 Wrap Up And Thanks33:20 Episode Closing OutroRecommended book: The Art of Corse Rugby by Miachael Green https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Coarse-Rugby-Michael-Green/dp/0090600320Ian Smith on TikTok: @writers.cramp with 1.4 million followers!