This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with George and Dave from Attica Rugby, the team behind the Aegean Rugby Festival, to talk about growing rugby in Greece through sport tourism. They cover the festival's origins, the vision of showcasing Greece as a sporting destination, and the reality of 2026 — a scaled-back event after travel uncertainty and rising costs forced multiple cancellations, yet still delivered with four men's and four women's teams, strong local support in Crete, and professional refereeing. Then the big one: plans for a bigger early-summer 2027 festival in Athens — rugby sevens, beach rugby, an all-inclusive option, a major closing party, and ideas for youth divisions, touch rugby, rugby tours and future 15s. Plus Andy Powell's sevens story, why legends add credibility, the Greek rugby leadership gap, and the philosophy of show up and build.

Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips.

⏱️ Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome & Guests
(00:56) Origins of the Aegean Festival
(03:01) Greek Rugby Growth
(05:22) Festival Vision & the Federation
(09:15) Travel Chaos & Cancellations
(11:01) Pulling Off the 2026 Event
(13:13) Referees & Tournament Quality
(16:47) 2027 Athens Teaser
(18:48) Youth Division vs the Party
(23:12) Future Formats & Rugby Tours
(27:48) Streaming the Format
(28:08) Tournament Week Blueprint
(28:44) Event Weekend Integration
(29:19) The Andy Powell Sevens Story
(31:37) Legends Add Credibility
(33:56) The Greek Rugby Leadership Gap
(38:12) Show Up & Build
(39:37) Celebrities Who Deliver
(43:57) Rugby for Anyone
(47:01) Touch Rugby Expansion
(48:42) Early Summer 2027 Plans
(50:30) Final Wrap & Callouts

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This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with Xhino, chairman of the Albanian rugby federation, for the story of how a sport almost nobody was playing became a national project. Xhino traces it back to 2010–2012, when a handful of students inspired by YouTube clips started throwing a ball around — through the founding of Tirana Rugby Club to official federation recognition in 2024. He and Carl get into Albania's entirely self-funded growth, the touring sides making the trip out (the European Parliament Rugby Team and Nottingham Police Force among them), and why hospitality, raki and the post-match third half matter as much as anything on the pitch. Xhino lays out the pillars taking Albanian rugby forward: school programmes and touch rugby, building a base beyond Tirana in Durrës, French connections opening player pathways, women's rugby, and the long game — Rugby Europe membership and fixtures against Bosnia, Serbia and Greece.

Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips.

⏱️ Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome & Guest Intro
(01:06) Rugby Begins in Albania
(02:18) Tirana Club & Touring Teams
(03:31) Albanian Hospitality & Raki
(06:02) The Road to Rugby Europe
(06:53) Schools & Youth Pathways
(08:02) France Links & Player Opportunities
(13:44) Growing Beyond Tirana
(18:35) Funding & Building an Ecosystem
(20:24) The 5, 10, 15-Year Vision
(22:46) Women's Rugby & the Balkan Schools Cup
(28:21) Rugby League & Learning from the NRL
(31:12) Media Buzz & Upcoming Fixtures
(32:59) How to Connect & Visit
(35:49) Final Thanks & Wrap Up

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German rugby is rebuilding — and new head coach Mike Poppmeier is the man tasked with leading it back.

In this episode, Carl sits down with Mike Poppmeier, the new head coach of Germany and a former Germany international, for an open conversation about Rugby Europe, the national team's future, and the funding gap holding it all back. Mike talks through his South African upbringing, his German/Austrian family roots and 11 years living in Germany, before laying out the real picture: how the lack of a professional environment and funding limits preparation, player retention, staffing and international fixtures.

He explains the value of cross-border competition like the new Ascent Rugby league (featuring Adler XV and Frankfurt), his role with dominant Bundesliga champions Frankfurt, and why Germany sits in the Trophy division while rebuilding its culture, behaviours and pathway by blooding young France-based prospects. Plus his coaching ethos — fitness, tempo and smart rugby — and the practical needs, from video analysis to aligned governance, that could unlock sponsorship and long-term growth.

Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips.

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Welcome & guest intro
00:45 Mike's Germany journey
02:19 Why Germany slipped
04:50 Super Cup & pro pathways
07:16 Ascent Rugby explained
08:00 Bundesliga & Frankfurt dominance
10:43 Adler XV selection plans
13:26 Friendlies & travel budgets
16:07 Rebuild in the Trophy division
19:48 The funding mystery & next steps
22:03 Squad identity plan
22:45 Player release commitments
24:58 Coaching ethos & style
27:40 Prep time & logistics
28:46 Video analysis & tools
30:27 Head coach workload
33:40 Five-year vision
35:37 Funding & alignment
38:59 Curtis Brayford addition
40:25 Final message & legacy

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