Two friends, Jack and Ozzie, have teamed up to create The Gay Rugby Podcast, a platform dedicated to sharing stories from the inclusive rugby community. Jack, who joined his local gay rugby club after a breakup in 2018, and Ozzie, a nine-year veteran of the sport, both found a sense of belonging in rugby’s unique camaraderie. Now, they’re using their podcast to shine a spotlight on the sport and its diverse athletes, hoping to spread the “gospel of rugby” to a wider audience. We sat down with the duo to talk about their podcast journey, the evolution of gay rugby, and their hopes for the future of the sport.

BWM: Please tell me a little about yourselves (jack and Ozzie) how long you have played rugby, what got you into rugby and any key milestones in yoru rugby playing? 

Jack: I started playing rugby when I joined The Los Angeles Rebellion LGBTQ+ Inclusive Rugby Club in 2018 after a breakup. I needed a “slap in the face” something to get me out of the house and out of my comfort zone. I found the rebellion and with family and some of my closest friends. Key milestones include scoring my first try in Ottawa, Canada during the Bingham Cup and playing a rugby pride match at the olympic colosseum in Los Angeles with my Parents in the stands. 

Ozzie: Played for 9 years (retired now but may come back for tournament play). Got into rugby because I wanted to be active outside the gym and have fun while doing it. Key milestone was my first try ever my second year of playing. That was exciting!!

BWM: What make you decide to create the podcast?

Ozzie:Rugby isn’t very known in the states. The comradery, tradition, and excitement that comes with this game is so special. Especially participating in IGR tournaments nationally and internationally. We wanted to share those experiences and introduce rugby to a new audience.

Jack:We created the podcast because we were running social media for the Los Angeles Rebellion rugby team, and we saw such a positive response, reaching hundreds of millions of people across the globe. We saw that there was a very niche audience who would love to learn more about the gay rugby community, and we wanted to help spread the gospel of rugby. It’s not very popular in the United States, so we wanted to make it more popular and also tell people about this community and get people excited to join rugby and inclusive rugby teams across the world.

BWM: What have you found to be the most interesting parts or surprises hosting a podcast?

Ozzie: The interesting and unique backgrounds of our guests. They’re so diverse, yet all roads lead them to rugby. It makes for great conversations about their athletic trajectory and personal life experiences.

Jack: I guess the surprise is how much work it is! but also how much positive response we’re getting. The most interesting part is working with all of the different guests that we have. We’re not just interviewing athletes — we’re interviewing influencers, comedians, celebrities, and drag queens. That’s been the most interesting part: hearing their stories.

BWM: How is Gay Rugby evolving? 

Jack: The gay rugby community is growing every year. We started creating social media content with the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Team, and there were so many people who saw it and became aware of the community. This led to an increase in recruitment across international gay rugby teams. The sport is getting bigger, with more people playing, more people traveling, and more visibility.

Ozzie: It’s growing. IGR oversees the largest amateur rugby tournament in the world!

BWM: How is Gay Rugby accepted in the world of sport and rugby generally?\

Ozzie: Rugby, as a sport, is one of the most open-minded. The rugby fandom as well. However, there will always be bad apples in the bunch. But generally speaking, it’s a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ athletes and fans.

Jack: For the most part, we’ve had a really positive reaction. People love to see our content and the perspective that we bring as members of the LGBTQ+ community. That said, we do get some hate from people within the rugby community in our comment section and stuff like that. We really just hope they can learn to be inclusive and that we can change their minds.

BWM: What’s your wish for the podcast? Any special guest requests?

Jack: My wish for the podcast is that it helps to grow the international gay rugby community. I also hope we get to host events at our flagship tournaments, including Palm Springs Rucktacular in 2025, Brisbane Bingham Cup in 2026, the NORAM Cup in Mexico City in 2027, and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. As for special guests, my dream guests would be Illonah Mar or Sarah Bern

Ozzie: We’re passionate about our podcast, but it takes time, energy, and money to produce. We do this in our free time – when we’re not working our 9-5. One day, we’d like to reach a level of success that will allow us to quit our other job and fully dedicate our efforts to creating good content for our listeners. As for special guests, well, there’s plenty, and that list will always grow and/or change. Some names that come to mind now are Ilona Maher, Phaidra Knight, Sam Stanley.

BWM: What are the upcoming episodes and do either of you have a favorite episode so far and other than your own teams, who do you follow or support?

Ozzie: We have an upcoming podcast with Olympic medalist Lauren Doyle of the USA Women’s Rugby team. that addresses mental health. A very important topic from the perspective of an athlete.Not sure about our favorite episode. They’re all fun to make! Maybe the first one because it’s what launched this amazing endeavor.We follow most if not all the IGR teams. There are others as well of course. We want to make sure we keep up with the rugby community.

Jack: My favorite episode so far was with Elliot Norris. He’s a food influencer, and he joined us while we attempted the Rugby Prop Diet. We did a mukbang, trying to eat as much food as a rugby prop eats on camera while interviewing him about his career and life. Other teams I follow and support include the U.S. Women’s Rugby Team, Team USA, and the All Blacks from New Zealand.

Make sure to subscribe to The Gay Rugby Podcast here.