Beyond the Breakdown

Rooted in Wales’ local clubs this new podcast, hosted by former Welsh international and Guinness World Record holder Richard Parks, brings together rugby greats and local clubs. Each week a legend of Welsh rugby shares stories of life in the game and beyond it. Recorded in the communities that shaped them, the conversations go deeper than results and rivalries, exploring identity, parenthood, and what happens when the boots are put away. Alongside personal journeys, the podcast shines a light on the real challenges facing grassroots clubs and the communities that hold them together — from rising costs and changing weather to changes in the game itself — and why connection, care, and belonging matter more than ever. Each episode takes you inside a local club, meeting the people who make it tick and sitting down in the clubhouse with that week’s legend. The podcast bridges the journey from grassroots rugby to the elite game and from the past to the professional game in the present. Whether still on the field, stepping into coaching, or finding a new path beyond the game, each conversation uncovers the personal journeys, struggles, and connections that make rugby more than just a sport.