The Leicester Tigers Podcast: Recent Episodes
Leicester Tigers
The Leicester Tigers Podcast features weekly guests, unrivalled insights and access to members of the squad and club identities, as well as match analysis and Tigers Tales you won't hear anywhere else!
In the fourth episode of the ππ¦πΈ ππ°π°π¬ Series on The [unnamed] Leicester Tigers Podcast, club historian Stuart Farmer joins Bondi for their weekly wrap-up of all the latest facts and figures from the latest fixtures!
Farmer and Bondi preview the clash with Sale, while looking back on the history between the two clubs dating back to the debut season of Leicester's home, Welford Road.
And, in a special look back on 25 years of professional rugby, Farmer recalls the day "the game went open" and shares a fascinating insight into a famous meeting at Welford Road with the then Leicester Tigers squad and how their actions, as well as Peter Wheeler and Peter Tom, helped set the club on course for what would become one of the most dominant runs in rugby history by any team.
In the third episode of the ππ¦πΈ ππ°π°π¬ Series on The [unnamed] Leicester Tigers Podcast, the club's interim Finance Director Fintan Kennedy joins Bondi to look back on the rollercoaster ride that has been COVID-19.
As Welford Road prepares to host rugby for the first time in almost six months, Kennedy discusses the good, bad and ugly of the pandemic on the books at Tigers and the measures taken to find a way through.
Club historian and world renowned rugby union stats man, Stuart Farmer returns for his weekly segment to shares some fascinating insights into the history between Leicester and Bath ahead of the weekend's game.
In the first episode of the ππ¦πΈ ππ°π°π¬ [unnamed] Leicester Tigers Podcast, club captain Tom Youngs joins Bondi in the build-up to the return fixture against Exeter Chiefs in Round 14 of the Gallagher Premiership.
The Tigers skipper opens up on the impact of wife Tiffany's battle with cancer on their family, as well as the weight it placed on him as he continued to lead the club.
In a brutally honest discussion, Youngs also explains why he chose to keep the struggles to himself and if he contemplated stepping down from the leadership role at the club during the personal and professional ups-and-downs, off and on the pitch, in recent years.
We find out what "Tiff" is up to these days, including how she is inspiring people with her incredible story, and the new business she has set up to tell the tale and support similar sufferers through their fight.
Youngs discusses what it takes to be a good captain and leader, his inspirations when he was a young member of the squad and who are those on their way up the ranks who could step into his role down the track.
The England and British Lions international tells us why Steve Borthwick is the right fit for Tigers and the impact he has had since arriving in July, including the specific focus on the set-piece and why the criticism in recent seasons was justified.
And, tells a story from earlier this week when Borthwick put Bondi in his place out on the training paddock at the club's Oval Park headquarters.
The skipper also previews the weekend ahead, including what fans can expect from the side, shares some insights into the team to be named on Friday afternoon and much, much more!
In his debut appearance, club historian and world renowned rugby union stats man, Stuart Farmer, shares some fascinating insights into the history between Leicester and Exeter ahead of the weekend's game - including Tom Youngs' individual records and upcoming milestone!
And, as part of the ππ¦πΈ ππ°π°π¬ Podcast, Youngs takes on the awfully entertaining π§π²π» π§π²πΏπΏπΆπ―πΉπ ππΉπΆπ°π΅π² π€ππ²πππΆπΌπ»π!
In the first episode of the ππ¦πΈ ππ°π°π¬ [unnamed] Leicester Tigers Podcast, Dan Cole joins Bondi as the first guest in the revamped series.
The Tigers, England and British Lions front-rower shares how he handled the early stages of lock-down and admits he didn't think it would last as long as it has, as well as the return to training in June in preparation for the resumption of the Premiership Rugby season.
Cole opens up on the widespread changes that have taken place at the club since the season was postponed, including sharing insights into new Head Coach Steve Borthwick, the working relationship between him and Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy and the coaching team, which welcomed Aled Walters in July after a successful Rugby World Cup campaign with South Africa.
The experienced Tigers forward also chats about the challenge ahead against Exeter Chiefs in the first fixture back on August 15, playing in front of empty stadiums and why it doesn't bother him, plus, the demands ahead on the playing group with a jam-packed schedule and what role the young members of the squad will play.
And, as part of the ππ¦πΈ ππ°π°π¬ Podcast, Cole answers π§π²π» π§π²πΏπΏπΆπ―πΉπ ππΉπΆπ°π΅π² π€ππ²πππΆπΌπ»π and responds to questions submitted by Tigers fans.
In Episode 4 of The Social Distancing Series, Bateman and Bondi catch-up with former Leicester Tigers and England Rugby legend, Martin Johnson, to see how the club and country legend is handling the time at home during the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as taking a trip down memory lane with the World Rugby Hall of Fame member from his early days in the amateur era through to professionalism and retirement and to get his thoughts on the state of the game now, plus much more.
In Episode 3 of The Social Distancing Series, Bateman and Bondi catch-up with Will Spencer to see how the Tigers 'Big Man' is dealing with time alone at home and the impact it has had on him, including an open and honest assessment of the toll it has taken, as well as looking back on the Leicester lock's time at the club and much, much more.
In Episode 2 of The Social Distancing Series, Bateman and Bondi catch-up with England international Ben Youngs to see how the Leicester Tigers scrum-half is managing time at home during the Coronavirus pandemic, what training he is getting up to and much more!
The clubβs exclusive podcast, Talking Tigers, has returned to the airwaves.
In a new-look format, with both hosts and guests confined to their homes during this challenging times, Greg Bateman and co-host βBondiβ check-in with members of the Tigers squad and club staff to see what they are up to in isolation.
As well as discussing the Coronavirus pandemic and the forced changes to training schedules for players and club operations, guests will be chatting about how theyβre handling life at home and what they are doing to keep busy.
And, of course, discussing the campaign to date, despite the season being postponed for the foreseeable future, and the major headlines Leicester supporters and across the game.
In Episode 1, the self-proclaimed Peopleβs Captain turns the microphone on Bondi, as well as the previewing whatβs to come during this social distancing series of Talking Tigers.
In the sixth episode of Talking Tigers, the official Leicester Tigers Podcast, hosts Greg Bateman and Sam 'Bondi' Williamson sit down with Leicester Tigers Commercial Director - Andrea Pinchen.
Pinchen, who oversees the club's commercial operations and is a member of the Tigers Board, is grilled on how the club manages the relationships with sponsors during unsuccessful periods on the pitch, how they manage the balance between season ticket holders and casual fans versus corporate and hospitality guests and even opens up on working with Tigers CEO Simon Cohen.
Pinchen also shares her own journey to the important role at the club, from Leicester to the Middle East and back to Leicester all through from the ticket office to the corner office at Welford Road.
In the fifth episode of Talking Tigers, the official Leicester Tigers Podcast, hosts Greg Bateman and Sam 'Bondi' Williamson sit down with Leicester Tigers CEO Simon Cohen.
In an informative and intriguing interview, Cohen shares his journey to the top job at Tigers with Bateman and Bondi and also answers questions on topics including the salary cap and recent news stories surrounding the hot topic in Premiership Rugby, player welfare and finances of both the Leicester club and rugby union across the world.
The boys also grill the coach on recent seasons and the disappointing performances on the pitch from Tigers, as well as the high turnover of head coaches during that period and the need for a "re-build" (and what that entails) under Geordan Murphy.
Cohen also responds to criticism that Tigers focuses more on its relationship with sponsors rather than season ticket holders and explains why it's certainly not the case, plus answers questions from supporters posted on social media as well as much, much more in this wide-ranging, engaging chat.
In the fourth episode of Talking Tigers, the official Leicester Tigers Podcast, hosts Greg Bateman and Sam 'Bondi' Williamson sit down with retiring international Mat Tait just days after the announcement that the former England, Leicester, Sale and Newcastle back is hanging up the boots.
In a very special chat, at Tait's home, the fan-favourite opens up on what it is that has forced retirement on him earlier than planned and what's ahead for him. The 33-year-old also opens up on his early playing days and being thrust in to the England squad at just 18, his dramatic debut against Wales, playing on the World Sevens circuit and in the Commonwealth Games, as well as - of course - the 2007 World Cup and his starring role during that campaign and in the Final against South Africa.
As well as much more, Tait also opens up on the evolution of Leicester Tigers during his time at the club and shares his heartfelt, honest opinion on recent seasons and the future of the club, including former team mate and now Head Coach Geordan Murphy.
In a Talking Tigers first, fans also have their questions answered by Tait after they were submitted via Twitter during the week.
Listen now to this very special edition of Talking Tigers, including all of that and much, much more!
In the third episode of Talking Tigers, the official Leicester Tigers Podcast, hosts Greg Bateman and Sam 'Bondi' Williamson sit down with club captain Tom Youngs and his wife Tiffany at their home.
In a very special interview, the first couple of Tigers open up on the story of Tiff's near-fatal battle with illness and the impact it had on their lives, as well as the incredible amount of support they received from across the world. As well as the amazing tale of Tiff's recovery, the first lady of Tigers tells us what it's like to be married to Tom Youngs and the pair share an insight in to life as captain of Leicester Tigers and the weight of expectation that comes with the role.
The England and British Lions hooker also explains why he doesn't like social media, loves farming, sharing his journey with brother Ben, his bromance with Dan Cole and why he knows Geordan Murphy is the man to lead the club forward.
The proud Norfolk boy also tells Greg and Bondi why he will continue to stand up for farmers and farming, why he doesn't like vegans and how he nearly became a Doctor and much, much more from both Tom and Tiff.
In the second episode of Talking Tigers, the official Leicester Tigers Podcast, hosts Greg Bateman and Sam 'Bondi' Williamson sit down with Rugby World Cup and multi European Champions Cup and Premiership winning former Tigers player, turned board member and BT Sport pundit, Ben Kay.
In a wide-ranging chat, Kay opens up on how he got in the broadcast game and insights in to how it works behind the mic on matchday, where he thinks things are heading on TV and digitally, as well as his business interests away from the game.
And, in a club first, Kay answers hard-hitting questions from Bateman and Bondi on the inner workings of the Leicester Tigers Board, including the tough decisions it faces, recent criticism it has faced, where Leicester stands on private ownership, player welfare and the future of Tigers, as well as much, much more!
In the first episode of Talking Tigers, the official Leicester Tigers Podcast, hosts Greg Bateman and Sam 'Bondi' Williamson sit down with media-dodging, international front-rower Dan Cole.
Cole chats family, being related to fellow Tigers Ben and Tom Youngs, passions away from the game, the 2017 Lions tour, whether or not you can swear on podcasts and the difficulties for players when it comes to ever-changing world of corporate influence over sport, as well as much more!