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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Beyond the Breakdown

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by Beyond the Breakdown

5.0(1 reviews)

7 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

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.

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Publishing Since

2/6/2026

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Recent Episodes

July 2, 2026

Summer special with Gareth Baber: “I recognise more now what it takes to be a top performer.”

Beyond the Breakdown is a podcast rooted in Wales’ rugby clubs, with legends sharing stories of life in and beyond the game, and the challenges facing our communities and clubs.As Wales prepare to take on Fiji, our Summer special features a Welsh coach with some amazing stories from that remarkable and inspiring rugby country. We are talking to Gareth Baber, a coach and former player whose career has taken him from Pontypridd (where he played alongside Rich) to Olympic gold with Fiji and plenty more in between.As a coach, Baber has gone global with spells with Wales Under 20s, Cardiff Blues, Hong Kong Sevens, and five years at the helm of the Fiji Sevens side that won gold at the Olympics. He’s just won promotion with French side Nissa in the latest chapter of this adventurous career. In this episode Gareth reflects on everything from why clubs are so special to Welsh life and the game to the unique stories from his time coaching in Fiji.It was a fascinating conversation with someone who has seen the game from almost every angle, thinks deeply about it and never loses sight of where it all started. We really hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

March 13, 2026

George North: "I learned my biggest core values in rugby."

In our sixth and final episode of this series we are talking to Wales’ top six nations try scorer and all-around superstar George North. Last but by no means least, this conversation saw us laugh, cry and really reflect on the ways in which rugby, and sport in general, can embellish your life. Together we traced the arc of his legendary career to look at the man behind the highlights – fatherhood, moments of doubt and how we build resilience.George started in the wilds of Llangefni up in Anglesey, where his Mum is from, and from where his Dad, a Yorkshireman, drove him from, up and down the lengths and breadth of Wales to make sure he was where he needed to be to become the player we know him as today.George is still playing and for this episode we went over to Stade Maurice David in Provence to see him in his new home turf. But his first home turf was in Llangefni, down on the fields beyond the cabbage patches and in football country, which meant it wasn’t always 14 others he was playing with but a mish mash of players from here and there, but still it’s the place that he says he learned his core values that still take him through life today.From George talking about the challenges he’s faced in the game through injury, the highs of Lions and World tours and his favourite tries and all the way through to how important his relationships with his own Dad is and what he wants for his own boys now, this is a conversation that you’ll want to sit down and take in. George is a special guy, and when you meet him you’re not meeting “George North”, one of the world’s best rugby players, you’re meeting George from Llangefni. At the start of his book he says: “Here’s what you need to know about me, at this point. I’ll shake your hand when we first meet. I’ll ask you how you are. I’ll bring the energy and I’ll bring positive vibes.” And that’s the George you meet everytime, just a kid that still loves the game and is thankful for all it’s given himWe’ve got a lot more to see from George, and it was a pleasure to talk to him while he’s still in the game and looking towards the future but also with curiosity as he thinks about what else is to come. What a guy, what a player, what a conversation. As ever we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, and hope you enjoy spending your time with George and getting to know him a little better. The man behind some of your favourite tries – that knows his Mum and Dad are stood behind him cheering him on, as he does with his own family now. This conversation, and George himself is the spirit of rugby and of the story we have tried to tell throughout this series.From our conversation with Chief last week, someone who played the game before the professional era kicked in to our chat this week with George, still playing week-in week-out, we can see how fast and how much the game has changed but also the important stuff that’s stayed the same. So too as we bookend this series with Wales two top try scorers, one the childhood hero of the other. The game evolves, and mantels are passed but in the end it’s a game we all play together for each other, and it’s in your blood and in the way you live even when the boots have been put away. Beyond the Breakdown is that story of life inside, alongside and after the game – we’ve only just started to tell this story and would love to hear from you about yours.

March 6, 2026

Dale 'Chief' McIntosh: We understood we weren’t just playing for ourselves

In our fifth episode we are talking to Dale ‘Chief’ McIntosh. Chief made 454 appearances for Pontypridd RFC, and went on to coach for Wales and the Cardiff Blues among many other clubs like Brecon RFC and Pontypool RFC. Chief and Rich played together at Pontypridd, Rich’s place of birth, with Rich playing 4 seasons there, 3 wearing the black and white of the club and 1 wearing a blue, black and white jersey of the Celtic Warriors.Ponty has been at the coal face of Welsh culture and industry for centuries. It’s a town, set in the steep sides of the Rhondda Cynnon Taf, at the confluence of the River Taff and River Rhondda, about 12 miles north of Wales’ capital, Cardiff. And it has forged some of rugby’s greatest players and legends.Pontypridd RFC was founded in 1876, making it one of Wales’ oldest clubs and their home is at Sardis Road, affectionately known as The House of Pain. Beyond Wales, Ponty is also part of rugby legend. It’s earned a reputation as one of Europe's toughest and most passionate teams. And that’s just the fans! Ponty is the epitome of Welsh rugby.And no one sums that up more than Chief. Being able to chat to him for this episode about his lengthy career both on the field as a player and alongside it as a coach was really special. Two former Ponty players and teammates sat in the clubhouse talking about what made playing for Ponty special and what is important about rugby. We got to explore with Chief the highs and lows of his own career but also his reflections on the challenges facing the game and our clubs today.As a player he was a big brother to everyone in the team, a talisman. And it was an honour to sit with him and talk about the game that gave him so much, and all that he gave to us, the fans. We hope you enjoy this special conversation.

7 total episodes available

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What is 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.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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