Featuring 4,721,820 Podcasts
Arthur Dickins
Audience rating: Family Friendly

Rugby Legends with Arthur Dickins

Welcome to Rugby Legends – the podcast that brings you insight and advice from international players and coaches for young rugby players who are keen to learn and get better. I’m Arthur Dickins, I’m 13 years old and a keen rugby player. In each episode I sit down with amazing current and former stars of rugby to hear about their journey from first picking up a rugby ball to playing and coaching at the highest level. I get to ask them the kinds of questions that my fellow age-grade rugby players (and their coaches!) want to ask, such as: What made y...

Latest Episodes

Charlie Bracken: Saracens, England and Carving Your Own Path
Aug 28, 2026

In this episode of Rugby Legends, Arthur Dickins sits down with Saracens scrum-half Charlie Bracken, son of England World Cup winner Kyran Bracken, to talk about carving out his own identity in the game, the demands of playing at the top level, and the mindset that's fueling his rise through the Gallagher Premiership.

Charlie shares his journey from crying on the pitch at his first ever training session, to falling in love with rugby at Barnet Elizabethans, joining the Saracens academy at 14, and balancing university at Loughborough with his professional career. He opens up honestly about being told at 17 that he probably wouldn't get a contract, and how removing the pressure of an expected outcome actually freed him up to play his best rugby.

The conversation also digs into the technical and mental side of playing scrum-half: the skillset, decision-making, and fitness needed to compete with senior internationals, why hard work has always had to make up for a lack of early physical talent, and the value of working on his weaker side. Charlie also talks about growing up under the shadow and inspiration of a World Cup-winning dad, the Saracens culture that keeps producing top talent, and the advice he'd give to any young grassroots player dreaming of making it.

Whether you're a scrum-half working on your box kick, a young player wondering if the academy system is the be-all and end-all, or simply a rugby fan curious about life as a second-generation professional, this episode is full of honest, practical insight.


In this episode:

  • Growing up as a World Cup winner's son — inspiration or pressure?
  • Why hard work beats talent every time
  • The realities of the Saracens academy pathway
  • Dealing with being told "you're probably not good enough yet"
  • Balancing university at Loughborough with pro rugby
  • The hardest part of competing for a 9 shirt against experienced internationals
  • The three (or four) most important skills for a scrum-half
  • Working on your weaker foot and becoming ambidextrous
  • What makes the Saracens culture so successful
  • Chasing that first England senior cap



Ollie Sleightholme: Saints, Setbacks and Self-Belief
Aug 7, 2026

Northampton Saints and England winger Ollie Sleightholme joins Arthur Dickins to share the setbacks, lessons and mindset behind his rise through professional rugby.

Ollie explains what it feels like to miss out on a major moment with your teammates, how repeated injuries changed his relationship with rugby and why finding goals away from the game helped him through rehabilitation.

He also looks back at his pathway into the Saints Academy, being dropped before earning another opportunity and the environment that helped him develop into one of the Premiership’s most dangerous finishers.

Away from the highlight reels, Ollie discusses feeling sick before matches, dealing with mistakes during games and staying grounded as his profile has grown. You’ll also hear about his training week, post-match food, celebration rules and whether he could move from the wing to centre.

Most importantly, Ollie shares practical advice for young players. He explains why you must focus on your next job, what coaches look for when selecting a team and why every rugby match should be enjoyed while you have the opportunity to play it.

In this episode:

  • How Ollie responds to injuries and setbacks 
  • Why Saints released him before signing him again 
  • What nerves really feel like before a professional match 
  • The mindset that helps him recover from mistakes 
  • The skills and qualities coaches want from a winger 

For more information on the following topics, give Rugby Legends a follow:

Ollie Sleightholme interview
 Ollie Sleightholme Northampton Saints
 Ollie Sleightholme England Rugby
 how to become a professional rugby winger
 advice for young rugby players
 how rugby players handle injuries
 professional rugby injury recovery
 how to bounce back from rugby mistakes
 how to get selected for a rugby team
 best skills for a rugby winger
 Northampton Saints Academy pathway
 how professional rugby players train
 dealing with nerves before rugby matches
 rugby mindset and self belief
 life as a professional rugby player

Asher Opoku-Fordjour: England’s New Prop Star
Jun 26, 2026

In this episode of Rugby Legends, Arthur Dickins is joined by England and Sale Sharks prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour to explore one of the toughest and most misunderstood positions in rugby.

Asher shares his journey from the backline to the front row, revealing how a position change transformed his career and ultimately helped him earn England honours. From learning the technical demands of tighthead and loosehead to handling the physical battles that come with life in the scrum, Asher gives a fascinating insight into what it really takes to succeed as a modern prop.

The conversation covers everything from being sent on loan, dealing with setbacks, and finding ways to stand out when opportunities are limited, to training techniques, recovery routines, England pathways, and the mental resilience required to compete at the highest level. Asher also explains why props don't fear contact, why self-doubt affects every professional player, and how he overcame the challenges that every young rugby player faces.

Whether you're a prop looking to improve your game, a young player hoping to break into elite rugby, or simply a fan wanting a deeper understanding of the front row, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest insight from one of England's most exciting young forwards.

In this episode:

  •  Why Asher became a prop 
  •  The move from wing to front row 
  •  The coach who changed his career 
  •  Lessons from Manu Tuilagi 
  •  Life on loan as a young professional 
  •  Tighthead vs loosehead explained 
  •  Scrum techniques for young props 
  •  England Schools and England pathways 
  •  Recovery and preparation routines 
  •  Building confidence at the highest level
Tommy Freeman: Lions, Saints and Never Giving Up
Jun 5, 2026

In this episode of Rugby Legends, Arthur Dickins is joined by Tommy Freeman, one of the most exciting backs in world rugby. Fresh from a remarkable rise that has taken him from academy rejection to the very pinnacle of the game, Tommy shares the lessons, setbacks and experiences that shaped his journey.

Tommy looks back on his early sporting life, from football and hockey to discovering rugby and eventually falling in love with the game. He opens up about being a late developer, struggling physically against bigger players, and the moments where frustration nearly led him to walk away from rugby altogether. His story is a powerful reminder that development is rarely linear and that patience can be one of the most valuable qualities a young athlete possesses.

The conversation explores Tommy's release from the Leicester Tigers academy, the move to Moulton College, and the opportunity that eventually opened the door at Northampton Saints. From fly-half to full-back and eventually the wing, Tommy explains how versatility became one of his biggest strengths and why modern rugby demands far more from wingers than simply finishing tries.

Tommy also reflects on life as a British & Irish Lion, playing in front of more than 100,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, learning from some of the world's best players, and experiencing the unique culture that makes Lions tours so special. Alongside stories from the top level of the game, he shares practical advice on confidence, handling mistakes, preparation, resilience, and what it really takes to maximise your potential as a rugby player.

Whether you're a young player chasing your dream, a coach working with developing athletes, or simply a rugby fan, Tommy's story offers valuable lessons about perseverance, mindset, and making the most of every opportunity.

In this episode:

  •  Why rugby beat football and hockey 
  •  Growing up as a late developer 
  •  The academy rejection that changed everything 
  •  How Northampton Saints discovered him 
  •  Finding his best position on the wing 
  •  Advice for young wingers 
  •  Lessons from Lions teammates 
  •  Match-day routines and preparation 
  •  Learning from mistakes under pressure 
  •  What makes the British & Irish Lions special
Sevens Special - Marcus Watson | From Grassroots to Olympic Glory
May 15, 2026

Olympic rugby changes how a player sees the game, and in this episode of Rugby Legends, Marcus Watson explains exactly why. From choosing World Rugby Sevens Series over the traditional fifteen-a-side route, to discovering how brutally demanding elite sevens really is, this conversation opens up a side of rugby many supporters never fully see.

Marcus talks honestly about the physical and mental demands of tournament rugby, why raw speed is never enough on its own, and how recovery between games often matters as much as performance itself. He also reflects on players who shaped his thinking, including names casual fans may never have heard but elite players rate incredibly highly.

The conversation then moves into one of the most unusual parts of any rugby career: life inside the Olympic Games. From entering the village for the first time, to spotting Usain Bolt unexpectedly disappearing from a lunch hall, Marcus explains why that environment leaves such a lasting mark on athletes.

There is also practical value here for younger players and parents. Marcus breaks down what skills matter most in sevens, what coaches often underestimate, and what young players misunderstand about the route to elite sport. His reflections on hard work, confidence, and the advice he once felt too young to accept make this one of the most useful episodes for players trying to understand what high-level rugby really asks of you.

If you enjoy honest rugby conversations, subscribe and follow Rugby Legends for more episodes with players, coaches, and people who have lived the game at the highest level.

Scotland Icon Kenny Logan Tells All | From Adversity to Rugby's Biggest Era of Change
Apr 24, 2026

Kenny Logan joins Rugby Legends for a brilliant, honest conversation that moves far beyond career highlights. From Scotland’s current Six Nations challenge to the reality of life before professionalism, this episode gives young players and long-time rugby fans a rare look at how the game has changed through the eyes of someone who lived both eras.

Very early in the conversation, Kenny gives a sharp view on where Scottish rugby sits now, why Ireland has become the biggest problem, and what modern Scotland still needs if they want to take the next step. From there, the story moves right back to the beginning — leaving school at 16, life on the farm, struggling with severe dyslexia, and finding sport as the one place where confidence made sense.

What makes this episode especially strong is how practical Kenny becomes when speaking directly to young players. He explains why pace still matters, why concentration on the wing can decide whether you stay in a team, how to read the spin of a high ball, and why understanding the people around you matters just as much as your own role.

There is also real honesty here about hardship: being called thick at school, hiding dyslexia for years, missing parts of the amateur era, facing Jonah Lomu, and the one regret that still stays with him despite a huge international career. It becomes a conversation about rugby, but also about resilience, identity, and what lasts after the game finishes.

Subscribe for more conversations with the players and coaches who shaped rugby across generations.

The Rugby Trainer: Coaching Rugby's Next Generation
Apr 3, 2026

Arthur sits down with Ben John, known to millions as The Rugby Trainer, for a conversation packed with practical advice for young players, parents, and coaches who want to understand what really improves rugby performance. From building the world’s biggest rugby coaching channel to working with elite names like Marcus Smith, Ben explains why simple habits repeated daily often matter more than flashy sessions once a week.

The episode moves through Ben’s own playing story, from academy rugby and Welsh age-grade honours to professional rugby with Ospreys, including what it felt like running out in front of 60,000 people at the Millennium Stadium. He shares the nerves before kick-off, the sudden calm once the whistle goes, and why even great players like Sam Warburton still felt nervous before matches.

There is also a brilliant deep dive into player development: why backs should obsess over footwork, passing and defence; why forwards now need handling skills just as much as power; why smaller players can still dominate despite size differences; and why players often miss out not because they lack talent, but because they stop too early. Ben uses examples from Antoine Dupont, Cheslin Kolbe, Aaron Smith and Roger Federer to explain how top performers stay present under pressure.

For parents and junior coaches, this episode is full of practical gold: how to create habits at home, why games matter more than endless drills, why coaches should never kill creativity too early, and why ten extra minutes of deliberate practice every day changes everything over time.

Arthur also gets Ben’s thoughts on what he would change about modern rugby, why cricket can make young rugby players better, what one piece of equipment matters most, and the biggest life lesson rugby still teaches long after the final whistle.

If you’re a young rugby player trying to improve, a parent helping from the sidelines, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode gives you simple ideas that can genuinely move your game forward.

James Haskell Unfiltered: From England Caps to Global Stages
Mar 13, 2026

In this episode of Rugby Legends, Arthur Dickins is joined by James Haskell, one of the most recognisable personalities English rugby has produced. A former England and Wasps flanker with 77 caps, James is also now one of the voices behind The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, and a performer in a whole new world as a DJ.

James takes Arthur right back to the beginning, including the hilarious moment his mum lied about his age and signed him up early at Maidenhead Rugby Club. From scoring his first “try” behind his own posts to learning what rugby actually was as a teenager, James shares how his journey was anything but a straight line.

As the conversation goes deeper, James explains why size and physical development changed everything, how hard work and professionalism earn respect faster than personality ever can, and what really matters when you walk into a new changing room. He also breaks down the modern back row, why shirt numbers mean less than people think, and how elite teams are built around roles, not labels.

This episode is packed with practical advice for young rugby players, from building confidence the right way, to handling feedback, to learning resilience when you do not feel like turning up. James is funny, honest, and brutally real, and the result is one of the most valuable mindset episodes Rugby Legends has done so far.

Fin Smith: England’s Next Great Fly-Half
Feb 20, 2026

In this episode of Rugby Legends, Arthur Dickins is joined by Fin Smith, one of England’s most composed young fly-halves and a key leader at Northampton Saints. Still only 23, Fin already brings calm control, sharp communication, and a clear rugby brain to every game he plays.

Fin talks openly about life in the number 10 shirt. He explains why fly-halves make more mistakes than anyone else on the pitch, how elite players learn to reset quickly, and why communication can matter more than size or strength. From handling nerves at Twickenham to enjoying the responsibility of running an attack, Fin breaks down what it really means to be the decision-maker.

The conversation also dives into Fin’s British & Irish Lions tour experience, what surprised him most about world-class teammates, and the small habits that separate the very best players. He shares insights on injury recovery, training while sidelined, and why doing the basics just one or two percent better can change everything.

Packed with honest advice, simple ideas, and real stories from the top level of the game, this episode is essential listening for young rugby players who want to improve, think clearer under pressure, and enjoy the journey as much as the results.