Jacob Ellison is one of Wellington’s great unsung heroes – a tough, mobile front-rower who gave absolutely everything every time he pulled on a jersey. From the Wellington Lions and Hurricanes to the Highlanders, the Māori All Blacks and several seasons in Japan, Jacob built a reputation as the ultimate team man.

But this chat is about far more than scrums. Jacob opens up about his remarkable life:

His unusual pathway from the wing to the front row

The shift from Hurricanes to Highlanders and life as a “middle-ground” pro

How he's managed having epilepsy throughout his career

His powerful and emotional journey with IVF, loss and finally becoming a dad

The key to managing the life after rugby transition

Some classic stories including an interesting epilepsy diagnosis from a Japanese doctor

Learning the hard way about agents, contracts and preparing for life after rugby

And heaps more including your questions!

It’s funny, raw and inspiring – from yellow-jersey court sessions to Jamie Joseph’s sniper-rifle pep talks, right through to the lessons he passes on to young players today.

If you love genuine stories from genuine people, this is a special listen.

#WhatALad #RugbyPodcast #JacobEllison

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Kylem O’Donnell is a lad who has truly lived the highs and lows of chasing the rugby dream. From starring at Hamilton Boys’ High to winning an NPC title with Taranaki and travelling the world with the All Blacks Sevens, he looked destined for it all. But behind the speed, fitness and flair, Kylem’s story is one of setbacks, mental battles, and resilience.

In this episode he opens up like never before from the challenge of dealing with injuries and non-selection, to a being on the receiving end of brutal bouncer assault. He even shares some incredibly hard moments in his life including a terrifying drug-induced psychosis that had him running along the motorway naked! However the most powerful of all are the moments where Kylem shares his raw struggles with mental health, including times he nearly didn’t make it through, and the support that helped him fight back.

This episode is not just about the rugby it’s about honesty, vulnerability, and rediscovering who you are. An incredible chat with a man who is now using his own journey to inspire and help others.

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Mark Hammett has done it all in the game. With 81 games for the Crusaders, 4 Super Rugby titles, 29 Tests for the All Blacks and now a spot in the Crusaders Hall of Fame, Hammer’s rugby journey is an incredible one. Add in a coaching career that’s taken him from the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Cardiff Blues, Sunwolves, Tasman and Highlanders, the influence he has had on each side has been huge!

In this episode we dive into his remarkable journey: from a soccer player, to the early days of professional rugby, and the mindset that carried him through as both player and coach.

In this episode we go through..

The competitive edge that drove the Crusaders dynasty

What he learnt from coaches like Robbie Deans and Wayne Smith

The realities of early professional rugby contracts and suspensions

All Black memories including the infamous SAS camp

His move to coach the Hurricanes & the controversial decisions around Ma’a Nonu and Andrew Hore

His stints overseas with Cardiff and Japan’s Sunwolves

Lessons learned at the Highlanders and what he’d do differently

His passion for neuroscience, brain health and life after rugby

What he’s most proud of and the advice he lives by

And heaps more

Hammer is humble, competitive, brutally honest and one of the most authentic leaders you’ll hear from. There's so much gold in this one for everyone and whether you loved him or not as a player or a coach I know you'll have a new found respect for him after this one!

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