{"podcast":{"title":"US Rugby Happy Hour","slug":"us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060","podcast_index_feed_id":5908060,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/COMG3470110308","website_url":"https://americanrugbyrising.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/f3eec480-f25e-11ee-9426-af54d548641e/image/d46025ae63b05c34dd2fcd43c7c1f94e.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Bill Baker","episode_count":201,"summary":"US Rugby Happy Hour, hosted by the dynamic duo of Bill Baker of American Rugby Rising and John Fitzpatrick of Rugby Morning, is a captivating blend of insightful rugby discussions, entertaining banter, and a celebration of the sport’s spirit. With their wealth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, Bill and Fitzy create an engaging space for rugby enthusiasts to connect and revel in the game’s glory. Whether delving into the latest matches or sharing anecdotes with special guests, this live show is a must-attend for anyone passionate about rugby, offering a delightful intersection of camaraderie and sports analysis. Guests have included head coaches Gary Gold, Rob Cain and Mike Friday. USA Eagles Joe Taufete’e, Greg Peterson, Kate Zackary, Hope Rogers, Christian Dyer, and Hall of Famers, Dan Lyle and Todd Clever. Major League Rugby stars Mitch Wilson, Nick Civetta, Connor Mooneyham and former MLR Commissioner, George Killebrew. Those covering the news too, including Brian Ray of Americas Rugby News and Wendy Young of YSC Rugby. Join us live on Facebook and Youtube (show days and times vary), or catch the Podcast replays right here! Follow @AmerRugbyRising on Twitter and @American…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-17T10:22:16.169424+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060"},"episode":{"title":"A New Era for American Rugby: Inside the Historic MLR CBA with Chris Mattina","slug":"a-new-era-for-american-rugby-inside-the-historic-mlr-cba-with-chris-mattina","published_at":"2026-02-13T14:02:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/a-new-era-for-american-rugby-inside-the-historic-mlr-cba-with-chris-mattina","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/COMG8928685588.mp3?updated=1770991684","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/COMG8928685588.mp3?updated=1770991684","summary":"In this landmark episode of the US Rugby Happy Hour, hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick sit down with Chris Mattina, Executive Director of the US Rugby Players Association, to break down the first-ever collective bargaining agreement in American professional rugby history. Before diving into the heavy lifting of labor negotiations, the show kicks off with a custom, high-octane heavy metal jingle that Mattina joked he needs as his personal entrance music for every room he walks into. Discover what this means for the players on the ground—from newly codified health and safety protections and \"just cause\" discipline rules to the economic wins that support domestic talent. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a curious observer of the American sports landscape, this \"tease\" into the future of the sport covers everything from personal branding and NIL rights to the strategic \"runway\" leading up to the 2031 World Cup. Don't miss this inside look at the handshake that changed the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices","meta_description":"In this landmark episode of the US Rugby Happy Hour, hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick sit down with Chris Mattina, Executive Director of the US Rugby…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2211,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/episodes/a-new-era-for-american-rugby-inside-the-historic-mlr-cba-with-chris-mattina/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/a-new-era-for-american-rugby-inside-the-historic-mlr-cba-with-chris-mattina.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}