{"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":"Eagle #597: Nafi Ma'afu on the Top 14 Grind, Injuries, and His Long-Awaited USA Debut","slug":"eagle-597-nafi-ma-afu-on-the-top-14-grind-injuries-and-his-long-awaited-usa-debut","published_at":"2025-12-11T05:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/eagle-597-nafi-ma-afu-on-the-top-14-grind-injuries-and-his-long-awaited-usa-debut","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/COMG9323967727.mp3?updated=1765392633","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/COMG9323967727.mp3?updated=1765392633","summary":"This week, US Rugby Happy Hour welcomes newly capped USA Eagle Nafi Ma'afu (Eagle #597) for a candid conversation about finally achieving his lifelong goal. After years of anticipation from USA rugby fans, the Top 14 forward—who is currently playing with Montauban in France after stints with Perpignan and Grenoble—details his remarkable journey from high school rugby in Phoenix, Arizona, to the elite level of French club rugby. Hear the intense emotions he felt making his debut against Georgia, from walking out through the smoke to hearing the national anthem for the very first time as an Eagle. The road to representing his country was paved with serious challenges, and Nafi opens up about the tough run of injuries (including shoulder, neck, and knee issues) that kept him sidelined and the mental battles required to push through to the top. We also get his thoughts on the intense French club competition, the pressure of preparing for the 2027 Rugby World Cup where the Eagles are pooled with France and Japan. Tune in to hear the raw account of resilience, what it's like to get your first test yellow card, and what it takes to thrive as an American player overseas. Bill Baker, an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world. ⁠http://www.eaglesoverseas.com⁠ ⁠eaglesoverseas@comcast.net⁠ John Fitzpatrick is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. ⁠John@rugbymorning.com⁠ ⁠http://www.rugbymorning.com Youtube | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok | Bluesky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices","meta_description":"This week, US Rugby Happy Hour welcomes newly capped USA Eagle Nafi Ma'afu (Eagle #597) for a candid conversation about finally achieving his lifelong goa…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2975,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/episodes/eagle-597-nafi-ma-afu-on-the-top-14-grind-injuries-and-his-long-awaited-usa-debut/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/eagle-597-nafi-ma-afu-on-the-top-14-grind-injuries-and-his-long-awaited-usa-debut.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}