EP23: Rugby Reality – How to Bounce Back From Rugby Setbacks, James Naylor

James Naylor from Rugby Reality has taken a pretty unconventional route through the rugby world — from grassroots rugby in North Yorkshire to university rugby, Loughborough, and eventually representing England Sevens. 🏉

In this episode, James talks openly about the setbacks, rejection and challenges that have shaped his career, and why resilience is so important when things don’t go to plan. We get into the realities of chasing professional and international rugby, the importance of university rugby as a development pathway, and how the journey is rarely as straightforward as it looks from the outside.

We also chat about balancing playing rugby with content creation, using social media to share the journey, and why having something beyond rugby can be valuable for both your personal brand and your mental wellbeing.

James also shares his ambitions for the future, his thoughts on rugby development and coaching, and why enjoying the game and staying connected to the rugby community should never get lost along the way.