Will Carling: England’s Youngest Captain, Leadership & Nelson Mandela Story! | Stick to Rugby EP 18

The latest episode of Stick to Rugby, brought to you by Defender, welcomes England’s youngest-ever captain Will Carling to the panel alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, Katy Daley-McLean, Tom Shanklin & Scott Quinnell for a personal and honest conversation about leadership, pressure, and life beyond the game.

Will opens up about being handed the England captaincy at just 22, the internal battles he faced, and the moments he knew he bottled it. He shares how handwritten letters helped him connect with his teammates and why leadership is about “the little touches.”

The team revisits his media challenges, post-career struggles, and the mental toll of going from national icon to “car crash years.” Carling also lifts the lid on his role under Eddie Jones, why Clive Woodward built the better environment, and how English rugby has struggled to replicate success since 2003.

There are plenty of stories along the way — from meeting Nelson Mandela and Robin Williams, to why his teammates bet on how long he’d last as captain, and how Peter Winterbottom terrified everyone.

One of English rugby’s most defining figures joins the show for a look back on legacy, leadership and life in the spotlight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.