Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy Break Down Your Next Sport Obsession

From Stagecoach chaos and teenage parenting dilemmas to one of the fastest-growing sports in the worldthis episode takes a turn in the best way possible.

Julie and Abby kick things off with a very real conversation about parenting teens, festival price tags, and the absolute logistics nightmare that is Stagecoach. (Spoiler: someone is absolutely on pickup duty.) But then, the party pivots…

Because women’s rugby is having a moment and it’s bigger than you think.

With nearly half of fans brand new in the last two years and record-breaking growth across the board, Julie and Abby sit down with Carly Waters (Denver Onyx) and Lesley Paterson (WER board member, 5x world champion triathlete & Oscar-nominated screenwriter) to break down why this sport is exploding right now.

They get into:
* Why rugby is built for every body
* The culture that makes it one of the most inclusive sports in the world
* What actually happens in a scrum (we finally understand it… kinda)
* The rise of Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) and what’s next in the U.S.
* And why this sport might be the next obsession for Party People everywhere

By the end, you won’t just know what a scrum half is, you’ll be debating lineouts and planning your first rugby match watch.

00:00:00 – Welcome to the Party 🎉
00:02:13 – Weekend Check-In + Stagecoach Chaos 🤠
00:06:40 – Why Rugby Is Having a Moment
00:11:18 – Meet Carly Waters & Leslie Patterson
00:17:13 – Rugby 101: Rules, Positions & “Scrum Half”
00:26:52 – Is Rugby Safe? Let’s Talk Reality
00:29:09 – The Culture: Respect, Meals & Global Bonds
00:30:53 – Inclusivity, Identity & The Rugby Community
00:34:19 – Olympics, World Cup & What’s Next
00:35:41 – Why Rugby Is So Fun to Watch

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com

Keep the Party Going:
Follow WER all season long: instagram.com/rugbyevolved
WER Schedule: womenseliterugby.us/2026-schedule
WER Statement on Transgender Athletes: instagram.com/p/DXK4bTTgZQK
Rugby Explained, thank you to the Leicester Tigers for this explainer video:Rugby Explained: Rugby Players and Positions

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
-Get flavorful, high-quality proteins delivered by visiting OmahaSteaks.com, plus $35 off when you use promo code WELCOMETOTHEPARTY at checkout.
-Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code WELCOMETOTHEPARTY at ⁠OSEAMalibu.com⁠