Paul Kimmage meets Jim Hamilton, the rugby rogue who stayed out in the cold
Jim Hamilton endured a troubled childhood before rugby saved his life. Now as a podcaster and interviewer, he has a lot to say about where the game is headed
![Jim Hamilton (r) with Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy: ‘Because we had two golf stars pitch-side and you’ve [Shane] sponsored by Mastercard, so they’re loving it. Ireland are loving it because they’re wearing Ireland shirts; Canterbury are loving it because it’s a Canterbury shirt; the commentators are talking about it; the golf channels are sharing it ... it was crazy.’](https://focus.independent.ie/thumbor/gNCiWAF8U0_6yGilqmgBLlAhD_0=/177x276:5768x4000/960x640/prod-mh-ireland/29b97c0e-d81e-40d5-977b-46fe28f8cbf3/0de18391-49e9-44fa-a915-df303f35fc91/GettyImages_1697427784111.jpg)
Jim Hamilton (r) with Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy: ‘Because we had two golf stars pitch-side and you’ve [Shane] sponsored by Mastercard, so they’re loving it. Ireland are loving it because they’re wearing Ireland shirts; Canterbury are loving it because it’s a Canterbury shirt; the commentators are talking about it; the golf channels are sharing it ... it was crazy.’
What’s the big deal with Jim Hamilton? Well, there’s the numbers, obviously. He’s the 1000th man to play rugby for Scotland, stands six feet, eight inches tall, won three Premiership titles, two European Cups and 63 international caps. He played for Leicester, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Montpellier and Saracens, started a podcast that’s become “the most listened to rugby podcast in the world,” and a TV show watched by millions at the World Cup.
But it’s not that.
