Company: RLB Digital
First year of sponsorship: 2025
What our business does: I founded RLB Digital in 2023 – our specialist digital construction consultancy practice spearheaded by the amazing Michelle Zompi – as a subsidiary of RLB UK.
Our team guide construction and the built environment on a journey of digital transformation, working on some of the UK’s biggest and best construction projects – including well-known sports stadiums – where we implement digital ways of working, develop innovative new solutions, harness valuable data and explore the capabilities of AI.
Like great sports teams, our ‘whys’ include developing the next generation of stars, and from our inception we have invested in an academy for digital construction talent.
Why we sponsor Rams: I have an affiliation with the club as a Rams-accredited coach and first aider in the Junior section, assisting the coaching teams with the U13 and U16 age groups.
Being able to sponsor our club is about contributing to Rams and the “Ramily” community in everything the club is trying to achieve – elite-level success, developing young rugby players who stay connected to the game for life, and providing opportunities for everyone.
A Christmas classic and sadness against Sale
Favourite Rams match: The 47-40 win at Richmond in December 2023 – I think we had more supporters than they did.
It was end-to-end and finished with a maul try in the dying minutes. The atmosphere was electric, the game was highly entertaining, and the junior coaches and their lads had a night out after!
Worst Rams match: Rams 24-27 Sale FC, December 2022.
Pertinent given the opposition, but two losses against them in the 2022-23 season cost us points which could have seen us top the division.
A close home fixture hurts the most, while the away fixture later put the nail in the coffin.
Magnificent Max headlines some of favourite things
Favourite Rams try: Max Hayman’s National League “Try of the Week” – scoring from his own grubber kick against Dings this season.
Favourite Rams player: Max Hayman. Not only is he a great player and club captain, but I got to know him a little more when he spent time helping coach Thom’s age group.
I was hugely impressed by his demeanour and his approach to coaching the young lads.
Max gave individuals time and attention – he learnt, remembered and used each of the lads’ names.
He clearly loves our game and is hugely enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge and developing the youngsters.
As he does in every game, he put maximum effort into being as good as he could be for the young squad he was coaching.
Ashton and Skinner reign supreme
Favourite ever try: The Chris Ashton length-of-the-pitch try for England against Australia in 2010.
Favourite ever player: Mick ‘The Munch” Skinner.
I remember being bought his Greatest Hits and Dirty Bits VHS during my formative teen years.
It may not surprise those who knew me as a backrow player or now as a coach this shaped my affection for ‘strong’ tackling.
Favourite food: A hearty beef stew with suet dumplings and brown sauce.
Favourite drink: Guinness 0.0. I have been alcohol-free for over a year, but Guinness Zero means I can still enjoy a pint at the rugby.
Rome, The Rec and Will Smith
Favourite travel destination: Rome. It’s my favourite European city and has the added bonus of hosting Six Nations matches.
I will be back again in 2026, this time with Harry, for the Italy-England fixture.
Favourite TV show: Karl Pilkington’s An Idiot Abroad.
I was a fan of Karl from the Ricky Gervais XFM podcasts – which kept me amused while I was working in the Middle East – and this travelogue series has me in stitches.
Favourite musician: Will Smith. It may not be cool, but I grew up with him on TV, in films and releasing music. I got to meet him last year when he performed at the Brixton Academy.
Favourite song: Ain’t That A Kick In The Head by Robbie Williams, Swing When You’re Winning.
Brilliant memories of Bath
Favourite rugby ground(s): Bath – The Rec.
A ground steeped in history in the heart of a lovely city. It became even more special last season when I had the privilege of watching Thom and some of his Rams teammates, whom I’ve coached, play there for the Bath U15 Academy.
Favourite other sports: The boys and I like and watch nearly all sports (poor Gem). I’m a keen Liverpool FC supporter.
I’ve watched loads of sport live – the NRL Grand Final in Sydney; LA Rams at the LA Coliseum in the NFL; LA Dodgers in MLB; Lakers vs Clippers in the NBA; LA Kings in the NHL; Diamond League athletics; and boxing at the Royal Albert Hall.
Change the box-kicking rules!
One rule change you’d make in rugby: In my opinion, the new rule about not obstructing a challenge to a highball kick has just increased the number of kicks at higher levels of the game – no-one comes to watch this!
I would suggest the kicking team should not be allowed to compete for a high bomb.
If they kick, they are effectively offering the receiving team a free catch. The catcher could be tackled immediately, but is almost guaranteed the catch – which would hopefully disincentivise the kick tennis we see in the middle of the park.
Best thing about Rams RFC: After some time away from the game, I returned to rugby by enrolling Thom and Harry as Minis.
Rams and the Ramily have reminded me rugby is about far more than the action on the pitch. The community built around our club is incredible. Rams has reignited my love of the sport, introduced new friends and provided a way for me to be back involved in rugby.
Of course, I’m involved in coaching the boys to contribute to their sporting development, but you can’t underestimate the value and personal benefit being involved in rugby and our club gives me.
To book tickets for Saturday’s game, click here
