Max Nagy: From the fields of Buckingham to the Ospreys’ arena

By Peter Ryan

Peter Ryan speaks to Max Nagy about his journey from Buckingham to the Ospreys, and how rugby has shaped both his career and his life.

Welsh rugby landscapes change, many things seem uncontrollable. Many competitors are looking to prove themselves and make an impact throughout the four regions.

Max Nagy is one of the players, an athlete with bags of talent who will look to stand out at the Brewery Field this season.

He has an incredible journey; let’s dive into it.

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Building the foundation

From the fields of Buckingham, Nagy found his first love in rugby. His early steps came with Buckingham RFC, where the game began to take shape.

There is something surreal about a grassroots club, rugby at its finest. Communities banding together, lifelong friendships forged, and an unrelenting passion for the game born.

Buckingham RFC was that catalyst for Nagy. He talks about the club fondly: “It’s not just a rugby club – it’s a community.

“Buckingham’s a small town with many players from the area, so you’re playing with your mates.

“I was five years old, and they let me play a year up with my brother so that I could play with him.

“My dad kindly drove us there on cold Sunday mornings when we were youngsters. Then I played all the way through Buckingham, all the way up to playing for the first team when I was 18.

Friendly

“I’ve got lifelong friends at that club that still play now, so I could never be thankful enough to Buckingham for what they did for me.

“Even now, when I go to the club, they welcome me with open arms.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve played there 34 years ago or just joined the first team – everyone’s friendly and wants to have a conversation and get to know you as a person, not just as a rugby player. That’s one of the brilliant things about that club.

“My parents still support them when they can, whether behind the bar or helping during events. I watched them a few weeks ago, and it was great to see so many familiar faces still there.

“You don’t get paid to play there; people just do it because they love the sport. That’s what rugby’s all about. Buckingham Rugby Club represents all the good values in rugby.”

Swansea University

It was time for university after time at the Northampton Saints academy and journeying to New Zealand. Swansea University came calling, and Nagy crossed the Severn River.

University offers the chance for young people to grow and develop. It provides the opportunity to step beyond the familiar and embrace new horizons.

However, that time can also help a budding rugby player hone their craft. BUCS Super Rugby has become a breeding ground for UK rugby’s rising stars.

On Wednesday, the next generation goes toe-to-toe with each other. Nagy ran out for Swansea University during a fruitful spell.

He is very proud to have represented the institution and its role in his development.

“Swansea was massive in my development,” he said. “These were three of the best years of my life – not just in a rugby sense but in living with the friendships I created there.

“Hugh Gustafson had a huge influence on me, professionally and personally.

“He was the guy who gave me the opportunity to play first team uni rugby – without him, I would be nowhere near where I am. He taught me a lot about the game.

“It enabled me to play at a high level, enjoy it, and at the same time learn discipline.

“Constantly getting better as a player, learning to train in a professional or semi-professional environment – all of that was massive. I’d never really had that before.

Best friends

“University rugby was a full-time training programme, and that schedule made me a complete athlete. The coaching staff were massive in helping me become a better player, especially with exposure to crowds. It taught me how to prepare for games, push my training, and give my best every day.

“Some of my best friends from university are still playing rugby, and we have a weekly update of how each of the boys is getting on, no matter what level they’re playing. It’s great to be a part of that.

“Huw Sutton who came through with me at uni and then played at Ospreys too – it was nice having him by my side.

“Swansea has been an excellent place for me, and I can’t thank them enough.

“Siwan Lillicrap, who was Head of Rugby at Swansea, also had a big influence on me. She was massively supportive and helped shape me as both a player and a person.

“You’re surrounded by lads in similar situations, all pushing towards the same goals. Swansea Uni gave me so much as both a player and a person.

“Without Swansea, I would never have stepped up to a professional level.”

The professional arena

Nagy put in several impressive displays over his university days. The Englishman came onto the Ospreys’ radar, where he jumped to the professional ranks.

Nagy graduated from university with a degree in Sport & Exercise Science. He got his chance with the Ospreys after his time in BUCS and outings for Swansea RFC.

In May 2021, the young full-back stepped onto the professional stage for the Ospreys in the Pro14 Rainbow Cup.

Off the bench against the Dragons, he needed only one chance to announce himself, scoring a try on debut.

Nagy has shown flashes of brilliance in an Ospreys shirt, and the club means a lot to him.

“If I reflect on my time at the Ospreys, I can’t thank the club enough,” he added. “Toby Booth, in particular, for giving me the opportunity when I was just a kid coming out of uni to experience professional rugby.

“It’s obviously a great honour for me. Then to have kicked on and played a fair few caps has been a very proud moment for me and my family.

“I guess you look at the players I’ve played with at Ospreys, and I don’t even need to name them. You look at Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones, George North – people you’ve grown up watching.

“It’s been an enormous honour to have played the game with the likes of those players, so the Ospreys have been great for me.

Dream

“I’m still enjoying my time here very much, and we’re still trying to push forward as a team and a club.

“Regarding my future ambitions, rugby as a professional sport can be pretty fickle with injuries and things like that, so I tend not to try and look too far ahead.”

Nagy’s journey is driven by growth and the hunger to keep improving. One dream burns brightest: to test himself against Europe’s biggest teams.

Nagy is a fantastic player, and it will be fascinating to see how his career unfolds.

“It means a lot to me and my family,” he said. “It’s provided me with a career path I never thought I’d be in. But I’m very fortunate to be in the position I am.

“It’s allowed me to travel to places worldwide and experience different cultures and communities, which has been amazing. I probably wouldn’t have experienced that if I didn’t play rugby.

“It’s also enabled me to develop friendships and relationships with many people I wouldn’t have met if I didn’t play rugby. So, I’m fortunate to have experienced what I’ve experienced.”

Looking at the quote above, rugby has played a massive role in Nagy’s life. People’s love for the egg-shaped ball is infectious, and its spirit is easily seen.

Nagy’s story is still unfolding; driven by passion, ambition, and a love for rugby that knows no bounds. His following chapters are waiting to be written.

READ MORE: Cardiff RFC’s Steffan Crimp on his Welsh beginnings and move to America