Defense Wins Championships with Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell

This episode of The Ledger Podcast, hosted by Mo-El Sayed, features sports legends Matt Giteau & Drew Mitchell at Ledger Op3n 2025. They are now Ledger’s Australian ambassadors. 

The conversation crosses worlds, moving from protecting your keys to protecting the try line, while discussing risk, value, and rewriting the rules. The guests explored how the spirit of taking control and proving value on one’s own terms, a principle demonstrated in their revolutionary rugby careers, aligns perfectly with the principles of self-custody and decentralized technology.

“I think about almost every single thing that you own. And your digital existence is owned by a company. Yeah. And that’s what the beauty of blockchain is, that it flips that upside down.”  – Mo El-Sayed

Key Highlights:

Breaking Conventions and the Birth of the Giteau Law

The conversation revisited a choice made in 2011 that changed rugby forever. 

Giteau made the decision to leave the established Australian rugby system and bet on himself overseas. Playing in Europe alongside Mitchell, they conquered three straight championships, forcing the rules back home to change. Giteau shared the unexpected moment the rule change was initiated, recalling that he had been drinking too much the night before. He was in the airport toilet having a spew, when he came out and saw the Australian national coach, who asked if he was interested in returning to play for Australia.

Giteau initially refused to return to the constant rinse and repeat cycle of the Australian routine. This led the coach to propose the Giteau Law, which allowed players with 60 international caps to play overseas and still be selected for the Wallabies. Drew Mitchell noted that since the cap requirement was exactly 60, he felt it should have been called the Mitchell Law.

The Power of Podcast Authenticity

As seasoned podcasters (co-hosts of Kickoffs and Kick Ons), Giteau and Mitchell discussed the appeal of the long-form format.

 Unlike TV commentary, where people start with the punchline, podcasts allow them to build up context. Mitchell noted that TV requires participants to talk in an unnatural way, but their podcast provides the decentralization of information, allowing them to maintain authenticity. 

Watch the full episode below:

A French Rugby Legacy and Lifestyle

The two legends shared memories of their time in France, where they were based in Toulon and Matt Giteau’s two sons were born. A major high point was winning the double (Top 14 and Champions Cup). They returned to Toulon by boat to find thousands of people celebrating on every balcony and rooftop, showcasing the strong emotional connection with the city. 

The Crypto Curiosity and Digital Ownership

Their interest in crypto began out of curiosity around the COVID-19 period. Giteau admitted he initially struggled to understand how to invest in something intangible, unlike a house or a stock. Drew Mitchell admitted to being motivated partly by the fear of missing out (FOMO) but stressed the importance of research.

Core Values: Respect and Resilience

When discussing values for future generations, Giteau emphasized that the most important value is respect; for self, others, and the environment. 

Both guests strongly criticized the trend of removing competitive outcomes in youth sports. They argued that failure is crucial for building resilience. Mitchell summarized this philosophy, which is central to rugby: 

“You’ve got to work for something. You work hard for something and you get there. Don’t be a snowflake. Just keep your head down.” – Drew Mitchell

They also stressed the non-negotiable value of accountability in sport and life.

Reading List

Learn more about these topics mentioned in the episode, or explore our library of articles on Crypto, Security, and Regulation on Ledger Academy

• Bitcoin
• Secure Self-Custody
• Decentralization
• Ledger Stax
• Ledger Academy