The Ruck

Following the controversial ending to the 2nd test between Australia and the Lions, Will and Alfie are joined by Christy Doran, rugby editor of The Roar, to get the Aussie perspective. They chat about how Australian rugby can be successful ahead of a home world cup in 2027 and the importance of winning the final test in the series. Plus, the boys provide an update from the Lions ahead of the final...

The British & Irish Lions have won the test series against Australia! Hugo Kennan scored the winning try in the final play of the game to cap off an extraordinary match at the MCG. Alfie, Alex and Will reflect on a match which will go down in Lions history. They chat about Jac Morgan's controversial clear out at the end of the game, how impressive the Lions were to come from behind and the utt...

It's the second test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell have named their sides. Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher, Owen Slot and Alfie Reynolds are in Melbourne to look ahead to what could be a series clinching match for the Lions, or will Australia respond to their defeat in Brisbane? They discuss both team selections, including Garry Ringrose ruling himself...

The British & Irish Lions won their final tour game on Australian soil as they beat the First Nations and Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Alfie, Alex, Will and Owen are pitch side to review the match and ask whether it was the best tour game so far? And, does it give an idea on how Australia could beat the Lions int he second test? They also discuss all the selection dilemmas facin...

The British & Irish Lions are 1-0 up in the test series against Australia. They won 27-19 in Brisbane to gain a huge advantage in the three test series. Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are on hand to look back on the match. They discuss a very impressive Lions performance in which they physically dominated the Wallabies and ask how Australia can get back into the series? Plus, they...

Australia and the Lions have named their matchday squads for the first test in Brisbane on Saturday. Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are alongside Alfie Reynolds to go through all the big talking points. The Wallabies are without Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, how big a blow is that to their chances? Why has Andy Farrell selected Tom Curry over Jac Morgan? And, is this a Lions squad designed to overpo...

It's the week of the first test between the Wallabies and the British & Irish Lions! Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher, Owen Slot and Stephen Jones are in Brisbane to look ahead to the match. They ask whether the tour matches have adequately prepared the Lions for the series. Plus, what do the latest call-ups tell us about the modern tour? Do they devalue the brand or show the midweek matches betw...

The British & Irish Lions are heading to Brisbane to prepare for the first test match against the Wallabies. They defeated a combined Australia and New Zealand XV 48-0 in Adelaide but lost Luke Cowan-Dickie to injury and will be without Garry Ringrose for the first match of the test series. Jamie George has been called up as cover at hooker. Alfie, Will and Alex look back on the match and also...

The British & Irish Lions defeated the ACT Brumbies 36-24 in Canberra. Another win for Andy Farrell's side but was it another performance which adds more questions for this Lions side? Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe are alongside Alfie Reynolds in an empty GIO Stadium to reflect on the match. They ask how much the Lions are holding back ahead of the test series against Australia? Is fatigue and t...

Andy Farrell has named his side to take on the ACT Brumbies on Wednesday and it is the strongest of the tour so far. So, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are alongside Alfie Reynolds to ask whether this is the side who will start the first match of the test series against Australia? They chat about which players are fighting to keep their spots in the team and what it tells us about how the Lions are a...

The British & Irish Lions defeated the NSW Waratahs 21-10 in Sydney for their third straight victory on Australian soil. But, are problems emerging for head coach Andy Farrell? Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe reflect on the performance and question whether the players are executing the gameplan in the way the coaches want. They also discuss who is dropping out of test match content...

Owen Farrell has been called up to the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad! Following the biggest news of the tour so far, Alex Lowe, Stephen Jones and Will Kelleher chat through the reasons for and against Andy bringing Owen onto the tour. Is he too out of form? Or does his vast experience outweigh the risks in his selection? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie, Will and Alex are at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane to review the Lions beating Queensland Reds 52-12 to win back to back games on Aussie soil. They chat about Elliot Daly picking up an arm injury which could rule him out of the tour and where that leaves Andy Farrell and his full-back options. They heap praise on Jac Morgan who put in a strong performance in the back row and Alex questions wh...

Alfie, Will and Alex react to the news that Tomos Williams' Lions tour is over! The Wales scrum-half suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday so Scotland's Ben White has been called up in his place. They also discuss all the other big talking points from Andy Farrell's squad to play the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, including the half-back partnership of Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell, the re...

The British & Irish Lions are up and running Down Under. They defeated the Western Force 54-7 in Perth and Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Stephen Jones and Will Kelleher are here to review all of the action. They've decamped to the hotel lobby to look back on the action including the Lions being unable to catch a restart, why Ben White needs to be called up as injury cover immediately and whether...

From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions. A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times. The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their...

From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions. A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times. The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their...

From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions. A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times. The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their...

Alfie and Will are in Perth covering the British & Irish Lions as the 2025 tour to Australia is up and running. They chat to one of the heroes of 2013, George North, who looks back on his iconic moments against the Wallabies and picks up his Lions back three to start the test series. They also chat about the defeat to Argentina, the latest injury news for the Lions and a possible storm brewing...

Bath are champions of England for the first time since 1996! They beat Leicester 23-21 and Alfie Reynolds, Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes react from the stands at Twickenham. Stuart reflects on his former side finally winning the title and what it means for the city, whilst Steve says that the blue, black and white now need to go on and dominate English rugby. They chat about Finn Russell's brill...

Alfie and Will look back on a brilliant weekend of Premiership Rugby semi-finals as Bath and Leicester book their spot at Twickenham. Can Bath end a 29 year wait to be crowned champions of England? And, they continue to be confused as to how good Leicester actually are! They also reflect on Bristol and Sale, who lost in those semi-finals, and where both clubs go from here. Plus, they have the late...

It's Premiership semi-final week! So Alfie and Will head to Bath to speak with Finn Russell, Will Stuart and Johann van Graan. They find out how the club became the best team in England this season, what goes into facing their rivals Bristol in the semi-final on Friday and what winning a Premiership title would mean. Plus, they preview the other semi-final between Leicester and Sale, discuss the c...

Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Stuart Barnes review the European finals over the weekend. Alex reflects on Northampton's defeat to Bordeaux in a brilliant Champions Cup final and Stuart explains why the constant TMO interventions in high profile matches are a major issue for the sport. Plus, they chat about Henry Pollock, whether the Challenge Cup can be the platform for Bath to now win the Premier...

Alfie, Will and Alex are in Richmond as the British & Irish Lions squad meet for the first time since Andy Farrell named his touring party. So, why is Sione Tuipulotu set to be a tour favourite? Hear why Ollie Chessum is getting stick for his reaction to being named on the tour? And, what is the first Lions tour he remembers watching? Plus, Will and Alex chat to former England and British &amp...

Alfie, Steve, Alex and Will look back on the Premiership action over the weekend including showpiece matches in Cardiff and at Twickenham. They discuss how encouraging those events are for the league and whether all clubs need to buy into them. Plus, they get into the top four shake-up, why Andy Farrell may need to call up more players for the Lions first game in Dublin and some news on the Nation...