The Rugby Paper Podcast

In a blockbuster weekend of rugby, the Red Roses claimed the Grand Slam in a record-breaking decider at HQ, and La Rochelle and Leinster set up a repeat of last year's Champions Cup showdown with respective semi-final wins.  Following another emphatic Leinster display, host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett are joined by former Ireland and Ulster star Stephe...

This weekend's Women's Six Nations decider is set to set a new record for attendance at a standalone women's rugby fixture. The Red Roses and France will go toe to toe in a winner-takes-all grand stand finale in front of more than 50,000. Joining host Ollie Little and columnists Chris Hewett, Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain to preview the tournament's climax is prop forward Maud Muir. The guys als...

Of all positional debates in English rugby at the moment, the one at fly-half is one of the most unanswered and without doubt the most problematic. Captain Owen Farrell underperformed in the Six Nations - with particular concerns about his goal-kicking - yet heir to the throne Marcus Smith failed to take the limited opportunities he got. Joining host Ollie Little and columnists Brendan Gallagher a...

This week's special guest has been on a journey that has been nothing short of remarkable. Billed as a future England captain by many, Wasps and England flanker Tom Rees's rugby career was tragically cut short by a ruptured ACL. Forced to retire at just 27 years old, he began his qualification in medicine, and is now a doctor for the NHS. Join host Ollie Little and the full house of columnists as...

Champions Cup and Women's Six Nations action made for a fantastic weekend of rugby to say the least. To reflect on the Red Roses' opening two wins and preview the rest of the tournament, host Ollie Little, columnists Nick Cain and Chris Hewett and Digital Editor Nick Powell are joined by one of the faces of women's rugby, Maggie Alphonsi. The guys also look back at a vintage weekend of European ru...

Plans for a World Rugby tournament that will culminate every two years in a grand final between the top side in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere look to be solidifying. Host Ollie Little is joined by columnists Brendan Gallagher, Nick Cain and Chris Hewett to how the tournament could shape up, and impact the divide between top tier and second tier international rugby. The guys also preview the...

Congratulations to Ireland, who secured a deserved Grand Slam against England at on St Patrick's day weekend - we can only imagine how the party must have been! This week, the Rugby Paper Podcast reviews Saturday's fixtures and the tournament as a whole. To do so, the guys have the ideal special guest - Ollie Little and the full house of columnists in Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett...

England's Six Nations trajectory took a downhill turn on Saturday following a record home defeat at the hands of the French. Less than six months out from the World Cup and Steve Borthwick's side have hit a new rock bottom, with many ruling them out as genuine contenders later this year. Joining host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain and Brendan Gallagher to discuss England's turmoil is former...

Three difficult fixtures to call this weekend as England and Scotland bear home advantage in their challenges against France and Ireland, whilst Italy go into a Six Nations fixture as favourites for the first time in years. Will England go with Smith or Farrell? Will Ireland remain on course for the Grand Slam? Will Welsh woes be put on hold? Host Ollie   Little and columnists Nick Cain, Brendan G...

During the third round of the 2023 Six Nations, a minute's silence was held before each game to commemorate the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Rugby Paper had the privilege this week of interviewing James Waterhouse, a former professional rugby player (Plymouth, Rotherham and Esher) who is now working as the Ukraine correspondent for the BBC. In a truly unique and extraordinar...

The build-up to Wales vs England remains marred by uncertainty amidst strike threats by Welsh players as contract issues, financial crisis and allegations of a toxic environment pervade Welsh rugby. This been brewing for some time, masked by the success of an over-performing Welsh national side. However many, including today's guest Jonathan Davies, feel that this is the moment for a complete over...

The second week of the 2023 Six Nations certainly lived up to the first! Ireland conquered France in the battle of the titans in Dublin in what was billed as an instant Six Nations classic, Scotland continued their ascendency in overpowering a woeful Wales, and it was gritty, not pretty but England prevailed over Italy to get Steve Borthwick's tally up and running. Joining Ollie Little, Brendan Ga...

WHAT a start to the tournament! A thriller in Rome, an Irish statement in Cardiff and the headline act of one of the great Calcutta Cup matches in recent memory.  Host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett are joined by a jubilant Scott Hastings to review the action from opening weekend, and look ahead to an equally blockbuster week two. 

As the guys bring up episode 50, fair to say they do it in the right way! The gang is back together again on the Rugby Paper Podcast, with Ollie Little and the full house of columnists in Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett joined by England and British and Irish Lion legend Jerry Guscott to preview an incredibly highly-anticipated Six Nations tournament. Will Steve Borthwick's new era s...

In this week's instalment of The Rugby Paper Podcast, host Ollie Little and columnist Brendan Gallagher are joined by recently-elected General Secretary of the Rugby Players Association and former Premiership lock Christian Day as well as head of the RPA Gain Line Luke Cheyne. The guys discuss the RPA's multi-dimensional work within player welfare, financial instability and also address the recent...

Eddie Jones is back in green and gold! The Jones saga takes yet another turn as he replaces Dave Rennie at Australia's helm. Host Ollie Little is joined by Nick Cain and Brendan Gallagher to discuss the former England boss's reappointment as well as Steve Borthwick's Six Nations squad. The guys are joined mid-way through the episode by Sale Sharks scrum-half Gus Warr, who reviews the weekend's los...

Happy new year! The Rugby Paper Podcast is back for its second season, and at the turn of World Cup year, selection questions surround the new age of English rugby. Host Ollie Little returns with columnists Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain as the guys are joined by former England captain and World Cup winner Lewis Moody to have a stab at their England XV for the Six Nations opener against Scotland....

The Rugby Paper Podcast rounds off 2022 with another special episode! Host Ollie Little is rejoined by panellists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett to review Steve Borthwick's appointment as new England head coach. Don't miss the final section of the episode as our experts pitch their awards for 2022 - including game of the year, player of the year and more - with Ollie picking the win...

Following last week's 'Sackings Special', this week's edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast arrives a few days later than anticipated. Ollie Little is rejoined by Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock and Digital Editor Nick Powell, and the guys welcome Bath and England centre and former Worcester Warrior Ollie Lawrence. As you can imagine, plenty to discuss!

In a momentous week for home nations rugby, we bring you a special episode of The Rugby Paper Podcast. Host Ollie Little has rapidly assembled the troops in columnists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett to react to the dismissals of Eddie Jones and Wayne Pivac, and question whether at this stage, you'd rather be English or Welsh.

As we approach the halfway point of a more than turbulent Gallagher Premiership season, Bristol Bears are yet to find their groove. Possessing one of the most talented squads in the league, they surely can't be too far away from being real challengers again, a view echoed by recently-signed fullback Rich Lane, who joins host Ollie Little and Assistant and Digital Editors Ben Jaycock and Nick Powel...

Not a great weekend to be an English or Welsh rugby fan...as Eddie Jones and Wayne Pivac's positions at the helm are reviewed, host Ollie Little and columnists Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain are joined by former England lock and current Red Roses forwards coach Louis Deacon to have their say. Louis also looks back at the Red Roses journey at the World Cup 2022 in New Zealand, and the guys pay tri...

Last weekend continued the theme of the Autumn by providing more twists and turns on and off the field. England's stunning comeback against New Zealand wasn't the only shock, with Georgia securing a famous win against Wales. Italy were in the fight against South Africa at half time, and although the world champions ran away with it in the second half the Italians can look back on a historic and su...

The events of 2017 repeated themselves on Saturday as the Red Roses came up short, with the Black Ferns retaining their crown in a pulsating Saturday morning encounter. It was a blockbuster weekend in the men's game too as the Autumn Series continues to live up to its hype. Joining host Ollie Little and columnists Chris Hewett and Brendan Gallagher for this week, it's former England captain and fl...

Semi-final Saturday of the Women's Rugby World Cup was a blockbuster occasion as the Red Roses and Black Ferns came out victorious after their titanic tussles against Canada and France. Saturday's final - at a sold out Eden Park - promises to be equally thrilling as the two teams of the tournament go head to head. Joining host Ollie Little to look ahead to the final, get to know one of the breakth...