The Rugby Pod

We're joined by Exeter Chiefs legend Gareth Steenson, who hasn't slept for three days after celebrating finishing his career by becoming a European and Premiership champion. Big Jim and Goodey fill you in on the Barbarians' antics and possible repercussions, we chat to British & Irish Lion Stephen Ferris about Ireland's chances of winning the Six Nations this weekend and much more...  See acast.co...

Champions Cup winner Stuart Hogg joins us to talk about the spirit, culture and confidence at the Chiefs and what happened on the bus after the best European Cup final ever! He fills us in on that photo with Finn and all things Scotland ahead of the autumn and how he's taking things from Exeter into the international setup. Plus, Goodey tells us what's going on at Wasps with all the uncertainty ov...

We're joined by Wasps head coach Lee Blackett to find out just how he's managed to take them from 10th place to the Premiership final in half a season and Jim is issuing a formal apology and jumping on board the Wasps bandwagon! We also hear from Exeter's Gareth Steenson, discuss friend of the show John Cooney's Ireland omission, Australia v New Zealand, the Champions Cup final and Jim attempts to...

Big Jim and Goodey dissect the Sale saga with an open cloth to get to the bottom of what's gone on and we focus on the positives too as Bristol fly half Callum Sheedy joins us to celebrate the Bears making the play-offs for the first time since 2007. He talks us through the club's journey from double Championship play-off heartache to Premiership play-offs and European final, as well as discussing...

It's the end of an era and the changing of the guard as Big Jim reflects emotionally on Saracens' defeat and everything that comes with it, while we speak to Exeter chairman and CEO Tony Rowe about the remarkable journey that has taken them from the lower leagues to the European Cup final in double quick time and the massive issues facing clubs and what the government need to do to help. Plus, we...

We're joined by not one but two man of the match winners from the weekend's Champions Cup quarter-finals as Mike Rhodes and Jacques Vermeulen come aboard. Goodey celebrates Saracens' success, Big Jim's making a comeback and claims he's on the Lions' radar, we look ahead and predict the outcome of the European semi-finals, there's another riddle for Jim to solve and much more...  See acast.com/priv...

Owen Farrell's red card and Goodey's involvement in the fallout take centre stage but Big Jim's been biding his time before having his say and you don't want to miss his take on the incident! We also discuss Ian Madigan's cojones, both PRO14 semi-finals, all the Premiership action, news of another job for Eddie Jones and much more. Plus, we chat to the Premiership's in-form winger Ruaridh McConnoc...

The rugby keeps coming thick and fast and Big Jim and Goodey discuss all the Premiership action, including the instances of first teams taking on the bin juice and the worst lid the league has ever seen! There's also a look ahead to the Guinness PRO14 semi-finals and talk of South Africa joining the upcoming Eight Nations. Plus, we chat to England back row in waiting Jack Willis and Captain Carol...

Big Jim and Goodey are back to dissect the busiest of weeks in the Premiership and Scott Robertson's bid to be a coach on the Lions tour. Saints and England back rower Lewis Ludlam joins us to discuss his rapid rise from Rotherham to the World Cup, captaining Northampton, Black Lives Matter and much more. We hear from referee JP Doyle on why he was made redundant by the RFU. And Carol Vorderman is...

Ulster and Ireland scrum half John Cooney joins us to look ahead to the restart of the Guinness PRO14 season and the Cooney for the Lions campaign starts here! Big Jim struggles with another riddle, despite some help from a high profile, supremely intelligent tutor who is taking over posing the brainteasers from now on. Plus, we dissect all the Premiership action and discuss Rugby Against Racism,...

The wait is finally over. We're back for the bigger and better Season 5! Big Jim and Goodey are delighted to be back and talking everything from toilet training to Take That as well as catching up on all the major rugby stories of recent weeks, including more fallout from Gloucester, Manu Tuilagi's move to Sale, the RFU's sevens funding cut and player welfare with a full year of rugby ahead! And,...

It's the final episode of the season but it won't be long before the start of the next and we go out with a bang...from more info on what's unravelling at Gloucester to Goodey's experience with Mike Ford. Plus, we get the inside track and some startling stats on the salary cap reduction and the game's financial struggles with Leicester Head of Elite Performance Recruitment Jan McGinity and we say...

Northampton and Wales fly half Dan Biggar joins Big Jim and Goodey to discuss being compared to Michael Jordan, his relationship with referees, working under Chris Boyd, Wales' transition, steering clear of social media and much more. Plus, Jim tries to solve another hilarious riddle!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

We're in for a treat this week as the man, the myth, the legend...Shaun Edwards joins us! He chats all things France, his relationship with Warren Gatland, the one moment in his coaching career that will haunt him forever, a possible return to the Premiership and much more. Oh, and he's got a bit of a French lesson for us too! We also discuss World Rugby's recommendations for how the game should a...

Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam joins Big Jim and Goodey to discuss how he's leading his troops through the Coronavirus crisis, how the club wants to keep the marquee player rule in the Premiership and how he thinks the league can grow and prosper. Plus, Goodey spills the beans on why Johan Ackermann has left Gloucester, we discuss Lord Myners' salary cap review, there's a Quarantine Quiz,...

We're back with another instalment as Big Jim grows increasingly frustrated with lockdown and Goodey looks forward to the potential return of Pablo and the nanny! The Premiership's marquee player rule, the possibility of non contact rugby being brought in and England's kit deal with Umbro are up for debate among other things and we're joined by giant Fijian wing and future Leicester Tiger Nemani N...

Fresh from seeing off the challenge of Gus Pichot and winning a second term as World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont joins Jim and Goodey to discuss how the past four years have gone and his plans for the next four years, including the Nations Championship. Plus, we discuss Premiership breakaway rumours, the possibility of rugby returning and there's another hotly contested quiz...  See acast.co...

We're back to dissect all of the latest rugby drama with an open cloth, including the latest on the Leicester players' unhappiness at the handling of the pay cuts and Goodey and Jim launch a defence of the RPA. We also discuss the World Rugby Chairman election and, after Gus Pichot's appearance on the show last week, a certain Sir Bill Beaumont is conspicuous by his absence!  See acast.com/privacy...

The man who could be running the sport next month joins us this week as Agustin Pichot discusses taking on Sir Bill Beaumont in the race to become World Rugby Chairman, the voting system involved, the global season, his frustration with the pace of change over the last four years, the new mindset he thinks is necessary to take rugby forward and much more. Plus, Jim's flummoxed by another riddle, t...

It's all showbiz this week as Big Jim and Goodey are joined by MasterChef host and massive rugby fan Gregg Wallace, we hear from former Love Island star and Ireland sevens international Greg O'Shea and are serenaded by the dulcet tones of USA international Paul Lasike (although we may have ruined it by singing along)! All that plus we discuss Agustin Pichot's shot at becoming World Rugby chairman...

We're joined by RPA CEO Damian Hopley to talk us through the latest on the discussions behind the scenes surrounding the pay cuts and furloughing of players and he is predicting seismic changes in the sport in the wake of Coronavirus. Goodey discusses his 40th birthday celebrations, we have another quarantine quiz and a riddle and we answer some of your social media questions...  See acast.com/pri...

Big Jim and Goodey are back and joined by Italy international George Biagi, who updates us on how Coronavirus is affecting his country but also has a positive story to tell. And, friend of the show Freddie Burns gives his view on the pay cuts in the Premiership and his disappointment at the way things have panned out for him at Bath. All that plus a quarantine quiz, another riddle for Jim to solve...

We're all locked down and coming to you via the wonders of video calling, complete with Jim's kids making an appearance in the background! Premiership Rugby CEO Darren Childs joins us to discuss what the likelihood is that the season will be completed and tells us they want to be first to get back up and running whenever possible. We also discuss the 25% pay cuts being imposed by many clubs across...

Big Jim and Goodey discuss the devastating impact of Coronavirus on rugby and society in general and we hear from Guinness PRO14 Tournament Director David Jordan on what the next steps are for the suspended leagues. We also catch up with Scotland's star back row Jamie Ritchie to find out about the late postponement of their game against Wales. And, something you never thought you'd hear on The Rug...

Big Jim and Goodey are joined in the studio by Darren Cave and there's one thing dominating the agenda...Joe Marler getting a handful of Alun Wyn Jones and the reaction to it. We also discuss Scotland's epic win over France, Mohamed Haouas' red mist and hear some good stories on France coach Fabien Galthié from former Scotland international Johnnie Beattie. All that plus an update on where the Six...