The Rugby Pod

The Spotify studio was packed this week with two BIG men with big reputations and big Medal collections joining Jim & Bigs. Double Rugby World Cup Winning Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Vincent Koch join the lads to give us some incredible insight on the Springboks, winning back to back Rugby World Cups, what motivates them, their coaches, and what it means to South Africa. The lads open up and give...

Kon’nichiwa from Japan! We’ve gone global this week, Jim's in Tokyo Japan checking out the heated toilets and hunting bug interviews, Bigs is with us from the South of France and Rob’s sat in sunny Stockton on Tees. We’ve got loads for you this week including some intel on Jim's interviews with Ardie Savea, Eddie Jones and PSDT, Leinster and the monster squad they're building over there in Dublin,...

We have a genuine enforcer back on the Pod this week as Big Courts joins Jim to look back at all the Champions Cup Quarter-finals, including his own game versus the Bulls, and Lesinter's demolition of reigning champions La Rochelle. The lads give their take on the latest episode of Chasing the Sun and how Courtney would react to Rassie's unusual coaching tactics, and how we rated the Springboks. P...

We're going big this week with Dan Biggar flying over to our studio from the South of France, and man of the moment Louis Rees-Zammit joining following the massive announcement that he's heading to the Superbowl Champions Kansas City Cheifs. We'll hear how the move came about, how NFL training compares to Rugby, how much players get paid, and what the epic journey looks like from here for the Wels...

The lads give their take on the massive news, not just in Rugby, with LRZ signing for Superbowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs. We’ll be discussing a crazy weekend in the Premiership with nothing to choose between the top 8 teams.  We'll also take a look at a top of the table win for Leinster over the Bulls in the URC and throw ahead to a mouth-watering weekend of Champions Cup rugby as we reach the...

Domestic rugby is back with Saracens turning the heat up against Quins and Gloucester claiming an emotional Ed Slater Cup against Leicester. TMO Andy makes a return around the controversy in the booth with Austin Healy's commentary. Plus, we're delighted to be joined by one of the brightest stars in English rugby in Quins backrow Chandler Cunningham-South, who gives an insight into the new generat...

With the Women's Six Nations kicking off this weekend, we're delighted to be joined by two England superstars in Ellie Kildunne & Jess Breach to preview this year's tournament and talk about their careers. Presenter Laura Winter interviews the two Red Roses about their journey so far, the Rugby World Cup, their biggest rivalries, initiations, team tattoos, the growth of the women's game, as well a...

After a hell of a grand finale in the Six Nations, the lads sum up the final round of action with Ireland claiming back-to-back championships. While most Welsh fans are in hiding, Dan Biggar braves the Pod to give his take on where Welsh rugby really is, and what next for Gats and his men. We'll also be discussing Italy's best ever championship, as well as England’s evolution in Lyon, plus Jim giv...

England managed to produce one of their best performances in recent memory this weekend at Twickenham, stealing the game away from Ireland in the dying moments - the lads, joined by former Ireland International and expert analyst Bernard Jackman, dissect the game with an open cloth. Big Jim vents his frustrations with Scotland following their loss to Italy and we also look ahead to the final round...

With one of the biggest games of the season coming up this weekend, the lads give some insight into the England camp ahead of their showdown with Ireland in Twickenham. Goodey gives his take on how he thinks England needs to play to have a chance against the form team in world rugby. We also take a look at Scotland's trip to Rome and what to expect from Wales v France. Goodey catches up with Leice...

What a weekend. The drama! Loads to get through this week - what the hell happened in those closing moments down in France?! Scotland’s stranglehold on the Calcutta Cup & Ireland just dominating everyone. Plus our mate Dan Biggar is here! So settle back, enjoy, and make sure you’re subscribed on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Massive weekend coming up in the Six Nations this week with the Calcutta Cup, Ireland looking to remain on course for the Slam, and France looking to recover some form. PLUS we’re joined by a number 8 who’s been tearing up trees for years but is seemingly stuck in England Exile… Zach Mercer. The lads also invite some new friends from the Army into the studio to review their recent performance in t...

The lads are joined by England centurion Courtney Lawes this week as we pick the bones out of a painful and controversial last-gasp defeat for Scotland in Murrayfield. We’ll also take a look at an ugly but important win for England, some bright shoots for Wales, and a procession for Ireland in Dublin.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How good is the Six Nations?! We’ll be analysing all the action from the first round including what was nearly one of the greatest Welsh comebacks of all time. With Scotland holding on for a rare win in Cardiff, Jim revels in the fact that Gregor's men are technically still on for the Slam. We'll take a look at an epic Irish win in France and how Shaun Edwards might be reacting, lick the f**in bal...

We've got a couple of big additions this week ahead of the start of the Six Nations, with Welsh legend Dan Biggar joining the lads to preview the tournament and give some incredible insight into Gats, the Welsh squad, who his favourite referee was, and playing against Finn, Sexton and Smith. We also look at how England should approach the tournament and if a new look attack might be on the cards....

Hell of a week with lots of news as we near this year's Six Nations. The lads discuss LRZs big move to chase his dream in the NFL and what it means for rugby. We also take a look at another sport as Jim takes some credit for the new Saffa UFC World Champion Dricus Du Plessis. The lads give their take on the new Six Nations captains heading into this year's tournament, and we speak with Toulouse an...

With the Six Nations squads set to be announced, the lads get their hairy crystal balls out to predict what the England squad might look like, who's replacing Johnny Sexton and captaining Ireland, and what surprise names we might see in Scotland's squad. We’ll also be discussing all the best action from Round 3 of the Champions Cup and working out who might make it through to the knockout stages,...

Happy New Year to the millions, we’re back for a big 2024! The lads will be getting their crystal ball out and giving their predictions for the year ahead, we'll be looking at Owen Farrell’s potential French Future, as well as taking a look at the best of the prem action this weekend and URC over the Christmas period. The lads will also be giving their reaction to the news the RPA will no longer b...

It's our last episode of the year and it's also Andy Rowe's grand finale as he moves back to New Zealand, so the lads reminisce on the past eight years, from cat food to fish food. We’ll also be looking at another hectic weekend of Champions Cup rugby as a few English clubs excelled again and a few other sides bounced back from disappointment in Round 1. Plus, we’ll be having a chat with Bath boss...

The Champions Cup is back and even better. We’ll be reviewing a bumper opening weekend of rugby with six big wins for Premiership teams and some payback for Lesinter in La Rochelle. Jim was down in South Africa to watch Sarries play the Bulls in Pretoria, and he also drops in on UFC superstar Dricus Du Plessis who teaches him a thing or two about Mauling and Brawling. Plus, we’ll be having a chat...

The lads are back from Bootcamp and reveal all about their Army experience in the trenches and flying Apache helicopters. We'll also be discussing the fallout from Owen Farrell’s decision to step away from international rugby for a period, looking at how Saracens struggled in his absence & discussing all of the Premiership & URC action. Plus, we’ll be having a chat with Munster’s World Cup-winning...

Can Christmas come too early? The lads get stuck into some high-brow debates about the festive period, as well as analysing who has the best and worst Movember tash. We’re joined by everyone's favourite French ref and Goodey's mate, Matthieu Raynal to chat about the World Cup, making mistakes, and reffing Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell. We'll also be analysing the latest in the Premiership & URC,...

We’re joined this week by Scotland skipper Jamie Ritchie to chat about his World Cup campaign, his painful injury, who was tougher between Ireland and the Springboks, and what next for him personally and for Scotland. We’ll also be looking at some huge news in Sevens as Dupont and Hooper announce their switch for the Olympics, and we'll be dissecting all the action from derby weekend in the Premie...

It’s been a few weeks but the pain is still palpable - Ireland’s powerhouse prop Andrew Porter joins the lads to discuss the agony of another quarter final exit for the men in green, blood boiling officials' decisions and the arrival of a World Cup Winning Coach to Leinster. Plus Big Jim returns from his short hiatus and Andy Rowe has some big news… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

With the World Cup done and dusted, we’ve called in England’s most capped men’s international of all time Ben Youngs to talk us through his RWC campaign. We get the inside track on England’s World Cup camp, their run to the bronze medal, as well as looking back on Youngsy’s incredible international career. We also chat about the bunker system and take a look at all the latest Premiership action. ...