The Rugby Pod

Our first show of 2023 and we set out our predictions and resolutions for the New Year on and off the pitch, including which bolters might make an impact going into a World Cup year. We're joined by six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy to chat about his love for rugby and his involvement in this year's Doddie Aid. The lads give their take on the controversy around Joe Marler and his ban for ins...

Some of the least coveted awards in rugby are back! We decide who had the biggest skidmarks in 2022, who's been horrible, who's been nice and who wins the Top Lad award. We also look back at some of the maddest moments of the year, pick our best referee and young gun as well as our highlight of the year. Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

We're in the studio for our Christmas party and the lads have gone all out with their thoughtful secret Santa gifts. Jim tells of the hardship of being in Tier 2 media and a run-in with an irate taxi driver ahead of the Lyon v Saracens game. We wrap up all the rest of the Champions Cup action, including the controversy in Ulster, Leinster trashing Gloucester shags and Ospreys with the upset of the...

After one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent memory, we chat about the fallout from Eddie's sacking and where to next for England and the RFU. We're also joined by Exeter's Ollie Woodburn this week after their big win in Castres. We get some insight into what's made Exeter so successful in recent years as well as some changes rugby needs to make to remain relevant. The lads also give some hint...

We're joined by Welsh royalty this week with former dual code Welsh international, and now pundit, Jonathan Davies joining us to chat about his stellar career, life after rugby and being one of the ost recognized voices in rugby. From playing in the very first Rugby World Cup, to ducking for cover on a pitch in Papua New Guinea with cans of tear gas flying over his head, Jiffy has had a hell of a...

A massive week in the rugby world with Warren Gatland returning to regulate Wales, and Eddie Jones on the brink of being sacked by the RFU after a very poor November series. We cover both and we're joined by former England fullback Mike Brown this week to get his thoughts on Warren and Eddie, as well as his times with the Baa-Baas and Scott Robertson. We wrap up some of the Prem and URC action and...

The lads pay tribute to the great Doddie Weir who very sadly passed away over the weekend after his MND battle. One of the great characters of the game, he will be sorely missed by everyone in the rugby world. We're joined this week by former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers to review South Africa's win over England and get his take on Rassie, the Autumn series and his lifelong ambition to coach...

In April 2012, former Welsh prop Rhys Thomas retired from rugby following a heart attack during training. In this chat, Rhys tells Jim the crazy story of what led him to that point, including his struggles with alcohol, drugs, addiction and mental health. We hear about the challenges he faced, how close he came to death on several occasions, and how he eventually overcame his deamons. His story is...

We're joined this week by one of the best rugby broadcasters in the business, Scotty 'Sumo' Stevenson, to review an epic game at Twickenham between England and the All Blacks. Scotty gives us his take on Scott Robertson potentially coaching England, what's gone wrong in New Zealand behind the scenes, what rugby needs to get right, and just how big Any Rowe actually is back in New Zealand. We chat...

We take a look back at a hell of a weekend of international rugby, with Scotland falling just short against the All Blacks, England redeeming themselves against a disappointing Japan, and Italy providing the highlight of the weekend with a huge upset against Australia. We also round up the other games in Cardiff, Dublin and Paris, and look forward to England's massive game against the All Blacks n...

Christian Day is Head of Player Affairs for the Rugby Players Association. He joined the RPA after 17 seasons as a professional rugby player, including stints at Sale, Stade Francais and Saints. The RPA is the representative body of professional rugby players in England, and represents more than 800 male and female current rugby players. In this chat, Jim asks Christian about some of the work RPA...

Following England's shock defeat to Argentina on Sunday, the lads dissect Eddie Jones' side with an open cloth to work out where it went wrong for them. We run through all the games from the weekend's Autumn Nations Series action and catch up with former Ireland back row Dan Leavy to get his take on Ireland's victory over the Springboks. The Fanzo Pint Predictor returns, Jim and Goodey give their...

This week we're joined by Wallabies Scrum Half and friend of the show Nic White following his side's narrow victory over Scotland on Saturday. Hear exactly what went down at the end of that game as well as an emotional account of the backlash Nic received following his incident with Faf De Klerk earlier this year. The lads look ahead to the first full weekend of games in the Autumn Nations Series...

Something a bit different this week as Jim sits down with reality star and former rugby player and now fan, Jay Younger. Jay was working as an investment analyst when he was approached and cast to be on Love Island 2022. In this chat, we hear how we went from playing rugby and competing at national level in the 400 meters, to being involved in one of the most-watched reality T.V shows of all time....

This week we're joined by Bath and Scotland centre Cameron Redpath after his side got their first win of the season against Northampton on Saturday and as he enters Scotland camp. The lads chat through the England and Scotland squads for the Autumn Nations Series and give their predictions for the first weekend's results. We also discuss all the weekend's action from the Premiership and URC and fi...

Following the announcement that they have gone into administration, we're joined by Wasps CEO Stephen Vaughan to discuss how his team became the second Premiership side this season to fall. The lads chat through the exciting inclusions in Eddie Jones' England squad for the Autumn Nations Series as well as the shock omissions. We run through all the action from the Premiership and URC as both Sale...

After another round of drama on and off the field in the Premiership, the lads discuss what the future holds for Worcester and Wasps, as well as picking apart the red cards for Jacob Umaga and Mako Vunipola. We're joined by Stormers and Springboks Number 8 Evan Roos who tells us how he's finding life on tour in Europe. We round up the URC action and Goodey has his say on who will make the semi fin...

Sam Tomkins is a rugby league legend, having won the coveted 'Man of Steel' award twice, as well as three Super League Grand Finals. He's the current captain of England going into the Rugby League World Cup. In this chat, Sam talks about his stellar career and what molded him into one of the all-time greats. We also hear some cross-over stories about Shaun Edwards' coaching, Sam filling in Chris A...

Ahead of their World Cup campaign, we catch up with England prop Hannah Botterman as the Red Roses enter the tournament as clear favourites. We run through all the Gallagher Premiership action in another weekend of tries galore. Jim and Goodey give their thoughts on George Skivington's comments around player salaries and we round up the action from round 3 of the URC. Learn more about your ad choi...

We're joined by two Leicester Tigers legends in Tom and Ben Youngs. The brothers have been one club men, having spent their entire careers at Tigers. They represented England and the British and Irish Lions, with Ben also becoming England's most capped men's player of all time in 2022. In this chat ahead of their testimonial in London, the lads open up on their careers, their highs and lows on and...

We caught up with Worcester and England centre Ollie Lawrence to hear how the players have been impacted by the ongoing situation at the club ahead of the seemingly inevitable announcements that came on Monday evening. Jim and Goodey review Eddie Jones' England training squad ahead of the Autumn Nations Series, and go through the notable inclusions and omissions. We run through all the Premiership...

After a hugely controversial penultimate week of the rugby championship with Mathieu Raynal thrust into the spotlight over his refereeing of the Bledisloe Cup, we review the events that led up to the incident. Goodey seemingly breaks tradition and sides with the Frenchman and explains how Bernard Foley cost Australia the game. We're joined by Ulster and Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey after his ou...

The chat the rugby world has been waiting for. Two heavyweights give their opinions on the game they love. David Flatman has become one of the most respected voices in rugby since his retirement ten years ago. In this wide-ranging chat, the lads give their opinion on some of the most topical issues facing our sport. We get two very different perspectives at times, amongst plenty of laughs and memo...

This week the lads are joined by Gloucester and Scotland Fly Half (and the whitest tegs in rugby) Adam Hastings after his side turned around their biggest ever deficit to beat Wasps 27-21 on Sunday. Jim and Goodey round up all the action from the first weekend of the Premiership season, including Gengey's phenomenal performance for Bristol. We look ahead to the start of the URC and Jim's got a con...

We're back with a bang for season 7 of The Rugby Pod! The lads are joined by Worcester Warriors' Director Of Rugby Steve Diamond to give an update on the precarious situation the club finds itself in. We discuss the difficult position English rugby is in and how Premiership Rugby can help prevent other clubs from following Worcester's path. Jim and Goodey also run through all the action from the o...