On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of the appointment of a new Japan head coach. And you'll NEVER guess who it is.... alright, you probably know. Billy Vunipola is cleared to play for Saracens against Connacht this weekend. And Munster say they won't take any risks regarding Peter O'Mahony's fitness.
Dec 13, 2023•3 min•Season 23Ep. 312
On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has injury news from Ulster, Leinster and Munster ahead of this weekend's fixtures in the Investec Champions Cup. We hear from Robbie Henshaw and attack coach Andrew Goodman, who look ahead to Leinster's meeting with Sale - a game you can hear live and exclusive on Saturday's Off The Ball. A new Rugby Australia appointment could lead to Joe Schmidt getting the Wallabies job. And France are starting to run low on fit and available scrum-halves ahead of t...
Dec 12, 2023•6 min•Season 23Ep. 311
Ruairi O’Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to look back on a poor performance against Bayonne in the Champions Cup. Fiona and Alan pick their Star of the Week, and we look ahead to a huge clash away to Exeter Chiefs on Sunday. (0.30) Intro (5.00) Review of Munster v Bayonne (23.25) Star of the Week (26.40) Exeter Chiefs Preview The first twenty minutes of this week's podcast is unlocked, but to listen to the full podcast, get on over to the Off The Ball app, or beco...
Dec 12, 2023•21 min•Season 23Ep. 310
On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news aplenty from Munster, who have banned the fan who tugged at the jersey of a Bayonne player on Saturday. We hear from Tadhg Beirne too on that disappointing draw. James Ryan hails the immediate impact of Jacques Nienaber at Leinster following their win at La Rochelle. There's bad news for Connacht regarding Mack Hansen, but coach Colm Tucker hits back at questions of attitude problems within the province. And tributes are paid to former Ir...
Dec 11, 2023•9 min•Season 23Ep. 309
On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you team news from Leinster, Munster and Ulster ahead of their opening fixtures in the Investec Champions Cup. Ronan O'Gara has his say after his latest one-game ban in France. A youthful Combined Academies squad is to face Italian opposition either side of Christmas. And Antoine Dupont hits back at critics of his Sevens switch.
Dec 08, 2023•9 min•Season 23Ep. 308
Sample of Football Daily for rugby fans! Welcome to Friday's Football Daily - Phil Egan runs you through all you need to know from world football. Subscribe to the OTB Football podcast feed to hear the best football analysis, interviews and stories from Off The Ball.
Dec 08, 2023•6 min•Season 23Ep. 302
Sample of Football Daily for rugby fans! Welcome to Thursday's Football Daily - Phil Egan runs you through all you need to know from world football. Subscribe to the OTB Football podcast feed to hear the best football analysis, interviews and stories from Off The Ball.
Dec 07, 2023•8 min•Season 23Ep. 300
On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you team news from Connacht ahead of their Investec Champions Cup meeting with Bordeaux, and we hear from Pete Wilkins regarding some insider knowledge of the Top 14 side. The British & Irish Lions will make history in 2025, with a first visit to Dublin. Plus, Australian rugby is rocked by a major defection to the NRL.
Dec 07, 2023•6 min•Season 23Ep. 301
On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of EPCR measures to protect referees from online abuse ahead of this season's Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. We hear from Leinster forward Ryan Baird and Connacht coach Mark Sexton with both provinces featuring in exclusive games this weekend on Off The Ball. Plus, three provinces benefit from a boost in government funding.
Dec 06, 2023•7 min•Season 23Ep. 299
On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you injury news from three provinces ahead of their opening fixtures in this season's Investec Champions Cup. New Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber speaks to OTB for the first time, but there's bad news on the injury front for Ross Byrne. The refereeing appointments for the Six Nations have been revealed. While Joe Schmidt is in the frame for an international vacancy.
Dec 05, 2023•8 min•Season 23Ep. 298
Ruairi O’Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to look back on the Reds’ win over Glasgow Warriors at a bitterly cold Musgrave Park. Certainly a lot to discuss with six tries, some excellent performances, but some serious worries about Munster’s maul defence. Fiona and Alan pick their Star of the Week, there’s a preview of the clash with Bayonne, and Quinny recalls in the infamous ‘Battle of Bayonne’ in 2007, with Ireland involved in a bruising World Cup warm up game ag...
Dec 05, 2023•21 min•Season 23Ep. 297
On Monday's Rugby Daily, Will O'Callaghan has the injury news from the provinces at the start of the opening weekend of this season's Champions Cup. Jean Kleyn is out until January but Bundee Aki is in line to return for Connacht. Plus, New Zealand have secured the future of one of their stars until the end of the next World Cup.
Dec 04, 2023•6 min•Season 23Ep. 296
On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has all the team news ahead of tomorrow's interpro in Galway. Mack is back for Connacht, while a much-changed Leinster will herald Cian Healy's return. The Ulster faithful will get a first look at Steven Kitshoff. Ireland are to tour the provinces again in next year's Women's Six Nations. Plus, Farrell misses latest Saracens outing.
Dec 01, 2023•5 min•Season 23Ep. 295
On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings news of Oli Jager's impending Munster debut. Mark McCall lashes out at the "shameful" treatment of England captain Owen Farrell. Plus, the s**t is hitting the fan at Stade Francais where one player is in danger of the sack.
Nov 30, 2023•5 min•Season 23Ep. 294
On Thursday's Lunchtime Wrap on Off The Ball, Jurgen Klopp backs Coaimhín Kelleher to step up in the absence of Allison, Denise O'Sullivan on whether or not a move to the WSL would tempt her, Oli Jager set for his Munster debut and Tiger Woods returns to competitive golf. In association with the Department of Justice.
Nov 30, 2023•7 min•Season 23Ep. 293
On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, we hear about Owen Farrell's decision to take a break from international rugby. The Ireland 7s squads for this weekend's action have been confirmed. La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara is set for a disciplinary next week. And Exeter's Rob Baxter has a word of advice for football as they consider introducing sin bins.
Nov 29, 2023•5 min•Season 23Ep. 279
On Tuesday's Rugby Daily with Ann-Marie Donelan there's good news for Connacht fans as Mack Hansen may play this weekend, James Treacy assesses Jacques Nienaber's role at Leinster and speculation continues over Munster's next captain.
Nov 28, 2023•8 min•Season 23Ep. 278
Ruairi O’Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to look back on the Reds’ defeat to Leinster and the positive aspects of the performance. Fiona and Alan pick their Star of the Week, there’s a preview of the clash with table toppers Glasgow in Cork, we talk about new deals for Munster stars and we discuss Peter O’Mahony standing down as captain. (0.30) Intro (5.00) Review of Leinster v Munster (21.45) Star of the Week (26.17) Glasgow Warriors Preview (40.00) Stephen Arche...
Nov 28, 2023•22 min•Season 23Ep. 276
Monday's Rugby Daily with Ann-Marie Donelan looks back on Saturday night's URC clash between Munster and Leinster, can Jacques Nienaber provide silverware for the Blues and the Welsh are dealt a blow ahead of the Six Nations.
Nov 27, 2023•6 min•Season 23Ep. 275
On Friday's Rugby Daily, Cathal Mullaney brings you the team news from all four Irish provinces ahead of the weekend's URC action. Jeremy Loughman and Sean O'Brien look ahead to Leinster's clash with Munster on Saturday. Steven Kitshoff sets out his intent as he gets set to make his Ulster debut. And after a difficult year for the Premiership, Northampton Saints' report a better financial picture.
Nov 24, 2023•6 min•Season 23Ep. 273
On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest on Peter O'Mahony's decision to step down as Munster captain + we hear from Keith Wood on who should replace the flanker. Gordon D'Arcy lashes out at the welcome back given to doper, Aphiwe Dyantyi. And the nominees are revealed for the Guinness Rugby Writers' Awards.
Nov 23, 2023•4 min•Season 23Ep. 272
On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the best of Eoin Sheahan's interviews from the launch of the Investec Champions Cup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. We hear from Craig Casey and Garry Ringrose ahead of Saturday's clash of Leinster and Munster at the Aviva. Paul Boyle offers unique insight to the Pete Wilkins revolution at Connacht. Stuart McCloskey on what motivates him at Ulster. Blair Kinghorn is off to France. And the police get involved in the Ugo Monye racism case....
Nov 22, 2023•13 min•Season 23Ep. 271
On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has news of Steven Kitshoff's imminent debut for Ulster. There's mixed news on the injury front among England's back row with the Six Nations looming on the horizon. And could Joe Schmidt revive his coaching career in France?
Nov 21, 2023•3 min•Season 23Ep. 270
Ruairi O’Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to look back on the Reds’ win over the Stormers. Fiona and Alan pick their Star of the Week, there’s a preview of the huge clash with Leinster, and we go through the 2023 Munster Rugby Awards. (0.30) Intro (4.00) Review of Munster v Stormers (22.25) Star of the Week (28.17) Leinster preview (36.48) Oli Jager to start? (42.20) 2023 Munster Rugby Awards Get in contact on Twitter @rugbychannel15 or email therugbychannel@bauerm...
Nov 21, 2023•23 min•Season 23Ep. 269
On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the major fitness updates from the provinces ahead of a huge week of action in the URC. We hear from Caelan Doris on Leinster's date with Munster at the Aviva. The Celtic Challenge is to morph into an expanded format, and pretty soon too. The France coaching ticket is poised for major upheaval ahead of the Six Nations. More tragedy befalls South African rugby, as a fifth member of their 1995 World Cup-winning team dies. And could Maro Itoje be...
Nov 20, 2023•7 min•Season 23Ep. 268
On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you team news from three provinces ahead of this weekend's URC fixtures, with a host of Ireland stars returning for Munster, Leinster and Connacht. Vikki Wall's hopes of becoming an Olympian have become very, very real. Plus, civil war has erupted in Australian rugby.
Nov 17, 2023•8 min•Season 23Ep. 267
On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of three new arrivals at Munster, including Irish-qualified tighthead, Oli Jager. There's team news ahead of Ulster's URC date with the Lions. Taine Basham's received a ban for his challenge on Ross Byrne. And Melvyn Jaminet is on the move in France.
Nov 16, 2023•3 min•Season 23Ep. 266
On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you that incredible news that Antoine Dupont is to sacrifice the Six Nations in pursuit of an Olympic dream. World Rugby fire back at claims an Aaron Smith try during the World Cup final should have stood. The Webb Ellis trophy survives a break-in in South Africa, as one of its winners has his season ended by a knee injury.
Nov 15, 2023•3 min•Season 23Ep. 265
Ruairi O’Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to look back on the Reds’ defeat to Ulster in Belfast. Fiona and Alan pick their Star of the Week, there’s a preview of the URC Grand Final rematch with Stormers and we pay tribute to Andrew Conway. (0.30) Intro (4.40) Review of Ulster v Munster (27.23) Star of the Week (29.48) Stormers preview (38.42) Andrew Conway’s retirement (41.40) Oli Jager on his way to Munster? The first twenty minutes of this week's podcast is unlo...
Nov 14, 2023•21 min•Season 23Ep. 264
On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, we hear from Josh van der Flier as he prepares to make his Leinster return. The Ireland back row discusses his World Cup heartache, and how he's recovered. The WRU has apologised after an independent review found elements of the union harboured a racist, sexist, misogynistic and homophobic culture without being tackled. The first domino has fallen in Rugby Australia's centralisation plan. And France lock Bastien Chalureau is facing a longer sentence than first handed to...
Nov 14, 2023•7 min•Season 23Ep. 263