We’re with England at their training camp in Girona as they continue their prep for the autumn internationals. Chris sits down with new senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth to find out more about his new role, plus we get the latest on the fitness of Henry Slade and George Ford ahead of the first Test against the All Blacks. Alex Lozowski is back in the England fold for the first time since 2018, so how much is he relishing the chance to prove himself on the international stage again? The...
Oct 24, 2024•38 min
Wales boss Warren Gatland is our special guest on the day he names his squad for the autumn internationals. It’s been a tough year for Gatland, so how is he approaching the upcoming Tests? And which of his players could play their way into Lions contention? Meanwhile it was a gripping weekend in the Premiership, with Newcastle pulling off a much-welcomed and long-awaited win, and nearly all of the other games going down to the wire. And with England going into camp in Girona this week, who shoul...
Oct 21, 2024•58 min
Sara and Kat Merchant bring you all the reaction to the Women’s World Cup draw. They chat to England captain Marlie Packer about the Red Roses being drawn against Samoa, USA and Australia and what it was like to have the draw live on The One Show. Ireland are in the same pool as the Black Ferns, can they stun the World Champions again? We speak to their co-captain Sam Monaghan about their progress over the last year. And with Scotland and Wales in the same pool as one of the top seeds Canada, is...
Oct 18, 2024•36 min
Sara and Danny react to England's 36-man squad for the Autumn Nations Series which sees Henry Slade included despite not yet playing for Exeter this season. Sara chats to Steve Borthwick about why he included Slade and the return of fellow centre Alex Lozowski to the England fold. With Alex Mitchell missing out through injury, we get Danny to predict how Borthwick will his scrum-halves during the November Tests. Is Ben Spencer finally going to get his first start for England? Sara also quizzes B...
Oct 16, 2024•44 min
Ugo, Danny and Ashy wrap up a try-laden derby weekend in the Premiership. There 12 tries at Kingsholm which ended with Finn Russell shushing the Shed for the second year running. There was another 10 tries at Sandy Park, three of them scored by Bristol's Gabriel Ibitoye who joins the pod to tell us why he's loving life at Bristol and whether we can expect to see him in an England shirt soon. Quins finally got the better of Saracens, there was a 25th successive defeat for Newcastle and Leicester ...
Oct 14, 2024•51 min
Chris and Ashy sit down with one of Ireland's greatest ever players, Johnny Sexton, to look back at his illustrious career. We find out how Sexton is finding retirement and what the biggest challenges have been so far. We hear about his admiration for Owen Farrell and he reveals the best coach he's ever worked with. Will Sexton himself ever be tempted into coaching? He also picks through that painful World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand, and we get the lowdown on his spat with Rieko Ioa...
Oct 10, 2024•43 min
There is plenty for Ugo, Danny and Chris to discuss on and off the pitch this week as the war of words - and emojis - continues between Rieko Ioane and Johnny Sexton. But it was Bristol who delivered the knockout blow of the weekend as they wrecked Bath's perfect start to the season. Alex Lozowski could be in line for his first England cap since 2018, but were there any big omissions from Steve Borthwick's training squad ahead of the autumns? The Red Roses beat the Black Ferns again and things a...
Oct 07, 2024•57 min
Ashy, Danny and Chris react to an eventful weekend of rugby including Christian Wade’s hat-trick for Gloucester. Is Ashy going to be tempted out of retirement or is he resigned to losing his Premiership try record? We chat to the league’s in-form 9 as Bath’s Ben Spencer reflects on their win at Welford Road and tells us about his England ambitions. There are upsets in the URC and WXV, but not in the Rugby Championship. Is this Springbok team the greatest ever? And there are more complications fo...
Sep 30, 2024•57 min
Danny, Ashy and Ugo are on the sofa to look back at a hectic weekend which featured an impressive win for Bath and a good old fashioned smash and grab by Leicester to get Michael Cheika off to a winning start. DC has an issue with his market value on Fantasy Rugby and we debate what a prime Ashton and Monye would have fetched. The code if you want to join the league is: posysash or you can email: rugbyunionweekly@bbc.co.uk for the link. Plus, we look back at round five of the Rugby Championship ...
Sep 23, 2024•54 min
For our last pre-season pod, Danny and Chris head into central London to chat to one of the Premiership's biggest stars in Finn Russell. We hear all about his parenting skills after becoming a dad for the second time and how fatherhood has changed him as a player. He also talks Lions selection, life in the Prem and his desire to win a title. They also chat to Mike Brown who claims he's never been interviewed on the pod despite playing 300 games with DC. He reveals what keeps him motivated at 39,...
Sep 19, 2024•51 min
Danny, Ashy and Chris are back on the sofa as we continue to gear up to the new domestic season. There is more talk about Ashy coming out of retirement after Gavin Henson's comeback Pencoed and how Danny's knee is holding up ahead of a 20th season at the top level. They discuss the pros and cons of a potential merger between the Premiership and the URC; which league would benefit most and is it inevitable at some point to secure the future of the domestic game? We also discuss Australia's strugg...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr
Sara sits down with England captain Marlie Packer and new vice-captain Natasha Hunt to look ahead to a big 12 months for the Red Roses. They can lay down a big marker in their quest for World Cup glory next year by beating New Zealand on home soil this weekend. Ruby Tui gives her take on England and Hunt's return to the set-up after missing last year's World Cup. Marlie talks about juggling motherhood with a busy schedule and why Mo is doing such a great job as vice-captain. We also hear all abo...
Sep 12, 2024•29 min
Chris and Ashy chat to some of the biggest names in the Premiership as we continue our build up to the new season. Ashy quizzes Christian Wade on his desire to break his Premiership try record. With Wade needing 19 tries to usurp Ashy, how concerned should he be? Ben Earl is back on the pod to tell us what to expect from a new-look Saracens and whether his golf game has improved over the summer. We also chat to the new Northampton captain George Furbank. Can he lead the Saints to back-to-back Pr...
Sep 10, 2024•53 min
We’re back after the summer break and to kick things off we’ve got a special interview with the Premiership’s big new arrival. Chris and Ashy sit down with the new Leicester boss Michael Cheika to find out how he ended up at Welford Road and what keeps the experienced Aussie motivated as a coach. It’s been a tumultuous off-season for Steve Borthwick and the RFU. We react to the news that Aled Walters has joined Ireland and Felix Jones will also leave his role as England defence coach. Plus, Twic...
Sep 09, 2024•32 min
Sara Orchard takes you back 10 years to remember the Red Roses’ World Cup triumph in 2014. Sara is joined by Katy Daley-McLean, who led the side to glory in France, and the current England captain Marlie Packer, to relive their victory over Canada in the final. We find out why there was an armed guard at the Red Roses training base, Katy explains why she turned down a visit from Jonny Wilkinson before the final and Marlie pinpoints the exact moment she knew England were going to win the World Cu...
Aug 15, 2024•54 min
Chris hosts Ugo and Danny for a definitive review of the 2023/2024 season. With the help of the listeners, we go through the highlights of an exhilarating campaign at both club and international level, from South Africa’s Rugby World Cup triumph to the flex of the Olympics-bound Antoine Dupont. How good was George Ford’s masterclass against Argentina? How impressive was Glasgow’s URC title win? And where does Ireland’s victory in South Africa rank? The guys also pick their Lions XVs for the 1st ...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr
Ugo, Ashy and Danny are back on the sofa to look back at a busy weekend for the Home Nations. They begin with Ireland’s impressive victory over South Africa despite the absence of several key players. With England once again coming so close against the All Blacks, the guys ponder whether it was a missed opportunity for Steve Borthwick’s side. And how close are Wales to ending their winless streak having not won since October? Plus, they delve into what has been learnt about each of the four team...
Jul 15, 2024•54 min
Chris is at Eden Park and looks back on another narrow defeat for England against New Zealand who win the test series 2-0. It was an important learning curve for Steve Borthwick's side, but what are the positives from two straight defeats? What can the team learn from this tour? All Blacks legend Ian Jones and World Cup winner Paul Grayson discuss, plus Chris speaks to England captain Jamie George, head coach Borthwick and New Zealand boss Scott Robertson.
Jul 13, 2024•36 min
We’re less than 24 hours from the second Test at Eden Park which finally brings the curtain down on a long season, and Alex Lowe is back on the pod to preview it all with Chris in the heart of Auckland. England will be without George Furbank who has been ruled out through injury. How much will the absence of the Northampton full-back change England’s gameplan on Saturday? We hear from England flanker Sam Underhill on Freddie Steward coming in to replace Furbank and he tells us how much he’s reli...
Jul 12, 2024•32 min
Chris is at the England team hotel in Auckland to chat to captain, and friend of the pod, Jamie George. We hear how the England team watched their footballing counterparts reach the Euro 2024 final and why Gareth Southgate is such a big inspiration to Jamie and Steve Borthwick. Who will be England's Ollie Watkins at Eden Park on Saturday? Chris also chats to Andrew Strawbridge, who recently joined England's coaching set-up on a permanent basis having helped the All Blacks to reach the Rugby Worl...
Jul 11, 2024•26 min
Tom channels his inner Rassie Erasmus as he highlights some issues with the officiating in the 1st Test between South Africa and Ireland. The Boks use of the bench is once again up for discussion. GRO tries to come up with some positives following another defeat for Wales that’s seen them fall to 11th in the world rankings. And where do England need to improve if they are to end New Zealand’s long unbeaten run at Eden Park?
Jul 10, 2024•50 min
There is no venue in world rugby like Eden Park in Auckland. It is now 30 years since the All Blacks have lost a game at the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby. Ahead of the 2nd Test match with England on Saturday, we ask what is so different about Eden Park, and why do the All Blacks never lose there? Chris is joined by one of the voices of New Zealand rugby in Nigel Yalden, as well as All Blacks legend Ian Jones, who remembers when France stormed the fortress in 1994. And New Zealand back Ste...
Jul 09, 2024•41 min
Ugo, Ashy and Danny pick through the bones of a busy weekend of games. They ask whether England could have done more to steal a win against the All Blacks in Dunedin and explain why a win at Eden Park next weekend is more than a possibility for Borthwick’s men. Did Wales' lack of discipline and experience cost them in Sydney against the Wallabies? And did South Africa against Ireland in Durban live up to the hype? Plus, the guys reveal what fixture they are most looking forward to this weekend....
Jul 08, 2024•51 min
Chris is at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin reflecting on a narrow 16-15 defeat for England in the first test match. All Blacks legend Ian Jones is alongside him, with World Cup winner Paul Grayson joining in from London. It was a case of missed chances for England, but they can take lots of positives into the second and final test at Eden Park next Saturday. Chris speaks to head coach Steve Borthwick, a disappointed England skipper Jamie George and New Zealand head coach Scott 'Razor' Rober...
Jul 06, 2024•37 min
Can England claim their first win in New Zealand since 2003? On the eve of the first Test, we take advice from one of our loyal listeners and head to a bar in Dunedin where Chris chats to rugby correspondent Alex Lowe from The Times. You'll also hear from centre Ollie Lawrence who is back in New Zealand for the first time since 2017 when he toured the country with his school. We find out what the All Blacks captain Scott Barrett is expecting from England and look ahead to Wales and Ireland's ass...
Jul 05, 2024•37 min
Chris is at the All Blacks team hotel as Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson announces his first New Zealand team – and there’s a big surprise at fullback. We get the thoughts of NZ Herald correspondent Liam Napier on Robertson’s squad to face England which also sees the return of TJ Perenara and Damian McKenzie at fly-half. You will hear from the reigning world player of the year Ardie Savea on the challenge he is expecting from England in Dunedin. Chris also manages to grab a word with NZ Rugby chief Mark...
Jul 04, 2024•39 min
Chris, Tom English and Gareth Rhys Owen battle time zones and technical difficulties to bring you the first Nations pod of the summer. We do a deep dive into the many challenges facing Wales on their tour to Australia. Would drawing the series actually suit both Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt? Tom is still basking in the glory of some Scottish silverware and is there anything other than revenge on the minds of the Springboks as they look to end their losing run against Ireland.
Jul 03, 2024•52 min
Chris has made it to Auckland – short of both sleep and a suitcase – and he heads into the England hotel as Steve Borthwick names his team for the first Test with the All Blacks. Borthwick tells us what he wants from Marcus Smith after picking an unchanged backline, and why Fin Baxter and Ollie Sleightholme are both set for their debut. Vice-captain Henry Slade is on the pod to give some jetlag tips and to reflect on his journey from Test rookie to one of the squad’s senior players. And Alex Mit...
Jul 02, 2024•34 min
Chris, Danny and Ashy are joined by Jamie George and Nick Tompkins to look ahead to a brilliant few weeks of international rugby. Can Ireland win in South Africa, or is it a step too far for Andy Farrell’s side? There is an element of the unknown about the All Blacks, so do England have a chance of making history in New Zealand? Meanwhile Wales have a chance to restore some pride in the jersey against the Wallabies, while Scotland will be gunning for four wins on their tour of the Americas....
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Danny gives Chris and Ashy the lowdown on his day with the Barbarians at Twickenham which ended with another yellow card! England passed their Tokyo Test with flying colours as Eddie Jones’ homecoming ends in defeat. Has Marcus Smith done enough to nail down the 10 shirt for the All Blacks series? Glasgow’s Huw Jones joins from Johannesburg airport after winning the URC. We hear all about their celebrations and get his take on what this victory could do for Scottish rugby. We also talk Wales, th...
Jun 24, 2024•59 min
