The Ruck Rugby Podcast

The British & Irish Lions defeated the NSW Waratahs 21-10 in Sydney for their third straight victory on Australian soil. But, are problems emerging for head coach Andy Farrell? Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe reflect on the performance and question whether the players are executing the gameplan in the way the coaches want. They also discuss who is dropping out of test match contention and what the Lions need to do on Wednesday against the Brumbies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Owen Farrell has been called up to the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad! Following the biggest news of the tour so far, Alex Lowe, Stephen Jones and Will Kelleher chat through the reasons for and against Andy bringing Owen onto the tour. Is he too out of form? Or does his vast experience outweigh the risks in his selection? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie, Will and Alex are at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane to review the Lions beating Queensland Reds 52-12 to win back to back games on Aussie soil. They chat about Elliot Daly picking up an arm injury which could rule him out of the tour and where that leaves Andy Farrell and his full-back options. They heap praise on Jac Morgan who put in a strong performance in the back row and Alex questions whether the Lions could be playing an ambitious attacking style in these tour games to try and fool the Wallabies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie, Will and Alex react to the news that Tomos Williams' Lions tour is over! The Wales scrum-half suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday so Scotland's Ben White has been called up in his place. They also discuss all the other big talking points from Andy Farrell's squad to play the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, including the half-back partnership of Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell, the return of Maro Itoje and the back-row balance. Plus, they speak to Queensland Reds assistant coach, John Fisher. He previously worked at London Irish so chats about the incredible talent they had at the club when it went under, how they can tactically exploit the Lions in a few days and what a great occasion taking on the best of the northern hemisphere will be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British & Irish Lions are up and running Down Under. They defeated the Western Force 54-7 in Perth and Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Stephen Jones and Will Kelleher are here to review all of the action. They've decamped to the hotel lobby to look back on the action including the Lions being unable to catch a restart, why Ben White needs to be called up as injury cover immediately and whether we are heading for a tour where the midweek side is actually closer to the test team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions. A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times. The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their famous red jersey. Through this series we will build a golden thread that links that band of intrepid adventurers - the last to go on tour by boat - with this year’s ultra professional squad of Lions who will take on Australia. Episode three begins with the Lions struggling for success in the professional era and unable to emulate the triumph of '97 before finishing with the strangest Lions tour of all, during covid times in South Africa. In between Ian McGeechan and Warren Gatland steer the famous red jersey to glory in defeat, victory and a draw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions. A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times. The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their famous red jersey. Through this series we will build a golden thread that links that band of intrepid adventurers - the last to go on tour by boat - with this year’s ultra professional squad of Lions who will take on Australia. On episode two we track the lions from 1977 to the glory of 1997, as they struggle to emulate the invinclibes of 74' before their crowning glory of South Africa in 97', which catapulted the lions brand into a whole new stratosphere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions. A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times. The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their famous red jersey. Through this series we will build a golden thread that links that band of intrepid adventurers - the last to go on tour by boat - with this year’s ultra professional squad of Lions who will take on Australia. On this first episode we track the lions from 1950 to 1974 as they go from wide eyed adventurers to invincibles via the stories of Bryn Meredith, Willie John McBryde and Andy Irvine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie and Will are in Perth covering the British & Irish Lions as the 2025 tour to Australia is up and running. They chat to one of the heroes of 2013, George North, who looks back on his iconic moments against the Wallabies and picks up his Lions back three to start the test series. They also chat about the defeat to Argentina, the latest injury news for the Lions and a possible storm brewing if Australia don't release their test players for the tour matches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bath are champions of England for the first time since 1996! They beat Leicester 23-21 and Alfie Reynolds, Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes react from the stands at Twickenham. Stuart reflects on his former side finally winning the title and what it means for the city, whilst Steve says that the blue, black and white now need to go on and dominate English rugby. They chat about Finn Russell's brilliant performance, the exceptional job Johann Van Graan has done and question where Leicester go next season with some many departures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie and Will look back on a brilliant weekend of Premiership Rugby semi-finals as Bath and Leicester book their spot at Twickenham. Can Bath end a 29 year wait to be crowned champions of England? And, they continue to be confused as to how good Leicester actually are! They also reflect on Bristol and Sale, who lost in those semi-finals, and where both clubs go from here. Plus, they have the latest British & Irish Lions squad news and why the new franchise rugby competition R360 is 'delusional'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Premiership semi-final week! So Alfie and Will head to Bath to speak with Finn Russell, Will Stuart and Johann van Graan. They find out how the club became the best team in England this season, what goes into facing their rivals Bristol in the semi-final on Friday and what winning a Premiership title would mean. Plus, they preview the other semi-final between Leicester and Sale, discuss the controversial penalty shootout in the URC between the Sharks and Munster and they ask whether Owen Farrell could really be returning to Saracens next season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Stuart Barnes review the European finals over the weekend. Alex reflects on Northampton's defeat to Bordeaux in a brilliant Champions Cup final and Stuart explains why the constant TMO interventions in high profile matches are a major issue for the sport. Plus, they chat about Henry Pollock, whether the Challenge Cup can be the platform for Bath to now win the Premiership and an update on the club world championship which is set to start in 2028. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie, Will and Alex are in Richmond as the British & Irish Lions squad meet for the first time since Andy Farrell named his touring party. So, why is Sione Tuipulotu set to be a tour favourite? Hear why Ollie Chessum is getting stick for his reaction to being named on the tour? And, what is the first Lions tour he remembers watching? Plus, Will and Alex chat to former England and British & Irish Lions prop Mako Vunipola about life playing for Vannes in France and his illustrious Lions career. The boys look back on the Premiership fixtures this week and ask whether Bath are coasting to the title, and update on some news about the Wallabies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie, Steve, Alex and Will look back on the Premiership action over the weekend including showpiece matches in Cardiff and at Twickenham. They discuss how encouraging those events are for the league and whether all clubs need to buy into them. Plus, they get into the top four shake-up, why Andy Farrell may need to call up more players for the Lions first game in Dublin and some news on the Nations Championship final being played in America in 2030. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie, Alex and Will are at the O2 after Andy Farrell named his British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer. Maro Itoje was revealed as the captain, with both Henry Pollock and Marcus Smith also included. The boys go through the big talking points including the incredible rise of Pollock, whether Owen Farrell could find his way onto the tour and the lowest number of Welsh players for a tour post-war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie and Will look back on Northampton Saints producing one of the greatest upsets in European club rugby history by beating Leinster and progressing into the Champions Cup final. They are also in Bristol where they chat to Ellis Genge and Bristol's Chief Operating Officer Tom Tainton ahead of the club facing rivals Bath in Cardiff on the weekend. Plus, they have big news about a potential Lions starter suffering a serious injury! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of Andy Farrell naming his British & Irish Lions squad to Australia on 8th May, The Ruck team go through their selections. With it being a week to go until the official squad is revealed, Alfie, Alex, Will and Steve select the 37-player squad they would choose. Does Owen Farrell get on the tour? Which Welsh veteran do they include in the back-row? And, who is the notable absentee on the wing? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie Reynolds and Alex Lowe look back on the Premiership action at the weekend. They look at Gloucester's continuing rise and ask whether Bristol have been figured out or are they just not executing well enough? And did Sale Sharks score the try of the season against Saracens? Plus Elgan Alderman reviews another 6 Nations grand slam for the Red Roses who beat France by a point. Was that the test John Mitchell's side really needed ahead of a home world cup? Also, Alfie and Alex are at Twickenham to hear from the top brass at the RFU, including chief executive Bill Sweeney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Stuart Barnes and Stephen Jones look back on the latest round in the Premiership and ask whether Harlequins and Bristol are dropping out of contention to reach the play-offs? Plus, they discuss what Johnny Sexton joining Andy Farrell's coaching team means for British & Irish Lions fly-half selection. And, Elgan Alderman joins the pod to look ahead to the final round in the women's 6 Nations as England and France set up a grand slam decider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.