The Rugby Pod

The lads dissect a big weekend of Champions Cup rugby. Jim shares some tales from his trip to Paree for the Saracens game, while Goodey has been on the road too. We break down Saracens’ win over Stade Français, Sale’s performance against Racing 92, and England's overall dominance over South African opposition, including Northampton grinding out a win over the Bulls, and Leicester running riot against the Sharks. We give our take on the South African struggles in European competitions and Plumtree’s calls for change. Elsewhere, Leinster hold firm against Clermont, plus, the lads share thoughts on England 03: Unbreakables, and we give you the lowdown on their upcoming live show. Settle in and enjoy.

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It’s blowing a gale both on and off the pitch. Goodey’s been on the wet and windy road between London, Bath and Glasgow for the opening round of the Champions Cup, while Jim's tweeting up his own storm over rugby platforms and where fans can watch all the action. We cover all the action, including Saracens win and Tom Willis' England shout, Bordeaux overpowering Leicester, Leinster's Guinness bomb squad doing the business, and some WWE action in Thomand Park. Plus, Toulouse and Scotland All-Star Blair Kinghorn joins us to chat life in France, Dupont’s greatness, and Scotland's Six Nations ambitions. Throw in a big update on our upcoming live show tour, some listener questions and the rumour mill, and you’ve got a belter of an episode. Settle back, hit subscribe on Spotify, and enjoy!

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We’re back with a packed episode! Jim and Goodey dissect Ireland’s final Autumn Nations match against the Wallabies, Caelan Doris’ Lions captaincy credentials, and Schmidt’s revivied Wallabies. Stephen Ferris joins to rate Ireland’s performances, chat about rising star Sam Prendergast, and debate the Lions back row for 2025. Plus, Champions Cup dark horses, RFU bonuses, and your listeners' questions—Yorkshire puddings, best tours, and pre-Lions selection matches.Enjoy

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This week, we recap all the winners from the World Rugby Awards from Monaco including player of the year, Coach of the year and the XV Dream Team. On the pitch, England snapped their losing streak with a commanding win over Japan and some bright shoots, but defensive woes remain under scrutiny. Scotland set a record nine wins this year with a lot of players setting down a marker for Lions selection against Australia. South Africa’s stock keeps rising after their perfect tour with a hammering of Wales in Cardiff. Plus, TJ Perenara’s farewell, Ireland’s dominant win over Fiji, and Predergast's performance at fly-half. Lots more in a packed episode!

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Jim and Bigs are joined in studio by Aussie legends Matt Gitaeu and Drew Mitchell to chat about their Northern Tour on and off the pitch. The lads give some great insight into the Aussie revival, where it's come from and what it means for the Lions Tour. Plus the lads share some cracking stories on dodgy physios in France, playing in the US, and a punch-up last week in Cardiff. Bigs gives us his thoughts on another disastrous Welsh performance and what it means for Gats and Welsh fans, plus we look forward to this weekend's action with the Aussies looking to keep the slam dreams alive against Scotland.

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The lads are feeling inspired after an epic cross-code weekend for the MND charity game in Leeds, before crashing back down to earth with another England loss. We break down all the weekend’s matches including Ireland’s patchy win over Argentina, England’s defensive frailties against South Africa, and Wales’ drubbing by Australia. The lads discuss who England and Wales might be approaching as their potential saviour. Plus, we look at the hype and the off-field drama from France’s thriller against the All Blacks. We also cover the latest rumour around a potential global franchise competition set to shake up rugby by 2026 and what it potentially means for the sport.

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Fresh off another loss to the Boks, Steve Borthwick and Jamie George face some tough questions from the media with pressure piling on. Is England’s rebuild on track, or are they running out of excuses? Rassie Erasmus also chats to the press and credits South Africa’s victory to their experience and cohesion, and also offers some advice to Borthwick and England moving forward.

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We're back for a bonus episode to preview England’s massive showdown with South Africa. Can England handle the Bok bomb squad and hold steady in the scrum? What’s the ideal bench strategy and has Borthwick made the right changes? We’re also joined by Mark Mapletoft to discuss England's upcoming stars from the Under 20s and England A ahead of their clash with Australia. Plus we preview Wales vs. Australia, Ireland vs. Argentina, and France vs. New Zealand. Don’t miss our live show at the Ed Slater game with rugby legends coming together to fight MND.

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Jim and Goodey dissect a tough weekend for Northern Hemisphere rugby. England’s defeat to Australia raises big questions, including their defensive woes, midfield struggles and coaching frailties. The lads give their take on what's going wrong behind the scenes and some potential fixes. Scotland fell to the Boks despite some standout moments, while Ireland’s unbeaten home run ended against the All Blacks on a damp night in Dublin, who look to be rebuilding a terrifying squad. Plus, listener questions: Should England poach NRL stars? Is the 20-minute red card working? And does Owen Farrell change England’s fortunes? All this and lots more—subscribe now on Spotify to get notified as soon as it's released.

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Austin Healy joins the lads for a bonus episode this week to chat about the Autumn Nations Series and how rugby is promoted and packaged from a commentary and insights perspective. Austin is one of the most respected pundits in the game and gives some insight into what it's like behind the mic, how he sees the media landscape changing, dealing with social media abuse, and what he thinks of the rule changes. He also gives his take on England's performances and looks forward to Ireland v All Blacks and Australia coming to Twickenham. The lads also reminisce about their Leicester days, we get to the bottom of Goodey and Austin's punch-up.

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Bigs joins the lads in studio this week as we break down England’s narrow 22-24 loss to New Zealand, marking their third straight defeat to the All Blacks despite leading into the final quarter each time. We chat about England's struggles to close out games, Steve Borthwick’s massive decision to sub out Marcus Smith and Ben Spencer early, and standout performances from Marcus Smith, and Feyi-Waboso and Wallace Sititi. We also cover Scotland’s impressive 57-17 win over Fiji, where Darcy Graham returned in style with four tries, and look forward to massive Friday night lights in Dublin as Ireland take on the All Blacks in rugby's newest grudge match. Plus we look Wales vs Fiji, while also tackling listener questions.

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England fell painfully close to a massive win against the All Blacks. Post-game, we hear from both coaches and captains, and they're asked some tough questions about where the game was won and lost, the big decision to take Marcus Smith off, and what both sides can take away from England's first game and New Zealand's second of the series.

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You asked for it, so we're back for a bonus episode during the November internationals. We preview the two opening fixtures of the November series, with the Al Blacks coming to Twickenham, and Fiji visiting Scotland. The lads give their thoughts on Borthwick's early team announcement, the 6-2 bench, Marler's comments around the Haka, and where the game will be won. Meanwhile, Scotland has a tough test against a flying Fijian squad coming off the back of some big wins. The lads give their thoughts on Gregor's tactics, Scotland's new captain Sione Tuipulotu, and predict the outcome of both big games.

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Lots to cover this week across the Prem and URC. Jim gives some insight into Michael Cheika's culture-building at Leicester, while Goodey is frothing over Argentine star Marcos Kremer Isgro and his moustache. We chat EPS and how England is trying to avoid more situations like Jack Willis. The lads reminisce on their best team talks from legends like Lawrence Dallaglio and Greig Laidlaw. Plus, we're joined by Rugby League Hall of Famer Jamie Peacock, who gives his take on Andy Farrell and Kevin Sinfield, his retribution list, and what he has planned for Rob during the Lions Tour in Australia. You don't want to miss this one.

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It was an inspiring and emotional weekend with the Slater Cup, where Leicester pulled off a thrilling comeback, beating Gloucester 29-26, thanks to a halftime spray from Cheika. The big news of the week, though, is Newcastle breaking their 25-match losing streak with a 24-18 win over Exeter, can Steve Diamond keep the momentum? We’re joined by Bath’s rising star, Guy Pepper, to talk about his comparison to Richie McCaw, what it’s like training with the stacked Bath back row, and how he's adjusting to life at the club after moving from Newcastle. Elsewhere, Siya Kolisi marked his second debut for the Sharks with a try, and Saracens pulled off a hell of comeback to beat Bristol 37-35 in an action-packed game at Ashton Gate. And we dive into the latest on 20-minute red cards, as they're set to be trialled during the Autumn Nations Series. Ireland and France are opposed, but Southern Hemisphere teams are all in. What impact will it have on the biggest stage?

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It’s been a weekend of massive rivalries, with Leinster taking on Munster in front of a sell-out crowd in Croke Park, Quins taking on Sarries, Saints playing Leicester and few other big grudge matches. We'll cover all the action, but we're also taking a deep dive into the Irish rugby system this week, chatting with one of the masterminds behind their successful schools program and how it supports the professional game. Oh, and we're coming to Dublin! So, settle back and enjoy another packed episode!

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Bigs is back with Jim & Goodey this week lifting the lid on some of the major goings on in Welsh rugby over the last decade. The lads also discuss the bubbling beef between Ireland and the All Blacks and reminisce over the best sledging they’ve ever dished out on a rugby pitch.

We’re also joined by the Welsh half back pairing that’s been tearing up the prem for Gloucester, Tomos Williams & Gareth Anscombe chat with the lads about the new Cherry & Whites all out attack and take a trip down memory lane with their old mate Bigs. Combine that with your usual dose of Prem & URC analysis & review and you’ve got one hell of a show so sit back, enjoy and make sure you’ve subscribed on Spotify.

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It was another big weekend in the rugby world and the lads are back to cover every minute of it. We chat all things Prem, including that legendary interaction between props at Gloucester, some shocking results in the URC, the Springboks seal their first Rugby Championship title since 2019 AND the lads select their GOAT of all GOAT XV's.

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After a hell of an opening weekend of domestic ruggers, some absolute crackers which we’re going to cover, including all the Prem, URC and Rugby Championship Action, BUT ALSO we’ve got a deep dive into the Blitz style defence you’re seeing teams like England and the Springboks play with one of the best coaches int he game, Exeter Chiefs Defence Coach Omar Mouneimne! 

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The lads look ahead to a massive new season of ruggers in the Prem and URC. We look at some of the best signings across both competitions and give our predictions for the season ahead. We also chat about the rumours of a merger between the competitions, and whether there's any merit in a British & Irish league. We're joined by Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth to hear how he's turned things around at Ospreys last season, and the surprise announcement that he'll be leaving at the end of this season. Lots more as usual, so make sure you're subscribed on Spotify!

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Forget Oasis, the reunion we've been waiting all summer for. Jim and Goodey are back and on form after eventful breaks, and we're joined by Bigs who's already knee-deep into a new French season. We briefly look back the summer internationals, what's been happening behind the scenes in England with Borthwick losing two of his coaches, some pre-season insight on squads, and what's going on in the Rugby Championship. We also chat about the new professional game partnership and what it means and, we also get to know Bigs a bit better on an off the pitch! Enjoy

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Should England have beaten the All Blacks this weekend at Eden Park? Goodey is joined by Bigs this week as they give their take on the big moments from the second test in New Zealand, including England's tactics, Marcus Smith mercurial fly half performance, and whether it was a massive missed opportunity for England. We were also treated to another brutal battle in South Africa. Have you seen more blood and brutal hits in a recent game?! We chat about Frawley who stepped up and nailed the winning drop kick, and Dorris' heroic performance as new captain. We also wrap up the final summer tour for Wales and Scotland and what we can look forward to going into next season.

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The lads are back in the studio this week to chat about all the talking points from this weekend's summer series, including narrow defeats for England & Ireland. We’ll give our take on England’s new identity and some bright shoots across the board. We’ll also go into the brutal Ireland v Boks grudge match, and Warren Gatland’s Wales extending their losing streak to 8 games and dropping out of the World Rugby Top 10. BUT most importantly the mighty Scotland doing the home nations proud and romping to victory in Canada.

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Two teams desperately seeking to rebuild, Bigs catches up with his old mates Liam Williams and Andrew Kellaway to find out exactly how Wales & Australia plan to stop the rot.

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Championes! We’ll be chatting to newly crowned URC Champ Duncie Weir this week and hear all about the celebrations after Glasgow's sensational victory down in Pretoria. The lads will also be discussing Eddie Jones’ Japan not quite pushing England to their limit and Steve Borthwick’s plan for New Zealand. Plus the lads pick their URC/Prem combined team of the season

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Bigs is back this week to review the URC semi-finals, including huge upset wins for The Bulls and Glasgow, and where Leinster and Munster fell short after a disappointing end to their season. The lads also build up the hype around the summer tours, including the niggle between Soth Africa and Ireland, an under the radar All Blacks squad to face England, and a summer of rebuilding for Wales. Plenty more as usual, so make sure you're subscribed on Spotify.

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After a premiership final that saw Northampton Saints crowned champions for the first time in a decade, we’ve managed to drag one of the heroes out of the pub still in his playing kit and ski goggles. Saints’ 21-year old Flyer George Hendy joins us fresh off his man-of-the-match performance at Twickenham to give us the low down on the final and post match celebrations. We’ll also be rounding up the URC quarters, looking ahead to the semis AND reacting to Steve Borthwick announcing his England Squad for the summer tour as well.

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We’re nearly at the climax of the domestic season, so the lads preview the big one. It's Fin (one n) VS Finn (two n’s) Saints V Bath in the prem final. Bath's Ollie Lawrence joining to give his take, and the lads break down where the game will be won, and who they're backing. We’re also looking at the final regular round of the URC with massive wins for Munster and the Ospreys and agony for Jim's beloved #always Edinburgh.

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London hosted one of the great Champions Cup finals between Toulouse and Leinster this weekend, so the lads will be discussing all the fallout from an EPIC match and where it was won and lost. Jim and Goodey disagree on whether Dupont is the GOAT, and also give their view on where to next for Leinster and Leo. We’ll also be chatting about a massive triumph for the Sharks as they dominated Gloucester in the Challenge Cup Final.

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Very special guest this week as we're joined by Biggs' old gaffer, and Wales' most successful ever coach, Warren Gatland, to give some awesome insight into leading the British & Irish Lions, making tough decisions, the rebuild of Welsh Rugby, the state of the games, AND what Biggar was really like to coach.

Jim and Biggs also chat about the confirmed Premiership Top 4, some shock results in the URC, and look forward to a massive European Champions Cup final as Lesinter look to topple Toulouse in London.

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Off the back of another Grand Slam winning Six Nations campaign, Ellie & Jess return to the Rugby Pod to review a mega tournament for John Mitchell's England side. They discuss what makes the Red Roses so special, Disaronno in the changies and the radical changes in the programme. Enjoy!

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It's all change as World Rugby announce several law changes that will have a big impact on the game. The lads give their take on what these mean and how they'll affect teams. We'll also be discussing a frenetic, penultimate round of Premiership action including a big away win for Saracens, Exeter seeing off Quins and the spanking of all spankings for Gloucester. We’ll also be looking at some cracking games over in URC, PLUS our mate Stuart McCloskey is dialing in to chat all things Ulster and Ireland.

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The lads look back at another hell of a weekend as Europe's best went head to head in the Champions and Challenge Cup semifinals. We'll dissect Quins' performance in Toulouse and Leinster's hard-fought win over Northampton at a sold-out Croke Park. We've also got a chat with Saints and England fly-half, Fin Smith. Plus, Jim is deepening his Saffa ties, hanging out with The Sharks for their Challenge Cup semifinals at the Stoop.

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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 us unbelievable access to one of the most successful teams in the sport. Jim & Bigs also wrap up some of the club rugby and look forward to a massive weekend of Champions Cup action.

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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, a big showdown in the Top 14 and the run-in for the premiership and URC is heating up. Enjoy!

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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. PLUS we look ahead to 2 class semi finals, including Northampton's trip to the iconic Croke Park for a showdown with Leinster and Harlequins trip to Tolouse. Enjoy and make sure you’re subscribed on Spotify.

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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 Welsh speedster. We’ll also be chatting Champions Cup action as Jim and Dan review and preview the knock-out matches and give some quality insight. Oh, and Jim saved a life!

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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 Round of 16. Plus, TMO Goddey gets into the detail on some big decisions from the weekend where Bath aint apppy. Enjoy!

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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 generation of England players. Richard Cockvilli also calls in to demand that Wales & Warren G sign a contract for a promotion showdown after Georgia's seventh Rugby Europe Championship win. Enjoy!

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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 as looking forward to this year's competition. Enjoy!

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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 gives some insight into what Scottish rugby is missing. We also pick our team of the tournament with a centre partnership that may well echo in eternity!

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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 of the Six Nations 2024. PLUS we're joined by England U20's captain & Leicester Tigers Young Gun, Finn Carnduff revealing the freak athletes next to hit the big time.

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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 Leicester's head coach Dan McKellar, and the lads discuss what lessons Rugby can learn from NRL's successful outing in Las Vegas.

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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.

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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 the trenches.

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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. 

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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 ball!!. We'll also take a look at whether we saw the start of England’s new era or just more of the same from Borthwick. Plus, we’ll be having a chat with Italy skipper Michele Lamaro about growing up next to the Colosseum in Rome and life in the Italian camp.

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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. Plus, we're joined by the man mountain and one of the toughest looking buggers in the World, Springbok and Munster's RG Snyman, to talk about winning back to back Rugby World Cups, moving from Munster to Leinster, and ripping shirts off on a night out. Enjoy!

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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 and England powerhouse Jack Willis about the Champions Cup, his international career ambitions, and his journey so far.

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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, in the final round of pool games this weekend. Plus we have a guest debut to step into Andy Rowe's size 7 loafers.

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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 be repping England internationals, plus we have a proper hard northern guest. Hull Rugby league Legend, and the man who has revolutionized Saints Defence Lee Radford.

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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 Johann van Graan about their great start to the season, his Springbok ambition and his thoughts on RG Snyman. 

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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 with Toulouse’s GIANT Australian second-row Richie Arnold after they thrash Cardiff. 

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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 Springbok second-row Jean Kleyn about his incredible journey. So, settle back, enjoy, and make sure you’re subscribed on Spotify.

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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, including more pain for Bristol & Gloucester fans and a big Leinster/Munster clash at the Aviva, plus the lads chat about where Maro Itoje might be off to next.

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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 Premiership, talking about a massive win for Connacht in the URC, and wishing Jim a very belated happy birthday!

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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…

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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. 

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After seven weeks of drama, highs & lows, and some incredible entertainment, we have our Rugby World Cup champions. The lads look back at the final between the Springboks and All Blacks and give their take on where this Bok team and their coaches rank in the history of the sport. We look at the main decisions and talking points from the game. We're also joined by Wales and Sarries centre Nick Tompkins to reveal what went on in the Welsh World Cup camp and some of Gatland's secrets. He also spills the beans on who shouts at him more, Farrell or Biggar, and how to fix the club game. Lots more as usual, including looking back at England's bronze match and where to next for Borthwick, as well as reaction to the new global tournament, Eddie leaving Australia, and Marler snubbing Bill.

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After a heroic night in Paris from both teams, we’ll be chatting about a valiant but heart-breaking semi-final exit for England against South Africa and all the major talking points from the game, including scrums, referee decisions, substitutes, Rassie losing his head, the beef between the players, and where ultimately the game was won and lost. We'll also chat about a procession for the All Blacks against Argentina and look ahead to an all-southern hemisphere final in the company of World Cup-winning Springbok, Francois Louw. Enjoy.

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Two contrasting semi-finals, with a heartbreaking 1-point loss for England against the Springboks in Paris on Saturday, and an All Blacks demolition job against Argentina in the Friday evening semi-final. We hear from all the coaches and captains as they reflect on both games and the major talking points and controversies from each, and they look forward to the finals next weekend.

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How about one of the best rugby weekends of all-time?! A win for England and a semi-final to look forward to, but heart-breaking defeats for Wales, Ireland and France. We’ll be analysing the two epic quarter-finals in Paris in detail, including where Ireland fell short, what was said between the All Blacks and Ireland on the pitch post-game, and how Rassie and Jacques masterminded another Springbok knockout win. We'll also be looking at the other quarter-finals and what we can expect for the semi-finals next weekend. Finally, we're joined by Portugal captain Tomas Appleton after they stole everyone’s hearts in the pool stages, including his meeting with Ronaldo, and how many of the squad have been snapped up with professional contracts.

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The semi-finals have been decided so we hear from the coaches and captains after an incredible weekend of heroics and heartbreak. First up we hear from Andy Farrell and Johnny Sexton on where the game was lost and what next for this Ireland squad. Ian Foster and Sam Cane give their take on the extra motivation the All Blacks had for this game, and how they managed to knock the number one team in the world off their throne.

We also hear from Warren Gatland after their loss to Argentina in Marseille. Steve Borthwick and Owen Farrell take shots at England’s doubters as they look forward to a semi-final against the Springboks, and Siya Kolisi and Jacques Nienaber respond to Dupont’s criticism of the referee and reflect on one of the all-time great quarter-final wins against the hosts. 

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After all of Jim's positive chat, it was a sad case of all fart and no poo for Scotland as they went down to an impressive Ireland in their do-or-die game. We get the lads reaction and where to next. We’ll be chatting about that historic win for Portugal, the lucky escape for England & looking ahead to some mouth-watering quarter-finals. Goodey gives us a tasty bit of gossip from the England camp, plus we’re chatting to former Wales winger Alex Cuthbert about their World Cup and chances, LRZ, Gats' regime and their quarter-final against Argentina. 

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After the final round of the group stages, we hear from Andy Farrell & Johnny Sexton following their ruthless victory over Scotland. We also hear from a disappointed Gregor Townsend and Warren Gatland & Steve Borthwick look to the challenges ahead.

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It's the final round of pool matches and the guys preview a huge showdown in Paris as Scotland prepares to try and achieve the incredible and knock out the number one team in the World. Goodey is all in on Ireland, whilst Jim maps out Scotland's potential route to victory. The lads also look at the other pool deciders and whether we might see any potential upsets as Italy looks to bounce back from an All black humbling, how England will line up against Samoa, and Argentina and Japan face off in another straight knock-out game. Plus we're joined by one of our favourite guests of the season in Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui as he gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Fiji as they look set the create history against Portugal and go all the way in the World Cup.

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The lads are pumped after one of the all-time great pool games between the Boks and Irish in Paris. We breakdown the game, where it was won and lost and where to next for both teams. We also take a look at Wales' massive win against the Wallabies and how impressive Gatland's squad looks going into the quarter-finals. Goodey goes in hard on Eddie Jones after a woeful campaign for the Wallabies and his toxic environment, and Jim gives his take on Scotland's performance against Tonga and how they look going into a couple do-or-die games.

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We hear from Eddie Jones straight after Wales' victory as he answers questions on his position as head coach, the Wallabies performance, and whether he has been interviewing for the Japan head coach role whilst in camp. We hear from Warren Gatland after their impressive win and just how far Wales have come since the controversy and WRU challenges of a few months ago. Jacques Nienaber & Siya Kolisi give their thoughts on the game against Ireland, including their kicking shortcomings as well as the Irish breakdown and what needs fixing. We also hear from Andy Farrell and Johnny Sexton about their brutal battle, some special treatment from PSDT, and the epic support from Irish fans at Stade de France.

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The lads are fresh off their World Cup cruise and back in London and Paris after another quality weekend of Rugby World Cup action. The lads will be chatting about a historic win for Fiji, impressive performances from underdogs Portugal and Uruguay, another victory for England and Ireland, the return of Owen Farrell and looking ahead to the massive clashes next weekend between South Africa & Ireland and Wales versus Australia. 

This epiosde is brought to you in partnership with Asahi Super Dry, the official Beer of the Rugby World Cup.

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We hear from Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick after round two of the Rugby World Cup. What went wrong for Eddie and the Wallabies against Fiji, and what next for England after a scrappy bonus point win against Japan (Getting better every day!!)

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We’re delighted to be joined by former Wallabies legend and World Cup winner Stephen Larkham for the final episode of our Beyond Expected Series. We hear about his iconic drop kick that helped win the World Cup for the Wallabies, his stellar career as a player and a coach, who makes his Kanpai XV, and lots more from one of Australia's most decorated players.

The Beyond Expected Series is brought to you by Asahi Super Dry, the official beer of the Rugby World Cup.

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And we are off! We’ll be rounding up everything from an epic opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup, including England's win against Argentina, and Scotland's loss against the Boks. From the opening ceremony to a huge win for England and then the thriller to bring the curtain down on Sunday night. Plus, we’ll be chatting to Springboks legend Victor Matfield about the Boks. 

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After round one, we hear from Steve Borthwick and Courtney Lawes after England's huge win against Argentina and George Ford's kicking masterclass. We also hear from Gregor Townsend and Jamie Ritchie after their disappointing first outing against the Springboks and where to next.

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Welcome to the fourth episode of The Rugby Pod Beyond Expected Series, presented by Asahi Super Dry, the official beer of Rugby World Cup 2023.

This week, we’re delighted to be joined by a man who was involved in the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history when Japan shocked the rugby World and beat South Africa. We'll hear how he came to be in Japan, captaining his team to a home quarter-final, and how he thinks Japan will do in France this year and beyond. 

In this series we’ll be talking to legends of the game, as they tell stories from their career: the unexpected moments on the pitch, friendships and post-match beers shared off the pitch.

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It’s finally here so we’ll be looking ahead to the much anticipated start of the 2023 World Cup in France. We’ll look at all the home nations’ chances and analyse what might happen in the big games this opening weekend. So, settle back, enjoy, and make sure you’re subscribed on Spotify.

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We’re joined today by Argentina’s All-Time Leading Point Scorer. A World Rugby Hall of Famer who played a key role in securing the Puma’s 3rd Place finish at the Rugby World Cup in 07 and who will be hoping to play a key part in helping steer Michael Cheika’s Argentina to Rugby World Cup Glory in France this year, including their first game against England. We hear about what makes Argentina such a special team to play for, why they perform so well at World Cups, what it was like having Maradona in the dressing room, as well as his time at Leinster and relationship with Johnny Sexton and O'Driscoll.

The Rugby Pod Beyond Expected Series, presented by Asahi Super Dry, official beer of Rugby World Cup 2023. Throughout this series, we’ll be talking to legends of the game, as they recount stories from their career: the unexpected moments that happened on the pitch, and the surprising connections, friendships and post-match beers shared off the pitch.

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With only ten days to go until RWC 2023 kicks off, we’ll be looking back at the final round of action in the Summer Nations Series and picking the bones out of a record win for a mighty-looking Springboks against New Zealand. We'll also look back at a proud and historic day for Fiji at Twickenham, a dark one for England fans, and where to next for both teams. Plus, we’ll be chatting to legendary All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith about their preparations for the tournament and leading the Haka.

The Rugby Pod, brought to you by Asahi Super Dry, official beer of Rugby World Cup 2023.

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We’re delighted to be joined by a man who famously dismantled a Wallaby scrum in 2007 to help England reach the unlikeliest of World Cup finals, former England front row Andrew Sheridan. Sheri is a man mountain and one of the toughest front rowers to ever play the game. He's also one of the nicest. We hear about his journey from back row to front row and how he changed the game for props. We also chat about what happened behind the scenes during England's infamous 2007 Rugby World Cup, what he's been up to since retirement and lots more.

The Rugby Pod Beyond Expected Series, presented by Asahi Super Dry, official beer of Rugby World Cup 2023. Throughout this series, we’ll be talking to legends of the game, as they recount stories from their career: the unexpected moments that happened on the pitch, and the surprising connections, friendships and post-match beers shared off the pitch.

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Another week, and another red. We’ll be taking a look at all the implications of Ireland's win over England in Dublin for both teams. We'll also run the rule over a scary Springbok performance in Cardiff as they put an inexperienced Welsh side to the sword. Plus, we’ll be chatting to Italy’s Paolo Odogwu about his journey to the World Cup with Italy and what's been happening in their World Cup camp. 

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Beaver is a New Zealand legend, but that wasn't always the case. We hear his incredible story firsthand, from the low of being blamed for a loss to the Wallabies pre-World Cup, to the high of getting a late call-up to the All Blacks and kicking the winning points at a home Rugby World Cup final and earning cult status. His story is the stuff of dreams and we hear it from the man himself.

The Rugby Pod Beyond Expected Series, presented by Asahi Super Dry, official beer of Rugby World Cup 2023. Throughout this series, we’ll be talking to legends of the game, as they recount stories from their career: the unexpected moments that happened on the pitch, and the surprising connections, friendships and post-match beers shared off the pitch.

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Another warm-up week down as we get closer to the RWC, and we’ll be running the rule over an impressive Scotland performance in France and one that got away for Wales at Twickenham. We'll discuss England's win at a hefty cost, and what next for England and Farrell. Plus, we’ll be chatting to Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze about their World Cup prospects and some insight into Graham Wigsvili and his party piece. 

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Another week closer to the Rugby World Cup and the lads are joined by Will Stuart straight from England camp to get the inside track Borthwick's World Cup prep and how the team are feeling. We take a look at the game in Cardiff and discuss whether Wales have turned a corner under Gatland with things looking more positive. The lads will be discussing how Ireland fared as they got their World Cup warm-up games underway against Italy, as well as the big comeback for Scotland against France and their World Cup squad announcement. We’ll also be analysing the 33-man England squad that Steve Borthwick has picked for the tournament. 

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Welcome back to Season 8 of The Rugby Pod. Big Jim, Goodey and Andy Rowe are back after a life-changing summer to dissect everything on and off the pitch. We'll be hearing about Goodey's monumental weight loss, as well as Jim's trip to Aspen, where he fell head over cowboy boots for Colorado, and bumped into Lance Armstrong. We'll also be taking a look at all the home nations' Rugby World Cup squads, and who will or who won’t make the cut for next month’s World Cup. We’ll also be discussing the warm-up matches that got underway at the weekend, as well as the latest in the Rugby Championship and Eddie Jones' very rocky start for the Wallabies. Enjoy!

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It's the final episode of the season and the lads are looking ahead to all things Rugby World Cup 2023 as well as giving us an update on the situation at London Irish. Plus, we hear all about Goodey's body transformation and some very special live shows coming up.

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After a hell of a club season and plenty of ups and downs, the lads look back at all the key moments from the Premiership and URC finals with Sarries winning their sixth title, and Munster returning to winning ways in Cape Town after a tough few years. Plus, we’ll be having a chat with Saracens hooker Theo Dan whilst out on Mad Monday celebrations after they won their sixth title at the weekend. 

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What a battle in Dublin. We’ll be picking the bones out of potentially the best and most brutal Champions Cup final ever between Leinster and La Rochelle. We hear what went on behind the scenes between the two bitter rivals, and what happened post-game with Goodey on the ground at the Aviva. We'll also be looking ahead to the URC final, Premiership final & the BaaBaas against a World XV at Twickenham. Plus, we’ll be having a chat with Newcastle, England & now Barbarians winger Adam Radwan. 

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What a weekend of action. The lads give their take on two of the best club games of the year in the URC semi-finals, as well as all the major talking points from the Prem semi-finals, with GMO not appy with some of the decisions. Plus, we’ll be speaking to legendary All Blacks Strength and Conditioning coach Nic Gill as he looks to get the lads in shape ahead of the Rugby World cup with his secret weapon. Enjoy! 

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A quality episode this week as we’ll be looking at Steve Borthwick’s coaching lineup for the World Cup, a crazy finish to the regular season in the Premiership and a couple of big away wins in the URC play-offs. Plus, we’ll be chatting to Connacht Director of Rugby, Andy Friend about their phenomenal performance in Belfast. 

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Big weekend of ruggers as we wrap up two huge Champions Cup semi-finals and another Grand Slam for England’s women in front of a record crowd at Twickenham. We'll be chatting to one of their players of the tournament, Sadia Kabeya. We also wrap up the Challenge Cup and pay tribute to some of the best one of club players in the game!

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How would the Premiership Top 4 do in the URC? We’ll be rounding up the final round of the URC and the end of the playoff race in the Premiership. We’ll also be discussing Jack Nowell’s whopper fine and looking ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals. Plus, we’ll be chatting to Northampton star Fin Smith after Saints’ confirmed their spot in the premiership playoffs. Enjoy and make sure you’re subscribed on Spotify.

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As the premiership heats up, we pay tribute to the 'lovable rogue' Chris Ashton as he scores his 101st try this weekend in Leicester's win at Exeter, and the lads give their thoughts on how the final four might shape up. We also take a look at the URC with the big news at Leinster with World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber set to join the Irish outfit next season and a couple of impressive performances in South Africa. Also, with the BaaBaas set to face the World XV, the lads pick their current starting lineup for an All-Star XV.

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Jim's back after taking a breather last week post Hong Kong to reveal what really went down at the world's loosest rugby tournament. The lads give their thoughts on the South African teams all getting knocked out of Europe and the travel challenges all teams are facing in the new cross-hemisphere competitions. We're also joined by Leinster and Ireland's Jimmy O'Brien to get some cracking insight on what's going on behind the scenes at Leinster and Ireland, as well as who was behind the camera when the Irish team crashed Gary Ringrose's house after the grand Slam. We also wrap up all the rest of the European action and look forward to some massive semi-finals!

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Hong Kong has taken Jim, so we have a massive upgrade this week with England's most capped player of all time, Ben Youngs joining the Pod with Goodey. We hear about England camp under Borthers as well as life at Leicester. We're also joined by Bristol's Semi Radradra to talk about his incredible journey from working in a mine in Fiji, to being one of the best players on the planet. Lots more as we wrap up the Champions Cup quarterfinals and look towards the Semi finals.

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We turn our attention back to domestic rugby this week with Saracens and Quins playing in front of an incredible 55 thousand people at the Tottenham stadium. We look at how the top four is shaping up and speak to London Irish's Matt Rogerson about their strong season so far and what's changed in the squad compared to previous seasons. We also look at some of the major action from the URC including some big results for Glasgow and Scarlets, and preview the European Champions action this weekend.

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Ireland Secure The Slam in Dublin on Paddy's weekend, so we chat to Finlay Bealham to find out how they marked the historic moment with a three-day celebration. The lads wrap up the final weekend of Six Nations action including a much improved England performance, some fight from Wales in Paris, and a nervous last few minutes in Edinburgh. We pick our player of the tournament and look at what's next and where each team is going into the World Cup.

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After a French shellacking at Twickenham, the lads give their take on what went wrong for England and Borthwick in their record Six Nations defeat against France, and what comes next ahead of a Paddy's Day Grand Slam showdown in Dublin between Ireland and England. We look back at Ireland's physical and at times chaotic win over Scotland, Wales' first win of the competition, and we're also joined by Italy's Paolo Garbisi to get an Italian take on where they are as a team and their ambitions for Edinburgh next weekend.

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We're joined by England's form player Freddie Steward to preview England v France this weekend and give us some insight on the England camp. The lads also preview Scotland and Ireland's Triple Crown decider in Edinburgh, and a wooden spoon shoot-out in Rome. Lots more including a couple of massive charity events for Hambo and Ed Slater, and we look forward to the home run of live shows in Belfast, Dublin and St.Patricks Day in London.

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Sam Vesty played over 150 times for Leicester during one of the club's most successful periods, including winning a Premiership title in 2007. He also played for Bath before moving into coaching, where he's had successful stints at Worcester, England, and most recently Northampton Saints. We hear about his career on and off the pitch, his attacking coaching philosophy, and some of the hard lessons he learned on the famous Leicester Team bus.

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We're joined by England and Exeter duo Henry Slade and Jack Nowell this week to look back at England's win in Cardiff, the changing landscape at Exeter, life in England Camp under Borthers, their upcoming testimonial, and Jack's BaaBaas debut versus a World XV. The lads also chat about Gats first few games in charge and where Goodey thinks he needs to evolve. Jim gives his pitchside thoughts from Paris where Scotland's slam hopes slipped, but there's a lot to be optimistic about ahead of a Triple Crown showdown against Ireland in Edinburgh.

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We're joined by Jiffy this week to get his thoughts on the current crisis engulfing Welsh rugby. He gives us a dose of common sense and outlines what the Union and players need to do to move forward from this saga. He also gives some strong opinions on what Wales needs to do on the pitch to get back to winning ways. We preview the next round of Six Nations as England travel to Cardiff and Ireland go to Italy, and we look forward to the big one in Paris between Scotland and France. Can Scotland remain on track for a potential historic Grand Slam?!

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Bracey enters the Andy Goode suite this week to chat about his remarkable journey from international player, to becoming one of the top international referees in World Rugby. He chats with Goodey about the highs and lows of his career both on and off the pitch. We hear about the challenges he faced after a controversial call in an England v France game, what he learned from the experience, what he thinks needs to change in the game, and ultimately how passionate and dedicated he is about his trade. He's a quality referee, and a top lad too.

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After a few weeks burning the candle at both ends the lads are feeling a little worse for wear... Nevertheless they break down all the action from round two of the Six Nations including an instant classic between Ireland and France, a first for Scotland winning back to back games in the opening rounds and the dour outlook for both England and Wales.

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The lads are in great from after an unbelievable weekend of action in the Six Nations as well as live shows in Dublin and London. Jim and Goodey were both at Twickenham to watch Duhan's worldie of a try, so give their thoughts on the game, atmosphere and where it leaves England and Scotland for the rest of the tournament. We also get to hear from Sione Tuipulotu in the Scotland camp and chat through Gatland's first game back in charge for Wales against Ireland. We wrap up Italy and France and look forward to another hell of a weekend of action. How good to have the Six Nations back!?

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Ahead of the Six Nations kicking off this weekend, Goodey sat down with the new Wales attack coach and former England, Wasps and Clermont out half, Alex King, to reminisce about his career and look forward to his new role under Warren Gatland. The lads chat about facing off against each other in the premiership, Alex's move into coaching in France and what Welsh fans can expect from their new coaching ticket.

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It's almost here and we cannot wait! The first round of the Six Nations is upon us and we preview the Calcutta Cup with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend. Gregor gives us some great insight into how the Scottish camp is preparing, whether he misses Eddie, his relationship with Finn and what rule changes he's like to see brought into the game. We also look ahead to a massive game in Cardiff with Gatland's first game back in charge against his old nemesis, Ireland. The lads give their thoughts on who will be this season's MVP and breakthrough player. We also chat about the latest developments with the tackle saga and why Goodey thinks Bill Sweeney's position has become untenable.

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Another dramatic week in rugby with the RFU bringing in a new game-changing law for the grassroots game in England. The lads give their take and what it means for the future of the game. We're also joined by Ireland and Connacht's Mack Hansen ahead of the Six Nations to find out about his tattoos, loose nights out in Portugal and whether he wants to replace Johnny Sexton at ten. Lots more chat including a wrap-up of the final round of pool games in the Champions Cup, and a look ahead to some massive knockout games.

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We have a hell of a show lined up for you this week, we’ll be looking at Steve Borthwicks’ first England squad, Eddie Jones' shock return to international rugby, a hectic weekend of Champions Cup, and we’ll be having a chat to one of the most anticipated new England caps… Harlequins winger Cadan Murley. Settle back, enjoy, and make sure you’re subscribed on Spotify.

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We're joined by salt of the earth and northern legend Gary Graham this week after Newcastle's record win over Leicester. He gives us some great insight into the Newcastle dressing room and their Argentinan contingent, as well as rumors of a two-tiered premiership. We chat about Borthwick's latest attacking appointment with Nick Evans joining from Quins and what this might mean for Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell. We also discuss whether England need to relax their eligibility rules and we give our take on some controversial calls over the weekend.

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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 insulting Jake Heenan, and we wrap up the best of the festive action from the Premiership and URC. Don't forget to get your tickets sorted for our live Six Nations shows in London and Edinburgh in February. Just search for The Rugby Pod live shows.

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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!

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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 weekend in France. We also react to the news that Borthwick will be England coach and what it means for England fans as well as Leicester tigers. Merry Christmas everyone!

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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 hints ahead of their Secret Santa and next week's Rugby Pod Christmas party. No dildos or Turkeys will be harmed next week.

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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 career. Enjoy.

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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 look forward to a big weekend of European rugby.

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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 the Baa-Baas with Jim. We also wrap up the Autumn series for England and Wales and discuss where to next for both teams and their under-fire coaches.

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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 inspiring and an important message during the month of Movember. It's a hell of a story.

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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 about Georgia's historic win in Cardiff and where Wales go from here. We also hear from a hungover Finn Russell on the tarmac at Edinburgh airport after a big win against Argentina and round off Ireland's unbeaten Autumn Nations Series.

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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 next weekend, with England's new number 9 Jack van Poortvliet.

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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 does as well as the challenges the union faces and some of the criticism the RPA receives from current players. It's a candid chat and gives an insight into what the RPA is trying to achieve, how it goes about it, and what the future holds for the game and players.

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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 predictions for the results of this weekend's Autumn Nations series games and we look ahead to how England can hope to bounce back against Japan.

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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 and give their predictions for how those results will go. Jim and Goodey review the highlights from the Gallagher Premiership including more refereeing controversy and red cards in another dramatic weekend of domestic action.

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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. Jay tells us what really happens behind the scenes at Love Island, how contrived the show felt, and how he felt manipulated by producers to fit their narrative. We also hear about his relationships with other contestants and the pressure he felt coming out of the villa. There are lots of parallels between Jim and Jay's experiences being in the spotlight. It's a really interesting chat between two men at the top of their game, enjoy.

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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 finally, Jim's poor dental hygiene comes good.

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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 and Saracens make it 5 wins from 5.

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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 finals of the Champions Cup.

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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 Ashton, and why Owen Farrell could have been the greatest League player in the last ten years. Lots more great chat from a genuinely top lad.

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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.

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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 off the pitch, and some of their favourite memories. Leicester legends, the pair of them.

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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 and URC action in a weekend packed full of drama, tries and refereeing controversy.

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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 outrageous offload in his side's season opener against Connacht. The lads also round up all the premiership action and give an update on the ongoing situation at Worcester.

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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 memories, from two of the most engaging characters in rugby. Enjoy!

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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 confession to make...

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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 off-season including some Northern Hemisphere success during the summer tours and a hugely competitive Rugby Championship. We look ahead to a huge season in the Premiership as the lads pick who they believe will be the top 4 and bottom 3 teams come May next year.

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Brian Mujati was one of the most sought-after props in World Rugby. Born in Zimbabwe, Brian's life story is incredible, with a career that spanned playing professionally in South Africa for the Springboks, before playing club rugby in England, Wales and France. We hear about his journey, his successes, as well as his struggles both on and off the pitch in this engaging chat. Enjoy.

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Following the recent media storm around Worcester's financial situation, Big Jim chats to former Worcester Director of Rugby Dean Ryan to get his thoughts on the precarious position the club finds itself in. With his current role as DoR at The Dragons, Dean explains how the Welsh Regions are building towards a move away from the WRU and how they hope to fare in the URC this season. As one of England's most successful coaches, Dean also gives his opinion on who Eddie Jones' successor should be.

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In this episode, we chatted to Welsh legend Andy Powell about his career, his high points, low points, and plenty of big nights out in between. Powelly is one of rugby's biggest characters on and off the pitch and he tells some incredible stories involving playing for Gats, playing against Bakkies Botha, and playing with the likes of Mike Phillips. We also hear about him flipping Pizza tucks and of course the full story unedited story behind the golf buggy. Enjoy, he tells a hell of a yarn!

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In July 2022, Gloucester and former Leicester second row Ed Slater was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 34 and forced to retire from professional rugby. In this episode, Jim and Gloucester Team Manager and good friend, Sam Raven, chat with Ed about coming to terms with the life-changing diagnosis and the impact it's had on him, his family, and friends. It's an emotional and inspiring chat, but one filled with plenty of laughs as the guys also reflect on their recent 350-mile charity cycle which raised over 300k for MND charities and research. We wish Ed all the very best and you can support Ed and follow him on his journey via Instagram @4edfundraising or Twitter: @edslater

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In the very first episode of Rugby Pod sessions, Andy Rowe interviewed Joe Marler during one of his preseasons at Quins and found out a bit more about the England and British and Irish Lions prop. From how he got into rugby, all the way to the "pinnacle" of his career, sitting on the wet tarmac in Wellington Harbour eating a late-night snack, we got an insight into one of the biggest characters in the modern game. We also hear a few cracking stories from the Lions Tour and the mid-week Veg, including sinking pints with Rory Best, an awkward match review session with George Kruis, and an expensive game of credit card roulette. Enjoy!  

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Dr. Bill Ribbans is an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Trauma Consultant, and one of the highest regarded specialists in sports medicine. He has treated some of the world's best sports stars, including Michael Schumacher, Usain bolt, Jessica Ennis and countless rugby players. He is now at the forefront of concussion research and debate in rugby, working with Progressive Rugby to help advance the safety of the sport for all involved. In this chat, Bill and Jim discuss some very sensitive topics with the aim of better understanding the challenges around concussion in our sport.

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In this episode, Jim chats to the person who signed his first major professional contract, Simon Cohen. Between 2005 and 2020, Simon was head of operations for Leicester, before moving on to become their CEO for eight years. During this time, he helped Leicester become one of the most successful clubs in the game, winning four premiership titles during his time at the club and helping identify and produce some of England's greatest ever players (as well as Scotland's finest brawler). Jim and Simon chat about the growth of the game during that period, where they see the game going, as well as reminisce on some of their glory days at Tigers.

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This is the incredible true story of Max Guazzini, the former flamboyant French owner of Stade Français, who spent over €30 million and took the team from the 4th division to five-time champions of France before fraud and bankruptcy threatened it all. Naked calendars, hot tubs with Madonna, audacious kits, gladiatorial pre-match entertainment, tragic suicide, and fallouts, we speak to the players who experienced the amazing and tumultuous journey firsthand, including James Haskell, Ben Keyser, and Ollie Phillips. We also track down Max himself to hear his side of the remarkable story. If you enjoy this episode, please share it with friends and let us know on social media.

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In this episode, Jim's joined by one of the most successful and popular coaches in the game, Crusaders Head coach, Scott 'Razor' Robertson. During this chat, it's easy to see why Razor is held in such high regard both in New Zealand and throughout the game. We hear about his coaching philosophy, how he gets the best out of his players, his international ambitions for the future, his Rugby World Cup goals, his relationship with Eddie Jones and Ronan O'Gara, and of course, the art of breakdance. Enjoy!

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In this episode, Jim travels to the bright lights of New York City to interview the new owner of The Sharks, Marco Masotti. Marco's successful background and experience in private equity and law give him a great perspective on why more people are looking to invest in rugby and why the future is potentially very bright for the sport. He talks about his investment in The Sharks and the potential for The URC. He also gives his thoughts on what teams, unions, administrators and players need to do to help the game evolve and compete on a global scale.

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One of the best refs in the game sits down with Jim this week to give us an unprecedented look into what it's like being an elite rugby referee in the professional era. We get a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the scenes both personally and professionally for the man in the middle. Luke opens up on the pressures of being a referee as well as the good and bad that comes with the job, including training, being assessed, dealing with social media, ref socials and of course the engagement with fans and players. We all know refs have a tough job, but this episode really puts it into perspective.

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With England on tour in Australia, we take the opportunity to check in with Jim's good mate and former Wallaby legend Drew Mitchell. The lads chat about the series so far, Eddie Jones, the state of the game in Australia, Drew's time in France, and what rugby can do to help raise its profile around the world.

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Welcome to Rugby Pod Stories. In this new short series, we explore some of the most iconic moments in the history of rugby by speaking to the people who were there. In this first episode, we explore what happened to the New Zealand team ahead of the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final in South Africa, with first-hand accounts from players, coaches, doctors, media managers and journalists. Were the All Blacks poisoned ahead of the final? What effect did this have on the team? And if they were deliberately poisoned, who could have been responsible? We look at some of the possible scenarios by speaking to the main protagonists from both sides. If you enjoy this episode, please let us know on social media or share it with friends.

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Roddy Grant played 138 times for Edinburgh before moving into coaching for the club. In 2019 he moved to Ulster where he is now their forwards coach and the youngest coach in the URC. In this epiosde, Jim and Roddy chat about where their careers overlapped and where they diverged. He also gives some insight into his mentality and techniques as a coach, including the importance of judo, loyalty, and how to measure success. We also hear about his upbringing in Botswana, his Scottish career and becoming an Iron man.

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It's the last episode of the season and we're joined by The Wallabies' Andrew Kellaway ahead of England's three-match series down under. We also review an incredible premiership final as friend of the show Freddie Burns slots the winning drop goal to clinch a first Premiership title for Leicester in nine years. Jim and Goodey discuss the URC final which saw The Stormers take the title in the all-South African game. We look ahead to the summer tours as the Northern Hemisphere sides travel south for the first time since 2018.

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Following a massive weekend of semi-finals in the Premiership and URC, the lads chat through all four games from this weekend. After an emotional day at Welford Road, we discuss Leicester's chances as they face a battle-hardened Saracens in the final after their fierce encounter with Harlequins. We're joined by The Stormers' Head Coach John Dobson to find out how his side managed to overcome Ulster to become part of the all-South African final of the URC.

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After a successful playing career at Gloucester and Saracens, James Parkes went on to become a key cog in Exeter's success story. He was lead coach for Strength and Conditioning under Rob Baxter for 9 years and helped Exeter become one of the most successful teams in premiership history. James and Jim chat through their overlapping careers and journeys, what helped make Exeter so successful over the last ten years and what's next both personally and professionally.

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This week we're joined by Harlequins and South Africa centre André Esterhuizen as we preview his side's Premiership semi-final London derby against Saracens. We also discuss the other semi-final as top of the table Leicester face Northampton in the East Midlands derby, Jim and Goodey run through all the results from across the premiership this weekend and look ahead to the semi-finals of the URC this weekend too.

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After La Rochelle toppled a seemingly unbeatable Leinster side, Jim and Goodey discuss where O'Gara's side won the game and where Leinster fell short. We also chat with former Leinster and Scotland second-row Nathan Hines ahead of his upcoming challenge. We're joined by Gloucester's Freddie Clarke ahead of their huge final game of the regular season, and discuss the massive task ahead of them in securing a place in the semi-finals. 

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In this episode, Jim chats with a fellow Covskin and a Championship stalwart Ben Gulliver about his career and life playing in the second tier of English rugby. Ben played over 300 times in the championship and experienced the highs of playing alongside his hero, Zinzan Brooke, to the lows of having to undergo 21 operations. The guys chat through the challenges the league faces in terms of funding and supporting players, but also the importance of the competition whilst taking a trip down memory lane when their careers overlapped. Ben is also a big supporter of the women's game and talks about how he sees it evolving.

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As the regular season enters its final rounds, we look back at the weekend's action in the URC ahead of the quarter finals in 2 weeks time. Jim and Goodey also run through the results from across the Premiership and look ahead to how the semi-finals will likely shape up. We preview this weekend's Champions Cup Final as La Rochelle face favourites Leinster on Saturday. Following Jim's surgery last week, the lads discuss their plans for some self improvement under the knife.

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With the semi-finals of both the Champions and Challenge cups all wrapped up, we review all the weekend's games and look ahead to the finals in a couple of weeks time. Jim and Goodey are joined by former Leinster and Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman to discuss why Leinster are such a dominant force in European rugby. After the final two English teams crashed out of Europe, the lads discuss how they seem unable to compete at this level with the current Premiership salary cap.

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We're joined by one of the all-time greats in Shane Williams to chat about his transition to life after rugby. It's Mental Health Awareness Week, so this episode takes an intimate look into the lives of Shane and Jim as they struggled with certain aspects of life after rugby. They discuss the highs of their careers and professional rugby, and what tools helped them cope and come to terms with some of the lows and challenges that they faced and that many people face on a daily basis like loneliness, anxiety and finding the right support network. To find out more about any of the topics discussed on this podcast, visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk

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Our long-awaited return to studio is finally here and what a studio it is. Coming to you from Spotify HQ, we're joined by Scotland and Racing 92 fly half Finn Russell following his side's Champions Cup Quarter final victory over Sale Sharks on Sunday. The lads run though all the European fixtures from last weekend and look ahead to the semi finals this week. Jim and Goodey give their predictions for those games as well as their thoughts on the so-called "Nations Championship" which has been in the news again this week.

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This week, Jim and Goodey are joined by former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester back row Shane Jennings to look ahead to his two former clubs facing off in the Heineken Champions Cup Quarter final this weekend. The lads predict the winners of all the Champions Cup Quarter Finals as well as running through last weekend's Premiership fixtures which saw a whopping 409 points scored across all 6 games. We discuss the constant battle that is the global season and Jim puts forward his argument for summer rugby.

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Former CEO of Harlequins, Saracens, Melbourne Storm and Global Rapid Rugby, Mark Evans sits down with me to give his take on everything from how to grow the game, ring-fencing, salary caps, a global season and what rugby union can learn from other successful sports leagues and teams around the world. It's a great chat with someone who has been at the very top of the game, with a huge amount of experience. Enjoy and if you find it interesting, please give it a share! Cheers. Big Jim.

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After a Harlequins' crucial win over Leicester Tigers on Saturday, we're joined by Man of the Match and Scottish international Huw Jones to chat about life at Quins and his hopes of a return to international duty. With the playoffs drawing closer, Jim and Goodey give their predictions of who will join Leicester and Saracens in the top 4. The lads introduce our brand new segment that'll see YOU, the listeners, joining us live on the pod to tell us your stories.

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With the Champions Cup round of 16 complete, we run through all of the results from the second leg of games over the weekend. We're joined by Munster's forwards coach and soon-to-be Head Coach Graham Rowntree to get his reaction to their victory over Exeter on Saturday. Jim and Goodey chat through some of the 26 cards shown by referees over the weekend and look ahead to some huge clashes in the quarter-finals next month.

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Welcome to some extra podcast interviews with Big Jim. In this episode, Jim chats with one of his best mates and former Scotland and Sarries back-row Kelly Brown about their life on and off the pitch. In this new series, we'll be chatting with a mix of current and former players, coaches, decision-makers, influencers and interesting characters throughout the game. Hope you enjoy and let us know who you would like to hear from.

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After a huge first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions Cup, Jim and Goodey are joined by Ulster and Ireland full-back Mike Lowry following their huge away win at Champions Toulouse on Saturday. The lads round off all the weekend's fixtures and look ahead to yet another massive weekend of games in Europe. 

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Fresh from their victorious night at the Sports Podcast Awards, the lads are joined by London Irish winger Ollie Hassell-Collins to discuss his prolific try-scoring form and how his time with England has left him hungry for a first cap. We review the weekend's action from the Premiership and URC, and look ahead to the last 16 of the Champions Cup, previewing a huge set of fixtures this weekend. The lads share their Champions Cup war stories and Jim opens up about his final game and the subsequent night out that ended his playing career.

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The lads respond to the RFU's latest announcement around Eddie Jones' successor and have their say on who they think will be the next coach at the helm for England. We're joined by Scotland second row Emma Wassell to hear the inspiring story of how she got into rugby, the disparity between England and seemingly everyone else in the women's game and the part that funding plays in that. With the Guinness Six Nations all wrapped up, we turn our attention back to The Premiership as Leicester secure their place in the Semi-Finals and friend of the show Chris Ashton equals the premiership try-scoring record. 

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After an action-packed final weekend of the Guinness Six Nations which saw France's Grand Slam win overshadowed by Italy's dramatic victory in Cardiff, we run through all the action from Super Saturday. We catch up with the man who masterminded Italy's win Kieran Crowley, and find out about the post match celebrations after the flight home. Jim and Goodey give their thoughts on the RFU's statement after England won just two of their five games for the second year in a row, and the lads look ahead to the home nations' summer tours in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Heading into the final weekend of the Guinness Six Nations, we catch up with France defence coach Shaun Edwards ahead of his side's Grand Slam decider against England on Saturday. We round up all the weekend's Six Nations action and discuss whether Charlie Ewels' red card just 82 seconds into England's game against Ireland was the right call. Jim recounts Thursday in Belfast where he bumped into a familiar face for the first time in 15 years...

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As we approach the final stretch of the Six Nations, we're joined by England's most capped men's player of all time, Ben Youngs from inside the England camp to chat about his incredible career and life as a more "senior" member of the squad. We preview all the games in the penultimate round of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations and give our MatchPint predictions for them. Jim and Goodey cover last weekend's action from the Premiership and URC including some controversial collisions and red cards.

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After a dramatic Round 3 of the Guinness Six Nations, we run through the refereeing controversies in all the games, and take a look at the law which led to Italy facing a full-strength Ireland with 13 men for most of their game in Dublin. We're joined by Irish wing Jacob Stockdale to discuss Ireland's tournament so far and their prospects heading into next year's World Cup, as well as getting an update on his injury.

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It's a home nations special this week as Jim and Goodey are joined by former Welsh skipper Ryan Jones and Ireland's best lid Shane Byrne. We preview England's first home game of the Six Nations with Ryan Jones and discuss Eddie Jones' potential selections as well as getting some insight into the state of rugby in Wales. The lads run through the weekend's Premiership results and predict the scores for round 3 of The Guinness Six Nations. Shane Byrne drops in to chat about this year's upcoming England vs Ireland legends game, and Jim even angles for a call-up!

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Big Jim and Goodey are joined by France's second-row Paul Willemse to discuss their unbeaten start to the Six Nations, and find out more about how he went from dreaming of playing for The Springboks to being one of the best locks in the world for France. We also run through England's victory over Italy in Rome as Marcus Smith steers his side back on course, and dissect how Wales managed to topple "title favourites" Scotland in Cardiff. 

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After an explosive Six Nations opening weekend which saw Scotland retain the Calcutta Cup for the first time in nearly 40 years, we're joined by the man at the centre of the most influential moments in that game, Darcy Graham. We also unpick where it went wrong for England and discuss Scotland's grand slam hopes. Jim and Goodey run through Ireland's convincing victory over Wales as well as Italy's much-improved performance despite their loss to title favorites France. We give our predictions for the results of this weekend's games and discuss whether or not Manu Tuilagi could make his return to the England squad in time for their trip to Rome.

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With the Guinness Six Nations finally upon us, we catch up with Wales fly-half and captain Dan Biggar ahead of their first game against Ireland this weekend. Jim and Goodey discuss Saturday's huge Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield as a fractured England prepare to take on a full-strength Scotland side. We also run through the weekend's Premiership and URC action before giving our predictions for the opening weekend results and who will win the Six Nations.

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This week the lads are joined by Montpellier back-row Zach Mercer after his side's impressive victory over Exeter last weekend. He fills us in on his positive conversations with Eddie Jones and addresses the transfer rumors surrounding his possible return to the premiership. We also catch up with Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair and look ahead to Scotland's Six Nations opener and Calcutta Cup clash against England. We of course run through all the weekend's Champions Cup Fixtures and take a closer look at Eddie Jones' England Squad and the news of George Ford's call up.

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It's that time of year again and as the Six Nations draws near, we run through some potential inclusions and omissions from Eddie Jones' England squad. We also catch up with Leinster and Ireland back row Caelan Doris after Leinster's dominant 89-7 victory over Montpellier and to talk about his incredible form and recovery from concussion. Jim and Goodey discuss all the weekend's Champions Cup results and look ahead to the final weekend of pool fixtures. 

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Having won the award for "Best Social Media" in the 2021 Rugby Pod Awards, we hear Rassie Erasmsus' acceptance speech. We're joined by Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees to discuss how the Cherry and Whites are back in the mix for the top 4 this season. We of course run through all the premiership and URC action, and the guys give their thoughts on the possible options for ensuring the Six Nations can still go ahead.

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We're back with the first episode of 2022 and it's a cracker; The lads hit us with some New Year's resolutions and predecitions and TV presenter and Doddie Aid Team Captain Gabby Logan joins the lads to chat all about the charity and the amazing work that's being done. We also catch up on all the Premiership and URC action from across the festive period and Jim and Goodey discuss some major signings including the Vunipola brothers staying at Saracens, and the controversial announcement of Ellis Genge to Bristol.

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As we look back at a tumultuous 2021, the lads give out our very first Rugby Pod Alternate End of Year Awards for some of our favourite moments of the year including 'Top Lad Award', 'Most Outrageous Moment of the Year', 'Best Social Media Account', 'Skid Marks of the Year', 'Why You being 'Orrible' and a few more. Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree...

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We're joined by an absolute legend both on and off the pitch in the form of Kev Sinfield. We hear about his phenomenal 24-hour, 101-mile charity run which has now raised over £2 million for MND charities. The former Leeds Rhinos Hall of Famer and current Leicester defensive coach talks about his switch from league to Union and how he has helped turn Leicester Tigers into Premiership league leaders and one of the best performing teams in Europe. We also round up all the action from the Champions Cup, look forward to next week's action and pick out all the Goode, Bad and Ugly from the week.

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It's the calm before the calm with Jim recovering from a weekend migraine whilst Goodey was off enjoying Kids' parties and nativity plays. We wrap up a big weekend of Premiership action, including an apology to Gloucester and credit to Exeter. We also chat to Munster and British & Irish Lion Tadhg Beirne about the URC, his curtailed trip to South Africa, Ireland's victory over the All Blacks and Muster's upcoming game versus Wasps. Lots more as usual, including previewing the first round of Champions Cup action and all the Goode, Bad and Ugly from around the world of rugby.

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With the Autumn Nations series all wrapped up, we turn our attention to the Premiership and catch up with friend of the show; Leicester Tigers Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo. Jim and Goodey chat through all the weekend's premiership and URC action as well as discussing what the recent change to World Rugby's eligibility rules might mean for European clubs. The Rumour Mill is back and Jim's got a pretty exciting one for Leicester fans...

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After a record-breaking weekend for the Northern Hemisphere, we take you through all the action from the final weekend of the Autumn Nations Series. Goodey and Jim chat with England Scrum Half Raffi Quirke about his match-winning try on Saturday against the Springboks, and find out a little more about life inside Eddie Jones' "New England" camp. We also get a South African perspective from former Springbok captain Jean De Villiers. We round things off with our 3 standout players from the Autumn Internationals and of course The Goode, The Bad and The Ugly.

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Big Jim and Goodey are joined by former Ireland international and friend of the show Stephen Ferris to dissect Ireland's phenomenal victory over the All Blacks. We take look at Eddie's options at 10 for England and how the Smith / Farrell axis is evolving and whether or not it's the best option. We also round up all the action from the penultimate weekend of the Autumn Nations series and look ahead to the final weekend of international games this autumn including a massive showdown between World Cup finalists England and South Africa.

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We catch up with Wallabies Scrum-half Nic White following their defeat to Scotland on Sunday. Former Scotland forward John Barclay also drops by to discuss his recent comments on Richard Cockerill and just how special this Scotland team is. Jim and Goodey run through all the games from last weekend's Autumn Nations Series and look ahead to this weekend's fixtures with the MatchPint predictor.

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England and Sale Sharks back-row Tom Curry joins us from inside the England camp ahead of their first game of the autumn internationals this weekend. We also meet New Zealand's 24th man "Jarvo 69" who joined the All Blacks for the national anthem on Saturday, he tells the guys all about what went down at the Principality Stadium. Then we round off all the premiership action and Jim and Goodey give their predictions for this weekend's international games.

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After their huge victory over Exeter Chiefs, we're joined by London Irish and Wallabies scrum-half Nick Phipps to chat through the weekend's big win, Australia's chances in the Autumn Nations Series and who he thinks should be playing 9 for England. Jim and Goodey also give their predictions for the first games of the Autumn Internationals, and we run through all the action from the Premiership and URC. We've got another instalment of "Guess The Go-At'' and of course The Goode, The Bad and The Ugly.

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As the Autumn Nations Series draws closer, Big Jim and Goodey give their thoughts on Eddie Jones' refreshed England squad, and discuss the major inclusions and omissions. We run through all the weekend's Premiership action including Bristol and Bath's poor starts to the season. Former Wales and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Mike Phillips chats to the guys about his new book 'Half Truths', including his fallout with Warren Gatland, his time at Racing with Dan Carter and what he made of the Lions Tour to South Africa.

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We’ve got something a bit different for you this week. Jim sits down with new Saracens head honcho and Chairman, Neil Golding to hear about what’s changed at the club after what was arguably the biggest scandal in the history of rugby. Neil’s running the show at Saracens now, so it’s great to hear from someone at the very top of the game about salary caps, player development and where he sees the game going. Hopefully, this is something we’ll do more of going forward, so if you enjoy it, share it, or let us know who you’d like to hear from next. #PodPodPod

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The lads are in top form after a big weekend and watching Tyson Fury taking over Vegas. We chat about the fallout from the row between Premiership clubs and players agents and what impact it could have on the league. We're also joined by URC CEO Martin Anayi to tell us all about the new structure of the league, his vision for the future of the game and he reveals some pretty exciting news about a potential global club competition. Lots more including another round of guess the GO-AT and a wrap up of everything else that's happening in the world of rugby.

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This week Big Jim and Goodey are joined by British and Irish Lions, England and Northampton Saints forward, Courtney Lawes to discuss Saints' unbeaten start to the season and reflect on the Lions tour. We also run through all the premiership action from round 3, as well as the conclusion of the Rugby Championship. Rassie's bush gets a mention and of course, we've got another instalment of "Guess the Go-At".

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Former All Black and now Bristol Bears Scrum coach and prop, John Afoa joins us to discuss Bristol's difficult start to the season. Big Jim and Goodey also chat through the new laws around contact training and Jim describes his midweek tackle shield exploits. We run through the major inclusions and exclusions from Eddie Jones' England training squad and reflect on the first weekend of the United Rugby Championship.

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Andy Rowe is bloodied & broken and still stuck in Ibiza after his stag and we hear how Jim saved his life. We're also joined by friend of the show Freddie Burns to catch up on life back home in Leicester. He talks through his new role at Tigers, his homecoming reception at Welford Road last Saturday, and reflects on his time in Japan. The guys dissect all this week's premiership action as well as South Africa's disappointing performances in The Rugby Championship and lots more

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The wait is over, we're back with Season 6 and it's going to be bigger and better than ever! Jim and Goodey predict this season's Premiership Top 4 as well as giving their guesses for who's going to finish last. We're joined by Racing 92, Scotland and British and Irish Lions star Finn Russell, who gives us his debrief from the South Africa tour, his third test performance and has his say on who should be England's number 10. We also introduce a new segment ' Guess the Go-At' and cover Australia's win over South Africa, some big transfer rumours and all the Goode, Bad and Ugly. It's great to be back!

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We're back for the 50th and final episode of season ever to wrap up the Lions' third Test defeat to South Africa, discuss missed opportunities and reflect on how the tour will be remembered as a whole. Plus, we look ahead to the next Lions tour, suggest who the coach might be and chat about what kind of opposition the Wallabies will provide. And, we cheer ourselves up by catching up with Australia legend Matt Giteau fresh from winning the MLR and celebrating in Vegas and hear how he might have even more rugby in him... going out in style!

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Former Springbok and World Cup winner Schalk Brits joins us this week to fill us in on what the second Test was like from his viewpoint pitchside, how Rassie Erasmus' video and the refereeing has gone down in South Africa and what he thinks will happen in the deciding third Test. Plus, Jim and Goodey pick the bones out of all the major controversial refereeing calls, discuss what changes Warren Gatland should make in personnel and tactically and put their money where their mouth is on whether the Lions can win the series. And, Goodey fills in on his own interactions with Rassie Erasmus in the lead-up to the second Test!

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Scrum half Ali Price joins us on the show this week to chat about the British & Irish Lions' win in the first Test and Big Jim can't wait to get him back to Edinburgh to celebrate! We discuss the emotion of being handed a starting jersey, facing Faf de Klerk, Warren Gatland's half-time team talk, toasting victory in the bubble, preparations for the second Test and much more. Plus, Jim and Goodey pick their starting XV for the crucial second Test just before Gatland names his, we discuss all the TMO outrage and Rassie Erasmus' social media activity and there's a word on Eddie Jones losing another England assistant coach as well...

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As a bonus episode ahead of the first Lions test, Andy Rowe chats with Lions legend John Bentley about the most iconic Lions Tour of all time. Bentos gives us a first-hand account of what really happened in 1997. To read the full story, get your hands on probably the greatest rugby book of all time This Is Your Everest: The Lions, the Springboks and the Epic Tour of 1997

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The waiting is over and Test week is finally upon us as the British & Irish Lions get set to face the Springboks. Big Jim and Goodey name their starting XVs for the first Test and we go inside the Lions camp to chat to strength and conditioning coach and former Great Britain rugby league international Jon Clarke about how preparations have gone ahead of the Test series. We discuss life in the bubble, Alun Wyn Jones' miraculous recovery, Tom Curry's freakish athleticism, Louis Rees-Zammit's lid, working with Paul 'Bobby' Stridgeon, what it'll take to beat the Boks and much more...

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Football may not be coming home but maybe rugby should be as we discuss whether the British & Irish Lions tour should be relocated to the UK given the issues in South Africa at the moment. We also chat about how Big Jim and Goodey would fare in a penalty shootout, Marcus Smith's Lions call-up ahead of Johnny Sexton, Alun Wyn Jones' Lazarus-esque recovery, the unofficial fourth Test against South Africa A and who is nailed on to be starting in the Tests. Plus, we look at England, Ireland and Wales' games from the weekend and England full-back Freddie Steward joins us to talk initiations, losing bets, life in the bubble, bringing the feelgood factor back and much more...

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We're joined by a pair of skippers this week as legendary former Springboks captain John Smit fills us in on the situation with Covid-19 in South Africa, the latest positive case in camp and how the Boks are shaping up aside from that. He also takes a trip down memory lane to talk captaining the Springboks to victory against the Lions in 2009 and tells us what chance the current crop have of repeating that feat. And, we're joined by new England captain Lewis Ludlow to talk about skippering on debut, learning leadership lessons from Big Jim, life in camp and capping off a hell of a season for him in style! All that plus a look at how British & Irish Lions selection is looking ahead of the Tests and a round-up of all the international action from the weekend

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Jim, Goodey and Andy Rowe are back to discuss the best Premiership final ever and revel in Harlequins' achievement! Plus, we hear from Quins coach Jerry Flannery about how angry he was when Paul Gustard left, the unique culture at the club and how they turned things around. We chat about how big a blow Alun Wyn Jones' shoulder injury is for the British & Irish Lions and whether the tour will still go ahead. And, Big Jim's nemesis Tim Swinson is on the show to talk about taking his spot in the Scotland squad in 2015 and replacing him at Saracens and going on to becoming player of the year this season!

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Harlequins coach Nick Evans joins us this week after their record comeback in the Premiership semi-final against Bristol and Big Jim is eating plenty of humble pie as he admits he ain't seen nothing like the mighty Quins! We discuss how the current coaching group have turned things around since Paul Gustard's departure, just how far Marcus Smith can go, whether that was the best Premiership game we've ever seen and much more. Plus, we look at Exeter's win over Sale and ahead to the final, chat about the additions to Eddie's England squad and the start of the Lions tour this weekend and debate whether a global club competition is needed after Benetton's win in the Rainbow Cup and the Blues' Super Rugby Trans-Tasman victory.

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Big Jim and Goodey are joined by Bristol second row Dave Attwood this week to discuss topping the Premiership, what sets the Bears and Pat Lam apart, the contrast with his time at Toulon, the chances of an England recall, parenting, philosophy and much more. Plus there's a look at a champion comeback from the Chiefs, a round-up of the Champions Cup qualification battle, semi-final predictions, analysis of England and Ireland's summer squads and a few red hot rumours....

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Big Jim and Goodey are back and eager to get their teeth into the bust-up between the Tigers and Bears at Welford Road, look ahead to the all-important final round of Premiership fixtures, consider who might captain England this summer when Eddie Jones names his squad on Thursday and chat all things British & Irish Lions with former Ireland and Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald.

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Big Jim and Goodey are joined this week by the one and only Manu Tuilagi to hear about the Sale, England and British & Irish Lions centre's latest return from injury, how tough the road back to fitness has been, how much of an impression Alex Sanderson has made on him and whether he's still holding out hope of playing for the Lions in South Africa this summer. Plus, we look back at all the Premiership action, look ahead to England and Scotland's summer fixtures and cast our eye over a few rumours as well...

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Big Jim and Goodey are back to cast their eye over the French-dominated European finals and we're joined by two Englishmen who were in the thick of the action. Luke Pearce discusses becoming the first referee to send someone off in a Champions Cup final, keeping cool in the midst of a tough game to control, how he's improved his French, having to deal with online abuse and more. And, Montpellier fly half Alex Lozowski fills us in on the celebrations after they won the Challenge Cup and tells us all about his year-long French adventure as it draws to a close...

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Ahead of the Champions Cup final, Jim and Goodey reminisce about their own experiences of winning the biggest prize in European rugby. Toulouse fly-half and former La Rochelle man Zack Holmes joins us to look ahead to the final and give us the inside track on both sides. Plus, we preview Leicester's Challenge Cup final encounter with Montpellier, celebrate the return of fans to stadiums in England and round up all the action from a long weekend in the Premiership...

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Gloucester, Scotland and now British & Irish Lions centre Chris Harris joins us to talk about his journey from Tynedale in National 1 to the pinnacle of the sport, his shock at hearing his name read out, how much it means to him and how big a role Goodey played in his meteoric rise! Plus, we analyse the rest of Warren Gatland's selections, with Big Jim revelling in the number of Scots going on tour, and we take a look at all the Premiership action as well...

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We're joined by Wales fly-half Dan Biggar to chat all things British & Irish Lions ahead of Warren Gatland's squad announcement and Big Jim and Goodey pick their 36-man squads for the tour as well as reminiscing about just missing out on tours gone by. Plus, we dissect all the European semi-final action and Jim's in a particularly good mood, despite his questionable fashion sense, after finally getting out of the house for a few hours!

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Big Jim and Goodey are back with strong views on the RFU's review into England's "sub-optimal" Six Nations performance, there's a disagreement over which big-name fly-half will miss out on the Lions tour and we catch up with new Newcastle signing Carl Fearns to hear about his six years in France and stories of car crashes, fires, failed moves and, of course, what really happened when he knocked out Gavin Henson. All that plus a full debrief of the latest round of Premiership action and a look ahead to the European semi-finals...

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South African World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth joins us to look ahead to the British & Irish Lions tour this summer and discuss who he's expecting to be coming up against in the second row, what the changes in the Springboks coaching staff might mean and the motivational power of Rassie Erasmus, as well as of course, what really happened in his beef with Big Jim back in 2013! Plus, we look at Warren Gatland's comments on selection in terms of the English-based players and chat about all the latest Premiership action as well.

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Six Nations Player of the Championship Hamish Watson joins us this week to discuss everything from his English accent to Scotland's evolution and the prospect of a trip to South Africa with the British & Irish Lions. Plus, we talk Lions assistant coaches and dissect all the Champions Cup quarter-finals with from Leinster's thrilling win at Sandy Park and La Rochelle's power to two of the worst knockout games in memory in the all-French encounters...

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South African World Cup winner Faf de Klerk joins us this week to talk Sale's success, life in Manchester, similarities between Sanderson and Erasmus and chatting to royalty in budgy smugglers as well as looking ahead to the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa in the summer. And, he may or may not be shaving his head if Sale win the Champions Cup! Plus, we round up all the European Round of 16 action and look ahead to the quarter-finals as well...

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