The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

Former Worcester and England flanker Matt Kvesic joins the boys to go through exactly what happened in the final days at the now defunct club. We also link up with The Good, The Scaz and The Rugby’s Elma Smit to look at the Red Roses chances down under, as the tournament gets underway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lions, Wales, Wasps and Waikato legend Warren Gatland is with us this week to share insights into his coaching philosophy and skilfully evade questions about what’s next for him in his celebrated career. We also get his take on the All Blacks’ ‘slump’ and Gats reveals some of the hilarious mind games he’s played (and won) over the years. Leadership, working with Shaun Edwards and remembering Hask’s early days at Wasps are also on the agenda. The boys also look ahead to the Rugby World Cup, getting under way this weekend, in New Zealand. For more information about An Evening with Warren Gatland... Swansea - https://www.swanseagrand.co.uk/article/17323/An-Evening-with-Warren-Gatland-CBE Cardiff - https://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/whats-on/speakers/an-evening-with-warren-gatland-cbe/ Llandudno - https://www.visitconwy.org.uk/whats-on/an-evening-with-warren-gatland-cbe-at-venue-cymru-p453261 Aberystwyth - https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/talks-spoken-word/evening-warren-gatland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season three kicks off at Tindall Towers, joined by the newest member of the Haskell family, three-week old Bodhi, and some other exciting new additions. New signing, Jonathan ‘Fox’ Davies and seasoned veteran Ben Kayser join the boys for the season opener in what’s been a busy summer of GBR recruitment, with two other new faces on the roster. (Don’t worry, the Baby Rhino’s re-signed, too.) Twelve months out from RWC 2023 the international rugby landscape is top of the agenda. But we also look in detail at matters closer to home following some of the big news and bad business that has beset domestic rugby in England in the off season. A note. We planned to put this launch episode out a couple of weeks ago, but following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, we decided to postpone, so we’re not quite as up-to-do date as we usually would be. Bernard Foley can breathe a sigh of relief. Normal service resumes next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of the official launch of Season Three, the boys are back for a special episode of reflection, to pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen. Tinds gives some insight into the last few weeks and the boys reflect on her incredible life of duty. Episode One of Season Three will be available at the usual time tomorrow (Wednesday). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the final episode of the season & Alex, Hask and Tinds are joined by the BBC's Ukraine Correspondent, James Waterhouse. This may seem random for this podcast, but Waterhouse used to play rugby in the Championship for Rotherham and Esher… and has since jacked it all in for a career in Journalism. They reminisce about James’ days on the pitch and learn about the reality of life in Ukraine & the resilience it takes to report on the front line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Washington Commanders defensive end Efe Obada, and New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan, aka the Scottish Hammer, are with Alex, Hask and Tinds this week for a GB&R with a difference. They talk about their respective journeys to the NFL, from London and Inverness, in fascinating detail. Efe was trafficked to the UK, fostered and then worked in bingo hall before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. There is a rugby link with Jamie - he dreamed of playing rugby for Scotland before making the transition to American Football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Alex away it’s left to Hask and Tinds to steer the ship. They are joined by Hask's old teammate, the former Northampton and England back-row Tom Wood. Having just retired the boys discuss what's in store for him after rugby, a particularly pertinent subject on this week's show given Ryan Jones' dementia diagnosis. Unusually there's plenty of on-field chat, too, after Ireland’s historic and transformative series win in New Zealand. We also break down the rest of the action across the Summer Tours, focusing on England's win against the Wallabies and Eddie Jones' fan engagement skills.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The northern hemisphere have turned it around in the latest leg of the summer internationals. Lots to discuss on the pod this week, as the Welsh and Irish teams cement themselves in the history books. Alex, Hask and Tinds are in the studio again, joined by George Gregan who reflects on his experience under Eddie Jones, playing for the Brumbies and how he nearly lost the Wallabies to a river of crocodiles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Kruis is with us to look back on his career - a journey that started on the wing and ended up in the engine room at Saracens, England and in Japan. So why now for retirement, when he can still perform at the very highest level and backheel conversions with the best of them? And after a bruising weekend in the southern hemisphere, we try to figure out the way back for the home nations who have a lot to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

International summer rugby fills the next few weekends, so the boys take a look ahead to what's in store. They start with England who take on a rejuvenated Wallabies. The Eddie Jones’ era was just getting underway the last time England toured Australia in 2016 and you may remember - he barely mentions it - but our very own Hask won man of the series. The boys turn back the clock and relive some of those stellar performances and also pick a 23-man World XV squad, made up of the four travelling home nations and the southern hemisphere giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices