

The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
Folding Pocket
James Haskell, Mike Tindall and Alex Payne return for season five of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby. Expect more great guests, insight, laughter and tears.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 17, 2025 โข 1h 26min
Alun Wyn Jones and The Ultimate Lions Preview
Join us for an exclusive, in-depth conversation with rugby royalty, Alun Wyn Jones, the most capped men's rugby player in history. From his first tour battling imposter syndrome to hoisting the Tom Richards Trophy in 2013 and captaining the 2021 tour, Alun Wyn relives all four of his iconic British & Irish Lions campaigns.
We'll delve into the physical battles, the shifting dynamics of the Lions over two decades, and the unique challenges of touring Australia. Get ready for candid reflections on teammates, controversies like the James Horwill incident, and the emotional weight of wearing the coveted red jersey.
Plus, Alun Wyn offers his insights on Andy Farrell's leadership, the 2025 Lions squad, and whether the tour's increasing commercialisation threatens its mystique.
๐ Season 5 is Sponsored by Continental Tyres
00:00:00 ๐ โ Meet the Legend
00:01:44 ๐ฎ โ The Truth About Life After Rugby
00:06:07 ๐ฅ โ Premiership Final Drama: The Dan Cole Controversy
00:19:25 โ๏ธ โ Evolution of the Lions: Accessibility vs Tradition
00:25:14 ๐ง โ From Self-Doubt to Captaincy: Alun Wynโs Lions Journey
00:56:03 ๐ฎ โ Looking Ahead to the 2025 Tour
01:18:29 ๐น โ Beyond Rugby: Alun Wyn Jones's Mimosa Rum
๐ Nord VPN - https://nordvpn.com/goodbadrugby
โWOB Group Competition - https://forms.gle/FgVKoWvgCQB7b4PL7
๐ฆOโNeillโs Live Show - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gbr-x-oneills-mens-lions-preview-show-tickets-1408518439569?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Jun 10, 2025 โข 1h 1min
Bath v Leicester & England's Summer Showdown
This week, the lads dive deep into the Gallagher Premiership Final, an old-school clash between Bath and Leicester! Alex, Hask, and Jonny May preview the final, dissecting the semi-final victories, the contrasting coaching styles of Johann van Graan and Michael Cheika, and pick their combined XV. Plus, with the Lions away, England's summer fixtures against a France XV, USA, and Argentina are discussed โ who will seize their chance to shine? All this plus the "Who the Ruck Is That?" quiz, and much more!
00:00:00 Strap in Continental Tyres
00:04:21 Recap of Bath vs. Bristol and the week of words
00:14:01 Johann van Graan's Impact
00:21:40 Rรฉmy Martin VSOP Partnership Announcement
00:23:29 Leicester vs. Sale Semi-Final Review & Radwanโs try
00:30:39 NordVPN Partnership & Discount Code
00:32:11 The Final. Coaching Battle: Van Graan vs. Cheika
00:36:00 Combined Bath & Leicester XV
00:40:11 Charles Tyrwhitt Live Show Announcement
00:41:37 Lions Tour Injury Update
00:42:18 England Summer Fixtures
00:45:57 Producer Tom's England XV
00:50:27 โWho the Ruck Is That?" Quiz
00:55:00 Live Show Dates & Tour Announcement
๐ https://nordvpn.com/goodbadrugby
โWOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form: https://forms.gle/FgVKoWvgCQB7b4PL7
๐ฆ Charles Tyrwhitt Live Show link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gbr-x-charles-tyrwhitt-present-an-evening-with-lions-lege[โฆ]=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 4, 2025 โข 41min
Henry Pollock, Ellis Genge & Michael Cheika Join Us At The Rugby Awards!
Join James Haskell from the 2025 Rugby Awards as he dives into the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals, featuring Bath v Bristol and Leicester v Sale Sharks. This episode also brings an update on Michael Tindall's new global franchise "R360" with GBR promising to deliver all the facts when the time is right. Special guest Ellis Genge shares his deeply ingrained animosity towards local rivals Bath, a feeling cultivated since his academy days. Plus, a blossoming bromance unfolds as Haskell chats with rising star Henry Pollock following his Lions call-up, discussing his sponsorship aspirations and house renovation plans. Hear from Leicester coach Michael Cheika on the turning point in his team's Premiership journey and the vital impact of the Welford Road crowd.
Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres
00:00 ๐ Strap in with Continental Tyres
02:00 ๐ก Update on Tins' R360
04:30 ๐ฅ Ellis Genge on the Lions
12:00๐ฅ Bath v Bristol
16:00 โจ Henry Pollock's stellar year
27:00 ๐ Amazing Lions Prize!!!
29:00 ๐ง Michael Cheika
WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form: https://forms.gle/FgVKoWvgCQB7b4PL7
WIN a Lions 2025 Tour Package to Australia Courtesy of Howden: https://bit.ly/412UzVN
To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to nordvpn.com/goodbadrugby - our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. And, there's no risk with Nordโs 30 day money-back guarantee!
Welcome to The Good, The Bad & The Rugby with journalist and former broadcaster Alex Payne, England and Lions flanker James Haskell, and World Cup Winner Mike Tindall.
#Rugby #Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 28, 2025 โข 1h 20min
From Champions Cup Glory To Sevens Slashes: Mike Friday & Rugbyโs Future
Vive Bordeaux! Ex-England, Kenya and USA Sevens coach, Mike Friday dives into a jaw-dropping week of rugby alongside Payno and Hask. The lads debate the titanic final between Bordeaux and Northampton Saints, centring on accusations of foul play against Rugbyโs greatest showman, Henry Pollock. What did our young Lion learn? & as the EPCR announce a new Club World Cup, we look to rugbyโs future.
Sevens guru Mike also reacts to the sportโs management in the face of heartbreaking headlines that Ireland Menโs Sevens team will cease to exist and Great Britain men and women will move to a part-time programme. Is its Olympic status at stake?
WOB
Group & GBR Competition Entry Form
To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to nordvpn.com/goodbadrugby - our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. And, there's no risk with Nordโs 30 day money-back guarantee!
๐ 00:00 - Strap In With Continental Tyres!
๐คผ 03:32 - Kabaddi v Rugby: Sevens Stars In Indiaโs RPL
๐ฅ 07:33 - Northampton v Bordeaux - The Breakdown
๐ 16:18 - Pollock Steals The Show
๐ค 28:26 - Did Penaud Make The Difference?
๐ 33:04 - Bath Bring It Home
๐ 35:31 - A New Rugby World Club Cup?
โผ๏ธ 45:34 - Sevens Revolution: Changes To The World Series
๐ 58:53 - Why Were Ireland and GB Sevens Cutback?
๐ฅ 01:06:16 - Flag Football v Sevens: An Olympic Battle
๐ฆ 01:10:12 - Solutionsโฆ A British & Irish Lions Sevens Team? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 22, 2025 โข 1h 13min
"Are You Not Entertained?!" Why Saints v Bordeaux Will Be Epic!
Get ready for the Investec Champions Cup final! This week, we're breaking down the Anglo-French showdown between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux, with Ben Kayser's inside track on the big-budget French side and their attacking genius Jalibert.
We also delve into Bath's Gallagher Premiership dominance and their upcoming Challenge Cup Final. Plus, huge news on Red Bull's potential takeover of Newcastle Falcons and Antoine Dupont's move into American rugby ownership. All this, plus our final picks for the ultimate Investec Champions Cup Dream Team.
Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres.
WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form
00:00 ๐ Strap in with Continental Tyres
02:25 ๐ Bath's Premiership Dominance: Is Their Squad Unstoppable?
10:19 ๐ธ Rugby Ticket Prices: "Obscene" for Fans!!!
13:02 ๐ฏ Leicester Tigers' New Era: Geoff Parling Appointment Discussed
20:03 ๐ Northampton's Champions Cup Cohesion
24:39๐ท Bordeaux's "Freak Attack": Jalibert & Lucu's Magic
48:55: ๐ฆ Investec Champions Cup Dream Team: Our Ultimate Picks!
55:36 ๐ชฝ Red Bull Buys Newcastle Falcons?! A Major Game Changer
01:05:49 ๐บ๐ธ Antoine Dupont's American Rugby Investment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 15, 2025 โข 1h 25min
Freeman's A Lion, Your Defence is Terrified!
Northampton and England winger Tommy Freeman joins the pod for a laugh-out-loud, raw and at times deeply personal chat. Fresh off a Lions call-up and in red-hot form - with 15 tries in his last 10 games - Tommy reflects on the moments that shaped him, from the heartbreak of missing out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup to living with epilepsy. With Saints heading into the Investec Champions Cup Final, we look ahead to his blockbuster showdown with Louis Bielle-Biarrey as Northampton prepare to face Bordeaux.
Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres.
WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form
๐ง 00:00 โ Strap in with Continental Tyres
๐ฆ 02:00 โ Freemanโs a Lion
๐ฅ 10:00 โ Tommy on Pollock
๐ 19:28 โ Mr Versatile - winger, fullback, centre... and maybe even a 10?
๐ฌ 23:07 โ Mitchell & Smith - the big kids of Northampton
๐ 27:00 โ Hampton Court & Royal Questions
๐ฅ 33:00 โ Try Machine
๐จ 38:28 โ Hooked by Eddie Jones
๐ฏ 42:28 โ Why Tigers Passed
๐ 43:57 โ Missing the 2023 RWC
๐ง 45:00 โ Living with Epilepsy
๐ต 54:36 โ The Leinster Recap
๐ 01:00:00 โ Fraser Dingwall Appreciation Society
โก 01:04:00 โ Final H2H: Freeman vs Bielle-Biarry
๐ 01:08:00 โ The Peopleโs Final โ Saints vs Bordeaux
โ 01:14:30 โ Watches of Bath Quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 7, 2025 โข 1h 4min
Oh When The Saints Go Marching In!
Filmed in style at the House of Rรฉmy Martin, this weekโs episode finds Alex, Hask, and Jonny May enjoying life in Cognac-deep in wine country and not far from Bordeauxโs dismantling of Toulouse-as they unpack a seismic weekend in the Investec Champions Cup.
Northamptonโs young guns stun Leinster, prompting big praise for Pollock, Smith, Freeman and more. But how might the Saintsโ heroics shake up Andy Farrellโs Lions selection? Plus, Jonny faces another pronunciation test-this time courtesy of Bielle-Biarrey.
Please enjoy your Rรฉmy Martin responsibly.
Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres.
WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form
๐ 00:00 โ Buckle Up with Continental Tyres
๐ฅ 02:53 โ Welcome Rรฉmy Martin!
๐ค 05:00 โ Hampton Court Live Show Details
โ๏ธ 06:33 โ How the Saints Stunned Dublin
๐ฅ 14:51 โ Fearless ? Northamptonโs Mindset
๐จ 24:00 โ Pollockโs not so secret talent
๐ฆ 31:30 โ How the results will impact the Lions selction
๐ฑ 46:24 โ What happened to Leinster?
๐ท 50:00 โ Bordeaux make their first Champions Cup Final! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 3, 2025 โข 1h 28min
French Lessons: England's Cross-Channel Wake-Up Call
As French club rugby thrives, English rugby finds itself at a crossroads. Alex and Tins are joined by Jonny May, Courtney Lawes, and rugby powerbroker Simon Gillham [OBE] for a timely conversation on what England can learn from across the Channel. From the dominance of ProD2 and the booming Top 14 to the structural chaos at home, the team digs into the future of the English game.
Plus: Courtneyโs Lions ambitions & Investec Champions Cup semi-final previews. Tickets are selling fast for finals weekend in Cardiff on the 23rd and 24th of May, head to EPCRugby.com for more details.
Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres.
WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form
๐ 00:00 โ Buckle Up with Continental Tyres
๐๏ธ 02:00 โ Meet Simon Gillham OBE: Rugbyโs Quiet Powerbroker
๐ค 05:47 โ When Brive Signed Courtney Lawes: Inside the Transfer
๐ 11:14 โ Why Promotion & Relegation Still Works
๐ซ๐ท 21:13 โ What English Rugby Can Learn from France
๐บ 27:30 โ Prem Rugbyโs ยฃ200M TV Deal: Gamechanger?
โ ๏ธ 40:18 โ The Hidden Problem with Premiership Academies
๐๏ธ 45:47 โ Franchise Model: Big Questions
๐ฅ 51:35 โ Investec Champions Cup Semi-Final Preview
๐ 56:59 โ Courtneyโs Saints Scouting Report
๐ฆ 01:04:00 โ Lions 10 Debate: Smith, Prendergast, Ford, Farrell?
๐ซ๐ท 01:09:49 โ Bordeaux v Toulouse: All French Affair
๐ฎ 01:11:50 โ Semi-Final Predictions: Whoโs Going to Cardiff?
๐ฏ 01:13:50 โ Courtney on a 3rd Lions Tour?
๐ง 01:18:00 โ Englandโs New Coaching Team & Players to Watch this Summer
๐ 01:21:25 โ Dave Reddin Joins Wales
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 22, 2025 โข 1h 4min
From Lions Coach To Life Coach: Craig White
The Godfather of Strength and Conditioning.Fresh from the misty mountains of Peru, Al and Hask are joined by Hask's former Conditioning Coach at Wasps, Craig White; a man whose influence has shaped the face of High-Performance Coaching in rugby. With troublesome tales of managing Trevor Leota at Wasps alongside Shaun Edwards, Craig shares the biggest lessons he learned working with Clive Woodward and Warren Gatland on the 2005 and 2009 Lions Tours. For Craig, everything changed when he took a breather from the hyper-masculine world of rugby just months before the 2011 World Cup to go on a yoga retreat that opened his eyes to mindfulness, nature and a more spiritual style of coachingโฆSeason 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres. ๐ 00:00 - Strap in with Continental Tyres๐ 01:00 - A Wasps Reunion๐ช09:38 - Prescribing Brotherhoodโฝ๐ 16:07 - Football V Rugby, Allardyce V Gatland๐คฏ 20:26 - How Do You Manage Trevor Leota?๐ฆ 25:02 - 2005 + 2009 Lions Tour Double๐ฏ 34:54 - Crouching Tigers Hidden Craig๐งโโ๏ธ 38:24 - The Life-Changing Yoga Retreat๐ฅ 45:19 - Hitting Rock Bottom & Learning How To Feel๐ฟ 52:03 - Get Children Off Screens & In Nature๐ 55:46 - Tier 2 Champion: Uruguay and Chile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 15, 2025 โข 1h 32min
Henry Pollock: Heโs in your head! PLUS Jack Willis joins from Toulouse
2-time Investec Champions Cup Winner Geordan Murphy joins Hask and Payno to break down the weekendโs action. Leinster have activated cheat mode with Jordie Barrett at 12 and the RG Snyman wrecking shop. Jack Willis checks in from Toulouse to reflect on a gritty win in Toulon, life without Dupont, and his Lions ambitions. Plus: Furbankโs return, Vestyโs attack and Pollockโs swagger lighting up English rugby. Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres. WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form๐ 00:00 โ Buckle Up with Continental Tyres๐คฃ 03:28 โ Haskโs WILD Rory McIlroy Story โก 06:15 โ Leinster Go FULL Cheat Mode๐ง 14:52 โ How should Leinster deal with Pollock? ๐ฒ 26:54 โ The Reason Tommy Freeman Left Leicester๐ฅ 29:00 โ Just How Lethal is Sam Vestyโs Attack?!๐ซ๐ท 33:20 โ Bordeaux Lucu Good๐ฌ 39:16 โ Willis x Hask Reuniteโ๏ธ 41:51 โ Toulon vs Toulouse: Hostility & History ๐ 45:00 โ Who Really Is Ugo Mola? ๐ข 53:29 โ The Dupont Void: How Big a Loss?๐ซก 57:30 โ What It Means to Captain Toulouse๐ 01:00:00 โ Jackโs Rise On & Off the Pitchโค๏ธ 01:07:00 โ Brotherly Love: Tom & Jackโs Bond๐ฆ 01:11:00 โ Jackโs Lions Nibble๐ 01:17:30 โ Investec Dream Team๐งฉ 01:25:00 โ New Tigers Coach? No.10? Fin Smith Rumors Fly! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices