Rugby Union Weekly

Tom Hamilton, a Senior Writer at ESPN and rugby expert, joins the conversation to dissect the monumental challenge of facing Ireland in Dublin. Shaun Edwards believes it's the ultimate test, and Hamilton highlights how Fabien Galthie's strategic mind games are in play. The episode examines Sam Prendergast's pivotal moment in his emerging career and France's bold 7-1 bench split. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of Irish rugby and the immense pressure faced by Scotland and England as they navigate the Six Nations gauntlet.

Johnnie Beattie, a former rugby player and commentator, joins Paul Eddison, a seasoned French rugby journalist. They discuss the critical France vs. Ireland match, debating whether France needs a win to silence critics. Johnnie shares insights on Wales' visit to Murrayfield, despite their poor form. The talk also explores tactical choices like the 7:1 bench split and player selections, including Romain Ntamack’s return and Jamie Osborne’s debut. The duo highlights the pressure on both teams and the emotional stakes at play.

Fraser Dingwall, a promising rugby player for Northampton Saints and England, joins the discussion as he prepares to take on Italy. The lineup changes have sparked conversations about the team's dynamics, especially with Marcus Smith benched. Fraser shares insights on the fun challenges keeping spirits high in camp and the unique thrill of playing alongside his Northampton teammates. The dynamic partnerships in the midfield are analyzed, emphasizing camaraderie and strategic gameplay as England gears up for a crucial match.

In this chat with Jamie George, the England rugby legend, listeners get an inside look at his feelings around achieving 100 caps. He describes the moment as "surreal" and discusses losing the captaincy, sharing how head coach Steve Borthwick broke the news to him. Jamie reflects on the importance of resilience and family support throughout his career. The conversation also features a fun quiz, where Jamie showcases his knowledge of rugby trivia, and strategic insights on player roles as the Six Nations approach.

Is this the week Ireland take a huge step towards Six Nations history? The pod is back as we start the build-up to round four with Grand Slam winner Donncha O'Callaghan. What impact will the trio of retiring greats have? One man who will miss the France showdown is centre Garry Ringrose, but we lament the process that means he will only miss the one championship match. Plus, Felix Jones has a new job, there's a big departure at Leicester and we wrap up the PWR semi-finals.

England regain the Calcutta Cup and Ireland remain on course for a Grand Slam. Round three of the 2025 Six Nations is in the bag and Ugo is alongside John Barclay and Sam Warburton to wrap it all up. Wales impressed under new interim boss Matt Sherratt despite slipping to another defeat. What would Warren Gatland have made of the performance? England backed up their win over France with another narrow win and a first over Scotland since 2020, but what are the question marks still hanging over Steve Borthwick’s side? What next for Scotland and Gregor Townsend after their title hopes were dashed at Twickenham? Plus, John and Sam update their Lions teams from round one, and we get a masterclass on how to pronounce Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt is on the pod fresh after naming his team to face Ireland this weekend. He's made eight changes following the defeat to Italy and says the team "picked itself". What can Welsh rugby fans expect from Sherratt's team after less than a week in situ? We also get to the bottom of his nickname 'jockey'. Chris then heads to the Scotland team hotel to catch up with Tom English and Andy Burke from the BBC's Scotland rugby pod. They discuss Finn Russell's selection, the three changes after the defeat to Ireland and look at the battle between the two packs. Will Scotland create more Calcutta Cup history on Saturday or will it finally be England's day?

Scotland rarely used to win the Calcutta Cup. Now, they can't stop winning it. What is behind this dramatic turnaround? Chris, John Barclay and Danny look at Scotland's resurgence and the impact the it's had on the rivalry. John tells us how importance of the win in 2018 which ended a 10 year wait for the trophy. How much has that turned the tide? Danny was part of the England team that put 60 points on Scotland back in 2017, but has also been on the losing side in 2018 and 2024. He explains what the difference is between the Scotland of 2017 and now. John picks the three players that have inspired Scotland to four successive wins and we also look ahead to this weekend's clash at Twickenham.

Chris and Ashy head to Pennyhill Park to chat to Ollie Chessum, who will make his first Test start in nearly a year on Saturday. He tells us the win over France will count for nothing if England can't back it up this weekend and win a first Calcutta Cup since 2020. Chessum also tells us what sets him apart from other locks and how ]he's changed since playing with Ashy at Leicester. Steve Borthwick is also on the pod and promises England will deliver more attacking rugby this weekend and how they plan to deal with Scotland's Finn Russell, whether he plays or not.

Can England finally end their Calcutta Cup hoodoo or will Scotland make history? Can Wales win a first Test match since 2023 or will Ireland seal the Triple Crown? Ugo, Danny and Ashy preview round three of the Six Nations as all four home nations do battle this weekend. With England looking to build on their impressive win over France, we look at the key selection decisions facing Steve Borthwick this week. Which England player does Ashy compare to an Allen key? Can Finn Russell inspire Scotland to a record fifth successive win in this fixture and does his spot as Lions' fly-half depend on it? Ashy gives us an insight into new Wales interim boss Matt Sherratt, plus we discuss the decision to call-up Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and Jarrod Evans.