The Rugby Pod

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices