HG Rugby

Good morning! happy Friday! on the agenda: RFU Civil war continues Joe Schmidt replaces himself PAC4 preview Super Rugby preview Transfers Listener's moments of the week if you enjoy the show please consider giving it a 5 star rating and sharing a link with a mate. cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we review France's defeat at the hands of South African: deep diving the stats, tactics and biggest talking points from France vs Springboks in the 2025 November internationals. We also catch up with the latest from the Top 14 and look ahead the the big French game against Fiji. Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Thoughts on the game 5:50 Stats Analysis 10:20 Tactical Mistakes 18:55 Pressure on Galthie 24:40 Bayonne Coaching Gossip 27:55 TICKET GIVEAWAY 30:15 Toulon vs La Rochelle 33:40 France vs Fiji Preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A monthly show rounding up the biggest rugby union transfer new & gossip. This month we are talking about: - Tom Willis walks out on England - Ilona Maher's Next Move - Why I'm upset with Wales' best player For all you rugby transfer news follow this twitter account: https://x.com/rugby_hub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we pick our combined France v South Africa team ahead of the huge match between Le Bleu and the Springboks this weekend. We also talk all the latest results and drama from the Top 14 including what Ronan O'Gara has said now! Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Top 14 Results 3:10 Toulouse vs Stade Francais 5:55 Pau vs Perpignan 11:05 Montpellier vs Clermont 13:25 ROG Rants Again 16:25 Bayonne vs Montauban 19:20 Toulon vs Lyon 21:00 Fijian of the Week 23:10 France x South Africa Combined XV 42:30 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The man who replaced Antoine Dupont for France - UBB's Maxime Lucu - is BACk! He captained his side to a thumping win over Bayonne in the Top 14 this weekend and his fellow French stars shone brighter for him being there. We deep dive that game along with Toulouse vs Toulon and Montauban vs Perpignan in this week's Top 14 Digest Podcast! Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Zimbabwe Sables are back at the rugby World Cup! In this podcast I was delighted to be joined by both Zimbabwe's captain Hilton Mudariki and their head coach Pieter Bernade to talk about all things Sables The guys tell me how they went 2 years without playing a match to winning back to back Rugby Africa titles and qualifying for Australia 2027, the truth about Zimbabwean club rugby, what it means to represent their country on the world stage and how they want to face when they get to the World Cup. It was a wonderful conversation and I hope you enjoy it! #rugby #zimbabwe #sables #worldcup #africa #interview #history #skills #inspiration Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103 Chapters 0:00 The Success Story 3:55 What Zimbabwe Got Right 8:15 Zimbabwean In Jersey 9:50 Club Rugby In Zimbabwe 15:13 Bringing Players Home 22:12 Zimbabwe Rugby Culture 24:46 The Game Plan 35:30 Rugby Inspirations 40:18 Thoughts on Namibia 43:20 What's Next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fabien Galthié has a huge dilemma for choosing his France squad - not just for the test match against the Springboks, but for the summer tours next year in the latest French rugby gossip! we also deep dive round 8 of the Top 14 including Pau beating Toulouse, Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the incredible story of James O'Connor: from being super rugby's youngest ever player, through starting against the Lions, exile in France, arrests, injuries and beating the Springboks - this has to be the craziest career story in rugby union. In this video I tell the tales of James O'Connor from his rise as a wallabies wonderkid to his shock return in 2025 and everything in between. The video covers topics some viewers might find triggering, person discretion advised. #rugby #australia #documentary #lions #allblacks #springboks #biography #history #worldcup Is This Rugby's Most INSANE Career Story? Follow me on Twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103 Chapters 0:00 Wonderkid 1:30 Exile 2:43 Failed Comeback 1 3:10 Dark Times 5:37 Comeback 2 7:42 Burnout 8:46 Comeback 3 10:22 Comeback King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Simmonds is playing exceptionally well for Section Paloise AKA Pau! in this week's episodes we talk about his latest top moments in Pau vs Bayonne in the French Top 14 and deep dive the drama that was Toulouse vs UBB with the help of stats and highlights! Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Top 14 Results 6:30 Pau vs Bayonne 10:20 Joe Simmonds 17:45 Stade Français vs La Rochelle 21:45 Chabal vs Nonu 24:40 Toulouse vs UBB 30:00 Thibaud Flament 33:30 Elite 1 Update 36:35 Fijian of the Week 37:40 Round 7 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last weekend the Springboks from South Africa became back to back Rugby Championship champions by beating Los Pumas of Argentina in a historic match held at London's Allianz Stadium aka Twickenham. I was granted exclusive media access for a being the scenes look at how this game went down: what went right, what went wrong and what did we learn from the Rugby Championship 2025 for both Springboks and Los Pumas? Not only did I get to see the game and meet the likes of Rassie Erasmus, Sita Kolisi and Felipe Contepomi, I got to meet my YouTube heroes like  @8-9Combo  Harry Jones and  @EggchasersRugby  Tim Cocker. It was a wonderful day! #rugby #southafrica #argentina #rugbychampionship #london #behindthescenes #london #champions #documentary Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Chapters 0:00 Lekker Access 1:28 Lekker People 3:36 Lekker Champions 5:11 Lekker Argentina 8:12 Lekker Siya 9:05 Lekker Rassie 9:54 Lekker Contepomi 11:12 Lekker Day Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Louis Bielle-Biarrey cannot stop scoring! the UBB winger keeps breaking records with his 2 tries against Lyon making him their all time top points scorer just days before he was named French international player of the year. Meanwhile, Boris Segonds' Bayonne sunk Romain Ntamack's Toulouse in a thrilling game and Clermont keep dishing out the points for absolutely French rugby fun! Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Top 14 Results 4:50 UBB vs Lyon 6:25 Bayonne vs Toulouse 14:25 Perpignan Drama 18:40 Toulouse Sign Menoncello 22:40 Clermont vs Montauban 25:20 Louis Bielle-Biarrey 28:50 Top 14 Awards 32:00 Standings 34:00 Round 6 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We need to talk about USA rugby. World Rugby have revealed a plan to invest $250m into rugby in the USA leading up to the host the rugby world cup on 2031. The news comes at a time when Major League Rugby (MLR) is in crisis thanks to teams shutting down & rugby elsewhere on the American continent appears to have overtake the US. So, what's really happening here and what is the real problem? In this podcast I was joined by MLR rugby fan and analyst James Deeley to truly understand what is going on in MLR, how it feeds into the struggles of the US men's Eagles and what needs to change to awake this sleeping giant. We also manage to squeeze in a chat about the Women's Rugby World Cup, how women's rugby is doing in America and what we both love (and hate) about rugby statistics! #usa #rugby #america #rugbyunion #majorleaguerugby #MLR #podcast #analysis #womensrugby #canada Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow James on twitter: https://x.com/JamDelay Chapters 0:00 USA & Canada Women's World Cup 7:00 Canada Men Review 12:35 USA Men Review 18:02 MLR Crisis 26:04 Did MLR Ever Work? 33:30 Thoughts on WER 34:55 Foreigners in MLR Debate 48:34 Join The URC? 51:28 Stats Nerds! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ma'a Nonu was still going for Toulon but it wasn't enough to stop them falling to a dramatic defeat in Bayonne in Round 4 of the Top 14 as Joris Segonds nailed a last minute drop goal. meanwhile, UBB lost in Paris again and Racing's Josua Tuisova continues to just be too good! Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A monthly show running down the biggest rugby union transfer news & gossip. This month we are talking about: - Mark Nawanaqintawase back to Union? - Jac Morgan to quit Welsh rugby? - Scotland issue new women's contracts - R360, MLR & More! Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking back on France's frustration against England's Red Roses at the Women's Rugby World Cup & R3 of the Top14 Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Top 14 Results 4:30 Lyon vs Stade Francais 9:10 Toulon vs La Rochele Cancellation 13:30 Perpignan Fan Disruption 19:00 LBB & Penaud Try Scoring Records 21:15 Toulouse Thrashed by Montpellier 25:35 France vs England Review 32:15 Top 14 R4 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fiji have sewn up a third consecutive Pacific Nations Cup win with victory over Japan in the grand final. Are they now too good for the PNC? Fijian rugby is in the best place it ever has been and they have firmly made the step from T2 nation to T1. Welcome back to the HG Rugby Podcast. The Pacific Nations Cup might not be the competition that gets the most press coverage, certainly not compared to the Six Nations or the Rugby Championship, but this year, in 2025, it was perhaps one of the most consequential championships in the world, as it decided not only who gets the glory of being the Pacific Champions, but also who gets an automatic World Cup spot in Australia. This year, Fiji took home their third consecutive crown, and once again, A.D. Jones of Japan came up short. To deep dive all of it, I'm welcoming back one of my favourite guests to the HG Rugby podcast, journalist Steve Noble. Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103 Follow Steve on Twitter: https://x.com/RugbyAsia247 #Fiji #Samoa #Tonga #USA #Canada #Japan #Chile #womensrugby #worldcup #pacificnationscup #fijirugby #rugbyunion Chapters 0:00 Fiji Review 10:43 Japan Review 22:30 Tonga Review 29:32 Canada Review 34:30 USA Review 43:30 Samoa Review 53:15 Women's World Cup Debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Newcastle Falcons, the worst rugby team in England, have been taken over by soft drinks manufacturer RedBull. Overnight, this has turned club rugby in Europe on its head. For the last few years, Newcastle have languished at the bottom of the English Premiership table. They have lost countless games by huge margins and lost their best players to their rivals. They could not be further from the team that won the league with Jonny Wilkinson back in the 90s. As a business, they struggled badly being so isolated up in the North East of England. Last season their owners put them up for sale as their premiership rivals agreed a deal to loan them money just to keep them afloat. It looked hopeless, but then RedBull came in. RedBull are used to competing in sports such as football and Formula 1. They are accustomed with spending vast sums of money to achieve success. However, in rugby, the cost of domination will be far, far lower. With their new owners on board, Newcastle RedBulls are set to climb rugby's hierarchy... fast. In this video I deep dive the stats that expose how Newcastle fell to the bottom of pro rugby and I'll be revealing just how impactful their new era is set to be... for everyone. #Newcastle #rugby #redbull #takeover #premiership #england #money #f1 #football #highlights #worst #history Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Chapters 0:00 Wor Club 1:00 Wor Stats 2:31 Wor Money 5:32 Wor Contenders 7:26 Wor Reason 7:59 Wor Takeover 10:02 Wor Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the TOP14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Top 14 R1 Results 4:45 UBB vs La Rochelle Review 9:00 Lyon vs Racing 92 Review 12:40 Maz Teaches French 16:40 Pau Owner Hammers Toulouse 20:55 Stade Francais Kit Launch 23:35 Perpignan vs Bayonne Review 26:25 Women's World Cup 31:50 Top 14 R2 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all love to talk about rugby in Canada; whether it be the struggles of the men's team or the incredible success of the women's team, everyone has an opinion. But how many of us outside Canada really have any knowledge of what the sport is doing in this great nation? Whilst the women are in the midst of a challenge for the world title in England and the men have just beaten the USA in their battle to qualify for the world cup in Australia, this felt like the perfect time to sit down and truly deep dive what's going on in North America. This week I was joined by Canadian rugby journalist Karen Gasbarino to deep dive the current state of rugby in the country and understand what they are doing to move past the dark times and create themselves a bright future. #canada #rugby #womensrugby #worldcup #usa #journalism #interview #insights #analysis #grassroots #northamerica #podcast #honest #mlr Listen to the audio version of this podcast! 🎧 Spotify 💚 Apple 💜 Follow Karen on twitter: https://x.com/gasbarnut12 Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Chapters 0:00 Intro-ing My Guest 5:15 Canada Defeat USA 7:00 Kingsley Jones Toxicity 10:10 Beating USA Satisfaction 11:25 Canada's Rugby Struggles 15:45 How Big Is 7s? 18:50 Vancouver Highlanders 22:25 Life After The Scandals 26:30 Women's Rugby First? 31:15 Sophie De Goede GOAT 34:00 What People Get WRONG 41:00 World Cup Contenders? 46:25 Ilona Maher Effect 49:25 Canadian Classics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices