The Rugby Pod

It’s been a weekend of massive rivalries, with Leinster taking on Munster in front of a sell-out crowd in Croke Park, Quins taking on Sarries, Saints playing Leicester and few other big grudge matches. We'll cover all the action, but we're also taking a deep dive into the Irish rugby system this week, chatting with one of the masterminds behind their successful schools program and how it supports the professional game. Oh, and we're coming to Dublin! So, settle back and enjoy another packed episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bigs is back with Jim & Goodey this week lifting the lid on some of the major goings on in Welsh rugby over the last decade. The lads also discuss the bubbling beef between Ireland and the All Blacks and reminisce over the best sledging they’ve ever dished out on a rugby pitch. We’re also joined by the Welsh half back pairing that’s been tearing up the prem for Gloucester, Tomos Williams & Gareth Anscombe chat with the lads about the new Cherry & Whites all out attack and take a trip down memory lane with their old mate Bigs. Combine that with your usual dose of Prem & URC analysis & review and you’ve got one hell of a show so sit back, enjoy and make sure you’ve subscribed on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a hell of an opening weekend of domestic ruggers, some absolute crackers which we’re going to cover, including all the Prem, URC and Rugby Championship Action, BUT ALSO we’ve got a deep dive into the Blitz style defence you’re seeing teams like England and the Springboks play with one of the best coaches int he game, Exeter Chiefs Defence Coach Omar Mouneimne!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lads look ahead to a massive new season of ruggers in the Prem and URC. We look at some of the best signings across both competitions and give our predictions for the season ahead. We also chat about the rumours of a merger between the competitions, and whether there's any merit in a British & Irish league. We're joined by Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth to hear how he's turned things around at Ospreys last season, and the surprise announcement that he'll be leaving at the end of this season. Lots more as usual, so make sure you're subscribed on Spotify! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Forget Oasis, the reunion we've been waiting all summer for. Jim and Goodey are back and on form after eventful breaks, and we're joined by Bigs who's already knee-deep into a new French season. We briefly look back the summer internationals, what's been happening behind the scenes in England with Borthwick losing two of his coaches, some pre-season insight on squads, and what's going on in the Rugby Championship. We also chat about the new professional game partnership and what it means and, we also get to know Bigs a bit better on an off the pitch! Enjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should England have beaten the All Blacks this weekend at Eden Park? Goodey is joined by Bigs this week as they give their take on the big moments from the second test in New Zealand, including England's tactics, Marcus Smith mercurial fly half performance, and whether it was a massive missed opportunity for England. We were also treated to another brutal battle in South Africa. Have you seen more blood and brutal hits in a recent game?! We chat about Frawley who stepped up and nailed the winning drop kick, and Dorris' heroic performance as new captain. We also wrap up the final summer tour for Wales and Scotland and what we can look forward to going into next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lads are back in the studio this week to chat about all the talking points from this weekend's summer series, including narrow defeats for England & Ireland. We’ll give our take on England’s new identity and some bright shoots across the board. We’ll also go into the brutal Ireland v Boks grudge match, and Warren Gatland’s Wales extending their losing streak to 8 games and dropping out of the World Rugby Top 10. BUT most importantly the mighty Scotland doing the home nations proud and romping to victory in Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two teams desperately seeking to rebuild, Bigs catches up with his old mates Liam Williams and Andrew Kellaway to find out exactly how Wales & Australia plan to stop the rot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Championes! We’ll be chatting to newly crowned URC Champ Duncie Weir this week and hear all about the celebrations after Glasgow's sensational victory down in Pretoria. The lads will also be discussing Eddie Jones’ Japan not quite pushing England to their limit and Steve Borthwick’s plan for New Zealand. Plus the lads pick their URC/Prem combined team of the season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bigs is back this week to review the URC semi-finals, including huge upset wins for The Bulls and Glasgow, and where Leinster and Munster fell short after a disappointing end to their season. The lads also build up the hype around the summer tours, including the niggle between Soth Africa and Ireland, an under the radar All Blacks squad to face England, and a summer of rebuilding for Wales. Plenty more as usual, so make sure you're subscribed on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a premiership final that saw Northampton Saints crowned champions for the first time in a decade, we’ve managed to drag one of the heroes out of the pub still in his playing kit and ski goggles. Saints’ 21-year old Flyer George Hendy joins us fresh off his man-of-the-match performance at Twickenham to give us the low down on the final and post match celebrations. We’ll also be rounding up the URC quarters, looking ahead to the semis AND reacting to Steve Borthwick announcing his England Squad for the summer tour as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

London hosted one of the great Champions Cup finals between Toulouse and Leinster this weekend, so the lads will be discussing all the fallout from an EPIC match and where it was won and lost. Jim and Goodey disagree on whether Dupont is the GOAT, and also give their view on where to next for Leinster and Leo. We’ll also be chatting about a massive triumph for the Sharks as they dominated Gloucester in the Challenge Cup Final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Very special guest this week as we're joined by Biggs' old gaffer, and Wales' most successful ever coach, Warren Gatland, to give some awesome insight into leading the British & Irish Lions, making tough decisions, the rebuild of Welsh Rugby, the state of the games, AND what Biggar was really like to coach. Jim and Biggs also chat about the confirmed Premiership Top 4, some shock results in the URC, and look forward to a massive European Champions Cup final as Lesinter look to topple Toulouse in London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's all change as World Rugby announce several law changes that will have a big impact on the game. The lads give their take on what these mean and how they'll affect teams. We'll also be discussing a frenetic, penultimate round of Premiership action including a big away win for Saracens, Exeter seeing off Quins and the spanking of all spankings for Gloucester. We’ll also be looking at some cracking games over in URC, PLUS our mate Stuart McCloskey is dialing in to chat all things Ulster and Ireland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lads look back at another hell of a weekend as Europe's best went head to head in the Champions and Challenge Cup semifinals. We'll dissect Quins' performance in Toulouse and Leinster's hard-fought win over Northampton at a sold-out Croke Park. We've also got a chat with Saints and England fly-half, Fin Smith. Plus, Jim is deepening his Saffa ties, hanging out with The Sharks for their Challenge Cup semifinals at the Stoop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices