Evening Standard Rugby Podcast with Lawrence Dallaglio

Lawrence and Steve are joined by Northampton player, Tom Pearson, who’s fresh from the celebrations of winning the Premiership title. Tom talks about his first year with the club, what it’s like living with his club mate and landlord, Fin Smith, the reaction from locals to bringing home the trophy and his views on red cards in big games.  Plus Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, is on hand to chat about the recently announced England squad and their upcoming Summer tour. And Lawrence, Nick and Steve reflect on the past season and select their favourite highlights, which feature Wayne Barnes, Jamie George and Jack Willis.  In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios. 

Fresh from announcing his training squad ahead of the Qatar Airways Cup clash against South Africa at Twickenham and subsequent tour of Australia, Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland joins Lawrence and Steve Cording to chat all things rugby. He shares some of his decision making when it comes to team selection, what he hopes his players will learn as they take on the Springboks and Wallabies, why he’s fearful that players are manipulating laws to win games and what makes coaching in the age of social media more challenging.Plus Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, joins Lawrence and Steve to look ahead to the Gallagher Premiership Final between Northampton and Bath this Saturday, with the trio debating who will take the spoils and be crowned Premiership champions.  In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios. Wales v South Africa and Barbarians v Fiji provide a double header at Twickenham Stadium on the 22nd June. For ticket information visit https://www.eticketing.co.uk/

This week Lawrence is joined in the studio by rugby legend, Martin Offiah, who shares his rugby journey, chatting about why he made the switch from union to league, what it was like being team mates with Andy Farrell, Shaun Edwards and Jason Robinson at Wigan, how he feels about being immortalised in bronze at Wembley Stadium and why he’s now a supporter of Bath Rugby. Plus Martin tells us what to expect from the Rugby League Betfred Challenge Cup Final on the 8th June, where he will be Chief Guest for the triple header of fixtures. Event details and tickets can be found at https://www.rugby-league.com/And later in the pod, Lawrence chats to Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, as they review the Investec Champions Cup Final, with Lawrence revealing who he thinks should have been named Player of the Match instead of Dupont, and the pair also look ahead to the Gallagher Premiership semi-final pay-offs this weekend.In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios. 

With the Top 4 of the Premiership now decided, Lawrence Dallaglio, Steve Cording and Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, review the weekend’s performances and discuss the semi-final line up, assessing the key strengths of each team. Plus Former Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lion, Gordon D’Arcy, joins Lawrence and Steve to look ahead to this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup final between Leinster and Toulouse, sharing his opinion on key head to heads, what Leinster need to do to secure a win and recalling his own memories achieving European silverware. And Lawrence tells us what it was like to be back in the company of Neil Back and Richard Hill at an event last week, revealing how the ‘Holy Trinity’ came to be such a formidable combination. In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios. 

Lawrence and Steve are joined in the studio by Harlequins CEO, Laurie Dalrymple, who lifts the lid on the business of running a Premiership club. They chat about the relationship between the RFU, PRL and the clubs, the opportunities to work cohesively to raise the profile of rugby, and why it’s a seminal time in terms of progression for the game.Laurie also tells us why the fan experience is at the heart of everything they do at Harlequins, shares his views on players moving abroad and reveals how the club are supporting players in their transition to life after rugby.Plus Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, is on hand to preview the final round of the Premiership as Lawrence, Steve and Nick look at which teams have their play-off destiny in their own hands and who will be needing results elsewhere to help them make the top four. In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios. 

Lawrence and Steve are joined in the studio by Lawrence’s World Cup winning team mate and former Leicester and Harlequins centre, Will Greenwood.As well as giving his review of the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals, Will shares why he thinks the policy of only allowing players from English clubs to play for the national team is a good one, sparking a debate with Lawrence. He also offers his assessment of the Premiership Run In, tells us what he loves about coaching his local rugby club and reveals his thoughts on whether he may yet have a future coaching for England.Plus, Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, is on hand to offer his predictions for Round 17 of the Premiership. In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios.  

Lawrence returns from his Cycle Slam and, along with Steve Cording, chats to this week’s special guest, Tommy Freeman. Tommy shares his views on last weekend's Big Summer Kick Off game against Quins, his preferred position on the field, Northampton's hopes for the upcoming Investec Champions Cup semi final against Leinster and even shows off his card trick skills with the pod’s first ever magic performance! Marlie Packer also joins Lawrence and Steve to reflect on the Red Roses Grand Slam win against France, as she highlights the top England players from across the tournament and in 'Grow the Game with QBE Business Insurance', she tells us what she hopes can change ahead of next year’s Women’s Six Nations to raise the profile of the championship even higher. Plus the Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, is on hand to preview the two Champions Cup semi finals this weekend, as the guys discuss the chances of Northampton and Harlequins in their respective away fixtures and what it will take to cause an upset against the home favourites. In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios. To find out more about Lawrence’s Cycle Slam or to donate to RugbyWorks, you can visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/lawrencedallaglio

As Lawrence completes the last stretch of his Cycle Slam, Steve Cording and Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, are joined by England captain, Marlie Packer, who reflects on the team’s Women’s Six Nations campaign so far before looking ahead to the Grand Slam decider taking place this Saturday against France. In 'Grow the Game with QBE Business Insurance’, Marlie offers her opinion on how to encourage and grow grass roots participation in rugby for girls, and outlines ways the Red Roses can use their experiences off the field to further engage with fans. Plus Bath No.8. Alfie Barbeary joins Steve and Nick to chat about Bath’s season to date, revealing the ’tough love’ conversations that Head Coach Johann van Graan has had with him, and explaining why he won’t be cutting his hair anytime soon. And Steve and Nick take a look ahead to this weekend's Premiership games and predict the winners of Round 16.In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios. 

With Lawrence away on his Cycle Slam, Steve Cording and Evening Standard rugby correspondent, Nick Purewal, are joined by Harlequins’ tighthead prop, Will Collier, to chat about Quins' momentous victory in Bordeaux and how the team will be preparing for their Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Toulouse. Will also gives his opinion on whether the World Rugby laws around scrums should change, what he thinks of his fellow front row team mates and shares his thoughts on the upcoming Big Summer Kick Off at Twickenham. Plus, Red Roses captain, Marlie Packer returns with the latest news from camp ahead of England’s clash against Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations on Saturday. And in our feature, ‘Grow the Game with QBE Business Insurance’, Marlie tells us some of the barriers she faced around accessing sport as a teenager, as well as some of the mental and emotional health benefits she’s gained from playing rugby.Steve and Nick take a quick preview of the next round of the Gallagher Premiership, and a message from Lawrence in Italy rounds off the episode. To donate to Lawrence’s RugbyWorks Cycle Slam fundraising, visit:https://www.justgiving.com/page/lawrencedallaglio https://www.dallagliorugbyworks.com/For more information on the Big Summer Kick Off go to:https://www.eticketing.co.uk/harlequins In partnership with QBE Business Insurance and Voxpod Studios.