The Ruck Rugby Podcast

Ahead of the Premiership season Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe make the trip to Newcastle to preview the new campaign. Following a season where the Falcons lost all of their matches they ask whether they can compete in the division this season? To help them answer that question they speak to Director of Rugby Steve Diamond, captain Callum Chick and Chairman Matt Thompson about the challenges that rugby in the North-East faces, Saudi Arabian investment, promotion/relegation and what success looks like for the club. Plus, are last seasons runners-up Bath favorites for the title this year? And, are we set for another hugely competitive race for the play-offs?

The pod is back! Ahead of the new season Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher return with news about the new Professional Game Partnership. What is it? And why should supporters care? They go through some of the major talking points including the power it gives England head coach Steve Borthwick and plans for the second tier. They also discuss the shock resignation of England's defence coach Felix Jones and the renaming of Twickenham to Allianz Stadium.

It's the end of the season! Well, pretty much. Whilst Scotland and Wales still have matches to play, England and Ireland concluded their summer series against New Zealand and South Africa. Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher have one final dispatch from New Zealand as England lost narrowly to the All Blacks for the second week in a row. Was this another opportunity missed? And how do England become a team that wins tight matches against the top sides? And, Alfie Reynolds is joined by Peter O'Reilly to chat about Ireland's drawn series against the Springboks thanks to a last second drop goal. Is it the best result of the Andy Farrell era? Whilst Steve James and Mark Palmer to round-up results for Wales and Scotland.

Richie McCaw is one of the legends of the game. The double world cup winning former All Black captain did it all in an illustrious playing career. He sat down to chat with Will Kelleher and even went flying in a helicopter! They discuss life after rugby including commercial helicopter flying, extreme endurance racing and the pressure and privilege of leading the All Blacks.

Following the first tests of the summer tours the podcast comes to you from around the world! Will and Alex reflect on England's narrow defeat to the All Blacks and ask whether it was a missed opportunity or further signs of the side making progress? Alfie chats to Peter O'Reilly who is in South Africa for Ireland's tour against the Springboks and Mark Palmer who was in Canada for Scotland's thumping victory. Plus Steve James is across Wales' tour Down Under where Warren Gatland's side suffered another defeat!

Ahead of England's first test against the All Blacks this weekend, Will Kelleher asks 'how do you win in New Zealand?'. England have only won a test on New Zealand soil twice in their history, the last time being 2003. He chats to Lawrence Dallalgio and Neil Back who both played (and were sin binned!) in that victory 21 years ago. They reminisce about the tour which was a brutal pre-World Cup warm-up, getting kicked off the set of The Lord of the Rings and the unique challenge of taking on the All Blacks in their own backyard.

The July tours are here! Ahead of All Blacks versus England and Springboks against Ireland Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and Peter O'Reilly look ahead to the test series. Will and Alex are on the ground in New Zealand and discuss the type of match we could see, what would be 'success' for England on the tour, and the AB's appearing nervous. Will also chats to England number 8 Ben Earl and finds out what a test week looks like from a players perspective. And, Peter previews a highly-anticipated series between the World Champions and European champions as the mind games have started in South Africa.

Ahead of England's two test series against the All Blacks, Will Kelleher chats to former New Zealand coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster. They discuss the honour and pressure of leading the All Blacks, as well as some of their great memories from World Cup wins to a dominant 2016. They also chat about the challenges facing rugby in New Zealand, look ahead to the up-coming series with Scott Robertson now in charge of the side and give their views on England following a World Cup semi-final appearance last year.