Women's Rugby Pod

WRP 192 - Front row seats for the final! Massive week here in England, as the league season comes to a close with the PWR final. Sarah "Berner" Bern is back from injury to take her place way ahead of schedule to start Bristol's first ever final. The Red Rose star talks about the impressive win over saracens that got them to the big dance, as well as the culture at the club. Up against Gloucester-Hartpury - the champions - Mackenzie Carson joins us on the pod, England team mates but up against each other in the final; they both discuss how that might play out. The international experience these props can draw upon is spoken about and how this situation differs from the test arena. There is plenty of "fighting" talk and who will have the bragging rights but the threats from each of these sides is also part of the conversation. There's the rest of the news, as well, from Rori Taylorson, keeping us up to date with Fiji, Japan and 7s news. #WRP womensrugbypod@gmail.com

WRP 191 - Bon joué! Another packed show from around the oval world! Siwan Lilllicrap, the former Wales captain, joins us on the pod and from France Francois Ratier - former Canada Women's coach. Siwan chats about the various hats she is wearing now having retired from the game; mainly her role with the WRU being the person in charge of the younger end of the pathway. She details the progress made, the opportunities youngsters now have and the joy is being a part of processes that she fought so hard to achieve! Having played for both Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury she is the perfect observer to talk about the two semi finals in the PWR (English league) where Bristol made history in beating Saracens and the champs saw off Exeter. Francosi Ratier, the former Canada coach that took that to the 2014 Rugby World Cup final is now the head man at Stade Bordelais. The club, again, won the title at the weekend, so we interrupt the celebrations to chat about lifting the trophy and generally about life in France. There's Rori Taylorson with all the news as well from around the globe with results from another Canadian side and South Africa. #WRP womensrugbypod@gmail.com

WRP 190 - Here comes Fiji!!! Fiji week, we are joined by High Performance Manager of Fiji Women's Rugby, Alana Thomas. We find out just why Fiji are where they are - the highest world ranking ever; just won the Oceania Championship and with it a place at next year's World Cup and the 7s side reaching semi finals on the circuit. Alana details the hard work that has gone into the programme, the changes that have been made both on and off the field. The former Wallaroo also chats about that game against Samoa and the wider aspects of rugby in the country and the rise the women's game which she is throughly enjoying. Also on the pod, Sadia chats about the final round of PWR games here in England and there's a full preview of the semi finals with Saracens against Bristol and Gloucester-Hartpury taking on Exeter. The new Red Roses contracts are discussed as well as all the news from around the world; who has made the final in France, which nation won the 7s in Madrid and who leads the way in South African club rugby. #WRP womensrugbypod@gmail.com

WRP 189 - Too Goede. Off the back of Canada's historic win over The Black Ferns down in New Zealand, whilst picking up the Pacific 4 title; we chat to their captain and probably the best player in the world right now, Sophie De Goede. Sophie speaks about that amazing result in Christchurch, the history made and the effect it has had back home, especially with hosting wXV 1 later in the year. The back rower also talks about another impressive win she was involved with but with her club Saracens; as they beat league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury at the weekend. Sadia runs us through the rest of the PWR results and gives a full preview of the final round of regular season games. And there's all the news from the likes of France, Hong Kong and South Africa with Rori Taylorson. #WRP

WRP 188 - Pac 4 power. Canada have had a brilliant week, winning the Pacific 4 title! Sarah Bern chats about this and the impact it might have on Canadian rugby, especially with the country hosting wXV1 later this year but also the wider game; beating New Zealand in New Zealand is no mean feat! The USA also finished on a high in the "Pac 4," this is spoken about too. Qualification for the three wXV tournaments have had some developments, Berner gets us up to speed on those. The PWR, in England, is reaching it's conclusion with a huge result over the weekend, as Saracens smashed Exeter in Devon to grab a home semi. There's reaction from Saracens stalwart and player of the match at Sandy Park, Sarah McKenna. The performances of the top 4 are discussed and where do you think Berner would prefer to travel to for a semi final, the Stone X or Kingsholm?!? There all the rest of the news too from 7 Challenger series to the Bulls dominating in South Africa to new age grade teams and new U20 tournaments!

WRP 187 - Captain Red Rose is back! Our Grand Slammer Sadia Kabeya is back in the studio joining Sarah Bern. The Red Rose star is in fine form after a brief holiday to look back and reflect on the whole 6 Nations. She dives into the impact of new coach John Mitchell, the amazing crowds, the new philosophy and her debut as her country's captain! Berner "fresh" from Zoe Aldcroft's hen do, chats with Sadia about the opposition that England faced; what they made of their old coach Scott Bemand's Ireland, where Scotland are, how damaging has the campaign been for Wales, do we know anything new about France and Italy. Sadia also talks about the unexpected leadership role has played during the 6 Nations, how it came about and what it was like in the be the skipper out there on the field against Wales. There's all the news from around the world, who won at the Singapore 7s, did "Sonic" get her send off, who are champs in Australia? #WRP womensrugbypod@gmail.com