The Rugby Pod

The Ringer

The Rugby Pod with Andy Goode & Big Jim Hamilton …

  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    #21 Six Nations Is BACK! Previews, Predictions & Scotland Legend Andy Nicol

    It’s a full-noise Six Nations Special as Jim and Goodey tee up a massive opening weekend, with Ireland v France on Thursday night in Paris, England v Wales at Allianz, and Scotland’s trip to Rome. The lads dig into squads amid key absences, new faces and some bans, plus predictions for all three games, and a reminder to join the Pod’s live alternate commentary watch-along for France v Ireland on Thursday night on Youtube. We also have a brilliant sit-down with Scotland and Lions legend Andy Nicol, who reflects on Calcutta Cup glory and Gregor Townsend. We'll cover tournament predictions, some big law-change debates, RWC 2027 fixture news, and some listener questions to round things off.

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    3 February 2026, 12:04 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    #20 Who Starts at 10 for Ireland? O'Gara and Biggar Go Head-to-Head

    Ronan O’Gara and Dan Biggar break down Ireland’s biggest selection call ahead of the Six Nations: who starts at fly-half? From Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast's battle, to Harry Byrne’s late charge, the lads dig into what Andy Farrell really values at ten, in terms of game management, attacking ambition, and long-term best option to take Ireland forward. It’s a proper rugby-nause chat, shaped by two men who know a thing or two about pulling the strings at the very highest Test level.

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    1 February 2026, 8:03 am
  • 1 hour 25 minutes
    #19 Monster Appetite - Six Nations Squad Drops, & The Rugby Chef Reveals All

    With the Six Nations around the corner, the lads are fired up as squads drop across the board, bringing big calls, big omissions, and some surprise bolters. We dig into every nation’s squad, from France leaving out some absolute superstars, to England’s depth options, Ireland’s late changes and injury worries, Wales’ omissions, a settled Scotland, and Italy’s hopes despite a mounting injury list. We’re also joined by England’s rugby chef Tom Kirby for a brilliant chat on elite nutrition, monster appetites, and what players at every level should actually be eating. Throw in some Prem and URC chat, punch-ups, plenty of other news, live show news in Dublin, rumours, and it’s a packed episode as the countdown to the Six Nations really begins.

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    27 January 2026, 10:52 am
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    #18 Razor's Shock Sacking, Glasgow Flying High & European Knockouts Are Locked In

    Massive news with Razor's shock sacking in New Zealand setting the tone for a wild week as Jim and Goodey break down the fallout, the rumours swirling around player power, and where Razor could land next. From there, it’s onto the final round of Champions Cup pool action, with knockout draws confirmed, major upsets delivered and Scottish rugby flying high. Harlequins stun La Rochelle, Castres shock Munster, Leinster find a way, and Glasgow dismantle Saracens. The lads also dive into Six Nations injury concerns, some huge transfer rumours and plenty of other news to round things off.

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    20 January 2026, 10:30 am
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    #17 Crisis Meetings, The Willis Derby, ROG Rumours, and Checking for a Pulse in Bordeaux

    The lads are on form after a massive round of Champions Cup action, breaking down everything from Saracens win over Toulouse, to Glasgow looking like genuine contenders, Leinster surviving La Rochelle in a bruising classic, and Quins blowing the Stormers away at the Stoop. There’s chat on Henry Pollock being public enemy number one in Bordeaux, Bath’s European march, and why Pool 2 is absolute chaos with everyone still alive. Jim gives the inside line on crisis meetings, second rows and dodgy penalty calls, while we also get stuck into AI coaches and ROG rumours. Plus, the boys announce their first London Six Nations live show at the 12th Knot rooftop at Sea Containers – free for Pod listeners – so it’s one you don’t want to miss.

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    13 January 2026, 9:21 am
  • 1 hour 18 minutes
    #16 New Year Reckoning, Festive Box Office Rugby, and 2026 Predictions

    The Rugby Pod is back for 2026 and the lads kick off the new year by rounding up a huge festive period of rugby before looking ahead to what promises to be a blockbuster year. Jim, Goodey and Bigs dig into the Premiership at the halfway mark, picking their biggest surprises so far, before a deep dive on England’s wing options as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso steals the show and selection debates rage ahead of the Six Nations. There’s statement wins for Northampton, Leicester and Newcastle, big questions for Harlequins and Gloucester. Over in the URC, the table is turned on its head as the Dragons surge, Leinster and Ulster flex their muscle, and the South African derbies deliver some chaos . The lads also preview a massive weekend of Champions Cup action on Premier Sports, fire through some predictions for 2026, and hand out the first Good, Bad & Ugly of the season.

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    6 January 2026, 9:13 am
  • 1 hour 16 minutes
    #15 European Warriors, Freddie Steward Unfiltered, & 2025 Highlights

    It’s a Christmas special as Jim, Goodey and Bigs wrap up a huge weekend of Champions Cup action, look back on a cracking 2025, and welcome England full-back Freddie Steward for a very open chat. There’s reaction to Glasgow’s historic comeback win over Toulouse, Leinster grinding it out away at Leicester, big calls on Saracens, the Stormers and the state of the Champions Cup. Freddie talks England momentum, life under the high ball, controversial tackles, TikTok dances, before the lads reflect on the moments that defined the year in rugby.

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    16 December 2025, 10:25 am
  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    #14 Football vs Rugby: Stars, Money, Pressure & Injuries - Fozcast Meets Rugby Pod

    This week’s bonus episode is a special Rugby Pod × Fozcast crossover as Ben Foster and Tom Ochoa join Jim, Biggs and Goodey for a brilliant conversation that digs into what really separates, and connects, elite football and rugby. The lads compare the financial realities of both sports, how contracts work, the demands of training and match preparation, and the very different ways each game handles injuries, stars, player welfare and fandom. They open up on their journeys growing up in academies, the pressure to perform, and the star players who shaped the sports. It’s an open, honest and funny chat, with the lads learning about each other’s world. A fantastic listen.

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    11 December 2025, 3:50 pm
  • 1 hour 16 minutes
    #13 RWC 2027 Pools Reaction and Predictions, & Scottish Surge in Champions Cup

    The lads are buzzing after being named in the top 1% of podcasts globally on Spotify Wrapped. It ain't about us though, as The Rugby World Cup 2027 pools are out, the format’s changing, conspiracy theories are flying, and the lads are already calling their final. We get stuck into all the permutations and who’s got the cleanest run to the big dance and who's going home early. Then it’s over to the opening round of Champions Cup rugby, with Leinster too sharp for Quins, Bath batter Munster, Edinburgh topple Toulon, Glasgow come roaring back, and Sarries run riot. Add in Etzebeth’s ban, Rassie signed up for the long haul, transfers, coaching shake-ups, plus a few spicy hot takes… it’s a big one. Strap in.

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    9 December 2025, 9:13 am
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    #12 Scrum Secrets with Steenkamp, Bath’s Big Statement, and Munster Stormed

    In this week’s Rugby Pod, the lads wrap up the Quilter Nations Series before diving head-first into the return of domestic rugby, with big Premiership and URC results to get stuck into. We're also welcoming Springbok legend Gurthrö Steenkamp for an unbelievable deep-dive into scrum culture, Rassie’s revolution, and life in France. We check in on Bath’s statement win at the StoneX to Exeter’s comeback in Sale, plus a massive round in the URC as the Stormers storm Thomond and Scarlets stun Glasgow. The Rugby F.C. documentary has blown up on YouTube, fans are asking how to help Rugby Lions FC, and we’re back on the road with a London live show this Wednesday ahead of the Champions Cup kicking off exclusively on Premier Sports. Add in some transfer news, a few reds in France, and all the Good, Bad & Ugly, and some shoutouts, and it’s another stacked episode of the world’s most listened-to rugby podcast.

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    2 December 2025, 9:31 am
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    #11 The Craziest Test Match Ever, Welsh Ticker & England's Tunnel Argy-Bargy

    Four happy men in the studio this week after a blockbuster weekend of Quilter Nations rugby. England made it 11 wins on the bounce despite late fireworks in their clash with Argentina, Jim’s beloved Scotland stuck a half-century on Tonga without conceding a point, and Wales showed real ticker in a brave performance against the All Blacks. But the headline act was in Dublin, where South Africa and Ireland produced one of the craziest Test matches we’ve ever seen – five yellows, a red, scrum carnage, psychological warfare from Rassie, and Irish fans and Boks fans going at it online. The lads break down the madness, look at England’s growing depth and midfield options, debate the Curry–Contepomi tunnel drama, assess Wales’ best showing of the autumn, dig into Scotland’s momentum and Townsend rumours, and ask whether France now boast the best young backline in world rugby.

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    25 November 2025, 9:32 am
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