The Ruck Rugby Podcast

The Times

The World Cup Rugby Podcast from The Times & The Sunday Times Stephen Jones, Owen Slot and a selection of rugby personalities provide insight and analysis on the latest events in the game, including big name interviews and forthright analysis.

  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Title on the line: Ireland vs France dissected
    Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman and coaching consultant Ben Pegna join Alex, Will and Alfie to preview Ireland vs France. They discuss the contrasting styles of play, the rugby philosophy in France and the rise of Sam Prendergast, plus, how the title could be decided this weekend in Dublin. The boys also look ahead to Scotland v Wales and England against Italy, including whether England need to produce a more all round performance.

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    3 March 2025, 1:22 pm
  • 51 minutes 32 seconds
    What is it like inside the England camp? Plus a huge Welsh performance
    Following his time in the England camp before the Six Nations, David Walsh joins Alfie Reynolds and Alex Lowe. He explains what it was like being embedded with the team over two and a half days, how it's changed his perspective on what the squad is trying to achieve and his view on Steve Borthwick. Plus they debate which out of Ireland's tight win over Wales or France's dominant performance against Italy is better preparation for the two teams' showdown in round 4 and discuss the Welsh resurgence under Matt Sherratt and why it's pivotal for the whole championship.

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    25 February 2025, 4:30 pm
  • 32 minutes 15 seconds
    England regain Calcutta Cup as wasteful Scotland miss shot at 5 in a row
    England defeated Scotland 16-15 at Twickenham to win the Calcutta Cup for the first time in five years and keep their chances of winning the Six Nations alive. Alfie Reynolds, Mark Palmer, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher look back on a disjointed match in which Scotland wasted a number of opportunities. They ask if Gregor Townsend's side were unlucky, what went wrong for Finn Russell from the tee and where both sides go from here. Plus, what does the result and performances mean for a number of British and Irish Lions hopefuls?

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    22 February 2025, 11:44 pm
  • 39 minutes 6 seconds
    Finn Russell starts as Scotland eye another win against England
    Alfie Reynolds, Mark Palmer, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe preview the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham this weekend. Mark is at the Scotland camp and discusses Finn Russell starting and whether the underdog tag helps Gregor Townsend's side. Whilst Alfie, Alex and Will are at the England training base and react to Ted Hill replacing George Martin in the matchday 23, why Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has now had shoulder surgery and how massive the match at Twickenham is for both sides.

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    20 February 2025, 7:52 pm
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    How do you fix Welsh rugby? Sam Warburton previews round three of the Six Nations
    Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are joined by Sam Warburton to preview round three of the Six Nations. They look at the issues facing Welsh rugby following Warren Gatland's departure and question how much of an impact the interim head coach Matt Sherratt will have on the squad. Plus they look ahead to the Calcutta Cup between England and Scotland, discuss which openside flanker will miss out on the British and Irish Lions tour and debate the England fly-half position.

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    17 February 2025, 2:53 pm
  • 57 minutes 7 seconds
    Gatland's gone! And is Fin Smith the next Wilkinson?
    Warren Gatland has left his role as Wales' head coach in the middle of the Six Nations! Alfie, Will and Alex react to the bombshell news and also speak with Times columnist and former England forward Courtney Lawes. He chats about England's victory over France, his former club teammate Fin Smith and building upon victory. Mark Palmer reviews Scotland's limp defeat to Ireland at Murrayfield, the boys go through some of the listeners emails and question is this year's Six Nations destined to now be an Irish procession?

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    11 February 2025, 7:48 pm
  • 32 minutes 15 seconds
    England beat France to kickstart 6 Nations campaign
    England beat France 26-25 in an exhilarating match at Twickenham to breath fresh life into their Six Nations campaign. Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are in the stands to reflect on a massive victory for England. They ask what changed for them to be able to get over the line in a tight game, where it leaves Steve Borthwick's side heading into a rest week and if this golden generation of French players have let another opportunity slip through their fingers.

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    8 February 2025, 11:20 pm
  • 43 minutes 47 seconds
    Fin and Marcus Smith start in "must win" game for England
    Ahead of England hosting France at Twickenham in the Six Nations this weekend Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher react to the team selected by Steve Borthwick. They discuss Fin Smith starting at fly-half with Marcus Smith moving to full-back and ask the question of how big a match is this for England after their defeat to Ireland? Alfie also sits down to chat to Fin Smith as he prepares to start for the first time. Plus they are joined by L'Equipe writer Guillaume Dufy to get a French perspective on this England squad and Les Bleus hopes of winning another Six Nations title.

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    6 February 2025, 6:45 pm
  • 59 minutes 27 seconds
    6 Nations Round 1 review plus Ollie Chessum interview
    Following the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations Alfie Reynolds and Will Kelleher review all the action and cast their eyes forward to this weekend. They're at England's training base where they speak with second-row Ollie Chessum about responding to defeat to Ireland and why England's bench continues to struggle making an impact. Mark Palmer previews a huge game for Scotland at home to the Irish, they go through the Ruck listeners burning questions and ask if there is any hope for Wales?

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    3 February 2025, 5:45 pm
  • 25 minutes 42 seconds
    England lose to Ireland in Dublin!
    Following England's 27-22 defeat to Ireland in the opening round of the 6 Nations, Will Kelleher, Alex Lowe and Stuart Barnes react to another disappointing defeat for Steve Borthwick's side. They ask why they continually lose to the best sides in the world, what they can do to change their fortunes and what hope they have next week against France.

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    2 February 2025, 12:38 am
  • 31 minutes 37 seconds
    Shaun Edwards exclusive interview!
    The 2025 Six Nations gets underway on Friday night as France host Wales in Paris. Shaun Edwards spent years with the Welsh team during Warren Gatland's first tenure and is now the French defence coach. He chats to Will Kelleher about his big milestone in this years championship, coaching Antoine Dupont, the struggles for rugby in Wales and what the 6 Nations means to him.

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    29 January 2025, 7:00 am
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