The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

Folding Pocket

  • 1 hour 10 minutes
    State Of The Game: The Free-to-Air Revolution

    Alex Payne and Mike Tindall dive into the seismic news of ITV securing the rights to the New Nations Series from 2026-2028, making them the undisputed home of English international rugby. Next year will be the first time in 30 years that all England games will be free to air. We ask… Is this the best thing to happen to the English game since 2003? Is rugby finally ready to grasp the opportunity of free-to-air coverage to widen the sport's appeal. We're joined by Ben Rumsby, Sports Investigations Reporter for The Daily Telegraph, for a deep dive into the state of the sports broadcasting landscape.


    Plus, England Sevens legend Ollie Phillips dials in to share the truly bonkers challenge he's about to undertake: rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic for three incredible causes (Cure Parkinson's, My Name's Dottie, and the Matt Hampson Foundation). Good luck, Ollie!

    00:00 🛞 Proudly Sponsored by Continental Tyres

    01:09 📺 ITV Secures England Rugby Rights

    16:49 🏉 The Role of Players Promoting Rugby

    28:46 🤝 The Significance of ITV's Deal for Rugby

    31:39 📡 Club Rugby and TNT's Future

    37:58 💶 Comparing Financials: Prem Rugby vs. Top 14

    42:46 📉 Prem Rugby's Current State and Future Prospects

    49:05 💼 CVC's Investment in Rugby

    55:24 🚣‍♂️ Ollie Phillips' Atlantic Row Challenge


    🪽Castore Code: GBR30 www.castore.com 

    🚣‍♂️Ollie’s Row https://www.seaslife.co.uk/donate 

    📗The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Unloaded are now available: https://lnk.to/GBRUnlocked/waterstones

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    10 December 2025, 12:01 am
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    Bismarck on his Brother, the Boks and Brutal Hits

    This week, we welcome World Cup winner - and one of the most feared front-rowers in rugby history - Bismarck du Plessis!

    Bismarck dives deep into the legendary 2009 Lions Tour and relives the moment of that tackle on Dan Carter (“I’m going to kill that man!”). He gives incredible insight into the Springboks’ scrum dominance and the genius of Rassie Erasmus, explaining how Rassie’s methods have helped build one of the greatest dynasties in the game.

    He also reflects on his special bond with his brother Jannie du Plessis, as well as his fiercely competitive nature with his kids: “I don’t let them beat me.”


    00:00 – 🛞 Sponsored by Continental Tyres

    02:07 – 😳 Continental Tyres Grip Strength

    03:23 – 🔄 R360 Update

    17:52 – 🇿🇦 South Africa’s Scrum Power

    33:19 – 🐄 Life on the Farm

    38:16 – 💙 Brotherly Bond

    39:35 – 💔 Tragic Loss

    46:21 – 🦁 The Epic 2009 Lions Series

    53:27 – 💥 That Tackle on Dan Carter


    🚴 Jannie’s Cycling Heroics: https://theyridealong.co.za/donations/

    📗 The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Unloaded is now available:
    https://lnk.to/GBRUnlocked/waterstones


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    3 December 2025, 12:01 am
  • 1 hour 24 minutes
    The Springboks - The Ultimate Pantomime Villain?

    After one of the spiciest weekends in rugby, Payno and Tins are joined by Springbok legend Bob Skinstad and Ireland's Geordan Murphy to break down the chaotic Ireland v South Africa card fest and the drama in the Twickenham tunnel. They dig into Rassie’s thumbs-up celebration and debate this big question: Are the Springboks rugby’s ultimate pantomime villain?


    00:00 🛞 Sponsored by Continental Tyres

    02:41 💪 BIG MOVES in the Continental Tyres Grip Strength 

    05:15 👀 THAT Rassie Erasmus Celeb

    06:56 🔴 Ireland v South Africa card chaos.

    23:04 🎭 Springboks: The Pantomime Villains

    31:31 🇿🇦 Rassie Erasmus' Impact on South African Rugby

    48:00 🥃 Rémy Martin Moment of Excellence

    52:16 🌹England Autumn Review

    01:05:01💥Tom Curry "Bully = Compliment"

    01:11:27🚗 Honda Team of the Week Discussion

    📗The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Unloaded are now available: https://lnk.to/GBRUnlocked/waterstones

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    26 November 2025, 12:24 am
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    #3 In The World, #2 Drop Goals, #1 TikTok - England Beat The All Blacks

    England make history by beating the All Blacks for only the 9th time in 120 years! The panel breaks down the performance, from George Ford's genius two drop goals to Ben Earl’s incredible work rate. James Haskell slams the "miserable" Kiwi media, while Jonny May reveals what the viral TikTok dance means for the squad's mentality.


    Season 6 is Sponsored by Continental Tyres


    00:00🎙️Introduction 

    03:21 🇳🇿Discussion on the Haka

    10:40💥 Analysing England's Defence

    23:37 🔟 George Ford's Impact

    30:00 🎵TikTok Dance

    39:45 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scotland's Struggles

    54:22 🚗 Honda Team of the Week 

    01:04:09 🌎 New Nations Series 


    📗The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Unloaded are now available at @Waterstones: https://lnk.to/GBRUnlocked/waterstones

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    19 November 2025, 2:37 am
  • 1 hour 27 minutes
    The Litmus Test: England v All Blacks

    Former All Black Nick Evans joins the team to unpack an epic Test weekend! We deep-dive into the Springboks' win over France, and ask… Are the Springboks the greatest side of all time? Plus we have a heavyweight preview of England vs. All Blacks and Hask gives some mind-blowing analysis of how the breakdown will be won and lost.


    Season 6 is Sponsored by Continental Tyres


    00:00🎙️ Introduction 

    04:39 🛞 Continental Tyres Grip Strength Challenge

    06:03 🏟️ France vs South Africa Analysis

    23:00 🇿🇦 The Greatest Ever?

    32:37 🥃 Remy Martin Moment of Excellence

    56:44 🚗 Honda Team of the Week

    01:02:05 🌹England vs New Zealand Preview


    🎙️Birmingham (ish) Live Show: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-good-the-bad-the-rugby-live-from-harvey-norman-merry-hill-tickets-1952083206419

    📗New Book: https://lnk.to/GBRUnlocked/waterstones

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    11 November 2025, 11:52 pm
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    Borthball & The Golden Pollock

    Join Alex Payne, Mike Tindall, James Haskell, and Ben Kayser as they look back on England’s win over Australia and discuss Henry Pollock's unbelievable luck... and genius! The team gets fired up over the "orgasmic" success of Borthwick's Borthball tactics. Plus, they preview the massive France vs. Springboks "Payback" rematch, with Ben Kayser revealing the trauma still gripping the French following RWC 2023.


    Season 6 is Sponsored by Continental Tyres


    00:00 🎬 Introduction  

    03:58 💪 Lewis Moody - “Nutball”  

    09:05 🏆 England's Winning Streak  

    26:53 🏉 England vs. Fiji  

    31:09 🛞 Continental Tyres Grip Strength Challenge  

    35:06 🍀 Red Card Controversy   

    51:03 🚗 Honda Team of the Week Selection  

    57:30 🇫🇷 France vs. Springboks Preview  

    01:11:29 🥃 Rémy Martin Moment of Excellence


    📗Signed copies of our new book The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Unlocked are now available to pre-order @Waterstones. Pre-order to secure your copy here: https://lnk.to/GBRUnlocked/waterstones


    #Rugby #Podcast


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    5 November 2025, 12:01 am
  • 1 hour 21 minutes
    Rebuilding Welsh Rugby

    The Autumn Internationals are around the corner but Welsh Rugby is due for major surgery… which region will the Welsh Rugby Union cut by the end of the 2027/28 season?


    Payno, Hask and Tins are joined by the man at the heart of the Cymru Crisis: Dave Reddin, current Director of Rugby & Elite Performance at the WRU. Having worked alongside icons such as Sir Clive Woodward and Sir Gareth Southgate, Dave is a turnaround specialist renowned for creating elite winning cultures. The lads dissect Dave’s masterplan for reinvigorating Welsh rugby.


    Season 6 is Sponsored by Continental Tyres.


    00:00 – Introduction and Current State of Welsh Rugby

    🌍 03:12 – Rugby 360 and International Rugby Discussions

    🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿05:57 – Tom Willis and England Squad Insights

    📅 09:00 – Upcoming November Matches and Expectations

    🎙️ 11:08 – Interview with Dave Redden: Background and Role

    ⚔️ 13:16 – Challenges and Opportunities in Welsh Rugby

    🧩 28:35 – Proposed Action Plan for Welsh Rugby

    💔 30:46 – Fan Reactions and Emotional Costs

    🔮 36:13 – Future of Welsh Rugby Clubs and Mergers

    🌱 40:01 – Developing Young Talent

    53:43 – Timelines and Expectations for Change

    📋 59:49 – Coaching Strategies and Team Identity

    🥇 01:11:15 – Remy Martin Moment of Excellence


    🎟️ Tour Tickets: https://myticket.co.uk/artists/the-go...


    📘 GBR Book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/relo...


    #rugby⁠#podcast⁠#tindall⁠#haskell⁠

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    29 October 2025, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 16 minutes
    The England Fly-Half Debate

    The first major peak of the season is nearly here with the Autumn Nations Series, and the new England squad announcement has delivered two massive headlines: the departure of Tom Willis to France, and the inclusion of teenage try-scoring sensation Noah Caluorie.


    But the real debate is at fly-half. From Andrew & Barnes, Wilkinson and his challengers, Farrell to Ford, the England number ten jersey has always been a national talking point. Now, with George Ford, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith all vying for the starting spot, who will Steve Borthwick hand the keys to ahead of the next World Cup cycle?


    Joining Payno this week are two men who know the pressure cooker of fly-half selection better than anyone: former England 10s and World Cup stars Charlie Hodgson (38 caps, Premiership's all-time top scorer) and Toby Flood (60 caps, 2011 Six Nations winner).


    Season 6 is Sponsored by Continental Tyres


    00:00 🎙️ Introduction  

    03:18 🏉 Charlie and Toby’s Rugby Careers  

    13:42 💪 Continental Tyres Grip Strength Challenge  

    15:40 🌹 Discussion on the new England Squad  

    16:50 🌟 Noah Caluori: Rising Star  

    22:07 🤔 Debate on England's Fly Half Selection  

    31:48 🎯 Owen Farrell's Future  

    49:25 🔄 Debating England's Centre Combinations  

    55:53 🌍 The Fly-Half Debate in Global Context  

    01:04:16 🇫🇷 Tom Willis' Move to Bordeaux  


    🎟️ Tour Tickets: ⁠https://myticket.co.uk/artists/the-good-the-bad-the-rugby

    🥃 Rémy Martin x Barbarians Live Show: ⁠https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-with-barbarian-legends-x-remy-martin-vsop-tickets-1777685728869

    🍀O’Neill’s Live Show : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gbr-x-oneills-autumn-nations-show-england-v-all-blacks-preview-tickets-1691405211519?aff=erelexpmlt

    📘 GBR Book: ⁠https://www.waterstones.com/book/reloaded-the-good-the-bad-and-the-rugby/james-haskell/mike-tindall/9780008786373 🏉 Rugby Buddy: https://www.rugby-buddy.com


    #rugby⁠#podcast⁠#tindall⁠#haskell⁠

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    21 October 2025, 11:01 pm
  • 1 hour 13 minutes
    Andy Farrell: The Making of a World-Class Coach

    Hask and Payno explore the making of Andy Farrell, a two-time Man of Steel forged in a tough Wigan environment. Sitting down to launch his new book, The Only Way I Know, he discusses how becoming a father to Owen at 16 cemented his focus, recalling the shock: "We were devastated, we felt we'd let our parents down." That early responsibility and drive became the blueprint for his world-class coaching success. Season 6 is Sponsored by Continental Tyres.

    00:00 🎥 Show Intro & Welcome: Andy Farrell

    02:18 📘 The Farrell Book: From Wigan Debut at 16 to Lions Coach

    07:53 🏉 Once A Wiganer Always A Wiganer

    09:23 ⚔️ Rugby League: The Ashes, NRL & The War of Attrition

    17:26 🎶 Richard Ashcroft & Oasis

    29:33 👨‍👦 Becoming a Dad

    38:23 🧠 “You Never Let Him Win": Andy on Competing with Owen Farrell

    40:29 💪 Grip Strength Challenge: Two-Time Man of Steel on the Leaderboard

    52:40 🧭 Coaching Evolution: From Ruthless Standards to Modern Man Management

    01:06:53 🏆 Why Andy Moved to Union & What’s Next 🎟️ Tour Tickets: https://myticket.co.uk/artists/the-good-the-bad-the-rugby 🥃 Rémy Martin x Barbarians Live Show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-with-barbarian-legends-x-remy-martin-vsop-tickets-1777685728869 📘 GBR Book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/reloaded-the-good-the-bad-and-the-rugby/james-haskell/mike-tindall/9780008786373 🏉Rugby League Ashes: https://tinyurl.com/p322anfw


    #rugby #podcast #tindall #haskell


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    15 October 2025, 12:09 am
  • 1 hour 24 minutes
    Brown v May: When England Teammates Clash

    Former England teammates Mike Brown and Jonny May join the dream team for a revealing chat on the intense world of professional rugby. Brown, fresh from retirement and a corporate career change, offers candid insights into the psychological toll of the professional game, and the lads debate contrasting experiences under Eddie Jones. May and Brown also reveal the ups and downs of their volatile relationship on and off the field, including a training ground injury that ended in 11 stitches. Finally, the pair get stuck into an England selection debate ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.


    Lewis Moody gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lewis-moody-fundraising-appeal

    Tour Tickets: https://myticket.co.uk/artists/the-good-the-bad-the-rugby

    GBR Book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/reloaded-the-good-the-bad-and-the-rugby/james-haskell/mike-tindall/9780008786373


    00:00 🎬 Introduction: Welcome to the Good, The Bad, and The Rugby  

    01:01 🗣️ Fan Feedback on the previous episode with Peter O'Mahony  

    03:42 🏉 Mike Brown joins: Life after rugby  

    05:00 💔 The devastating news of Lewis Moody's MND diagnosis  

    09:54 🎉 Celebrating Mike Brown's career  

    15:47 🎤 Brown's bizarre interview for Southampton FC Academy Director  

    15:09 🐅 Joining Leicester Tigers: the nervous week's trial  

    21:41 ⚡The Eddie Jones Experience  

    44:00 🚗 Continental Tyres Grip Strength Challenge  

    45:22🤝 The Brown-May Relationship  

    52:43 🔄 The England Selection Debate: Ford, The Smiths, or Farrell?

    01:04:16 😡 The "Mr. Angry" Persona, clashes with Eddie and Ben Te'o  

    01:12:47 😬 Brown's "awful" start to international rugby  

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    8 October 2025, 1:08 am
  • 1 hour 30 minutes
    Peter O'Mahony: Rassie, Retirement & Regret

    Irish legend Peter O’Mahony kicks off the Season 6 opener. Newly retired, the lifelong Munster fan reflects on Anthony Foley’s passing and the arrival of Rassie Erasmus, offering insight into the coach’s unique style. O’Mahony also relives his career high point, Ireland’s historic series win in New Zealand, including the fiery war of words with All Blacks captain Sam Cane. He goes on to share how Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell shaped both his game and the future of Irish rugby. Plus, Mike Tindall provides an update on the R360 proposal, confirming they are "80%" ready for launch.


    Season 6 is sponsored by Continental Tyres


    Tour Tickets: https://myticket.co.uk/artists/the-good-the-bad-the-rugby


    GBR Book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/reloaded-the-good-the-bad-and-the-rugby/james-haskell/mike-tindall/9780008786373

    00:00 - Show Intro 03:49 - R360 progress upgrade 12:18 - Peter O'Mahony on retirement 22:40 - The Munster Youngster 27:18 - Axel Foley's passing and its impact on Munster 29:44 - Working with Rassie Erasmus 38:40 - Leinster favouritism? 42:50 - Grip Strength Challenge 44:20 - Pride of wearing the Ireland jersey 48:01 - Rala The Kitman Havoc 54:15 - The Arrival of Joe Schmidt at Ireland 01:01:27 - The Same Cane reunion 01:08:05 - Andy Farrell the Alpha Male 01:15:05 - Losing the Lions Captaincy 01:19:36 - Relationship with the Media


    #Rugby
    #Podcast


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    1 October 2025, 12:00 am
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