Chris hosts Ugo and Danny for a definitive review of the 2023/2024 season. With the help of the listeners, we go through the highlights of an exhilarating campaign at both club and international level, from South Africa’s Rugby World Cup triumph to the flex of the Olympics-bound Antoine Dupont. How good was George Ford’s masterclass against Argentina? How impressive was Glasgow’s URC title win? And where does Ireland’s victory in South Africa rank? The guys also pick their Lions XVs for the 1st Test against Australia next summer, and unsurprisingly struggle to agree.

Ugo, Ashy and Danny are back on the sofa to look back at a busy weekend for the Home Nations. They begin with Ireland’s impressive victory over South Africa despite the absence of several key players. With England once again coming so close against the All Blacks, the guys ponder whether it was a missed opportunity for Steve Borthwick’s side. And how close are Wales to ending their winless streak having not won since October? Plus, they delve into what has been learnt about each of the four team as the season reaches its conclusion.

Chris is at Eden Park and looks back on another narrow defeat for England against New Zealand who win the test series 2-0. It was an important learning curve for Steve Borthwick's side, but what are the positives from two straight defeats? What can the team learn from this tour? All Blacks legend Ian Jones and World Cup winner Paul Grayson discuss, plus Chris speaks to England captain Jamie George, head coach Borthwick and New Zealand boss Scott Robertson.

We’re less than 24 hours from the second Test at Eden Park which finally brings the curtain down on a long season, and Alex Lowe is back on the pod to preview it all with Chris in the heart of Auckland. England will be without George Furbank who has been ruled out through injury. How much will the absence of the Northampton full-back change England’s gameplan on Saturday? We hear from England flanker Sam Underhill on Freddie Steward coming in to replace Furbank and he tells us how much he’s relishing the Eden Park challenge. Chris has also been speaking to Chandler Cunningham-South about his rapid rise to becoming an England international after growing up in New Zealand.

Chris is at the England team hotel in Auckland to chat to captain, and friend of the pod, Jamie George. We hear how the England team watched their footballing counterparts reach the Euro 2024 final and why Gareth Southgate is such a big inspiration to Jamie and Steve Borthwick. Who will be England's Ollie Watkins at Eden Park on Saturday? Chris also chats to Andrew Strawbridge, who recently joined England's coaching set-up on a permanent basis having helped the All Blacks to reach the Rugby World Cup final in October. But in 2015 Strawbridge was given days to live after contracting sepsis in Samoa. He recounts his near-death experience, the impact it has had on him physically and how it has shaped his approach to life.

Tom channels his inner Rassie Erasmus as he highlights some issues with the officiating in the 1st Test between South Africa and Ireland. The Boks use of the bench is once again up for discussion. GRO tries to come up with some positives following another defeat for Wales that’s seen them fall to 11th in the world rankings. And where do England need to improve if they are to end New Zealand’s long unbeaten run at Eden Park?

There is no venue in world rugby like Eden Park in Auckland. It is now 30 years since the All Blacks have lost a game at the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby. Ahead of the 2nd Test match with England on Saturday, we ask what is so different about Eden Park, and why do the All Blacks never lose there? Chris is joined by one of the voices of New Zealand rugby in Nigel Yalden, as well as All Blacks legend Ian Jones, who remembers when France stormed the fortress in 1994. And New Zealand back Stephen Perofeta tells us how this current crop are determined to continue the Eden Park legacy.

Ugo, Ashy and Danny pick through the bones of a busy weekend of games. They ask whether England could have done more to steal a win against the All Blacks in Dunedin and explain why a win at Eden Park next weekend is more than a possibility for Borthwick’s men. Did Wales' lack of discipline and experience cost them in Sydney against the Wallabies? And did South Africa against Ireland in Durban live up to the hype? Plus, the guys reveal what fixture they are most looking forward to this weekend.

Chris is at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin reflecting on a narrow 16-15 defeat for England in the first test match. All Blacks legend Ian Jones is alongside him, with World Cup winner Paul Grayson joining in from London. It was a case of missed chances for England, but they can take lots of positives into the second and final test at Eden Park next Saturday. Chris speaks to head coach Steve Borthwick, a disappointed England skipper Jamie George and New Zealand head coach Scott 'Razor' Robertson who said he was relieved to get the win.

Can England claim their first win in New Zealand since 2003? On the eve of the first Test, we take advice from one of our loyal listeners and head to a bar in Dunedin where Chris chats to rugby correspondent Alex Lowe from The Times. You'll also hear from centre Ollie Lawrence who is back in New Zealand for the first time since 2017 when he toured the country with his school. We find out what the All Blacks captain Scott Barrett is expecting from England and look ahead to Wales and Ireland's assignments on a super Saturday of rugby.

Chris is at the All Blacks team hotel as Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson announces his first New Zealand team – and there’s a big surprise at fullback. We get the thoughts of NZ Herald correspondent Liam Napier on Robertson’s squad to face England which also sees the return of TJ Perenara and Damian McKenzie at fly-half. You will hear from the reigning world player of the year Ardie Savea on the challenge he is expecting from England in Dunedin. Chris also manages to grab a word with NZ Rugby chief Mark Robinson about the strength of the All Black brand and the challenges they face in the modern game.

Chris, Tom English and Gareth Rhys Owen battle time zones and technical difficulties to bring you the first Nations pod of the summer. We do a deep dive into the many challenges facing Wales on their tour to Australia. Would drawing the series actually suit both Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt? Tom is still basking in the glory of some Scottish silverware and is there anything other than revenge on the minds of the Springboks as they look to end their losing run against Ireland.

Chris has made it to Auckland – short of both sleep and a suitcase – and he heads into the England hotel as Steve Borthwick names his team for the first Test with the All Blacks. Borthwick tells us what he wants from Marcus Smith after picking an unchanged backline, and why Fin Baxter and Ollie Sleightholme are both set for their debut. Vice-captain Henry Slade is on the pod to give some jetlag tips and to reflect on his journey from Test rookie to one of the squad’s senior players. And Alex Mitchell discusses the Northampton influence in the team and why Saturday could be a memorable day for English sport.

Chris, Danny and Ashy are joined by Jamie George and Nick Tompkins to look ahead to a brilliant few weeks of international rugby. Can Ireland win in South Africa, or is it a step too far for Andy Farrell’s side? There is an element of the unknown about the All Blacks, so do England have a chance of making history in New Zealand? Meanwhile Wales have a chance to restore some pride in the jersey against the Wallabies, while Scotland will be gunning for four wins on their tour of the Americas.

Danny gives Chris and Ashy the lowdown on his day with the Barbarians at Twickenham which ended with another yellow card! England passed their Tokyo Test with flying colours as Eddie Jones’ homecoming ends in defeat. Has Marcus Smith done enough to nail down the 10 shirt for the All Blacks series? Glasgow’s Huw Jones joins from Johannesburg airport after winning the URC. We hear all about their celebrations and get his take on what this victory could do for Scottish rugby. We also talk Wales, the PWR final and if Michael Cheika is the right man to takeover at Leicester Tigers.

Chris tracks down Danny, who is a little worse for wear, for a special episode from the Barbarians team hotel in Mayfair. They're joined by some of Danny's Baa Baas team mates starting with All Blacks legend and captain for the week Sam Whitelock. Can Danny convince him to become vice-captain? Zach Mercer talks openly about his move back to the UK and his struggles with England selection. Saracens' new recruit Fergus Burke also joins, plus we discuss the England's team to play Japan and the size of the task that awaits an inexperienced Wales side at Twickenham.

Danny is on the sofa with Ashy and Ugo before he joins up with the Barbarians this week, but his fitness is quicky called into question after a chance encounter with a set of scales at Centre Parcs. Scotland centre Huw Jones joins the pod fresh after reaching the URC final with Glasgow. He talks about their big win at Thomond Park before flying out to South Africa to prepare for their showdown with the Bulls in Pretoria. We also look ahead to Japan v England and Eddie Jones v Steve Borthwick.

The pod is back at Twickenham two days after the Premiership final, but this time we're talking England as Steve Borthwick names his 36-man squad for the tour to Japan and New Zealand. Danny, Ugo, Ashy and Chris quiz the England head coach on his decision to take Tom Curry, the inexperience in the back line and style of play. With George Ford missing the summer through injury, which Smith will be wearing the 10 jersey this summer? We also take ski goggles, trophy parades and look ahead to the business end of the URC season.

Chris, Ashy and Matt Dawson bring you reaction to a thrilling Premiership final as Northampton beat 14-man Bath at Twickenham. Courtney Lawes is back on the pod after ending his Saints career on a high and ending the club's long wait for a title. But as Lawes departs, is this current squad full of homegrown talent destined for more success in the future? You will also hear from a disappointed Johann van Graan, we discuss Beno Obano's red card and analyse Finn Russell's performance.

We're continuing our build-up to the Premiership final by speaking to two of the biggest names in the game who will run out on Saturday. Sara has been to Bath's training centre at Farleigh House to catch up with Finn Russell, who talks about his desire to win a first trophy since 2015, his partnership with Ben Spencer and how he deals with nerves and pressure. You will also hear from the departing Courtney Lawes ahead of his final appearance for the Saints after 17 seasons. He tells Chris about the strong position he leaves the club in, his longevity as a player and how he still feels he is still improving at 35. Which club will end their long wait for Premiership glory at a sold-out Twickenham?

Ugo, Danny & Ashy are on the sofa to round-up Premiership semi-final weekend as Northampton and Bath both emerged from two titanic tussles to book their spot in the big dance at Twickenham. With the top two sides in the league going head-to-head in the final, we pick our combined XV. Which club ended up with the most players? They also discuss Owen Farrell's legacy after he bowed out from English rugby, where does he rank amongst the all-time greats of the English game? There is a look at the URC quarter-final line-up and a tribute to the great Rob Burrow.

Ashy and Chris are suited and booted for the RPA awards in central London where they manage to track down some of the biggest Premiership names who will be involved in this weekend's play-offs. First up on the pod it's Northampton duo Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith who look ahead to their showdown with Saracens which will be Lawes' final game at the Gardens after 17 seasons! They also grab a word with England and Saracens back row Ben Earl who says they're so focused for Friday night it's 'scary'. Ashy is forced to pick between George Ford and Finn Russell as we look ahead to Saturday's semi-final between Bath and Sale. Plus we grab a word with the legendary England and Lions centre Jeremy Guscott, who was part of the last Bath team to win the title back in 1996!

It's Premiership semi-final week, so to kick things off we have a special episode with the directors of rugby from the four clubs competing for a spot at Twickenham this weekend. Mark McCall, Johann van Graan, Phil Dowson and Alex Sanderson are all together to chat to Chris about the challenges of a season that was delayed by the World Cup and put on hold during the Six Nations. Does a 10-team league work? And are we any closer to achieving promotion and relegation? They also discuss big name players leaving for France and whether the RFU should relax its eligibility rules for overseas players. And with four of the best fly-halves around on show this weekend, each DOR explains why their 10 is the best.

This special bonus episode of the pod comes from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Chris and Ashy bring us on the whistle reaction to a dramatic Champions Cup final. Toulouse were the winners against Leinster but it was a match that had everything – including going to extra time. Chris chats to man-of-the-match and player of the year, Antoine Dupont and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn, who both had excellent performances for the French side. But also Chris catches up with Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, as his players came so close to winning the final.

Sale's Ben Curry is our special guest this week after they stunned Saracens in the final round of the Premiership. He tells Chris and Ashy what's been behind their remarkable run to the play-offs and why Alex Sanderson had them catching tennis balls wrapped in white tape all week. We also discuss Saracens' farewell tour and whether Northampton's decision to rest key players for the semi-finals will backfire. Also, is the Champions Cup final this weekend the unofficial World Cup final?

Will Saracens or Bath secure a home semi-final? Can Sale hang onto fourth spot? Or will Exeter, Harlequins or Bristol leapfrog them? Ashy, Ugo and Sara look ahead to the final round of the Premiership season which has all the makings of a classic weekend. There is also plenty of fallout from round 16 including THAT 90-0 defeat for Gloucester, late bonus points and emotional send-offs. We find out how Saracens are taking inspiration from Ted Lasso their run-in and Ashy's pet goldfish.

Fresh from his trip to Toulouse, Danny gives Ugo and Chris the inside track on Quins’ defeat in the south of France. He tells us about his latest rendezvous with his favourite scrum-half and how Blair Kinghorn ended up in his bad books on Sunday. We also discuss Northampton’s narrow defeat at Croke Park and ask who will have the edge in the final at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. But will an English club get a better chance of competing for club rugby’s biggest prize? And will Gloucester’s season be considered a success if they manage to lift the Challenge Cup despite their struggles in the Premiership?

Chris, Danny and Ashy are on the sofa as the race for the Premiership play-offs hots up. Are Bristol genuine title contenders after another big win? Elsewhere Harlequins beat the league leaders Northampton, but should Danny have been sent off? And why are scrum-halves the lowest-paid players in the league? We also chat to former England lock Geoff Parling after his appointment to the Australia coaching staff, and discuss how is he set to make rugby history next summer.

Sara is pitch side in Bordeaux with World Cup winner Katy Daley-McLean after England wrapped up a third straight Grand Slam with victory over France. They speak to an emotional John Mitchell and Katy is reunited with two of her favourite former team-mates. They also speak Ellie Kildunne who reveals some big news on the pod. Sara and Katy also wrap up the rest of the final round drama as Wales left it late at the Principality and there was surprise win for Ireland over Scotland.

Sara, Chris and Philippa preview the final round of the Women’s Six Nations as England chase a third successive Grand Slam. Red Roses captain Marlie Packer talks about the challenge of facing France out in Bordeaux. We look ahead to a big day for Wales at the Principality as they look to avoid the wooden spoon, and the battle for third place which would secure World Cup qualification.

On the 30th anniversary of England's victory in the 1994 World Cup final, Sara sits down with Giselle Mather and Gill Burns to relive that historic day in English women's rugby. It was the tournament that almost never happened, but Scotland stepped in to host at the last minute and the rest as they say is history. Gill and Giselle take us back to the struggles being a rugby player in the early 90s juggling work and even sharing beds with players while on tour. They also delve into the final itself and explain how they toppled the defending champions USA in front of packed stadium in Edinburgh.

We're talking reunions on this week's pod after Ugo's trip to see Blue in Liverpool. If there was one team or player in their prime you could pay to watch, who would it be? Bristol get some love after crashing the top four party in the Premiership and that's time of year where we start to talk end of season awards. We get Danny to run the rule over England's plethora of in-form nines now that he has called time on his international career. There are big wins for Munster and Ospreys in the URC, Leinster sign a Barrett brother and Ugo considers launching a new career as a gymnast.

Sara Orchard and World Cup winner Kat Merchant react to England getting a record win over Ireland. Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne both scored hat-tricks in front of 48,778 fans at Twickenham to remain on course for the Grand Slam.

Sara Orchard and World Cup winner Kat Merchant are at Twickenham chatting to Megan Jones and Maud Muir ahead of Ireland on Saturday. Megan and Maud talk the Twickenham noise and how the team have been preparing for the loud atmosphere. Plus Sara has been catching up with Ireland co-captains Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan and how they think their familiarity with the Red Roses players could work to their advantage. Kat and Sara also chat the challenge that faces Wales as France travel to the Principality and the grudge match between Italy and Scotland.

We're at full strength on the pod this week with Ugo, Danny, Ashy and Chris all on the sofa to review the Champions Cup quarter-final weekend. We had to start with the thriller in Bordeaux, friend of the pod Marcus Smith drops by to give us - and Danny - the lowdown on that epic win. Is it working having the South African teams in the competition? Do we need a neutral host city for semi-final weekend? We also talk Croke Park, rowing and our favourite Blue hits as Ugo heads to Liverpool for the Blue reunion tour.

Sara is in Edinburgh to bring you reaction to another big win for the Red Roses as they remain on course for another Grand Slam. England ran in eight tries as they thrashed Scotland in front of a record crowd for Scottish women's rugby, despite being reduced to 14 players in the second half. Sara is joined by former Scotland prop Heather Lockhart pitch side to get her thoughts, they also grab a word with England's Jess Breach and Scotland's Fi McIntosh.

Sara Orchard and former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett head into the England camp ahead of their trip to Scotland in the Women's Six Nations. They hear from the retiring Red Rose Vickii Cornborough after she had twins last year, whilst also speaking with current England lock Abbie Ward about her return to play after the birth of her daughter. Italy and Sale lock Sara Tunesi joins the pod from Parma to talk about her sides hopes of making history ahead of their clash with France. There's also plenty of chat about the possible return of Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney and the World Rugby 4.5 size ball trial.

The pod bounces around the world this week, starting in Northampton and ending in Dubai. Chris is joined by Paul Grayson and Alex Mitchell after the Saints beat Munster in a cracker at Franklin’s Gardens, before checking in with Ashy as he hides from the Dubai sun. We run the rule on the Champions Cup weekend and look forward to the quarter-finals. Are Toulouse still the team to beat, or is this Bordeaux’s year? And do any of the three English sides have a realistic chance of winning the whole thing?

Ugo, Ashy and Danny convene to discuss a busy weekend of action in the Premiership. They kick-off with the controversy at Danny’s game that saw Irné Herbst return to the field having only served seven minutes of his sin-bin. Coupled with last week’s TMO blunder, Ashy doesn’t hold back in his criticism of the officials. With Louis Rees-Zammitt picking up a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, the boys debate how this can positively impact the image of rugby. And with Europe returning this weekend, they run down their pick of the fixtures.

Sara Orchard is alongside former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett and England World Cup winner Kat Merchant for reaction to England's huge win over Wales in the second weekend of the Six Nations.

Philippa Tuttiett joins Sara to look ahead to the weekend’s action in the Women’s Six Nations. We're inside the Scotland camp with Helen Nelson as they prepare to take on France. Wales winger Jaz Joyce tells us what their goals are for the next 12 months. And find out why Sophie Ellis-Bextor is spoken about on the pod.

It’s a big day for Danny as he calls time on his England career after 16 years and 101 caps. He tells Chris and Ashy what was behind the decision, the conversation he had with England boss Steve Borthwick and we get to the bottom of how David Beckham sent him a video message for his 100th cap. We also round up the action from the weekend as the Premiership came back with a bang as Saracens laid down a big marker, Gloucester shocked Leicester and Finn Russell finally landed his first drop goal.

Sara, Katy Daley-McLean and Maggie Alphonsi round up an eventful opening weekend of the Women's Six Nations. They discuss Scotland ending their 20 year wait for a victory on Welsh soil and a costly final minute for Wales. Katy and Maggie pick out plenty of positives for Ireland under their new head coach Scott Bemand despite the defeat in France. We also look at England's big win over Italy in Parma that featured a red card, a lacklustre first half performance and Emily Scarratt at 12.

The Six Nations continues as the Women’s tournament gets under way this weekend! Sara and Philippa Tuttiett are at the launch event to speak to the home nations captains and explain why the battle for third place this year will be so intense. They speak to England's Marlie Packer as she prepares to win her 100th cap for the Red Roses. Sara bounds with Scotland’s Rachel Malcolm over a certain reality TV show. We find out why Ireland's new co-captain Edel McMahon is called 'tricky', plus we hear from Hannah Jones on whether Gloucester's dominance in the PWR will bring more success to Wales. We also discuss what France and Italy can bring to the party and there’s a special cameo by a Gladiator!

Chris, Gareth and Tom reunite for one last pod to bring the curtain down on the 2024 Six Nations. What mark out of 10 does this year's tournament deserve? The guys pick their favourite match of this year's championship and their player of the tournament after the four-man shortlist was revealed. Can one scrum-half count himself unlucky to have missed out? And should there have been more than one Italian on the list? We also look at what's next for the home nations ahead of some intriguing assignments in the summer.

Chris is joined by Ugo Monye, John Barclay and Sam Warburton to go through the Six Nations after Ireland win back-to-back titles, while Wales pick up the Wooden Spoon for the first time in 21 years. The team rate each country and pick out some key moments from the tournament. Who overachieved and who came up short and why? And what next for those teams evolving and going through transition? Sam also gives his thoughts on the future of Welsh rugby and shares a story from a post match function, after Scotland’s win over Wales in Cardiff.

Chris is joined by Tommy Bowe and Fraser Brown for on the whistle reaction from the Aviva after Ireland beat Scotland to win back-to-back Six Nations titles. Plus Chris has pitch side reaction from Jack Crowley and Robbie Henshaw. The team also chat Wales’ loss to Italy and what’s next for them. Elsewhere Sara is out in Lyon with Matt Dawson and Chris Ashton following France’s 33-31 victory over England after a late Ramos penalty. Sara also speaks to England captain Jamie George.

Chris manages to track down Tom English in Dublin to look ahead to the final round of the Six Nations. They debate where back-to-back titles would leave Andy Farrell's Ireland after they missed out on successive Grand Slams. Rory Darge joins the pod with Scotland in the hunt for a first Triple Crown since 1990. How do they end a run of nine straight defeats against Ireland? Could this weekend be Manu Tuilagi's final appearance for England? Sara catches up with him in Lyon as England look to end their championship on a high. And we discuss the wooden spoon decider in Cardiff between Wales and Italy.

Will Ireland wrap up back-to-back Six Nations titles or is there a big shock in store? The teams are out for Super Saturday and Chris is in Dublin to preview Ireland's clash with Scotland and get the thoughts of Luke Fitzgerald, who was part of the last Irish team to win successive titles. Sara is Lyon and has been to the England team hotel to speak to fly-half George Ford who hopes to mark his birthday this weekend with a first England win on French soil since 2016.

In the last episode of our rivalries series, Chris sits down with Martin Johnson to discuss the fixture known simply as Le Crunch. They look at the brilliant French side of the 80s and England's dominance in the 90s as Johnson made his breakthrough. We look at how the psyche of the French rugby player is built on emotion and why facing France in Paris was such a daunting task. Johnson also reveals why this rivalry meant the most to him as a player and that his favourite try of all time was scored by a Frenchman.

Ashy and Chris head down to England training ahead of their trip to France. They chat to attack coach Richard Wigglesworth who tries to explain where the performance against the Irish came from, why Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is such a special talent and queries why Ashy is taking fashion advice from Ugo. And Ben Earl tells us what led to his emotional interview after the Ireland win and why he feels some of the criticism of England has not been justified.

Chris, Gareth and Tom are back for the final - or maybe penultimate - time this Six Nations. In one of the more eagerly anticipated episodes in Nations pod history, Tom gives his verdict on England’s brilliant win over Ireland, and is full of praise for the English performance. We rue missed opportunities for Scotland and ask whether they can react against title-chasing Ireland in Dublin. After victory in Rome, are Italy now favourites in Cardiff this weekend? But how much do Wales need a win, and is Warren Gatland taking the right approach with his selection?

Sara is joined by John Barclay and Philippa Tuttiett for on the whistle reaction from a very loud and lively Principality Stadium after France beat Wales to complete round four of the Six Nations. They discuss what went right for France and what next for Wales, who host Italy on the final day. They also console a rather sad John Barclay after Scotland lost against Italy and look ahead to what will be a really ‘Super Saturday’ next week which also includes Ireland taking on Scotland and England travelling to France. And not only that Sara works out those all-important permutations!!

Chris Jones, Matt Dawson, Paul Grayson & Tommy Bowe reflect on England's shock win over Ireland. The team discuss what was a 'bouncing gantry' as England galvanised the Twickenham crowd to put a stop to Ireland's back-to-back grand slam hopes. We hear from Marcus Smith, whose drop goal won it for England to keep their Six Nations dream alive, and also discuss the end of the road for Scotland as Italy came back to win in Rome.

With the Irish a bonus point victory away from another Six Nations title, Chris is at Twickenham chatting to The 42’s Murray Kinsella. They discuss takeaways from Peter O’Mahony’s press conference, what the England gameplan should be, and the fact that Ireland have barely come under any pressure during the competition to this point. England defence coach – and former Ireland international – Felix Jones is also on the pod talking systems, shape, and who his family will be rooting for on Saturday.

Sara and Ugo check in at Pennyhill Park to speak to Jamie George and Steve Borthwick ahead of the Ireland game at Twickenham. On the England agenda; how to bounce back from defeat at Murrayfield given the quality of this weekend's opposition, Danny Care's 100th cap, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's first start, as well as.....Steve's current reading list and Jamie's thoughts on whether Unai Emery or Mikel Arteta is the superior manager.Plus, Scotland head to Rome eyeing their highest ever Six Nations finish with Andy Christie and Cameron Redpath added to their starting XV, whilst Wales drop Nick Tompkins and George North for the visit of the French.

This episode of the pod has a distinctly French feel to it – as the focus is all on this French national side. Chris Jones is joined by Paul Eddison – an expert in all things French rugby and Six Nations winner, former France flanker now sporting director at Racing 92, Yannick Nyanga. They pose that all important question, can this France side win their last two Six Nations matches and are they a team in crisis? And they delve deep into the issues that have blighted this French team – from losing key players, changes to backroom staff, discipline problems and overcoming the mental scars of the World Cup!

After 16 years on the international scene, Danny is set to win his 100th England cap this weekend. Chris and Ashy chat to him about the highs and lows of his career, his favourite tries, and how a chocolate cookie threatened to detail matters in 2017. We also ask if – and how - England can cause an upset against Ireland this weekend.

Chris, Tom and Gareth reconvene for the Nations pod. Tom battles his usual technical issues to declare that England have no chance at Twickenham against Ireland, but is he right to write off Steve Borthwick’s side? Scotland have their tails up after their Calcutta Cup triumph, but do they need to be worried about playing Italy in Rome? Elsewhere Wales are looking for their first win of the Six Nations, and we discuss whether it can come this weekend against the struggling French. And there is the usual debate about the value of a Triple Crown and the merits of bonus points.

In the latest episode of our rivalries series, Jamie Heaslip chats to Chris about the battles between England and Ireland down the years and how the rivalry has evolved. Has the move to professionalism helped Ireland turn the tables on England? We pick out some Jamie's memorable victories over England and remember that infamous encounter at Croke Park back in 2007. Heaslip also gives us his take on the meeting at Twickenham this weekend as Ireland look to make it four wins in a row over their great rivals.

Chris is joined by Ugo, Sam Warburton and John Barclay talking about the big stories from the weekend’s matches. The team unpick Scotland’s dominance over England and where it’s going wrong for Steve Borthwick’s team. Can anyone beat Ireland and are there now four poor teams in this Six Nations? And are the French fortunate to get a draw against Italy after a dramatic last minute missed penalty?Timecodes: 01:50 Moments from the weekend 03:30 Scotland performance 11:30 England jersey weighs heavy 31:40 Can Ireland be stopped? 44:10 Four poor teams?

Chris is joined by Ashy, Matt Dawson and Johnnie Beatie in Edinburgh where Scotland beat England 30-21 to win their fourth Calcutta Cup in a row.Both captains, England’s Jamie George and Scotland’s Finn Russell, are on the pod and we give Scotland coach Gregor Townsend the final word from Murrayfield. Plus, there’s reaction from Dublin where Sara was joined by James Hook and Luke Fitzgerald to watch Ireland continue their push for the Grand Slam, beating Wales 31-7. 00:10 – Calcutta Cup discussion 12:59 – Finn Russell Interview 16:52 – Jamie George Interview 30:31 – Ireland v Wales reaction 44:43 – Gregor Townsend Interview 48:29 – Final thoughts from Murrayfield

Chris and Ashy are in John Barclay's recommended pub in Edinburgh where they’re joined by Rory Lawson on the eve of the Calcutta Cup. Up for discussion.. Scotland aiming to match their best winning streak in this fixture since there were “penny-farthings on the side” according to Ashy, or just the 1890s. Is the amount of chat about England’s new blitz defence disproportionate? And how will Finn Russell look to counter it having struggled against South Africa at the World Cup?England captain Jamie George is also on the pod, speaking with real poise about the death of his mother last week and how emotional the occasion will be for him and his family.And finally, Ashy reveals he thinks haggis is a vegetable.

George Furbank's selection at full-back is the big talking point as England and Scotland name their teams ahead of the Calcutta Cup this weekend. Sara and Ugo discuss this, plus Ollie Lawrence's return to the England midfield and our very own Danny Care earning his 99th cap. Chris and Tom join from Edinburgh to pick through the Scotland team which sees Blair Kinghorn return. We debate the strength of the two benches and who will have the upper hand at scrum time. There is also a look at the match in Dublin as Wales go in search of an unlikely win against a Ireland dreaming of back-to-back Grand Slams.

Has the success of Ireland and Wales in the Six Nations era created a rivalry between these two Celtic nations? Sara chats to Shane Horgan and Tom Shanklin to find out what it was really like to play in this fixture and relive those infamous encounters in 2005 and 2009. Has the gulf between the Welsh regions and the Irish provinces also been a contributing factor? They also look at how Warren Gatland has shaped this rivalry having coached both nations and raised eyebrows with his selections as Lions head coach over the years.

Danny again hosts Chris and Ashy at the England team hotel as the side prepare for a huge Six Nations clash against Scotland. DC discusses the prospect of starting on Saturday, the unique challenge of playing a Calcutta Cup game at Murrayfield, and how he is taking it hour by hour as he approaches a 100th England cap. Ollie Chessum is on the pod to talk about his number one supporter, his route to being an England regular, and the responsibility of running the social committee. And we are joined by Kevin Sinfield who opens up on leaving the set-up in the summer, working alongside the new defence coach Felix Jones, and why Murrayfield is a special place for him personally.

Tom, Chris and Gareth are back to look ahead to another big weekend of action. After letting Tom have his brief say on “try-gate”, they discuss whether England can deny Scotland a fourth win on the bounce in the Calcutta Cup. Gareth crunches the numbers to tell us why Wales has no chance against the Irish in Dublin. Chris goes as far as to question whether any team in world rugby could get a result at the Aviva. And as France hosts Italy in Lille, will we see a marked improvement from their narrow win against Scotland?

Having been involved in 20 Calcutta Cups as either a player or a coach, Gregor Townsend knows a thing or two about out this famous fixture and why it is so special to him and the Scottish rugby fans. Chris sits down with the Scotland boss to discuss the Calcutta Cup matches that mean the most to him. We hear about his debut in 1993, his only victory as a player in 2000, the greatest draw of all time and ending Scotland's hoodoo at Twickenham.

Week two of the Six Nations has come to a close so who better than Chris, Ugo, Ashy and Jiffy to get into all the big talking points from the weekend’s matches. They are start off with the late TMO drama at Murrayfield as Scotland narrowly lost to France. Was it a try in the dying minutes for Gregor Townsend’s men? The guys try to answer that and wonder how France improve after getting their first win of the tournament. Not only that, both England and Wales go under the microscope and Chris poses that all important question… are Ireland unstoppable? Timecodes: 05:30 – Scotland review. 17:00 - France analysis. 22:40 – England v Wales section. 33:35 – Future predictions. 38:00 – Ireland unstoppable?

Chris is at Twickenham with Matt Dawson, Paul Grayson and James Hook where England came from nine points behind to beat Wales and to top the Six Nations table. Plus, we’re at Murrayfield with Sara and Johnnie Beattie, where Scotland were denied a famous win against France.Steve Borthwick and George North join us on the pod from Twickenham and there’s also reaction from a disappointed Gregor Townsend.TOPICS: 00:12 Reaction to England against Wales 09:20 Steve Borthwick interview 15:20 George North interview 21:40 Reaction to Scotland versus France 32:55 Gregor Townsend interview 35:45 Final thoughts from Twickenham

Sara is joined by former Scotland captain John Barclay in Edinburgh ahead of Scotland v France, with Les Bleus looking to get their first points on the board. Then, we're in the Wales camp with Chris who's joined by Wales prop, Gareth Thomas, before heading back to Edinburgh to chat Ireland v Italy.

With the second round of fixtures fast approaching Sara and Ugo discuss the Scotland and France team news ahead of their Murrayfield showdown before chatting to Jamie George ahead of England against Wales. Bringing the good times back to Twickenham is high on this England squad’s agenda – we find out how they are planning to connect more successfully with their supporters. Also on the pod, a very left field book recommendation from Ben Earl and we invite Steve Borthwick to get involved in some pre-match mind games.

Chris, Gareth and Tom reconvene, slightly later than planned this week, which is nothing to do with Tom’s broken microphone. Despite this, Tom is in good form after Scotland’s win in Cardiff, but how does that second half prepare the Scots for France? And just how lingering is the French World Cup hangover? We discuss Wales’ sweeping changes to play England, while Gareth has some alarming stats about the Welsh at Twickenham. Ioan Lloyd is given a start at number 10, but how will Wales go about trying to pull off a Twickenham heist?

Ashy and Chris head down to England training ahead of the game against Wales. They catch up with the pod’s very own Danny Care who tells us how life in camp is and reveals why he and Ashy got thrown out of Oceania nightclub in Kingston a few years back. Tommy Freeman talks about how he's settling into the England fold after making his 6 Nations debut at the weekend. And Richard Wigglesworth is on the pod to talk about his role as attack coach.

Since the very first match in 1881, there has been one fixture that every Welsh player and fan has looked for on the calendar: England. Former Wales captain Sam Warburton sits down with Chris to explain why this particular rivalry evokes so much emotion and passion. From watching Wales on TV as a 10-year-old boy to leading them out as captain in front of 75,000 people, Sam runs us through some of his memories of the fixture - both good and bad.

Sam Warburton and John Barclay join Chris and Ugo to look back on a brilliant opening weekend to the 6 Nations. Plus Jonathan Davies is a special guest as we pay tribute to the Wales legend Barry John who died on Sunday.

After Scotland survived an incredible second half comeback from Wales to get their first win in Cardiff for 22 years, James Burridge is joined by Philippa Tuttiett and Andy Nichol, and we’re in Rome with Sara and Paul Grayson after England started their Six Nations campaign with a win over Italy. George Ford is on the pod after returning to the 10 shirt for England and we hear from Scotland’s new co-captain Finn Russell.00:30 – Wales v Scotland reaction 15:55 – Italy v England reaction 22:27 – George Ford Interview 27:33 – Finn Russell Interview 29:02 – Final thoughts on Wales v Scotland

Chris is joined by Ashy and Tommy to reflect on Ireland’s biggest ever away win. They look at what went right for the defending champions and what went wrong for France. Plus, they preview Saturday’s Six Nations action as England take on Italy while Wales face Scotland.

Chris and Ashy are reunited in Marseille ahead of the tournament curtain raiser between France and Ireland. They reminisce about some World Cup memories from the Autumn and the hotel manager has remembered Ashy’s room preference which is a bonus. Is this the greatest Six Nations opening fixture….ever? And which of these two sides has more emotional baggage from the World Cup? Plus England centre Fraser Dingwall is on the pod, one of five debutants for their opener against Italy.Topics: 0:08' - Chris and Ashy back in Marseille and hotels 03:20' - Opening game 05:56' - France and Ireland squad chat 13:17'- England squad and debutants 16:39' - Sara Orchard talks with Fraser Dingwall 21:10' - Fraser credits school days 26:40' - Open University degree whilst playing 28:21' - Back to Chris and Ashy 32:28' - Wales v Scotland chat

Chris heads to Girona to sit down with Danny and the new England captain Jamie George. The pair explain why they have had to relinquish their roles on the social committee since Jamie’s appointment, and who has been tasked with replacing them. Jamie outlines what he wants from his England team this Six Nations and what kind of captain he will be. Will we see more of an attacking style? And are the young players ready to make the step up?

Tom, Gareth and Chris are back for the Nations Pod. With plenty to get their teeth into, they ask how Ireland might fare in the post-Sexton era, will Wales’ lack of experience in key positions prove costly and what will England do at 10 with Marcus Smith on the treatment table. Gareth questions Tom’s accommodation choices in Cardiff as we ask whether it is finally Scotland’s time to win in the Welsh capital. And the guys give their predictions for the weekend and tournament winners.

The big names keep coming on the Daily as we are joined by a trio of head coaches in Gregor Townsend, Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick, as well as Michele Lamaro, the Italy captain. How will Scotland recover from a disappointing World Cup? Likewise for Ireland, is it about continuity or a fresh start? Borthwick outlines why it’s time England delivered in the Six Nations, and Lamaro promises a full-blooded effort from the Azzurri.

It’s Six Nations week, and the Rugby Union Daily is back! On the first of our bumper preview pods, Chris speaks to Wales boss Warren Gatland, new Scotland co-captain Rory Darge, the new Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada and the new Ireland skipper Peter O’Mahony. Will Wales’ callow squad sink or swim? How do co-captains work together? What is it like following Johnny Sexton as captain of your country? And how tough a job is it coaching Italy? Gareth Rhys-Owen, of Nations pod fame, is also with us as we look ahead to what should be a fascinating Championship, and we discuss which teams will cope best with the loss of some talismanic figures.

Sara, Ashy and Ugo are on the sofa to discuss the final round of pool games in the Champions Cup. They begin at Thomond Park where Northampton Saints came from behind to beat Munster to make it four from four. They also look at the other games that caught their eye and run through the round of sixteen fixtures that include a few repeats from the pool stages. Plus, there's the latest ahead of the Six Nations including new co-captains for Scotland and injury worries for Wales. And does Ugo feature in the new Netflix documentary about the Six Nations?

Chris and Ashy are at Twickenham to chat to Steve Borthwick about his revamped Six Nations squad. Danny made the cut and is one of three scrum-halves in the 36-man squad which will be captained by Jamie George. Borthwick talks about Danny's inclusion and the importance of experience in a squad which contains seven uncapped players. He also explains why he feels George is the right man to lead his team and has some advice for the Saracens hooker as a former captain. We also get Ashy's take to the shock news that Louis Rees-Zammit is quitting rugby for the NFL and there is reaction to Ireland's squad as Andy Farrell names Peter O'Mahony as captain.

Danny, Ashy and Chris are back on the sofa and there is loads to discuss after round 3 of the Champions Cup. Saracens are humbled in Bordeaux, there was controversy at Sandy Park and another impressive display from Northampton's youngsters. Is an Anglo/Welsh league the way forward for the struggling Welsh regions? We also look at what to expect from Scotland, Wales and England's Six Nations squad announcements this week. Plus, Ashy picks his two England wingers for Rome and we try to get some intel from Danny on where he is at with selection.

Ugo and Sara chat to Andy Farrell on the day he is named head coach of the British & Irish Lions for the tour of Australia in 2025. He explains why it is such an honour to be chosen to lead the Lions and reveals why he is 'embarrassed' of that infamous speech on the 2013 tour. They also chat to Ieuan Evans on why Farrell is the right man for the job and he pays tribute to JPR Williams, who sadly passed away at the age of 74 this week.

Is Owen Farrell about to leave Saracens? Ugo, Ashy and Chris discuss the shock news that Farrell could be heading to Racing 92 in the summer. What would the motivation be for moving clubs at 32 and will former England head coach Stuart Lancaster play a big part in his decision? Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson joins the pod after their sensational comeback at Sandy Park which sees them top of the Premiership. Steve Borthwick looks to have persuaded Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to join England over Wales so Ashy and Ugo also run the rule over England's options on the wing ahead of the Six Nations. Plus, we get top four predictions with the run-in to the Premiership season already in sight.

Danny, Ashy and Chris look back on a memorable weekend for the club game with bumper crowds across the Premiership including a record turnout at Twickenham. They talk Marcus Smith and George Ford and their battle to become England's first choice fly half as both continue to impress. Will we see Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in a Wales shirt this Six Nations? Plus, Ashy picks his England XV to start England's opening game in Rome.

Chris, Ashy, Danny and Ugo round up an eventful 2023 for the sport and the pod. They reflect on Danny reaching a World Cup semi-final with England. There were some great finals to relive at Twickenham, Dublin, Cape Town and Paris. We also reminisce about Ashy breaking the Premiership try scoring record and calling time on his illustrious playing career. Plus, there was a record breaking day for Red Roses, a difficult year for Welsh rugby and we touch on what we can expect in 2024.

We've got a full house on the pod this week as Danny, Ashy, Ugo and Chris round up another eventful weekend in the Champions Cup. Exeter's clutch king Henry Slade joins the pod before a family trip to the cinema to discuss another big win for the Chiefs and if an England recall is on the cards. Antoine Dupont is the talk of the pod after he revealed he still has Danny's Quins shirt from 2015 and his Toulouse side underlined their tag as tournament favourites.

Sara and Ugo take the pod to Twickenham and sit down with Red Roses head coach John Mitchell. He says England have the potential to become a "phenomenal" team, but how does he intend to get them there? And why did he decide to take the role in the first place? He also talks about his relationship with captain Marlie Packer and the differences between coaching men's and women's rugby.

Chris, Ugo and Ashy discuss a brilliant opening weekend of the Champions Cup. Exeter and Harlequins both pulled off famous wins in France, but which was more impressive? Elsewhere Bath continued their strong start to the season, as did Sale, while Leinster finally beat the double defending champions La Rochelle. A week after his mid-season move to Toulouse, Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn is on the pod to talk about what the move will do for his career, and when he might learn French and move out of his hotel. Meanwhile, on the subject of French moves, is it the right decision for Henry Arundell to stay at Racing 92? And Ugo has a shock announcement to make about his Christmas tree.

In part two, Ashy tries to build bridges in Munster as he chats to Craig Casey about the glory days at Thomond Park and what it means to represent the club. Josh Turnbull tells us why he's had part of his fibula removed and it led to him recreating a famous scene from Kill Bill. Sara chats to Gary Ringrose about his tough year with Leinster and Ireland. Plus, Ashy is reunited with another former team-mate and finally gets a good review.

Ashy and Sara are at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium for this year's Champions Cup launch. Bath's Ben Spencer reveals what it's like to have Finn Russell in your team and whether Ashy was a help or hindrance to his rise. Two-time winner Raymond Rhule tells us how he managed to walk away with the corner flag from last year's final and all about the 'manager' Ronan O'Gara. Ben Curry reminisces about his time with Ashy at Sale and how he will get his own back on brother Tom now he's out injured. We also hear from EPCR chairman Dom Mckay on changes to this year's format and where we're at with a potential Club World Cup in 2028.

The big talking point this week is still around Owen Farrell's decision to take a break from international rugby. Ashy, Danny and Ugo show their support for Farrell and give an insight into dealing with scrutiny from the media and fans when you're an international rugby player. England's Kyle Sinckler is on the pod and believes more could follow Farrell's example in the future if the authorities don't give more support to players. There is also a look at the another difficult week for Newcastle and Gloucester and our attention turns to the Champions Cup which returns this weekend.

Before getting stuck into the weekend's action, Ugo, Ashy and Chris discuss the all-important question when it comes to Christmas trees: real or fake? There's a look at Gloucester's struggles, Maro Itoje's future and Blair Kinghorn's move to the greatest club side in the world. Ashy offers an interesting theory on why Owen Farrell and Luke Pearce clashed at the weekend. We also pick a new Premiership club for a listener and argue who is top of the Top 14.

Danny is back on the pod to tell Chris all about the highs and lows of his World Cup in France. He also invites his new England friend, and arguably the Premiership's in-form player, Ollie Lawrence on for a chat. There's lots to unpick from derby weekend as Saracens once again underline their credentials as the league's best. Abbie Ward caps a remarkable return on the PWR opening weekend and Antoine Dupont gets us talking after opting to ditch the Six Nations for the Olympics.

Wayne Barnes, one of the greatest rugby referees in history, joins Chris, Ugo and Ashy on the sofa. Barnes retired from officiating after taking charge of the Rugby World Cup final, his 111th international match. He reflects on his magnificent career, which games stick in the memory, and why a certain bar in New Zealand has a special place in his heart. Barnes also discusses what the sport should look like going forward, and whether refereeing is a science or an art.

Chris, Ugo and Ashy reconvene at the pod’s spiritual home, a far cry from promenades in Nice and beaches in Marseille. But the show goes on with plenty to discuss. How does a player reacclimatise to club duty after the highs of a World Cup? And how big a season is this for the Premiership? We also discuss where Wales go at fly-half, Rassie Erasmus continuing to take centre stage at the Springboks, and reflect on the Red Roses’ triumph in New Zealand.

It’s the last episode in Paris before the pod goes back to being weekly – so it's perfect timing for Ugo Monye to make another grand Rugby Union Daily appearance – right at the end of the World Cup! So as Ugo gets his “John Terry moment” Chris gets into the tournament as a whole – starting with that final between New Zealand and South Africa and why the Springboks are worthy champions. The pair discuss the newly crowned World Rugby men’s player of the year, Ardie Savea and why he truly deserves the accolade. And not only that Ugo and Chris pick their team of the tournament! Timecodes: 02:30 – Ugo on the final. 06:30 – Ugo on the Sam Cane red card debate. 13:00 – South Africa team appreciation. 18:10 – World Rugby men’s player of the year chat. 22:00 – Ugo and Chris’ team of the tournament. 37:10 - Eddie Jones leaving the Australian national side.

Chris Jones is joined by Matt Dawson, former South Africa captain Bob Skinstad and New Zealand great Andrew Mehrtens, inside the Stade de France, to reflect on South Africa winning back-to-back World Cups. Matt Dawson claims that this South Africa team are “the greatest rugby side” he’s seen, after securing a record fourth World Cup title in their 12-11 victory over New Zealand. Sara Orchard also chats to Faf de Klerk on the national pride he feels by winning the World Cup and she catches up with head coach Jacques Nienaber after his final match in charge of the Springboks. The team also analyse where it went wrong for New Zealand and the impact of captain Sam Cane’s red card in the final. TOPICS: 00:50 How South Africa won an ‘amazing contest’ 03:31 Are this South Africa side ‘the greatest?’ 08:58 Faf de Klerk interview 12:28 Sam Cane’s red card 18:54 Jacques Nienaber interview 28:36 Where did New Zealand go wrong?

Sara Orchard is joined by Paul Grayson at the Stade de France as England end their Rugby World Cup campaign on a high, beating Argentina to win bronze. Danny Care and Steve Borthwick join us to reflect on their tournament. South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber is on the pod ahead of the Springboks facing New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup Final, and Chris Jones catches up with former All Blacks fly-half Andrew Mehrtens. Timecodes: 00:30 – Reflections on the bronze medal match and England's World Cup with Paul Grayson 09:45 – Danny Care Interview 15:28 – Steve Borthwick Interview 20:54 – Jacques Nienaber Interview 28:52 – Chris Jones and Andrew Mehrtens preview the final

We welcome two of the biggest names in the sport onto the Daily as we continue our build-up to the World Cup final. Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and All Blacks star Beauden Barrett joins us from their respective team announcements in Paris. There is plenty going on off the field for Chris and Sara to discuss and Paul Grayson is back in our favourite bistro as he breaks down where the final will be won and lost on Saturday.

Chris heads to England's base in the outskirts of Paris to see Ben Youngs, who will call time on his international career after his 127th appearance on Friday. England's most capped men's player looks back on his illustrious career which spans four World Cups, reveals his favourite moment in an England shirt and why it's the right time to step away. Steve Borthwick is full of praise for Youngs and another England centurion, Courtney Lawes, who has also called time on his career. Borthwick also condemns the online abuse Tom Curry has received this week and how the team have rallied around the flanker ahead of his 50th cap.

We’ve maybe saved the hardest for the end. Who is the player who transcends the tournament unlike anyone else? Matt Dawson, Chris Jones and Bryan Habana debate the likes of Richie McCaw, Francois Piennar, Jonny Wilkinson, Jonah Lomu – and Bryan himself!

Ok, there have only been 9 of them, but we’re going to rank them anyway! From New Zealand in 1987 through to Japan in 2019 via South Africa in 1995 and England in 2015 which is the best edition of the Rugby World Cup? How do we rate them? Matches? Venues? Crowds? Stars? Bryan Habana, Matt Dawson and Chris Jones decide.

Chris, Gareth and Tom convene for the last time this tournament. Chris brings along his new gadget - the "Regret-o-Meter" as they discuss which of the four Home Nations will have most regrets. They also look ahead to Saturday’s final between New Zealand and South Africa, and share some general reflections on the tournament as a whole.

To kickstart World Cup final week Sara sits down with All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens and former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad to look at the rivalry between these two great rugby nations. They start with their most famous encounter, the 1995 World Cup final, as Mehrts recalls meeting Nelson Mandela minutes before kick-off and the issues in the New Zealand camp during final week. We hear about the All Blacks winning their first Test series in South Africa one year later, and look ahead to the final this weekend as the winner becomes the first nation to win four World Cups. Skinstad explains what would it mean for the Boks to go back-to-back and gives a fascinating insight into head coach Jacques Nienaber.

This episode of the pod comes live from the Stade de France after England came agonisingly close to making it to the World Cup final – they ended up losing by a single point to South Africa in a game that had both sets of fans on edge! Chris is joined by World Cup winners Matt Dawson, Paul Grayson and Bobby Skinstad, whose nerves were shredded at the end of that epic 80 minutes. They dive into where the game was lost and won and what’s next for England. Sara pops up on the pod from the Stade de France tunnel and gets reaction from a reflective Steve Borthwick and an emotional Freddie Steward. Handre Pollard also makes a cameo appearance – straight from a delighted Springboks dressing room.

Chris Jones is joined by Sara Orchard, Paul Grayson and Justin Marshall after New Zealand score seven tries to crush Argentina 44-6. Will Jordan scored a hat-trick at Stade de France as the All Blacks reach a record fifth Rugby World Cup final. The team also talk England and preview their semi-final against South Africa.

Chris and Paul Grayson head into the England camp to get the inside track on their team to face the South Africa in the semi-final. A very excited Ben Earl joins the pod to tell us how he is feeling ahead of their showdown in Paris and how he’s dealing with ticket requests. Steve Borthwick explains the changes he’s made from the quarter-final and what this occasion means to him. We also chat to our favourite Springbok Bob Skinstad about Rassie’s latest mind games and where England can hurt South Africa in the semi-final.

Chris and Sara are reunited in Paris for the first time since the opening week as preparation for the semi-finals continues to ramp up. There are more hotel incidents to discuss, this time involving Paul Grayson. And with rain forecast this weekend, how will that affect the two semis? We visit both the Argentina and New Zealand camps as they announce their teams for Friday's semi-final. We hear from All Blacks World Cup winner Andy Ellis on Ian Foster's renaissance and Mark Telea's return. We also get the lowdown from Argentinian journalist Frankie Deges on being the underdogs and how a Pumas win could inspire the next generation of players.

It’s semi-final week and Chris heads to find Danny for the lowdown on how England are preparing for their showdown with the world champions. We hear how the players marked their quarter-final win over Fiji and whether you should ever have chips with a Chinese. And after watching an epic in the Stade de France last weekend, Paul Grayson decides not to leave Paris, and offers a few ways England can shock the Boks on Saturday evening.

Chris, Gareth and Tom continue to marvel at what they witnessed from the four quarter-finals at the weekend. They ask whether France and Ireland will struggle to recover from their defeats. Gareth has serious concerns about where Wales go from here. And are the two finalists a foregone conclusion?

With the quarter-final line-up now complete, Chris Jones is joined by Chris Ashton, Paul Grayson and Bobby Skinstad to react to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. They discuss England’s thrilling win over Fiji and look ahead at what to expect from the semi-finals. They also react as the hosts, France, were knocked out of the competition by defending champions South Africa.

Sara Orchard, Tommy Bowe and Andrew Mehrtens are in the Stade de France to react to heartbreak for Ireland, who are out of the Rugby World Cup after losing 28-24 to New Zealand in their quarter-final. It's a similar feeling for Wales after their 29-17 loss to Argentina, with Chris Jones, Matt Dawson and Rhys Patchell reflecting from Marseille. It all means Argentina will face New Zealand for a place in the final and the team look ahead to this clash along with Sunday's other two quarter-finals. Timecodes: 00:50 Ireland's defeat to New Zealand 13:32 Wales out after losing to Argentina 33:20 What is to come on Sunday?

In this bumper pod ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals, Chris and Sara track down some of the biggest names in the sport. Chris chats to World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Joel Stransky in Marseille about England and South Africa's picks at fly-half, what to expect from Fiji and the importance of Jac Morgan if Wales are to beat Argentina. Meanwhile in Paris, Sara sits down with Thierry Dusautoir and Richie McCaw to reminisce about the epic quarter-final clash in 2007, Antoine Dupont's return and Sam Cane's captaincy. Sara also gets an Ireland perspective on their quarter-final with former Ireland forward Chris Henry.

Ashy has made it back to Toulon and heads to Wales media with Chris to be reunited with his former team-mate Nick Tompkins. What did he learn, if anything, from Ashy when they were at Saracens together? Tompkins also talks about nailing down a place Warren Gatland's midfield and going from a tough Six Nations campaign to the brink of a World Cup semi-final. We also join up with Sara on the outskirts of Paris with good friend of the pod Murray Kinsella to preview Ireland's blockbuster quarter-final against New Zealand. Is it finally time for Ireland to end their quarter-final curse?

Chris Jones and Chris Ashton are in Aix-en-Provence and are joined by England hooker Jamie George ahead of England's Quarter-Final against Fiji. Jamie reflects on England's loss to Fiji at Twickenham earlier this year, as well as their performance against Samoa last weekend, before discussing where England need to improve going into the Quarter-Final.

Sir Clive Woodward or Eddie Jones? Sir Steve Hansen or Warren Gatland? Plus what about Doctor Sherylle Calder? Matt Dawson, Bryan Habana and Chris Jones debate which coach made the biggest impact at a world cup. Who got the best out of the best? Who changed the game? Whose side would have won anyway?

Chris, Tom and Gareth are back as we head into the business end of the tournament. They discuss what we learnt about Scotland after their campaign came to an early end. Is France v South Africa the greatest-ever World Cup quarter-final? And after 5 weeks in France, Gareth suffers some serious memory loss!

Chris and Ashy are reunited in Marseille after a brilliant final weekend to cap the pool stages. Fiji set up a quarter-final with England but the night belonged to Portugal in Toulouse. Argentina finally arrive at the World Cup, so how worried should Wales be? And are Ireland now favourites for the World Cup after their demolition of Scotland in Paris? Danny is also on the pod after his heroics against Samoa, but who does Ashy think should start in the midfield next weekend?

Chris Jones looks back on a day where Ireland, Wales and England advanced to the quarter finals as group winners, while Scotland exited the competition at the group stage. Tommy Bowe and Johnnie Beattie reflect on Ireland's impressive 36-14 win over Scotland, and look ahead to the Irish's mouth-watering last eight tie with New Zealand. Matt Dawson and Kat Merchant react to England's narrow win over Samoa, asking how England are shaping up ahead of the knockout stages. And there's reaction to Wales' victory over Georgia and the news Taulupe Faletau will miss the rest of the tournament with a broken arm. TIMECODES 00:10 Analysis of Ireland's win over Scotland 05:00 What comes next for Scotland? 09:00 Ireland v New Zealand in the quarter finals 17:10 England 18-17 Samoa 32:00 Owen Farrell becomes England's record points scorer 33:00 Wales see off Georgia, but lose Faletau

Sara Orchard is joined by England World Cup winner Paul Grayson after France made it through to the World Cup quarter-finals. Also hear from Reuters correspondent Julien Prétot. Catch Chris Jones’ interview with England’s Kyle Sinckler ahead of their match with Samoa. And the panel look ahead to the other weekend fixtures. 00:10 France party after crushing Italy to make the quarter-finals 09:45 Chris Jones speaks to England’s Kyle Sinckler 18:45 George Ford and Owen Farrell to start together 22:55 Can Scotland end Ireland’s winning run? 25:45 Wales aiming to top their pool 28:05 Will Fiji get the point to end Australia’s World Cup? 28:35 Japan face Argentina in shootout for quarter-final place

Chris is joined by a VIP guest on this episode of the pod – Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, ahead of arguably the biggest game of the weekend – Ireland against Scotland. The pair chat about his team selection and how his players have what it takes to beat this Irish side. Continuing with the Celtic theme the episode wouldn’t be complete without Tom English who pops up on the pod from Paris alongside BBC Scotland’s Andy Burke. The pair divulge on their time deep inside the Scotland camp and give their take on the sides strengths and weaknesses – and we couldn’t let Tom go without getting his unique insight into the Ireland team too. Timecodes: 01:15 – Townsend on always expecting it to come down to this game 01:35 – Team selection 08:50 – On this being the peak of Townsend’s project with Scotland 12:00 – Reflecting on the mood/comments coming out of the Scotland camp 24’00 – Ireland’s team selection

Matt brings you another special pod with a World Cup icon, Wallabies great Michael Lynagh. They look back on his three World Cups in the green and gold including their triumph in 1991, the mistakes they made in 1995 and what it was like to play with David Campese. Lynagh also gives his take on the current Australia team who are on the brink of being eliminated in the pool stages for the first time. Where has it gone wrong for this once great rugby nation? And can the sport once again compete with popularity of Aussie Rules and NRL down under?

Danny and Chris link up in Le Touquet and there is plenty to discuss after an eventful trip to Disneyland for the Care family and a surprise result in the Padel tennis tournament. Kevin Sinfield talks about the progress they have made with England’s defence and how they‘re aiming to hit the ground running after the rest week. We also quiz Danny on England’s back line for the Samoa game and get his thoughts on the prospect of hybrid contracts.

Chris, Tom and Gareth convene for another look into the stories involving the four Home Nations. They ask whether Scotland’s chances of reaching the knockout stages are improbable or impossible. With Warren Gatland naming his starting XV to face Georgia, Gareth gives his thoughts on who has been picked and explains how the team is evolving. And Tom admits he can’t remember watching American Pie!

As the quarter-final lineup starts to take shape, Chris Jones reviews the best performances of the tournament so far with Johnnie Beattie and Bob Skinstad. South Africa tweak their lineup in their final pool game which poses a selection dilemma for boss Rassie Erasmus ahead of the knockout stage. The panel look ahead to the final game shootout between Scotland and Ireland who can both still qualify for the quarter finals and Alastair Eykyn reviews a mixed bag of performances from Tier Two nations and discusses what can be done to prevent more one-sided fixtures finishing with substantial winning margins for the established rugby nations.

Tom English takes over the pod to bring you reaction to Scotland thrashing Romania in Lille. Darcy Graham scored four of Scotland’s 12 tries in their biggest World Cup victory since 1995. The win sets up a mouth-watering encounter with Ireland in Paris next Saturday. Which players stuck their hand up for selection? And how do Scotland get the better of Ireland when they've lost their last eight encounters?

It’s the halfway stage of the Rugby World Cup – and we could not think of a better way to mark this milestone than to reunite the two Chris’! Chris Ashton is back once again alongside Chris Jones. The pair give their take on New Zealand’s hammering over Italy on Friday night and pose the question of just how damaging that 96-17 result could be to Italian rugby - and on the flip side, does that result put the All Blacks back in the frame again as title challengers? Attention then turns to the weekend, with Scotland the only home nation in action – they take on Romania. Ashy gives his thoughts on that and his soft spot for the Fijian team who face Georgia. And if that wasn’t enough, the conversation turns to eggs…. and in particular Ashy’s love of travelling with an egg maker - and could a certain Chris Ashton be making a return to France…? Timecodes: 06:00 – NZ v Italy analysis. 16:13 – Argentina v Chile preview. 19:00 – Fiji focus. 22:00 – Scotland v Romania section. 24:38 – Jersey Reds latest.

In part two of this special look back at England's World Cup triumph, Martin Johnson and Matt Dawson look back at that dramatic final in Sydney 20 years on. They delve into the emotions of the week leading up to final and how they mentally prepared for the challenge of facing Australia in Sydney. We get a fascinating insight into how Johnson and Clive Woodward addressed the team on the field before extra-time and hear all about THAT drop goal that clinched the World Cup.

Two of England's heroes from 2003, Matt Dawson and Martin Johnson, look back on their World Cup triumph 20 years on. In part one, they chart England's journey from quarter-finalists in 1999 to World Cup finalists four years later. But how much of their success was down to the players rather than the coaches? We also hear why defeat in two Grand Slam deciders were just as important as a famous victory in Bloemfontein on their tour to South Africa in 2000. They also talk rest weeks and captaincy before reliving their quarter-final battle with Wales in Brisbane and the semi-final victory over France and a very unhappy Olivier Magne in Sydney.

So many choose from! Is it about a clash of the titans? Is it about last minute drama? How about one of the great upsets? Chris Jones, Bryan Habana and Matt Dawson – who’ve both been involved in a few of them – run the rule on some of the greatest contests every played in the sport.

Tom and Gareth join Chris to look back at another busy weekend in France. Gareth runs out of superlatives to describe how good Wales were against Australia, and how Warren Gatland has turned their fortunes around in just a few weeks. More questions are being asked of Eddie Jones and his ability to lead the Wallabies, and what their demise could mean for the global game. And have Ireland further cemented their tag as World Cup favourites with that win over South Africa?

Gareth Lewis has reaction to Wales sealing a quarter-final spot. He’s joined by Philippa Tuttiett, Stirling Mortlock & Johnnie Beattie. How did Wales beat Australia? What about Eddie Jones’ future? And do Scotland still have a chance of making the quarter-finals after their win over Tonga? 00:55 Wales beat Australia to book quarter-final place 16:25 Scotland see off Tonga to keep their hopes alive 22:10 Looking ahead to the quarter-finals 27:45 Who’s going to win the tournament?

Chris, Tommy Bowe and Bobby Skinstad react to Ireland’s 13-8 win over South Africa. They discuss how Ireland faced up to the South African power game, Johnny Sexton’s leadership and the Springbok’s kicking troubles. What will each team take from the game and what it means for the tournament going forward. We also head to Lille to hear from Sara, Matt Dawson, and Paul Grayson about England’s 71-0 victory over Chile. They talk about five tries for Henry Arundell and Marcus Smith’s performance at full back.

Will this be one of the great weekends in World Cup history? Chris meets up with Tommy Bowe and Stirling Mortlock in the heart of Paris to preview Ireland's showdown with South Africa and talk 7-1 splits. How worried is Stirling that Australia's World Cup could be effectively ended by Wales on Sunday? And is Eddie Jones' reputation on the line in Lyon? We also discuss the news that has threatened to overshadow the whole weekend with Antoine Dupont suffering a fractured cheekbone.

It's bonjour from Lille as Sara pods from the England team announcement. She catches up with friend of the pod Marcus Smith who's been given the nod at full-back this weekend against Chile. He reveals it was Kevin Sinfield who first approached him about the playing at 15 and that Danny is suffering from pod FOMO. Captain Owen Farrell is back at fly-half after completing his ban and as Will Kelleher from the Times explains, he's very excited about it. There's also talk of bubble tea and what fans can expect from the city of Lille.

Chris catches up with All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens over coffee, croissants and cheese to preview another bumper weekend of World Cup action. We focus on the big showdown in Paris between Ireland and South Africa and ask where would Johnny Sexton rank in the pantheon of all-time greats if Ireland did go all the way this year. We go inside the Ireland camp to speak to scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and we also get Springbok perspective from World Cup winning captain John Smit on Siya Kolisi and whether the class of 2023 is better than 2019.

How many of Bryan’s record-equalling 15 World Cup tries feature in this episode’s top ten World Cup tries? How much will the great Jonah Lomu dominate the list? This is an episode in which Matt Dawson, Chris Jones and Bryan Habana struggle to agree with each other.

Gareth, Tom and Chris are back to review the weekend’s action in France. They discuss how Fiji’s win over Australia leaves Pool C wide open, and what the permutations are for Wales to progress. Gareth reluctantly admits that England are playing some decent rugby. And Tom appears to be getting a little carried away with Johnny Sexton and where he sits in the all-time greats list!

England edged closer to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a scrappy 34-12 win over Japan in Nice. Chris Jones, Chris Ashton and Matt Dawson reflect on England making it two wins from two. 01:45 England beat Japan with ‘impressive’ second half 05:40 Frustration over England’s kicking strategy 14:45 Dawson: ‘The main reason why I wouldn’t play Farrell’ 18:50 Fiji beat Australia to ‘change Wales’ World Cup’ 29:55 Quarter-finals looming large

Chris starts the pod at the Stade de Nice and is joined by Scrum V’s Nicky Robinson as Wales are given a scare by an inspired Portugal. With the Portuguese fans in full voice, he takes a bus into town to track down Ugo and watch Ireland produce a statement performance against Tonga.

Amongst discussions around more hotel courtyards, hotel reviews and hotel breakfasts, Chris Ashton and Chris Jones speak to man of the moment George Ford.

Chris and Ashy have arrived in beautiful Nice ahead of the second weekend of the World Cup. After being named to start Saturday’s match with Portugal, Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe is on the pod to reflect on his journey over the past four years, how his game has changed in that time, and the differences between him and Dan Biggar. Pod regular Gareth Rhys-Owen and former Wales flanker Josh Navidi also join us to reflect on Wales’ tournament prospects after that huge win over Fiji and the main differences between touring as a player and a pundit. We end the day on the beach reflecting on some big injury news, while Ireland pick a strong side for their clash with Tonga.

Nine sides have won the World Cup – which one was best? Does the best team always win it? Who’s the best side never to win it? Those are the questions that Bryan, Matt and Chris consider as they rank their best-ever teams to play in the World Cup.

Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth and Elliot Daly analyse the performance against Argentina and discuss what the squad needs to improve. ‘Wiggy’ gives Chris Jones tips on dealing with Chris Ashton’s quirks, there’s a heated debate about when baked beans are appropriate to eat and there’s a potential panel tennis scandal involving the pod team, a member of the England coaching team and a new rival.

Gareth, Tom and Chris convene to look back at the opening weekend of the World Cup. They pick through the bones of the four Home Nations performances, and how it sets them up for the rest of the tournament. Gareth claims to have never seen a better game than he saw in Nice. And there is a stark contrast in opinions about how England fared in the win against Argentina

After witnessing a frenetic start to the tournament, Chris Jones, Ugo Monye, Chris Ashton and Johnny Beattie discuss the best and worst performances. They analyse winning starts for England, Wales and Ireland and assess what the likes of Scotland and New Zealand need to do in order to improve on their opening losses.

England kick start their World Cup campaign thanks to George Ford. Chris Jones, Chris Ashton and Matt Dawson reflect on England’s opening game of the World Cup and discuss a statement performance from George Ford. Hear from their star man and from head coach Steve Borthwick, as well as Argentine international Martín Landajo to discuss how Argentina fared. 01:10 England chat 11:40 George Ford 20:40 Martín Landajo 26:55 Steve Borthwick 32:55 Looking ahead to Sunday

France get off to the perfect start at the World Cup. Sonja McLaughlan, Sara Orchard, Andrew Mehrtens and Paul Grayson have all the reaction to Frances’ emphatic 27-13 victory over three time champions New Zealand at the Stade de France. Chris Jones and Chris Ashton also bring us the latest from Marseille and look ahead to England’s opening match against Argentina TOPICS 00:12 Intro 00:38 Where France won it 01:35 Grégory Alldritt 3:33 France a different team after half-time 10:28 New Zealand 17:10 Visualising the stadium 20:15 Mood in England camp 23:32 How to prepare for a late kick-off 29:14 Argentina players to watch

Chris Jones is joined by Chris Ashton discuss the latest from the England camp, whilst Sonja McLaughlan, Rugby correspondent Sara Orchard, Johnnie Beattie and Paul Grayson offer up their hot-takes and predictions for the Rugby World Cup. The team debate who they think the player of the tournament will be, as well as the possible breakout stars.

Chris and Sara are together in Paris hearing from the French and Kiwi camps ahead of the opening game of the tournament. This episode will whet your appetite for the huge game in Paris which kicks off the tournament. Sara hears from New Zealand journalist Daniel McHardy who gives all the other teams hope by detailing a number of the All Blacks weaknesses whilst French writer Julien Pretot joins Chris and Sara to discuss the mood in the French camp which seems to be growing in confidence.

We are inside the England camp in Le Touquet with none other than Daniel Stuart Care! We hear about his new love for padel tennis, THAT oversized suit and how preparation is going for England’s opening game in Marseille. Chris also catches up with Owen Farrell who talks for the first time about his red card and responds to Danny Cipriani’s criticism of England.

Scrum V’s Gareth Rhys Owen and Tom English from Radio Scotland join Chris Jones to assess the Home Nation's World Cup preparations. Gareth admits he has no idea who Warren Gatland will pick for that opening game against Fiji. England’s poor run of results leaves Tom convinced Steve Borthwick’s side cannot be called contenders. And what will be deemed a success for Scotland in a group that includes South Africa, Ireland and Tonga?

It's officially World Cup week so the Rugby Union Daily is back! To kick things off, Chris jumps on the Eurostar to Paris to meet All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens. They look ahead to a bumper opening weekend across Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux and discuss their pre-tournament favourites given the lopsided draw. Mehrts also talks about that chastening defeat for New Zealand at Twickenham and which northern hemisphere teams have caught his eye having spent the year living in France. Chris also goes inside the Ireland camp to catch up with Ireland's Keith Earls. He talks quarter-final heartbreak, what it means to be playing at a fourth World Cup and the difference between rooming with Paul O'Connell and Conor Murray.

Moments make World Cups. Whether it be a trophy lift, a drop goal or an individual piece of individual skill, Chris Jones, Matt Dawson and Bryan Habana debate their greatest moments. How do they compare Mandela and Piennar to Wilkinson’s drop goal? How about a shock Japan victory? Or Lomu in full flight?

Sometimes, World Cups are remembered for their off-field moments more than what took place on the field. And it’s those controversies that Matt Dawson, Bryan Habana and Chris Jones attempt to rank. You can be sure England’s antics in New Zealand in 2011 will place highly. As might the odd referee decision. Sam Warburton’s red card? And Bryan’s tales of what happened to the South African players ahead of the 2003 World Cup is not to be missed.

No World Cup is complete without an upset. And that is the subject Chris Jones, Matt Dawson and Bryan Habana tackle in this episode. Does Japan beating Bryan’s South Africa in Brighton in 2015 top the list? And where will the likes of Tonga, Fiji and Western Samoa beating Tier 1 opposition rank?

World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Bryan Habana join Chris Jones to rank their greatest World Cup captains. Find out whether Bryan has the 1995 South African captain Francois Pienaar at the top of his list. And where does Matt have his 2003 winning captain Martin Johnson? And where does Richie McCaw end up?

Another pod, another England inquest. Chris and Ugo are on the sofa to discuss Fiji's triumph at Twickenham and the many issues facing Steve Borthwick with the World Cup under two weeks away. Are Argentina now the favourites for England's opener in Marseille? Not everybody is getting carried away by the Springboks big win over the All Blacks, there's a new special pod series coming your way and we also chat to Tommy Bowe about Andy Farrell's Ireland squad, Johnny Sexton and their tricky World Cup draw.

As Warren Gatland names his 33-man World Cup squad, Ashy and Chris head to Wales to speak to the coach and his captains. They find out why Gatland decided to name two leaders, what his expectations are for the tournament and what changes he would make to the way the game is refereed. They also catch up with Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake who explain how their contrasting styles of leadership will work on and off the field. And as the fall-out from England’s red cards continues, we ask how worrying things are getting for Steve Borthwick’s side.

Sara and Ugo are up in Scotland as Gregor Townsend names his World Cup Squad. He explains the decision to drop former captain Stuart McInally, how they are dealing with being in “the pool of death” and why a Hollywood actor is sending them video messages. They also chat with fly-half Finn Russell about playing with such a potent backline. And captain Jamie Ritchie and hooker Ewan Ashman are also in this podcast episode.

Chris Jones and Sonja McLaughlan assemble the great rugby minds to discuss the news that Owen Farrell is clear to play in the Rugby World Cup after his red card in Saturday's warm-up with Wales at Twickenham was overturned. They are joined by former Scotland captain Andy Nicol, former England fly-half Paul Grayson, and former Ireland captain Shane Horgan.

Chris, Ugo and Ashy pick through the bones of another eventful August weekend. England beat Wales at Twickenham, but the collateral damage is severe with Jack van Poortvliet ruled out and Owen Farrell facing a ban. We discuss Farrell’s tackling and how Steve Borthwick will deal with the loss of his captain, and ask whether Alex Mitchell can make an impact as van Poortvliet’s replacement. Scotland impress despite a narrow loss to France, but there is injury woe for Les Bleus. Meanwhile, Warren Gatland is getting closer to knowing his first-choice Wales team, but does the lopsided World Cup draw look even worse as we near the start of the tournament?

Chris and Ugo talk England, Wales, France, Scotland, Australia and South Africa as World Cup prep heats up! Warren Gatland has rung the changes for as Wales head to Twickenham on Saturday. Steve Borthwick's starting XV has a more familiar look, but how many are nailed on starters for their opener against Argentina? Eddie Jones rolls the dice again with World Cup selection, Scotland demonstrate their growing squad depth and South Africa announce their 33-man squad to big fanfare in Johannesburg.

It's a proud day for the pod as Danny is named in England's 33-man squad for the World Cup in France. Chris and Ugo catch up with him at Twickenham to find out just what it means to make the cut at 36 years young, and we ask the big question: will he be taking his golf clubs to France? We also speak to Steve Borthwick who reflects on the defeat by Wales on the weekend and explains the thinking behind his big selection calls. Bristol’s Max Malins has also secured his spot on the Eurostar and he talks to the pod about how he found out he was making his first World Cup squad, his versatility in the back three, and his own golf game.

Chris, Ugo and Ashy are back and are ready to hit the ground running with the World Cup now just 5 weeks away. Steve Borthwick has named his side to face Wales in Cardiff, but how many of the side are going to make the final squad? Elsewhere, Warren Gatland’s Wales are in transition, but can he repeat the tricks of his first time in charge? And can Eddie Jones with Australia? We also discuss a fully-loaded Scotland side and how big an impact Johnny Sexton’s ban will have on Ireland.

In this mini bonus pod, Chris heads to the England team hotel to catch up with Danny, who has been selected in Steve Borthwick’s World Cup training squad. Danny talks about how determined he is to get back in an England shirt, what he has made of Borthwick’s set-up, and how he has unfinished business with the World Cup. He also reflects on his “rollercoaster” international career and why the fires still burn bright at the age of 36.

The emergency pod klaxon has sounded so Chris has risen from his sun lounger to get reaction to London Irish’s expulsion from the Premiership. Friend of the pod Alex Corbisiero joins us to discuss what's next for the club he played at for so long - and for the English club game.

Ugo, Danny and Ashy head to Chris' for the last pod of the season and steak sandwiches. We get more insight into Ashy's red card hearing and Cadan Murley's role from Marbella. There's more Ford-Farrell debate and Premiership final reflections, plus plenty of love for Munster after they won the URC title. There's also World Cup predictions and some end of season awards too.

Saracens are Premiership champions for a sixth time after they edged Sale in an epic final at Twickenham. Chris is joined by Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson to reflect on a match that more than lived up to the hype. After defeat in last year's final and the salary cap scandal, might this be their sweetest title of all? The guys reflect on where the game slipped from Sale's grasp in the second-half and whether Alex Sanderson's side are primed to be at the top table of English rugby for years to come. And in the battle of the No.10s it was Owen Farrell who emerged victorious, but what impact will that have on Steve Borthwick's England selection for the World Cup?

Chris, Ugo and Ashy look ahead to the Premiership final at Twickenham. Who would make your combined Saracens and Sale XV? Would you have George Ford or Owen Farrell at fly-half? The guys pick their team and discuss the merits of the two England playmakers. Sale's Gus Warr joins the pod and we find out what Ashy was like as a team-mate, the importance of finger tape and what he's learnt from Sir Alex Ferguson. We also preview the URC final and Ashy talks about how he's finding retirement.

Chris and Paul Grayson bring you reaction from Dublin as La Rochelle stun Leinster (again) to win the Champions Cup. Hear from Ronan O'Gara after another titanic tussle between the two teams in a final and his thoughts on the prospect of coaching Ireland. But where did it go wrong for Leinster after they raced into a 17-0 lead after 12 minutes? Leo Cullen joins the pod to explain. We also reflect on the Challenge Cup final after Toulon outclassed Glasgow, and the surprise retirement of Alun Wyn Jones.

Chris and Ugo dissect a big weekend of semi-finals in the Premiership and URC. Sale reached their first Premiership final in 17 years and face serial finalists Saracens. It means for the second successive year it will be Ford v Farrell in the big dance at Twickenham. There was a big shock in the URC as Munster toppled Leinster thanks to Jack Crowley's late drop goal. How will this impact Leinster heading into this weekend's Champions Cup final. And our special guest this week is Sergio Parisse who talks Italy, World Cups, leadership and life in Toulon ahead of their meeting with Glasgow in the Challenge Cup final.

Ahead of the Premiership semi-finals, Chris sits down with the four directors of rugby for a special bonus podcast. Mark McCall, Richard Wigglesworth, Phil Dowson and Alex Sanderson share what it’s like to run a top Premiership team and how they've helped each other along their coaching journey. What is the hardest part of the job? And what is the most rewarding? They also discuss the challenges of nurturing young players and the need for a better coaching pathway. Is there more the RFU could be doing? And finally, if the DORs could add one player to their squad next season, who would it be?

Ugo, Ashy and Chris reflect on an action-packed final day of the Premiership season which saw Bath pip local rivals Bristol to the final Champions Cup spot. George Ford joins the pod to look ahead to the ‘Ford derby’ between Sale and Leicester this weekend and we preview the second semi-final between Saracens and Northampton. There’s also a new Red Roses head coach to discuss and Steve Borthwick has finalised his coaching ticket for the World Cup as another Tigers coach joins the set-up.

Ugo, Danny and Chris wrap up Champions Cup semi-final weekend after impressive wins for Leinster and La Rochelle, but who made the bigger statement? There's also plenty of excitement about the Challenge Cup after Glasgow reached their first European final and will now face a star-studded Toulon in Dublin. We hear what it’s like to party with Sergio Parisse in Paris, reflect on a memorable weekend at Twickenham and find out which F1 personality Danny is going to be at his end of season party.

England completed the Grand Slam in front of a record women's crowd of 58,498 at Twickenham. Chris, Sara and Kat Merchant bring you reaction from to a landmark day for the women's game and ask what is next for the Six Nations after a thrilling title decider at the home of English rugby. They also discuss Simon Middleton's legacy as Red Roses head coach as he ends his reign on a high.

Sara and Philippa are back to preview the final round of the Six Nations. They chat to England captain Marlie Packer ahead of their Grand Slam decider at Twickenham. We hear about her injury scare last weekend, how the squad are dealing with Simon Middleton's departure and why leading the team out on Saturday will be extra special. Sara and Philippa are also joined by Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm, who reflects on their first Six Nations win in two years and tells us what it was like to meet Princess Anne.

With the Premiership semi-final line-up already complete, Chris, Ugo and Danny look ahead to the final day of the regular season that promised so much. Is there enough jeopardy without relegation? And should the semi-finals be played over two legs? They also look at Bath's recent resurgence and play Premiership Top Trumps. They discuss Jack Nowell's £10,000 fine by the RFU for criticising referee Karl Dickson and look ahead to semi-final weekend in Europe.

England remain on course for another Grand Slam after they dispatched Ireland at Musgrave Park. Sara Orchard is joined by former Red Roses captain Sarah Hunter to discuss a mixed England performance, despite scoring in eight tries. They also discuss the injury to captain Marlie Packer, who could now miss the showdown with France at Twickenham, and find some positives for Ireland after a tough Six Nations on and off the field.

Sara Orchard and Philippa Tuttiett are joined by former Ireland captain Ciara Griffin to talk all things Ireland and preview this weekend's game at Musgrave Park with runaway leaders England. We also tackle the important issues, like how Philippa earned the nickname 'Hollywood' during her playing career. Plus, Sally Horrox from World Rugby gives us the latest on WXV, the new international tournament for women's rugby which launches in October.

It's a special pod as Ashy celebrates becoming the first player to reach 100 Premiership tries! Danny and Ugo quiz him on what it means to finally reach the all-important landmark and THAT celebration after notching his 101st try. They also discuss the controversy surrounding Olly Woodburn's red card and assess the race for the play-offs.

Sara brings you all the reaction from Cardiff as England scored nine tries as they thrashed Wales at a packed Arms Park. Sarah Hunter reflects on another dominant England performance and praises the impact of Tatyana Heard after naming her Player of the Match. Sara also gets to the thoughts of a rather downbeat Philippa Tuttiett after Wales were humbled by the Red Roses. They discuss what happened to Wales after a competitive start and why they weren't able to capitalise when England went down to 13 players.

Philippa Tuttiett and Sara Orchard are back to preview round three of the Women’s Six Nations. There's plenty of excitement ahead of the showdown between Wales and England in Cardiff, they speak to Wales forward Georgia Evans to get the lowdown from the Wales camp. England head coach Simon Middleton raised a few eyebrows this week suggesting a radical chance to goal-kicking rules in women's rugby so we speak to World Cup winning fly-half Katy Daley-McLean to get her take. And journalist Fiona Tomas joins the pod to discuss her article in The Telegraph about allegations of sexism at the IRFU.

It's a momentous day for the pod as Ashy makes his long-awaited sofa debut. He chats to Danny and Chris about overcoming injury and another house move as he aims to end the season with another try record. We also talk Champions Cup as Exeter reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2020, but did the Stormers journey from South Africa have too much of a bearing on the tie? Leinster remain on course for 'home' final and the French clubs flex their muscles again, but is there only a select group of elite clubs capable of winning the tournament nowadays? It's a bit more unpredictable in the Challenge Cup with four different nations represented in the last four.

Chris and Ugo review a Champions Cup weekend packed full of drama. Exeter’s Henry Slade joins the pod to discuss their thriller with Montpellier at Sandy Park. Ugo tells us about his weekend in South Africa and bumping into Rassie Erasmus in Cape Town. There was heartbreak for Gloucester, but Saracens and Leicester made it three Premiership sides in the last eight. But can anybody stop Leinster adding a fifth star?

Sara reviews round two of the Women's Six Nations as Wales and England win again. The pod starts in Edinburgh as Sara chats to Heather Lockhart and Philippa Tuttiett after Wales score five tries to claim a bonus-point win over Scotland. Sara then heads to Franklin's Gardens to catch up with Katy Daley-McLean as England continued their dominant start to the tournament.

Philippa Tuttiett joins Sara Orchard to look ahead to the second round of matches in the Women’s Six Nations. They are joined by former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap to assess where Wales are after the first weekend. And we’re inside the Scotland camp as fly-half Helen Nelson is also on the pod.

Ashy and Ugo join Sara to reflect on a busy few days in the world of rugby. They speak to Sarah Hunter who played her last game at the weekend in what was her 141st appearance for the Red Roses. They also pay tribute to Stuart Hogg who on Monday announced he’ll be hanging up his boots after the World Cup later this year. And interim boss of the WRU Nigel Walker is on the pod to discuss the news that Welsh rugby clubs have voted in favour of major governance change. Plus there are reflections on a busy weekend in the Premiership.

Sara Orchard with former Scotland international Heather Lockhart and England World Cup winner Kat Merchant.

Sara Orchard and Philippa Tuttiett take the pod to the Women’s Six Nations launch in London. They are joined by players from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy and get stuck into some serious and not so serious chat.

Sara Orchard sits down with England’s most capped player, Sarah Hunter as she retires from the game of rugby union. The Six Nations match in her home town of Newcastle on Saturday against Scotland will be her last in a Red Roses jersey. They discuss everything - from why, as England captain, she has decided to hang up her playing boots, her best memories of playing for her country - including that World Cup win in 2014 and of the lows as well. But not only that, there are cameo appearances from former England captain, Katy Daley-McLean, England and Loughborough Lightning team-mate, Emily Scarratt and England head coach Simon Middleton. Hunter also reflects on the very start of her career, her hopes for the women’s game going forward and her future plans.

Our two favourite captains, Sam Warburton and John Barclay, are back with Ugo and Chris on the sofa in Media City to round up the final weekend of an enthralling Six Nations. They discuss what sets Grand Slam winners Ireland apart from their rivals, there's more on Freddie Steward's controversial red card in Dublin, and the home nations are graded on their performance in the tournament. Does a Slam mean Ireland should automatically receive top marks? The guys also pick their best players and moments of the tournament.

Ireland are Grand Slam champions, and we bring the St Patrick’s Day Party to you from Dublin! England had to improve on last week and they did, but it wasn't enough to keep the men in green at bay, especially when Freddie Steward was served a controversial red card. Chris Jones, Matt Dawson and Jamie Heaslip discuss that decision and the impact it had, as well as what ultimately separated Ireland in terms of class, and the moment everyone knew the Grand Slam was in the bag. They also take a moment to appreciate the fitting Six Nations send off for Jonny Sexton as he became the all-time points scorer for Ireland, and reflect on why he is one of the greats of the game – and why he won’t be going quietly!

We look ahead to Super Saturday and the final round of the 2023 Six Nations. Sonja McLaughlan and Sam Warburton are in Edinburgh with Chris and Denis Hickie in Dublin on St Patrick's Day. They look ahead to Ireland's Grand Slam decider against England and the two Farrells. Reflect on a difficult tournament for Wales and the team chosen by Warren Gatland to face France in Paris. And with no Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg, can Scotland end their championship on a high after two successive defeats?

The pod is in Dublin as Ireland chase a fourth Grand Slam with only England now standing in their way. Chris and Matt Dawson head to the Ireland team announcement and are joined by friend of the pod Murray Kinsella, who gives us an insight into the mood in Ireland this weekend. We also hear from a very relaxed Andy Farrell on the way he and his team have embraced the favourites tag since topping the world rankings. Matt gives us his take on the England team tasked with spoiling the party in Dublin, including the surprise selection of Henry Arundell on the wing. Chris then heads to the England team hotel to catch up with head coach Steve Borthwick to talk selection and bouncing back after the heavy defeat to France.

After being dismantled by France at Twickenham, England now head to Dublin to face Grand Slam-chasing Ireland. Chris and Danny discuss whether Steve Borthwick’s side can bounce back after a record home defeat and spoil the party in Dublin. They look ahead to team selection and Danny explains what he wants to see from England on Saturday. You will also hear from Kevin Sinfield about the mood in camp and Ellis Genge promises fans they will see a big reaction this weekend.

Chris, Tom and Gareth convene for the last time this Six Nations to mull over the final weekend of matches. With Ireland chasing a fourth Grand Slam, is it is going to be a St Patrick’s Day formality for Andy Farrell’s side? And after their record defeat at Twickenham, we ask why it went so wrong for England and what Steve Borthwick needs to do to turn things around. Gareth updates us on the Wales camp after they registered their first win of the tournament, but does anyone gives them a chance against a French side that delivered one of the all-time great Six Nations performances last weekend? And with a few key players ruled out, how careful do Scotland have to be against a smarting Italy?

Sara Orchard is joined by two greats of the Irish game, Shane Horgan and Tommy Bowe as they delve deep into this Ireland side and debate whether they could win the Grand Slam and beat England in Dublin on Saturday, on the final day of the Six Nations tournament. They look at what has gone right for this team and where it has gone wrong in the past – and Tommy lets us in on what it is like to win a Slam (as he did it back in 2009.) They discuss if this 2023 team is better than the 2018 side that won the Grand Slam for the third time, and we also get the lowdown on head coach, Andy Farrell and where it’s gone right for him.

Chris, Ugo, Ashy and Johnnie Beattie round up another compelling Six Nations weekend. Ireland are just one win away from a Grand Slam after showing their class at Murrayfield, despite losing key players in key positions. But why did Scotland fail to capitalise? Did they fall short on the big stage once again? And after England’s thrashing at Twickenham, we discuss whether the issues for Steve Borthwick are bigger than just selection and whether a continuous influx of overseas players has had an impact on developing young talent.

Chris is joined by Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson to pick the bones out of England’s record home defeat in the Six Nations. You’ll hear the thoughts of Steve Borthwick after a chastening day for the England boss. They discuss where this England team go from here, and whether there’ll be wholesale changes for their trip to Dublin. You’ll also hear the thoughts of France team manager, Raphael Ibanez, on what he calls one of the biggest wins in French rugby history after their first Six Nations win at Twickenham since 2005. And of course there is plenty of love for their talisman, Antoine Dupont.

Ugo and Chris are joined by French rugby expert Paul Eddison at the England team hotel as Steve Borthwick names his team for their showdown with France this weekend. The big news is at fly-half, with captain Owen Farrell dropped to the bench and Marcus Smith getting the nod. Borthwick explains the decision and how Farrell reacted to the news. Paul gives us the lowdown on the changes to Fabien Galthie's team and explains why this French team are desperate to win at Twickenham. Flanker Lewis Ludlam also joins the pod to chat about his impressive form in this year's Six Nations and why he is relishing the challenge this Saturday.

Chris chats to the man spearheading the Italian rugby revolution, their inspirational captain, Michele Lamaro. He tells us what it means to play for the Azzurri and to sing the national anthem. He reflects on their momentous win in Cardiff last year, dealing with the favourites tag against Wales this weekend and restoring pride in the Italian jersey.

Danny, Ugo and Chris are back together and there is plenty to discuss including some big pod news. Marcus Smith was recalled by England after impressing for Harlequins at the weekend, but will it be enough to persuade Steve Borthwick to give him more game time? There is more fallout from Welsh rugby's financial crisis as Willis Halaholo voices his concerns over contract uncertainty and Jarrod Evans looks set to leave his boyhood club Cardiff. And with more English players looking to ply their trade abroad, do the rules around foreign-based players need to change? England head coach Steve Borthwick thinks so, but what are the potential ramifications and should there be a cap rule implemented?

As Ireland continue their quest for a first Grand Slam since 2018, Chris charts Andy Farrell's remarkable rise from rugby league prodigy to one of the most respected head coaches in rugby union. Ashy talks about idolising him during his Wigan days and reveals how Farrell revolutionised England training while he was assistant coach. Alex Corbisiero gives a fascinating insight into the 2013 Lions tour and how Farrell inspired his players for the series decider against Australia. And Stuart Lancaster is back on the pod to discuss Farrell's coaching journey, his development over the last decade, and his strengths as a coach and a person. We also ask what the future holds, with Farrell the clear favourite to take charge of the Lions in 2025.

John Barclay and Sam Warburton join Ugo and Chris to wrap up round three of the Six Nations. Scotland’s Grand Slam hopes are ended in Paris as France kept their slim hopes of another Six Nations title alive. Warburton discusses the issues facing Wales on the field after a dramatic week off the field. They discuss criticism of England’s performance in Cardiff and ask whether it was justified. And can Scotland bounce back to end Ireland’s Grand Slam dream at Murrayfield?

We're at the half way point! And as ever, there is loads to discuss... Chris Jones, 2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson and former Wales winger Philippa Tuttiett react to an edgy match in Cardiff, which ultimately pleased English fans the most. Whilst it was by no means a classic game or the usual arm wrestle between these two fierce rivals, the pod squad discuss what signs there were of England's progress, whether Wales have the depth to usher in a full changing of the guard before their trip to Italy, and the way Italy backed up their progress by pushing Ireland in Dublin earlier today. All eyes look ahead to the game on Sunday where Grand Slam hopefuls Scotland travel to play a wounded French side!

Chris, Gareth Rhys Owen and Tom English react to the news that Wales v England will go ahead this weekend. After another long day of negotiations, the interim WRU chief executive Nigel Walker and Wales captain Ken Owens spoke to the media outside the Vale to deliver the news. The 60 cap rule is no more, the players have representation at PRB meetings, and a compromise met on the fixed and variable contracts. So crisis averted, but for how long? And what has this whole saga done to Welsh rugby's reputation?

Ugo and Chris take the pod to Edinburgh and go inside the Scotland camp to chat to Finn Russell. He talks about his favourite pre-match meals, reveals he has never tried a deep-fried Mars Bar and gives a fascinating insight into how he prepares for a match. We hear how Russell rebuilt his relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend and why there is still more to come from Scotland ahead of their trip to Paris this weekend. He also talks about becoming a dad for the first time and what sets him apart from the other fly-halves in the Six Nations.

The Nations pod has been brought forward this week with the WRU in the midst of another crisis. Chris, Tom English and Lauren Jenkins discuss why Welsh rugby players are considering going on strike against England in the Six Nations this weekend. As many as 70 players out of contract this season still don't know if they will have a job beyond June. The WRU is working to agree a funding deal with its four regions, but why is it taking so long? And what are the sticking points when it comes to the deal the players are being offered?

John Barclay and Jonathan Davies join Chris and Ugo on the sofa to wrap up another captivating Six Nations weekend. England went back to basics under Steve Borthwick to brush aside Italy, but can they compete against the world’s best sides with that game plan? And where might this leave Marcus Smith? There’s plenty of love for Ireland, Hugo Keenan and Caelan Doris. Antoine Dupont gets compared to Lionel Messi, Scotland's second-half performance earns rave reviews, but it's a different story for Wales as Jiffy gives his take on where it's gone wrong for the regions and the national side.

We can all remember games that have not lived up to their billing, but that was certainly not the case for the opening matches of Round 2! Sara Orchard and former Irish winger Denis Hickie were in Dublin to witness a masterclass from Ireland, which brought France's impressive unbeaten run to an end in some style (32-19). Sara and Dennis reflect on how Ireland stretched France's famous defence, and what we learned about the depth of Andy Farrell's squad ahead of the World Cup. Chris Jones, former Scotland No.8 Johnnie Beattie, and three-time Six Nations champion Jaime Roberts, catch their breath after a match for the ages at Murrayfield, which saw Scotland bag another bonus point win (35-7) and secure their first back-to-back win in the championship since 1996 - when POTM, Finn Russell, was 3 years old! They discuss what is most exciting about Scotland at the moment, the gulf in class on display today, and what hope there is for hurting Wales fans?

Rory Lawson joins Chris as the pre-match atmosphere builds in Edinburgh. Dan Biggar is in bullish mood, so will the pressure get to Scotland? As Ireland and France prepare for a mammoth showdown in Dublin, we ask whether either team is due a loss, and we’re in the England camp with Sara and Henry Slade as Steve Borthwick makes some big calls to his side to face Italy.

He's won Grand Slams with Wales and France, two Champions Cups and four Premiership titles. He's gone from Wigan, via Wales, to Perpignan in the south of France. His team are on a 14-match winning streak and he's considered the best defensive coach in the game. In this special episode, World Cup winner Matt Dawson catches up with his old Wasps coach Shaun Edwards. We find out how much prize money Edwards has earned for his unions and his favourite French phrase when coaching. They also discuss life in France, why rugby league coaches are thriving in union, Six Nations prize money and being a self-proclaimed rugby nerd.

The Nations Pod returns as Gareth Rhys Owen of Scrum V and BBC Scotland’s Tom English join Chris to mull over the questions emerging from the first round of matches of the Six Nations. They discuss the news that Steve Borthwick is to shake up his England coaching staff at the end of the season, and why it didn’t happen earlier. With England and Wales losing at the weekend, they debate what changes the respective coaches could make going into this weekend. And after the new World Rugby rankings came out this week, does this make winning the Grand Slam more difficult than the World Cup?

In this special episode of the Daily, Chris takes a trip to memory lane (and Newport) to relive THAT try, 50 years on. 27th January 1973 was the day, the Barbarians and New Zealand the teams, and Cardiff Arms Park the venue, as Sir Gareth Edwards scored one of the most famous tries in rugby history, in one of the sport’s most famous matches. With the help of Edwards and three other GOATS – Willie John McBride, JPR Williams and Mike Gibson – we discuss everything from Phil Bennett’s sidestep to John Dawes’ dummy to Edwards’ brilliant finish, and hear more about the context of the match as the feted British and Irish Lions of 1971 reunited to face the All Blacks in what was billed as the unofficial “Fifth Test”.

There are contrasting emotions on the sofa as John Barclay and Sam Warburton join Chris and Ugo to wrap up round one of the Six Nations. Will Scotland win their opening two matches for the first time since 1996? There's plenty for Warren Gatland to ponder after Ireland ruined his return to the Principality. France edged Italy in Rome so attention now turns to their showdown with Ireland in Dublin. And what are the areas of concern for Steve Borthwick after losing his first game in charge.

We've been building up to it all week, but finally, the 2023 Six Nations is underway! Wales hosted Ireland for the Championship opener, and it was not the great Gatland second-coming that many had hoped for. With Ireland clinical from the off, Sara Orchard, Wales international Philippa Tuttiett, and former Irish winger Denis Hickie, talk us through exactly what happened in Cardiff, and ponder Warren Gatland's options for the rest of the Championship? Twickenham was in full voice again but it wasn't enough to stop Scotland bagging a hat-trick of Calcutta Cups, or Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe putting in an early bid for try of the tournament! Chris Jones, 2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson, and former Scotland No.8 Johnnie Beattie, discuss the key areas Scotland were superior, why Finn Russell impressed so much, the mindset Scotland need to take into their next game and beyond, and (Dawson's favourite question!), how can England close out these big games? Chris also gets the thoughts of England head coach Steve Borthwick after his first test in charge, and an understandably satisfied Scotland coach, Gregor Townsend.

Tommy Bowe, Tom Shanklin, Sara Orchard and Sonja McLaughlan are in Cardiff to preview the opening day of the Six Nations. They share their memories of Eddie Butler and look back at some of their favourite Six Nations moments. Tommy gets to relive Ireland's historic Grand Slam in 2009 and they also take a closer look at Warren Gatland’s return to Wales. Plus, Chris and Ugo drop by to build the excitement for the Calcutta Cup.

Chris and Ugo go behind the scenes at the England team hotel as Steve Borthwick names his first side as head coach. There are some big calls as Manu Tuilagi is left out, so what is Borthwick’s explanation for omitting the Sale powerhouse? He also explains why Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell are together in the midfield, and why he has welcomed back some players from the international wilderness. We speak to one of England’s key players in Maro Itoje, while Gregor Townsend is also on the pod as he makes some brave calls of his own.

Today’s episode is all about the Six Nations captains. Ugo Monye and Chris Jones chat to Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell, Ken Owens, Michele Lamaro, Jamie Ritchie and Antoine Dupont. They find out what's the best thing about being a captain, the downsides, which reality TV show they'd most like to try, best and worst roommates and we ask which other sport they would love to captain.

Scrum V’s Gareth Rhys Owen and Tom English from BBC Scotland join Chris to look ahead to the opening round of matches in the Six Nations. With Warren Gatland naming his side to face Ireland, his first since returning to Wales, the guys debate whether he has got the blend of youth and experience right. Chris explains why there is a different vibe around the England camp under Steve Borthwick. And they take a forensic look at the issues facing the governing bodies of Wales, Scotland and England and ask how much damage it is doing to the sport.

John Barclay is our special co-host today, as is tradition during Calcutta Cup week. He's alongside to Danny and Chris to discuss the task facing Scotland at Twickenham this weekend and whether England will carry on the Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell partnership. Danny tells us about being reunited with Antoine Dupont, there's more on tackle heights and we find out how John would feel if one of his William Wallace style speeches made it onto a Netflix documentary.

Rugby Union Daily is back for the Six Nations and we start with a bumper episode as Ugo and Chris chat to the coaches ahead of the opening weekend. Warren Gatland tells us about his return to Wales and what he loves about the Six Nations. They quiz Gregor Townsend on Finn Russell's return and whether this will be his last year as Scotland head coach. Steve Borthwick predicts a very competitive tournament this year and addresses some of the challenges facing the game today. Italy head coach Kieran Crowley reflects on their resurgence following their sensational win in Cardiff, and Andy Farrell talks about leading the number-one side in the world. We also challenge the coaches to pick the one rival player they would like to have in the Six Nations squad!

The Rugby Union Daily is back from 30th January to get you ready for the Six Nations! So for the last Weekly episode Ugo, Danny, Chris and Sara meet up to discuss a controversial week in the sport. Top of the agenda is the RFU's new tackle laws. Will lowering the tackle height to the waist make the game safer? Plenty of players, coaches and referees have criticised the decision. The England cricket captain even got involved in the debate. We also hear about Danny's encounter with Siya Kolisi in the tunnel and we look forward to the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

Ugo and Chris are at Twickenham to chat to Steve Borthwick about his 36-man squad for the Six Nations, but has the news been overshadowed somewhat by his predecessor? They quiz Borthwick on the decision to name Owen Farrell captain and the controversy around his ban. Plus, Borthwick tells us about the difficult conversations he had with those players who missed out on selection. Kevin Sinfield also stops by for a chat about who his defensive leaders will be, tackle technique and how proud he'll be to coach England at Twickenham for the first time. And we discuss a sensational return to the Wallabies for Eddie Jones. Will he come back to haunt his previous employer at the World Cup? There's also a look back at the weekend's Champions Cup action which included big wins for Ospreys and Edinburgh.

Ugo, Ashy and Danny discuss Nick Evans being named England's attack coach for the Six Nations and whether he can revive their attack in time for the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham. They also discuss Owen Farrell's tackle on Jack Clement, whether rugby should have a January transfer window and Ashy reveals the one Premiership club he's yet to score a try against.

Chris takes the pod to University of Gloucestershire to sit down with England's new defence coach Kevin Sinfield. They talk about his relationship with Steve Borthwick, what he's looking to bring to the role and how coaching is more rewarding than playing. Sinfield also talks about his good friend Rob Burrow and the work he has done to raise money and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND). They also discuss rugby league, his song choices on Desert Island Discs and his first meeting with the England players this week.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson is our special guest to kick off the new year. He chats to Ugo and Sara about life at Sale, their big win over champions Leicester and the impact George Ford is having behind the scenes. We also discuss Joe Marler's ban, another eye-catching display from Owen Farrell at fly-half, and a stunning last-minute penalty from Santiago Carreras.

Chris and Paul Grayson pod from Welford Road after Leicester beat Gloucester in the inaugural Slater Cup. They chat to Tigers' new interim head coach Richard Wigglesworth after his first victory and discuss an eventful December for the defending champions. They also reflect on an emotional day for Ed Slater and his family and take stock of the Premiership season so far.

England's new head coach Steve Borthwick is our special guest on the pod this week. He tells Chris how much it means to lead his country and what fans can expect from his England team in their Six Nations opener against Scotland. We also hear from RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney on why Borthwick was always first choice for the job, and why Eddie Jones was sacked nine months before the World Cup. Ashy reveals how Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield broke the news to the Leicester Tigers squad at the weekend, and Danny talks gameplans and whether England can win the World Cup next year in France.

Chris and Ugo quiz Ashy about the mood in the Leicester camp with Steve Borthwick the frontrunner to become the new England head coach. Could this lead to a shock England recall for Ashy at 35? They discuss the opening weekend of the new-look Champions Cup which was up against bad weather, train strikes and England's World Cup quarter-final. Is the current format working or will it change again further down the line? And Premiership referee Christophe Ridley's tweet to Gary Neville sparks a debate about the importance of the relationship between players and referees.

After underwhelming autumn campaigns for England and Wales, the inquests by the RFU and WRU are already under way. Danny, Ugo and Chris are on the sofa to discuss whether we will see big changes with the World Cup now just under 10 months away. Is this the end of the road for Eddie Jones and England? Or will he be given the chance to get the England fans back on side? These are also uncertain times for Wayne Pivac after a disappointing year for Wales. Could Warren Gatland make a sensational return to Wales or could we see another Kiwi take charge?

Chris and Paul Grayson pick the bones out of England's defeat to South Africa at Twickenham. Is progress being made ahead of the World Cup next year? Will the RFU stick with Eddie Jones after just one win in four matches this autumn. Wales also ended their autumn with defeat after surrendering a 21 point lead against Australia.

Chris Jones, Andy Nicol and Paul Grayson pay tribute to one of the greats of Scottish rugby, Doddie Weir, who’s died at the age of 52 following his battle with motor neurone disease. Andy and Paul remember him as a team-mate and a friend and they hear from the man himself, in a 2019 interview with 5 Live’s Darren Campbell.

Ugo and Chris look ahead to the final two games of the Autumn Nations Series. Pod favourite Jamie George is back to discuss referees, injury comebacks and another duel with South Africa. Eddie Jones talks us through his team selection as he tinkers his line-up once again. And after one of the worst defeats in Welsh rugby history last weekend, can Wayne Pivac and Wales end the year on a high against an injury-ravaged Australia?

We have a big pod from Monaco to finish our run of daily podcasts. Chris and Ugo are in Monaco to speak to men’s Player of the Year Josh van der Flier and New Zealand fly-half Ruahei Demant who took home the women’s prize. They also catch up with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after a stellar 2022 for Ireland. There are also interviews with Jamie Roberts on Georgia’s shock victory over Wales and World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin on the state of the international game. Plus, Springboks legend John Smit talks Rassie Erasmus and England against South Africa this weekend.

Chris and Danny gather their thoughts after the game at Twickenham, where England snatched a late draw against New Zealand - gifting fans one of the most dramatic ten minutes of rugby in recent memory! Up until the 70th minute England's defeat to the All Blacks looked certain, but Eddie Jones’ men scored 3 tries to bring the score level. Chris and Danny scratch their heads and ask why England didn’t start the way they finished? Are we still asking, will the real England please stand up? Which of the two teams will most feel that they lost that one? All this plus reaction to the other matches on Saturday afternoon, when Georgia beat Wales at home for the first time ever and a card-fest at Murrayfield saw Scotland making their own history with a record win over Argentina.

Chris Jones, Matt Dawson and Sonja McLaughlan pod from Pennyhill Park ahead of England's clash with New Zealand this weekend. We hear from Eddie Jones on Ardie Savea, the changes to his back-row and his take on the state of the international game less than a year out from World Cup. Matt heaps praise on Jack van Poortvliet after he was given the nod ahead of Ben Youngs at scrum-half. There's more chat on the Farrell-Smith combination and who has had the better 2022, Ireland or France?

A special podcast all about Owen Farrell who is set to win his 100th England cap this weekend against the All Blacks. Danny tells about us his first England encounter with Farrell and why he still doesn't get the credit he deserves. England team mates Henry Slade and Jonny Hill give us an insight into Farrell on the training field and how he continues to drive standards. We find out how Farrell is viewed in New Zealand with All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith and Liam Napier from the NZ Herald. Chris and Danny ask whether the best is still to come for Farrell and Danny backs him to become England head coach one day.

Danny, Ugo and Chris are back together to discuss the nominees for the World Rugby Awards. Should Ardie Savea have made the shortlist for the Men's Player of the year? Who will be crowned Coach of the Year? The debate around the next England head coach has resurfaced after the RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said Eddie Jones' successor doesn't need to be English. So who would be the ideal candidate? And will Shaun Edwards ever join the England coaching set-up? They also assess what we've learnt from the autumns so far and look forward to the All Blacks visiting Twickenham.

After battling through countless tech issues John Barclay eventually makes his debut as a co-presenter alongside Chris. They discuss the positives for Scotland despite their defeat to the All Blacks, Finn Russell's performance and where this leaves his Scotland career. There is also a look at some more social media antics from Rassie Erasmus and John educates Chris on a Scottish delicacy.

Sara pods from Auckland for one last time before heading back home. She is joined by World Cup winner Kat Merchant and Becky Grey from the BBC Sport website to reflect on the final and how successful the tournament has been. Sara also speaks a very emotional Simon Middleton and the RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.

Sara Orchard and Kat Merchant take a breath after the Black Ferns edged another win over the Red Roses in a breathless world cup final full of drama and skill. They react to the early red card which meant that England had a mountain to climb, and how despite keeping a hold of New Zealand for most of the game, heartbreak eventually befell the tourists with the final score 34-31. As well as hearing from New Zealand’s Ruby Tui, England’s captain Sarah Hunter and head coach Simon Middleton, we also catch up with Chris Jones, Ugo Monye and Giselle Mather who joined fans at Twickenham to watch the game early doors. Sara and Kat reflect on what has been an incredible day for women’s rugby, and what the future looks like for players and coaches in both hemispheres.

Chris and Ashy are back together to preview this weekend's autumn fixtures. They discuss Manu Tuilagi dropping to the bench for England's clash against Japan and hear from vice-captain Jack Nowell. We get Ashy's thoughts on Louis Rees-Zammit switching to full-back as Wales face Argentina in Cardiff and debate whether Alun Wyn Jones will make it to next years' World Cup. Plus, there's more Finn Russell chat as he looks set to start at fly-half for New Zealand's visit to Murrayfield.

Sara and Kat Merchant pod right after England and New Zealand name their teams for Saturday's World Cup final at Eden Park. They chat to England captain Sarah Hunter about her favourite footwear and what kind of atmosphere the Red Roses are expecting. Kat is reunited with her good friend and fellow winger Lydia Thompson after she was named on the wing for Saturday's final. Sara and Kat also visit the Black Ferns team hotel to chat to their head coach Wayne Smith about why he took the job, how it differs to coaching the All Blacks and what the NZRU must do next to build on the success of the tournament.

Ugo and Chris take a trip along the M4 to bring you a special pod with Wales centurion Dan Biggar. He chats about his move to Toulon and learning French. We talk Wales and England after their shaky starts to the autumn. We also get an insight into Finn Russell, discover why Biggar loves being a captain and the reason he isn't on social media.

To kick off World Cup final week, Sara chats to Katy Daley-McLean about captaining England to the 2014 World Cup in Paris. We hear about an awkward photoshoot at the Eifel Tower, pre-match speeches, the value of a good room-mate and Katy describes the exact moment she knew the final was won. Sara has also been speaking to Emily Scarratt who will play in a fourth World Cup final on Saturday. She explains how life changed after the triumph in 2014 and what it would mean to finally beat the Black Ferns in a final.

Chris, Ashy and Paul Grayson react to a shock defeat for England as Argentina claim their first win at Twickenham since 2006. Why wasn't England's attack firing? Is the Smith and Farrell partnership the way forward? And should Jack van Poortvliet be starting next week? All this plus a look back at Saturday's matches including an impressive win for Ireland and a big win for the All Blacks in Cardiff.

England were pushed all the way, but thanks to a moment of magic from Abby Dow they finally got the better of Canada to book their place in the World Cup final. Sara and World Cup winners Kat Merchant and Monalisa Urquhart are at Eden Park to reflect on another Red Roses victory and wrap up all the drama from second semi-final between the hosts New Zealand and France.

Ashy and Chris preview a packed autumn schedule this weekend with New Zealand and South Africa in town. Billy Vunipola tells us he's enjoying his international "rebirth" after nearly a year in the England wilderness. Chris chats to new Wales captain Justin Tipuric about facing the All Blacks and how he's adjusting to life with the armband. They also discuss a kit clash in Dublin, another change at fly-half for Scotland and find out how many times Ashy has moved house.

Sara and Kat Merchant are podding from Auckland with the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup just around the corner. They visit the England team hotel for a chat with Abbie Ward about line-outs, their semi-final with Canada and how the team celebrated Halloween. Sara has also speaks to Canada's captain Sophie de Goede and there is also a trip to the Black Ferns team to meet Alana Bremner before their semi-final with France.

With his Red Roses team chasing World Cup glory, Simon Middleton chats to Sara Orchard about his journey from glassmaker to England head coach. He reflects on his first coaching gig at Leeds, how he gets the best out of young players and the adjustments he's had to make to his coaching style. We hear about his gruelling PPP training sessions and he talks about the lessons learned from losing the 2017 World Cup final to New Zealand.

Our favourite Scotsman is back on the pod this week. John Barclay chats to Danny, Ugo and Chris about an eventful day at the office for Blair Kinghorn, the atmosphere at Murrayfield and a bit of magic from Nic White. Danny reveals he's negotiating his own contract at Quins for next season, there's more love for Gloucester and some interesting developments at Wasps and Worcester.

Chris takes the pod to Jersey and goes inside the England camp ahead of their opening match of the autumn. Pod favourite Marcus Smith tells us what the team have been up to on the island and why he's feeling so at home in an England shirt. We also catch up with Jack Willis who explains how it felt to be made redundant by Wasps and what is next for the England flanker. Chris also heads to the open training session at the Jersey Reds and speaks to Mako Vunipola.

2014 World Cup winner Katy Daley McLean joins Chris Jones and Ugo Monye for another early start, this time to review England’s quarter-final victory over the Wallaroos at a rain-soaked Waitakere Stadium. Not even the weather could damper England captain Sarah Hunter’s 138th cap though, securing her place in the record books as England’s most capped player ever, and we hear her thoughts post-match. All eyes now look ahead to the semi-final, and Chris, Ugo and Katy wonder how that England team sheet might look next weekend?

Chris Jones makes his return to the pod after six long weeks. He joins Ugo and Danny to discuss Adam Hastings' outrageous drop goal for Gloucester, Finn Russell being dropped by Gregor Townsend and international captaincy. Danny has plenty to say about Saracens and what Alex Goode is like on a night out. There's a first win of the season for Bath and we have some exciting pod news ahead of the autumn internationals.

The line-up for the quarter-finals of the women's Rugby World Cup is complete! Wales face the hosts New Zealand while England play Australia for the first time time since 2010. Sara and Katy Daley-McLean look ahead to both ties and chat to England's Rosie Galligan after her hat-trick in the 75-0 victory over South Africa.

Sara is joined by Philippa Tuttiett and Maggie Alphonsi to preview the final round of pool matches at the World Cup in New Zealand. They look ahead to the winner-takes-all clash between Wales and Australia in Pool A. We hear from England's Marlie Packer who will captain the side against South Africa with their place in the knockout stages already secured. We also talk Scotland who have the unenviable task of beating the Black Ferns to stand any chance of prolonging their stay in New Zealand.

Our special co-host this week is England and Saracens hooker Jamie George. He joins Danny and Sara to discuss another bleak day for English club rugby as Wasps become the second Premiership club to go into administration. They speak to one of the administrators to find out what the club's options are moving forward. They chat to a rugby agent about how the player market has changed and why finding a new club is so tricky. Plus, there's plenty to unpick from Eddie Jones' England squad for the autumn and Jamie gives us an insight into the new look Saracens this season.

Ugo, Sara and Katy Daley-McLean reflect on another England victory which extends their winning run to 27 matches. Abbie Ward joins the pod to talk through a bruising encounter with France in Whangarei. We reflect on yet more heartbreak for Scotland, debate refereeing standards and ask whether Simon Middleton will come to regret his selections at scrum-half later in the tournament.

Ugo and Sara discuss the latest addition to the Care family which arrived on the same day as the Red Roses got their World Cup off to the perfect start. They reflect on the opening weekend including Wales' dramatic victory over Scotland. Worcester's Matt Kvesic joins the pod from the Sixways gym to discuss what the future holds after his contract was terminated by the club's winding up order. Ugo and Sara continue their debate on Bath and chat about Stuart Hogg's comments about dealing with abuse as a player.

It's 26 wins in a row for the Red Roses as they thrashed Fiji in their World Cup opener at Eden Park. Sara Orchard and Katy Daley-McLean reflect on another dominant display but they are still improvements to be made ahead of France next week. They also chat to Abbie Dow who completed her remarkable comeback from injury with a second-half try.

She's the Sevens star who won Olympic gold in Tokyo and her post-match interview with the BBC became a viral sensation. Two years on, she's one of the biggest names in women's rugby preparing to play in her first Rugby World Cup. So to mark the start of the tournament, Sara and Ugo bring you a special pod with New Zealand rugby icon Ruby Tui. They discuss her journey to the top, her turbulent childhood, and how it has shaped who she is today. She teaches them some well-known Māori phrases and tells us how special the Haka is to her. We also get Ruby's take on the tournament favourites England, and an insight into the Black Ferns transformation since the arrival of former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith.

Ugo, Danny and Sara round-up a high-scoring and entertaining weekend in the Premiership. We chat about Saracens thrashing champions Leicester, a sensational solo try and a double hat-trick for Irish. We also discuss the statement released by Worcester owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring over the weekend which criticised the club's fans and players. Plus, there is a big announcement about the Women's World Cup which kicks off this weekend.

Danny, Sara, Ugo and Ashy reflect on Worcester being suspended from the Premiership. They chat to Warriors’ defence coach Nick Easter about what the coaches and players do next. They also chat to Premiership chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor and speak to Jim O’Toole, who is part of a consortium looking to rescue the club. Plus, Danny talks about missing out on the latest England squad and Ashy is quizzed on how he's planning to celebrate reaching 100 Premiership tries.

Ugo and Sara are at Pennyhill Park for the Red Roses' World Cup squad announcement. They chat to Abbie Dow, Sadia Kabeya and Emily Scarratt who are all flying to New Zealand later this week. Head coach Simon Middleton explains why he left out World Cup winning scrum-half Natasha Hunt and tells us which team poses the biggest threat to England in the tournament. Plus, Scotland captain Rachael Malcolm looks forward to their first World Cup since 2010.

Chris Jones is at the URC launch day to chat to some big names ahead of the new season. He's joined by the European Player of the Year Josh van der Flier to discuss a memorable year, including that famous series win in New Zealand. Jonathan Davies tells us about his summer in Canada and his desire to get back in the Wales team. Hamish Watson reflects on Scotland's tour of Argentina and his hopes with Edinburgh this season. Plus, we hear from URC CEO Martin Anayi on the impact of the South African teams and his ambitions for the league moving forward.

Chris, Ugo, Danny and Ashy reflect on the opening weekend of the Premiership season and how the sport paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. There were over 100 kicks in Exeter's last-minute victory over Leicester, will this be the playing style of choice this season? The team also discuss Ellis Genge's Bristol comeback, Worcester's on-going financial crisis and a big season for Henry Arundell. Plus, Danny finally remembers to follow Johnny Sexton back on Instagram.

Danny and Chris are at Twickenham for the Premiership launch with the new season getting under way this weekend. They chat to with Manu Tuilagi who talks the new arrivals at Sale and his ambitions for the season. Jamie George reflects on last year's Premiership final and tells us how much he enjoyed being reunited with Danny in Australia this summer. Bath's new director of rugby Johann van Graan joins the pod to share his vision for the club, and we catch up with Steve Diamond to discuss Worcester's financial troubles.

It's the first pod back after the summer break so Ugo, Danny and Sara are at Chris' house for brunch. Danny reflects on his summer with England and explains how he reacted to being substituted before half-time in the deciding Test against Australia. We look ahead to a big autumn for the Red Roses with the World Cup just around the corner. And what is next for Worcester Warriors? The staff and players are still in limbo heading into the new Premiership season with the club battling to avoid going into administration.

It's the last pod of the season so Ugo and Chris pick their World XV based on what we saw during the summer Test series. They discuss what positives Wales can take from their tour of South Africa, what went wrong for Scotland in Argentina, and if England have found their identity again. Ireland legend Rob Kearney joins the pod to reflect on Ireland's series win in New Zealand. He also gives us an insight into why the class of 2019 struggled after topping the world rankings and what they could have done differently.

Chris, Ugo and Matt Dawson bring you reaction to Ireland's sensational series win over the All Blacks. Andy Farrell's side had to withstand a fierce second half comeback, but held firm to inflict a first home series defeat on New Zealand since 1994. England also wrapped up their series against Australia with a hard fought win in Sydney. Freddie Steward joins the pod to reflect on the win which caps a brilliant year for the England and Leicester full back.

All the teams have been announced for the four series deciders so Ugo and Chris are podding again ahead of what promises to be a brilliant weekend of rugby. Danny is back in the starting XV and they are joined by Eddie Jones to discuss this and preview England's showdown in Sydney. They also discuss if Ireland can put an under pressure All Blacks side to the sword, if Gregor Townsend's selection gamble in Argentina will pay off, and if Wales can claim a famous series win in South Africa.

Danny is back on the pod and chats to Ugo and Chris ahead of England's series decider against Australia in Sydney. He talks about being the elder statesman in England camp and how much it means to be playing for his country again. Pod favourite John Barclay also drops in to talk all things Scotland as they prepare for their decider against Argentina. They also reflect on Wales and Ireland's historic wins at the weekend in South Africa and New Zealand respectively.

Ugo, Ashy and Chris react to a big wins for England and Ireland who have both set up a series deciders next weekend. England ended a run of four successive defeats with victory over Australia in Brisbane while Ireland claimed their first win over the All Blacks in New Zealand. Tommy Freeman joins the pod to talk about his England debut and what it meant to have his mum and dad in the stands watching on. And we react to one of the most chaotic games in recent memory as Ireland got the better of 14-man New Zealand in Dunedin.

Eddie Jones has rolled the dice ahead of England's second Test against Australia. Ugo and Chris chat to the England boss about handing debuts to Tommy Freeman and Guy Porter and ask whether he is feeling the pressure after four straight defeats. Have South Africa devalued their series with Wales by making 14 changes? Ugo and Chris pick through their 'second' team and discuss Johnny Sexton and the HIA process after the Ireland captain was named in the Ireland team to face the All Blacks this Saturday.

Ugo, Ashy and Chris get stuck into a thrilling weekend of international rugby. Jamie Roberts joins the pod from South Africa after Wales suffered more heartbreak at the hands of the Springboks. We also welcome back our Aussie correspondent Drew Mitchell as the Wallabies drew first blood in their series with England. Will Eddie Jones stick with Farrell and Smith combination? There were also chastening defeats for Scotland and Ireland to discuss as the other Six Nations sides failed to make an impact on the opening ‘Super Saturday’.

England hooker Jamie George joins Chris Jones, Ugo Monye and Natasha Hunt live from the stadium in Perth after England lose 30-28 to 14 man Australia in the First Test of their summer tour. They discuss where it went wrong for Eddie Jones' side who should've seen it home after Darcy Swain was sent off in the first half for a headbutt in Australia's first win over England since knocking the co-hosts out of the 2015 World Cup.

Is this the strongest England team since the 2019 World Cup? Ugo and Chris chat to Eddie Jones after he gives Danny a first England start in four years and names Courtney Lawes as captain. Former Lions and Ireland winger Shane Horgan talks about the expectation levels ahead of Ireland's first Test in New Zealand. Wales have also gone for experience and brought back George North and Dan Lydiate return for their first Test against South Africa in Pretoria.

Ugo and Chris are joined by two special guests on the pod this week as we get ready for the first super Saturday of the summer. Our newly crowned Aussie correspondent Drew Mitchell joins the pod in the green and gold to give us the lowdown on Dave Rennie's Wallabies. Ugo and Chris chat about the England captaincy and who will lead the team in the first Test. 'The Sheriff' Ken Owens joins from his car to talk about Wales' chances in South Africa and talks us through the best way to beat the Springboks on home soil. Ugo and Chris also discuss Luther Burrell's comments about racism in rugby and what can be done to tackle it.

It's been another sensational few days for the pod. Ashy won his fourth Premiership title at the weekend and now Danny is on his way to Australia with England. Ugo and Sara chat to Eddie Jones about why he's brought Danny back into the fold along with Billy Vunipola. They also quiz the England boss on his midfield selections and that humbling defeat to the Barbarians. We then hear about Ashy’s two-day title celebrations with his Leicester team-mates. We find out what state the Premiership trophy is in, and why Freddie Steward nearly ended up in the River Thames.

Chris is joined by Tom Wood and Paul Grayson for reaction to Leicester's first Premiership title since 2013. Hear from a "knackered" Chris Ashton after Freddie Burns' last minute drop-goal sealed victory at Twickenham. Plus, there's more high tackle debate and an interview with Saracens and England hooker Jamie George.

Chris Jones is joined by Gareth Rhys Owen and special guests to pay tribute to Wales and Lions legend Phil Bennett. Jonathan Davies reveals how Bennett got his career off the ground and why he was such an inspiration to so many Welsh youngsters. Scarlets hooker Ken Owens also pays tribute, and you'll hear an archive interview with Bennett on why a game with Llanelli was the pick of his illustrious career. And former BBC commentator and Scotland fly-half Ian Robertson shares his memories of facing Bennett on the rugby pitch.

Ugo and Chris round up an eventful weekend both on and off the pitch. Danny is back in England camp after being recalled by Eddie Jones and could make his first international appearance since 2018. They also discuss Saracens' victory over Harlequins in a feisty semi-final and debate whether the framework for high tackles is actually working. Leicester are back in the Premiership final and we have an all-South African URC final after Leinster were humbled by the Bulls and a last minute conversion saw the Stormers break Ulster hearts.

It's Premiership awards night and Chris and Ugo chat to some of the main protagonists involved in this weekend's semi-finals. The league's top try scorer Max Malins talks about the rivalry between Saracens and Harlequins and last year's semi-final heartbreak with Bristol. Northampton's Chris Boyd stops by for a chat about their showdown with Leicester. He gives a fascinating insight into coaching and tells us what he learnt from spending time with the Cirque du Soleil. Plus, Leicester fly-half George Ford talks about their resurgence under Steve Borthwick and his move to Sale next season.

It's a big week for the pod as Danny and Ashy get ready to play in the Premiership semi-finals. They compare training schedules and debate whose run to the final would make the best Hollywood movie. There's reaction to Eddie Jones' latest training squad and the injuries to Manu Tuilagi and Kyle Sinckler. Plus, England and Saracens forward Marlie Packer joins the pod to discuss winning the Premier 15s title.

Chris and Ugo speak to Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor as the season nears its conclusion. He talks about his vision for the league and how they plan to reach new audiences. With French rugby claiming the big prizes in Europe, how can Premiership clubs close the gap with the salary cap decreasing? Massie-Taylor also talks about his desire to bring back promotion and relegation and how to make the Championship more competitive.

Ugo, Danny and Chris are on the sofa to review the Champions Cup final as La Rochelle defied the odds to beat Leinster in Marseille. But what next for Ronan O'Gara after winning the ultimate prize in club rugby? There's also a fascinating chat with former England flanker Tom Wood about retirement. He reflects on his 15-year career, tells us what is next for him and why a young Tom Wood would struggle to make an impact in the game now.

It was a big night for the pod at the RPA awards as Danny and Ashy both picked up silverware. Danny chats to Chris about winning the special merit award and his wife Jodie makes her pod debut. You will also hear from the gentle giant Andre Esterhuizen who was named players' player of the season. Ashy arrives fashionably late but brings Leicester team-mate Freddie Steward onto the pod after he took home two prizes, including England player of the year.

Chris and Ugo fill us in on Craig David's big performance at Twickenham this weekend. Harlequins secure their place in the Premiership semi-finals, but which player has been key to their resurgence over the last 18 months? They also look ahead to the Champions Cup final between Leinster and La Rochelle in Marseille, discuss the Premier 15s semi-finals and try to figure out who is rugby's Jurgen Klopp.

Chris is at a sunbathed Twickenham as Eddie Jones names his 36-man squad training squad in preparation for England's tour of Australia. Eddie tells us why he's selected London Irish duo Henry Arundell and Will Joseph, and how pleased he is to have Owen Farrell back in the fold. Chris also gets the thoughts of the Telegraph's Charlie Morgan on Eddie's latest squad and they discuss some big-name omissions.

Chris is back on the pod to talk fatherhood and European semi-finals with Danny. Leinster put Toulouse to the sword, La Rochelle make another Champions Cup final and Wasps and Saracens both come unstuck in the Challenge Cup. They also discuss Ashy's new deal at Leicester and the most prolific try scorer of all time across both codes. Plus, excitement builds for Craig David's appearance at Twickenham this weekend.

Danny, Ashy and Sara round-up an eventful weekend in Europe starting with the epic encounter between Munster and Toulouse which was decided by a place-kick competition. Ashy talks about Leicester's defeat to Leinster and going head-to-head with James Lowe at Welford Road. They also discuss Henry Arundell's sensational try against Toulon and whether he should get an England call-up this summer. Plus, could there be a big change to the Welsh club game on the horizon?

Ashy talks about becoming record try scorer in Premiership history and reveals he's retired the infamous 'Ash Splash'. Danny also enjoyed a record-breaking weekend as he overtook Garath Archer for the most yellow cards in a season. There was also a record win for Gloucester at the weekend and London Irish set the record for the most draws in a season. England star Emily Scarratt stops by to discuss another Six Nations title for the Red Roses and why she's keeping her gold cap in a bag for life.

Ugo and Danny have lots to discuss after a busy weekend, including some exciting news away from rugby. They also chat about Ugo's night at Wembley and why he was showering in the Quins dressing room after they beat Leicester. Plus, they are joined by England and Northampton full-back George Furbank. He talks about the top four battle in the Premiership, his England ambitions and his infamous moustache.

Fresh from his stag do in Ireland, Exeter's Jack Nowell joins the pod to tell Ashy, Danny and Chris all about his weekend and having to wear a Munster to Thomond Park. There was plenty to discuss from the Champions Cup round of 16 as Leicester set up a quarter-final with Leinster while Ulster and Harlequins exited the competition by just one point. Danny and Ashy look forward to playing each other in the Premiership this weekend and we also talk red cards, tackle technique and sanctions.

There's some exciting news from the Care family to start this week's pod as Danny, Ugo and Chris are on the sofa to chat about this weekend's Champions Cup action. Ulster head coach Dan McFarland joins the pod after his side beat the defending champions Toulouse. He talks about Ulster going under the radar, his coaching philosophy and their approach for the second leg at home. Leicester pick up another impressive win on the road, we hear about Danny's trip to Montpellier and find out if he'll be playing for the Barbarians this summer.

Chris Jones, Sara Orchard and Ugo Monye assemble at Kingsholm Stadium to review England versus Wales. They look back on what proved to be a special occasion in the history of the Women's Six Nations with a record crowd showing their appreciation for women's rugby, and debate what some of the other nations can do now to bolster their female sides. They discuss the key components of England's ten try triumph, and where Wales went wrong despite a strong start. Sara and Ugo also put their selector hats on with the Rugby World Cup just around the corner, and England Forwards Coach, Louis Deacon, even makes a surprise appearance on the pod!

Sara Orchard and Philippa Tuttiett are inside the England camp to preview round three of the Women's Six Nations. Captain Sarah Hunter tells them about being mistaken for the Duchess of Cambridge and Natasha Hunt talks about her return to Test rugby. They also speak to Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm about her emotional post-match interview last weekend and her desire to see the national team become professional. Hannah Botterman and Zoe Harrison also stop by to talk fancy dress, World Cup plans and darts.

Two years on from their last chat, Chris Jones heads to Leeds to sit down with Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster. They discuss the keys to Leinster’s success and how they continue to be a force both domestically and in Europe. Lancaster explains why Johnny Sexton is the best player he’s coached, gives his take on what the next England coaching team should look like and why he's expecting big things from Ireland at the next two World Cups.

Ashy is back on the pod to chat about equalling the Premiership try record and tells Danny and Ugo why he's enjoying life at Leicester Tigers. Danny sets a Premiership record of his own and talks about his big stage debut at the weekend. They assess the top four battle in the Premiership and heap more praise on the Red Roses as their winning streak continues. And we get ready for the round of 16 in the Champions Cup which will be played over two legs for the first time.

Sara Orchard is joined by Katy Daley-McLean and Rachael Burford to discuss round two of the Women's Six Nations. They analyse another dominant display by England as Natasha Hunt impresses on her first Test since November 2020. Wales left it late but produced another remarkable comeback to beat Scotland in front of a record crowd in Cardiff.

Ugo, Danny and Chris are back on the sofa to round-up the weekend’s action and try to track down Ashy after he equalled the Premiership try-scoring record. They also look at the candidates to succeed Eddie Jones after the RFU revealed they want an English coach to lead the team after the 2023 World Cup.

Sara Orchard is joined by former Scotland forward Heather Lockhart and England World Cup winner Katherine Merchant to review England’s nine-try demolition of Scotland in their opening Women's Six Nations match. We hear from Player of the Match Marlie Packer, England Captain Sarah Hunter and Scotland Head Coach Bryan Easson. And the team look ahead to the next round as England look to defend their title.

Ugo and Chris are joined by Sam Warburton and John Barclay for the big Six Nations debrief after France completed the Grand Slam in Paris. It’s not the title they wanted to fight for but after disappointing tournaments for England, Scotland and Wales, the guys argue over who had the worst campaign. Support for Eddie Jones is questioned as England's Rugby Football Union say they are “encouraged by solid progress” - but the team aren’t convinced! Friend of the podcast and former France hooker Ben Kayser joins us to reflect on the celebrations at the Stade de France and the feeling of unity within French rugby. Plus Ugo, John and Sam name their team and standout player of the tournament.

The Six Nations is over for another year, and Chris Jones, Paul Grayson and Matt Dawson gather their thoughts after a spectacular final day, and dissect how France sealed their first Slam since 2010, despite England's best attempt to spoil the party in Paris! As well as asking where England go from here, they reflect on the Shaun Edwards effect, how France have developed a strength in depth that should worry other nations, and of course, the man of the moment, Antoine Dupont. They also touch on Ireland who did the job against Scotland, and discuss how Italy tore up the script in the opening act of the day by clinching an away win in Cardiff - their first Six Nations victory in seven years!

Chris and Paul Grayson are in Paris to preview Saturday's Grand Slam showdown at the Stade de France. Will France be celebrating a first Six Nations title in 12 years or can England spoil the party in Paris? Chris has also been to the England hotel to chat to Maro Itoje about the Mona Lisa, dealing with pressure and whether he's playing the best rugby of his career.

Shane Horgan, John Barclay and Philippa Tuttiett join Sonja McLaughlan and Matt Dawson for one last time this tournament to preview the final weekend. The team look at the surprise tactical switch for Eddie Jones as George Furbank starts at full-back against France, discuss what England need to do to beat their final round Six Nations opponents and weigh up Ireland’s chances to take the title. And former French international Yannick Nyanga tells us what the mood is like in Paris as France look to end their long wait for a Six Nations title.

With France on the brink of a first Grand Slam in 12 years, we take an in-depth look at Fabien Galthie's side and how they've become one of the best teams in the world. Sara Orchard chats to Johnnie Beattie, who spent eight years playing in France, and journalist and French rugby aficionado Paul Eddison. They discuss the key men behind the current success including Shaun Edwards. Johnnie tell us what it's like having Galthie as a head coach and how much he demands from his players. They're also joined by Brive president Simon Gillham who explains how the JIFF system in France is helping to produce so many talented youngsters.

What makes a great coach? Is silverware all that matters? In the final episode of the series Danny Care and Sam Warburton rank the greatest coaches of the Six Nations era. They discuss coaching styles and how best to win over a dressing room. They provide a fascinating insight into how Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland operate as well as share some hilarious stories involving a certain defence coach from Wigan.

Ugo and Chris are joined by Sam Warburton and the original 'DC' Danny Cipriani. There was a clean sweep for the away teams in round four, including a thriller at Twickenham. Sam and Danny give a fascinating insight into defence coach Shaun Edwards with France on the brink of a first Six Nations Grand Slam in over a decade. But will England spoil the party in Paris and allow Ireland to snatch the title on the final weekend?

Chris Jones, Katy Daley-McLean, and Matt Dawson give their thoughts on another Six Nations epic at Twickenham, where England went a man down after 82 seconds and Ireland achieved a historic win, but the scoreboard didn't tell the whole story. Jamie Heaslip joins them to give an Irish perspective, and explains why an ugly win tonight is the best thing for Ireland as they chase down the title. England Head Coach, Eddie Jones, also shares his thoughts on how the game got away from England in the closing stages. Chris, Matt and Katy look ahead to a Super Saturday which is simmering nicely, and debate whether England are primed to spoil the party in Paris.

Ahead of Ireland’s big showdown at Twickenham, Chris is joined by Murray Kinsella from the 42.ie for an in-depth look at Andy Farrell’s team who are still well placed to claim the Six Nations title. Ireland’s most decorated player Rob Kearney joins to chat about his old team-mate Johnny Sexton and how the side has evolved under Farrell's guidance. Plus, Grand Slam winner Jerry Flannery praises the impact of Paul O'Connell and breaks down where the game could be won and lost this weekend.

Ugo, Danny and Chris are back on Paddy's sofa for the first time this Six Nations. Friend of the pod Jamie George joins from the England camp to talk Ireland, England's attack and regaining his Test spot. We look at the Six Nations players on show this weekend and whether the Cardiff factor will be enough for Wales to end France's Grand Slam dream. They also discuss Ealing Trailfinders and Doncaster Knights being denied promotion to the Premiership next season.

Who is the greatest try scorer in the Six Nations era? Should it be based purely on numbers and statistics or is it about quality over quantity? Former Grand Slam winners Sam Warburton and Danny Care rank their top six try scorers and reminisce about their own favourite Six Nations try.

France remain on course for their first Grand Slam in over a decade. England scrape past Wales and Italy suffer the 100th Six Nations defeat. Ugo Monye, Dylan Hartley and Sam Warburton review round three of the Six Nations.

Chris Jones, Matt Dawson and Philippa Tuttiett discuss what proved to be a tight contest at Twickenham, and Sara Orchard, Andy Nicol and Johnnie Beattie join from Murrayfield where they watched France show why they are the only team who are still in the hunt for a Grand Slam.

Sonja McLaughlan and Matt Dawson are joined by John Barclay, Tom Shanklin and Shane Horgan to preview round three of the Six Nations Championships. They to look ahead to the clash between one of the oldest rivalries in sport - England against Wales. The team react to Manu Tuilagi’s injury and the big headlines from the team news, Harry Randall starting at scrum-half and Josh Adams replacing Louis Rees-Zammit. They dissect what lessons Scotland will have learnt following their defeat to Wales and predict which team Andy Farrell will name as Ireland host Italy on Sunday.

Chris Ashton makes his long-awaited pod return and tells Danny and Chris about his move to Leicester Tigers. They look ahead to the big game at Twickenham this weekend and chat to England centre Manu Tuilagi. He talks chess, rooming with Marcus Smith and his 10-year unbeaten home run. We look at Scotland's game with Grand Slam chasing France and discuss the possibility of South Africa joining the Six Nations.

This week Sam Warburton and Danny Care must choose their favourite Six Nations stadium. They've got the six current grounds to debate and rate them based on atmosphere, location, dressing rooms and which city offers the best night out.

Ugo and Chris are joined by Dylan Hartley on the sofas in Media City to reflect on another brilliant Six Nations weekend. They discuss England’s performance against Italy, what we’ve learned about the team and hear from Eddie Jones. Callum Sheedy joins the pod to tell us about an emotional day in Cardiff as Wales got their championship back on track. Sheedy talks about the leaders in the squad and reveals their preparation in the week was far from ideal.

Chris Jones and The42's Murray Kinsella preview the weekend's Six Nations games from a Paris bistro. Can Andy Farrell's Ireland tame this formidable French side in Paris without their captain Johnny Sexton? Chris and Murray look ahead to Wales' clash with Scotland in Cardiff and also hear from England head coach Eddie Jones ahead of their trip to Rome. He explains the decision to start Maro Itoje in the back row and why he hopes Ollie Chessum will be the next Courtney Lawes.

Sam Warburton and Danny Care are back, and this time they're ranking the greatest ever Six Nations matches. Danny's favourite match doesn't make the shortlist and Sam forces him to relive their 2013 showdown in Cardiff. There's an Irish Grand Slam decider to discuss, plus one of the greatest comebacks in Six Nations history.

The pod has relocated to Manchester this week as Ugo Monye and Chris Jones are joined by Wales legend Sam Warburton and former Scotland captain John Barclay to reflect on the opening round of Six Nations matches. Is this finally going to be Scotland's year? Will England ever find a solution to their midfield conundrum? What next for the defending champions Wales? And can Ireland keep their Grand Slam hopes alive in Paris?

Ugo Monye and Sara Orchard bring you all the reaction to the Six Nations team announcements. Chris drops by to chat about Tom Curry being named England captain at Murrayfield this weekend and Gregor Townsend has gone with plenty of experience as they to defend the Calcutta Cup. We find out how Louis Rees Zammit celebrated his 21st birthday in camp and chat about Wales' opening game against Ireland.

Everyone loves a good rivalry and it doesn’t come any better than England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales fighting it out to become Six Nations champions (alongside France and Italy) so we decided to unite BBC Radio Wales’ Scrum V pod and the Radio Scotland Rugby Podcast with our very own Rugby Union Daily to get a unique take on what the home nations are getting up to ahead of the competition. Chris Jones is joined by Gareth Rhys Owen and Tom English to get the lowdown on what we can expect from the teams and they boldly make predictions as to who will come out on top at the weekend. Not only that, they discuss why you can never rule out Wales, if Johnny Sexton is super human, England's captain conundrum and if Tom has found his brain after Adam Hastings was left out of the Scotland squad.

Six Nations Test week is upon us! So Danny and Chris are joined by John Barclay, who makes his pod sofa debut after an eventful trip down from Edinburgh. They look ahead to the Calcutta Cup this weekend and there's a big revelation about the away dressing room at Murrayfield. We head inside the England camp and hear from Kyle Sinckler who talks about ditching his "lazy" mindset as he approaches his 50th cap. Can Ireland build on their promise in the autumns? And will defending champions Wales defy the odds once again to challenge for another Six Nations title?

Who is the greatest captain of the Six Nations era? Grand Slam winners Sam Warburton and Danny Care have joined forces to pick their top six captains and then rank them from one to six. They also discuss what makes a great captain and explain why captaincy is so much more than what you see on the pitch.

Danny and Chris chat to Dan Biggar about being named Wales captain for the upcoming Six Nations. Biggar explains what kind of captain he wants to be and the mindset going into the tournament as defending champions. Danny and Chris also discuss George Ford's recall to the England squad and how the injury to Owen Farrell will impact the make-up of Eddie Jones' midfield. Plus, there's lots to unpick from the final round of pool matches in the Champions Cup.

It's Six Nations squad day so Matt Dawson and Chris Jones are at a very cold Twickenham to chat to Eddie Jones. Matt and Eddie finally get to reminisce about the 2003 World Cup final before moving onto England's 36-man squad. And there's plenty to dissect with Manu Tuilagi missing out and Owen Farrell retaining the captain's armband. Eddie talks about the evolution of his squad and a first call up for Wasps back row Alfie Barbeary. Chris and Matt also look at Wayne Pivac's Wales squad which contains four fly-halves, including new captain Dan Biggar.

Danny and Chris look back on a full round of Champions Cup rugby for the first time this season. Leicester left it late once again, Exeter put 50 points on Glasgow and Leinster put nearly 90 on Montpellier. Danny and Chris also share their struggles for food at motorway service stations on their travels this weekend and discuss what to expect from Eddie Jones' Six Nations squad.

On this week's episode we have a fascinating interview with Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson. Ugo and Chris chat to him about life as a DOR, salary caps, recruitment and his ambitions as a coach. They also talk Six Nations as Wales fans could be heading to London, not Cardiff this year. Plus, there's new leaders in the URC and Leicester finally lose a game of rugby.

It’s the first pod of the year and there’s already a big story for Ugo, Danny and Chris to discuss with Leicester being investigated for allegedly breaking salary cap rules. Danny celebrates his 35th birthday with a match-winning try at Gloucester, plus there’s a look at Bristol’s struggles this season and is Anthony Watson on the verge of leaving Bath?

Danny, Ugo and Chris reconvene after a busy Christmas to review the festive rugby. Leicester leave it incredibly late at Ashton Gate to claim their 10th consecutive Premiership victory, Danny reflects on the Big Game at Twickenham and Bath still can't buy a win this season despite some major signings off the field. And as it's the last pod of 2021 the guys pick their highlight of the year.

Ugo, Danny and Chris discuss the Champions Cup games that did go ahead this weekend and where the tournament goes from here after five matches were postponed. Scotland and Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price joins the pod to chat about their impressive victory over Exeter in some very bizarre conditions. Leicester captain Ellis Genge is on his way to Bristol next season and Rassie Erasmus hits the dancefloor in his latest social media.

Back from a long trip to Castres, Danny joins Chris to round up the opening weekend of the Champions Cup. There's plenty of love for Finn Russell and the French teams, plus a clean sweep for the Irish provinces to discuss. They also chat to new women's player of the year Zoe Aldcroft and hear all about her lucky mascot. Leicester continue their winning run as Steve Borthwick's stock continues to rise and there is some Ashy news.

Marcus Smith is back in the pub with Danny and Chris to reflect on a crazy six months that saw him win the Premiership, tour with the British & Irish Lions, and guide England to victory over world champions South Africa. They also reflect on another win for Premiership leaders Leicester, look ahead to the opening weekend of Europe, plus Danny and Marcus find out where they rank in Rugby World’s top 100 players.

Ugo invites a camera crew to this week's pod as he joins Danny and Chris on the sofa to reflect on an eventful week, especially off the field. All four URC matches in South Africa were called off because of Covid-19 and an outbreak in the Barbarians men's squad saw their match with Samoa cancelled. How many players will switch national teams after a radical change to eligibility rules? There's also time to chat Premiership rugby and whether Danny can play for another four years.

There are big questions to ponder on this week's pod; who hacked Chris' Twitter account? Was England's victory over South Africa the best of Eddie Jones' reign? And has New Zealand's aura been vaporised? Danny, Ugo and Chris also chat to Scotland captain Stuart Hogg about his new teeth, breaking the try record and the importance of Chris Harris both on and off the pitch. They also look to the Six Nations with the northern hemisphere teams ending the autumn on a high.

With Danny still living it up in Dubai, Alex Corbisiero join Chris and Ugo on the pod this week. They chat to Jamie Heaslip about another win for Ireland over the All Blacks and find out what's changed under Andy Farrell. Can England cope without Owen Farrell and Jamie George when they meet South Africa at Twickenham this weekend? Wales scrape past Fiji, Scotland are undone by the Springboks and World Rugby's player of the year nominations has everyone scratching their heads.

Ugo and Chris sit down with legendary All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen for a special bonus pod. He reflects on what went wrong for the All Blacks against England at the 2019 World Cup, shares his coaching philosophy and how he dealt with pressure after nearly two decades in the game. We also get stuck into the future of the game and what needs to change, plus Steve answers some listener questions.

Fresh from a trip to Peterborough passport office, Danny is back on the pod before going on holiday to a popular destination for rugby players. He joins Chris and Ugo to discuss a big win for Scotland, the Cardiff pitch invader and South Africa's victory over Wales. England winger Adam Radwan joins the pod to talk about running fast, Eminem and doing the triple jump. There's another huge Red Roses win to dissect and have Ireland turned a corner under Andy Farrell?

Ugo and Chris are on the sofa to discuss a heavy defeat for Wales and the issues of playing Test matches outside the international window. England fly-half Zoe Harrison joins the pod after the Red Roses' record win over the Black Ferns and her player of the match performance. Ugo and Chris also chat to Ellis Genge about leadership and what we can expect from England's youngsters this autumn.

Ugo is back after leaving Strictly but is still speaking to Chris and Danny from a TV dressing room. They chat about the introduction of leggings to the game and whether the Premiership is missing relegation. Plus, pod favourite Callum Sheedy is back to chat about Bristol's tough start to the season and a bumper autumn schedule for Wales.

Chris helps reunite Danny with his old boss Eddie Jones for a chat about England's 34-man squad for the upcoming autumn internationals. Chris and Danny also look at Wayne Pivac's Wales squad and discuss who should start at fly-half against the All Blacks. Plus, what's going wrong at Bath and we move another step closer to a British & Irish Lions women’s tour.

Danny talks us through another impressive Quins comeback over Bristol in the Premiership. Harry Wells joins the pod to talk about Leicester's impressive start to the season and trying to invite Steve Borthwick round for dinner. There's a look at Simon Middleton's Red Roses squad for the autumn and plenty of drop goals to discuss in the URC as the South African teams start to make their mark.

Danny quizzes Ashy about when he's going to be back in a Worcester shirt and they discuss what Saracens' new investment could mean for the rest of the Premiership. Scotland fly-half Adam Hastings joins the pod to talk about life at Gloucester, living with Chris Harris and his new toothbrush. The South African teams struggle to make an impact in the URC and will we see Gareth Anscombe back in a Wales shirt this autumn?

Danny and Chris are on the sofa to review a busy weekend of rugby while Ugo's in a velodrome. But more importantly, who caught the eye on the opening weekend of the Premiership? Saracens deliver on their return top-flight and Leicester continue to impress. There's also a look at the United Rugby Championship which starts this weekend and the brave new world of expected points. Plus, Danny introduces Chris to the world of Uber helicopters.

After Danny won the Premiership title for the pod last season, can Ugo add the Glitterball trophy to the Rugby Union Weekly trophy cabinet? Chris and Danny find out how he's feeling about his Strictly debut and let him know what the bookies think of his chances. The road to Twickenham also starts this weekend with Saracens back after a year in the Championship, but do they return as favourites? Danny gets to interview his new boss Tabai Matson and decides to ask about a new contract. There's also new laws to debate and a whole new format of the game to discuss in the World12s.

In the final episode Sam Warburton speaks to his former Lions team mate Paul O'Connell, who played in three Test series and captained the Lions in 2009. Paul's first experience with the Lions was the tour of New Zealand in 2005. He reflects on where it all went wrong; from injuries, to tactics and a dodgy Alastair Campbell speech. Four years later in South Africa, Paul captained the Lions to a first Test win in eight years. He shares his leadership style and explains how they learnt from the mistakes of 2005. Sam and Paul also look back at their winning tour to Australia in 2013. Despite winning the first Test, there were still mixed emotions for Paul as his tour was ended by injury. How do you deal with that? And what role did he play in the side after that? Sam explains just how important Paul was nine years ago.

Sam Warburton and Martin Johnson are the only players to captain the British & Irish Lions on back-to-back tours. So for this episode they sat down together to discuss their incredible achievement. They talk leadership, feeling under qualified, handling pressure and the art of a good team talk. Martin also relives the famous series win over South Africa in 1997. You’ll hear about training in the dark, getting stitches during a match and Jeremy Guscott’s winning drop goal. He also recalls his tour to Australia in 2001 and where it all went wrong. He shares his biggest regret, the issues with Graham Henry’s tactics and why he could have done more as captain.

Sam Warburton chats to Gavin Hastings, one of the greatest Scottish players to ever represent the British & Irish Lions. In 1989, Gavin helped the Lions to their first series win in 15 years. Despite being on the receiving end of a right hook from Australia’s Nick Farr-Jones in the second Test, Gavin scored a crucial try to level the series. He recalls David Campese’s famous error in the deciding Test and making the most of free champagne in business class on the flight home. Four years later he captained the Lions to New Zealand. Find out why he hung up on Ian McGeechan, which player taunted the crowd in Wellington with beer and all about a dodgy refereeing decision in the first Test.

In the first episode of this new series, Sam Warburton speaks to Sir Gareth Edwards about his remarkable career with the British & Irish Lions. Gareth remembers his first Lions call-up in 1968 as a student and his joy at receiving a voucher for two pairs of boots. Three years later Gareth was back with the Lions and helping them secure their first - and only - series win in New Zealand. It was a gruelling tour with 26 matches that lasted over three months. How did he keep in touch with his family, what was the secret to his partnership with Barry John and why did a match against Canterbury anger his grandma? Shortly after the birth of his first son in 1974, Gareth was back with the Lions for a third tour - this time in South Africa. This side became known as the Invincibles after they returned unbeaten after 22 matches. He relives his drop goal in the first Test, explains the real meaning behind infamous ‘99 call’ and running out of Lions jerseys before the third Test.

A special podcast looking at the issue of dementia in rugby. Ugo Monye, Matt Dawson and Chris Jones speak to former Wales flanker Alix Popham who is one of eight players to have been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Alix talks openly about his struggles and what changes he would like to see in the game. Matt talks about his love for rugby and how he face the consequences if he faced problems later in life. Danny Care tells us why a new gumshield could help improve safety in the sport and we debate whether the game should make significant changes in the future.

Ugo Monye and Chris Jones are joined by England and Saracens lock Maro Itoje to discuss race in rugby. We also chat to Anthony Watson, Christian Wade, Beno Obano, Nathan Earle and coach Collin Osborne to discuss diversifying the game, the portrayal of black rugby players in the media and their experiences of racism in both rugby and society.

Ugo and Chris are at Allianz Park for a special podcast to discuss the biggest story in club rugby history. With Saracens’ relegation from the Premiership confirmed, we’re joined by former Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter and BBC reporter Laura Scott, who first broke the salary cap scandal, to chat what Saracens did, what's happening now and where they go next.

In Rugby Union Weekly's Christmas special, Ugo Monye, Chris Jones and Danny Care choose their global team of the decade. How many Home Nations' players can edge out an All Black? Who makes it from Australia and South Africa and crucially, who coaches the side? Also, there's a chance for you to have your say as we ask you to select the captain.