Rugby Union Weekly BBC Podcasts

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?