More than the Score

BBC World Service
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SPORT
  • UPDATED DAILY

Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. A multi-sport global podcast from the BBC World Service, every weekday. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

  1. Can Welsh rugby be saved?

    7 HR AGO

    Can Welsh rugby be saved?

    Wales were giants of rugby union in the 1960s and 70s, but are now struggling to compete at the top end of the sport. The men's team are currently enduring a historically difficult period, losing 23 of their last 25 matches. This includes a streak of 18 consecutive Test defeats that only ended in July 2025 with a victory against Japan. In the Six Nations, they have suffered 13 successive losses, only five years after winning the competition. Wales rugby commentator Gareth Rhys Owen explains to Ed Harry why the team's decline was inevitable, given its reliance on the generational talents that led them to success in the 2010s. He also says structural and financial problems within the country's domestic game could result in the game losing its place as the country's most popular sport. Former Wales and British and Irish Lions winger, Alex Cuthbert, says uncertainty about the future of the domestic game is creating a disconnect between fans and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    23 min
  2. Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest: Teaming up to tackle the Paralympics

    21 HR AGO

    Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest: Teaming up to tackle the Paralympics

    Menna Fitpatrick was born with a visual impairment known as congenital folds. It's left her with no vision in her left eye, and five percent vision in her right. As a child, she learned to ski with her dad on family holidays - and is now Britain's most decorated Winter Paralympian, with six alpine skiing medals in total, including a slalom gold at Pyeongchang in 2018. At the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, Menna will be guided on the slopes by Katie Guest, who's acted as her guide skier since 2021. However, Katie was ruled out of the 2022 Games in Beijing by a positive Covid test - meaning she's about to ski onto the Paralympic stage for the first time. More than the Score's Ed Harry talks to Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest about how they've formed a winning combination, how trust is built up in a partnership, and the surprising role of Disney movies in bringing them together. Menna also explains the importance of colour in navigating the course, while Katie discusses the challenges of making sure that both she and Menna cross the finish line ahead of their competition. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    20 min
  3. Cadillac and Audi: Formula 1's new cars on the grid

    1 DAY AGO

    Cadillac and Audi: Formula 1's new cars on the grid

    When the 2026 Formula 1 season begins with the opening race in Australia, there will be two new teams on the grid representing two of the world's biggest car companies. Audi has taken over the Sauber team - it's the parent company, the Volkswagen Group's first foray into the highest level of the sport. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team - backed by the American car giant General Motors - will become the 11th team on the grid and the first completely new team to join F1 since Haas in 2016. But what does it take to build a F1 team from scratch - and how successful can the newcomers to the grid be? Cadillac's Team Principal, Graeme Lowdon, tells Lee James it takes a huge amount of people and resources to ensure they are on the grid. He says the arrival of new teams is a good thing for the sport and will bring more drama and excitement. The former McLaren team mechanic, Marc Priestley, explains why despite there being some initial opposition to Audi and Cadillac's inclusion, and the fierce rivalries within the sport, the F1 community will lend support to both should they need it. The BBC's F1 commentator, Harry Benjamin, says Audi have what it takes to finish midtable in the constructor's championship this season, but doesn't expect Cadillac and their experienced driver-duo of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to compete for points and podiums. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    26 min
  4. The tech transforming the Winter Paralympics

    2 DAYS AGO

    The tech transforming the Winter Paralympics

    The Winter Paralympics are set to begin in Milan-Cortina on 6 March, welcoming athletes from all over the world to compete in snowboarding, skiing, biathlon, curling and ice hockey events. Over the past decade, the profile of Paralympic sport has grown rapidly around the world, and the technology that helps para-athletes compete has evolved as well. But when it comes to competing in the cold, there are a whole new set of challenges that athletes and manufacturers need to overcome. Mike Schultz is a Paralympic snowboarder who'll be looking to add to his collection of three Paralympic medals in Milan-Cortina - but he also runs the sports prosthetics company BioDapt, and estimates that more than 90 percent of para-snowboarders use his company's products in competition. He talks to Paul Carter, the host of the BBC News technology show TechXplore, about how he took up Paralympic sport after becoming an amputee, and how that led to him designing his own prosthetic limbs. Mike explains the unique challenges that designers face when creating prosthetics for different sports, and particularly for winter athletes. Paul Carter also joins More than the Score's Ade Adedoyin to talk about the importance of para-sport in his own life, having been born without lower arms and legs, and what changes and evolutions he's seen in Olympic and Paralympic technology in recent years. In the UK, you can watch TechXplore on BBC iPlayer, and the show also broadcasts internationally on the BBC News channel. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    18 min
  5. Arvid Lindblad: How far can Formula 1's youngest driver go?

    3 DAYS AGO

    Arvid Lindblad: How far can Formula 1's youngest driver go?

    Aged only 18 years old, Britain's Arvid Lindblad is set to make his Formula 1 debut this weekend in Australia. The Racing Bulls driver will be the youngest racer on the grid, and the youngest Briton to ever compete in Formula 1. Earlier this year, Lindblad talked to the BBC's F1 correspondent, Andrew Benson, about his route into the sport, and explained why, despite his young age, his Formula 1 debut is something he's been preparing for for most of his life. He also considers how he's been shaped by growing up in a mixed-heritage household in the UK, as the son of a Swedish father and a British-Indian mother, and shares the values that his parents and grandparents have instilled in him. Andrew Benson also talks to More than the Score's Ade Adedoyin about what's expected of Arvid Lindblad in his debut season. What would constitute success for Lindblad, and can he impress his bosses at an organisation with a demanding reputation? Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula 1 to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    19 min

  6. 6 DAYS AGO

    Benni McCarthy: Man Utd ruled out signing Victor Osimhen because of Africa Cup of Nations schedule

    The former Premier League striker Benni McCarthy has given a wide-ranging interview to the BBC. He's the only South African to win the men's Champions League - that was with Jose Mourinho's Porto in 2004. He's also his national team's all-time top goal scorer and after a two year spell as a first-team coach at Manchester United he's now in charge of 2027 men's Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts Kenya. BBC Newsday presenter, Isaac Fanin, explains to Ed Harry why McCarthy believes the club vs country row that affected his playing days still impacts African players today. McCarthy says Manchester United didn't pursue a deal for Nigeria striker and 2023 African player of the year, Victor Osimhen, because they didn't want to sign a player they would lose to Afcon for two months in the middle of a Premier League season. The Africa Cup of Nations is to switch from biennial to quadrennial in 2028. McCarthy believes the tournament should have retained its traditional schedule in order to give more exposure to talent on the continent, but that more should have been done to prevent the finals from clashing with club competitions. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    22 min
  7. Can curling keep up its momentum after the Winter Olympics?

    26 FEB

    Can curling keep up its momentum after the Winter Olympics?

    Broadcasters around the world have reported huge viewing figures for this year's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. In the US, NBC has said viewership increased by ninety-six percent compared to the 2022 Beijing Games, while in the UK, the BBC has said this was its most-watched Winter Games ever - partly driven by the exploits of Great Britain's curling teams. Five-and-a-half million TV viewers - equivalent to slightly less than the entire population of Scotland - watched the men's curling final live on the penultimate night of the Games. It's not the first time that curling has been a hit with TV viewers, but can it keep up the momentum now the Games has come to an end - or will it have to wait another four years before it captures the world's attention again? Nic Sulsky is the CEO of The Curling Group, who run the Grand Slam of Curling, a series of tournaments that are among the biggest prizes in the sport. They're now launching a new competition, Rock League, which is billed as the world's first professional curling league, with several of the sport's biggest names competing as part of six global franchise teams. He tells John Bennett why for the sport to grow, it must remain visible in-between the four-year Olympic cycle. Taking part in the new event will be Grant Hardie - a two-time World Champion and double Olympic silver medallist as part of Bruce Mouat's Team GB men's rink in Italy. He explains why he and the curling community are excited by a professional league and why being able to 'trash talk' his Team GB teammates during play will be fun for players, spectators and viewers. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    26 min
  8. Is Ronda Rousey’s return to MMA a good thing?

    25 FEB

    Is Ronda Rousey’s return to MMA a good thing?

    UFC legend Ronda Rousey is scheduled to face Gina Carano on 16 May in California. Both women have been long retired and will undergo stricter "neurological and concussion" medical tests before they are cleared to return to MMA. Rousey has spoken at length about serious concussion problems throughout her athletic career and said it contributed to her decision to retire from MMA 10 years ago so is her return a good thing for her and the sport? Ade Adedoyin is joined by the BBC’s Mixed Martial Arts writer, Paul Battison and by Rosi Sexton, who was the first British woman to compete in the UFC, to discuss Rousey’s return. Battison believes Rousey is second only to Conor McGregor in terms of fame in the sport and that she inspired so many women to take up MMA. We also hear an interview he did with Rousey in 2024 where she discusses issues she’s had with concussion. Rosi Sexton says she has mixed feelings about Rousey’s comeback given her concussion history and that there’s so much we still don’t know about how the brain reacts to trauma. Sexton hopes the fight does both women’s legacies justice and that they both come out of it healthily. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    19 min
See All (131)

About

Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. A multi-sport global podcast from the BBC World Service, every weekday. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    131
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    More than the Score

You Might Also Like