Rugby Rodeo

The Ringer
  • 5.0 (7)
  • RUGBY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosted by Rugby World Cup Winning Red Roses Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach, the podcast will offer an intimate look into the world of professional women's rugby, behind-the-scenes stories, and inspiring interviews with fellow athletes and prominent figures in the sport. From navigating the professional sporting world to championing female voices, the duo will provide a unique and empowering perspective on their experiences.

  1. JAN 29

    Sophie Power: Breastfeeding mid-way through a 100mile race, ULTRA Marathons & Changing the Sport for Good.

    This week on Rugby Rodeo, Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach are joined on the Rodeo sofa by one of the toughest, most inspiring athletes on the planet — Sophie Power. Sophie is a world-leading ultra-marathon runner, Guinness World Record holder and a genuine trailblazer in endurance sport. She first became globally known after an extraordinary photo of her breastfeeding her three-month-old baby mid-race during a 100+ mile mountain ultra — an image later named by The Guardian as one of the photos that reshaped sport, sparking a global conversation about equality, motherhood and opportunity for women in sport. Ahead of the release of her new autobiography The Power Within, Sophie takes us inside the wild world of ultra-running: what an ultra-marathon actually is, how you even begin to train for events that last days, and why her very first race was the infamous Marathon des Sables — a 250km, self-supported slog across the Sahara Desert in 40–50°C heat. She opens up about “going to dark places”, the real dangers of extreme endurance racing (including a race that left her in a coma with a 50% chance of death), and the mental resilience needed to keep moving when your body wants to stop. We also dive deep into the story behind that iconic UTMB photo — why she raced while breastfeeding, what it cost her, and why pregnancy is still treated differently to injury in elite sport. There’s also plenty on Sophie’s work beyond racing. She tells Ellie and Jess about her charity SheRaces, the SheRaces guidelines, and her mission to create fairer, safer and more inclusive start lines — from trail running to rugby pitches. Settle back, enjoy — and make sure you’re subscribed. 'The Power Within' is out now at all good retailers and is also available in audiobook format. More information on Sophie's charity SheRACES can be found here: https://www.sheraces.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    58 min
  2. The Toughest Part of Being a Rugby Player, Wrap Slaps & Dream Teams

    JAN 22

    The Toughest Part of Being a Rugby Player, Wrap Slaps & Dream Teams

    This week on Rugby Rodeo, Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach hand the reins over to you for a full-blown Listeners Questions Special. Before diving into the inbox, the girls give a big PWR league roundup, with Saracens currently top, Gloucester-Hartpury ready to pounce, and a ridiculously tight scrap brewing from 3rd to 6th. Then it’s over to your questions… and there are some absolute belters. From picking a dream mixed touch rugby team (men AND women), bucket list dreams and who inspires their fashion choices… to big rugby talking points like the first-ever Women’s British & Irish Lions Tour, who wins the Men’s Six Nations 2026, and pre match meals.. And just when you think it couldn’t get more chaotic… Ellie and Jess go head-to-head in: 🧠💥 WRONG ANSWERS ONLY – wraps in hand, 30 seconds on the clock, Emma firing questions, and penalties paid in slaps... Finally, it’s all about the grassroots love with shoutouts to:🏉 Bromley Girls U12s in the Kent Waterfall Final🏉 Strathmore RFC offering a FREE women’s rugby block🏉 Jakarta Bantengs hosting their first touch tournament🏉 Kings Norton Girls buzzing to be back🏉 And Belsize Park Women for being the ultimate rugby girlies 💙 Settle back, enjoy… and make sure you’re subscribed wherever you get your podcasts. Yeehaw 🤠🎧 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    50 min
  3. Resetting The Red Roses, Pennyhill Park, Gold Dresses & New Beginnings

    JAN 17

    Resetting The Red Roses, Pennyhill Park, Gold Dresses & New Beginnings

    Ellie and Jess are fresh from their first week back in Red Roses camp at Pennyhill Park. They chat all things England camp life – why it’s happening now, what the focus is post-World Cup, who they were most excited to see, and how hard it is to reset motivation after such a massive goal. There’s fitness testing pain, tactical chats, team culture chat, and an honest look at what comes next on the road to the Six Nations. Plus, a full debrief on the Red Roses Gold Party, Windsor Castle adventures, listener questions covering everything from uncapped standouts and dream holidays to Nando’s spice levels, and shoutouts celebrating rugby from Argentina 7s to grassroots clubs smashing it at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    45 min
  4. New Year, New Goals & A SPOTY Night to Remember!

    JAN 8

    New Year, New Goals & A SPOTY Night to Remember!

    We’re back for 2026 🎉 Jess and Ellie ease into the New Year with a festive catch-up, January blues chat, and goals for the year ahead. The pair rewind to a huge night at SPOTY, reflect on what second place really meant, and hear from Ellie Kildunne MBE on finding out she made the King’s New Year Honours list. Plus, listener questions, England camp nerves, shout-outs from around the world, and a big thank you to Physique for supporting the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 2m
  5. Liv Apps: RWC Heartache, Embracing Individuality & English Culture

    12/18/2025

    Liv Apps: RWC Heartache, Embracing Individuality & English Culture

    It’s the final episode of the year and we’re going out with an absolute cracker. This week, Ellie and Jess are joined in studio by Canada international scrum-half and Saracens star Liv Apps — one of the most exciting players in the women’s game right now. From RWC stardom to making an instant impact in the PWR, Liv opens up like never before. Liv takes us through how her short-term move to Saracens came about and what life has been like settling into a new club and country. We rewind all the way back to her rugby beginnings in Canada, a nation where rugby isn’t always front and centre, and explore the journey that’s shaped her both on and off the pitch. In a powerful and honest conversation, Liv shares her story of being diagnosed with alopecia at just seven years old, how it affected her growing up, learning to embrace her identity, and becoming a role model for young girls watching her perform on the biggest stages in world rugby. She also reflects on the heartbreak of the Rugby World Cup final, how she processes that experience now, and the advice she’d give her younger self. This episode is brought to you by Physique Management. Use code Rodeo10 for 10% off at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    56 min

  6. 12/11/2025

    Ellie Nominated for Sports Personality of the Year!

    Jess is be poorly this week (get well soon cowboy 🤧❤️), but fear not — because Ellie is joined by a VERY special stand-in host… the one and only Boda is back in the saddle! And it’s a HUGE week to return because… ELLIE KILDUNNE HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR!We break down everything: how she found out, why it felt different being in a room full of world-class athletes, whether she knows who’s won (👀) — and how this compares to last year’s World Rugby POTY honour. SPOTY is live on Thursday 18th December — so get it in your diary and make sure you VOTE FOR ELLIE & THE RED ROSES! 🙏🔥 We’ve also got plenty more this week: Ellie & Boda return to winning ways as Harlequins beat Leicester 56–28 — including that celebration… did she wind herself?! Inspired by Chris Ashton? Noah Caluori?? We get the full story.  Saracens’ 33–15 comeback win over Loughborough Lightning, their final home game of 2025. PWR: Played 6, won 5 — tidy. Ellie meets football superstar Alessia Russo 🤩 What was she like? What did they talk about? Did Ellie shoot her shot to get her on the pod? We answer your best questions including: What did the girls Spotify Wrapped look like this year? Most underrated PWR player? Should women’s rugby have a Champions Cup-style competition across England, France & NZ? Death row meals, Christmas food identities, tips for new centres, and our sporting role models growing up. Huge love to the grassroots this week: Dundee Girls – finalists at HIVE Stadium BIGGAR RFC U18s – heading to Murrayfield for the National Cup Final Wigtownshire Ladies – first ever league title! Marr Ladies – first win of the season after losing every game 🙌 Trojans U14s – unbeaten and flying high! See you next week… YEE-HAW! 🤠🌹 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    49 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Double Kildunne, Abby Dow Retires & Advent Calendar Controversy

    This week on Rugby Rodeo, Jess is joined by not one… but TWO Kildunnes! That’s right — Ellie’s little brother Sam Kildunne jumps in the saddle for a family edition of the pod. Sam’s just 22 but already has some CV: BUCS Super Rugby with Loughborough, a GB 7s jersey, and now a contract with Ampthill in the Championship. Jess goes straight for the sibling dirt — what Ellie was really like growing up, who caused the most chaos, the pettiest argument they’ve had this year, and whose fault it was (because it’s always someone’s). And yes, we get the definitive verdict on sibling rivalry in the Kildunne household. Ellie dives into Sam’s rugby journey — BUCS life, moving into the Championship, the physicality jump, how he balances sevens aspirations with 15s, and what advice he has for players at uni or school trying to go pro. Plus Sam reveals his proudest moment watching Ellie — grab tissues. We also cover: 🏉 Aby Dow’s retirement ⏱️ Ellie’s Lateness Chart — has Double Kildunne doubled the delays or fixed them? ✈️ Ellie hearing her own voice on the Heathrow tannoy 🎄 Jess vs Archie’s advent calendar controversy 🏟️ Ealing 5–57 Saracens — London fully belongs to Sarries, with Jess in the mix for a couple of tries YEE-HAW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 3m
  8. England's New Magician & the Hardest Tackler in Women's Rugby

    11/27/2025

    England's New Magician & the Hardest Tackler in Women's Rugby

    Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach are back in the saddle for another week of Rugby Rodeo — and London is looking extremely festive. But have the girls even bought a single present yet? Jess has just landed back from Jersey with stories to tell, while Ellie’s been everywhere: hosting a lunches, dancing and still finding time to watch all the Quilter Autumn Nations games... We chat: Tom Curry's late shot on Juan Cruz Mallia and the fallout that came of it, England's new magician Max Ojomoh and the most one-sided scrum domination we've ever seen! 🎤 Listeners’ Questions:Skills swaps, underrated perks of being Red Roses, hardest hitters, talent shows, crisp flavours(?!), and Jess gives her Top 3 tips for becoming a world-class winger. 💌 SHOUTOUTS GALORE!We go global this week — from Broad Plain U8s to the WBRC Bobcats in the US, the Kyogale Cockies in Australia, Toronto City Amazons, Santa Monica Women’s Rugby in LA… and heaps of love for teams across the UK including Mansfield Ladies, the Lowestoft Dragons U14s, Bromsgrove Calts, Yate Women’s Rugby and a big get-well-soon to Beatrix recovering from concussion ❤️ And that’s us done for this week! Back next Thursday — AND we’ve got some exciting guests coming up. Until then… YEEEEE-HAW! 🤠 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    47 min
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About

Hosted by Rugby World Cup Winning Red Roses Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach, the podcast will offer an intimate look into the world of professional women's rugby, behind-the-scenes stories, and inspiring interviews with fellow athletes and prominent figures in the sport. From navigating the professional sporting world to championing female voices, the duo will provide a unique and empowering perspective on their experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    The Ringer
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Rugby Rodeo

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