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Rugby Union Weekly

BBC

Ugo Monye, Chris Jones, Danny Care and Chris Ashton bring you special guests and cover the biggest stories in rugby union. Sara Orchard also delivers news, interviews and reaction from the 2024 Women's Six Nations. Get in touch with the pod via 5 Live Sport on social media or email rugbyunionweekly@bbc.co.uk, and remember to leave us your ratings and reviews.

Location:

United Kingdom

Networks:

BBC

Description:

Ugo Monye, Chris Jones, Danny Care and Chris Ashton bring you special guests and cover the biggest stories in rugby union. Sara Orchard also delivers news, interviews and reaction from the 2024 Women's Six Nations. Get in touch with the pod via 5 Live Sport on social media or email rugbyunionweekly@bbc.co.uk, and remember to leave us your ratings and reviews.

Language:

English


Episodes

Helen Nelson, Jaz Joyce and a pint of Prosecco

3/27/2024
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.

Duration:00:38:22

Danny: 101 and out

3/25/2024
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.

Duration:00:57:25

A Red Roses rout and Scotland end Wales hoodoo

3/24/2024
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.

Duration:00:29:19

The big Women’s Six Nations preview

3/21/2024
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!

Duration:00:56:14

Nations Pod: The final word

3/20/2024
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.

Duration:00:53:54

The big Six Nations review!

3/17/2024
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.

Duration:00:58:54

Ireland win back-to-back Six Nations titles

3/16/2024
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.

Duration:00:49:47

Will it be a Super Saturday?

3/15/2024
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.

Duration:00:35:02

We're in Dublin and Lyon!

3/14/2024
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.

Duration:00:38:01

The Rivalries: France v England

3/13/2024
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.

Duration:00:48:06

Inside England with Earl and Wigglesworth

3/12/2024
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.

Duration:00:42:11

Nations Pod - Week 5

3/11/2024
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?

Duration:01:00:01

All over for round four!

3/10/2024
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!!

Duration:00:29:04

England drop for glory once more

3/9/2024
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.

Duration:00:41:06

Can England stop the Irish juggernaut?

3/8/2024
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.

Duration:00:29:13

The teams are out.....

3/7/2024
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.

Duration:00:50:07

Are France in crisis?

3/6/2024
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!

Duration:00:35:58

Danny joins England's 100 club

3/5/2024
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.

Duration:00:32:50

Nations Pod - Week 4!

3/4/2024
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.

Duration:00:54:27

The Rivalries: England v Ireland

3/3/2024
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 historic 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.

Duration:00:42:37