The Ruck Rugby Podcast

Owen Slot welcomes The Observer's Michael Aylwin and Rugby World's Alan Dymock.  The panel discuss: the top fifty young players to watch, the rules suiting rugby's image over safety. The 'boiling frog' problem with struggling Northampton and Harlequins and are English coaches struggling to take the step up to Director of Rugby?There's also a comprehensive preview for the European semi-finals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Jones welcomes Owen Slot, Alan Dymock and Peter O'Reilly. The panel review the Champions Cup final, discuss Danny Cipriani's move to Gloucester, preview of the semi-finals of the Pro 14 and Premiership before trying to make sense of Eddie Jones' England squad.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ruck returns with Stephen Jones, Owen Slot, Stuart Barnes and Jonny Fordham.The panel discuss why Dylan Hartley's club form will not change Eddie Jones' thinking on starting him for England. Owen explains the book which led Jones to think this way and Jonny reveals the day to day relationship between captain and coach.Stephen and Stuart then disagree on the England coach's criteria and selection policy. There's also a full preview of all the big european action and Stuart explains why he thinks Jordan Larmour could be worth the hype. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Jones continues his conversation with former Wales captain and new Times columnist Sam Warburton in part two of this special episode.Sam candidly reveals his thoughts on the game including, why rugby will never be fully safe, why players should be limited to 25 starts a season and why mentally it's so tough to play all the way into July.  He also reveals how a Man Utd game helped him deal with social media pressure and why he's now relishing his role as pundit.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final show from Tokyo as Lawrence Dallaglio, Owen Slot, Stephen Jones and Alex Lowe reflect on England's defeat to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final and the last seven weeks in Japan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Jones welcomes Times rugby writer Steve James, editor of Rugby World, Sarah Mockford and world cup winner, Michael Lynagh. The panel discuss, who England need to change in the back row, whether all the problems lie there and if this England side has plateaued? There's also debate whether Eddie Jones should make sweeping changes with 5th place looming, if Owen Farrell needs to move to 10 and can they rescue their campaign and stop the Irish grand slam?Also analysed: where England go wrong at the breakdown, why Wales are quietly having an excellent tournament, why the Irish depth is their real strength and the finale of the Women's Six Nations tournament.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Jones sits down with former Wales captain Sam Warburton to discuss his life in rugby and how he’s coping without the routine and structure of the game.They also cover why England shouldn't panic, the guilt he felt whilst playing and how he rates the major nations ahead of the Autumn Internationals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawrence Dallaglio is joined by Owen Slot, Stephen Jones, Alasdair Reid and Alex Lowe ahead of England and Wales in Rugby World Cup semi-final action. Jones lays into Jones and find out which England star loves Disney films... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Owen Slot welcomes Alex Lowe, Stuart Barnes and Al Dymock for an in-depth look into England's disastrous campaign and the major questions they now face.Including: has England's world cup chance already gone, why did performance levels drop so quickly and should Eddie Jones' position now be questioned? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Owen Slot, Lawrence Dallaglio, Stuart Barnes and Alex Lowe review the latest action in Europe, discuss the likely quarter-final line-up and look ahead to Eddie Jones' Six Nations squad. Could England really play a flanker at No.9? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Owen Slot welcomes Adam Hathaway and Alex Lowe.Who will Eddie Jones pick as the tour attack coach, who makes Alex Lowe's Premiership team of the season and who will take home a coveted Ruck award? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLUSWas Will Spencer correctly sent off, is this the best ever start to a Premiership season, will Argentina be as formidable in 2019 as they were in 2015 and is there cause to ban "jackling" and bring back rucking? Stephen Jones welcomes Stuart Barnes, Steven James and Alex Lowe for a lively half hour of debate.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie Jones is one of the finest, sharpest and most inventive coaches in rugby union and this year he will lead England to a World Cup.In this episode of the new in-depth Times Sport podcast, LifeTimes, he describes how he has always been an outsider, why his drive to create conflict once led him to kiss an opponent and how he has had to evolve as a coach and a person.In an hour with Matt Dickinson he also speaks of his grandparents’ experience in an American internment camp, the mistakes he made with Australia and the books he believes have made him a better coach.Make sure you go and subscribe to LifeTimes so that you never miss an episode, including the opening show with Paul Pogba and the second episode with England forward Fran Kirby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Lowe, Mark Evans and Adam Hathaway have the final word on the European quarter-finals, discuss where next for World Rugby and back Alex Goode for a late run into Eddie Jones' squad for Japan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Jones welcomes Mark Evans, Sam Peters, Alex Lowe to discuss Freddie Burns' shocking error, the tackling laws of the game and to review the Heineken Champions Cup first round.Then a look at the proposals for Rugby's League of Nations before debate around Eddie Jones' latest England squad and another selection of The Ruck's "God of the week". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Jones, Owen Slot, Stuart Barnes and Alex Lowe discuss the set-to between Saracens and Munster, wonder why some English clubs have been slacking in Europe and ask where next for Rob Howley following his betting ban. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio is joined by Ruck regulars Owen Slot, Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes to ask if England, Wales, Ireland or any of the other Northern Hemisphere sides are in with a chance of lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy. For more award-winning journalism visit thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in Rome, Owen Slot welcomes Alex Lowe from The Times and Jonny Fordham from The Sun for a review of the 6 Nations first weekend.Up for discussion: why Alex only rated Sam Simmonds 8/10 for his performance against Italy, what shone from England's play, did Scotland believe their only media hype and what will Stephen Jones' mandatory talking points say about Ireland being firm favourites?In the final section, the panel predict the next round of fixtures, pick a team of the week and Owen sets you all homework.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of a special Six Nations series, Brian O'Driscoll talks to Owen Slot about Ireland's 2009 Grand Slam success. The former captain is open and honest about what held him and the team back for a decade before finally completing the clean sweep Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Jones welcomes the Rugby Paper's, Nick Caine, The Sunday Times, Nigel Botherway and red top favourite, Adam Hathaway.   They discuss the passion and precision of Scotland and where "flummoxed, static and poor" England go next, after being dominated. The panel also detail the changes they would make for England. Do Hartley, Brown and Robshaw survive? Or does the entire game plan need an overhaul? The rest of the weekend is reviewed and players of the weekend picked.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.