On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ireland and Ulster wing Tommy Bowe to discuss his legendary career as he prepares to retire.

Tommy talks about the criticism he got early on in his career and how he overcame some tough seasons to thrive for both club and country.

Bowe decided to move to Wales and play for the Ospreys in 2008, where he developed into one of the world's best wings. He explains what the move did for his career as well as talking about how much he enjoyed his time with the Ospreys.

As well as an illustrious Ireland career, Bowe played on two Lions tours. He explains the great lengths that he went to in order to get fit during the 2013 tour to Australia, and the satisfaction he took in winning the series.

Luke and Will also preview Leinster vs Racing in the Champions Cup final.

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On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by recently retired Springboks legend Bryan Habana.

Habana has won almost every single honour in the game but the lads start out by asking about one particular part of his CV - his losing record against Ireland!

Luke and Bryan both played in the famous Lions test series in 2009, and Bryan explains why those games were so important to him in his career.

He also reflects on the most important coach he had during his time playing rugby, and opens up on the unique experience of playing with so many stars in Toulon - including feeling the wrath of mercurial owner Mourad Boudjellal.

The lads also ask Bryan about winning World Player of the Year, when he peaked as a player and how Luke could have been his team-mate in Super Rugby.

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On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald recap all the Champions Cup action as well as discussing the retirement of Isa Nacewa.

Luke hails Nacewa’s contribution to Leinster and ranks his best players to line out for the province.

The lads dissect Munster’s disappointing defeat to Racing and while they agree it was a bad performance, outline some reasons for positivity heading into next season.

As for Leinster, Will can’t see them being beaten again this season while Luke analyses why they were so dominant against the Scarlets.

The lads also discuss their recent holidays and cover the possibility of Ross Byrne or Joey Carbery moving to Ulster.

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On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Leinster and Connacht second row Damien Browne to discuss his epic 4,800km solo row across the Atlantic ocean.
Damian set off from the Canary Islands and 63 days later set foot on dry land in Antigua. He tells Luke and Will of the tough fitness regime he underwent to prepare for his marathon feat, and how his first day turned into a disaster.
He also reveals the mental and physical struggles of navigating across the ocean on your own, and opens up on the challenges of acclimatizing back to normal life after spending so long at sea.
Luke also talks about his toughest ever training session and match as a professional rugby player.

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On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ireland and Munster star Keith Earls to discuss Ireland's Grand Slam win and his scintillating form.

Luke and Keith discuss what it is like working under Joe Schmidt, with Earls describing the impact the Ireland boss has had on his career.

Earls also opens up on how he struggled for confidence early in his career, his recent surge in form and how he decided to focus on his strengths rather than his weaknesses as he got older.

The Munster star also discusses his time with the Lions in 2009 and how that setback helped shape the rest of his career.

Earls has recently been working with Keith Barry, and the Ireland wing reveals why he has used the mentalist as his sports psychologist.

The lads are also given an update on Earls' injury, and he is hoping to return to action before the end of the season.

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On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster and Ireland flanker Dan Leavy to discuss his season to date.

Leavy won Man of the Match against Saracens last Sunday and he discusses his brilliant performance - as well as his excellent inter-play with James Ryan that led to a try. Leavey also reveals that he didn't always think he would make it as a rugby player when in school.

The Leinster star also talks about Ireland's recent Grand Slam win as well as his relationship with fellow young gun Ryan.

Luke and Will also talk about Easter eggs, Luke's appearance on a rival podcast and Munster's epic win over Toulon.

The lads agree that Andrew Conway is hitting his peak after his sensational match-winning try.

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On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to preview this weekend's Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Leinster vs Saracens and Munster vs Toulon headline the quarter-final line-up, and the lads feel that it will take two huge performances to see both Irish teams into the semi-finals.

Injuries will be key for both Leinster and Munster, as the provinces sweat on the fitness of key players, and Luke thinks that whether both sides have a full deck to choose from could decide the outcome.

The lads also discuss whether players should take holidays during the season, Connacht's Challenge Cup quarter-final and whether Clermont can turn their increasingly poor season around.

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On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Johnny Sexton to discuss Ireland's Grand Slam win.

Sexton talks about the work that went into the big victory over England, including the set-piece move that saw prop Tadhg Furlong handle the ball like a back in midfield.


Johnny also talks about a possible future as a coach, his reaction to Eddie Jones' comments about his parents and his relationship with Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.

There has been talk that Ireland should rest Sexton for the summer tour to Australia, but the out-half is adamant that if he is fit, he wants to play. Sexton also chats about Leinster's preparations for their crunch Champions Cup quarter-final clash against Saracens.

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On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, live from Kennedy’s Pub, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by Robbie Henshaw and Scott Fardy to preview England vs Ireland.
Robbie discusses the impact Bundee Aki has made in the championship while playing with three different centre partners while Scott discuses the evolution of 21-year-old second row James Ryan.
Luke assess’ whether Eddie Jones can turn things around while the panel react to the Australian’s ‘scummy’ comment.

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On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by David Wallace to look back on Ireland's Grand Slam-winning season of 2009.
Wallace had been in the team for a number of years and had come up just short of glory, with Declan Kidney then steering Ireland to Six Nations success in his first season in charge.
Luke was just starting his international career, and remembers the famous training camp where Rob Kearney stood up to challenge the squad ahead of the Six Nations campaign.
The championship culminated in a dramatic final day against Wales with Ronan O'Gara winning Grand Slam with a drop goal at the death - a moment that both David and Luke admit was extremely nerve-wracking!
The lads also have news about the first ever live Left Wing podcast, next Wednesday.

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