The Ruck

By The TimesSports News Sports News Rugby

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Typical duration
36 min
per episode
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The Ruck episodes

September 02, 2025 Australia and USA in Pool A shootout & South Africa produce the shock of the tournament
The second round of the women's rugby world cup provided the best two matches of the tournament so far! Alfie and Elgan are down near Brighton to review all the action and preview the final round of pool matches. They discuss who will progress from Pool A out of Australia and the USA and hear from the Wallaroos co-captain Emily Chancellor as Australia hope to upset England this weekend. They also ask if South Africa qualifying for their first quarter-final at a women's world cup can be the inspiration their women's side need?
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36 min
August 25, 2025 Are one sided score lines an issue at the World Cup? When will LRZ return for Wales?
Following the opening round of fixtures at the women's Rugby World Cup, Alfie and Elgan look back on all the action. They discuss the Red Roses performance against the USA and question who impressed out of France, Ireland, New Zealand and Canada as the sides best placed to trouble England. They also reflect on a brilliant Scotland performance against Wales but also how disappointing Sean Lynn's side were. Plus, how big an issue are the one-sided score lines across the opening weekend? Alfie heads to Bristol to chat with Louis Rees-Zammit on his return to the sport and they also round up the latest results in the Rugby Championship.
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39 min
August 18, 2025 Can the Red Roses finally win the world cup?
The women's world cup starts this week so Alfie Reynolds and Elgan Alderman look ahead to the tournament. They ask whether 2025 is going to be the year that England are finally crowned world champions and who out of France, Canada and New Zealand are best placed to trouble them. They preview every pool, speak about who the stars of the world cup will be and discuss whether a home world cup win could be the Red Roses 'lionesses' moment. Plus, they round up the latest from the Rugby Championship, including Australia's historic comeback victory over South Africa at Ellis Park.
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35 min
August 04, 2025 Goodbye from Australia - Lions tour review
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Lions tour Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Owen Slot and Will Kelleher bring you one final pod from Australian soil.

They reflect on a joyous 7 weeks covering the tour, including their final reflections on the test series and what the future of the Lions tour looks like. How can they make the tour games in Australia more engaging? Should there be a Barmy Army-style supporter package to make it affordable for a younger audience? And, have the Wallabies' performances in the final two matches given hope for their home world cup in 2027?
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54 min
August 02, 2025 Was the 2025 Lions series a missed opportunity for Australia?
The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia ended with one of the most bizarre test matches!

Biblical rainfall and a thunderstorm delayed proceedings before Australia won the match in Sydney. Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe join Alfie Reynolds to round up the occasion and the series as a whole.

They ask whether Australia were under-prepared for the first test and how much that cost them in the three game series? Is a 2-1 series victory for the Lions an accurate reflection of how good they are? And, what on earth was going on when play was stopped early in the second half?
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40 min
July 31, 2025 Lions eye famous whitewash - 3rd test preview
Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Owen Slot preview the third and final test in the 2025 Lions tour.

They discuss why Andy Farrell naming such a strong squad is no surprise as the Lions eye a 3-0 series victory. Plus they ask whether Australia are capable of winning the match to avoid being labelled the 'worst' opposition the Lions have faced.

They also salute Tadhg Furlong as he is set to start his 9th straight test and how much winning on Saturday will determine the Lions' legacy.
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33 min
July 29, 2025 "The Incident", The Australian view and the Lions drive for 3-0
Following the controversial ending to the 2nd test between Australia and the Lions, Will and Alfie are joined by Christy Doran, rugby editor of The Roar, to get the Aussie perspective. They chat about how Australian rugby can be successful ahead of a home world cup in 2027 and the importance of winning the final test in the series. Plus, the boys provide an update from the Lions ahead of the final test and ask what is the purpose of a Lions tour? Winning or something more?
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30 min
July 26, 2025 An all-time classic at the MCG as the Lions win the series
The British & Irish Lions have won the test series against Australia! Hugo Kennan scored the winning try in the final play of the game to cap off an extraordinary match at the MCG.

Alfie, Alex and Will reflect on a match which will go down in Lions history. They chat about Jac Morgan's controversial clear out at the end of the game, how impressive the Lions were to come from behind and the utter devastation for Australia.
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38 min
July 24, 2025 Australia vs Lions - 2nd test preview
It's the second test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell have named their sides.

Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher, Owen Slot and Alfie Reynolds are in Melbourne to look ahead to what could be a series clinching match for the Lions, or will Australia respond to their defeat in Brisbane?

They discuss both team selections, including Garry Ringrose ruling himself out through injury, Will Skelton's return for the Wallabies and Joe Schmidt's anti-hype approach to the series.
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41 min
July 22, 2025 Have the First Nations & Pasifika XV given the Wallabies a blueprint to beat the Lions?
The British & Irish Lions won their final tour game on Australian soil as they beat the First Nations and Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

Alfie, Alex, Will and Owen are pitch side to review the match and ask whether it was the best tour game so far? And, does it give an idea on how Australia could beat the Lions int he second test? They also discuss all the selection dilemmas facing Andy Farrell, including whether Owen could feature on Saturday, who replaces Joe McCarthy and whether Jac Morgan could will be involved.
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25 min

About The Ruck

From the publisher's feed

The podcast they play in heaven.

Join Alfie, Alex, Will and Charlie along with the best of The Times and The Sunday Times rugby writers as they ruck over the best games and biggest names…