The Ruck

By The TimesSports News Sports News Rugby

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Typical duration
36 min
per episode
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70%
finish an episode

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The Ruck episodes

June 28, 2025 Lions vs Western Force review. Are we heading for a strong midweek side? Plus, Tomos Williams' injury
The British & Irish Lions are up and running Down Under. They defeated the Western Force 54-7 in Perth and Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Stephen Jones and Will Kelleher are here to review all of the action. They've decamped to the hotel lobby to look back on the action including the Lions being unable to catch a restart, why Ben White needs to be called up as injury cover immediately and whether we are heading for a tour where the midweek side is actually closer to the test team.
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31 min
June 27, 2025 THE RED LIONS, EPISODE THREE: Rancour and revival; 2001-2021
From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions.

A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times.

The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their famous red jersey.

Through this series we will build a golden thread that links that band of intrepid adventurers - the last to go on tour by boat - with this year’s ultra professional squad of Lions who will take on Australia.

Episode three begins with the Lions struggling for success in the professional era and unable to emulate the triumph of '97 before finishing with the strangest Lions tour of all, during covid times in South Africa. In between Ian McGeechan and Warren Gatland steer the famous red jersey to glory in defeat, victory and a draw.
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1 hr 2 min
June 25, 2025 THE RED LIONS, EPISODE TWO: Politics, punch-ups and professionalism; 1977-1997
From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions.

A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times.

The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their famous red jersey.

Through this series we will build a golden thread that links that band of intrepid adventurers - the last to go on tour by boat - with this year’s ultra professional squad of Lions who will take on Australia.

On episode two we track the Lions from 1977 to the glory of 1997, as they struggle to emulate the invincibles of '74 before their crowning glory of South Africa in '97, which catapulted the Lions brand into a whole new stratosphere.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
45 min
June 24, 2025 THE RED LIONS, EPISODE ONE: From adventurers to invincibles; 1950-1974
From The Ruck, the rugby podcast from the Times & Sunday Times we present: The Red Lions.

A special three-part podcast series covering 75 years of the British & Irish Lions through the voices of the players involved and the pages of The Times and Sunday Times.

The Lions have been rugby’s great adventurers since 1888. But it was not until the 1950 tour of New Zealand that they adopted their famous red jersey.

Through this series we will build a golden thread that links that band of intrepid adventurers - the last to go on tour by boat - with this year’s ultra professional squad of Lions who will take on Australia. On this first episode we track the lions from 1950 to 1974 as they go from wide eyed adventurers to invincibles via the stories of Bryn Meredith, Willie John McBride and Andy Irvine.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
43 min
June 23, 2025 We're in Australia as George North looks back on his iconic 2013 tour
Alfie and Will are in Perth covering the British & Irish Lions as the 2025 tour to Australia is up and running. They chat to one of the heroes of 2013, George North, who looks back on his iconic moments against the Wallabies and picks up his Lions back three to start the test series. They also chat about the defeat to Argentina, the latest injury news for the Lions and a possible storm brewing if Australia don't release their test players for the tour matches.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
52 min
June 15, 2025 Bath are English champions! The 29 year drought is over.
Bath are champions of England for the first time since 1996! They beat Leicester 23-21 and Alfie Reynolds, Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes react from the stands at Twickenham. Stuart reflects on his former side finally winning the title and what it means for the city, whilst Steve says that the blue, black and white now need to go on and dominate English rugby. They chat about Finn Russell's brilliant performance, the exceptional job Johann Van Graan has done and question where Leicester go next season with some many departures.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
40 min
June 09, 2025 Will Bath create history? And why is R360 'delusional'?
Alfie and Will look back on a brilliant weekend of Premiership Rugby semi-finals as Bath and Leicester book their spot at Twickenham. Can Bath end a 29 year wait to be crowned champions of England? And, they continue to be confused as to how good Leicester actually are! They also reflect on Bristol and Sale, who lost in those semi-finals, and where both clubs go from here. Plus, they have the latest British & Irish Lions squad news and why the new franchise rugby competition R360 is 'delusional'!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50 min
June 02, 2025 Finn Russell and Will Stuart take us behind Bath's rise
It's Premiership semi-final week! So Alfie and Will head to Bath to speak with Finn Russell, Will Stuart and Johann van Graan. They find out how the club became the best team in England this season, what goes into facing their rivals Bristol in the semi-final on Friday and what winning a Premiership title would mean. Plus, they preview the other semi-final between Leicester and Sale, discuss the controversial penalty shootout in the URC between the Sharks and Munster and they ask whether Owen Farrell could really be returning to Saracens next season.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 5 min
May 26, 2025 Champions and Challenge Cup finals review
Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Stuart Barnes review the European finals over the weekend. Alex reflects on Northampton's defeat to Bordeaux in a brilliant Champions Cup final and Stuart explains why the constant TMO interventions in high profile matches are a major issue for the sport. Plus, they chat about Henry Pollock, whether the Challenge Cup can be the platform for Bath to now win the Premiership and an update on the club world championship which is set to start in 2028.
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53 min
May 18, 2025 Are Bath coasting to the Premiership title?
Alfie, Will and Alex are in Richmond as the British & Irish Lions squad meet for the first time since Andy Farrell named his touring party. So, why is Sione Tuipulotu set to be a tour favourite? Hear why Ollie Chessum is getting stick for his reaction to being named on the tour? And, what is the first Lions tour he remembers watching? Plus, Will and Alex chat to former England and British & Irish Lions prop Mako Vunipola about life playing for Vannes in France and his illustrious Lions career. The boys look back on the Premiership fixtures this week and ask whether Bath are coasting to the title, and update on some news about the Wallabies.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr

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…