The Ruck

Following another weekend of action in the Champions Cup Alfie, Elgan and Alex look back on all of the big stories.

With only one round of matches to go until the knockout stages they explain why, despite some great games, the competition continues to have structural issues. They ask what is going wrong at Toulouse who have lost twice already in the pool stage and discuss which teams are in the running to go on to be crowned champions. Plus, Henry Pollock, as always, was in the headlines after an impressive performance despite Northampton losing to Bordeaux and Bristol produced an incredible result in beating the Bulls in South Africa.

And, they round off the pod by chatting about the possibility of the 6 Nations going behind a paywall, the latest developments in Welsh rugby and Newcastle Red Bull's recruitment drive for next season.

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Henry Pollock had a remarkable 2025!

Breaking through with Northampton Saints, making his England debut, beating Leinster in Dublin, a Champions Cup final appearance and being named on the British & Irish Lions tour.

So Will and Alex have made the trip up to the East Midlands to chat with Henry Pollock and his director of rugby Phil Dowson. How does the youngster reflect on the past 12 months? Does he enjoys ruffling feathers or care about people's perceptions of him? Plus, what are his aims for 2026?

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At the midway point in the Prem season Harlequins find themselves in a crisis. They're 8th in the table, having only won two of their nine games, including a 66-21 defeat to Northampton at the weekend.

So, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe are at The Stoop to chat with the Quins CEO Laurie Dalrymple. They discuss the coaching upheaval in the summer and the knock on impact to the clubs current struggles, player retention and why so many academy products have departed South-West London, as well as the importance of keeping Marcus Smith and the clubs financial situation in regards to an aim of breaking even.

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It's the end of 2025 so in keeping with tradition The Ruck's end of year selection meeting is back as Alfie, Alex, Will and Elgan name a world XV of the year.

South Africa are the number 1 side in the world but how many springboks will make it into the team? Who gets selected at fly-half? And, in a year where positional versatility has been so important what does the bench look like?

Plus, given that the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour wasn't a 'vintage' series, how much weight do they put on Lions selection? Which big name superstar misses out? And, despite hardly playing any international rugby this year, does Antoine Dupont make it?

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It's the final pod before Christmas and Alfie, Alex, Will and Elgan are back to review all the action over the weekend.

They discuss humbling defeats for Gloucester and Harlequins and ask whether the current top five will be the teams to battle for a play-off spot at the end of the season.

Plus, why are there so many high profile transfers ahead of next season? And, what can the whole league learn from Bath as they try and build a squad to win a title?

Following Sports Personality of the Year they also praise Ellie Kildunne for coming 2nd in the individual award, ask whether the Red Roses should have picked up the team award and discuss what the British & Irish Lions missing out on a nomination reveals.

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Will and Alex are solving all sorts on the Ruck this week. 

Mark Palmer comes on to chat about Glasgow's extraordinary win over Toulouse in the Champions Cup -- a rare shining light in another mixed round of the competition -- and the boys then debate how to fix the tournament, so there are fewer blow-out pool games. 

Could there be a "European Super League" instead? Or would it work playing it in one block in May and June?

Then Will Collier, the Castres tight-head, joins us to discuss demystifying the scrum, following on from the superb guest column he wrote for The Times last week.

And Alex dissects some news and theories around promotion from the Champ to the Prem, a subject that refuses to go away.

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The Ruck has a South African flavour this week as we interview Springboks hybrid hero André Esterhuizen, the centre who can also play back-row. We talk about that innovation, the Boks' fine 2025 and the upcoming Champions Cup clash between his Sharks and Saracens on Saturday.

Will, Alex and Elgan delve into the first round of the Champions Cup, which featured some of the same old issues but good wins for Northampton Saints, Bath, Bordeaux-Begles and the Scottish sides. 

Plus, the boys rattle through the 2027 World Cup draw, and a gouging ban for Eben Etzebeth. We ask how the South Africans can be stopped from winning three tournaments in a row, and whether Rassie Erasmus might throw the Italy game. 

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Following the end of the Autumn Internationals, Alex Lowe and Elgan Alderman review the action. We look at South Africa's 73–0 mauling of Wales, as well as the late-game incident involving Eben Etzebeth.

Elsewhere, Alex and Elgan discuss the latest in the R360 league saga, and with the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw coming this week, we look ahead to how the new 24-team format changes the pools, the seeding and the matchups it could deliver. 

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Following the end of the November internationals Alfie, Alex, Will and Barnsey are back in studio to review the action.

In 2025 South Africa have cemented themselves as the number one side in the world but who are their closest challengers? Is it England who have won 11 out of 12 matches in the calendar year? And, will Steve Borthwick's side now be expected to win the 6 Nations?

It's also been a tough November for the officials so the boys ask what World Rugby needs to do to give referees more support? And, whether they need to crack down on coaches pressuring them.

Plus, the fallout from England's narrow win over Argentina, including accusations of Tom Curry being a 'bully', Wales' defeat to New Zealand and a strange 2025 for the Wallabies.

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It's the final weekend of the November internationals (apart from Wales and South Africa who play each other next week!).

So, Alfie, Will and Elgan are once again at the England training base to look ahead to their match against Argentina. After a huge win against the All Blacks how difficult will this match be? And how important is it to end 2025 with another win? They also have an injury update as Max Ojomoh replaces Fraser Dingwall in the squad for Sunday.

Plus, what constitutes success for Wales against New Zealand? And, How will Ireland fare as they host the Springboks in Dublin?

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