The Ruck Rugby Podcast

Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher, Alex Lowe and Owen Slot were at Twickenham to watch England fall narrowly short against New Zealand again! From an empty Twickenham they react to another slim defeat in a game where they were leading and also discuss Joe Marler's retirement from international rugby. Plus, Mark Palmer joins the pod to assess Scotland's victory over Fiji and look ahead to an Autumn defining match-up against South Africa.

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England's Autumn campaign gets underway this weekend against New Zealand so Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher look ahead to the match. They discuss Steve Borthwick's team selection including Henry Slade and Ben Spencer's inclusion, as well as the importance of the match for Steve Borthwick's side. And, they discuss Joe Marler's comments on the Haka where he questioned it's place in the sport and how teams should be allowed to challenge it more.

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Ahead of the November internationals Alfie Reynolds and Will Kelleher preview England's matches. They ask 'what is success?' for Steve Borthwick's side over the next month and hear from scrum-half Ben Spencer who is aiming to nail down a spot in the side. They chat to New Zealand CEO Mark Robinson about World Rugby's elections, the 20 minute red card trial and taking Nations Championship matches to the Middle East. Plus, they round up the Premiership after the opening 6 rounds and provide an update on the England player contracts.

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2025 has the potential to be a seminal year for women's rugby, as England hosts the World Cup. The Red Roses are the heavy favorites, so could the tournament do what the Euros did for the England women's football team? Alfie Reynolds and Elgan Alderman discuss how the major nations are shaping up ahead of next year and speak with Chief of Women's Rugby at World Rugby Sally Horrox about the exciting future for the sport and some of the challenges it faces.

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World Rugby are trialling 20 minute red cards in the upcoming November internationals. Will Kelleher, Stuart Barnes and Alfie Reynolds explain why and ask whether it is a good initiative or complicates an already confusing disciplinary process. Will speaks to England and Bath second-row Charlie Ewels to get a players perspective on the new rule. Plus the boys also discuss England's squad for their matches against New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Japan and review the Premiership over the weekend.

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Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Elgan Alderman are back with the pod to run through all the action over the weekend. As well as rounding up 'derby weekend' in the Premiership, they discuss the possibility of 'away sections' in rugby and whether it would be a good idea or does it go against rugby's traditional values? Plus, an update on the expanded Championship and if it's fair for Wasps, Worcester and London Irish to be parachuted back into the second tier.

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Ahead of 'Derby Weekend' in the Gallagher Premiership Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and Alfie Reynolds ask what is the biggest rivalry in the division? Will chats to Stuart Barnes who played for Bristol and Bath, as well as the former Northampton back-row Tom Wood for his insight into the East Midlands derby against Leicester. The boys also look back on the Premiership action over the weekend, dissect Steve Borthwick's England training squad and provide an update on Borthwick's attempts to rebuild his coaching setup.

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How big of a threat is French rugby to the English domestic game? Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and Alfie Reynolds discuss whether the booming French system poses an existential threat to England, it follows a number of high profile England players deciding to play their rugby in France. To help them answer that question, Will chats to the Brive president Simon Gillham who discusses financial regulation, a successful TV deal and promotion/relegation.

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England have announced a new defence coach in Joe El-Abd but he'll take on the position part-time, whilst Felix Jones serves his notice period from Ireland. It's all a bit messy so Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and Alfie Reynolds answer the big questions on what it means for Steve Borthwick and England ahead of the Autumn. Plus, they look back on the Premiership action at the weekend.

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The Gallagher Premiership returned on the weekend but was it the spectacle that fans were hoping for? Bath were brilliant on Friday night to beat Northampton in a re-match of last seasons final but plenty of other matches were error strewn and sloppy. Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and Alfie Reynolds ask why that was the case and whether rugby has an issue with the product on display? Plus, they review the opening weekend and explain the change to ITV's weekly Premiership highlights show.

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