The Sports Agents

Former England cricketer Steve Harmison & The Guardian's Chief Sports Writer Barney Ronay in Sydney, join Chappers to reflect on arguably the most underwhelming Ashes series in memory - a 4-1 loss where Australia needed only 11 days to retain The Ashes.

Do centuries from Joe Root and 22-year-old Jacob Bethell, as well as England’s first Test win in Australia since 2011, paper over the cracks?

Will the England cricket team sack managers as fast as football has in 2026? Are captain Ben Stokes, Head Coach Brendon McCullum and Director of Cricket Rob Key capable of making the major changes England need now?

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

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We're only 6 days into 2026 and already Ruben Amorim, Enzo Maresca and Wilfried Nancy have lost their jobs. Chelsea have even appointed a new manager in Liam Rosenior.

First lesson of the year, you take on the club hierarchy when your results aren’t up to scratch - you lose. So, should Premier League clubs be looking for a "head coach" or a "manager"? How involved should managers be in human issues facing players? And if they have all the power, should sporting directors front up to the media more like in Europe?

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha and The Athletic's Manchester United Correspondent Laurie Whitwell, join Gabby and Mark.

Plus, we react to Gabby's OBE, Luke Littler's dominance at just 18 and strong calls to sack Bayern's 17-year-old wonder kid Lennart Karl for dreaming of Real Madrid.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

Gabby and Mark welcome in the New Year by answering your questions.

What sport should we nominate Mark for at the Winter Olympics? Will Lewis Hamilton retire? Can Scotland get past the group stage at the World Cup? And will Mikel Arteta finally win a trophy with Arsenal?

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

Gabby and Mark bring you the best moments from another sport-packed year on The Sports Agents, as chosen by you, us... and Jon Sopel.

From chats with former England manager Gareth Southgate and rugby's breakout star Henry Pollock, to going behind the scenes at Wimbledon, and some hilarious Christmas outtakes.

Have a lovely Christmas and we'll be back on New Years Day!

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🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

Two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, is taking on YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul. Like it or not they’re two of the biggest names in boxing - and we’ll get into why that’s problematic...

So why is the star of the London 2012 Olympics, who beat Wladimir Klitschko, fighting an influencer? Do fight fans believe it's not been scripted and what's actually more at risk - Paul's chin or AJ's reputation?

Gabby & Mark sit down with Light-Heavyweight prospect and Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker - a showman in and out of the ring at a time when the sport is crying out for its next homegrown superstar.

Plus we pick the best bits of The Sports Agents this week, from reminiscing about an extraordinary year in sport with Clare Balding ahead of SPOTY, to despairing at the Ashes with former England cricketer Darren Gough.

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🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

How did 2025 go for your team? If you’re an England cricket fan or a Wolves diehard, we're sorry. But lots of British teams and individuals did win big trophies (not to rub it in!) from the Lionesses, to the Red Roses, Lando Norris' F1 triumph and Team Europe at the Ryder Cup.

Ahead of hosting Sports Personality of the Year, Clare Balding joins Gabby to look back at another extraordinary sporting year.

📩 Got a question? Send it here: https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7

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🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

It’s crunch time Down Under. England have to win this third Test to keep the Ashes series alive. Ben Stokes says his side need to “show a bit of dog” - a bit more fight - for a match that could define his captaincy. Can England still turn it around and how will the last four years of ‘Bazball’ be judged if they can’t?

Former England fast bowler Darren Gough, who played in four Ashes series, joins Gabby and Mark.

Plus, what did Mark make of Man United's dramatic 4-4 draw to Bournemouth and the ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ jumper? Should Celtic have moved on from Martin O'Neill before the huge upset by St Mirren to lift the League Cup? And what links the WSL's top scorer Bunny Shaw and Usain Bolt?

📩 Got a question? Send it here: https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7

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🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

Pippa York, then known as Robert Millar, was crowned the Tour de France King of the Mountains, winning three stages in the 1980s. But ever since she was five she wanted to be a girl. 

Years after quitting cycling, aged 41, she started a 10-year transition process to become Pippa York, who joins Gabby and Mark.

What was it like racing the Tour de France with gender dysmorphia? And what does she make of the debate around trans-inclusion in sport now?

Plus we look back at the best bits from The Sports Agents this week from Mo Salah's shock outburst at Liverpool, to Mike Tindall's plans to create more household names in rugby like Joe Marler and Ilona Maher.

"The Escape" by Pippa York and David Walsh is available now.

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this podcast help is available. You can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email [email protected]

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🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

On Celebrity Traitors, Joe Marler showed the world how entertaining rugby players can be. Despite the best efforts of Marler, Henry Pollock and the Red Roses, rugby is still wrestling with tradition and how to reinvent itself as something more ‘entertaining’.

Today we’re joined by ex-England captain Mike Tindall, who’s setting up the controversial ‘R360’ league to try and revolutionise the game. His co-host of "The Good, The Bad & The Rugby", Alex Payne, joins us too for a big chat about plans to shake things up, "grow more Pollocks" and sell lots of copies of their book.

Plus, Gabby and Mark chat about Luke Littler's sneaky trip to the away end at Man United, and Clarence Seedorf challenging Arne Slot at the Champions League.

Reloaded – The Good, The Bad and The Rugby is out now. Grab an extra 10% off the hardback and ebook online at the HarperCollins shop. This discount can be applied on top of the 40% discount already running on the shop. Please use RUGBY50 at checkout. Offer ends midnight on the 22nd December 2025.

📩 Got a question? Send it here: https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7

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🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

No Champions League football for Mo Salah tonight after he dropped a bombshell. In a very rare media interview Salah said he's been "thrown under the bus" by Liverpool and has no relationship with manager Arne Slot. He thinks someone at the struggling club wants him kicked out.

Was Salah right to speak out? Has he played his last game for Liverpool? And can Arne Slot survive this? Gabby and Mark catch up with John Gibbons from The Anfield Wrap and The Athletic's James Pearce.

Plus we react to friend of the pod, Lando Norris, winning the Formula One world championship. Is he the most likeable champion we've seen for a while in any sport?

📩 Got a question? Send it here: https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7

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🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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📥 Email: [email protected]

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents