The View from the Western Terrace

Majestic France, Clinical Ireland, Confusing England, Hot-and-cold Scotland, Scrappy Wales, and same old Italy - what else could it be but the Six Nations?

The boys are back for 2022, and they are bang in their comfort zone for this pod, chatting about the tournament so far and making some predictions for the games to come. The only way to know if we are a. credible rugby pundits or b. clueless muppets is to listen to our predictions before this weekend's action. So what are you waiting for?!

***Serious part***

We are devastated by the war in Ukraine and have been supporting the efforts of some amazing organisations doing crucial humanitarian work. We've included the links to them below so that our little (but legendary) community can get involved if they would like to. X

UNICEF

https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/donate-now-to-protect-children-in-ukraine/?gclid=CjwKCAiApfeQBhAUEiwA7K_UH7ZBvT-QouEx-SnaAcD0Aw7qZFu62ELW8f_pkKwMK62-P-IyuoDrxhoCACEQAvD_BwE

British Red Cross

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

Voices of Children

https://voices.org.ua/en/

United help Ukraine

https://unitedhelpukraine.org

Summer is here (in Australia) and it is finally time for the Ashes. Better late than never, the View from the Western Terrace releases a definitive preview of the Ashes 2021/2022. Peace x

It’s a terrifying statistic that suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45. 12 men in the British Isles take their life everyday and it’s frightening to realise that the most likely thing to kill me is me.

But TalkClub is trying to change the narrative around mental fitness. By encouraging men to talk about what they are going through and providing a community within which people can be vulnerable, TalkClub is at the front of the fight against suicide.

We were lucky enough to talk to co-founder of TalkClub, Ben Akers. Ben has already done invaluable work up and down the country with screenings of his film ‘Steve’ and by delivering his incredibly powerful TedTalk, ‘How do you stop men taking their own lives?’

Links for both of these can be found below.

We had the pleasure of catching up with Ben to discuss how we can become mentally fitter and normalise men talking.

Steve documentary - https://www.stevedocumentary.com/

Ted Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9FEQYp1imc

Dan Lawson is one of the world's best ultrarunners. And he is on a mission to reduce the environmental footprint of the running industry.

Dan has broken numerous world records with some quite frankly ridiculously long and hard runs. In 2020 he set the fastest widely-acknowledged time from Land’s End to John O’Groats, completing the roughly 840 mile route in 9 days, 21 hours, 14 minutes. More than 80 miles a day, for 10 consecutive days. Not easy on a bike. Utterly incredible on foot.

Outside of running Dan is a passionate environmentalist. Dan and his wife Charlotte manage a social enterprise called ReRun, which aims to prevent running clothes and equipment from going to landfill by repurposing them and sending them where they are needed most.

We met Dan to ask some burning questions we had about his running career, and to learn more about ReRun and his environmental mission.

So tune in and I hope you enjoy!

Check out rerun at: https://rerunclothing.org/

Follow rerun on insta: @rerun.clothing

Follow Dan on insta: @therunningdan

This week the boys discuss the second test between the Lions and South Africa, before switching to some cricket and speaking to friend of the pod Nick Gubbins about the forthcoming England v India series.(Skip to 37 minutes if you're a cricket badger and don't like rugby chat)

Who should Gats pick for the final Lions test?

Is Rassie Erasmus a disgrace to the game of rugby?

Will England beat India on home soil?

Tune in to find out...

The Lions are 1-0 up, Luka's lost his voice from singing on a stag do, and

Nick Gubbins is in the runs.

Join us for a light-hearted review of last week's action, plus an exclusive interview with the form all-rounder in English domestic crigget.

After a brief hiatus the VWT podcast is back! On this week's episode the boys discuss ultra-marathons, the opening test match between England and New Zealand, and the recent controversies involving Ollie Robinson and Naomi Osaka. We're a bit rusty but we know you'll cut us some slack. Cheers now!

This week we talk all things rugby. But this time the important stuff. 

In the last 8 months, World Rugby and the RFU have outlined ill informed legislation that is fundamentally discriminatory, banning transgender women from playing on the international stage.

We welcomed Grace McKenzie on the pod this week to talk about her experience as a rugby player in San Fransisco and the queer community that has been fostered through this sport.

Grace's fight for trans women in sport, is a fight for trans rights everywhere. We join Grace in solidarity. We ask you, our loyal listeners, to follow Rugby for All (@rugbyforall) and keep your ears to the ground, and your eyes peeled on upcoming petitions and campaigns to get involved in.

Grace: @withgracetoo

Rugby For All: @rugbyforall

Grace's interview with the Thereabouts: Outspoken podcast can be found here - https://www.thereabouts.co/podcast

This week Luka and Coxy go full rugby nause with a dedicated pod on the British & Irish Lions’ forthcoming tour to South Africa.

It’s a conversation we have been looking forward to, and with the announcement that the tour will be going ahead, the time felt right.

We discuss: 


- why Liam Williams’ personal hygiene makes him a shoe-in

- which uncapped players could be ‘bolters’

- and, crucially - who is gonna win the series.

Tune in for some pub chat to get you in the mood for 12 April.

Luka, Coxy and Gubbo sit down to dissect England's defeat to India in the T20I series and another enthralling round of the Six Nations.