Women's Rugby Pod

WRP 193 - Back-2-back baby! Sarah Hunter and Johnnie were at The PWR final down in Exeter's Sandy Park at the weekend. Gloucester-Hartpury were going for successive titles, while Bristol - who made already made history by winning an away semi final - were looking to be crowned champions for the first time in the club's history. Just after the final whistle, the England coach gave her thoughts on the game, the ebbs and flows of a pulsating 80 minutes of rugby; where the game was won and lost and who impressed are all spoken about.

We spoke to one of the double winners and Red Rose, Tat Heard, who expressed her emotions and the thoughts within the game and what exactly was said at half time! Dave Ward, the Bristol coach, gave his reaction to where the game was won and lost, the emotions of it all and what the future has in stall. And there is a few bits of news including which 7s nation qualified for the Olympics, at the weekend and details of World Cup ticket sales!!

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WRP 192 - Front row seats for the final! Massive week here in England, as the league season comes to a close with the PWR final. Sarah "Berner" Bern is back from injury to take her place way ahead of schedule to start Bristol's first ever final. The Red Rose star talks about the impressive win over saracens that got them to the big dance, as well as the culture at the club. Up against Gloucester-Hartpury - the champions - Mackenzie Carson joins us on the pod, England team mates but up against each other in the final; they both discuss how that might play out. The international experience these props can draw upon is spoken about and how this situation differs from the test arena. There is plenty of "fighting" talk and who will have the bragging rights but the threats from each of these sides is also part of the conversation. There's the rest of the news, as well, from Rori Taylorson, keeping us up to date with Fiji, Japan and 7s news.

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WRP 191 - Bon joué! Another packed show from around the oval world! Siwan Lilllicrap, the former Wales captain, joins us on the pod and from France Francois Ratier - former Canada Women's coach. Siwan chats about the various hats she is wearing now having retired from the game; mainly her role with the WRU being the person in charge of the younger end of the pathway. She details the progress made, the opportunities youngsters now have and the joy is being a part of processes that she fought so hard to achieve! Having played for both Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury she is the perfect observer to talk about the two semi finals in the PWR (English league) where Bristol made history in beating Saracens and the champs saw off Exeter. Francosi Ratier, the former Canada coach that took that to the 2014 Rugby World Cup final is now the head man at Stade Bordelais. The club, again, won the title at the weekend, so we interrupt the celebrations to chat about lifting the trophy and generally about life in France. There's Rori Taylorson with all the news as well from around the globe with results from another Canadian side and South Africa.

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WRP 190 - Here comes Fiji!!! Fiji week, we are joined by High Performance Manager of Fiji Women's Rugby, Alana Thomas. We find out just why Fiji are where they are - the highest world ranking ever; just won the Oceania Championship and with it a place at next year's World Cup and the 7s side reaching semi finals on the circuit. Alana details the hard work that has gone into the programme, the changes that have been made both on and off the field. The former Wallaroo also chats about that game against Samoa and the wider aspects of rugby in the country and the rise the women's game which she is throughly enjoying. Also on the pod, Sadia chats about the final round of PWR games here in England and there's a full preview of the semi finals with Saracens against Bristol and Gloucester-Hartpury taking on Exeter. The new Red Roses contracts are discussed as well as all the news from around the world; who has made the final in France, which nation won the 7s in Madrid and who leads the way in South African club rugby.

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WRP 189 - Too Goede. Off the back of Canada's historic win over The Black Ferns down in New Zealand, whilst picking up the Pacific 4 title; we chat to their captain and probably the best player in the world right now, Sophie De Goede. Sophie speaks about that amazing result in Christchurch, the history made and the effect it has had back home, especially with hosting wXV 1 later in the year. The back rower also talks about another impressive win she was involved with but with her club Saracens; as they beat league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury at the weekend. Sadia runs us through the rest of the PWR results and gives a full preview of the final round of regular season games. And there's all the news from the likes of France, Hong Kong and South Africa with Rori Taylorson.

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WRP 188 - Pac 4 power. Canada have had a brilliant week, winning the Pacific 4 title! Sarah Bern chats about this and the impact it might have on Canadian rugby, especially with the country hosting wXV1 later this year but also the wider game; beating New Zealand in New Zealand is no mean feat! The USA also finished on a high in the "Pac 4," this is spoken about too. Qualification for the three wXV tournaments have had some developments, Berner gets us up to speed on those. The PWR, in England, is reaching it's conclusion with a huge result over the weekend, as Saracens smashed Exeter in Devon to grab a home semi. There's reaction from Saracens stalwart and player of the match at Sandy Park, Sarah McKenna. The performances of the top 4 are discussed and where do you think Berner would prefer to travel to for a semi final, the Stone X or Kingsholm?!? There all the rest of the news too from 7 Challenger series to the Bulls dominating in South Africa to new age grade teams and new U20 tournaments!

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WRP 187 - Captain Red Rose is back! Our Grand Slammer Sadia Kabeya is back in the studio joining Sarah Bern. The Red Rose star is in fine form after a brief holiday to look back and reflect on the whole 6 Nations. She dives into the impact of new coach John Mitchell, the amazing crowds, the new philosophy and her debut as her country's captain! Berner "fresh" from Zoe Aldcroft's hen do, chats with Sadia about the opposition that England faced; what they made of their old coach Scott Bemand's Ireland, where Scotland are, how damaging has the campaign been for Wales, do we know anything new about France and Italy. Sadia also talks about the unexpected leadership role has played during the 6 Nations, how it came about and what it was like in the be the skipper out there on the field against Wales. There's all the news from around the world, who won at the Singapore 7s, did "Sonic" get her send off, who are champs in Australia?

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WRP 186 - Team of the 6 Nations with Scrum Queens. After a brilliant conclusion of the 6 Nations, WRP teams up with Scrum Queens for their annual "team of the tournament" pod. Ali Donnelly, the creator of Scrum Queens and BBC broadcaster, Sara Orchard join Johnnie to go through in detail every position and as ever most are hotly debated. Who will play at fly half, what is the make up of the back row, is full back a certainty, who misses out and is each nation represented?!? Before getting into the team they discuss each nations' performance in the tournament through last weekend's results, French crowds, Irish progression, Scotland's sharpness, English dominance and same old France!

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WRP 185 - Super Saturday. The final round of the 6 Nation is upon us with England going over to France for the Grand Slam game against France. Ireland take on Scotland in a fascinating contest in Belfast and Italy and Wales battle it out at The Principality stadium for the wooden spoon. Injuries Red Rose star Sarah Bern gives her incredible insight not only to the final round of games but also events last weekend. "Berner" was at Twickenham to witness another great occasion and tells us what it was like on "the other side." England's performance is spoken about and indeed Ireland's. Berner also looks back at the Wales, France game and the Scotland Italy match; she picks out where the games were won and the tactics used. New contracts in New Zealand's for 40 Black Ferns is chatted about and do these news stories about their fiercest rivals make a splash in camp. There is also a full preview of those final round games; can Scotland grab that World Cup spot and finish third, can Ireland bounce back mentally and physically from their Twickenham mauling? How do wales pick themselves up, will playing at The Principality help or hinder? And what is it like to play away in France, can that crowd make the different or are England too strong; what are we likely to see in selection and who will be the winners?

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WRP 184 - Mac is back! Sarah Bern is back to talk all things 6 Nations; looking back at The England win over Scotland at a sold-out Hive Stadium, The French breezing past Italy and Ireland's seismic victory over Wales. Also joining us is former Ireland coach Greg McWilliams, obviously so knowledgeable about this group; he tells us about his joy in seeing their improvement both on and off the field. Greg talks about the influence Scott Bemand has had, the continued change he has seen from just a year ago when he was in-charge. He also gives us some insight to the structures now in place, the coaching group and the players.

This round 4 fixtures of the 6 Nations is also discussed with where the games will be won and lost, with predictions. And there is all the news from around the world with Rori, who are domestic champions in New Zealand, did Spain lift the European title again, details on Rugby Africa Cup and more.

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