WRP 163 - Packer & PWR. Power-packed pod, with the return of Sunter, CEO of the best league in the world and the world's best player! The most capped English player is back to host with Johnnie, chatting about her unexpected role in the Red Roses coaching set up, wXV1 and being back out in New Zealand. And there is real honesty from Sunter about the challenges she has faced going straight from being a player to a coach, "comfortable with feeling uncomfortable!" World Rugby's Player of the Year, Marlie Packer, join us on the pod as well; recounting tales of winning the inaugural wXV 1. She also speaks, personally, about the prestigious award, her captaincy and the hug she got upon her return home! With the top league in England, the PWR, now independent, rebranded and a game-changing television deal to boot, starting this weekend, no better time to chat to CEO Belinda Moore. She tells us about the work that has gone in, the process, the challenges and the vision for this historic weekend and beyond.

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WRP 162 - wXV 1 champ Maud Muir. Sadia Kabeya hosts the pod again this week, with Johnnie and they are joined by Red Roses star Maud Muir; who also happens to be one of Sadia's best friends! The Red Roses pair chat about England defeating New Zealand on their home patch to be crowned the inaugural wXV 1 champions. and if this victory gives some redemption for the World Cup final loss just a year ago. The overall thoughts and impact on wXV as a whole (well three tournaments...) is discussed. And the two friends throw bouquets at each other! Australia finished off their campaign beating Wales with only 14 players for half the match; Sadia gives her thoughts on were The Wallaroos are and how far they've come. And the third game of the weekend, France Canada, is unpicked as well as the advantages and disadvantages the teams will take from the shores of New Zealand. There's some news as well, with a new USA coach and tv news from England's PWR.

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WRP 161 - wXV comes to a climax. Another huge week for the Women's game at wXV. Scotland were crowned champions of wXV 2, Emma Wassell joins us - expressing the happiness & joy within the group, plus what the celebrations were like; as well as a bird's eye view of Sarah Bonar's "length of the field" try!! Ireland picked up their third win of the tournament, beating Spain but only just. Sadia and Johnnie discuss all the final round games from wXV 2 & wXV 3, including that huge win for Australia over France - first time in 13 years. New Zealand bounced back from their loss to France by thumping Wales & now look ahead to England in round 3; Kennedy Simon the co-captain pops in for a chat. Kennedy talks about wXV in the land of the long white cloud, the connection with young fans as well as Black Ferns that have gone before them. Plus the Red Roses at the weekend, a re-run of the 2021 World Cup final, the skipper gives us a sense of the mood in the camp as they prepare for "vengeance!!' All the news from around the world too & shout outs.

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WRP 160 - Wall to wall wXV. Huge weekend in wXV, the international women's rugby tournaments and we reflect on it all; with co-host Red Rose star Sadia Kabeya. wXV 1 saw history made as France beat New Zealand for the first time ever, England beat Australia and Wales went down to Canada. Talking us through that result and looking ahead to a massive game against The Black Ferns, Kelsey Jones, the Wales hooker drops in for a chat. Kelsey relays the excitement in the camp ahead of the game, their approach and talks about a couple of key players. It was round 2 in wXV 2 and 3 at the weekend with wins for Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Spain, Sadeya runs her eye of these. Plus a huge round 3 and culmination in those two tournaments, Scotland and Italy are fighting it out for the title; Rachel Malcolm's side facing Japan, while the Italians face Kate Zackary and the USA. Ireland and Spain go head to head to win wXV 3 and get promoted, while South Africa and Colombia fight for their existence in wXV.

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WRP 159 - A new dawn. This week all three wXV (the new global women's rugby competition) tournaments are in action, wXV 1 in New Zealand, wXV 2 in South Africa and wXV 3 in Dubai. We have a a very special co-host this week in Red Rose star Sadia Kabeya. The flanker chats of her injury, the mood of the squad out in New Zealand, selection, competition for places and what she feels she is missing out on most! We reflect on last week's results from wXV 2 and 3, with wins for USA, Spain, Italy and Ireland and look ahead to the first full round of games with wXV 1 rolling into town this week. We also have South Africa captain Babalwa Latsha, an inspirational figure - the first professional female rugby player in Africa; to look back at their opening game against Scotland but also looking ahead to the match versus Italy. Babalwa also speaks of her role as a captain and leader and the huge growth of the sport in South Africa and some of the reasons behind it. The sad news of Worcester Women's demise is reflected upon, as well as all the rest of the news from around the world.

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WRP 158 - wXV is here! Finally the wXV is here, the new global women's rugby tournament, all kicking off in South Africa and Dubai this weekend. We hear from two of the 6 Nations teams; we hear from Emma Wassell - the Scotland stalwart about her thoughts on the new tournament, how the team is shaping up. But also her return from injury, something very new for her, how she coped mentally and physically and why she couldn't wait to get back to the rugby! We also chat with the new Ireland Head coach, Scott Bemand; only months after leaving his role with the Read Roses. How has that been - to change white for green - the adjustment to being the person in charge - were all spoken about. Scott opens up about the coaching role he took up in the interim and how he is finding a set up that has had it's doubters over the last few years. Do you sing the national anthem when coaching a "foreign" nation...will Scott? Plus, as ever, there is all the news from around the oval world.

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WRP 157 - A horde of rugby! SO much women's rugby on at the moment and as ever The WRP is across it!!! England and Canada are mid series; The Red Roses started their new chapter with a resounding win, can Canada bounce back, we speak to their Captain Fantastic, Sophie De Goede. There's all the news from around the world over the last month or so; Ireland have a new coach, as do USA, who won the Ireland Interpros and did Canterbury win another title down in New Zealand; and where are the games at The 2025 World Cup gong to be held? If that wasn't enough we catch up with the Barbarians squad fresh off the back of victory over South Africa, IN Cape Town as they head to Ireland to play Munster this weekend. We hear from Kate Alder, El Snowsill, Jo Kitlinski and Lindsay Peat; who were all in fine Babas form!

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WRP 156: Red Roses, soft launch. Another season begins, for us here on the World's first and only podcast exclusively on the women's game of rugby union; it's the start of series 5. Next week will see a full-blown start to new season with chats with The Barbarians, Canada, England, Leinster and Auckland Storm. For now the Red Roses take on Canada in a two test series, both preparing for WXV 1. We were in the England camp, with plenty of fresh faces - players and coaches; and spoke to our very own Sarah Hunter, captain Marlie Packer, back in XVs, Meg Jones, new leader, Rosie Galligan and point to prove, Sarah Beckett.

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WRP 155 - Queensholm shone!! England has a new name on it's trophy. On the final whistle at "Queensholm" Burf & Johnnie reflect on an incredible final; the game, the players, the atmosphere, the occasion itself. There is immediate reaction from a jubilant winning co-captain, Mo Hunt and flanker Bethan Lewis; both, understandably, full of emotion. And there's reflection from the other side of the coin with Susie Appleby, the Exeter coach, on coming up short in two consecutive finals & the reasons for that. The controversial aspects of the game, such as one of the sides playing at home, plus the colour of the cards in the game are debated. All in all a wonderful & fitting ending to another outstanding Premier XVs final.

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WRP 154 - Chiefs at The Circus! We are down to the final two in England, Gloucester-Hartpury - known as the Circus - and Exeter Chiefs. The Premier XV final being played at Kingsholm (the home ground for Gloucester-Hartpury has been turned into "Queensholm," for what promises to be an epic final, in front of a record crowd. Gloucester-Hartpury have topped the table most of the season and came through a tough semi final against Bristol but this is their first ever final, we speak to cherry and white legend, Kelly Smith. The prolific winger, out with an injury, provides a unique prospective, being that little bit removed, on the squad and team, their approach this week, what part she plays in the Circus, the key cogs in the machinery and the boss. But also why this season the club, this season, seems to have found consistently high performances and winning performances. In the blue corner, Poppy Leitch, been at Exeter Chiefs since the beginning and such has been her level of play, she was called into the Red Roses squad earlier this year. The "heartbeat" of this side speaks so eloquently about what makes The Chiefs, The Chiefs, from the early days with electric heater to finals with record crowds. The flanker come second row speaks of the battles, as a team but also as an individual within the final dance and the value she puts on being a finalist before. History beckons for one of them! Plus, as ever, there's all the international news, including European 7s, Fiji squad, WXV venues and Brazil bossing 7s in South America.

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