The Ruck Rugby Podcast

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The Ruck is the journalists rugby podcast from The Times & The Sunday Times. Join Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and a selection of guests every week as they provide insight and reports throughout the season, including big name interviews and forthright analysis.


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Recent Episodes
  • Are we set for the Leinster Lions?
    Apr 14, 2025 – 51:52
  • What do rugby fans want from the sport?
    Apr 7, 2025 – 1:11:16
  • A rugby world cup in the Middle East?
    Mar 31, 2025 – 54:58
  • Style over substance?
    Mar 24, 2025 – 1:08:46
  • Picking our British and Irish Lions matchday 23 - post 6 Nations
    Mar 20, 2025 – 55:39
  • France win the title as England destroy Wales
    Mar 17, 2025 – 1:07:36
  • How 'super' will the Six Nations Saturday be?
    Mar 13, 2025 – 39:37
  • France destroy Ireland's grand slam dream - is the Six Nations theirs?
    Mar 10, 2025 – 1:01:33
  • Weekend Preview: Where are all the 'maverick' fly-halves?
    Mar 6, 2025 – 53:44
  • Title on the line: Ireland vs France dissected
    Mar 3, 2025 – 1:01:29
  • What is it like inside the England camp? Plus a huge Welsh performance
    Feb 25, 2025 – 51:32
  • England regain Calcutta Cup as wasteful Scotland miss shot at 5 in a row
    Feb 22, 2025 – 32:15
  • Finn Russell starts as Scotland eye another win against England
    Feb 20, 2025 – 39:06
  • How do you fix Welsh rugby? Sam Warburton previews round three of the Six Nations
    Feb 17, 2025 – 1:04:23
  • Gatland's gone! And is Fin Smith the next Wilkinson?
    Feb 11, 2025 – 57:07
  • England beat France to kickstart 6 Nations campaign
    Feb 8, 2025 – 32:15
  • Fin and Marcus Smith start in "must win" game for England
    Feb 6, 2025 – 43:47
  • 6 Nations Round 1 review plus Ollie Chessum interview
    Feb 3, 2025 – 59:27
  • England lose to Ireland in Dublin!
    Feb 2, 2025 – 25:42
  • Shaun Edwards exclusive interview!
    Jan 29, 2025 – 31:37
  • 2025 Six Nations preview!
    Jan 27, 2025 – 1:13:16
  • Is the Champions Cup less competitive than ever?
    Jan 20, 2025 – 44:50
  • England 6 Nations squad - Steve Borthwick interview!
    Jan 15, 2025 – 55:22
  • How long will Bill Sweeney survive?
    Jan 13, 2025 – 53:06
  • Eben Etzebeth exclusive!
    Jan 6, 2025 – 58:45
  • Picking our British and Irish Lions matchday 23
    Dec 30, 2024 – 1:03:46
  • Our men's 15-a-side team of the year!
    Dec 23, 2024 – 41:58
  • Should South African teams remain in the Champions Cup?
    Dec 16, 2024 – 49:40
  • Did we actually learn anything from the Champions Cup opening round?
    Dec 9, 2024 – 42:46
  • What impact will the RFU bonuses have on the game?
    Dec 2, 2024 – 1:03:20
  • Have England gone backwards this Autumn?
    Nov 25, 2024 – 1:03:42
  • Eddie Jones' chance for England revenge?
    Nov 21, 2024 – 42:28
  • Is a franchise league good for the game? Plus Gatland and Borthwick's futures
    Nov 18, 2024 – 1:05:15
  • Are England in crisis? England v South Africa Review
    Nov 17, 2024 – 36:45
  • Are the Springboks the toughest challenge in world rugby? England vs South Africa preview!
    Nov 14, 2024 – 41:32
  • England lose a nailbiter (again) as Wallabies record seismic victory
    Nov 9, 2024 – 33:28
  • Are Australia England's banana skin? Plus Ireland vs New Zealand
    Nov 7, 2024 – 52:31
  • Another missed opportunity for England?
    Nov 3, 2024 – 40:24
  • Should the Haka be banned?! England vs New Zealand preview
    Oct 31, 2024 – 40:53
  • England's 'no excuses' Autumn and New Zealand CEO Mark Robinson
    Oct 28, 2024 – 1:01:50
  • Will 2025 be a tipping point for Women's rugby?
    Oct 24, 2024 – 29:46
  • 20 minute red cards! Yes or no?
    Oct 21, 2024 – 1:02:48
  • Should the Premiership introduce away sections?
    Oct 14, 2024 – 52:36
  • What is the biggest rivalry in the Premiership?
    Oct 7, 2024 – 1:00:00
  • Does France pose a threat to English rugby?
    Oct 2, 2024 – 40:09
  • England's coaching merry-go-round
    Sep 30, 2024 – 44:05
  • Are you not entertained!?
    Sep 23, 2024 – 52:24
  • George Ford interview
    Sep 19, 2024 – 25:29
  • Can Newcastle compete in the Premiership? Season Preview!
    Sep 16, 2024 – 1:09:27
  • Why is the Professional Game Partnership important?
    Sep 9, 2024 – 54:29
Recent Reviews
  • Djbarra
    Cynical.
    I’m not a South African supporter but this podcast about the World Cup final is so cynical. A team won and the negativity around them from you guys I believe is extremely disrespectful. How can you complain about cards and then congratulate the referee…. You’re finding excuses to take away the boks win on one hand but celebrating the referee. You speak highly of New Zealand and every other country…. Pretty hateful to a team that had the hardest fought route to the final and deserves more than a one sided argument. If you want to be miserable and sour, this is tbe podcast for you. If you want to celebrate and live rugby, listen to a podcast that celebrates all of rugby, whether that’s running rugby, defensive rugby, low scoring games, chess battles, kick battles definitely don’t listen to this negative stuff
  • Stixieyoubaby
    Yes to the Ruck - no to Stephen Jones
    A great rugby podcast soiled by Mr Jones. His opinions often seem irrational and irresponsibly biased. His comments on the quarter finals this weekend were ludicrous (“DuPont was off his game”, refereeing has taken a massive step back”). And his loathing of South African rugby is palpable to the degree he cannot find a good thing ever to say about them. I would ditch him Mr Lowe. He weakens a great podcast.
  • *No10*
    Move On.
    One eyed commentary facilitated by the Stephen Jones fan club. Lots of more insightful rugby intelligence available elsewhere. Don’t waste your time here.
  • alpal63
    Great pod aside from Stephen Jones
    Owen Slot, Lawrence, Stuart Barnes all great, Stephen Jones uneducated views make the whole thing awkward.
  • otherviewsareavailable
    1 star until Stephen Jones is replaced...
    ... and I would leave 0 if I was allowed to. I used to read the Sunday Times purely for their rugby coverage, I then subscribed to the iPad edition for the same reason. And I would eagerly await each episode of this podcast to hear the pundits thoughts and comments. I have found Stephen Jones’s increasing bias against English rugby increasingly harder and harder to stomach, and his incessant Eddie Jones bashing in particular has become unbearable. Today I got to the point where I decided I couldn’t listen any more, so I will be deleting the podcast. What was it that pushed me to that point? It was SJ’s uncontrollable need to point out - for the second week running - that Gatland’s selection for his Lions squad of certain England players who EJ doesn’t select is above all a clear signal of what a poor coach EJ is. This was totally irrelevant to the conversation taking place at the time and has begun to sound like vitriol, rather than relevant reporting. Interestingly, another very enjoyable podcast makes the exact opposite point about some of the England players that both WG and EJ favour. Other views are available, Stephen, but the more I listen to you the more I realise you aren’t capable of grasping that concept, which is not what I personally want from a journalist. Another point worth mentioning is there are far too many adverts in this podcast - you’ve got to sit through too many minutes of hard sell before you get to any rugby conversation at all. If you haven’t already tried it, I highly recommend the BBC Rugby Union Weekly for a really enjoyable pod, with a great banter from current/recent players and Chris Jones (lots of Jones’s in rugby!) the BBC rugby correspondent combined with excellent knowledge of the game.
  • Awebb41
    You have allot to learn
    I am a middle aged white male from a middle class family and I have to make a stand here. Please hear me out. I generally admire your views and opinions of our fine game. Whilst I may not always agree, I listen intently. However I have to remove this pod from my list and advise others to do so. Please listen to how intensely condescending and racist you are. At the end of your pod, you mention Gods, and Goddesses. 1. Ugo Monye for being the face of rugby against racism. 2. Pablo Matera, a man who wanted to run over black people. You put them on the same level! Seriously! You have the platform and this is how you use it! Disgraceful. You all made the decision to stream this content and I would be ashamed.
  • Colet S
    Great weekly jnsights
    Great panel and one up. Particularly like Lawrence’s facilitation and ex player insights as well as Jonesy’s controversial but stimulating thoughts.
  • Clive & Felix
    It’s a team game
    This combo of insightful journalism (Owen Slot, Stuart Barnes) and recent ex player knowledge (Dallaglio) is a far superior alternative to some of the more laddish alternatives. Keep it up gents!
  • WelshinAmerica
    Another podcast for the English
    Once again a countrywide publication talking to only English people and English rugby with all else an afterthought.
  • Bjl173627
    Stephen Jones renders this pod sadly unlistenable
    Stephen Jones ruins this podcast. A great shame as the other participants are superb. Time to retire Jones and have Slot run things.
  • bellamydm
    Great podcast
    Excellent. Keep up the good work. Love the variety of opinions.
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