#36 The Champ Story You Need to Hear and URC & Prem Title Races Blown Wide Open

The Rugby Pod

The Ringer

Sports, Comedy, Rugby

4.7 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2026

⏱️ 97 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The lads are back in studio covering all the latest from URC and Prem, as well as a proper grassroots story, joined by Harlequins and England legend Nick Easter and Chinnor stalwart Alun Walker. The lads get stuck into the Champ’s underdog rise, what life’s really like in the second tier, and the big debate around ring-fencing the Prem and whether promotion and relegation has a place in English rugby. There’s plenty to get into from the weekend too with the Stormers putting Glasgow to the sword, Leinster’s aura taking a hit after a loss to Benetton, and lots going on at the top of the Premiership with the top four race blown wide open. Add in Lions tour rumours to France, some big injuries, and lots more. Get stuck in. Sign up to NordVPN by going to https://nordvpn.com/rugbypod to get a Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 additional months free. It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Pod, pod, pod, pod.
0:06.2	Rugby pod.
0:07.7	Welcome back to the Spotify studio lads, but more importantly, welcome back to our rugby pod listeners.
0:17.3	We've got a hell of a show lined up for you today.
0:19.5	Something a bit different.
0:21.0	Joining us in studio, we have Harlequin's legend, Nick Easter, and a grizzled veteran,
0:27.6	Alan Walker, both from Chinner, RFC.
0:30.7	Dalla, Dala Bill, yeah.
0:31.8	They tried to sign me many years ago.
0:33.9	A proper underdog story that we're going to get stuck into about the championship,
0:37.3	about Nat championship, about
0:37.5	Nat 1, about where they're coming from, how are you, where's your fans, let's be having
0:42.3	you.
0:43.1	A few seasons ago, they were languishing at the bottom of Nat 1 in the pyramid of the RFU system.
0:51.2	Political.
0:52.2	But we are going to be chatting about the grit hair reality of English
0:56.0	rugby's second tier, the warriors that are rumbling around down there. What they really think
1:01.8	about, they are a few temporarily, ring fencing the prem, and does Club Rugby in England need
1:06.8	promotion and relegation? Yes. Anyway, we're going to dig into it as well as looking at all the action from the URC and the Prem. So without further ado, settle back, enjoy, and make sure you've subscribed where, Robert? Spotify. I am. I'm already subscribed. Yes. Yeah, are you? I am and Rob's got energy today, which is good. Yes, it's good to see you. Because the sun's out. That's like, and there as well. This episode is brought to you by NordVPN who are giving all our rugby pod listeners four months free access and a 30 day money back guarantee by visiting NordvPN.com forward slash rubbby pod so if you travel use public
1:47.5	Wi-Fi or watch sports abroad this one is for you there's nothing worse than landing somewhere and
1:53.9	your subscriptions just don't work one click with nord VPN and you're back to full access
2:00.0	plus it keeps you safe online and protects your identity.
	...

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