Episode 31 - Rugby’s Big Shake-Up - From Bollywood to French Revolutions & Franchise Models

The Rugby Pod

The Ringer

Rugby, Comedy, Sports

4.8 • 5.2K Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We’re into the business end of the season, but is rugby itself on the verge of its biggest transformation yet? Jim and Goodey dig into the new Premiership franchise model being floated! We chat fan culture, flares, and whether rugby needs a football-style edge in the stands. We also chat about the runs for both the Prem and URC as tams are chasing the final knock out spots. Plus, we’re joined by Indian rugby president, Bollywood star and former international Rahul Bose to talk about the launch of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) in India, what it means for the sport there, and why the Bollywood blueprint could be rugby’s best play. Plus, listener questions, Lions selection debates and lots more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Pod, pod, pod.
0:01.1	Rugby pod.
0:07.6	Hello and welcome back to the rugby pod where suddenly we find ourselves, Andrew, at the business
0:12.2	end of the season.
0:13.0	Where did the year go?
0:14.2	Where did the season go?
0:16.2	Thank God it's over.
0:17.4	I'm joking.
0:18.5	I'm joking.
0:20.4	It's not over yet, James, because the race for the top eight in the
0:23.7	URC and the running for the Premiership and the semifinals and who's going to be where,
0:28.7	who's going to get in the top eight in the URC, who's going to make the top four in the
0:32.0	prem, all the action is on the pitch. It is hoting up, James, but rugby is also potentially
0:37.2	poised to go through
0:38.8	a franchise revolution, apparently. So what do you know, Jim? Andrew, I don't know anything,
0:44.0	but I do know there's a potential, well, there's not a potential, it's happening, that there's
0:47.5	going to be a rugby version of the IPL happening in India. So we've got a special guest on to talk
0:52.9	us all through that.
0:59.8	It's not cricket. This is rugby. It's the rugby pod. So you know what to do. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. I know you listen. You shouldn't be because we do swear. I'm going to
1:03.8	swear less on this episode. But settle back. Enjoy. And make sure you subscribe on the number one
1:09.3	music, audio podcast,
1:11.4	championship, legendary platform Spotify.
	...

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