The Last McCall
Rugby Union Weekly
BBC
4.6 • 5.3K Ratings
🗓️ 26 January 2026
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As the Premiership heads into its mid-season break, Ugo and Ashy look back on a packed weekend of action. They start with one of the games of the season as Bath edged Gloucester at Kingsholm, with Charlie Atkinson outstanding. Are Bath still the force they were last year, or are teams starting to work them out? Harlequins are back under the spotlight, with Ashy asking whether, in another sport, Jason Gilmore would already be gone. Is an injury-hit squad finally catching up with Sale, or is their attack the bigger concern? They also reflect on Mark McCall’s pending departure at Saracens, and why Brendan Venter may be the perfect person to step in. And, is retiring from international rugby still a thing?
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts. |
| 0:05.7 | Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, and I'm Ed Gamble, host of another BBC podcast, The Traitors Uncloaked. |
| 0:12.7 | But my show is available only on BBC Sounds, just like Ellis and John's Saturday bonus episodes, |
| 0:18.2 | The Pop Top Ten podcast with Scott Mills and Rylan, and comedy specials |
| 0:22.2 | from the likes of Harriet Kemsley, Susie Ruffle and Rommashranganathan. |
| 0:25.9 | However, and maybe I'm biased, it's really all about the traitors uncoaked. |
| 0:30.3 | So for a whole bunch of exclusive scoops and podcasts, listen only on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:36.1 | Five Lives Rugby Union Weekly. |
| 0:44.7 | Ashy, good morning. |
| 0:46.9 | What was the biggest shock this week? |
| 0:48.7 | So I've got three different options for you. |
| 0:50.6 | Was it Mark McCall, leaving Saracens? |
| 0:53.3 | Was it Damien Penno being dropped by Fabian Gautier in a Six Nations squad alongside Gregory |
| 0:58.4 | Aldrie, considering they've both been named in the top 14 team of the season so far? |
| 1:05.0 | Or is it DC but another holiday? |
| 1:07.0 | The last one's definitely not a shot. |
| 1:09.0 | Maybe the first one or two holidays were a bit of a shock |
| 1:12.2 | When he knows he's got to be here on a Monday |
| 1:14.2 | But when he's on his ninth holiday |
| 1:16.4 | I hope it's put wherever he is |
| 1:20.6 | I hope it's pouring down |
| 1:21.6 | So that's not a shock |
... |
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