The Telegraph Rugby Podcast

Ben, Charlie and Charles look back on the final round of the Six Nations which saw France crowned champions following a comfortable home win over Scotland. Elsewhere England produced a stunning display away in Cardiff to end their campaign in style, and heap more misery on Wales, meanwhile Ireland laboured to a win away in Rome.We take a closer look at the general health of the England squad following the tournament and whose stock has risen ahead of the Lions tour and England's tour of Argentina. With the dust now settled on the Six Nations, we take a look at who has laid down a marker for the Lions tour this Summer and ask if Maro Itoje is now the front runner to captain the side. Plus we tackle all your questions as usual! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2025

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on a decisive round four of the Six Nations where France dispatched Grand Slam chasing Ireland in Dublin. Charles was in Dublin to witness the scintillating display from the French and in particular their flying winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey. We also discuss how damaging the defeat could be for the Irish who were expected to dominate the Lions tour this Summer, will Andy Farrell have to re think some of his selections if Ireland find themselves finishing third in the Six Nations. Elsewhere we reflect on England's win over Italy, a much more expansive brand of rugby deployed by Steve Borthwick, and Ben gives us his report from Murrayfield as Scotland fight off a spirited Wales comeback. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2025

Ben, Charlie and Charles build up to the return of the Six Nations this weekend after the final fallow week of the tournament. Next up for England is a home clash with Italy, and we discuss if we will see something different from England's attack at the weekend following a pragmatic approach last time out against Scotland. We kick things off with the standout tie of the round between Ireland and France, a win for either side here should all but guarantee the Six Nations title, and in Ireland's case it will set them on their way towards a Grand Slam and a third Six Nations in a row. Former Ireland assistant coach Les Kiss joins the show to pay tribute to the retiring trio of Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony after they have announced that Saturday's clash will be their last on home soil. And we answer your questions as ever including plenty on the Premiership Rugby Cup following the quarter finals at the weekend Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2025

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on round three of the Six Nations where England saw off Scotland by a single point to win the Calcutta Cup! Despite the win, there was a chorus of boos from the home crowd, who were voicing their discontent at England's style of play and overall performance. We discuss if the criticism of England's win is fair, or if fans should be a little more realistic with their expectations given England's recent form against Scotland. Elsewhere there's praise for Wales who pushed favourites Ireland all the way in Cardiff in Matt Sherratt's first game in charge, and France bounced back from their England defeat by putting eleven tries past a hapless Italy Plus we tackle your questions as always, including England's options at scrum half, Scotland's grievance's with the referee, and an impressive outing for England A against Ireland A. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

Former Wales head coach Warren Gatland opens up on his recent exit for the very first time. In this conversation with the Telegraph's Chief Rugby Correspondent Gavin Mairs, Gatland admits he is "hurting", reveals how his exit really happened and opens up on how he would try to fix Welsh rugby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

Ben, Charlie and Charles look ahead to round three of the Six Nations and in particular the Calcutta Cup clash between England and Scotland. Gregor Townsend's side are chasing a fifth consecutive win in the fixture but need to improve from their last outing against Ireland. England will be hoping to build on their last gasp win over France in round two. Former Scotland fly-half Duncan Hodge was the star of this fixture 25 years ago, he inspired the Scots to one of the unlikeliest wins in Six Nations history and he joins the guys to discuss his memories of that day and his former side's chances this weekend. We also take a look at the rest of the weekend's action, including Wales' first game since the departure of Warren Gatland and we tackle your questions as always! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2025

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the second round of the 2025 Six Nations where England came from behind to see off favourites France at Twickenham! Fin Smith impressed on his first Six Nations start, the Northampton man was named man of the match and we discuss how his performance will influence Steve Borthwick's selection at fly half for the remainder of the tournament. Elsewhere Scotland's miserable run against Ireland continued, the defending champions left Murrayfield with a comfortable bonus point win and remain the only side capable of winning a Grand Slam after the opening two games The Telegraph's Gareth Davies joins the guys to discuss the idea Wales could be relegated from the Six Nations following their 14th consecutive loss And we tackle all your questions as usual too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the opening round of Six Nations where Ireland came from behind in Dublin to see off England in the standout fixture of the weekend It was a familiar story for Steve Borthwick's side who produced an impressive opening half before fading in the second and ultimately surrendering their lead again. We take a look at what worked, what didn't, and what can be done this weekend against France to give England a much needed win. Speaking of France, they hammered Wales on the opening night thanks to another impressive display from Antoine Dupont, we take a close look at the threat they pose England. As for Wales, we ask if Warren Gatland's side stand any chance of picking up a single win in this years tournament. Plus we take a look at Scotland's win over Italy, we hear from Brian Moore and Sir Ian McGeechan on their wildcard shouts for the Lions tour this summer and we tackle your questions as usual Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2025

Ben, Charlie and Charles are back ahead of the 2025 Six Nations and ahead of kick off we are joined by a very special guest, England head coach Steve Borthwick! He joins us to look ahead to England's campaign, discuss this weekend's opponents Ireland and also his memories of the tournament growing up Elsewhere the guys analyse Borthwick's team selection this weekend and his decision to opt for a 6/2 split on the bench We also get stuck into the best of the rest of the weekend's action and discuss the possibility of the Six Nations coming off free to air TV, with the rights deal up for renewal next year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

In this bonus episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport podcast, we’re diving into the topic of inspiration. Host Dame Laura Kenny is joined by three trailblazers known for pushing boundaries. Sue Dorrington delves into her pioneering journey in women’s rugby, from discovering the sport at 23 to helping to organise the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991. Sue touches on the growth of women’s rugby and the significance of representation in retaining young girls in sports. Carla Ward, a football player turned manager, discusses how the mentorship of Emma Hayes guided her through the pressures of the Women’s Super League. Highlighting the importance of visibility, Carla shares her vision for empowering young girls in sports. Zara Lachlan, a 21-year-old preparing for an extraordinary solo rowing journey from Europe to South America. Transitioning from BMX racing to ocean rowing, Zara recounts her intense preparation and the inspiration she draws from female role models. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles are back for the final time this Autumn to reflect on a long overdue win for England. Steve Borthwick's side thrashed Japan 59-14 at Twickenham to pick up their first win of the month and left fans feeling a little more optimistic ahead of the Six Nations early next year. We discuss what's working and what isn't, particularly the defensive system which was once again exposed at the weekend Fin Smith impressed off the bench, is the Northampton fly half a contender to start in the Six Nations? Elsewhere we wrap up the best of the weekend's action as Scotland ended their series with a win over Australia and Wales misery continued with a heavy defeat to South Africa Plus we discuss the World Rugby awards and tackle all your questions as usual Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on another disappointing afternoon for England at Twickenham as their winless run stretched to five following a defeat to South Africa. Was this latest defeat a result of bad tactics, or was it down to individual errors for the Springboks tries? They also address the fitness concerns after Steve Borthwick mentioned his side were not in the right condition when they arrived into camp a month ago. Elsewhere things are much worse for Wales, they were thrashed by Australia in Cardiff, a result that extends their winless run to 11. Warren Gatland says he will consider his future following the result, so we take a look at who could realistically replace him. Plus we get into the huge news surrounding a potential breakaway league for the games biggest stars and if any deal can be brokered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2024

In this episode from the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast, we're delving into the topic of body image. Hosted by Dame Laura Kenny, we bring together three women to share their stories and insights. Ellie Boatman, a Great Britain rugby sevens player, opens up about her journey through body image struggles and overcoming an eating disorder to develop a healthier relationship with her body and food. She emphasises the influence of social media on body perceptions and the importance of education around its dangers. Amy Truesdale, an Paralympic taekwondo champion, speaks about her confidence in competing in a male-dominated sport despite her disability. She highlights the necessity of focusing on performance over aesthetics, celebrating individual differences, and rejecting societal pressures. Kate Dale, campaign director of "This Girl Can" at Sport England, brings her expertise in promoting women's participation in sports, discussing the need for positive reinforcement and conscious behaviour around diet culture and appearance. She champions the importance of understanding female physiology in training to shift focus from appearance to performance. If you have been affected by an eating disorder, contact the NHS or Beat for help. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the second weekend of Autumn internationals which saw England stunned by a resurgent Australia at Twickenham Steve Borthwick has now lost his six test matches in 2024 and up next is the visit of World Champions South Africa Ahead of that game, we discuss if England are lacking in leaders, we also take a closer look at the defensive system and ask why it has struggled so much since the departure of Felix Jones. Elsewhere it was a disappointing weekend all round for the home nations, with Scotland, Ireland and Wales all suffering defeat as well, Ben was in Murrayfield and tells us the Scots have plenty to be happy about despite defeat to the Springboks. Plus we tackle all your questions as usual, including the possibility of French based players featuring for England and early Lions shouts too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on England's two point defeat to New Zealand at Twickenham, where Steve Borthwick's side played well in spells but ultimately came up short again for the fourth time in five test matches. Have England just been the victims of bad luck to be on the end of such narrow defeats or is there a deeper issue within the squad that is preventing them from seeing out games? One team who has no problems in seeing out games is South Africa, ahead of their clash with Scotland this weekend, we hear from Eben Etzebeth and Ox Nché about how the World Champions always manage to be on the right side of narrow wins. Plus we discuss a huge clash in Dublin on Friday night as Ireland take on the All Blacks and discuss the retirement of England prop Joe Marler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2024

The Telegraph Rugby Podcast is back ahead of this year's Autumn Internationals! Ben, Charlie and Charles get stuck into England's upcoming campaign which kicks off on Saturday with a clash against the All Blacks at Twickenham We hear from England's new senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth on what his new role entails, he also explains why he will always value what he see's with his own eyes over any underlying data provided to him. The guys also attempt to nail down their selection picks in the back row and at half back, and we discuss the recently awarded Elite Player Contracts and if the right people received them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the final round of the 2024 Six Nations as Ireland retain their title in Dublin and Wales finish bottom, picking up their first wooden spoon in 21 years. England finished their campaign with a thrilling match in Lyon, losing out to France by just two points. Despite the defeat, there are plenty of reasons for England fans to be optimistic. We discuss how new life was sparked into their attack and how it could develop even further this summer away in New Zealand. We also talk about the future of Wales boss Warren Gatland, who admitted that his attempt to resign was rejected by the WRU and also ask if Italy finally arrived as legitimate Six Nations challengers after their history-making campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the penultimate round of Six Nations action which saw seismic shocks at Twickenham and in Rome. England defied the odds to produce their best performance since the 2019 World Cup to defeat Ireland and end the visitors hopes of becoming the first Six Nations side to win back-to-back Grand Slams. Elsewhere, Italy produced a shock of their own by coming from behind to beat Scotland 31-29. Harlequins' Louis Lynagh had a debut to remember and he tells us what it was like to pull on the Italy shirt for the first time. And, as Wales lose their fourth game on the spin, we speak to their former winger Louis Rees-Zammit who tells us all about his preparations to make it in the NFL after leaving rugby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles look ahead to the penultimate round of the Six Nations and in particular England's showdown with Ireland at Twickenham. Former England captain Will Carling joins us to offer us his thoughts on England, arguing a 'data straitjacket' is holding them back while revealing he had to argue with Eddie Jones to get current captain Jamie George into the leadership group back when he was a team mentor. The big selection question mark this week surrounds fly-half with Marcus Smith back in contention. Should he be fast-tracked into the starting line-up, or is George Ford or Fin Smith the better option? The guys make cases for each of the three starting on Saturday.  Plus, we ask if Wales can turn their good performances into a win against struggling France this weekend, and whether Italy can replicate their heroics from round three when they host Scotland in Rome.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on Scotland's win over England in the Calcutta Cup, their fourth in a row, and where the defeat leaves Steve Borthwick's side heading into the final two rounds of the Six Nations. We ask if it is time for the England coach to roll the dice with some of the emerging talent, like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and if it is time to say goodbye to some of the squad's elder statesmen. Whether changes are needed to England's coaching ticket moving forward to accelerate Borthwick's rebuild is also discussed. Elsewhere, we hear from Italy defence coach Marius Goosen who tells us that Paolo Garbisi's last-gasp penalty against France should have been retaken after the fly-half was forced to rush the potential match-winning kick. Ben gives us his verdict from the Aviva as Ireland's unbeaten start continued against Wales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles build up to the return of the Six Nations this weekend and discuss the crucial Calcutta Cup clash in detail. Scotland scrum-half Ben White joins the show to discuss his successful memories of the fixture and as well as his transition from England youth player to Scotland international. We also discuss if Manu Tuilagi and Ollie Lawrence could feature this weekend after the pair were recalled, and who will replace Alex Mitchell at scrum-half for England. Plus, we cast our eyes over the rest of the weekend and ask if either Wales or Italy can cause a major shock when they face Ireland and France respectively. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on round two of the 2024 Six Nations where England secured back-to-back wins, coming from behind to see off Wales at Twickenham. There were yet more questions for England's new look defence and, with harder tests to come, we ask if new defence coach Felix Jones will make any amendments for the remainder of the tournament. As for Wales, they could have two victories under their belt but their young team remained winless. How can Warren Gatland turn his sides' near misses into wins? The big talking point of the weekend came from Murrayfield as Scotland were denied a win over France with a last-gasp TMO review not awarding a try that would have won them the game. There is agreement amongst the panel that although a try was probably scored, the right decision was ultimately reached. And can anyone stop Ireland making it successive Grand Slams after Andy Farrell's side put 36 unanswered points on Italy in Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2024

The 2024 Six Nations is underway and it was defending champions Ireland who sent a message to the rest of the competition by recording their biggest win away in France, securing a bonus-point along the way in Marseille. Ben, Charlie and Charles look back on the opening weekend, including that win for Ireland and a nervy victory for England away in Rome. However, Charlie is feeling optimistic about the work being done behind the scenes by head coach Steve Borthwick and Felix Jones. There's praise also for Ethan Roots, who impressed on debut. Plus, we discuss a chaotic game in Cardiff as Scotland almost blew a 27-point lead against Wales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2024

The 2024 Six Nations is just around the corner and the Telegraph Rugby podcast is back ahead of the tournament's opening fixture on Friday. Ben, Charlie and Charles get stuck into how the England squad will cope in the absence of Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes, with Jamie George to skipper the side for the competition. We also hear from Italy forward Sebastian Negri ahead of Italy's clash with England, and he opens up to us about his starring role in the recent Netflix series. Former England coach Eddie Jones joins the show for the first time since becoming head coach of Japan. We hear about his new role, the upcoming Six Nations, and his strong views on Owen Farrell's decision to step away from international rugby. Plus, we cast our eyes over the best of the weekend's action, including a potential classic in Marseille between France and Ireland on Friday night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2024

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup which saw South Africa retain the Webb Ellis Cup and register a record fourth win.The game could have been different had New Zealand not lost their captain Sam Cane to a red card early on. The guys discuss the impact of that decision and also if South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi was lucky not to see red.We also discuss where this Springboks side rank amongst the best teams in rugby history and if it is possible they make it three in a row in 2027.England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet joins the show to discuss his rehab from an ankle injury that ruled him out of the World Cup and also what he has made of their progress under Steve Borthwick.Plus, we discuss Eddie Jones' resignation from Australia and take a look at the World Rugby Awards too.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on an agonising weekend for England, who were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup after losing their semi-final by a single point to defending champions South Africa.The guys look at where the game was lost, and if England could have done more to build a lead when they were on top.The fallout from the match has been dominated by an allegation made by Tom Curry against Bongi Mbonambi after the England flanker accused the South African hooker of a racial slur. World Rugby are investigating the situation.We also take a look at New Zealand's comfortable win on Friday night over Argentina and ask if the All Blacks are now favourites to win a fourth World Cup on Saturday.And ahead of the third-place play-off on Friday night, we ask if the fixture is pointless.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles are joined in Paris by the Telegraph's Chief Sports writer Oliver Brown ahead of England's Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa.They run through the England starting line-up, which features three changes to the side that beat Fiji in the quarter-final and discuss if head coach Steve Borthwick has nailed his selection ahead of the biggest game of his coaching career.We hear also from the England head coach who is embracing the tag of underdog heading into Saturday's clash.South Africa named an unchanged side for the first time this tournament. We look at their strengths and ask if they have any weaknesses to exploit.We also hear from their head coach Jacques Nienabar, who outlines where he thinks England could hurt the defending champions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 October 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on one of the most thrilling weekends in rugby history as the southern hemisphere sides show they are far from a fading force.England remain the sole hope for the northern hemisphere after Steve Borthwick's side survived a second half fight back from Fiji to book their spot in the final four. Owen Farrell responded to criticism of his selection at fly-half with a player of the match performance.In Paris, we were treated to the two best games of the tournament so far with defending champions South Africa just edging hosts France to book a semi-final date with England while New Zealand produced their best performance in years to see off Ireland, who once again exit at the quarter-final stage.We discuss if it was a case of choking for the Irish, or if they simply came up against a better side on the night, and Charles gives us the mood from Paris as the host nation lick their wounds after their exit.Plus, we discuss Argentina's win over Wales and pay tribute to two departing number 10s in Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the final round of pool action and look ahead to a thrilling line-up of quarter-finals coming up this weekend.We discuss the side Steve Borthwick is likely to select following England's lacklustre performance against Samoa and if he will stick with captain Owen Farrell at inside centre or if in-form George Ford will be sacrificed against Fiji.Ireland dominated Scotland to set up a mouthwatering showdown with New Zealand and we check in with former All Black and 2011 World Cup winner Israel Dagg to discuss his former side's chances as well as why the future is not looking so bright for them.Plus, we take a look at the other games this weekend including a potential return for France captain Antoine Dupont, who is back in training following surgery on a facial fracture and could start against the Springboks on Sunday.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on a quiet week in the Rugby World Cup for the home nations with only Scotland in action.Gregor Townsend’s side won well against Romania while New Zealand returned from their week off to thump Italy 96-17 in a statement win. All eyes this weekend are on the crunch match between Ireland and Scotland. We discuss the permutations that could see Scotland through to the next round and even see South Africa eliminated!We catch up with former international referee JP Doyle to get his assessment on the officiating at the tournament so far and whether the ‘bunker’ system is working.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on a thrilling weekend of Rugby World Cup action including Ireland's victory over defending champions South Africa, which was the game of the tournament so far.We look at where the game was won and lost, and discuss the likelihood of the two sides meeting again in the final at the end of October.Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins joins the show to talk about the form of two of his star players, Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, and his experience of working alongside Andy Farrell during Ireland's successful tour of New Zealand last year.Plus, the guys discuss under-pressure Eddie Jones, England's backline options following their resounding win over Chile and ask if enough is being done to support 'tier 2' nations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2023

England maintained their 100 per cent record in the Rugby World Cup after Steve Borthwick's side saw off Japan with a bonus-point win. But not everyone is happy with the performance.Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the victory and ask why so many fans seem to be disgruntled with England, especially given their poor form prior to the tournament.Australia face the very real threat of being knocked out in the pool stages for the first time in their history after Eddie Jones’ team lost to Fiji. The Wallabies now have a must-win clash with Wales on Sunday to stand any chance of making it into the final eight. We speak to former Australia skipper James Horwill about the current state of the side and the reaction Down Under.Plus, the guys look ahead to the weekend which includes a mouthwatering clash between Ireland and South Africa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on an eventful  opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup!England produced their best performance under Steve Borthwick when it mattered most, defeating Argentina comfortably despite being down to 14 men just three minutes into the game.We dissect what went right for England and discuss the performance of George Ford, including where Owen Farrell fits back into this side once his ban is served.Former Wales winger Shane Williams joins the show to talk about Wales' narrow win over Fiji and how far Warren Gatland can take his side in the tournament.Plus, we round up the best of the rest of the weekend's action and tackle your questions too!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2023

The Rugby World Cup is just days away which means we are back with you every week from now until the tournament ends!Ben, Charlie and Charles get stuck into the big talking points starting with England, who enter the competition in disarray following three defeats in four warm-up games and bans handed out to two of their key players in Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola. We discuss their opener with Argentina and ask if Steve Borthwick's side are capable of pulling out a big performance when they need it most.Nick Evans, who was part of Borthwick's coaching team during the Six Nations, joins the show to share his thoughts on England's chances and the role Marcus Smith could play after he featured at full-back during the warm-ups.We also take a look at the standout games this weekend, including Friday night's opener between France and the All Blacks, and get stuck into your questions too.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2023

The Telegraph Rugby podcast will be back on Monday 4th September ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Until then, enjoy another episode of our latest sport podcast.This episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport podcast, we look at one of the hottest topics in women’s sport right now: ACL - three letters that can strike fear into sportspeople. An anterior cruciate ligament injury means a lengthy spell on the sidelines and women are more likely to suffer them than men. But why? How can the risk be reduced? And what is it like to go through rehab for such a serious knee injury?  Sam is joined by three people who know more about this tricky injury than most.Fiona Pocock won more than 30 caps for England and played in the 2010 Rugby World Cup, but she also spent long periods on the sidelines with injury. She now runs her own personal training company, specialising in female-specific programmes.Tess Braunerova is a Premiership rugby player & international for the Czech Republic - she did her ACL the season before last.And Tom Jacobs is a chartered physiotherapist who has worked in both elite and grass-roots sport. He helped set up the Sporting Knee Injury Prevention Programme (SKIPP) after seeing an increase in ACL ruptures amongst teenagers playing sport. Follow the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast nowFor more Women's Sport news from the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2023

The Telegraph Rugby podcast will be back on Monday 4th September ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Until then, enjoy another episode of our latest sport podcast. This episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport podcast takes a look the importance of coaching in sport, from guiding youngsters at the start of their sporting journeys to helping elite athletes as they challenge for trophies and medals.Sam Quek is joined by three people who know all about the many facets of quality coaching.Giselle Mather was part of England’s Rugby World Cup-winning squad in 1994, but she's also excelled in the coaching sphere as the first woman to earn the RFU’s Level Four coaching badge. She's has been involved in the set up at London Irish, Wasps and now Ealing Trailfinders.Willie Kirk was in charge of Hibernian Women when they won trophies in 2010 and 2011, and has worked in the Women’s Super League with Bristol City, Everton and now Leicester. In the season just finished he oversaw a remarkable turnaround as Leicester recovered from having zero points at Christmas to avoid relegation.And Abbie Johnson, a community cricket coach, who has been coaching since she was 14 at her local club Louth and also works part-time in the county set-up with Lincolnshire. She has continued to coach alongside her studies and caring for her mother while she underwent cancer treatment.Follow the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast nowFor more Women's Sport news from the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2023

As a listener of The Telegraph Rugby Podcast, you might be interested in the new show that we've been working on - The Telegraph Women's Sport podcast. We’ve all enjoyed seeing the rise of coverage in women’s sport in recent years, but there is undoubtedly still work to do. Join Olympic hockey legend Sam Quek as she chats to women across the sporting world about the big issues – from ACL injuries to activism to motherhood.This first episode takes a look at success and attempts to get to the bottom of what it takes to become a champion… aside from a lot of hard graft.Sam is joined by three women who know a lot about the pressure and mentality it takes to succeed in sport: Maggie Alphonsi, Rugby World Cup winner with Red Roses in 2014, Helen Davis, a sport psychologist who has worked with Olympic, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth champions in a variety of sports, and, as the FIFA Women's World Cup gets underway, Ellen White, member of that iconic Euros winning Lionesses squad. Follow the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast nowFor more Women's Sport news from the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the final round of Six Nations action which saw Ireland crowned Grand Slam champions following their 29-16 win over an improved England side.The guys pay tribute to the winners and, in particular, their captain Johnny Sexton, who is now the top points scorer in the history of the Six Nations following his final game in the competition.There is also praise for England, who were much improved from their heavy defeat to France. We grade Steve Borthwick's first tournament in charge and pick out some of the positives from the last eight weeks as attention now turns to the World Cup later this year.The guys also assess where the other Six Nations teams stand ahead of the World Cup. Despite their Grand Slam, no one believes Ireland should be favourites.Fiona Tomas checks in ahead of the start of the Women's Six Nations this weekend, and we attempt to pick our player of the tournament too!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the penultimate round of Six Nations action where England suffered a record home defeat to France in a major reality check for head coach Steve Borthwick.We discuss England's problem areas following a difficult afternoon at Twickenham and who should play at fly-half against Ireland next weekend. Owen Farrell was forced to settle for a spot on the bench against France with Marcus Smith preferred while there's also the possibility of a return for George Ford, who is yet to make an appearance this campaign.The Irish Grand Slam remains on after they picked up their latest win away to Scotland. Despite a string of injuries to their pack in the first half, Andy Farrell's men overcame adversity to deliver what he called 'the best win of his career'. We discuss Ireland's relentless form and what chance, if any, England have against them this coming weekend.Plus, Wales are praised for picking up a bonus-point win away in Italy and we answer your questions too!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles look ahead to the penultimate round of Six Nations action with three mouth-watering encounters taking place this weekend.England have welcomed Marcus Smith back into their extended squad after the fly-half was released by Steve Borthwick and told to go and prove himself. In Harlequins' hammering of Exeter, he did just that! We discuss what the performance means for Smith's future and also hear from his club team-mate Danny Care.Elsewhere, we speak to Italy captain Michele Lamaro ahead of the Azzurri's clash with Wales. He talks about the evolution of the side under Kieran Crowley and the rare prospect of preparing for a Six Nations clash as favourites.We also get stuck into your questions including 'what is a forward pass in the modern game?' after a number of confusing decisions across the weekend's action.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles look back on round three of the Six Nations and get stuck into a second win for Steve Borthwick after England saw off Wales in Cardiff.They discuss who impressed and who failed to live up to expectation. There is criticism for England captain Owen Farrell, who did not enjoy his finest afternoon in an England shirt. We ask if Borthwick has backed himself into a corner by naming Farrell as his skipper for the duration of the tournament and if there is scope to change the captain ahead of the World Cup later this year. Elsewhere, there is praise for Scotland despite defeat away to France, which Gregor Townsend labelled their performance in Paris as their best of the competition so far.And with Italy continuing to impress after a competitive showing against Ireland, we discuss if their long wait for a Six Nations win on home soil will finally come when they face Wales.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles look ahead to the return of the Six Nations this weekend but, with Wales' game against England in jeopardy due to the threat of a player strike, we dissect the problems within the Welsh game and speak with Cardiff Blues captain Josh Turnbull.Josh tells us why the players are looking to strike and what the likelihood of Saturday's game going ahead is.As for England, they look in good shape heading into the weekend with Courtney Lawes and Tom Curry both picked by Steve Borthwick. There is also a recall for George Ford, who made a return to Premiership action at the weekend. We discuss where the Sale Sharks fly-half could fit in the new England era.We also speak to Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe to get his thoughts on the Six Nations so far and his hopes for the year ahead as he prepares to defend the World Cup.Plus, we look ahead to the weekend's other two games where Italy host Ireland before what could be the match of the weekend on Sunday with Gregor Townsend's Scotland side taking plenty of momentum to Paris. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on week two of the Six Nations, which included a thriller in Dublin as Ireland got the better of France in a battle between the two best sides in the world.We speak to the former Ireland international Alan Quinlan about what makes this Ireland side different to the Grand Slam winning teams under Joe Schmidt and if the Irish can maintain their relentless form to challenge for the World Cup at the end of the year.We also unpack England's first win under Steve Borthwick which had both positive and negative aspects. We hear from the England head coach who urged fans to be patient after a mixed showing against Italy.After Scotland backed up their win at Twickenham by beating Wales, we ask if this is finally the year Gregor Townsend's men can compete for the title.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2023

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the opening round of Six Nations action which saw three away wins for the first time ever!One of those wins came at Twickenham as Scotland made it three in a row against England in the Six Nations to retain the Calcutta Cup and inflict defeat on Steve Borthwick in his first game in charge.We hear from the new England head coach, who insists there is a lot of work to be done, and also fly-half Marcus Smith, who's partnership with Owen Farrell remains a question mark for England.Charles was in Rome to see Italy fall to a narrow defeat to defending champions France and he gives us the low down on the threat they could pose to England next weekend.We also look ahead to a mouthwatering clash between Ireland and France after Andy Farrell's side made light work of Wales in Warren Gatland's Cardiff homecoming. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2023

The Telegraph Rugby podcast is back ahead of the Six Nations! Over the next eight weeks, join the Telegraph's Ben Coles, Charlie Morgan and Charles Richardson every Monday as they discuss the main talking points from the tournament.Ahead of Saturday's clash between England and Scotland, we catch up with Scotland star Finn Russell as he gives us his take on England, who he expects to line up opposite him at fly-half and why Scotland struggle to replicate their Calcutta Cup form across the entire Six Nations.We also take a closer look at England ahead of Steve Borthwick's first campaign and who will line up in his backline in particular.The guys also chat through Warren Gatland's first match since his return as Wales coach when they take on Ireland in the tournament opener.Plus, we discuss the controversial decision made by the RFU to lower the tackling height at amateur level and hear the thoughts of London Irish head coach Les Kiss on the issue everyone is talking about. Finn Russell spoke to the Telegraph Rugby Podcast in partnership with Puresport See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2023

Ben, Charlie & Charles are back for a bonus episode discussing not one but two massive stories in the world of international rugby!England have parted company with Eddie Jones just nine months out from the Rugby World Cup while Wales have also moved on from their head coach Wayne Pivac, acting swiftly to bring back the man who Pivac replaced, Warren Gatland.Ben, Charlie and Charles take you inside Jones' final 48 hours as England head coach and discuss why the decision was made, why Jones was so reluctant to go and, ultimately, if it was the right decision to make so close to the World Cup.We also discuss the likely arrival of Steve Borthwick from Leicester Tigers and what his coaching ticket could look like, with the RFU reported to be parting with close to £1 million to bring their former coach back.And we answer the best of your questions regarding Jones' dismissal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 December 2022

Ben, Charlie and Charles analyse England's deflating defeat to South Africa at Twickenham and discuss whether Eddie Jones' role is under threat.Also under the microscope is Wales' late collapse to Australia and we look ahead to England's potential Six Nations squad.Our guest on this week's episode is the French National team's defence coach, Shaun Edwards. He discusses his thoughts on Southern Hemisphere teams; reminisces about his stint as Wasps' Head Coach; and unpacks why he has not got the England job... yet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2022

Ben, Charlie and Charles dissect England's thrilling draw against the All Blacks and debate if Marcus Smith was right to kick the ball out after his stunning performance in the dying moments helped the hosts back from the dead.Next up for England is a clash with world champions South Africa. We discuss what changes Eddie Jones could make to his squad after he already hinted at changes to his pack to match the physicality of the Springboks.The biggest result of the weekend came in Cardiff as Georgia came from behind to see off Wales. One of the men responsible for that win is former Cardiff Blues skipper Paul Tito, who is current assistant coach with Georgia. He joins the guys to discuss the win and the rapid growth of the game in the country ahead of the World Cup next year.We also round up the rest of the weekend's action including a shock win for Portugal, which sees them into next year's World Cup, a forgettable Saturday night in Dublin and a feisty clash between Scotland and Argentina.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2022

This week we are talking about officiating and how it is evolving with the increasing presence of technology in the game. Ben, Charles and Charlie are joined by one of the most recognisable officials to have ever stepped onto the field in Nigel Owens. Nigel expresses his concerns for a growing over-reliance on the TMO and he also explains how a desire to referee a 'perfect' game is making the sport less watchable. We also get his take on Rassie Erasmus after the South Africa director of rugby took to social media yet again to question officiating after his side’s loss to France.We are once again joined by Fiona Tomas from Auckland after the Red Roses fell agonisingly short in the World Cup final against New Zealand. The guys recap a comfortable win for England over Japan where Marcus Smith helped himself to a brace of tries, yet not everyone is convinced the Harlequins star should be in the starting XV.Plus, we cast an eye over the rest of the weekend’s action including a comeback win for the All Blacks over Scotland, a thriller between France and South Africa in Marseille and a first win for Italy over Australia!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2022

Our topic this week is attack in the modern game and we're joined by former England head coach and current Leinster assistant coach Stuart Lancaster. He sits down with Charlie to discuss how he prepares and coaches his sides to attack.But before that, Ben, Charlie and Charles look back on an action-packed weekend of international rugby including England's shock defeat to Argentina in their opening game of the autumn. We discuss where it all went wrong for Eddie Jones' side and ask if the experiment of a Smith-Farrell-Tuilagi midfield needs to be scrapped. We also hear from Ellis Genge, who defended England's performance despite the defeat.Fiona Tomas checks in from Auckland after England made it into a second consecutive World Cup Final after picking up their 30th consecutive win.We also wrap up the rest of the action including wins for Ireland and Scotland and a thumping defeat for Wales, who came up against a rampant All Blacks side, before looking ahead to next weekend.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2022