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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Are Harlequins and Bristol dropping out of play-off contention?
55:36
55:36
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55:36Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Stuart Barnes and Stephen Jones look back on the latest round in the Premiership and ask whether Harlequins and Bristol are dropping out of contention to reach the play-offs? Plus, they discuss what Johnny Sexton joining Andy Farrell's coaching team means for British & Irish Lions fly-half selection. And, Elgan Alderman j…
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Alfie Reynolds, Stephen Jones, Will Kelleher and Elgan Alderman look back on the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. They discuss the brilliant match between Toulon and Toulouse, as well as the other more one-sided games. Plus, they ask how many Leinster players will make Andy Farrell's Lions squad after they produced another brilliant performance…
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What do rugby fans want from the sport?
1:11:16
1:11:16
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1:11:16Will Kelleher is back alongside Alfie to review the last-16 of the Champions Cup. They discuss some brilliant games including Castres v Benetton and La Rochelle v Munster as well as Northampton being the only English side to progress into the quarter-finals. However, they also look at the issues with the current format and ask how long it will be b…
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Alfie Reynolds and Egan Alderman look back on all the biggest stories across the last week. Including the possibility of a rugby world cup heading to the Middle East, Andy Farrell selecting players based in France and a future British and Irish Lions tour against Les Bleus. Plus, they review the Premiership and 6 Nations action over the weekend by …
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The Gallagher Premiership returned this weekend, following it's break for the men's 6 Nations. Alfie, Alex and Will look back on the action which included some high scoring matches, in particular a wild game between Bristol and Exeter. They discuss whether the Premiership - whilst being entertaining - is preparing players for international rugby, t…
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Picking our British and Irish Lions matchday 23 - post 6 Nations
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55:39
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55:39Following the conclusion of the men's 6 Nations, Alfie, Will and Alex are back to pick their matchday 23 for the British & Irish Lions to take on the Wallabies in the first test. They selected a team at the end of 2024 so are back to discuss who has dropped out and who has played their way into contention. Has Marcus Smith's chances been hampered b…
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France win the title as England destroy Wales
1:07:36
1:07:36
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1:07:36Following the conclusion of the 6 Nations, Alfie, Alex and Will review Super Saturday as France won the title and England humbled Wales in Cardiff. They discuss if Maro Itoje is now the front runner to captain the British and Irish Lions? What happens if Andy Farrell doesn't want to select any Welsh players? And, whether France can now go on and do…
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How 'super' will the Six Nations Saturday be?
39:37
39:37
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39:37Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are in Cardiff ahead of the final round of the Six Nations. They look forward to 'Super Saturday' with Ireland, England and France all in the hunt for the title and they go through Steve Borthwick's bold England team selection. Plus, they ask if there is a chance of an upset this weekend? Whether Scotland can stop the Fr…
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France destroy Ireland's grand slam dream - is the Six Nations theirs?
1:01:33
1:01:33
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1:01:33The final weekend in the Six Nations is set up nicely after France produced one of their great performances to beat Ireland in Dublin. Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher review the weekend and preview 'Super Saturday' with France, Ireland and England all vying for the title. Mark Palmer also looks back on Scotland's victory over Wales and …
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Weekend Preview: Where are all the 'maverick' fly-halves?
53:44
53:44
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53:44Ahead of the penultimate weekend in the Six Nations, Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher look ahead to the action. They ask whether 'maverick' fly-halves, such as Marcus Smith, don't suit international rugby after he was named on the bench for England against Italy. They also discuss Henry Slade not being involved and Jamie George reaching …
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Title on the line: Ireland vs France dissected
1:01:29
1:01:29
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1:01:29Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman and coaching consultant Ben Pegna join Alex, Will and Alfie to preview Ireland vs France. They discuss the contrasting styles of play, the rugby philosophy in France and the rise of Sam Prendergast, plus, how the title could be decided this weekend in Dublin. The boys also look ahead to Scotland v Wales and Eng…
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What is it like inside the England camp? Plus a huge Welsh performance
51:32
51:32
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51:32Following his time in the England camp before the Six Nations, David Walsh joins Alfie Reynolds and Alex Lowe. He explains what it was like being embedded with the team over two and a half days, how it's changed his perspective on what the squad is trying to achieve and his view on Steve Borthwick. Plus they debate which out of Ireland's tight win …
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England regain Calcutta Cup as wasteful Scotland miss shot at 5 in a row
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32:15
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32:15England defeated Scotland 16-15 at Twickenham to win the Calcutta Cup for the first time in five years and keep their chances of winning the Six Nations alive. Alfie Reynolds, Mark Palmer, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher look back on a disjointed match in which Scotland wasted a number of opportunities. They ask if Gregor Townsend's side were unlucky, …
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Finn Russell starts as Scotland eye another win against England
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39:06
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39:06Alfie Reynolds, Mark Palmer, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe preview the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham this weekend. Mark is at the Scotland camp and discusses Finn Russell starting and whether the underdog tag helps Gregor Townsend's side. Whilst Alfie, Alex and Will are at the England training base and react to Ted Hill replacing George Martin in the ma…
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How do you fix Welsh rugby? Sam Warburton previews round three of the Six Nations
1:04:23
1:04:23
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1:04:23Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are joined by Sam Warburton to preview round three of the Six Nations. They look at the issues facing Welsh rugby following Warren Gatland's departure and question how much of an impact the interim head coach Matt Sherratt will have on the squad. Plus they look ahead to the Calcutta Cup between England an…
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Gatland's gone! And is Fin Smith the next Wilkinson?
57:07
57:07
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57:07Warren Gatland has left his role as Wales' head coach in the middle of the Six Nations! Alfie, Will and Alex react to the bombshell news and also speak with Times columnist and former England forward Courtney Lawes. He chats about England's victory over France, his former club teammate Fin Smith and building upon victory. Mark Palmer reviews Scotla…
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England beat France to kickstart 6 Nations campaign
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32:15England beat France 26-25 in an exhilarating match at Twickenham to breath fresh life into their Six Nations campaign. Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher are in the stands to reflect on a massive victory for England. They ask what changed for them to be able to get over the line in a tight game, where it leaves Steve Borthwick's side headi…
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Fin and Marcus Smith start in "must win" game for England
43:47
43:47
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43:47Ahead of England hosting France at Twickenham in the Six Nations this weekend Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Will Kelleher react to the team selected by Steve Borthwick. They discuss Fin Smith starting at fly-half with Marcus Smith moving to full-back and ask the question of how big a match is this for England after their defeat to Ireland? Alfie al…
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6 Nations Round 1 review plus Ollie Chessum interview
59:27
59:27
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59:27Following the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations Alfie Reynolds and Will Kelleher review all the action and cast their eyes forward to this weekend. They're at England's training base where they speak with second-row Ollie Chessum about responding to defeat to Ireland and why England's bench continues to struggle making an impact. Mark Palmer pr…
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Following England's 27-22 defeat to Ireland in the opening round of the 6 Nations, Will Kelleher, Alex Lowe and Stuart Barnes react to another disappointing defeat for Steve Borthwick's side. They ask why they continually lose to the best sides in the world, what they can do to change their fortunes and what hope they have next week against France.…
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The 2025 Six Nations gets underway on Friday night as France host Wales in Paris. Shaun Edwards spent years with the Welsh team during Warren Gatland's first tenure and is now the French defence coach. He chats to Will Kelleher about his big milestone in this years championship, coaching Antoine Dupont, the struggles for rugby in Wales and what the…
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Ahead of the 6 Nations Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and Mark Palmer preview the 2025 championship. They go through each team and address the big questions! How will Ireland fare without Andy Farrell? Are France the favorites? Is it now or never for Scotland? How on earth will England get on? And will Italy versus Wales be the wooden spo…
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Is the Champions Cup less competitive than ever?
44:50
44:50
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44:50How many teams can truly win this year's Champions Cup? Following the conclusion of the pool stages Alfie Reynolds, Stuart Barnes and Peter O'Reilly look back on the action at the weekend and question whether anyone outside of Leinster, Toulouse or Bordeaux can win it. They discuss Beno Obano's red card for Bath in Dublin, whether out of the Englis…
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England 6 Nations squad - Steve Borthwick interview!
55:22
55:22
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55:22England have named their squad ahead of the 2025 6 Nations and Maro Itoje is the new captain, replacing Jamie George. Alfie, Will and Alex are at Twickenham to react to the squad and the change in captaincy. Plus, they're joined by head coach Steve Borthwick who explains why Itoje is the right man to now lead the team, whether the Premiership prepa…
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It's another week and another update on the future of RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney. Alfie is back from Australia so he and Will try to explain what is happening and whether Sweeney will survive the latest attempt to remove him. Plus, they look ahead to the final round of pool fixtures in the Champions Cup and England's 6 Nations squad, which wi…
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