For The Love Of Rugby

Ben and Dan have jetted off to Dublin to chat with Ireland and Munster legend Peter O'Mahony! Peter reflects on his amazing career, upon the release of his new autobiography; All In Talk begins with Ireland's World Cup Frustrations in 2019 and 2023, and the key differences between playing under Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell. We couldn't have Mr Munster on the pod and not chat about his beloved region, with the highs of winning a URC and playing under the genius Rassie Erasmus, to a fiery end involving a pen being thrown at him. This, and plenty more, on the latest episode of For The Love Of Rugby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole review the opening round of the Prem season from Mattioli Woods Welford Road, moments before Ben takes to the pitch, one more time in the cross-code 745 game. To help fight MND, you can donate via: https://gloucesterrugbyfoundation.beaconforms.com/form/e05e1e10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are back at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium to speak to the game's biggest stars ahead of a the 2025/26 PREM season. Newcastle Red Bulls and Exeter Chiefs have received huge investment, so Christian Wade and Daf Jenkins share how rugby is changing. England captain Maro Itoje fills the boys in about his summer off and Freddie Steward has plenty of stories about his off-season. And defenders, watch out - Louis Rees-Zammit is back to his best. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of the 2025/26 PREM Rugby season, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium to speak to the game's biggest stars. Finn Russell shares his burning ambition to cement his legacy by winning domestic and international trophies, Fin Smith and George Ford take us inside their battle for the England fly-half jersey, Wales captain Jac Morgan discusses his recent transfer to Gloucester and Fin Baxter brings us inside his infamous meeting with the Princess of Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new era for the Scotland Women, camp witching hours, cool heads and a whole lot of Scotland Pride. All thanks to Vodafone, the official WXV Series Partner and partner of Scottish Rugby, we're going behind the jersey and getting to know Scotland Women, Rhona Lloyd, Sarah Bonar and Helen Nelson ahead of their game against New Zealands Black Ferns on Saturday. Vodafone are all about creating meaningful connections between players and fans, and if you want to win tickets to Scotland vs Australia on Sat 26th, click https://www.instagram.com/p/DdZL8oYqWYY/?stkn=dDBqNXA4OGI2Mmlj and enter before Tuesday 22nd 11:59pm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What REALLY happens on an England Rugby summer holiday?

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole react to South Africa's series-clinching 43-28 win in Baltimore, winning the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 3-1. As well as reacting to the match, the duo talk all things USA amid rumours Six Nations fixtures could be held there, ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup. Plus, a look at the Red Roses' WXV win over Australia, and the lads react to your comments after Steve Borthwick's England contract extension. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are joined by Robbie Owen from Squidge Rugby as they give their predictions for the 2026/27 PREM Rugby season. Ranking each of their top 10s, play-off winners, and a whole host of other awards predictions, the trio delve into what will be one of the most hotly anticipated season in recent history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England Rugby have announced that Steve Borthwick is set to extend his contract past the 2027 Rugby World Cup and until after the 2028 Six Nations. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole react to the news that the head coach will remain in the top job of English Rugby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Africa's Springboks have roared back against New Zealand to go 2-1 ahead in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole break down the action of another fascinating instalment in the series between the best sides in world rugby.

Join Ben Youngs and Dan Cole for a Special For The Love of CHAMP* Rugby Episode! The lads are joined by Hartpury's Will Crane, who by weekday is a Mortgage Advisor, and by weekend is a true CHAMP Warrior. From bus trips to players soiling themselves, from the gritty CHAMP to being thrown into the Champions Cup against Europe's elite, this episode has every angle of semi-pro rugby in England covered, and is one not to be missed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole dissect the action from the latest round of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series. Is Cheslin Kolbe the best player in the world right now? What's the beef between Rennie and Rassie at scrum time? And what to expect in Round 3? PLUS a conversation with the director of 'Lomu', the brand-new documentary about rugby's greatest star, ahead of the film's release on September 7th. Tickets now available via: lomu-doc.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England's Men's Player of the Year Joe Heyes joins Ben Youngs and Dan Cole in the For The Love Of Rugby studio to reflect on a whirlwind summer of rugby. In a season that began and ended in Argentina, Joe brings us inside an England camp that has endured huge highs and lows across the past 12 months. A fellow Leicester Tigers academy graduate, Joe reflects on his journey through the club under Coley's wing, building confidence through rugby, and almost becoming a professional footballer. This is a fascinating insight from one of modern rugby's great characters. Who knows, maybe we'll have to get him back on for a history podcast... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole review the opening round of the Greatest Rivalry series between New Zealand and South Africa, before revealing the reality behind Eddie Hearn's 1-million-pound plan for Pollock, Bath's reported move to Reading, and how Leicester's new kit has gone down with the old guard? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is here. South Africa host the All Blacks at Ellis Park this Saturday in the opening Test of their huge four-match series. As you'd expect, it's not exactly been a relaxed build-up to this monster series, with both Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie using the media to spin things in their favour. Dan Cole is joined by double World Cup-winning Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff for an unrivalled insight into the South African preparations as they prepare to face their greatest rivals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony Watson and Ben Youngs are back for another Greatest Rivalry debate! This time, they turn their attention to the next generation of rugby's No.10s, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu going head-to-head with New Zealand star Ruben Love. But the debate doesn't stop there… With a score of fly-halfs entering the conversation as wildcards, who really deserves to be ranked as the best of the bunch? From attacking ability and game management to big-match experience and future potential, the boys put rugby's leading fly-halves under the microscope. So, who would you pick at 10? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson return for another Greatest Rivalry debate! This time, they're looking at the back-row, with two iconic players going head to head, and this one gets heated. The question beckons, who is better; All Blacks talisman Ardie Savea, or two-time World Rugby player of the year, Pieter-Steph Du Toit? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson as they begin a BRAND NEW series over the Summer, with the Greatest Rivalry just around the corner. Comparing and debating the best players in the Springboks' and All Blacks' sides, up first we have the battle of the wingers; Will Jordan vs Cheslin Kolbe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are joined by Sale Sharks Co-Owner Michelle Orange to discuss what it's really like to own and run a professional rugby club. There was no topic off-limits, ranging from salary caps to chartering flights; this episode uncovers all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad, our friends from For The Love Of Cricket, have a treat for you! They've sat down with their former teammate and recently retired captain Ben Stokes for a worldwide exclusive podcast and they've given us a snippet.

Who is the best Rugby coach of the 21st century? Anthony Watson and Ben Youngs rank their 10 greatest rugby coaches, debating the masterminds who defined the modern era. From World Cup winners to revolutionary tacticians, the former England stars count down their definitive top 10 with plenty of debate along the way. Stand by for Dan Cole's "supercomputer", which throws a spanner in the works and ranks every coach using trophies, win percentage and a host of other stats to deliver its own verdict. The results throw up some huge surprises, including one coaching giant missing out on the top three entirely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony Watson and Ben Youngs rank the 10 best rugby players in the world right now - and the Nations Championship has changed everything. Fresh off the first stage of the Nations Championship, the ex-England internationals and British and Irish Lions settle the debate once and for all. The lads run through their definitive top 10, using the Nations Championship as the key benchmark. Expect strong opinions, plenty of disagreement, and a few names that might just surprise you.

South Africa's Springboks are possibly rugby's greatest ever international team. They've won two Rugby World Cups in a row, are coached by the genius of Rassie Erasmus and have a never-ending conveyor belt of destructive talent. How can they possibly be stopped? Well, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have parked their pink JAECOO on a rugby pitch in Northern England to find out... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first instalment of the inaugural Nations Championship is over. Has it been a success? That might depend on if Leandro Paredes can play for Argentina... Anthony Watson and Ben Youngs run the rule over international rugby's newest tournament, plus they pick their team of the tournament. New Zealand fans, we're sorry.

Ben Youngs is joined by Anthony Watson to debrief a feisty test match between Argentina and England in Round 3 of the Nations Championship. It's safe to say there is no love lost between these two teams in a game that featured 7 yellow cards and a potential equalising try ruled out for the hosts in the final seconds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Forget Maradona. Forget Messi. It's all about Montoya today. England face Argentina TWICE this week, but the Nations Championship is the real quiz, right? Ben Youngs and Dan Cole take a deep dive into one of rugby's proudest nations as they prepare to host England in Santiago del Estero on Saturday night. They've played with and against some of the most formidable characters in Argentine rugby history and now analyse the latest challenge for Steve Borthwick's men as they look to follow up their victory over Fiji with another win. Plus, we'll also preview the rest of the weekend's matches, headlined by a crunch clash between New Zealand and Ireland. Bring it on.

The second action-packed round of the Nations Championship has concluded and Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are here to analyse the games.

England return to winning ways after a convincing 73-8 rout of Fiji in Liverpool's Hill Dickinson Stadium in round two of the Nations Championship, with Henry Pollock grabbing a hat-trick. Dan Cole and Ben Youngs are podcasting from the stadium in their famous pink JAECOO 7. You'll also hear from new scrum-half convert Marcus Smith and debutant Noah Caluori.

Steve Borthwick has rung the changes as England Rugby face Fiji in round two of the Nations Championship at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. Henry Slade starts at 13, shifting Tommy Freeman to his preferred position on the wing. Guy Pepper also reclaims a starting berth in the back row. There are also potential debuts for Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Noah Caluori. Plus, with his defence of Steve Borthwick causing quite a stir with you, the listener, Ben Youngs puts your comments to Dan Cole.

England are searching for answers after another disappointing defeat. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole ask the big question: is Steve Borthwick under real pressure, and what needs to change? The lads also preview England's must-win clash with Fiji, break down the key battles to watch, and look ahead to a huge test for Scotland as they take on the world champion Springboks. Plus, every game in Round 2 of the Nations Championship.

The Nations Championship is finally here... and it didn't disappoint. Ben and Dan look back on a blockbuster opening weekend, from South Africa laying down a marker against England, to Ireland edging Australia, New Zealand and France serving up another classic, and Scotland running riot in Argentina. They pick out the players who caught the eye, the moments everyone will be talking about, and what it all means as the tournament starts to take shape. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole Rugby Masterclass: https://www.greshams.com/sitemap/ben-youngs-and-dan-cole-masterclass/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Springboks showed why they're the reigning world champions as they demolished England at Ellis Park in the opening round of the Nations Championship. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are on hand to analyse all the action of a match that reasserted the Springboks' dominance, but where does this leave England? ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe

Dan Cole and Robbie from Squidge Rugby react to the latest Springboks team announcement and dissect how England can counter their threats. Then it's time to preview Round 1 of the Nations Championship. With over 14 hours of rugby on Saturday, there's a lot to discuss, from predictions and key match-ups to speculation over Eddie Jones' whereabouts.  Big calls. Big opinions. Plenty of rugby chat. Let's get into it.

Rugby legends Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff take on the unenviable task of picking their combined Springbok-England squad.

This week a brand new international men's rugby tournament begins as the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere battle it out to see who takes the crown. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have analysed every single game in the competition. So you don't have to.

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole dial up Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff to get the lowdown on how the Springboks are gearing up to host England in the Nations Championship next week. The hosts of our sister podcast, For The Love Of Rugby South Africa, share an unrivalled insight into how Rassie Erasmus operates, deep dives into their key players, and why Henry Pollock is living rent-free in Johannesburg.

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are joined by a victorious Henry Pollock, Fin Smith and George Furbank to review a PREM Final that saw Northampton Saints win their second title in three years after overcoming a gritty Exeter Chiefs side. The pair also react to the England XV loss to a France XV on Friday night, Leinster's second consecutive URC crown and the Hurricanes blow the Chiefs out of the water in Super Rugby. Plus, Ealing Trailfinders back row Sally Williams joins the pod to preview their PWR final against Saracens next week and how she juggles rugby with her job at Mitsubishi Electric. ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe

England and Lions star Henry Pollock joins Ben Youngs and Dan Cole on For The Love Of Rugby to preview Saturday's huge PREM Final between Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs. And, more importantly, if he's DM'd Olivia Dean after a certain viral video did the rounds after their playoff victory against Leicester Tigers. We also hear from Head Coach Sam Vesty and previous Saints title-winner Curtis Langdon as to how the league leaders are building to the season finale. Plus, Steve Borthwick has named an England XV squad that includes Max Ojomoh and omits Ben Spencer and Ollie Lawrence; and can Handre Pollard's Bulls side defeat Leinster in Friday's URC Final at Croke Park?

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole break down Exeter Chiefs' comeback win over Bath Rugby, Northampton Saints' victory over Leicester Tigers, the key moments that decided both games, and which team has the momentum ahead of the PREM Final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson have squeezed into their old England tuxedos and donned a pink bow tie as they host a star-studded podcast at the Rugby Awards, celebrating the best players from England, PREM Rugby and the PWR. In this episode, you'll hear from the PREM Player of the Season Tom Willis, England legends Meg Jones and Ben Earl, breakthrough talents Noah Caluori and Archie McParland, Directors of Rugby Geoff Parling and Pat Lam, and rugby's greatest wordsmith Max Lahiff. ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole break down all the weekend's rugby action as the PREM reached its conclusion, the URC semi-finals provided a huge shock and Andy Farrell committed his future to Ireland until 2031. ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole reassemble in the For The Love Of Rugby virtual studio to pick over a big week of rugby news. Shaun Edwards has left his post as defence coach at France, could England be his next employer? In more coaching news, Leinster's South African assistant Jacques Nienaber made an explosive attack on the media which raises the question - are the club in crisis? Plus, the PREM enters its final round and Worcester Warriors win the Champ! ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe