For The Love Of Rugby

Could Sadia Kabeya play in any other position? Would Maud Muir rather play with a pillow or a watermelon? And who does Squidge pick for his Lions back row? 

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole's summer holiday is over and they've been treated to a thrilling weekend of rugby. The Rugby World Cup pool stages have come to a close with the Black Ferns impressing, Fiji claiming a memorable scalp over Wales and the Red Roses are tested by the Wallaroos. Meanwhile, a gripping Rugby Championship encounter in Auckland saw New Zealand's All Blacks hold firm against South Africa's Springboks, whilst Australia defeat Argentina at the death.

We're LOVING this World Cup. If you are too, you're probably hungry for more content. Introducing The Official Rugby World Cup 2025 Podcast presented by Asahi Super Dry.   Get ready for some chaotic fun, unfiltered anecdotes and questionable tangents as hosts Betty Glover and Anne Onwusiri chat with an incredible array of guests.   It's on every week throughout the tournament and you'll get unparalleled access.   Just search ‘Official Rugby World Cup podcast' on YouTube, in your favourite podcast app, or hit this link: https://podfollow.com/1836448584 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Could Hannah Botterman drop a goal for World Cup glory? Does Maud Muir prefer lineouts or scrums? And what's Sadia Kabeya's dream day off? For The Love Of Rugby answers your questions in this World Cup Special Q&A.

Ruby Tui and Shaunagh Brown are back with all the big talking points from Round Two of the Rugby World Cup. What's it like watching the England V Samoa game next to Lioness Chloe Kelly? Ruby was there to tell the tale… and if the final was tomorrow, who would Shaunagh and Ruby have in their starting XV? And for the Love of Portia Woodman Witcliffe… don't get Ruby started. Meanwhile, Ben Youngs breaks down England's backline with Red Roses Zoe Harrison and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald. Plus — does this Canadian side have what it takes to lift their first-ever Rugby World Cup? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ruby Tui and Shaunagh Brown are joined by Celia Quansah to break down the action from the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup – and look ahead to what's coming next. While celebrating Ruby's English initiation party, the trio give the inside scoop on England's next opponents Samoa, share what it's really like living with England centre Meg Jones, and of course… show some love to Scotland after their incredible performance last weekend.

Dan Cole has spent his summer writing a World Cup Quiz for your Bank Holiday entertainment. He's joined by Maud Muir, Ben Youngs, Squidge Rugby and Shaunagh Brown for the latest For The Love Of Rugby epic contest. Questions include: Which World Cup host city is the birthplace of the garden gnome? What are the names of John Mitchell's dogs?  And can you name every World Cup winning country, men's and women's, in reverse chronological order?

Ruby Tui and Shaunagh Brown debrief Engand's opening game at the Rugby World Cup against the USA. Ruby has a bone to pick about the opening ceremony, and has finally cracked the thinking behind England's most famous set piece. Meanwhile, the pair have plans of their own about how Team USA should be putting superstar Ilona Maher to better use... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Women's Rugby World Cup is finally here, and so is our bumper preview. Maud and Sadia join Shaunagh in the studio for one last hurrah before they head up to Sunderland for their opening game against the USA, and Squidge Rugby is in the building to break down the pools for us. FTLOR goes international as Shaunagh chats to Black Fern and World Cup Winner Ruby Tui, who also happens to be our newest recruit across our coverage this summer. Plus, Ben and Dan speak to England Captain Zoe Aldcroft about all things leadership, and Maud gives her mate a call — it's Ireland captain Sam Monaghan.

The Rugby Championship begins this weekend! South Africa's Springboks, New Zealand's All Blacks, Australia's Wallabies and Argentina's Pumas will all spend the next eight weeks locked in battle. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole will share everything you need to know about the greatest tournament the Southern Hemisphere has to offer. Plus, our (former!) Leicester Tigers team-mate and current Pumas captain Julián Montoya joins us for an unrivalled insight into his intrepid rugby journey, how a language barrier evolved his leadership and a deep dive into the current state of Argentinian rugby.

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are joined by England rugby star Maud Muir for a much needed moan about pre-season, PropSapp if you will. We learn about the Red Roses' gruelling build up to the home World Cup, brutal broncos, and the time Coley once played second-row in a women's team. Yes, really.

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole answer all your questions they couldn't fit in during the regular season. 

You thought the British & Irish Lions tour was over? Think again - it's never over! In today's episode, Ben Youngs & Dan Cole pick their XV for the first Test against New Zealand in 2029. And this totally won't look stupid in four years time...

Anthony Watson has finally dried out from the Sydney storm to join Ben Youngs and Dan Cole as they reflect on an ultimately successful 2025 British & Irish Lions tour. We decide our best moments of the series, vote for our player of the tour, and most importantly realise that Ant is going to come back from his trip to Australia a changed man...

Australia beat the British & Irish Lions in the final game of the 2025 series in a wild and stormy night in Sydney. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have joined forces in the For The Love Of Rugby virtual studio to discuss how the hosts defeated the tourists, what this means for the Wallabies, and why the Lions shouldn't be disappointed as they take home a 2-1 Test series victory.

Andy Farrell has named a relatively unchanged squad for the final Test of the British & Irish Lions tour as they look to complete an historic 3-0 series victory. Joe Schmidt is missing key forwards Rob Valetini and Allan Alaalatoa and shuffles his deck with Nic White making his final Wallabies appearance. Dan Cole & Ben Youngs analyse a potential shift in tactical approaches, the significance of this match for Australia, and just how those non-Test Lions will be feeling.

Andy Farrell enters the history books as the second coach in the 21st century to win a British & Irish Lions tour. In this episode, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole break down his masterplan that inspired the Lions to defeat Australia.

“Andy Farrell will want to bury Australia in style” - the words of Anthony Watson, fresh from the MCG, as he joins Ben Youngs and Dan Cole to review the second Lions test against the Wallabies. There is an historic whitewash on the table for the Lions this week, if they want it. And we think they do.

The British & Irish Lions have beaten Australia in one of the greatest Test matches in Lions history. Dan Cole and Ben Youngs have assembled in the For The Love Of Rugby virtual studio to discuss a reinvigorated Wallabies side, Hugo Keenan's magical winner, and the raucous celebrations that will ensue for Andy Farrell's history makers.

Andy Farrell has rung the changes ahead of the British & Irish Lions' second Test against Australia. Andrew Porter, Ollie Chessum and Bundee Aki are added to the starting XV, whilst James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Owen Farrell and Blair Kinghorn have made the bench. Joe Schmidt has largely stuck with the same XV for the Wallabies, with the physical additions of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, in addition to David Porecki slotting in at 2. Dan Cole & Ben Youngs analyse where the match will be won and lost in front of 100,000 fans at the MCG.

It's the last midweek match of the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia and Andy Farrell's squad were given a physical challenge at the hands of the First Nations & Pasifika XV. How did the Lions overcome their toughest touring opponent? Who will make Saturday's Test team? And Coley finally talks about the infamous "Geography 6"...

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are feeling the heat as they react to your comments and questions. They're joined by former Lions wing Anthony Watson, who is getting ready to leave Brisbane, after watching the British & Irish Lions beat Australia in the first test of the series. But, how convincing were the Lions? And do the Wallabies have any excuses?

Andy Farrell's British & Irish Lions go 1-0 up in the Test series against Australia's Wallabies after a convincing 27-19 victory in Brisbane's Subcorp Stadium. Dan Cole & Ben Youngs have gathered in the For The Love Of Rugby virtual studio to dissect a convincing victory and look ahead to the rest of the series.

After four long years, we are in a British & Irish Lions Test week! Andy Farrell has named his 23-man squad to face Australia. There's no room for Henry Pollock or Owen Farrell, but Tom Curry wins the race to the openside flanker jersey and Sione Tuipulotu partners Huw Jones in the centres. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are gathered in the virtual For The Love Of Rugby studio to react to the team. Plus, what to expect from Joe Schmidt's Wallabies and we take you inside the most hallowed of rugby environments as the Lions prepare to take to the Test arena.

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole answer your questions as the Lions reach test week. Another wonderful weekend of international rugby ends with England taking home a series victory against Argentina. Ben and Dan discuss Steve Borthwick's evolving style, George Ford's marvellous form, and the plethora of options in a stacked back row. Plus, Wales finally win a game, Rassie Erasmus is up to his usual tricks, and with Fiji beating Scotland we ask why they couldn't have faced the Lions in Australia.

The final British & Irish Lions match before their Test series against the Wallabies finishes in a comprehensive win for Andy Farrell's side. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have assembled on the whistle to share their insight into a professional team performance.

Squidge Rugby joins Ben Youngs and Dan Cole to react live to the British & Irish Lions' win over the Brumbies. As Andy Farrell continues to fine tune his Test team, Ollie Chessum looks set to start at 6, but the 7 debate has been blown wide open. Which centre partnership will start against the Wallabies? And how much of a worry is Kinghorn's injury?

Congratulations to George Ford who joins England's 100 club with an absolute masterclass as England win in Argentina. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole give their analysis of that game and answer your British & Irish Lions questions, two days after that pretty uninspiring performance against the Waratahs. 

Andy Farrell's Lions faced their toughest test yet on Australian soil as the New South Wales Waratahs kept them to a scrappy 21-10 victory on Saturday. Former Lions Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have assembled on the final whistle to unpack the action.

Sound the alarm! Ben Youngs and Dan Cole jump into podcast mode for the news that Owen Farrell is on his way to Australia. His Dad has also named the latest British & Irish Lions team to play the Waratahs on Saturday with an A-list front row and a new captain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Rory Best are team-mates again. This time to watch the Lions in action and bring you their reaction.

The Lions are on their way to Brisbane, potentially with a new scrum-half on the way. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole break down life on the road for rugby's greatest travelling circus as they fly four hours across Australia to face the Reds. They answer your questions, review the Top 14 final and South Africa's latest brutal victory.  To get 20% off your first Thriva blood test, click here: thriva.co and use the code LOVEOFRUGBY

The British & Irish Lions' first match on Australian soil ends in victory as Andy Farrell's side dispatch the Western Force in Perth. Ex-Lions Dan Cole & Ben Youngs are in the For The Love Of Rugby studio to bring you on-the-whistle insight and analysis of the win.

In 2013, the British & Irish Lions headed to Australia with the aim of winning their first tour in 16 years. This summer the Lions return Down Under and Tom Youngs, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs have finally shaken their hangovers and are finally ready to tell the inside story of the last great victorious, glorious and notorious victory.

Quite possibly our most requested guest ever joins today's podcast, it's Ben's brother Tom Youngs! A former Leicester Tigers captain, England hooker and Lions Test starter, Tom joins us in the For The Love Of Rugby studio to wind back the years with tales of Youngs youth, explain how he's become a viral farming influencer, and why he's accepted happiness in retirement.

The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour has begun! Andy Farrell's team may have suffered defeat in Dublin at the hands of a superb Argentina, but there are plenty of positives for the squad to take to Australia.

Not-so-fresh from a final end of season social, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are joined in the For The Love Of Rugby studio by their former Leicester Tigers skipper and current Pumas captain Julian Montoya to preview the first game of the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour against Argentina in Dublin.

It's the morning after the night before. A hungover Dan Cole & Ben Youngs are reunited at Welford Road, their home for two decades, to pore over Leicester Tigers' defeat to Bath Rugby in Saturday's Premiership Final.

Ahead of their final match as professional rugby players on Saturday's Premiership Final between Leicester Tigers and Bath, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole take you behind the scenes of the greatest day in domestic rugby. Join them at the team hotel and getting stuck in lifts, join them on the team bus and turning up late to Twickenham, follow them into the changing rooms and of course we'll hear about THAT Freddie Burns drop-goal.

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are not quite finished yet. In a nail-biting Premiership Playoff, Leicester Tigers clinched victory over Sale Sharks to join Bath Rugby in the final at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on Saturday. In this episode, you'll be taken inside what Michael Cheika said to his team at half-time, experience the raw final whistle emotions and hear from the one and only Freddie Burns!

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are back in the For The Love Of Rugby studio to take you inside Leicester Tigers camp as they prepare for their Premiership play-off against Sale Sharks on Saturday. Also, with news that a breakaway franchise league called R360 has emerged, we ask the question as to whether anyone actually wants another revolution in rugby.

Who is the Michael Jordan of the Leicester Tigers Last Dance season? Ben Youngs and Dan Cole give the inside story on an emotional day at Welford Road as they got to run on with their kids (and not George Martin), before a standing ovation as they walked off together after 43 minutes. Only to secure another home game next week in the semi-finals.  Plus Anthony Watson joins for the second half as we pick our ultimate Lions squad from the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours. Most of the players seem to get picked based on who's the best tourist. To get 20% off your first Thriva blood test, click here: thriva.co and use the code LOVEOFRUGBY