Maul or Nothing

It's finals carnage and Lions fever on this week's Maul or Nothing!We break down Bath's historic Premiership treble, after their 23–21 win over Leicester — was this Finn Russell's finest club performance, and how uncharacteristic of Handré Pollard! Van Graan's rebuild is complete, and the scenes after the final whistle are pure Bath.Over in Dublin, Leinster obliterate the Bulls 32–7 at a rain-soaked Croke Park. Jordie Barrett doing Jordie Barrett things, Ryan Baird went beast mode, and Nienaber's defence turned Leinster into absolute monsters.

This week on Maul or Nothing:•Max Lahiff reveals the brutal story behind his broken leg injury

Bristol Bears are into the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals after seeing off Harlequins — and the boys break down what it means ahead of a fiery West Country showdown vs Bath. Has Pat Lam just thrown down the gauntlet?We've got full reaction to the Premiership final round, including:•

The boys are coming to you from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with live reactions to the incredible European Champions Cup Final between Union Bordeaux Bègles and Northampton Saints!While Ryan was working hard, shining on the biggest stage in Club Rugby, Max and Marc…were also there…watching…recovering from the night before and preparing for the night to come...The boys chat about the tries, the disallowed tries, the yellows, the maybe could have been reds, the injuries and the incredible support that both teams brought…it was some day! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So it'll all go down to the final weekend in the Prem. The boys break down Saints stunning Sarries at the death and what it means for the top 4 race. Are we witnessing the end of an era? Could it be the first time since 2009 (relegation aside) that Saracens do not contest the play offs????Plus:Mini Max returns (with maximum chaos)the Inside scoop on Sale vs BristolRekeiti Ma'asi-White – the breakout baller?URC Roundup & Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu watchYet another near-death story from Wilsoni (seriously, how is he alive?)Lions training camp drama and a big residency bombshellArdie Savea crowned, Super Rugby chat, and Les Kiss joins the Wallabies circusWait… Red Bull Newcastle?!Champions Cup preview and YOUR Lions takesNo filter. No mercy. Just pure rugby mayhem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

his week on Maul or Nothing: big hits, big calls, and even bigger questions.Max's Bears brought the fireworks — a harsh yellow, some bone-rattling carries, and Bristol's defence turning savage with Beaver and Big Bill Mata dishing out serious punishment. Somehow, Ciaran Donaghue bounced back like he's made of plasticine.Bristol's playoff hopes? It's in their own hands now... Meanwhile, Leicester roll out the red (and smoky) carpet for Geoff Parling's return as head coach — a savvy move from the Tigers.In the URC, Glasgow got ambushed by Benetton, Sacha Feinberg went viral, and Jac Morgan earned huge praise from Siya Kolisi after their battle.But the meatiest debate? Lions selection. With more Kiwis than Welshmen in the squad, is the Lions' identity being eroded? Or is this just rugby's new reality?Plus: Who fills those final Lions spots? Farrell? Feyi-Waboso? What about Doris?All that and more — right here on Maul or Nothing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British & Irish Lions 2025 squad is out — and it's already stirring up drama.The Maul or Nothing crew dive into the biggest talking points:•Two shock inclusions nobody saw coming•Major omissions that have fans (and Ryan) fuming•Andy Farrell's first test as Lions coach — how did he do?•And yes, we discuss how many more Scots should have made itIt's unfiltered, mildly outrageous, and very Maul or Nothing. No mercy, no PR fluff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

INSIDE the Leinster vs Northampton EPIC | Rory Hutchinson, Fin Smith, Henry Pollock & Fraser Dingwall REACTWhat a blockbuster we've got for you this week on Maul or Nothing! We sit down with Northampton Saints and Scotland centre Rory Hutchinson to go deep inside that unbelievable Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster Rugby.Hutch breaks down how Saints pulled off one of the biggest upsets in European rugby, revealing what changed from last year's semi-final heartbreak to this year's triumph. From being written off by everyone to pulling together as a squad—was that Leinster loss in 2024 exactly what this group needed?We've also got exclusive post-match reactions from Fin Smith, Henry Pollock, and Fraser Dingwall, as Ryan gets the immediate scoop straight from the pitch.What's Henry Pollock really like behind the scenes? Is he ready for a British & Irish Lions call-up? And what happened when he went head-to-head with Josh van der Flier?Plus:•Is Tommy Freeman really the “space cadet” Courtney Lawes says he is?•How did Fin Smith handle the showdown with Sam Prendergast?•Who won the battles at 7, 9, 10, and the wing in this potential Lions selection shootout?We also look ahead to the Champions Cup Final vs Bordeaux—how do Saints plan to stop stars like Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey?And don't miss our Alternative Lions Preview:•Which former Lion gets dragged out of retirement?•Who's the weirdest tourist-in-waiting?•Who's destined to become everyone's best mate?Hit subscribe, smash the like button, and ring the bell—because we've got a special midweek episode dropping with our hot takes on the Lions squad announcement you won't want to miss! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the boys run the rule over the business end of the Premiership and URC as teams vie for the top 4 and top 8 respectively....We hear from Max after Bristol's hopes are dented with defeat at Northampton. While commentators are all saying Alex Mitchell better pack his bags for Australia... but what to the boys think?They also pick over the embers of Exeter's capitulation at Gloucester and the subsequent fallout with coaches fired and owners reading the riot acts....But has Tomos Williams's outstanding performance earned him a ticket down under?Leicester roar to victory over a Quins side that seem to have suffered a case of the yips while the mighty Sale slay Saracens... Another commanding performance from George Ford.... why is he not in the mix or in the conversation for Lions recognition and should he be?Meanwhile in the URC, the unstoppbale juggernaut Leinster losing to the Scarlets... how much of a shock is that (it was their second team) and does Ryan Wilson finally, begrudgingly, admit that they haven't peaked too soon and they wont care a jot about this loss?And what about the Warriors losing at home to the Bulls? The boys wax lyrical about the man mountain that is Jan-Hendrik Wessels....We then turn out attentions to the Champions Cup semi finals..... who do we think will get a chance to go for gold in Cardiff on the 24th May?Head over to www.debra.org.uk to support this incredible charity!As always, like subscribe and enjoy!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to be joined by Gloucester, England and British & Irish Lions winger Christian Wade to talk through his phenomenal career.First up his big move to Rugby League and the Wigan Warriors!! He talks us through the secret conversations and covert meetings and what he thinks will happen when he's there.Then it's onto his incredible move to the NFL, life as a football player, that first touchdown and how Rugby players differ to NFL players in mindset.Then we're back to tryscoring records in the Prem and whether it's possible to get to that top spot....We also have time to chat about the fastest players in rugby, training with Henry Arundell and the crazy 48 hours being called up for the Lions and then being out on the field having flown from Argentina via Chile to Australia!The boys also have a chance to discuss the outrageous news that Rieko Ioane is joining Leinster! who saw that coming?And what about Johnny Sexton being called up for the Lions as a coach? Is that a good call, is that even fair to coaches who have dedicated their entire lives aspiring to that role.... and what of Sexton's beef with Finn Russell how will that affect things???And finally the big news on the Premiership restructure and the whispers of Saudi Arabian momeny coming in!Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys are delighted to welcome Bordeaux and Wallaby back rower Pete Samu to take us through a gripping encounter with Munster.We hear all about how the match ebbed and flowed and what it's really like playing and training with Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey...Also Maxime Lucu needs to lean into his Jason Statham more often!We hear about life in Bordeaux, the scars from last years devastating loss to Toulouse in the Top 14 final and how theyre approaching the semi final against their archrivals!Meanwhile Ryan relives the horror show that was Glasgow's mauling at the hands of an unstoppable Leinster...Since Bath led 21-19 at half-time in round four of the competition, Leinster have not conceded a solitary point; 200 minutes played, 142 points for, none against. Who on earth can halt their march to the Champions Cup. Also Jordie Barratt is a rugby cheat code....But at least Ryan was able to ask Leo Cullen if Leinster have peaked too early!We also break down a riveting contest between Toulon and Toulouse while the Saints go marching on!Friend of the show Fin Smith pulling the strings as always and young Henry Pollock grabbing the headlines (as always!)The boys work out that he shares far too many similarities with a certain Ryan Wilson.... oh no!Reviews and predictions incoming as well!Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As an apology for our tardiness and general chaotic holidays over the last couple of weeks we've brought you a special treat in the form of England and Saints superstar fly half Fin Smith.We hear how Fin and his young teammates took on the Clermont giants are now the lone Premiership club in Europe's premier cup competition.Fin takes us through the game, Tommy Freeman's hattrick and more importantly the phenom that is Henry Pollock.Who teases Pollock every day about going to the Lions and what do Fin and Henry rib each other about.From a personal perspective we hear about the battle for England's number 10 shirt and how Jonny Wilkinson's presence has been a complete game changer for Fin.Fin also takes us through those dramatic moments as England beat France in the Six Nations and how he's fitted into the squad as a whole.And what about the Lions? has anyone of the Saints potential contingent mentioned the dreaded L word?There's also time to go through all the matches from the Champions Cup as well as previewing the Quarter Finals.Thank you for your patience everyone, but we are back!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the boys are scattered all over the place, Ryan is Turnberry, Max is in Cornwall and Marc is in Les Arcs.... so yet again another apology for a delayed episode. Theyve promised that next week everything is back to normal!We hear from Max after that bruising defeat against Gloucester. Max reckons Seb Atkinson was Jonah Lomu, just bumping people for fun while Tomos Williams showed all the skills of Steph Curry. That said Max did get himself a meat pie so every cloud eh.....We get the boys thoughts on Henry Pollock as he picks up his first Premiership try and what a try it was! However they put the skids on any Lions thoughts. Not because he's not good enough but more because the competition is just so intense in the back row. (Does he play prop?)We also look ahead to the Champions Cup round of 16 this weekend with some big ties to look forward to including the ROG derby between La Rochelle and Munster.We also hear what actually went down in Hong Kong as Ryan hung out with an array of the worlds biggest Rugby stars.Enjo! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First things first we're sorry!The show is late this week and there's only one reason for it…. Ryan Wilson… surprise surprise. He's kept everyone waiting by going on a massive bender in Hong Kong and therefore left Max and Marc hanging for 2 days. We do get him for about 2 mins with John Barclay and Niko Matawalu in a club

This episode is sponsored by NordVPNEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal DISCOUNT CODE ➼ go to nordvpn.com/maul our link will give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. There's no risk with Nord's 30 day money-back guarantee!The Big Man is back! Emmanuel Meafou gives us the inside track on Super Saturday, winning the Six Nations at the Stade de France and the celebrations afterwards.We hear how the France squad dealt with the devastating Antoine Dupont injury.... the nickname for the French Bombsquad and what Shaun Edwards did to psych the lads up before the must win match against Scotland! (It's not what you think!!)We also get a full round up of the Six Nations as a whole and how each country performed! Who are the standout players from each nation!Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by Factory Weights!Head to factoryweights.co.uk put in the code STAYSTRONG and you can get yourself 15% off!!! There's a great sale on right now so jump on over!We're delighted to be joined by Scotland Superstar Sione Tuipulotu to break down all the biggest talking points from another fabulous weekend of Six Nations Action.We're going to be honest Max, Ryan and Sione had a massive massive day out at Murrayfield and are reaping what they sowed in a celebrity filled Six Nations blur on Saturday.While trying to keep everything on track we get the lowdown from the boys following Scotlands sublime slash squeeky bum performance against Wales… Why is it that Gregor's men always seem to make things hard for themselves in a match they seemed to be cruising.And what about events over in Dublin…. France majestic as they put an end to Ireland's grand slam hopes in the most emphatic and season defining style.Even without the injured Antoine Dupont the French juggernaut just steamrolled a shellshocked Ireland side.The biggest question is though…. will Scotland throw the game against France to ensure it's the Gallic brethren that lift the trophy rather than the auld enemy…. England need to navigate a tricky trip to the Principality to take on a Welsh side desperate to salvage their tournament….We also get stuck into Sione's life, how his dad made Sione and his brother join his local club so the 3 could play together, even though there was somewhat of an age gap.And what is Sione's dream playing destination?lots of fun as always and thanks for tuning in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by NordVPNEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal DISCOUNT CODE ➼ go to nordvpn.com/maul our link will give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. There's no risk with Nord's 30 day money-back guarantee! The lads look ahead to a blockbuster weekend of Six Nations action.....Ryan makes absolutely bewildering predictions but the boys all agree that Ireland vs France will be an epic battle that is too close to call.... The boys gives us an insight into How important emotional energy is as Dublin bids farewell to the Ireland greats Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy.... On the French side is Fabien Galthie picking naughty naughty Ntamack or Turnstile tackling Thomas Ramos?Ryan and Max are both going to be up at Murrayfield for the Scotland vs Wales clash.... and according to Ryan if all falls into place.... Scotland will win by 25 points... there's patriotism and there's mildly moronic... or will Mystic Meg Ryan make the other two look foolish?And rounding off the weekend at Twickenham will be England vs Italy... Max tries to foresee the style of play that England will bring.. Will it be the box kicking bores who beat Scotland… or the team that scored 7 tries in total against Ireland and France?What about Italy can they finally beat the English for the first time in their history....We are also treated to Max's meal plan and Ryan preparing himself for the British and Irish Legends tour... Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by NordVPNEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal DISCOUNT CODE ➼ go to nordvpn.com/maul our link will give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. There's no risk with Nord's 30 day money-back guarantee! So it finally happened England have regained the Calcutta Cup. Despite conceding more tries, missing more tackles, less possession, less territory, less metres carried, less line breaks, less tackle breaks and less offloads, they beat Scotland to prove stats matter less than points. Max and Ryan go head to head in the feelings around this one.Winning is winning right?What about the Tommy Freeman try? Doesnt matter as long as the ref thinks you scored!At the end of the day, despite The Afrikaner Android that is Duhan Van der Merwe's best efforts it wasnt to be for Scotland. That said should big Dwayne have tried to get it closer to the posts to helps Finn Russell for that final missed kick??? Maro "the octopus of chaos" Itoje and his Red Roses won't care, just ask Max he was out with them after the match and gives us the lowdown on the partying.Listen out for the sheer volume of name drops from Ryan and Max after their day (and night) out in London. A who's who of rugby royalty.Over in Cardiff a resurgent Wales produced their best performance for a very long time to put the heebie-jeebies up the Irish. Ultimately, Ireland doing what they do best, winning. Can anyone stop the green army marching towards a second grand slam in 3 years? Over to you France!Speaking of the French... how many of you claimed Antoine Dupont was human because of 1 below his superlative standards performance against England…. Demi God Dupont activated in a absolutely harrowing match for the Italians.... The French are cooking, round 4 looks like the tournament decider in Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Episode is sponsored by NordVPNEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/maul Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guaranteeour link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. In this weeks show the boys look ahead to Round 3 of the Six Nations and some tasty ties to look forward to.It's a new dawn for Wales, new head coach in Matt Sherratt, some new faces and hopefully a new result for them. But is there a more daunting task in world rugby right now than the Irish coming to town?The boys discuss the Irish weaknesses (hint: there are none) and their mindset as they look to continue their barnstorming Six Nations tournament so far.Meanwhile Ryan will be down at Twickenham for the Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland…. The Scots hoping to make it five wins in a row but the English are riding a wave of optimism after beating France at the death in round 2.How do the boys see this one shaping up? How are the Scottish boys feeling after that chastening defeat at the hands of the mighty Irish? Ryan is worried but always picks his heart above his head…. Can Scotland put in that performance that continues this stranglehold they have over England these last few years?And finally France head to Rome to take on the Italians buoyed by that impressive win over Wales. Which France will we see? The one who couldn't catch a train when it mattered against England or the one that battered Wales? Surely Antoine Dupont can't be human two games in a row?We also hear about Max's week having beaten Bath and the existential crisis he's having with not being a slave to the rugby schedule while Ryan went on a competing podcast. We hear how his Trojan horse attempt worked out!Enjoy!!NordVPN code: https://nordvpn.com/maul Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the victory they craved, the victory they needed, the victory they deserved and the victory they delivered...England have finally beaten a tier 1 nation and delivered a win that finally puts the Borthwick doubters back in their seats... Or has it? What do the boys think?Test rugby is a game of fine margins and how much luck was involved with France seemingly playing all the rugby but with a sadomasochistic contempt for the try line.... Dupont is human after all....Who were the stand out performers? Who has helped their Lions cause no end?The boys single out Tom Curry for praise but the highest accolades are sent the way of Fin Smith. Has the fly half debate been settled?What actually happened to France?Over at Murrayfield Ireland were serving up the blueprint for away wins in the Six Nations according to Ronan O'Gara. Absolutely dominating a strangely subdued Scotland team.On this form does anyone bet against them to march to a grand slam in style?And what a win for Italy....Wales didn't feel like a scalp..... More the new order….. But what of Wales? Is there any light at the end of the tunnel... can they take any benefits from their first loss at the Stadio Olimpico in their history?The boys give you a full round up of a dramatic round of Six Nations Rugby.. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by Factory Weights!Head to factoryweights.co.uk put in the code STAYSTRONG and you can get yourself 15% off!!! There's a great sale on right now so jump on over!What a treat we have for you all this week. We're joined by none other than Scotland Centre and purveyor extraordinaire of tries Huw Jones.Huw takes through the triple meat pie and the “it's happening again” moment when Italy drew level at 19-19. But there's a new found resilience to the Scots and ultimately they did everything they needed to do to pick up the 5 points. First banana skin avoided!We hear Huw's thoughts on what's going on inside the Scotland camp but also have a chance to beat his wild journey to the top. Some real sliding doors moments that might never have seen the dynamo Midas centre hit the highs of winning the URC or winning over 50 caps for his country. And what about the other games?Close and no cigar seems to be a recurring theme for England but this was more comprehensive. Beaten soundly by the Green machine. Ireland showing no signs of being Dads army actually accelerating through the gears in the latter stages. Ireland vs France sure promises to be an absolute blockbuster. But what of the English? What does Steve Borthwick do? all questions wonderfully answered by the boys.We also go through the Wales nadir against France in Paris. Rarely has there been a more one sided game in recent years in the six nations. What can Warren Gatland do?France through purring like a well oiled machine despite injuries and a very callow side they blew the Welsh away!We also hear from the lads Max gives us his take on being destroyed by an almost entire Wallaby side as Bristol are taught a heavy lesson against the Queensland Reds. Silver lining though… Max scored a try!It's another blast with the boys enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the big preview show!The boys look ahead to the most tantalising of Six Nations tournaments. What are each team's chances?Can England be the kingslayers in Dublin? Or will the wily men of the Emerald Isle defy some outrageous soothsaying of their temporal demise…. (Over the hill….) Will the Super Maro Borthers team do the double against Ireland?Can France refind their va va voom, lost last year in an underwhelming campaign? The return of Antoine DuPont and Romain Ntamack is ominous for those who dare dream of beating Les Bleus…What about Scotland? Can they overcome losing their talisman and captain (and all round legendary bloke) Sione Tuipolotu. Can their forwards front up and lay the platform for their supercharged star studded back line?And what of the Italians…. This is surely their time! Powered by their majestic midfield duo of Brexoncello (Brex + Menoncello, just in case you didn't get it) the most passionate of captains in (friend of the show) Michele Lamaro and a core of the Benetton squad who just beat La Rochelle to seal their place in the Champions Cup knock outs….. The future looks Azurri!Which brings us to Wales…. As Yazz once sung… “The Only Way Is Up”. After the most crushingly poor autumn nations series and a record losing streak some of the big guns are finally back. Lions heroes Liam Williams and Josh Adams are where they belong to bring some fire, guile and most importantly, experience to a young talented group.Tasty tasty tasty tasty.The boys also whip round the Prem and URC and verbally joust as always.Enjoy and we love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys welcome England and Sale all action back row hero Ben Curry to get his thoughts on the Champions Cup weekends most outrageous piece of skill from a forward.... Visibly awkward at winning player of the match every week and even player of the month we hear about what was going through his head in that fabulous victory over Toulon.He also takes us through nilling Max's Bristol, playing for England with his twin brother Tom Curry (they were on the field for 1 second together....)Being identical does Ben ever step in for Tom? (answer yes...)Who is faster out of the twins? and do the players get confused with them around.Its also time to celebrate Max Lahiff after reaching 100 caps for Bristol. What a man, what a landmark. He deserves all the plaudits and also tributes from players and the MoN team.There's also time to talk through all the Champions Cup matches as the Round of 16 is decided plus the six nations squad announcements are here....Maro Itoje New England CaptainPrendergast vs Crowley - Ireland's old guardWales and Fly halvesThere's also time for Max to give a touching tribute to his friend Anthony Watson who has decided to retire from rugbyEnjoy and as always... we love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The lads are mostly back but are rolling a man down this week as Marc takes to the skies...in first class of course...and so Ryan and Max are delighted to be joined by Bath and England's midfield maestro Ollie Lawrence!They talk tiktok vlogs (https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielawrence13), Fortnite vs COD, and Marcus vs 'the Muscle'!They also cover a bit of rugby; from a Champions Cup review to anxious waits for 'the call' and an insiders 6 Nations preview!Are Ireland waning? Is this Scotland's year? Can England do them a favour? And who will be the bolters when Borthers...sorry Steve...announces his squad??Plus Ryan makes his latest, locked-in, absolutely final, Champions Cup predictions and Max reveals which player is fuelled by the absolute belief that he's an 80s action hero! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!After a quick holiday hiatus the boys are back to discuss the last few weeks of rugby and rest and ridiculous New Years resolutions.Most importantly though Which Agent Smith should be England's key lynchpin for the 6 nations... Magic Marcus with another 18 point haul against Newcastle or all singing all boshing Fin with a performance masterclass to take down the Prem leaders Bath?The boys round up the weekends action including Bristols dire couple of weeks plus theres a lookahead to the tastiest of ties in the Champions Cup...La Rochelle vs Leinster anyone? Or how about Dupont, Toulouse vs Eben and the superstars at the Sharks? Almost a France vs South Africa rematch from the World Cup....Apart from that Ryan explains his ridiculous attempt at not wearing shoes, Max's new years resolutions and why Tom Willis is an absolute rugby warlord Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the Christmas special!This year, the boys are joined by Bristol Bears flyer Gabriel Ibitoye, bringing some extra holiday cheer and rugby chat. And, of course, to give it that Fijian flair—because we are the official unofficial Fiji podcast—Ryan's old team mate and friend of the show, Niko Matawalu, is back (just about) to add to the festive fun!From worst Secret Santa stories to Niko's Christmas chaos, there's no shortage of laughs. Plus, Marc brings his signature touch with some curious venue and gift decisions!Tune in for some epic exchanges, hilarious banter, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit. Whether you're listening or watching on YouTube, this is the perfect episode to get you in the holiday mood. Merry Christmas to one and all!Use the code MON10 at absoluterugby.co.uk for 10% off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Head to absoluterugby.co.uk for all your Christmas rugby needs, with the code MON10 for 10% off.We're delighted to be joined by Saints and England star, Tommy Freeman, fresh off the plane from a fabulous win in South Africa over the Bulls.The flying winger talks us through the altitude, King Troll Henry Pollock, some serious niggly play, hearing some pretty harsh heckling, how enjoyable the win was but also just how beautiful South Africa is.He also runs us through his England experience so far, looking ahead to the Six Nations and what its been like having so many of his Saints mates in the squad with him.We also dissect the Bristol Bears Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle and how it went for Max when he was supposed to just be a substitute..... the mindset shift and joking around with Will Skelton. Also what was that Jack Nowell finish?!?What did they get up to after the match and which players led the charge in La Rochelle....Ryan was non stop punditing at the Champions Cup... what was it like watching Max in a Dublin pub... and how did Benetton manage to hold on for the win over Bath trying to do everything to lose that!The boys also give a full round up of the Champions Cup including the failure of all the South African sides to pick up a win. Do they want to be in this competition? Do they care? Is it better than Super Rugby for the Saffa sides?We hear all the hot takes from the fellas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a very special episode of Maul or Nothing with the boys all making their way to Bristol for the Bears Champions Cup clash with the mighty men of Leinster.Max is starting and Ryan is as close as you can be to him working as a pitchside pundit/reporter. The boys manage to have a lovely interview together before the battle commences!While the game doesnt go Max's way he does score Bristol's opening try and generally puts in a barnstorming performance, earning several scrum penalties against his international calibre opponents.Post match we can humbly say that the boys tread the fine line between annoyingly persistent and endearingly pushy to perfection securing interviews with several stars including Jordie Barrett, Ilona Maher, Harry Randall, Harry Thacker and Mike McCarthy. Without a doubt the highlight of the day (citation needed) for each of these lovely people.....And then the boys are finally reunited together in the same room to take us through the rest of the Champions Cup results while seemingly unable to contain their excitement at being back together doing what they do best.Enjoy and as always... We love you!!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Autumn Internationals done and dusted its back to the league clashes as Max's Bristol Bears put on a delicious display or running rugby to outshine Joe Marler on his big day.But what about the build up, how do rugby players get ready for such big matches? Nandos? Did you say Nandos? In any case the game was amazing but what happened between Gabi Ibitoye and Joe Marler? We break down a fabulous contest at the Stoop.We also put the final test match between Ireland and Australia under the microscope. Have Ireland peaked? Who was the Wallabies Man of Tour? Can Prendergast and Crowley ever emulate Johnny Sexton? Do Ireland deserve to make up the bulk of the Lions? Questions that need to be answered.Then it's onto a round up of the Premiership with some big couple of results while over in the URC, Edinburgh almost blow a 35 point lead... Plus friend of the show Adam Hastings suffers a nasty injury, which makes us sad.Then the big one.... It's the Maul or Nothing Champions Cup Preview and there are some seriously tasty ties to look ahead to... From a biased perspective none more so than Bristol vs Leinster where the boys will finally be reunited.We even have a chance to discuss the RFU Bill Sweeney pay scandal.Lots of lols and lots of love for listening and watching. We love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to be joined by Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu to discuss the big result of the weekend as Scotland saw off a resurgent Wallabies to end their Home Grand Slam dreams.We hear all about the surprise appearance of Scotlands newest star.... Sione's granny, who flew in to surprise him.Also what about that hit from Joseph Suaalii.... "felt like someone had climbed through my body" and there was a serious load of spiciness out on the pitch with serious amounts of niggle.Whats it like for Sione to play the country where he grew up and how did he become the chatter in chief against many of his friends on the Wallaby side.We hear from Ryan who was at the game as a pundit and the celebrations after the match.We round up all the Autumn Nations matches from the penultimate weekend and provide a state of the union for the different countries... South Africa are the worlds most dominant team..... what about a hypothetical match with France?What can Wales do next? Fiji feelings after a the tour... Sam Cane's last match, the most passionate captains, Australia's stand out performers and plenty more.....And what about England? What have we learned, let's see how Max can describe their current status in the most eloquent way of course...Above all thank you for listening and watching and don't forget to like and more importantly comment!!! We love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got the biggest rugby player in the world, literally, Emmanuel Meafou to take us through that record equalling 3rd consecutive France win over New Zealand.What was that Haka like, why did their requests for jersey swaps get turned down and how tough a match was that?Emmanuel also takes us through his incredible journey from Australian rugby reject to France's superstar second row. He also explains why he turned down the NFL, why he's so grateful to be putting on the french jersey and how even a last minute call from Eddie Jones wasnt going to change his mindLegend of a man!The boys also take us through the rise of the Wallabies as they deconstructed Warren Gatlands Wales and turned them into statistically the worst Welsh side of all time.Whats gone wrong? Who's to blame?Conversely they also dive into whats gone Tom Wright for the Wallabies and how good its been seeing a bounce back in the step of the Aussies.There's a good chat on Ireland's controversial win over Argentina.... is it the end of the green northern hemisphere domination or just a blip.Plenty more as well as usual including Max's fiercely contested Wolfcraig Autumn Nations team of the week....Enjoy and as always thanks for listening and watching. We love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holy hecker what a lot to unpack on an absolutely packed out show.We are delighted to be joined by All Black superstar Caleb Clarke to take us through beating Ireland in Dublin, how quickly Rieko threw the burn of the century on the Irish but what he actually thinks of Johnny Sexton.He also gives the All Black insight on how the haka leader gets picked and why it had to be Rieko Ioane.... also which did he enjoy more beating the English or the Irish....As if that's not enough we then have Wallaby wonderback Tom Wright on that phenonemal win for Australia over England....What did the Wallabies think when Jamie George is captured on big screen grinning as it looked as though England had won the match at the death... We find out about wonderkid Joseph "Sue" Suaalii...,. Apparently he'd never picked up a rugby ball before Saturday which made his performance all the more fascinating....Tom relives that last passage of play and how far theyve been pushing Sue and Angus Bell's buttons on tour...Also will with real Joe Schmidt please Stand up....So much to talk about and so little time to do it in.... the boys talk through Wales amateur hour, Fiji being awesome and a missed opportunity for Scotland but then again The Springboks don't really ever lose when it matters right.... As always thank you our wonderful fans for supporting us. We love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sorry we've been away for a week but all will be explained in the pod.... The boys are back to break down the utterly fascinating clash between England and New Zealand as well as a far more one sided affair as Scotland and Fiji went head to head at Murrayfield.So, what do the fellas think of all the mud being thrown at George Ford? Is it warranted (it's not) what positives can this team take from another loss to the All Blacks. Is Steve Borthwick to blame for the defeat by trying not to lose rather than trying to win with his substitutions?What about New Zealand, is there a slipperier winger in world rugby right now than Mark Tele'a. How will the kiwis deal with taking on Ireland on Friday?Lots of hot takes on the early England celebrations (surprise surprise Ryan and Max disagree vehemently), whether the new trial laws are working and above all the hooha from the Haka controversy.Up in Scotland it was a much easier ride for the hosts, who thrashed an out of sorts Fiji team that had Ryan Willisonni as conflicted as you'll ever see him... especially as he was spotted in the official Fiji Autumn Internationals team photos (WTF?!!?)The new duel between the double DD's..... Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham.... the record extenders and also an absolutely filthy piece of skill from our old pal Adam Hastings.But what next for Fiji, will the big guns returning manage to reunite our favourite second nation?and how about the Danny Care book spilling all the beans on the Eddie Jones era.... we'd heard a few anecdotes on the show but what do the boys think about all the revelations?Lots of fun to be had, we hope you enjoy it and as always, thanks for listening and watching we love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Euphoria last week to despair at the death for Max and his Bristol gang against the wily Saracens, they might be new look but their results are old school.We get the boys takes on the new 20 minute red card, as well as the scrum clock. Which side of the fence do the fall on?There's an emphatic Premiership roundup including Michael Cheika's hair dryer treatment, Fitz Harding and Max Llewellyn on flames while over in the URC, Ryan reckons it's a bit unfair how stacked the Sharks are. I mean shouldnt there be a cap on the number of World Cup winners in a squad?And who wins the Wolfcraig moment of the week in the ultimate wing showdown between Duhan van der Merwe and Gabriel Ibitoye?We also get a chance to natter about Rocky Elsom's arrest warrant and did you know Max was a butler in the buff at Katie Price aka Jordan's birthday party????Enjoy and as always, we love you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to be joined by our old pal Jack Nowell for an update on life in France and the Top 14.He tells us all about how Ronan O'Gara has taken Johnny Sexton's new autobiography and settling in at La Rochelle.We also hear his thoughts on Exeter's current woes, why Henry Slade no longer responds to his messages or calls and the real differences between the Prem and the Top 14.There's also an update on all his pals like Manu Tuilagi, the Simmonds brother and Jonny May who have headed to French pastures new...What about England's next generation of wingers? Nowellsy runs the rule over who he sees as the successors.....And what about the Lions and being eligible for France? Max meanwhile comes off the back of that momentous and dramatic turnaround to see of Jack's old team Exeter.... What a weekend for him while Ryan has been kind enough to join us from his family holiday in Portugal.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to put Bristol's sensational centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg under the microscope after another starring performance in the derby win over Bath.There are calls in the media for his inclusion in the England squad the minute he's available but will he pick the Red Rose over his Springbok nation? Most importantly how does he keep his luscious mullet locks so luscious? Come and find out! We hear all about what Max is like at work, what the boys of Bristol got up to after the win and how South Africa compares to England.Ryan also gives us a big URC round up with the fastest ever try scored in the competitions history.We round up the rest of the Premiership matches, Michael Cheika's ban and plenty more. Come and join us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week it's all about the Boks… A sublime performance to lift the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 and just their second in 15 years….The boys debate Eben Etzebeth's standing as one of the greatest locks of all time. There's competition in there with Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Sam Whitelock, Martin Johnson, Paul O'Connell or Alun Wyn Jones so who exactly is the goat?The fellas take in the last weekend of the Rugby Championship and evaluate how all the countries have fared….There's also the tastiest of ties to talk through with Max as Bristol lose to Gloucester in the neutral match of the season so far. What on earth happened with that hattrick try for Christian Wade?As always the boys run through all the big talking points from the Prem and URC but we also hear how their weekend together in Glasgow went watching people beat the living daylights out of each other (MMA)Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a packed out show as Leicester's new signing Ben Volavola joins the boys to talk through the start of the Prem season and Fiji winning the PNC as well as reuniting with Michael Cheika, the ultimate man manager.The lads break down the shock of the season so far as Argentina stop the Springboks from winning the Rugby Championship with a game to spare and set up an almighty final round clash. Most importantly both teams flew back on a charter flight together..... how on earth was that?We hear from Max after his first match and first win of the season up at Newcastly. Maxie baby starting in a superpowered front row with Ellis Genge to bring the boys in black to their knees....Ryan is back on presenting and comms duty and teaming up with friend of the show Simon Zebo as the URC kicks off with some big results all over the place, we also round up the other Prem matches including the tasty clash between Bath and Northampton..... handbags all around.And as a special little bonus for everyone we catch up with former UFC fighter Stevie "Braveheart" Ray on dodgy UFC dealings, fighting with a tag on and how you lose 13kg's in 3 days..... Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maul or Nothing is back with a bigger, better and bolder season ahead.We catch up with the boys to find out how their summer was and particularly Max and Ryan's romantic trip around Scotland to go and play with the Worlds Strongest Men, The Staltman brothers.Its time to check in on Max's pre season and find out how the new faces are fitting in, while Ryan has some potentially very big news, that might not be big news but could maybe be absolutely huge news while also possibly being no news at all.The boys look ahead to what promises to be a heck of a year for the show and rugby as a whole with the URC and Prem kicking off while there are tasty autumn internationals to attend, sevens tournaments to party at and the Lions tour on the horizon.We get the predictions for both the URC and the Premiership while Max and Ryan run the rule over the ins and outs of players in both competitions.There's a cheeky Rugby Championship round up and the boys both agree South Africa are now Masters of the Universe..... but what about our dear Australia, can they recover in time for the British and Irish contingent heading down under or will the Wallabies be fed to the Lions?We also get some insight into the Steve Borthwick camp and what happened with Felix Jones.....sort ofWe're back and we're so happy you're joining us on another season of Maul or Nothing. Big love as always! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys sit down for an exclusive chat with the leader and captain of the Flying Fijians in Waisea Nayacalevu as well as Northampton's Prem winning lock forward Temo MayanavanuaWe hear all about the World Cup heartbreak and the genuine belief they were good enough to reach the final. We get an unfiltered version of what happened in the England game and their thoughts on how Fiji officiated compared to Tier 1 Nations. Are the most exciting set of players in the world hindered by the respect they show the officials?We hear from Temo on Northampton's march to the prem title and how he found France.In fact both players agree that the baguette might just be the greatest single French invention ever.Wais and Temo talk through their perfect 7s team and how good Selestino Ravutaumada really is with the Olympic world at this feet. And what about Waisea just swapping his contract with Manu Tuilagi?The boys put the Fijians under the microscope and hear what this new era holds for the Flying Fijians Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We finally have everyone back and ready to dissect a fascinating summer of international rugby. The Boks and Irish cancel each other out in an epic double header, but was it a fair result? Was there a block that allowed the last gasp drop goal from Frawley? What about our buddy Malcolm Marx and the dreaded Croc Roll….. and are you only as good as your last game (Max

The MoN boys get the lowdown on everything to do with Fijian rugby from its very own guru Mick Byrne.We are delighted to sit down with the new Fiji coach as he prepares to take on the mighty All Blacks.Fresh from helping to grow the Fijian Drua he's now ready to build on the Fijian World Cup success and take them to the next level.Mick The Kick has had one of the most varied and impressive careers the only person to coach against himself at international level as head coach of Japan when they took on the All Blacks, the team he was skills coach for at the time as well! 00:00 Intro02:50 Coaching Fiji07:09 The culture in Fiji and Drua13:50 Keeping talent in Fiji 19:27 What makes Fijians so good at rugby?23:09 Micks coaching style25:29 Drinking Cava29:04 Who is Mick excited about coaching32:38 Coaching in Scotland38:23 Two World Cup wins with the All Blacks42:43 Michael Leitch and Japan45:57 Who has Mick learned from the most50:24 How far can Fiji go? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bula Vinaka everyone! We've caught up with two rising stars of Fijian rugby as they prepare for their upcoming test against the All Blacks.We hear all about Peni's antics when Ryan took him under his wing at Glasgow. The smile, the laugh, the stories…. These Matuwalus really are the most magnetic people in the world of rugby and we love them!Frank is hot property but wants to see Fijian Drua win Super Rugby before moving on…. Will it happen? Well the boys have utmost confidence in the upwardly mobile position Fiji rugby finds itself in.So what's life been like post World Cup and with a new coaching set up?How healthy is the future of Fijian rugby and what did Peni do when he first saw the drinks available at a local Glasgow pub?And what about respect among the Fijian community…. We hear how Peni deals with playing against someone from the same area in Fiji as him (Virimi Vakatawa…) and we're not sure his coaches will be happy

We're delighted to be joined this week by the Wallabies and Exeter and Barbarians Star Scott Sio.He takes the boys through a fun filled time with the Baba's, how he's played against Sam Whitelock his whole life and in a funny twist of fate lines up alongside him for Sam's final match. We go through his Wallabies career and aspirations (Joe Schmidt give him a bell!!!) and that he'd love to put on the Aussie jersey once more. He also walks us through what's been happening to rugby union in Australia and how to bring back some of its shine.The Eddie Jones project is also put under the microscope and how different life has been after a decade at the brumbies to switching locations to Devon.Speaking of the brumbies, remember when they beat the Lions in 2013…. Scott does! And he tells us all about that wonderful day Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's actually happened…. Can you believe it… Glasgow Warriors are URC champions. They beat the Bulls and the altitude to give Scottish rugby one of its most crowning moments.OBVIOUSLY Ryan was there as a one man hype machine, he's in the stand with Steve Kitshoff, he's among the fans, he's in the winning dressing room, he's on their bus and he's absolutely broken on his way home. (You'll never guess the British and Irish Lions star to his left on his flight home)We are blessed to have a very dusty Huw Jones, wearing his champions cap, take us through all the emotions of the match. The feeling going into it, how they reacted to going 13-0 down in an arena full to the brim with Bulls fans. He then takes us through the celebrations and how Klingon Wilson went full kit on them.There's also a rather sobering flight home, before they're back on it and the party goes again.The Maul or Nothing team take you into the heart of an enthralling final and celebrations to match. Enjoy!0:00 - Ryan's ultimate weekend of punditry & Celebrations!9:49 - Ryan's perfect punditry predictions12:50 - Max has been to a Work Colleague's wedding!15:18 - Japan vs England20:27 - South Africa vs Wales - the Baba's curtain-raiser 23:00 - Does all of South Africa have gout? 25:10 - Baba's vs Fiji 30:20 - Sam Whitelock tribute34:00 - Where's the easiest place to hide on a rugby field?36:17 - URC CHAMPION Huw 'Shuggy' Jones joins us!43:55 - Playing at altitude51:40 - Jake White's ref comments Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are really going up in the world…. It's a very special episode of Maul or Nothing as we head to our favourite luxury hotel, the Mandarin Oriental, to welcome Baba's boys Jonathan Joseph and Zach Mercer to our suite to sip the finest champagne in the world in the shape of Pol Roger. It was the tipple of Sir Winston Churchill don't you know…. so we enjoy some lovely drops of that while discussing all things code.How has the France experience gone at Biarritz for JJ and how does it compare to Zach's stunning time at Montpellier?What are Zach's England aspirations as he continues to put in world class performances?How big has the Barbarians party actually been?Perhaps most importantly…. As friends and former teammates. .. How much can they take the piss out of Max Lahiff in an hour???All questions answered….It's a cracker! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to be joined by arguably one of the most destructive, powerful and consistent centres (nailed on

It's an absolute bumper show filled with an A List cast where we get both sides of the story from a truly engrossing Premiership Final.Bath's back row bulldozer Ted Hill joins the boys to take them through what was a sensational performance from his team who came so close to taking the title. What were the messages directly after the red card? How has Beno taken the defeat and above all did they get to The Ship?Ted also talks all things England, what Finn Russell has brought to the club and his Premiership Team of the Season (which is very hard to argue against)Meanwhile the Saints are still on the smash and they're in Benidorm (of all places) for Joel Matavesi's stag…. Rory Hutchinson takes the lads into the heart of the action as the party seems to be ongoing…see how many of the Saints boys you can spot. Lots of questions to be asked…not many answers given... which Matavesi brother is in his budgie smugglers, why is Lewis Ludlam refusing to take off his top and who exactly is the best National 2 player?In other news Max is back from South Korea having appeared to eat food that is very much still alive and Ryan didn't mention golf, which is a relief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys are back into the league chats with Prem semi finals to discuss and a final round of the URC regular season to dissect. Ryan as usual was shameless in hitting up his old pal Finn Russell and his new pal Fin Smith for an exclusive chat, which will come, depending on who wins on Saturday at Twickenham. Read between the lines it was a straight no for this week although why Fin Smith was unavailable is rather amusing! The URC is into the business end with the last 8 decided. Toby Booth's Ospreys squeezing into the mix much to the delight of the boys.It's safe to say that Ryan has delivered his albatross predictions so Glasgow might be in trouble. In other news, could all the South African fans hammering Max for saying yes to Steve Kitshoff's tops off challenge (that Kitsy instigated)….. keep going on the viral post...It's funny!

How Toulouse celebrated their Champions Cup Win with Blair Kinghorn!From riding a zebra at Tottenham Hotspur stadium, to Champagne goggles with Antoine DuPont, the scenes on arrival at Toulouse airport and the non stop partying since, Smaug breaks down the greatest celebrations of his life. He joins the boys from the lilo in his pool at his house in Toulouse wearing just a European Cup winners medal while his neighbour Jack Willis watches from over the fence.We hear all about the celebrations, the partying, what the management had planned for them and whether there's still some partying to be done.We also hear about the game….What was going through their minds when Leinster lined up a drop goal seconds before the end of the 80…. what makes Antoine DuPont so superhuman and what exactly goes on in Smaugs mind? Blair also takes us through the chats with Thomas Ramos around who would take the pressure kicks, and the not nearly discussed enough cover tackle on Dan Sheehan. He's a hero, he'll never have to buy a drink in Toulouse ever again…. Ladies and Gentlemen… Blair Kinghorn

It's the big one, the pinnacle of club rugby, two of the most illustrious sides to have graced the competition, Toulouse and Leinster slugging it out for their shot at immortality. Perhaps just as importantly Ryan, Max and Marc took their shot at hospitality immortality as they snagged prime seats at the final. The boys mix it with the stars on a glorious day and even manage to bring you some of the pod! Let the lads take you to the heart of a pulsating final, they live it, they love it, they breathe it (they drink it)...and Max commentates it...in his own unique way! Max gets asked to take his top off by just about every single person, Ryan gets pied off by Wayne Barnes and Marc is rescued from inside a rubbish bin. Oh and did we tell you we love Smaug?0:00 - Intro3:21 - Max leads us through the end of the game, with his live reactions13:15 - Post-game reaction15:03 - a quick embrace with Smaug himself (Blair Kinghorn)15:32 - Back to studio for post-day...and night....analysis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.