Rugby Stories

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, we follow one of the most dominant sides of the early 2000s: Wasps.  It's the 2003-2004 season – when the dream duo of Warren Gatland and Lawrence Dallaglio took Wasps to the summit of English and European rugby.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, it's 1997 – and the dawning of the professional era.  Newcastle Falcons were one of the first teams to really seize the opportunities – transforming from a side scrapping in the second tier – to one who would shock the established elite and win the inaugural Premiership title.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, it's the turn of the Chiefs. We chart the rise of Exeter through the ranks, until in the 2019-20 season, they reached the pinnacle of European rugby: Winning the Devon Double.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, it's the year that Harlequins finally won English rugby's top prize. We head to 2012 - and follow the season when Conor O'Shea led the aristocrats of the Premiership to league glory.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, we're in Bear country.  We chart the season when Bristol truly announced themselves - winning their first European trophy – the Challenge Cup – against a backdrop of a global pandemic.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, it's the season that Sale managed to break a seven-year Tigers/Wasps stranglehold.  In 2006, the side from Greater Manchester beat them both on their way to becoming the first team to top the Premiership table - and then win the end of season play-off final.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, we're with Gloucester Rugby.  So often the nearly men of the English game, we head to 2005-2006, when Gloucester were finally able to convert their huge potential into a first European title: the Challenge Cup.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, we hear how Northampton ended their 120-year wait for a major trophy.  At the turn of the millennium, the Saints won European rugby's biggest prize: The Heineken Cup.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, it's Saracens, one of the most successful and controversial teams of the past decade. Back in 2016 – before the controversy – there was a team filled with home-grown stars, who won a league and European Cup double.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, we're with the most dominant side of the amateur years, Bath. Although Bath found the transition to the professional era tougher than most – in 1997-98, they still had one glorious season - becoming the first British side to lift the Heineken Cup.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, it's the turn of The Exiles.  We revisit the 2001-2002 season – which culminated in arguably the greatest day in the history of London Irish: the day they won the Powergen Cup.

On the next Rugby Stories podcast, we tell the story of the season that Worcester Warriors finally reached the promised land.  Although Worcester's story would have a bitter end, with financial strife, suspension and relegation in 2022 – 17 years earlier – the club would play a major part in one of the most thrilling ends to a Premiership season – and set up a remarkable final day relegation showdown.

The first episode of Rugby Stories looks back at Leicester's domination of English and European rugby.  We head to the 2000-01 season, when Leicester wrote themselves into the history books, as the first British club to win the league and European Cup double.  Austin Healey, Ben Kay and Tim Stimpson take us inside the Tigers' dressing room.

Rugby Stories brings to life a defining season from every club in the Gallagher Premiership. Craig Doyle presents a weekly 13-part series - showcasing the dressing room drama and unheard stories from each team's most memorable era. Launching on Monday 14 November, we'll hear from club legends and key voices including Lawrence Dallaglio, Ugo Monye and Owen Farrell.