Rugby Union Weekly

With just over a week to go before England host the Women's Rugby World Cup, how much has changed in the 34 years since Wales hosted the inaugural event? And what does the future look like? Eleanor Oldroyd and Sara Orchard are joined by 1994 World Cup winner Giselle Mather and 2014 World Cup winner Rachael Burford to reflect on their experiences.Also hear from Red Roses lock Abbie Ward getting ready for her third World Cup.

What was the best moment of the 2025 Lions tour? Who should have been crowned player of the series? Chris is joined by Tom English, Lauren Jenkins and Nigel Ringland to dissect the tour of Australia. We pick our combined XV from the Test series, how many Wallabies will make the cut? You'll hear how Bundee Aki became a father for the fifth time in rather unusual circumstances and how Tom's tour got off to a tricky start in Perth.

The final Test match of this series had everything - drama, lightning, stoppages and monsoon like conditions which made it a very eventful game between the Lions and the Wallabies in Sydney. In the end the weather appeared to favour the home side as Australia won 22-12 on the night – with Andy Farrell's side taking the series victory 2-1. Chris is joined by former Lions, Andy Nicol and Alex Cuthbert, as well as Aussie great Stephen Moore and ABC broadcaster Quentin Hull with all the on the whistle reaction.The guys take shelter from the crazy downpours and ask what went right for the Wallabies and what does this result mean for the Lions legacy?!

On a filthy Sydney afternoon, we bring together a gang of loyal pod listeners to thrash out some of the major talking points of this Lions tour from a fans' perspective. How much do Lions fans just want to win, and how much do they want a close contest? How has this tour compared to others from a supporters' perspective? And does it matter if your country is represented in selection? We have people pop in from all across Britain and Ireland, as well as a number of ex-pats living in Australia, who give some excellent insight as to the state of rugby union down under.

We're podding from the Lions team hotel after Andy Farrell named his squad for the third Test in Sydney. Chris, Ugo and John Barclay discuss the two changes to the Lions starting XV with Blair Kinghorn replacing James Lowe on the wing and James Ryan coming in for Ollie Chessum at lock. Joe Schmidt has turned to veteran scum-half Nic White who bows out from international rugby on Saturday, but there is no Rob Valetini or Carlo Tizzano for the Wallabies. Can they match the performance they produced at the MCG to spoil the Lions' party?

1997 or 1974? Two iconic tours to South Africa, but which one ranks higher? In the final episode of our top 10 series, Lions legends Jamie Roberts and Matt Dawson join Chris to rank the best tours of all time. We ask Jamie to rate his two tours - the 2013 win in Australia and the epic series against South Africa in 2009. We debate what makes a great tour - is it all about winning the Test series or are there other factors that determine success? And where does the only Lions series win against the All Blacks feature in our list?

We're in Sydney next to the opera house chatting to Wallabies legend Michael Hooper to get his take on THAT clearout and to discuss the health of Aussie rugby following the series defeat with the World Cup coming up in two years. We also chat to World rugby boss Alan Gilpin who has rejected Joe Schmidt's claim that the decision at the end of the second Test contravened the sport's player welfare drive. Chris also heads into the victorious Lions camp to chat to the captain Maro Itoje. Who has he bonded with on this tour? And what value are they putting on winning the series 3-0?

Chris and Tom have made it to Sydney for final Test week and GRO is back in the Nations pod squad having been declared fit for selection. There is lots of love for Finn Russell and how he orchestrated the final moments of the game. Of course, Jac Morgan's clearout is also a hot topic of conversation as another series delivers another controversial moment at the death. Do this Lions team need to win the series 3-0 to be considered one the greats? They have not whitewashed their opponents in the Test series since they toured Argentina in 1927.

What a match! The second Test in Melbourne had everything – drama, comebacks, grit and fight as the Lions fought hard to beat a much improved Wallabies side by 29 points to 26 – to take the series victory, meaning they have won a series for the first time in 12 years. Chris is joined by Lions rugby royalty – Matt Dawson, Andy Nicol and Jamie Roberts - live from a bar with all the on the whistle reaction. Andy wishes Australia played like that in the first Test, for Matt it was a match that had him on the edge of his seat and for Jamie it was one of the greatest Test matches… ever! The guys debate that and so much more – including the brilliant performances from Itoje, Russell, Kinghorn, Aki, Gibson-Park and Morgan to name but a few! They also chat what didn't go to plan for the Lions in the first half and why Australia were so class. But one thing they all agree on is that this was a ‘magic' Test match and the Wallabies finally came to the party!

Can Australia bounce back at the famous MCG to level the series? Or will the Lions clinch a second successive series down under? With nine Irishman in Andy Farrell's team, Chris gets the Irish perspective on the second Test with friend of the pod Murray Kinsella from The 42. We also hear from Lions assistant coach John Fogarty on the significance of playing at Australia's most iconic sporting venue and find out what legendary Lions captain Martin Johnson said to the players when handing them with their jerseys. And we track down one of the winning Wallabies from the 2001 Lions series, Nick Stiles gives us the lowdown on Aussie rugby and how he would make them competitive again.

Chris, Ugo and John Barclay react to Andy Farrell's team for the second Test against Australia. There's no Sione Tuipulotu or Garry Ringrose as Huw Jones and Bundee Aki make up the midfield. But Jac Morgan does make the 23 to give the huge travelling Welsh support something to shout about. What can we expect from the Wallabies at the MCG now they have Rob Valetini and Will Skelton in their side? And how much will conditions effect what we see on Saturday?

Will Andy Farrell make big changes for the second Test? Will the fitness of Joe McCarthy force his hand? Lauren steps in for GRO this week as we are forced to make our own selection calls ahead of the second Test. Has Jac Morgan done enough to force his way into the 23? A rugby nation holds its breath. We hear about Tom's burgeoning love of cricket after a trip to the MCG as the Lions look to wrap up the series at one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world. There's also big news out of the WRU to discuss as Steve Tandy leaves Scotland to become the new Wales head coach.

Chris Jones and former Lions and Wales wing Alex Cuthbert give their on the whistle reaction as the Lions faced a test against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. It was a tight match but the Lions had the edge in the end – in what was an exciting 80 minutes at Marvel Stadium.Alex and Chris dissect what went right on the pitch – especially the first ten minutes for the visitors - and where improvements could be made with some set pieces not ‘clinical' enough on the night. Captain Owen Farrell gets a shout-out as does Darcy Graham who made his debut, scored a try then went off the injured - and the guys get the latest on Marcus Smith's HIA. Alex also receives some gifts from some fans at the ground and tells Chris what it's really like playing golf with some actual wallabies!

Who are the players that reached another level when they pulled on the Lions jersey? Who became more synonymous with the Lions than they did for their country? In episode five of our top 10 series, Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts join Chris to rank the greatest Test match animals. They also explain how the red shirt “supercharged” their performances and we debate whether they should make the list.

Chris is live from Brisbane after the Lions beat the Wallabies 27-19 in the first Test. Former Lion Andy Nicol and ex Scotland captain John Barclay join the pod to give their expert analysis of what they saw on the pitch. Both agreed it was a strong start by Andy Farrell's men – then things went a little flat... Australian broadcaster Quentin Hull also drops by to give his insight into this Wallabies side and asks was a slow start to blame?Finn Russell, Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne were some of the Lions players that impressed Andy and John – and the guys also look ahead to expectations for the second Test next week.

The first Test in Brisbane is almost upon us! Can Australia defy the odds and shock the Lions at their spiritual home? Chris catches up with Lions legend Jamie Roberts to get his take on Jac Morgan's omission and what the impact will be on the Welsh fans' love for the Lions. Jamie also pinpoints where he expects Australia to target Andy Farrell's side tomorrow. We also get the Wallabies perspective with Geoff Parling, a former Lion himself. We hear how he's been preparing his players to deal with the emotion of facing the Lions on home soil.

Chris and Ugo are in Brisbane as Andy Farrell names his long-awaited Lions Test team. There are some big selection calls in the back row as Farrell weighs up form against pedigree, while it's an all-Scottish midfield in an otherwise Irish and English dominated squad. How will Jac Morgan be feeling after being left out? And what are the other areas of debate? We also discuss the Australia team after they lose some big names up front and turn to a rookie with a famous name at fly-half, before haring across town to meet up with Wallaby great Will Genia.

Tom has managed his first round of golf of the tour and turns up to the pod with news of a hole in one – sort of! GRO is starting to get tour FOMO now that Chris is on the ground, but how will he feel after the series done? We discuss what we want from the Tests, and if the Wallabies can deliver jeopardy and drama we crave. Would three resounding wins for the Lions be a good thing? News of the Test team has started to emerge in Brisbane ahead of the announcement tomorrow and all signs point to an all-Scottish midfield. There's finally a Welsh win for GRO to celebrate and more Springbok rugby shenanigans to debate.

The pod is on the ground in Australia with the Test series days away. Chris and Lauren are joined by Wallaby great Stephen Moore to look ahead to a special few weeks. But with Australia eighth in the world rankings, what will we get from the home side? And how much does the Australian sporting public need the Wallabies to fire? There is breaking news from the Lions camp with Mack Hansen a doubt and we discuss protocol on long-haul flights.

What is the most controversial moment in Lions history? Where does the infamous spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll rank in our list? There's the infamous Battle of Ballymore and the '99' call to discuss, but our shortlist is littered with controversial moments that happened off the pitch. Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts are at the heart of two of them. We get the lowdown on Matt's infamous newspaper column from 2001 that almost got him kicked off tour and Jamie takes us back to 2013 to relive arguably the most talked about selection call in Lions history.

It was a dominant performance by the Lions against the AUNZ invitational side in their last match before the first Test – where they confidently beat their opponents 48-0. Danny joins Ashy and Sara on the pod and today was all about which player had done enough to get picked for the first Test in seven days time. Ashy and Danny both praised the Lions win – and this has made team selection for Andy Farrell much harder. They also get the latest on Luke Cowan-Dickie's injury and confirm that Garry Ringrose will miss the first Test. As always they pick their starting 15 for next Saturday – and give a special mention to Owen Farrell who came off the bench in his fourth Lions tour.

As England look to seal a series whitewash in Argentina, Chris chats to their latest centurion. George Ford reflects on a special day for him and the team last weekend and discusses how England are determined to back it up this Saturday. Ford also opens up on the disappointment of Lions selection and how he has dealt with setbacks over the course of his stellar career. And with Owen Farrell back available, have England ever had better options at number 10?

What can we expect from Owen Farrell this Saturday? Will he play at 10 or 12 when when he comes off the bench? Ugo and pod favourite John Barclay discuss Andy Farrell's final team selection before the first Test in Brisbane and debate where he plans to use his son. The Lions have been forced to call in more reinforcements at full-back after Blair Kinghorn's injury. The AUNZ invitational side is out and we're expecting a physical battle for the Lions in Adelaide. Plus, we ask John to pick his Test back row and get him to break down where it's going wrong at the breakdown.

It's another win for the British and Irish Lions in Australia – a fourth straight victory. This time it was against the ACT Brumbies where it finished 36-24 – in what many were calling a mixed performance by Andy Farrell's men. Chris, Ashy and Paul Grayson breakdown where things looked good for the Lions and where improvements could be made.Ashy is not seeing progression as quickly as he would like and ask if some players are feeling the pressure. The guys try and answer some all important questions too – from do teams need an identity, is the Number 7 position still wide open and who's nailed on for the Test team?

What is the greatest try in Lions history? Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts are back with Chris to rank the best tries ever to be scored in a Test match. How do you compare a great team try to a moment of individual brilliance? Jerry Guscott makes another appearance in Top 10s and there two tries in one Test match that both make the list. Where will Dawson's dummy in 1997 rank? Does Jamie's try in the 3rd Test in 2013 make the cut?

Do we now know Andy Farrell's Test team? Chris, Gareth Rhys Owen and Tom English assemble for the Nations pod take on the Farrell's 23 for the Brumbies game on Wednesday. Who is in need of a a big performance in Canberra to nail down a Test spot? They reflect on a tricky few days for the Lions tour after an unconvincing display against the Waratahs and Joe Schmidt's comments about Australia after they scraped past a spirited Fiji in Newcastle. There's more Owen Farrell chat as Tom and GRO clash over his call-up. We also praise England's resounding victory in Argentina but it was a different story for Wales in Japan. Where do Wales go from here?

Chris Jones and Chris Ashton dissect the Lions 21-10 win over the New South Wales Waratahs.The Lions remain unbeaten but weren't impressive in their win over the New South Waratahs in Sydney. Two weeks before the first test the Chris's pick what they think that side currently looks like and ask why the team hasn't been able to hit the heights just yet. Plus what do they want to see from the next match against the Brumbies on Wednesday.

Sam Warburton and Martin Johnson are the only players to captain the British & Irish Lions on back-to-back tours. So for this episode they sit down together to discuss their incredible achievement. They talk leadership, feeling under qualified, handling pressure and the art of a good team talk. Martin also relives the famous series win over South Africa in 1997. You'll hear about training in the dark, getting stitches during a match and Jeremy Guscott's winning drop goal. He also recalls his tour to Australia in 2001 and where it all went wrong. He shares his biggest regret, the issues with Graham Henry's tactics and why he could have done more as captain.

Has bloodline loyalty influenced Owen Farrell's Lions call-up? Coach Andy Farrell has drafted in his son to replace the injured Elliot Daly, sparking debate over whether family ties played a role. Chris, Danny and Tom unpack the backlash and ask whether it is the right call?

Is Andy Farrell closing in on his Test XV? The Lions ran in eight tries in a dominant 52-12 win over the Queensland Reds, with Tommy Freeman grabbing a brace. Chris and former Scotland captain John Barclay dissect the performance and are joined by Lauren Jenkins from the Suncorp Stadium. Plus, how much of a setback could Elliot Daly's arm injury prove to be?

How big a blow is Tomos Williams' injury to the Lions as he's ruled out of the tour? And with so few nailed on starters for the first Test, should alarm bells be ringing? Tom, Chris and Gareth tackle those questions as the Lions gear up for their third game. Plus, Tom explains why the infamous "99" call from the 1974 South Africa tour might be more myth than reality.

What is the greatest moment in a Lions Test? Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts join Chris to rank those iconic moments that every Lions fan will remember. Is Jeremy Guscott's drop goal better than JPR Williams'? Which player had the howler of all howlers? And Chris tries his hand at recreating one of the all time great sporting speeches.

Ugo Monye & correspondent Chris Jones reflect on The British and Irish Lions eight-try win over Western Force in the first game of their tour on Australian soil. Plus BBC Sport reporter Lauren Jenkins joins the pod live from Perth.00:30 What grade would you give it? 04:05 Initial thoughts on Tomos Williams' injury 06:15 Lions ‘scruffy but clinical' 09:10 How do Lions find the synergy? 13:20 Who should start at 9 and 10? 17:10 Lauren Jenkins joins the pod from Perth 22:35 Ugo's team for Wednesday vs Reds 24:20 How is Lauren managing the jet lag? 26:05 Chris isn't happy with Ugo's team 32:55 Which players have put a foot forward?

Chris, Tom and Gareth share their thoughts on the Lions Top 10 episode about icons. Were there any glaring omissions? Was it right that Brian O'Driscoll missed out? The guys have plenty to say, and share their thoughts on next week's ranking of the greatest Lions moments.

Our Nations pod team of Chris Jones, Gareth Rhys Owen and a much-delayed Tom English discuss the Lions side to face the Western Force and ideas for future Lions tours.

Was Owen Farrell ever in contention for England's summer tour to Argentina and the US? England head coach Steve Borthwick joins Chris and Danny to reveal all, and to outline what he expects from his young squad over the coming weeks. He also shares his memories of the British and Irish Lions from watching them as a kid to being part of the coaching staff in 2017. And Danny picks out a couple of England players he thinks could make an impact on tour.

Gareth Edwards, Martin Johnson or Willie John McBride? Who is the most iconic British & Irish Lion of all time? In the first episode of a new six-part series, Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts join Chris to answer that very question. How many Wales legends of the 70s make the cut? Do any coaches make the list? Find out which former Irish and Lions captain misses out. Plus, Matt reveals which Lions legend inspired his dad to give him two middle names.

We're again podding from the heart of Dublin after Argentina pull off a famous win over the Lions at the Aviva. Chris and Ugo are joined by two former Lions, Dwayne Peel and Anthony Watson, to debate what went wrong - and right - for Andy Farrell's side, and what they need to fix as they fly to Australia. Did the Lions attack actually show plenty of potential? Will that accuracy come in time? And we pay homage to the Pumas who made a mockery of the bookies' odds.

Chris, Ugo and 2009 Lion Luke Fitzgerald are in the heart of Dublin ahead of the Lions tour opener against Argentina. What should we expect from Andy Farrell's men at the Aviva? And should the Pumas be such big underdogs? We hear from Jamie George after his week in Lions camp and Owen Farrell tells Sara why he's glad Ashy was there to welcome him home. And Lauren Jenkins from Scrum V pops in to talk Jac Morgan, Tomos Williams, and whether the Welsh public will be embracing this Lions tour.

Bath and Leinster end their seasons on a high, lifting the Premiership and URC titles. Will Bath now kick on and pick up next season where they left this one? And what will this mean for Leinster after a few barren years? Owen Farrell is once again a Saracens player after his year in France comes to a premature end. Ashy gives us the inside scope having bumped into him while walking the dog. Plus, they look ahead to the Lions' warm-up game with Argentina on Friday before they head Down Under.

The wait is over! Bath are Premiership champions again. They ended a 29-year wait for the biggest prize in English rugby with a narrow win over Leicester. Chris, Ashy and Matt Dawson are at Twickenham to bring you reaction to a momentous day for Bath. Finn Russell tells us what it means to clinch the treble and explains why he decided to pass to Max Ojomoh when he was clean through. We also assess where it went wrong for Leicester and whether Dan Cole should have seen yellow for his collision with Finn Russell. And what does the future hold for Leicester with so many key departures at the end of this season.

It's the big one! Saturday sees the finale of the domestic season as Bath and Leicester go head-to-head at Twickenham for the Premiership title. Will Bath lift the trophy for the first time since 1996? Or will Leicester win a record-extending 12 title and send Michael Cheika and their club legends off into the sunset? Is Cheika using the emotion of Saturday to motivate his players? We hear from the Aussie and from Bath legend Tom Dunn, who explains how the club has risen again to the top of the English game under Johann van Graan. Plus, we look ahead to the URC final with Tadhg Furlong and Hugo Keenan both missing the final the Leinster.