The Rugby Wrap

Force prop Tom Robertson talks about THAT try, his time at Oxford and the differences he's seen at the Club since his return to Perth. Mitch sounds like he's on dial up, but at least he was there Tess...

James 'Chucky' Stannard joins us to talk about his new role at the Force and where the team is at. Great to have him back in the West.

The express edition, with press conferences featuring Western Force coach Simon Cron and players Nick White and Dylan Pietsch.

Simon Cron discusses the Force win, why he didn't take Ben Donaldson off, and what they need to do to get the W in Canberra.

Here's what the coach and captain had to say after the Western Force snuck home on Saturday.

It's the stripped back, unplugged, acoustic version of the Rugby Wrap. All is explained. Thanks to the Western Force for the interviews with Carlo Tizzano and Trilleen Pomare. The full RW team will be back next week. (Tessmann depending.)

In a special live-in-front-of-a-studio-audience episode, we catch up with SVNS Event Oversight Director, Rebecca Roe, and World Rugby Series Director, Cian Twomey, to talk about the @svns_per . Thanks to Pitcher Partners, @AustralianRBN #PerthRBN and of course, Leap Strategies. We also give Heath Tessman his Christmas present. 

In our final podcast for 2024, we catch up with Classic Wallaby Matt Cockbain to chat the Classics, coaching pathways and where he sees the Wallabies. Plus a big mail bag. Huge thanks to Leap Strategies and all our listeners for your support.

EARLY RELEASE. This week we catch up with the Super Rugby Commissioner, Carolyn Turnbull, to talk about the structure for next year, the future of Super Rugby and the effort WA has made to secure big rugby events for Perth.

The good news is, we talk about a cracking RugbyWA grand final. The bad news is, we also talk about the Wallabies.

While Heath Tessmann suns himself on a beach at Coral Bay, Mick Colliss and Mitch Hardy look at the recent internationals, the local grand finals and the winners at the RugbyWA awards breakfast.

After a break, two of us are back to just shoot the breeze, talk a bit of Wallabies and have a look at the local scene. Bar room rugby chat. 

In this week's episode we shoot the breeze about a possible Wallabies line up and hint at another salacious rumour in the mailbag. (Apologies for some of the sound issues.)

Great to catch up with fan favourite Ian Prior to chat about the Force and his recent international appearance with Zimbabwe. What a champion. Plus the rumours fly thick and fast in the mailbag. 

We wrap up of the internationals, look at club rugby and ponder the ramifications if the Brumbies play some games in Melbourne. With thanks again to our sponsor, Leap Strategies.

Simon Cron, Western Force coach, joins us to review the 2024 season and explain what needs to happen for next year. Plus we spread a salacious rumour about Super Round and present the Rugby Wrap Annual Awards.

A quick review of the semis, a quick preview of the Final and some good chat in the mail bag about certain players being sent to the Sevens program.

This is  good ep, if I do say so myself. RA Chairman Daniel Herbert talks through the Rebels, the financial situation and what the board is focusing on for the next 6 months.  We shoot the breeze about the 7s, and Mitch and Heath pick their Test teams. It's a long one, so good if you're stuck in traffic.

We shoot the breeze with Western Force Wallaroo Sammy Wood and take a look at the final round of Super Rugby.

DC gone, NZRU splintering, Ronan Leahy to debut for the Force.  We missed them all because we had to record early. We also missed Heath Tessmann.

Fergus Lee-Warner and the Liquidators sounds like the name of a band, but it's our two guests this week as we look at the Rebels situation and catch up with one of the former Western Force stars now playing for the Tahs.

We catch up with the coach of the Perth Rams as they get ready to head to Rome for the Bingham Cup. Plus some interesting thoughts from Mitch on the whole academy system.

This was the best podcast in our five year history. Witty, fast paced,  intelligent analysis, informed opinion. Except I forgot to hit 'record' at the start. So here's a one man summary.

We review and preview Super Rugby and answer the question: Should the Wallabies play the All Blacks on Anzac Day. Plus some interesting stats about the number of players progressing from the Under 20s to the Wallabies.

A Rugby Wrap 'two for one special'. We chat with Wallaby great Jeremy Paul to hear his thoughts on Australian rugby and preview the Western Force SuperW semi final with coach Dylan Parsons. You might need to take the long route to work for this one. 

We had to record this one early so speculated about Drua suspensions and missed the dropping of Marky Mark, but we did cover Kurtley's signing with the Force. Plus the usual carry on.

We channel the great Cameron Shepherd as we review and preview the Super Rugby competition, and Mitch Hardy puts on his conspiracy theory hat to announce the new Waratahs coach. 

Former RA board member Geoff Stooke discusses the recently released 'Supporters of Australian Rugby Reform' paper. Plenty of points to digest. Plus we wrap up Round 5 of Super Rugby.

This week, we do what no sane person would do - we re-live the Force's game against Moana Pasifika. It was too distressing for Heath Tessmann to even consider, so he stayed away.

With the Super W starting this week, we catch up with Western Force Wallaroo Michaela Leonard to chat about the women's program at the Force, why it's attracting players from all over the world, and who the smokey is to win the comp. Plus the Mail Bag and Heath Tessmann.

Odd that Heath Tessmann can't make his own podcast but the CEO of the Western Force can get there early. Great to hear Niamh O'Connor's thoughts about the Force, where things are at, and what needs to be done to restore people's love of rugby. 

Great to catch up with Melbourne Rebels GM and former Wallaby, Nick Stiles, to talk a bit of rugby. Plus a review of Super Rugby Round 1 with special guest, Heath Tessmann.

We kick off season 5 with Western Force coach Simon Cron; an absent Heath Tessmann; and a new sponsor in leapstrategies.com.au  Simon speaks about the Force's strengths and weaknesses, how he'll judge the season, and some of the positives in the West. 

In this first and final episode of our Summer Edition series, we catch up with Aussie 7s star, Isabella Nasser, to get her thoughts on the Perth Sevens and what's in store in the lead up to Paris. Season 5 of the Rugby Wrap winter edition with MItch Hardy, Heath Tessmann and a brand new sponsor, launches Thursday February 22.

In the final episode for 2023, we record early to review the RWC, chat about Eddie and ask 'where to from here?' Wallaby #735 Mitch Hardy proposes a very interesting way to choose the next coach and we give the mail bag one last run. 

We put down the Aperol Spritz and Baguettes just long enough to share our thoughts on the World Cup, the Wallabies and the potential winners. Recorded live in Bordeaux.

This week, Wallaroo Michaela Leondard expands on the recent social media post highlighting the inequality between Australia's senior men's and women's teams, plus we look at the RWC warm up matches and the club Grand Finals.  Plenty to get your teeth into.

A very honest chat with Daniel Herbert, wallaby #715 and RA board member. Hear his views on why the current system is broken, the need for centralisation, and his thoughts on the infamous third tier. Plus Mitch questions the timing of the Australia A game v Portugal.   A bumper episode.

It seems everyone has an opinion on the Wallabies. We're no different.  Plenty of good stuff and plenty of questions as well.

A new competition structure for rugby in Perth has been proposed. Rugby WA President John Welborn explains. (Apologies for the poor sound. You think we'd have it right after more than 100 episodes, but sometimes it just doesn't happen.)

A quick review of the Super Rugby Pacific final and a look at the Wallabies squad. Plus the airing of some gripes. Really, it's bit of everything except Mitch Hardy.

If you sometimes forget the true meaning of 'grassroots', have a listen to Dean McKee from Wests-Scarborough RUFC. A great man who loves club rugby.

Out of 10, what score would you give the Western Force's 2023 season? See how you compare with coach Simon Cron, as he chats through the year that was and discusses what they'll build on for 2024.

Great to have former Wallaroo Bec Clough pop in for a chat about all things rugby. Nice to have Heath Tessmann pop in, too.

We catch up with special guests Carlo Tizzano from the Western Force and Heath Tessmann from The Rugby Wrap. It's a big week.

This week we celebrate our 101st episode by jumping on the Hunter Wildfires bandwagon and catching up with coach Scott Coleman. A great rugby man. Plus the mailbag and some other juicy bits.

In this, our 100th episode (which we only realised once we finished), we look at the 96 week banning for referee assault and Mitch Hardy shares his opinion of Reece Tarpine's premature celebration.

Heath Tessmann thinks all his Christmases have come at once as we catch up with Western Force forwards coach, Jimmy Duffy, to breakdown the set piece. Mitch Hardy pretends he knows what they're talking about then Mick has a rant in the mailbag. Not a bad ep.

New Rugby WA CEO Simon Taylor talks about rugby in the West.  He's a good get.Plus the usual stuff we do when Heath Tessmann doesn't make it.

Every wondered what an elite athlete like Heath Tessmann does before a big game? Tune in to find out as we take a light hearted look at the week in rugby.

Rising star Jeremy Williams talks about life at the Western Force and settles the argument about whose fault it is when the lineout goes awry. (Without spoiling the surprise, let me just say Heath Tessmann disagrees.) Unfortunately Lachie Swinton's 7 week ban hadn't been announced when we recorded or we would have gone in much harder.