Whippets & Flat Caps: THE Rugby League Podcast

The band are back together for the very last time. After drinking away his Saints sorrows, Jon explains his decision to join Toronto Wolfpack and the Burgess twins pop in to say hello whilst on England duty  

The boys discuss plans for their funerals. Jon reveals he'd want to be sent out on a lake in Cheshire like a viking when he pops his cloggs. Other topics up for discussion...bootcut jeans, oxford services being the official north/south divide. Will Sharon Stone still turn out to support Widnes in The Championship and would Wilkin save Willie Mason from a burning building?

With the Whippets boys on the verge of forming their new band "The Smitherines", they found the time to discuss when a sportsperson oversteps the mark in the wake of Serena Williams' outburst at the US Open. There's also an impromptu appearence from Anthony Crolla and his new trainers, not his boxing trainer, literally...his trainers. AND who would have thought Kim Jong Un was a Wigan Warriors fan?!

The Whippets gang celebrate the big 30! Will recalls the weekend's antics after disgracing himself at Jon's house. "Don't drink whiskey with Phil Wilkin" is the key message of the week and they get their teeth stuck into loyalty in sport 

We've missed him so much and we know you have too!! Mark Flash Flanagan is back where he belongs as bridges are mended. After Catalans' triumph at Wembley there's a French twist this week as we're joined by the excellent Rodolphe Pires followed by one of the best Question Times of all time  

Mark is issued with a one show retropective ban for being extremely boring so it's date night for Jon and Will who open a bottle of red which is almost the same age as them

Jon's wife Fran Halsall, a former Olympic swimmer, graces the podcast with her presence becoming the first woman on Whippets. She hasn't half got some opinions!! 

After 16 years at St Helens, Jon Wilkin reveals he's leaving the club while sipping on a glass of Pinot noir and flicking through the 1983 Guinness Book of Records

Will is back from New York after becoming best friends with Bruce Springsteen. Brian Noble MBE joins us to talk Toronto and reveals his very particular cycling fashion attire

Jon opens up about his love for all things horticultural. Will he survive the hose pipe ban? Mark’s back from his  weekend holiday/ Salford game in the South of France and reveals how a 6 year old boy got into his head before a match

The boys discuss the key points made by Super League CEO Rob Elstone, Nigel Wood’s RFL payoff and was Will really asked to go on Love Island?

An in-depth interview with Robert Elstone, the newly appointed chief executive of Super League, who's left the swanky boardrooms of the Premier League to return to the sport he loves. 

All the latest news, views, gossip and analysis from the world of Super League. And the great Barrie McDermott is on the pod.

Jon and Mark discuss THAT video of the Tomkins' brothers while looking back on the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. Also, what's the right length of time for a Super League coach to say in charge? And we search for the rectum of Wigan.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan is the special guest this week. He offers a fascinating insight into life at the top of English cricket and, with Jon and Flash, discusses the vagaries of confidence in elite sport. 

After a weekend of Super League and big-time weddings, the boys look back on Rugby League patron Prince Harry's big day and Will regales us with tales of his sporting prowess against the Royals. Jon and Mark reflect on the Magic Weekend - not so magical for Salford - and discuss the future of the sport under the gudiance of former Everton chief executive Robert Elstone. Shaun Wane, the Wigan coach, has announced he's leaving the club at the end of the season - is he heading for union or the West End?

After a weekend of Super League and big-time weddings, the boys look back on Rugby League patron Prince Harry's big day and Will regales us with tales of his sporting prowess against the Royals. Jon and Mark reflect on the Magic Weekend - not so magical for Salford - and discuss the future of the sport under the gudiance of former Everton chief executive Robert Elstone. Shaun Wane, the Wigan coach, has announced he's leaving the club at the end of the season - is he heading for union or the West End?    

England and Leicester Tigers fly-half George Ford joins us from the England rubgy union camp ahead of their tour to South Africa to chat about his love of League and growing up next door to Paul Sculthorpe. Find out why Flash has had a tough week and why Jon's face is mashed up again. And respect for referees is on the agenda. It's a two-way street, according to Toronto skipper Josh McCrone, whose backchat got him sent to the sin-bin against Warrington in the Challenge Cup.

Will is back from LA - fresh from hanging out with his A-List friends - just in time for Jon and Mark to get stuck into the issue of diving in Rugby League. They say it is creeping into the sport and that it's as bad as it's ever been. The former Premier League referee Chris Foy tells us how he dealt with it in top-flight football and you'll find out how Jon used to be woken up by a goat. 

Former St Helens, Great Britian and England full back Paul Wellens is this week's special guest and Jon and Mark relive the second, one-sided PKB derby. Your questions answered, as always. 

The entertaining Nathan Mill, head physio at St Helens, joins the boys this week and gives us a fascinating insight into the advancements in player welfare in Rugby League. Is Albert Kelly a nugget after his foul-mouthed tirade in McDonald's? And Leon Pryce's views on coaching half-backs are put under the spotlight. Jon and Mark also look ahead to the second 'PKB derby' of the season on Thursday night and junior Rugby League ends up in the sin bin.

Extended interview/conversation with fascinating psychology professor Damian Hughes who has worked across the elite sporting landscape - but also within Rugby League at the very highest levels. Find out what makes elite players, coaches and teams tick. 

England and Wasps Rugby Union international James Haskell is this week's special guest. A childhood friend of Will Perry, he gives us his thoughts on everything from house music and marriage plans to next season's playing options. He also provides a current Union perspective on League and, crucially, reveals what Will was like as a kid. 

With more than 400 top flight Rugby League appearances to his name, Jon Wilkin explains the secrets to his longevity. This is elite, engaging sporting discussion between two elite, engaing sportsmen. Ably held together by an almost elite and engaging presenter. 

Will is back and the boys discuss the different levels of gamesmanship in Rugby League in the wake of the Australian Cricket ball tampering scandal. They answer lots of listeners' questions, including their most hated teammates, and find out why playing in the Wigan/Saints Good Friday game is so special.   

With Will away skiing, Jon and Flash speak to Sam Burgess whose NRL season has just got under way. They discuss Josh Charnley's time at Sale Sharks and analyse what he offers Warrington now that he's back playing in League. Also on the pod, the Brain Drain - why do so many ex-players end up crossing codes to coach, and how big an issue is this for the sport?

Episode 7 - Special guest Kelvin Fletcher, a big Rugby League fan, joins Will, Jon and Flash to dissect the best of the weekend's Super League action. Rugby League scrums and pathetic man-of-the-match cheques end up in the sin bin.

The one we've been waiting for - Jon and Flash openly discuss the tackle that concusssed Jon in the Saints v Salford game. And Jon's mum gets an unwanted phone call. 

The self-styled podcast saviour Will Perry is back from the winter Olympics, Jon Wilkin and Mark 'Flash' Flanagan gear up to face each other in St Helens v Salford at the weekend, and sponsored cars end up in the sin bin. Loads more, too.

Jon and Flash discuss Wayne Bennett's contract extension with England and speak to James Graham about life Down Under and his desire to return to Saints before he retires.

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow joins Jon and Flash to chat about Leeds' hopes in the World Club Challenge. They review round two of Super League and there's an open and honest discussion about concussion. 

With Will Perry at the Winter Olympics, Jon Wilkin and Mark Flanagan reflect on the opening round of Super League fixtures and speak to Hull KR and England's Jamie Peacock. 

St Helens' Jon Wilkin and Salford Red Devils' Mark 'Flash' Flanagan look ahead to the new Super League season. They are joined by presenter Will Perry and speak to the boxing promoter Eddie Hearn who gives us his thoughts on why Rugby League should leave a bigger imprint on the sporting landscape. A leftfield, entertaining and insightful look at all things Rugby League.