Podcasts about Red Roses

Gloucester fell to a disappointing but not unexpected defeat away to Saracens. We chat through the potential positives and whether this is anything more than a good side beating an average one.Elsewhere, the Red Roses secured another Six Nations Grand Slam with their best performance of the Championship beating France in Bordeaux.South African sides may be on their way out of European competitions, we ask if this a good thing (YES!)Finally, Jim explains the importance of a good tiller in Dragon Boat racing.Ed PriceJim HarleyCherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Ep. 185 : La même chanson. France vs Angleterre - 6 Nations Femmes 2026En dépit d'une belle énergie et de vraies promesses, les Bleues ont a nouveau subi la loi des anglaises qui ont profité des approximations françaises pour planter de cruelles banderilles dans les espoirs tricolores. Avec 9 victoires lors des dix dernières éditions, les championnes du monde impriment décidément leur marque sur le rugby féminin et le 6 nations avec ce Grand Slam !Côté Top 14, le suspense est total pour entrer dans les top six ! l'UBB, Clermont, le Racing 92 et La Rochelle sont désormais dans un mouchoir de poche et vont s'affronter dans ce qui s'apparente à des matches de phases finales avant les phases finales : on en salive d'avance !Bonne écoute et bon mercredi avec le pack !Voici l'autre podcast de TK --> L'Année Sobre, un an sans alcool ! https://podcast.ausha.co/l-annee-sobreNotre instagram: Packdepotes_podcastmusique par Manu RodierArt grâce à Albane BorelHébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Want your views heard on the show? Tap here to send us a message!Jez, Alex, Barry and Duncan discuss another Grand Slam for the Red Roses, two young Sarries in the England Squad for the first time, two older Sarries departing and a performance against Gloucester which sees us go from Play Off No Hopers to our destiny being in our own hands.Follow the Fezcast on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to hear all our latest news first!Click here for subscription links[Disclaimer: The Fezcast is brought to you on behalf of the Saracens Supporters Association and is not an official product of Saracens Ltd]Title Music (from Season 4): "Herald" by This Winter Machine

Two weeks on the trot? We can't believe it either!

Straight off the flight from Bordeaux, our Women's Six Nations Grand Slam champions join Elma to debrief on a tournament to remember! Captain Meg, Coach Ems and our Mo discuss the players that stepped up and the PRESSURE Meg felt as captain of a team on a winning streak as long as the Red Roses. Imagine being the captain to lose for the first time in 38 games… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup… Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by rugby content creator and social media personality Ruck Star Lizzie to react to a dramatic final round of the Women's Six Nations — and look ahead to what feels like a huge new era for the women's game. England edged another epic battle with France in Bordeaux to secure an eighth straight Six Nations title and Grand Slam, while Ireland smashed attendance records at the Aviva Stadium in front of more than 31,000 fans against Scotland. We break down why England v France continues to produce the biggest matches in women's rugby, whether the Red Roses are building one of sport's greatest dynasties, and just how special Ellie Kildunne's tournament really was after a campaign packed with outrageous attacking numbers. We also discuss: • Marlie Packer finishing as top try scorer from the back row • Zoe Harrison leading the tournament points charts • Why Ireland's Aviva Stadium crowd felt like a landmark moment

Steve Borthwick's latest England training squad includes Benhard Janse Van Rensburg, who has qualified on residency grounds. Does it make sense for him to be parachuted directly into the set up? Or is it a bad look for the RFU and their talent pipelines?Alfie Reynolds, Charlie Morgan and Will Kelleher chat about that and the news that South African sides might pull out of the Champions Cup. Is this a good or a bad thing for the competition? Bordeaux attack coach Noel McNamara speaks to Will ahead of the Champions Cup final this weekend as they take on Leinster. The lads reflect on the end of the Women's 6 Nations as the Red Roses won the title again. And, they review a 'disgraceful' defeat for Bristol in the Prem as Pat Lam's side conceded over 90 points.***Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara, Ugo and Katy Daley-McLean are podding pitch side immediately after the Red Roses won an eighth successive Six Nations title and fifth Grand Slam. Given the injuries, absentees and retirements - is this the best one yet? And does this latest triumph now make the Red Roses one of the greatest sports teams of all time? We chat to England centurion Marlie Packer who tells us she isn't going to hang her boots up any time soon. We also pick our player of the tournament and look ahead to WXV Global Series in the autumn. Are John Mitchell's England young guns ready for a shot at Canada and New Zealand?

Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper preview Le Crunch as France, unbeaten in this Six Nations, face England's Red Roses, unbeaten since losing to France in 2018, in the sold-out finale at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux, discussing France's improved belief under their new coach, Francois Ratier, defensive strength, discipline, but aware of the threats posed by England.  They then review Top 14 Round 24 fixtures, explain the barrage playoff format, and assess the tight race for the top six, with Toulouse leading and Montpellier in second after a strong win over Toulon featuring a standout Antoine Dupont display. In Pro D2, they recap Vannes finishing top ahead of Colomiers, outline upcoming barrages and relegation playoffs, and share news on Montpellier under Bernard Laporte, Billy Vunipola, Luke Whitelock's retirement, Juan Cruz Mallia's Toulouse extension to 2029, and Vannes player retirements.Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the podcast with the French flair! Established in 2020! NO ADS

Gabby is joined by rugby legends Ugo Monye and Katy Daley-McLean ahead of Red Roses' Grand Slam decider this weekend - 37 games unbeaten, on the cusp of their 8th Six Nations in a row - does the sport actually need England to lose?The trio also react to a fascinating developing football story - dubbed 'Spygate 2.0' - with Southampton's Championship Play-Off final place in doubt after an analyst was spotted recording opposition training sessions!And they go head to head over World Rugby's decision to trial smaller balls in the women's game.France v England - Sunday 4:45pm (BBC)

In this week's episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup… Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by Irish rugby journalist Caolin Scully to preview a blockbuster final round of the Women's Six Nations — headlined by a winner-takes-all Grand Slam showdown between England and France in Bordeaux. The Red Roses are chasing an eighth straight title, but France once again stand in their way in what has become the defining rivalry of the championship. We break down where France can hurt England, how impressed we've been with the Red Roses' depth amid injury disruption, and how Meg Jones has handled the pressure of captaining the side through the tournament. We also ask whether this latest England v France clash has all the ingredients to produce another classic. We also cover: •⁠ ⁠England's unbeaten run and evolving squad depth •⁠ ⁠France's attacking threats and belief heading into Bordeaux •⁠ ⁠Why this rivalry feels different from every other matchup in the tournament •⁠ ⁠Whether England's rotation policy has made them even stronger

Gabby is joined by rugby legends Ugo Monye and Katy Daley-McLean ahead of Red Roses' Grand Slam decider this weekend - 37 games unbeaten, on the cusp of their 8th Six Nations in a row - does the sport actually need England to lose?The trio also react to a fascinating developing football story - dubbed 'Spygate 2.0' - with Southampton's Championship Play-Off final place in doubt after an analyst was spotted recording opposition training sessions!And they go head to head over World Rugby's decision to trial smaller balls in the women's game.France v England - Sunday 4:45pm (BBC)

Will England claim an eighth successive Six Nations? Or will France finally beat the Red Roses and claim a first title since 2018? Ugo, Sara and former Ireland international Anna Caplice look ahead to the big showdown in Bordeaux. Could England's leaky defence cost them on Sunday? Are England demanding too much of their star centre Meg Jones? Ireland's first standalone fixture at the Aviva is expected to attract 30,000 fans. Anna explains what a watershed moment this will be for Irish rugby. Wales face Italy hoping to avoid another wooden spoon – can Sean Lynn finally deliver a first Six Nations win? Plus, should Ireland and Wales enter a team in the PWR? Will it help close the gap to England in the future?

World Rugby's controversial decision to trial smaller rugby balls in the women's game is up for debate as Ruby Tui and Shaunagh Brown chime in on one of rugby's biggest talking points. Plus, Ruby finally reveals the answer to the question fans have been asking — where will Ruby Tui play next? The pair also break down the biggest moments from the penultimate round of the Guinness Women's Six Nations, including the standout battles and players making headlines ahead of Super Sunday. And with the championship on the line in Bordeaux, what do the Red Roses need to change in their game if they want to beat France and win another Women's Six Nations title? Ruby and Shaunagh discuss what could decide the trophy. Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. has announced two new UK partnerships in women's rugby, driven by a shared belief that investing in the women's game creates impact well beyond the pitch. Through a formal partnership with the Rugby Players Association's Thrive programme and Mitsubishi Electric's Parallel Potential platform, the combined goal is to provide athletes with meaningful career support during, and beyond their playing careers. In addition, Mitsubishi Electric has become an official partner of Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR), strengthening its commitment to the domestic league and the continued growth of the women's game. To find out more go to: www.parallelpotential.com

durée : 00:43:37 - À quelques jours du Crunch face à l'Angleterre, Danièle Irazu et Thomas Darracq analysent la progression du XV de France féminin. Entre jeunesse, puissance devant et défi mental face aux Red Roses, les Bleues veulent croire à l'exploit à Bordeaux. On se penche aussi sur le rugby à VII des Euskarians Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France

Former England international Katy Daley-McClean and ex-Black Fern Ruby Tui join Sara Orchard to review the Red Roses' 61-33 thrashing of Italy in Parma.John Harrison's reigning world champions made it 37 consecutive wins across all competitions with a dominant display in their fourth bonus-point victory of this year's competition.That's now 38 successive Six Nations wins, setting up what should be an epic grand finale in Bordeaux against France next weekend.The panel discuss the entertainment value of games such as this, whether winning the Six Nations would really be more impressive than the World Cup – as England's defence coach claimed pre-match, and the debutants who came on for the Roses.Timecodes: 00:10 Ruby's dramatic pod entrance 02:50 Are teams working England out, or is it just injuries letting teams score more? 05:00 How much credit do England deserve given the absentees? 06:00 How good were Lutui and Burns? 07:15 Ruby says England's domination is ‘systematic' like New Zealand's Sevens team 09:55 A debut for Haidee Head qualifies for 5 different nations! What's she like? 12:50 Ex-captain Marlie Packer's 4-try haul 14:15 Would England fall apart without Amy Cokayne and Lucy Packer? 15:33 Zoe Harrison's incredible kicking run ends 17:05 How did Italy come back from going 26-0 down inside the first 15 minutes? 18:50 Is Italy's box-kicking boring or really smart? 20:15 Is Ellie Kildunne still settling into this new position? 22:50 Is this France's best opportunity to beat England and get the Grand Slam?

Red Roses Coaching duo our Emily Scarratt and her bestie Sarah Hunter have invited Elma for a coaching meeting on the bean bags of Pennyhill Park…England's Attack and Defence coaches have their say on the missing generation of female coaches in the game, reveal what a week in Red Roses camp looks like for them, and Sarah Hunter gives her take on how Scazzy is fairing in her new gig. Oh and Scaz does a Mo'ism. One that we still can't get to the bottom of… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should the women's game be using smaller balls? The debate is back on the agenda after Zoe Harrison's interview with Sara about the decision to use size 4.5 balls at this autumn's WXV Global Series. Kat Merchant and Philippa Tuttiett give their views on ball trial, and discuss whether it is a backwards step for the game. We also examine the state of the women's game in Italy as they prepare to face the Red Roses after an impressive victory over Scotland. Ticket sales for Ireland's big date at the Aviva continue to fly off the shelf. Can Wales build on their bonus point against England and cause a big upset in Belfast?

Ruby Tui and Shaunagh Brown return to the For the Love of Rugby studio to answer your questions. Who's the toughest opponent they've ever played against on a rugby pitch? How early do they arrive at the airport? Who do they think will win the PWR this season? And where does a former Red Rose and Black Fern do their big shop these days? It's all revealed in the this episode.

Women's Six Nations + George North retirement ft Georgie Perris-Redding | The Rugby Paper Roundup In this week's episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by Sale Sharks co-captain and USA international Georgie Perris-Redding — a World Cup Eagle and one of the game's most resilient leaders — to break down a huge week across women's and men's rugby. We start with the Women's Six Nations after a statement Round Three, where England, France and Italy all impressed. The Red Roses ran in ten tries against Wales, France showed resilience to stay level at the top, and Italy's bonus-point win over Scotland underlined their growth. We ask whether England are still setting the benchmark, if Italy are a team on the rise, and whether the championship is once again building towards a decisive England v France showdown.

In this week's episode, Pete, Lee and Miles discuss Bristol's dominant victory away at Newcastle.It was another welcome five points but it came at a cost with more injuries to contend with.On the postive side we have two weeks to recover and prepare for the vist of Saracens which will be the 'must wins' of must wins. Can we get that irritiating North London monkey off our back or will the Death Eaters suck the life out of us yet again.That said, at least it's not taking place on November 5th. We will never forget.Miles and Lee also report back from their experience watching the Red Roses beat a spirited Wales side and we then discuss more ideas for filling Ashton Gate including taking the flag idea to another level!Stay Stay safe, have a good week and up the Bears!Let us know what you think!

Sara is joined by World Cup winner Kat Merchant and former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap to reflect on England's victory over Wales. Despite the Red Roses scoring 62 points, there were still plenty of positives for Wales who earned a try-bonus point as Alisha Joyce returns, Keira Bevan shines at nine and their lineout bamboozled England. Despite shipping four tries, the Red Roses completed a record-extending 36th consecutive Test win. Marlie Packer scored another two tries, Zoe Harrison's sensational form off the tee continued, and captain Meg Jones impressed again - is she now nailed on to be World Player of the Year?

After another couple of weeks without a game, Gloucester returned to PREM action away to Bristol - but unfortunately it was much of the same as they ended up on the wrong side of another record defeat. We chat through the game, the disappointment with the overall manner of the performance as well as the lack of positives. We discuss why the answer given by George Skivington on the question of why the team consistently has poor starts to games, is indicative of the wider issues within the coaching set-up and playing group.Meanwhile we unpick whether the arrival of Brett Deacon and Joel Tomkins (only rumoured as we recorded on Sunday evening) would give us some hope for next year.Finally we talk through the Red Roses emphatic win over Scotland in the W6N.Ed PriceRuss BrookesJim HarleyCherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

In this week's episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup… Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by Women's Six Nations commentator and Rugby Writers chair Nick Heath to preview a massive weekend across the women's and men's game. The sun is shining and it's raining tries across rugby — and England head into Round Three of the Women's Six Nations with serious momentum. A sold-out Ashton Gate awaits as the Red Roses take on Wales, with new faces like Millie David stepping into the spotlight on her home ground after a prolific season with Bristol. We break down England's selection, including seven changes, Ellie Kildunne's return to full-back, and what it says about the depth driving this side forward — as well as where Wales can realistically test them. There's also a powerful story on the Welsh side, with Alisha Joyce returning after 562 days and just 158 days after giving birth, potentially lining up alongside Jaz Joyce in a remarkable family moment. We also cover: • England's growing fanbase and sold-out crowds • Millie David's debut and England's attacking edge • Key tactical battles at Ashton Gate • France v Ireland — a World Cup quarter-final rematch in Clermont • Italy v Scotland — who bounces back? • Whether the title race is building towards another England v France decider

The Women's Six Nations is pulling in record crowds and viewing figures, but is the tournament itself keeping pace? Ugo, Sara and Philippa Tuttiett discuss whether there needs to be more emphasis on the rugby than the spectacle. Sean Lynn is still searching for a first Six Nations win as Wales boss and with the Red Roses up next, we look at how they should approach the match and what would constitute success. Ireland have revenge on their mind as they head to France this week. It's the first meeting since their controversial World Cup quarter-final. Anna Caplice joins us to debate how the Irish should be approaching a match full of emotion.

Shaunagh Brown is joined by Scottish International Emma Wassell, following their game against England at Scottish Gas Murrayfield this weekend. Emma and Shaunagh chat through her game against the Red Roses on Saturday as well as the other fixtures in Round 2 of the Guinness Women's Six Nations. They also talk about Emma's new documentary, Louch, which follows Emma's battle with a 27cm tumour in her chest that stopped her from playing rugby, just months after losing her mum.

We're back in England Camp!Elma heads to Pennyhill Park to catch-up with England Captain Meg Jones and our Mosef to check in on the Red Roses and Mo's knee.The girls unpick a cracker of a day at Murrayfield: the 30, 498 fans who turned out, the piper, the anthems, England's 1.99 second ruck speed & Demelza Short's first cap. We get the update on Mo's injury, we finally witness the cat lady's running style and hear about how John Mitchell ruined Scaz's breakfast... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a week of contrasts in both the Prem and Women's 6 Nations.In the Gallagher Prem the league continues to attract new investment but Sale were humiliated at home on Sunday, whilst Gloucester, Newcastle and Harlequins also suffered heavy defeats. Was that down to a lack of jeopardy due to no relegation? Or other factors?Scotland v England at Murrayfield set a new record attendance for a standalone women's sporting event north of the border. But, on the pitch are the sides further apart than ever after England's thumping win? When will the Red Roses next lose?Plus, Joe Launchbury chats to Alfie & Will after he announced he would retire from rugby at the end of the season.***Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Orchard is joined by World Cup winner Katy Daley-McLean and former Scotland fly-half Lisa Martin as England beat Scotland 84-7. A record-breaking crowd watched on at Murrayfield as England put 12 tries on Scotland to continue their charge for the grand slam. What do Scotland need to do to gain a greater depth of players? How differently does their model need to be, to compete with England? As for the Red Roses, how well have they adapted to forced changes? Plus, the team consider the next round.    Timecodes: 0'45 Record breaking attendance at Murrayfield 5'30 Scotland's depth issues 9'40 Changing the Scotland model 14'39 England's pace 17'49 Next round of fixtures

In this week's episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup… Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by journalist Sarah Rendell to break down a huge second round of the Women's Six Nations — with England heading to Murrayfield under mounting selection pressure. After a record-breaking opening weekend that saw over 77,000 fans pack into Twickenham, attention now turns to how the Red Roses respond to a growing injury list. Hannah Botterman and May Campbell are out of the tournament, Alex Matthews misses Scotland through injury, and England had already lost key names including Rosie Galligan, Abbie Ward and captain Zoe Stratford. Yet, despite those setbacks, England continue to call on the depth of talent coming through the PWR — with Delaney Burns and Liz Crake drafted in. We ask whether this is disruption, or a timely test ahead of the World Cup. We also discuss Ellie Kildunne's powerful decision to speak openly about body dysmorphia and the pressures of being one of rugby's most recognisable faces — and what that says about the changing landscape of the women's game. With Kildunne also part of rugby's first ever Twickenham tifo, we explore whether rugby is finally starting to build genuine star power in a team sport that has often struggled to do so. Looking ahead to Round Two, we preview England's trip to Scotland, Wales hosting France at Cardiff Arms Park — boosted by the return of Jasmine Joyce — and Ireland taking on Italy at the Dexcom Stadium after an encouraging showing against England. Beyond the matches, we take a wider look at the growth of the women's game. With the Women's Super League seeing huge attendance figures following the Lionesses' Euros success, why hasn't the PWR seen the same exponential rise? And does the presentation of matches — including TV shots of empty stands — risk holding the game back? Plus, we finish with a quickfire round — from Nando's orders to favourite away days and the best press box food in the game. --- You can subscribe to The Rugby Paper digitally or physically for more great content via this link: https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/subsc... Follow us across social media for more rugby insight and analysis: X: https://x.com/TheRugbyPaper Facebook: / therugbypaper Instagram: / therugbypaper See you next time on The Rugby Paper Roundup.

Warning: This episode contains discussion of disordered eating which some may find distressing. Sara is joined by World Cup winner Katy Daley-McLean and former Scotland fly-half Lisa Martin to talk all things Women's Six Nations. There is still plenty to discuss from the opening weekend after a big omission in the Wales matchday programme and Meg Jones' joining the post-match celebrations with fans at a Twickenham pub. Over 30,000 fans are expected at Murrayfield this weekend, which will be a record for a women's sporting event in Scotland, but how do the SRU capitalise on this moving forward? England and Scotland's injury lists continues to grow and we get our predictions for round two.There is also a powerful interview with Red Roses star Ellie Kildunne who opens up about her struggle with body dysmorphia. If you or anyone you know have been affected by any of the themes raised in this episode, help and support is available at BBC Action Line. URL - https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Ruby Tui and Shaunagh Brown link up to review the opening round of the Guinness Women's Six Nations, which saw more records broken at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. They chat through England's new look, as well as that last-minute thriller between Scotland and Wales at the Principality Stadium. And... what went down at the biggest after party in town? We can confirm that DJ Ruby was back in business. Plus… Shaunagh catches up with Red Roses lock Lilli Ives Campion from right inside the England camp, and Ruby explains where she disappeared to while live on the BBC…

Although Gloucester have had no rugby over the past few weeks but there is still plenty to chat about. As the Red Roses started their Six Nations campaign with a scratchy win, there were a number of serious injury concerns for three of the Glos-Hartpury contingent. Meanwhile the Quarter Final round of the European club competitions saw some incredible games including an amazing all English clash won by Bath (we know!). Finally, we look ahead to Gloucester's away game at Bristol before reminiscing about a famous win 30 years ago.Ed PriceJim HarleyCherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Alfie Reynolds, Elgan Alderman and Charlie Morgan look back on the Champions Cup quarter-finals.They ask which was better...Bath and Northampton's epic high-scoring tussle at The Rec? Or the heavyweight clash between Bordeaux and Toulouse?Was Henry Pollock unlucky to be shown a yellow card so late in the contest? And, despite defeat, will Northampton be confident of getting revenge in the Prem final?Are Leinster going under the radar and could they actually win the Champions Cup this season?And, the boys look back on the opening round of the Women's 6 Nations as the Red Roses made it 34 wins in a row!***Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Orchard is joined by 2014 World Cup winner with England, Kat Merchant and former Ireland international, Anna Caplice as England beat Ireland 33-12 in the first round of the women's Six Nations.The team react to the new-look England and a stellar performance from new captain Meg Jones. Hear from wives; Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald after they play against each other for the first time! Are there signs of Ireland closing the gap on England? And is there any possibility of England being beaten during this campaign?

The Women's Six Nations starts on Saturday and ahead of the tournament, Sara Orchard and former Wales captain Phillippa Tuttiett get the lowdown on life in camp with the captains from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Sara and Philippa asked the all-important questions, and find out what the fans really want to know; from their ‘girl dinners', to which celebrity would play them in a film. (To assist with that, Philippa has a little bit of help from AI - and the results are surprising!) The captains come thick and fast – as Sara and Philippa juggle them all during the Six Nations launch. First up is Red Roses skipper Meg Jones. She lets them in on what it's like being named as captain, new tattoos and the role she will play in the side. Wales captain Kate Williams has a Navy background and tells us her journey from being in New Zealand to playing for Wales. Scotland stalwart Rachel Malcolm is no stranger to these events and tells Sara and Philippa all about the warrior mentality in the group – and Ireland's Erin King lets us in on how many times it took for her to pass her driving test (spoiler…. it was 13 times!)

The last-16 of the Champions Cup delivered! Following an exciting weekend Alfie Reynolds, Elgan Alderman, Alex Lowe and Mark Palmer look back on the action.They chat about the competition finally bursting into life with some excellent matches including, the Stormers narrow defeat to Toulon and Bath getting past Saracens.Elgan was in France to see Toulouse and Bordeaux dismantle Bristol and Leicester and asks if anyone can stop the two giants of French rugby?Mark reflects on the fortunes of Edinburgh and Glasgow and whether Franco Smith's team could really go all the way and actually win the tournament?Plus, what now for the Red Roses? Seven months on from winning their home World Cup, they begin their 6 Nations campaign on Saturday, aiming to win an 8th straight title!***Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nasa's Artemis II spacecraft has blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida and is now orbiting the Earth in the first crewed mission to the Moon in half a century. If all goes well in the next few hours, it will head off to go around the Moon. The mission should take 10 days, with four astronauts on board including one woman. Anita Rani speaks to Sian Cleaver, a spacecraft engineer on Artemis II.The Women's Six Nations is just around the corner and after last year's Rugby World Cup win, the expectations for England's Red Roses are sky high. Over 70,000 tickets have already been sold for the women's opening game against Ireland on Saturday 11 April, and the team have announced a new captain, Meg Jones. There's also the release of a new documentary England Meet England on ITV. So, is the team feeling the pressure? Red Roses' new captain Meg Jones joins Anita.The Ministry of Defence has been accused of failing women who are suffering domestic abuse at the hands of their partners in the forces. A dossier of cases has been compiled by the Survivor Family Network, which supports domestic abuse victims in the family courts. Their investigation alleges that battlefield techniques are being used to inflict violence on wives and girlfriends. And when they try to report it, they say the military closes ranks. Anita talks to the director of the Survivor Family Network, Natalie Page.Former lawyer turned author Ella King's new novel, Dear Darling is the story of Lauren, a young teenage girl who has a relationship with a much older man. When she's an adult and a mother herself, he comes back into her life and Lauren decides to confront him and the harm that he did to her. Ella joins Anita to discuss the novel and how her former work with victims of abuse and domestic violence have informed her research.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

“What's missing…is Shane.” Buckle up for a special episode of For Songs Singles! In this episode, James Fearnley, original accordion player for the legendary Irish/English punk band the Pogues, returns to talk about the band's recent run of reunion shows celebrating the 40th anniversaries of their first two records, Red Roses for Me and Rum Sodomy and the Lash. Together with founding Pogues members Spider Stacy and Jem Finer, the trio is leading an ensemble production across the globe reimagining the fire and spirit of those heady early days. James talks about how this effort came together and what it's like giving these old songs new life. We wrap up with an in-depth discussion about his new band the Walker Roaders' blistering latest single Singing School, released in late 2025. So go grab a pint and listen in!

Chuck Edwards - "Downtown Soulville" - 45 [0:00:00] Music behind DJ: Lee Allen - "Cat Walk" - 45 [0:02:38] Lee Dorsey - "Behind the 8 Ball" - 45 [0:04:31] Professor Longhair - "Misery" - 45 [0:06:22] Lisa Page - "Checking Out" - 45 [0:08:19] Ford Eaglin - "Little Eva" - 45 [0:10:52] Alex Spearman - "What in the World" - 45 [0:13:04] Music behind DJ: "Red" Tyler - "Olde Wine" - 45 [0:15:15] Martha Carter - "Then I'll Believe" - 45 [0:18:02] Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns - "She Got Low Down" - 45 [0:19:59] Al Reed - "Top Notch Grade A" - 45 [0:22:36] The Tick-Tocks - "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" - 45 [0:24:37] Marvell - "Love Is a One Sided Fight" - 45 [0:26:43] Music behind DJ: James Booker - "Big Nick" - 45 [0:28:55] George Pepp - "You Gotta Get a Wig" - 45 [0:31:10] Curly Moore - "You Don't Mean" - 45 [0:34:20] Toni Washington - "Good Things" - 45 [0:36:33] Benny Spellman - "This Is for You My Love" - 45 [0:38:40] Warren Lee - "Star Revue" - 45 [0:40:38] Music behind DJ: The Samfords - "Another Like the Other" - 45 [0:42:56] Betty Harris - "12 Red Roses" - 45 [0:44:56] Gerald Taylor - "I'm Coming Home" - 45 [0:47:27] Oliver Joy - "Keep Love Growing" - 45 [0:49:52] Zu Zu Blues Band - "Zu Zu Man" - 45 [0:52:00] Al Robinson - "Sho 'Bout to Drive Me Wild" - 45 [0:54:11] Mary Jane Hooper - "I've Got Reasons" - 45 [0:56:26] Music behind DJ: Dejan's Olympia Brass Band of New Orleans - "Gotta Woman" - 45 [0:58:17] https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/161262

Prince William reportedly brings in crisis heavyweight Liza Ravenscroft from Edelman — officially “non-crisis,” which is exactly what people say right before the crisis. The Palace read is simple: if Harry's security gets restored and a Sussex presence returns to Britain ahead of Invictus 2027, Kensington wants its comms operation ready for impact. Also in the mix: the chatter about William's 2025 income and the jealousy narrative from the Sussex side, Kate's upcoming Windsor reception for the Red Roses, and the latest round of royal micro-drama — including who didn't post a birthday message and why everyone noticed. Toss in Sophie doing hockey drills, and the Tindalls living their best Australian life, and you've got a full royal buffet.Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

After years of podding separately in Cardiff, Stirling and London - Chris, Tom and GRO finally get together to record a Nations Pod in person. They look back at the highs and lows of the game in 2025 which included the Lions tour of Australia and the Red Roses lifting the World Cup. How would you sum up the Lions tour? And how do you best describe another tough year for Wales? Tom challenges the guys to pick one word that sums up each nation's year and the tournaments. They also reflect on the big moments and best performances of the year. And no review of the year is complete without a combined team of the year!

It's been a huge year for British sport: the Lionesses roared to victory in the Euros this summer, the Red Roses won the Women's Rugby World Cup and Lando Norris won Formula 1 drivers' championship.In such a record-breaking year across the sports, who deserves to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year? This year's contenders are: Hannah Hampton, Chloe Kelly, Ellie Kildunne, Luke Littler, Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris.Andrew Butler is joined by The Observer's Assistant Sports Editor Jess Hayden, alongside sports reporters Jessy Parker Humphreys and George Simms, as they go head-to-head to debate who deserves to take home SPOTY.Vote for who you think should win here: https://www.smartsurvey.com/t/observersport/ **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Andrew ButlerProducer: Amalie SortlandExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In celebration of the Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' EP, we take a detailed look at how their classic Christmas single came together. The Pogues originally formed in London in 1982 by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. MacGowan had gotten his start playing in the punk band, the Nipple Erectors, and when that band broke up, he began playing in an Irish traditional music style. Gradually, he brought in James Fearnley, Cait O'Riordan and John Hasler to become a sextet. Andrew Ranken replaced John Hasler as they signed with Stiff Records. Their debut album, Red Roses for Me, was released in 1984. For their second album, they added Philip Chevron on guitar and hired Elvis Costello as their producer. Rum Sodomy & the Lash was released in 1985, and they continued working with Costello for the Poguetry in Motion EP, released in 1986. At this point, Cait O'Riordan left the band and they updated the lineup to include Darryl Hunt and Terry Woods. They signed to Island Records and hired Steve Lillywhite to produce their third album. If I Should Fall from Grace with God was eventually released in 1988 and included the Christmas single, “Fairytale of New York.”  In this episode, Steve Lillywhite describes working with the Pogues at this pivotal time in their career when they were expanding the lineup and becoming more ambitious with their song structures and arrangements. Despite not having experience recording a traditional folk band, Lillywhite proved to be the right producer for the Pogues at this moment. His input and confidence in the studio led to them splicing two sections of “Fairytale of New York” together and also enlisting his wife Kirsty MacColl to sing the female part in the song. Jem Finer talks about his initial writing process for the song and how he wrote two potential Christmas ideas that his wife Marcia dismissed as being far too sentimental. Her input led to him rethinking the song and writing about a down on their luck couple, inspired by people who lived in their neighborhood in London. Finer describes how Shane MacGowan then took the song and moved the setting to New York City and added some key lines that were taken from real conversations. James Fearnley describes the thrill of recording the opening section with just piano and voice and how he practiced repeatedly to be able to get that part right. He talks about how the song deserved an ambitious string arrangement and so he worked out some ideas on a synthesizer before bringing in Fiachra Trench to help with the orchestration. By taking inspiration from film scores like Ennio Morricone's Once Upon a Time in America and Leonard Bernstein's On the Waterfront, Fearnley talks about wanting to bring a cinematic sound to match the classic American story that was being told. From the song's long gestation period of a few years, to Steve Lillywhite bringing the tapes home and casually asking Kirsty MacColl to sing on it, to the inspiration behind the classic “I could've been someone”  line, to the initial disappointment of getting to number 2 in the charts, to the perfect sparring duet partners in Shane and Kirsty, to the anti-Christmas Christmas song that has become timeless, we'll hear the stories of how the record came together. 

AJ Rafael is an accomplished Filipino-American singer-songwriter from California. He has amassed over 1 million subscribers on YouTube and 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His debut album Red Roses has reached the iTunes and Billboard charts, and he has collaborated with artists such as Tori Kelly, Jeremy Passion, Kina Grannis, and past podcast guest Roman from Kolohe Kai. This popular YouTuber is known for his pop-rock music and DIY approach to music promotion and was named a Filipino American Game Changer by the City of Los Angeles in 2018 for his contribution to the music industry as a proud Asian American independent artist. As an actor, he has stage credits in productions such as “Burn all Night,”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Greese”, and “Spring Awakening”. You can catch him on the Sweet or Savory podcast with his wife Alyssa and both of them in person at Blue Note Hawai'i in December during their “Our little Christmas Tour”.In this episode we talk about growing up in California, how he got into music, starting to upload videos to YouTube, his YouTube and music career, his love for Hawai'i, his wife Alyssa, their upcoming Blue Note show in Waikiki, and so much more.Find AJ here: https://www.instagram.com/ajrafael/Buy our merch on:Official website: https://keepitaloha.com/Support us on:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod