The Rugby Paper Podcast

Episode 24 of The Rugby Paper Podcast welcomes former Ireland fly-half Mick Quinn, basking in the success of his team's historic summer  in New Zealand. Together with host Ollie Little and columnists Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett, Mick lays out Irish prospects for the World Cup next year. Mick also takes the liberty to lay into English life prospects in general. 

Points of discussion are in abundance in your next edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast after a fitting finale to the summer series. Host Ollie Little is rejoined by Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett as they welcome special guest, former England full-back, professional cricketer and rugby journalist Alastair Hignell. As well as discussing Ireland's phenomenal achievement in New Zealand and the perennial problem of England selection, Alastair provides fascinating insight into his charity work for The Sporting Memories Foundation, an organisation that uses the power of sports reminiscing and discussion to tackle dementia, depression and loneliness among the elderly. 

Two weekends of summer tours have proved a microcosm of the very fine north/south divide at present. Australia vs England, New Zealand vs Ireland, South Africa vs Wales and Argentina vs Scotland are all locked at a win apiece. The Rugby Paper Podcast looks ahead to a weekend guaranteed of drama and unpredictability. To do so, Ollie Little is joined by columnists Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett, as well as former Bath and England prop Gareth Chilcott. 

Saturday's Gallagher Premiership Final was a wonderful occasion - not least if you are a Leicester Tigers fan! The Rugby Paper Podcast looks back at the final and the Gallagher Premiership season as a whole, as well as reviewing the England squad for their tour of Australia which was announced following a dismal showing against the Barbarians. Joining host Ollie Little to do this are regular columnists for The Rugby Paper Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett, as well as former England prop Jeff Probyn. 

Following a weekend of chaotic semi-final action, this week's instalment of The Rugby Paper Podcast previews the all-important Gallagher Premiership Final between Leicester Tigers and Saracens. Joining host Ollie Little is columnist for The Rugby Paper and podcast debutant Chris Hewett as well special guest former England scrum-half and World Cup winner Kyran Bracken. 

Your next edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast discusses the United Rugby Championship. The URC is undergoing something of a revolution, with the addition of four South African provinces this season. Two South African sides made it to the semi-finals, however with all four Welsh regions missing out on quarter-final spots. Joining Ollie Little, Nick Cain and Brendan Gallagher to debate this imbalance is former Wales captain and one of the most distinctive voices in rugby, Eddie Butler.

This week, host Ollie Little and Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock are joined by Scotland international and Saracens back row Andy Christie to discuss the all important denouement for the Gallagher Premiership 2022 season, chaotic international call-ups, Love Island and more.

Episode 17 tackles one of the most pressing issues in English men's rugby. An already-shrinking grassroots game has been hit by the pandemic and needs as much support as it can get in order for the top levels of rugby to not be affected. Discussing what needs to be done, host Ollie Little is joined by columnists Nick Cain and Brendan Gallagher, as well as two time British and Irish Lion Peter Winterbottom.

A special family occasion for this week's episode of The Rugby Paper Podcast. Host Ollie Little is treated to the company of Leicester Tigers and England prop Joe Heyes, his father, former Nottingham Forest professional goalkeeper Darren Heyes, and his grandfather, former Leicester City and Swansea goalkeeper George Heyes. The episode includes discussion on Leicester's prospects ahead of a potential Premiership Final, overlap between rugby and football, and 84 year-old George's first experience over zoom - thoroughly entertaining!

For The Rugby Paper Podcast this week, host Ollie Little, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock and Digital Editor Ben Redwood are joined by Bristol Bears stalwart Jake Woolmore. Being the first Bear to 100 caps is just one of many feats on the loosehead's resume, as we find out in discussing his work as a barber and his gin brand (listen for a discount code).  In Mental Health Awareness Week, we also discuss Jake's lessons learned from working as a Mental Health First Aider, and mental health in rugby.