The Rugby Paper Podcast

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S3 E6 - Scotland’s World Cup prospects and England crisis deepens with Duncan Hodge

We are just over a week away!
England's first ever loss to Fiji marked the low point of their World Cup preparations as Steve Borthwick has now run out of time to gain some sort of momentum ahead of their opening game against Argentina. Conversely, Scotland head into their pool of death clashes against Ireland and South Africa with three wins from four this summer and every chance of getting out of the group. Joining host Ollie Little, columnist Chris Hewett and Digital Editor Nick Powell to discuss Scotland's World Cup chances and England's woes is former fly-half Duncan Hodge. 

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S3 E5 - Argentina’s World Cup prospects and Farrell and Vunipola bans with Marcelo Bosch

Following their respective suspensions, Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell will miss the start of the World Cup this year as England's preparations continue to falter. This means that England will be without their Number 8 and fly-half and captain for their opener against Argentina.
Today's special guest on the Rugby Paper Podcast is a former Saracens teammate of the banned pair and semi-finalist with Los Pumas.
Giving his take on Argentina's World Cup preparations and the Farrell and Vunipola sagas is, you guessed it, Argentina and Saracens legend Marcelo Bosch!

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S3 E4 - Australia’s World Cup prospects and Owen Farrell’s red card with David Campese

The Rugby World Cup 2023 draws ever closer and following another weekend of preparation fixtures, things are hotting up.
Eddie Jones named man-mountain Will Skelton Australia's captain for the tournament, omitting Wallabies greats Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper in a bombshell squad announcement.
In what can only be described as a box office podcast episode, joining host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett to discuss the Wallabies' chances of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy, the devolution of skills in modern rugby, Owen Farrell's red card and so much more is one of the greatest rugby players of all time and Australian rugby Hall of Famer, David Campese. Fasten your seatbelts! 

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S3 E3 - South Africa’s World Cup prospects with Hennie Le Roux and England release World Cup squad

Continuing our review series of the major nations in the lead-up to the World Cup later this year in France, today the guys look at champions South Africa, who defend their title after a turbulent and inconsistent four years. To do so, host Ollie Little and columnists Chris Hewett, Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain are joined by one of the stalwarts of that 1995 World Cup-winning side, Hennie Le Roux. 
At the end of the episode, the guys also scrutinise Steve Borthwick's World Cup squad selections so stay tuned for that!

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S3 E2 - Ireland’s World Cup prospects with Willie Anderson

As we continue our overview of how the major nations are shaping up for the World Cup in France later this year, it's time to look at the number one team in the world, Ireland. Joining host Ollie Little and the full house of columnists in Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett to discuss Andy Farrell's side's chances of breaking their World Cup hoodoo as well as his infamous confrontation of New Zealand's haka is former lock and captain Willie Anderson. 

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S3 E1 - Italy’s World Cup prospects with Tommy Allan

The Rugby Paper Podcast has officially entered its third season as we begin the run-up to the 2023 World Cup. The guys will be looking at the prospects of the major nations as we approach, and joining host Ollie Little and columnists Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain to look at how Italy are shaping up is their fly-half and returning guest, Tommy Allan. The guys also look at tweaks in the England World Cup training squad as well as discussing this weekend's Bledisloe Cup. 

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S2 E27 - Unity through rugby with Trevor Ringland

On this week's edition of the podcast former Ulster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions winger Trevor Ringland MBE discusses playing for an Ulster team that won ten consecutive Interprovincial titles and an Irish team that won three Five Nations titles in the 1980s amidst the division of the troubles.
Joined by Chris Hewett and Brendan Gallagher, the former UK Special Envoy to the United States on Northern Ireland also analyses how the Irish team has become so strong in the professional era, gives his prediction for the upcoming Rugby World Cup and discusses his ideas to improve the game of rugby in the modern day.

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S2 E26 - Championship future, U20 World Cup and building up to the main event

On this week’s edition of the podcast, Brendan and Chris assess Simon Halliday’s comments on the future of the English second tier, which featured on the front page of Sunday's edition of The Rugby Paper.
We also keep an eye on the U20 Rugby World Cup and England’s squad for the main event, look ahead to the Rugby Championship, and finish by reminiscing about England’s Tour of Hell which ended 25 years ago on Tuesday.

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S2 E25 - Mal O’Kelly on Ireland’s World Cup prospects and Leinster’s end to the season

This week on the Rugby Paper Podcast, joining host Ollie Little, columnists Nick Cain and Brendan Gallagher and Digital Editor Nick Powell, Mal O'Kelly discusses Leinster's trophy-less end to the season, Ireland's World Cup prospects and the current state of the breakdown in rugby. 

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S2 E24 - European Cup format and reattempting an England XV for France 2023

This week on the Rugby Paper Podcast, host Ollie Little is joined by columnists Brendan Gallagher, Nick Cain and Chris Hewett to discuss the format changes announced for next season's European Cup before having another crack at putting together an England XV for the 2023 World Cup, six months on from the last attempt!