The Ruck
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The Ruck
The Ruck is the journalists' rugby podcast from The Times & The Sunday Times.Join Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and a selection of guests every week as they provide insight and reports throughout the season, including big-name interviews and forthright analysis. Hosted on Acast. See a...
Recent Episodes
552 episodes
And then there were three…Is there one last Six Nations shock?
Super Saturday is almost here as the 2026 6 Nations reaches its conclusion.
Who will win the title as France, Scotland and Ireland are all in th...
Historic weekend leaves three nations in the running
What a weekend of 6 Nations action!
Italy recorded their first-ever win against England, Scotland produced one of their best performances to put...
England's 6 Nations in ruins after their first-ever defeat to Italy
England have lost to Italy for the first time!
Following a historic day in Rome, Alfie Reynolds and Will Kelleher are in the Stadio Olympico to...
Can 'best ever' Italy beat England for the first time?
England make the trip to Rome in the 6 Nations following two defeats and two terrible performances against Scotland and Ireland. So how much pressure...
Seismic changes in English rugby & the 6 Nations run-in
Last week the English league system saw its biggest shake-up since the dawn of professionalism: it was confirmed that from 2029/30 the PREM will chang...
Six Nations halfway house: Can Scotland or Ireland stop France’s procession?
It's a fallow week in the 6 Nations so Alfie Reynolds, Elgan Alderman and Stuart Barnes discuss all of the action from round three.
They chat ab...
England's 'alarming' defeat to brilliant Ireland
England's hopes of a 6 Nations title went up in smoke as they lost to Ireland at Twickenham.
Following a loss to Scotland a week ago, Steve Bort...
Itoje's 100th as England face Ireland
Following defeat to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup last weekend, England host Ireland in round three of the 6 Nations on Saturday.
Alfie Reynolds,...
Is anyone good enough to stop a French Grand Slam?
The second round of the 6 Nations produced plenty of thrills and spills! Scotland stunned England in Edinburgh, Ireland got up and running by beating...
Groundhog day as brilliant Scotland bulldoze England
Scotland destroyed England 31-20 to win the Calcutta Cup!
From the stands at Murrayfield Alfie Reynolds, Mark Palmer and Will Kelleher try to un...
Can England finally win in Edinburgh?
It's Calcutta Cup week as Scotland host England in the 6 Nations.
Alfie, Alex and Will are in Edinburgh to look ahead to the match. They discuss...
What now for Gregor Townsend? And a pod debut!
On the opening weekend of the 6 Nations Scotland lost against Italy to heap pressure on Gregor Townsend, Ireland lost to France who produced a stateme...
Clinical England dismantle dismal Wales
England got their 6 Nations campaign up and running with a ruthless 48-7 victory over Wales who endured a torrid day at Twickenham.
Alfie Reynol...
Do Wales have any hope of beating England?
What chance do Wales have of beating England at Twickenham this weekend in the opening round of the 6 Nations? The bookmakers have them as huge outsid...
Who are the 6 Nations favorites?
The 2026 6 Nations is here!
Who are the favorites to win the championship? Is it France as the defending champions or a resurgent England?
...
Will Welsh rugby ever recover?
Alfie and Will welcome Mark Evans back onto The Ruck having returned from his time as the CEO of the Fijian Drua.
They chat about the latest dev...
Did Scott Robertson 'lose the dressing room'?
Following the All Blacks sacking head coach Scott Robertson, Alfie, Will and Alex are joined by the New Zealand Herald's Liam Napier to explain why he...
Madness, brilliance and problems: Another weekend in the Champions Cup
Following another weekend of action in the Champions Cup Alfie, Elgan and Alex look back on all of the big stories.
With only one round of match...
Henry Pollock Special
Henry Pollock had a remarkable 2025!
Breaking through with Northampton Saints, making his England debut, beating Leinster in Dublin, a Champions...
What's happening at Harlequins!?
At the midway point in the Prem season Harlequins find themselves in a crisis. They're 8th in the table, having only won two of their nine games, incl...
Our World XV of 2025!
It's the end of 2025 so in keeping with tradition The Ruck's end of year selection meeting is back as Alfie, Alex, Will and Elgan name a world XV of t...
Harlequins humiliated and salary cap secrets
It's the final pod before Christmas and Alfie, Alex, Will and Elgan are back to review all the action over the weekend.
They discuss humbling de...
How to save the Champions Cup, scrums and the Champ
Will and Alex are solving all sorts on the Ruck this week.
Mark Palmer comes on to chat about Glasgow's extraordinary win over Toulouse in the...
Is this Bath's year in Europe? Plus hybrid hero André Esterhuizen
The Ruck has a South African flavour this week as we interview Springboks hybrid hero André Esterhuizen, the centre who can also play back-row. We tal...
Where does Welsh rugby go from here?
Following the end of the Autumn Internationals, Alex Lowe and Elgan Alderman review the action. We look at South Africa's 73–0 mauling of Wales, as we...
Are unbeaten England now South Africa's closest rivals?
Following the end of the November internationals Alfie, Alex, Will and Barnsey are back in studio to review the action.
In 2025 South Africa hav...
Injury-hit England aim for a perfect autumn
It's the final weekend of the November internationals (apart from Wales and South Africa who play each other next week!).
So, Alfie, Will and E...
The Nations Championship explained, Pumas prowl & Scotland suffer
Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Owen Slot and Will Kelleher look back on the latest action from the November internationals.
They ask what was the mo...
A George Ford masterclass, as England ‘batter’ New Zealand
England have beaten the All Blacks for the 9th time in their history! Steve Borthwick's side ran out comfortable winners for a statement victory.
Richie McCaw previews England vs New Zealand
All Blacks legend and double world cup winning New Zealand captain Richie McCaw joins Alfie, Alex and Will to look ahead to the match against England...
Scotland miss All Blacks history as England plan their own shot at glory
Alfie Reynolds, Elgan Alderman and Stuart Barnes look back on the latest from the November internationals. They're joined by Mark Palmer to reflect on...
England beat Fiji (eventually). Now the All Blacks..
Alfie Reynolds and Will Kelleher look back on England's victory over Fiji at Twickenham. For the second week in a row Steve Borthwick's side managed t...
Why is Maro Itoje on the bench?
It's the second weekend of November internationals so Alfie, Alex and Elgan look ahead to the action.
They are at the England training base so d...
Steven Kitshoff: Life threatening injury, France vs Springboks and bomb squad beer
Alfie, Will and Owen Slot are back to review all the November internationals over the weekend and preview the upcoming round of fixtures.
They a...
England's 'bomb squad' downs Wallabies
Alfie, Alex and Will react to England's victory over Australia at Twickenham as Steve Borthwick's side started their November campaign with a 25-7 win...
England's 'New Phase' November; Wallabies Preview
England begin their November internationals this weekend by welcoming Australia to Twickenham.
Alfie and Alex are at the England training base t...
Warburton on Welsh rugby's future & Freeman the centre
It's the start of the November internationals so Alfie and Will look ahead to the matches this weekend, including England's game against Australia. Th...
Caluori's surprise inclusion, Willis' shock departure - England's November squad!
Alfie, Alex and Will are at England's training base after Steve Borthwick announced his training squad ahead of the November internationals. Teenage s...
Does rugby want R360?
Alfie, Alex and Will question whether the rugby establishment wants to see R360 - the new global franchise competition - be successful. It follows las...
Two Lions on the pod: Fin Smith staying at Saints & Tommy Freeman’s positional switch.
Ahead of 'Derby Weekend' in the Gallagher PREM, Will Kelleher heads to the midlands to chat to Northampton Saints. He speaks with Director of Rugby Ph...