The Telegraph Rugby Podcast

We're less than a week away from the first British and Irish Lions game of the 2021 Tour.Joining Brian in the studio to look ahead to the tour is the former South Africa captain and World Cup winner Bob Skinstad.Bob gives us the lowdown on the current South Africa side who haven't played a test match since the 2019 World Cup final as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.England forwards coach Matt Proudfoot was part of the South African coaching setup for that World Cup win and he joins the show to discuss the upcoming series and where he feels it will be one and lost.And Harlequins produced a sensational comeback in the Gallagher Premiership, coming from 28-0 down to defeat Bristol. We speak to the Telegraph's Ben Coles, who was at Ashton Gate , about the match and also about next weeks final against defending Champions Exeter.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa Brian Moore is sitting down with former players and coaches to discuss some of the memories which have made the Lions become the institution it is today.For the third instalment, Brian speaks to former England prop Alex Corbisiero about what it's like to join a Lions Tour late, and how you have to force your way into a settled squad.Alex details his experience in 2013 of finding out he had missed out on selection, then being told he had to make the three-day trip from Argentina to Australia before establishing himself as the starting loosehead prop for the test series.If you would like to donate to Alex's foundation: https://t.co/I6x6PKEhVt?amp=1 |Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa Brian Moore will be sitting down with former players and coaches to discuss some of the memories which have made the Lions become the institution it is today.For the second instalment Brian speaks to former South Africa captain John Smit who discusses what it's like to face the Lions, a privilege only available to Springboks once every twelve years.He shares his memories of the Lions victory in 1997 where he played a small part in the lead up to the test series and discusses the famous test series win in 2009 where he admits he was more nervous than he had been for the World Cup Final two years previously.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa Brian Moore will be sitting down with former players and coaches to discuss some of the memories which have made the Lions become the institution it is today.First up is the man dubbed 'Mr Lions', Sir Ian McGeechan. McGeechan had an illustrious Lions career as a player, but it is his work as a head coach which will see him go down a true Lions legend.He takes Brian on a journey through his early days as a player in 1974, right the way through to the historic series in 2009 where he came back as a head coach for one last time following a twelve-year absence.Ahead of this year's tour to South Africa he details what he believes is the secret to a successful tour and more importantly what is required to tame the Springboks.You'll also hear his thoughts on current Lions head coach Warren Gatland, who was part of the 2009 tour, and whether or not he would have made any different selections were he in charge himself.Read more from Sir Ian McGeechan every Sunday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sf-sj/sir-ian-mcgeechan/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2021 Six Nations is all said and done for everyone bar France and Scotland following a Super Saturday that well and truly lived up to its name.Joining Brian to recap the final weekend and to look back on the tournament in general is the former England Sevens captain, Rob Vickerman.England failed to back up their impressive performance at home to France, they were on the receiving end of a thrashing by an Ireland side who produced arguably their best performance so far under head coach Andy Farrell.The result has piled more pressure on head coach Eddie Jones who has come in for criticism throughout the Six Nations. Both Brian and Rob agree the England squad is in need of an overhaul but think it would be a mistake to replace Jones right now.The highlight of the weekend, and tournament, came in Paris on Saturday night where Wales' march to an unlikely Grand Slam was halted with the final play of the game. Former Ospreys head coach Sean Holley says the nation is heartbroken but ultimately proud of how the team has turned itself around from a dismal 2020.And we hear from former England captain Katy Daley-McLean about the new WXV tournament set to revolutionise the women's game.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland vs England is so often the definitive game of the Six Nations but as we head into the final round of fixtures for this years tournament both sides find themselves playing for pride rather than titles after indifferent campaigns so far.England got themselves firmly back on track with a dogged win over tournament favourites France at Twickenham, meanwhile Ireland picked up a big win away to Scotland despite a late onslaught from Gregor Townsend's side.Joining Brian to discuss the weekend's game and all things Six Nations is the former Ireland captain and British and Irish Lion, Rory Best.The pair reflect on wins for both England and Ireland respectively and discuss the role that under fire captains Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell could have this weekend.We also hear from former Ospreys head coach Sean Holley who discusses Wales chances against the French as they look to secure the unlikeliest Grand Slam in history!And there's questions on memorable Ireland/England fixtures, tractors, and what to do with Italy following another trouncing.Fill in our podcast survey: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/full_contact_surveyFor 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Six Nations return this weekend and all eyes will be on Twickenham for the clash between England and Grand Slam chasing France.Joining Brian to look ahead to that game and more is the former England back row and World Rugby Hall of Famer Maggie Alphonsi.They discuss the impressive performances of some of the players outside the England squad in the Gallagher Premiership and ask once again, if it is time for Eddie Jones to look to bring in new faces.Owen Farrell's performance as captain has also been brought into question and both Brian and Maggie agree that England would benefit from having a forward as a captain instead of the under pressure Farrell.As for France, they are playing their first Six Nations game for over a month after being cleared of any wrongdoing for breaching Covid protocols. Former international Thomas Castaignède joins the show to discuss their chances heading into the weekends clash.Plus, there's the latest on the Lions tour after it was confirmed that the option to play in Australia is off the table and Maggie tells us about her female idols on International Women's Day.Fill in our podcast survey: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/full_contact_surveyFor 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've just two rounds left to go in the 2021 Six Nations and Wales are in pole position to win a shock Grand Slam after beating England in an eventful game in Cardiff.Joining Brian to reflect on Englands defeat and more is the former London Irish and England wing Topsy Ojo.They start in Cardiff where England suffered their second defeat of the competition in controversial circumstances as the hosts were awarded two very dubious tries.Despite the misfortune both Brian and Topsy feel Wales deserved to win and that the lack of discipline in particular was the main reason for Englands downfall. There's also a debate surrounding the lack of variety and new faces in the squad.As for the two tries, former international referee (and Wales fan) Nigel Owens joins the show to describe why both of them should have been disallowed.France could have joined Wales on three wins from three games but their game against Scotland was called off after a Covid outbreak. It has since transpired that the French squad left their bubble in Rome to get Waffles and it's led to calls for Scotland to be awarded a 28-0 win.And Topsy becomes the latest former pro to call on a play off between Georgia and Italy after the Italians were thumped by Ireland, their 30th defeat in a row in the competiton.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're heading into midway of the Six Nations and it's favourites France and unfancied Wales who remain the only unbeaten sides in the competition.Joining Brian to preview the upcoming round of fixtures is former England centre Tom May. They begin by analysing England's underwhelming campaign so far and Tom expresses his concern over England's Saracens contingent which he says are suffering due to a lack of club rugby.Ahead of the crunch game with Wales on Saturday, Brian says England must test young winger Louis Rees Zammit under the high ball whereas Tom says if they can manage to get the ball to their outside backs they will hand the Welsh their first defeat of the tournament.France have set the standard so far but head into their match with Scotland with a depleted squad due to Covid. Can the Scots replicate their form of round one where they beat England in Twickenham?As for Ireland they take on Italy in a game they should win comfortably. Head coach Andy Farrell has faced criticism after a poor start to the Six Nations but after watching them up close against France, Tom says there is more to come from them.After fresh reports the Lions could in fact be staged in Australia we speak with Telegraph's chief rugby correspondent Gavin Mairs about what is going on with the tour.And to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the world's first gay rugby club, we speak with Eamonn Ashton-Atkinson, the man behind the documentary 'Steelers' which celebrates the LGBT community within the gameCheck it out here: https://www.steelersthemovie.com/, and for 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're two rounds into the 2021 Six Nations and it's just France and Wales who are left undefeated and on course for a Grand SlamJoining Brian to review the weekend's action is the former Fiji sevens coach and Olympic gold medalist Ben Ryan.They start at Twickenham where England picked up the required bonus point win but both Brian and Ben felt a sense of dissatisfaction at the performance as Eddie Jones' side seemed unable to completely shake the hangover from the opening weekend defeat to Scotland.One particular highlight was Jonny May's incredible try before half time, but was it legal? The rugby world seems split on whether it should have been awarded and both Brian and Ben have arguments for and against it being given. Elsewhere Ben has some strong words for rugby's lawmakers after Jack Willis was forced off after being on the wrong end of a 'crocodile roll' from Sebastian Negri.Elsewhere Wales picked up their second consecutive win with a surprise win away to Scotland. The Welsh once again found themselves facing fourteen men for the second game in a row and took advantage courtesy of two tries from the competition's rising star, Louis Rees-Zammit. Can the Welsh upset the odds and win the Six Nations? We get the thoughts of former Wales international James Hook who joins the show.Favourites France picked up their first win in Dublin since 2011 with a narrow win over Ireland. The defeat was a second consecutive one for the Irish which is the first time they've suffered that ever in the competition. We discuss both sides form.And as always we answer your questions including the standard of refereeing in international rugby and the latest on the Lions tour.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're just one week into the Six Nations and we already have one major upset in the books after Scotland beat England at Twickenham for the first time in 38 years.Joining Brian this week to reflect on the opening round of games is the former England sevens captain Rob Vickerman.They begin at Twickenham, where Scotland outplayed England in all departments and were actually unlucky not to have left the capital with more points. We discuss whether the performance was a one off for Gregor Townsend's side or if it can be the catalyst for them to mount a challenge for the title.As for England, much was made of the performance of their Saracens contingent who largely flattered to deceive. Brian says their inclusion is not the reason for the lacklustre performance but thinks it's time for head coach Eddie Jones to bring in some younger players, specifically at halfback, to freshen up the squad.Ireland opened up their campaign with a defeat away to Wales. Their task was made difficult after a red card early on but they still had chances to win. Former Ireland international Alan Quinlan joins the show to offer up his thoughts on how things are looking under Andy Farrell.Plus we discuss what to do about Italy after suggestions a promotion/relegation system needs to be introduced and also the pros and cons of the new format for the Women's Six Nations.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2021 Six Nations has been given the green light to go ahead and we're less than a week away!England and Scotland square off for the 150th time this weekend and joining Brian this week to look ahead to the fixture is the former Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson.The pair discuss England's status as favourites heading into the competition and what, if anything, Scotland can do to upset the odds.Finn Russell says he is a changed man after making amends with the Scotland coaching staff last time out. The Racing 92 star will be key to Scotland's chances and Rory tells us just what has changed for the mercurial fly half since his spat with Gregor Townsend.Elsewhere Wales will be hoping to put a dismal 2020 behind them, they host Ireland first and we get the take of former Wales number 8 Scott Quinnell who's backing Pivac to turn things round for the Welsh.England's Women face uncertainty over their Six Nations campaign just months out from the World Cup in New Zealand. Their side of the competition has been postponed but is expected to go ahead later in the Spring. Their head coach Simon Middleton joins the show to discuss the disruption and the idea that it should be permanently played in a separate window to the Mens tournament.And just what should be done with the British and Irish Lions? After conflicting reports the tour could be held in the UK and Australia we discuss what the best course of action should be.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2020 has been a difficult year for most and the sport of rugby union has been no exception.Joining Brian to look back on the year is former England and London Irish winger Topsy Ojo.Despite difficult circumstances off the pitch, England's men and women both enjoyed huge success on it. Eddie Jones led his side to Six Nations glory and also lifted the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup, we reflect on how the team performed and look ahead to their chances in the upcoming Six Nations.As for the Women's side, they went a full year undefeated and end 2020 as the number one ranked side in the World. Head coach Simon Middleton will now turn his full attention to the World Cup in New Zealand and he joins the show to discuss how he plans on going all the way next Summer.The British and Irish Lions return in 2021, but how is the tour going to look? Hosts South Africa are without a game of competitive rugby since lifting the World Cup in 2019, and with the Covid-19 vaccine yet to be rolled out, the prospect of fans in stadiums for the tour is a very strong possibility. We speak to Sports Editor of the Daily Maverick, Craig Ray about the Springboks preparations for the tour and the newly announced 'Rainbow Cup' which will see South Africa's Super Rugby franchises square off with the teams in the Pro 14.Plus we discuss the latest from the Gallagher Premiership, what the delay in the start of the Championship could mean for Saracens England stars and we look at some of the amazing work done by volunteers at grassroots level in what's been a turbulent year on and off the pitch.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're into week two of the European season but it's stories off the pitch which dominate the headlines rather than the action on it.Joining Brian in studio to discuss the weekend's action is former England centre Tom May.The pair review the European Champions Cup games that were able to go ahead but they discuss whether or not the competition could be in jeopardy after four games were forfeited due to Covid 19.Domestically, the big news has been that BT Sport and Premiership Rugby have agreed a three year renewal of their existing deal. The broadcaster had been close to withdrawing their bid but eventually agreed to renew a contract which is worth less than the current one, the Telegraph's Chief Rugby Correspondent Gavin Mairs has been covering the story for us and fills us in on the details and what the trickle down effect will be for Premiership clubs.England's women will be without one of their most decorated players for next years World Cup in New Zealand. Katy Daley McLean, who lifted the trophy as captain in 2014, has announced her surprise retirement just nine months out from the tournament and joins the show to explain why and what is next for her both personally and professionally.Plus we discuss the ongoing dementia issue with former pros, assess Danny Cipriani's legacy in England after he left Gloucester, and we look at some of the amazing work done by volunteers at grassroots level in what's been a turbulent year on and off the pitch.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less than two weeks after lifting their second trophy of 2020, England know who their opponents will be for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.Eddie Jones' side have been drawn alongside Argentina and Japan as well as a side from Oceania and the Americas.Joining Brian Moore and co host Rob Vickerman to react to the draw is none other than the England head coach Eddie Jones, who speaks to the show to discuss how he plans on improving the side to ensure they can go one step further from their World Cup Final defeat back in 2019, and also to reflect on what's been a positive year for his side on the pitch amongst difficult circumstances off it.Elsewhere, the major story in the game over the last week has been the revelation that a number of former professional players have been diagnosed with early onset dementia and are pursuing legal action against the games authorities. We get Rob's take on what impact the potential legal action could have on the sport and also get his own personal account of his recent assessment.Podcast regular Nigel Owens also makes a long awaited return after confirming his official retirement from international rugby. He tells Brian and Rob why he felt it was right to retire now and how he plans to remain in the game in a different capacity.And as ever, as part of the Mitsubishi volunteer programme, we speak to the volunteers who have been working tirelessly during the last year to keep grassroots rugby alive during the Covid-19 pandemic.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inaugural Autumn Nations Cup is done and dusted and it's congratulations to England who saw off France in the final after extra time.Joining Brian in the studio to reflect on Sunday's win and England's year overall is the World Rugby Hall of Fame member, Maggie Alphonshi. They discuss more criticism aimed at England over their style of play and try to find the line between entertaining fans and ensuring you win your games.Ireland finished in third place after an impressive win over Scotland in Dublin, former scrum half Eoin Reddan joins the show to discuss how their first year under new head coach Andy Farrell has been perceived from the Irish public and whether there is an over reliance on 35 year old skipper Johnny Sexton.We also assess what impact both Wales and Scotland could have on next years Six Nations, in particular the Welsh, who had a year to forget.Plus we tackle all your questions and look at some of the amazing work done by volunteers at grassroots level during the turbulent last 6 months.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England have made their way into the final of the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup where they will take on Six Nations runners up France at Twickenham.Joining Brian in studio to reflect on the weekend's action is former London Irish and England winger Topsy Ojo.The pair reflect on yet another forward dominated win by England, this time over Wales, in the Autumn Nations Cup. Eddie Jones once again relied on his pack to grind down the Welsh and whilst both Brian and Topsy agree they were in complete control, both want to see England throw the ball around a little more against France in their final match before the Six Nations this Sunday.France qualified for Sunday's final with a routine win over Italy but their preparations for the clash with England have been hampered by having a number of their squad re called to their club sides. We speak with former French international Thomas Castaignède about the battle between French Rugby and their club sides and also about the tragic passing of his former international teammate Christophe Dominici who died suddenly last week aged just 48.In the Gallagher Premiership, London Irish made a winning return in their first game in the capital for 20 years, Topsy was there to experience their new stadium and says it has provided a massive lift for everyone at the club, we also cha to Newcastle Falcons head coach Dave Walder after the promoted side made it two wins from two with a last gasp win over Sale.And as ever, as part of the Mitsubishi volunteer programme, we speak to the volunteers who have been working tirelessly during the last year to keep grassroots rugby alive during the Covid-19 pandemic.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England made it two wins from two with a comfortable win over Ireland in the Autumn Nations Cup in a game which Eddie Jones had billed as his sides most important of 2020.Joining Brian in the studio to reflect on wins for both England's men and women is Harlequins captain Rachael Burford.Johnny May stole the headlines at Twickenham with a sensational try but it could have been avoided if Ireland were more accurate in the lineout. Former skipper Paul O'Connell joins the show to dissect what's gone wrong with the Irish set piece and expresses concern over the developing gap between the two sides since Ireland's Grand Slam win at Twickenham in 2018.Elsewhere Wales finally stopped a run of defeats by beating Georgia 18-0. Wayne Pivac made 13 changes to his team and we speak with former Osprey's head coach Sean Holley about whether any of the new faces will feature this weekend against England and if anyone in Wales is giving them a chance against their great rivals.England's women secured a 2-0 series win over France just days after being drawn in the same pool for the 2021 World Cup, we get Rachael's take on England's chances in New Zealand next year and also some of the stigma female rugby players face on social media.And in a week where rugby was given £135 million by the government as part of a Covid bailout we speak to Steve Grainger, rugby development director at the RFU, about how the money will help the sport and how his role has changed in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeFollow Rachael's academy https://www.burfordacademy.co.uk/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Round one of the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup is done and dusted, and joining Brian in studio to review the weekend's action is former England centre Tom May.England ran out 40-0 winners over Georgia in their first Twickenham appearance since March and one of their try scorers from the weekend, Elliot Daly joins the show to look back on the win and discuss how this current crop of players have evolved since reaching the World Cup Final a year ago.Next up for England and Daly is a match against Ireland who dispatched Wales with ease in Dublin. We discuss where the Irish could cause England problems and how they will cope in the absence of captain Jonny Sexton and centre Robbie Henshaw. As for Wales it's now six defeats in a row and Brian and Tom discuss the ongoing crisis in Welsh rugby after some supporters called for head coach Wayne Pivac to go following the defeat.Scotland made it five wins in a row with a win away to Italy in Florence. Despite missing the game with an injury fly half Adam Hastings has played a major role for Scotland and he joins the show to discuss his own form, his relationship with Finn Russell and whether he is now the most famous Hastings in his family, overtaking his father Gavin and uncle Scott.We also speak with Harlequins centre Rachael Burford after England's Women's moved to number one in the World in the same week of the 2021 World Cup draw, and we also answer your questions as ever and take a look at some of the work being done at grassroots level around the country in association with the Mitsubishi Volunteer programme.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the 2020 Six Nations finally put to bed, our attention now turns to the upcoming Autumn Nations Cup, a five week tournament featuring the teams from the Six Nations alongside Georgia and Fiji.Alongside Brian this week to discuss the upcoming series as well as his stellar career for Ireland, Leinster and the British and Irish Lions is London Irish back row Sean O'Brien.Sean talks Brian through his career and unfamiliar route into rugby, his relationship with the likes of Michael Cheika and Joe Schmidt and the horrible impact injuries have had on his career including a hip operation which forced him to miss ten months of action, including the Rugby World Cup in 2019.We also get Sean's memories of two Lions tours in 2013 and 2017 where he scored one of the most memorable tries in test match history and how he thinks next year's tour in South Africa is shaping up.We also answer your questions as ever and take a look at some of the work being done at grassroots level around the country in association with the Mitsubishi Volunteer programme.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven months after it was due to conclude, the longest Six Nations in history is finally over.Joining Brian in studio to look back on the tournament is former Fiji Sevens coach and Olympic Gold Medalist Ben Ryan.Congratulations to England who have lifted the trophy for a third time in five years after getting their required bonus point over Italy on the final day. A 'proud' Eddie Jones says attention will now turn onto the upcoming autumn international series as he looks to develop his young squad even further.Elsewhere it was a tournament to forget for Wales who finished fifth and registered their fifth defeat in a row when losing to Scotland on the final day. We chat with former Wales and Lions fly half James Hook to discuss the feeling from Welsh supporters surrounding new head coach Wayne Pivac who has struggled since taking charge.We also assess the campaigns of both France and Ireland who played out an entertaining finale in Paris on Saturday night, many think that the French were the most deserved winners of the tournament this year but Brian believes there are still holes in their game.And we hear from the British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland who's been speaking for the first time in the build up to the 2021 tour of South Africa.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven months after the 2020 Six Nations was ground to a halt we are back for the final round of fixtures this weekend!Joining Brian in studio this week is former England and Newcastle centre Tom May. England need to guarantee a bonus point win at the bare minimum when they take on Italy in Rome but their preparations have been dealt a blow after their warm up game with the Barbarians was called off due to a breach in protocol from a collection of Ba Baa's players.Ireland and France are the other two sides in with a chance of winning the competition, both picked up convincing wins at the weekend ahead of their own showdown in Paris on Saturday night.Elsewhere England's Women were crowned Six Nations Champions for the second year running. We speak with Red Roses captain Sarah Hunter about her experience of winning the title whilst watching from home and how she plans to make it back to back Grand Slams this weekend.The Domestic season has also reached its conclusion and it's a big congratulations to Exeter Chiefs who overcame Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership Final. It's a second trophy in a week for Exeter who lifted the Champions Cup earlier in the month. Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has been linked with the England role but he tells us there is still work to do at Sandy Park.Plus we tackle all your questions and look at some of the amazing work done by volunteers at grassroots level during the turbulent last 6 months.For 30 days' free access to the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/contactFor more details about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme with England Rugby visit  https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/volunteers/mitsubishi-motors-volunteer-recognition-programmeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the final round of the 2020 Six Nations was cancelled due to Coronavirus, Brian Moore is joined in studio by former England sevens captain Rob Vickerman to discuss the effects the pandemic is likely to have on the resumption of the tournament as well as the domestic and international calendar.The Gallagher Premiership look set to announce an initial four week suspension following the spread of the virus and the Telegraph's Chief Rugby Correspondent Gavin Mairs joins the show to discuss the plans in place to try and finish the domestic season and also the likely effects the pandemic is likely to have on the Premiership and the tiers beneath which are already struggling to cope financially.Crossing codes into Rugby League, and Super League defied the global health warnings by fulfilling a full round of fixtures over the weekend, it remains to be seen whether the league will continue to play through the pandemic and we get the views of rugby league hall of famer Garry Schofield about whether they should be playing at all and if the sport is capable of surviving a postponement.Away from the Coronavirus England prop Joe Marler learnt his fate for his 'grab' on Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones last weekend. He's been given a ten week ban for his actions, whilst centre Manu Tuilagi has been given a four week ban four his high tackle on George North. England's behaviour this year has been met with criticism from opposing nations and whilst both Brian and Rob find it hard to disagree with the criticism they wonder if the players and head coach Eddie Jones really care too much what others think about them.Plus we'll round up the Six Nations from where it's been left and answer all your questions as usual.Listen to Crossfire: www.playpodca.st/crossfireSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's just one round left in the 2020 Six Nations and as fears over Coronavirus spread across the continent we will be denied the traditional "Super Saturday" after both England and Ireland have their games postponed.On the pitch there was plenty to talk about in a thrilling encounter between England and Wales at Twickenham. Former England back row and World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi is alongside Brian this week to pick the bones out of yet another win for Eddie Jones.Despite a thrilling game on the pitch, it will forever be remembered for a bizarre incident between England prop Joe Marler and Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones. Brian says Marler's behaviour is idiotic in the current climate and that he should accept whatever ban is thrown at him in the wake of the incident.As for Wales it's now three defeats on the spin for them for the first time since 2007. Former centre Mark Taylor joins the show and says there's no need t panic just yet after a valiant effort at Twickenham.Scotland turned in a fantastic performance against tournament favourites France at Murrayfield. Their win blows open the race for title (what's left of it) and we speak with former Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson about whether Gregor Townsend can make it three wins from three in the final game of the tournament.Elsewhere we get Maggie's thoughts on another crushing victory for England's women and ask what more can be done to help the game grow and we get to you questions too.Listen to Crossfire: www.playpodca.st/crossfireSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a week off , the Six Nations is back for round four and there are three teams still in with a chance of lifting the trophy come two weeks time.Alongside Brian this week to look ahead to the weekends action, is former England hooker George Chuter.After navigating their way past Ireland, England's attention now turns to a home match against old rivals Wales who are hoping to avoid three successive defeats for the first time since 2007. James Hook knows what it's like to win and lose against England and he says it's too early to cast judgement on Wayne Pivac after his Wales squad was hit with even more injuries.There's only two games on this weekend after the Irish government ruled their match with Italy should not go ahead due to concerns over Coronavirus. The Irish Times Liam Toland explains what effect the postponement will have on the IRFU financially and moving forward with a re arranged fixture.Scotland's fixture with France has been given the green light and it's an opportunity for Gregor Townsend to win some fans over after an indifferent tournament. Ahead of the game there have been some green shoots of recovery in the relationship between Townsend and exiled fly half Finn Russell, and former Scotland international David Denton says it's best for everyone that they bury the hatchet.Off the pitch the big story surrounding the Six Nations is a potential deal to take the competition off free to air tv. Both Brian and George agree that the powers that be need to think long and hard about the damage that could be done by putting the tournament behind a paywall.And as ever we answer your questions including where Chris Ashton is likely to end up and how Premiership sides should manager the salary cap. Listen to Crossfire: www.playpodca.st/crossfireSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're past the halfway point of this years Six Nations and France remain the only side with a 100% record following their win over Wales in Cardiff.Joining Brian in studio this week is former England centre Tom May. The pair dissect England's win over Ireland and whether it was a case of English brilliance or Irish sloppiness. Key to England's win was the performance of Manu Tuilagi who maintained his 100% win record over the Irish. Tom has first hand experience of playing against Tuilagi and he believes the centre has become much more than just a ball carrier.Ireland's defeat means France are the only side left with a 100% record after they saw off Wales in Cardiff. Both Brian and Tom think the French could have the bones of a future World Cup winning squad. As for Wales it's now back to back defeats for new boss Wayne Pivac, next up for him is a trip to Twickenham and former Ospreys coach Sean Holley joins the show to look ahead to that one.Plus we answer your questions surrounding the future of Italy after yet another defeat for the Azzuri, refereeing around the breakdown and the relationships between players and referee's.Donate to Tom's marathon https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TomMay150Listen to Crossfire: www.playpodca.st/crossfireSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a week off we're back for round three of the 2020 Six Nations.Alongside Brian this week for the first time is the former France flanker Serge Betsen who casts his eye over the resurgent French ahead of their trip to Cardiff this weekend.The standout tie of the round comes from Twickenham on Sunday as unbeaten Ireland take on England in Eddie Jones first home game of the tournament. Former Ireland and Lions captain Paul O'Connell knows a thing or two about winning in Twickenham but he's expecting his former side to fall just short of England after their momentum building win over Scotland in round two.As for Wales, they face the prospect of France in front of their home crowd on Saturday evening. Serge gives us the lo down on the impact Shaun Edwards has had on the French side since deferring from Wales after the World Cup, meanwhile former Wales scrum half Rupert Moon is on hand to explain how Wayne Pivac will manage his way around an injury crisis.Away from the Six Nations there's been some big domestic news. The RFU have announced they will be slashing the funding to the Greene King Championship by a staggering 50%. We'll get the thoughts of the Telegraph's chief rugby correspondent Gavin Mairs who explains what impact the news is likely to have on the future of the competition.Plus we'll be answering your questions as always and we'll ask Serge about his favourite Six Nations memories including a memorable game against England in 2002.Listen to Crossfire: www.playpodca.st/crossfireSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Storm Ciara may have affected England's dour victory over Scotland but it has not prevented Brian Moore from returning for this weeks Full Contact!After making it back safely from Edinburgh, Brian is joined in studio by former England Sevens captain Rob Vickerman to reflect on Saturdays match in Murrayfield as well as the other headlines from around the Six Nations.The pair discuss what (if anything) can Eddie Jones learn from Saturdays win, and former Scotland winger Tim Visser joins the show to offer his take on what needs to change in order for Gregor Townsend to keep his job, one solution offered up by Brian and Rob is to bring back exiled fly half Finn Russell and make him captain of the side!Elsewhere Andy Farrell won the battle of the new coaches as Ireland and Wales squared off in Dublin. Up next for Farrell is a return to Twickenham where he spent time as England assistant coach, where he will come up against a familiar face in his son Owen Farrell. Former Ireland second row Mike McCarthy was in Dublin on Saturday and explains what is different under the new coaching regime.Plus we get Robs take on what has turned France's fortunes around, the prospect of South Africa joining the Six Nations and what the most effective game plan is for wet weather rugby.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first week of the 2020 Six Nations is in the history books and it was not one to remember for England and their head coach Eddie Jones.This week, Brian Moore is joined in studio by former Scotland fly half Craig Chalmers to reflect on the opening weekend, including that loss for England in Paris.Former England centre Mike Tindall joins the show and expresses his concerns for England's ageing squad after they were outplayed by a young and daring French side. There's also concerns over England's options at scrum half and number eight after Tom Curry failed to have the desired impact on the game after being moved there from openside flanker.Next up for England is a trip to Murrayfield to take on Scotland who were one major Stuart Hogg error away from picking up a result away to Ireland. Finn Russell will once again miss out on the game as his spat with head coach Gregor Townsend continues, but Craig is confident that the Scots can upset the odds against their old rivals without Russell in the team.It was a case of new coach, same result for Ireland who had 34 year old captain Johnny Sexton to thank for all 19 of their points against Scotland. Despite a pragmatic performance from the Irish, former Munster and Leinster back row Liam Toland is satisfied from what he saw in Andy Farrell's first game in charge. He joins the show to look ahead to Ireland's clash with Wales.And finally Wales picked up a routine bonus point win at home to Italy, the former Ospreys head coach Sean Holley gives us his verdict on the game and what we can expect to see from Wayne Pivac's side in Dublin on Saturday.Listen to The Briefing on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2ReKdji, Spotify https://spoti.fi/2P2geIE or ask your smart speaker for “The Telegraph Briefing”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Moore is back for another series of Full Contact ahead of the 2020 Six Nations Championship.This week former England centre Tom May is alongside Brian to look ahead to the opening round of fixtures in this years tournament. The pair discuss the effect the Saracens salary cap scandal is likely to have on Eddie Jones squad and also who should line up in the back row in the absence of Billy Vunipola who has been ruled out for the entire competition.Scotland face a scandal of their own after star fly half Finn Russell was sent home for breaching team protocol. Former Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson joins the show to weigh in on the debate surrounding Russell and explains what the public perception is of head coach Gregor Townsend who retained his role despite a difficult 2019.Ireland have picked a team with a nice blend of youth and experience for their curtain raiser against Scotland. It's the first Six Nations in charge for new head coach Andy Farrell and we get the opinion of former Ireland back row Alan Quinlan about how the Irish are shaping up under a new regime.Wales are also starting this campaign under new management. Wayne Pivac has replaced Warren Gatland in charge and has promised an exciting brand of rugby. The defending champions are third favourites with the bookies heading into the competition and former Wales and Lions number 8 Scott Quinnell explains why the Welsh should not be taken lightly.We're joined also by England Women's captain Sarah Hunter as her side begin the defence of their Grand Slam away to France, and we answer your questions surrounding the likes of Kyle Sinckler, Israel Folau and the new substitution rules.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 7 weeks of action in Japan the Rugby World Cup 2019 is now in the history books and it was not meant to be for England who fell short at the final hurdle against a powerful and combative South Africa side.Alongside Brian in studio is 203 World Cup winner and former England scrum half Kyran Bracken. Eddie Jones says he cannot put his finger on what went wrong for England but luckily Brian and Kyran have a few theories of their own which they believe contributed to England’s defeat.As for South Africa they became the first side to lose a game in the World Cup and go on to win the tournament, former Springbok skipper and World Cup winner Bob Skinstad joins the show to describe why the victory means so much more than just a sporting triumph back in a country which is still divided on so many levels.Referee Jerome Garces was the brunt of a lot English fans criticism on Saturday morning but former international referee Jonathan Kaplan explains why he actually had quite a good final, and that the standard of refereeing overall in the tournament increased as it went on.And we debate whether or not Eddie Jones is the right man to lead England into the next World Cup in four years time, he refused to answer questions regarding his future but has agreed a contract with the RFU up until 2021.Get 30 days' access to The Telegraph completely free at https://telegraph.co.uk/audio Listen to the Audio Football Club: https://playpodca.st/afcSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After six weeks of upsets, hammerings and cancellations we are down to just two teams in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, England and South Africa.Alongside Brian Moore this week is the former England sevens captain and broadcaster Rob Vickerman to reflect on the two semi finals and to look ahead to Saturday's showdown.England produced the finest display of the Eddie Jones era to dismiss pre tournament favourites New Zealand on Saturday morning and both Brian and Rob think it’s hard to look past them for the William Webb Ellis Trophy.As for New Zealand, it's not the three in a row that departing head coach Steve Hansen had his sights set on, former All Black Scott Hamilton joins the show to speak about how the Kiwi’s have reacted to the defeat and who’s likely to replace Hansen after the tournament.Wales campaign ended on Sunday morning with a narrow defeat to a very physical South African side. Former Osprey’s head coach Sean Holley tells us the right side won on the day but Wales can hold their heads up high, in particular Warren Gatland and Alun Wyn Jones, who Sean thinks has plenty of years left in the tank.And looking ahead to Saturday’s final we speak with former Springbok Thinus Delport about where the game could be won and lost and if the South African’s are going to rely on their brute power to win the trophy.Listen to the Audio Football Club: https://playpodca.st/afcSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're down to just four in the 2019 Rugby World Cup after this weekend's quarter finals in Japan. And joining Brian in studio to react to the all four games is former England hooker George Chuter.England were first to impress with a comfortable win over Australia on Saturday morning. Next up it was the All Black's who handed out a ruthless thrashing to Ireland later that very same day.The pre tournament favourites look like they could be peaking at just the right time but was it a case of Kiwi brilliance or did Ireland just simply fail to turn up? The Irish now go into a transitional phase as head coach Joe Schmidt departs his role after six years in charge. Former Ireland hooker Shane Byrne offers us his thoughts on whether the last year in charge for Schmidt has tainted his otherwise excellent legacy as head coach.Wales became the third team into the semi's on Sunday morning. They defeated France by a solitary point and not without any controversy. Referee Jaco Peyper made headlines on and off the pitch following his decision to rightfully red card Sebastien Vahaamahina in the first half.Lastly hosts Japan were knocked out by an efficient display from South Africa. The Springboks now face Wales in the semi final and for a chance to potentially meet New Zealand in the final and right the wrong of their defeat in the opening weekend of the competition.And the Gallagher Premiership is back, we discuss how likely the World Cup is to affect the destination of the trophy come the end of the season.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a surreal week for the sport of Rugby Union, Brian Moore is joined in studio by World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi to reflect on the highs and lows both on and off the pitch.The pair begin by paying tribute to everyone involved with helping Japan's final Pool A game with Scotland go ahead amidst the chaos of Typhoon Hagibis. As for the match itself, it was another scintillating performance from the hosts who topped their pool with a 100% record and now go on the play old rivals South Africa in the quarter finals.The defeat means Scotland are on their way back home early having failed to make it out of the Pool stage and pressure is mounting on head coach Gregor Townsend. Former Scotland international Craig Chalmers says it's not time to panic just yet, and he's backing Townsend to turn things around in the new year during the Six Nations.Ireland qualified at Scotlands expense, despite spending more than half the game with 14 men they eased past Samoa and now have the prospect of facing tournament favourites New Zealand in the quarter finals. Mike McCarthy played against the All Blacks during his time as a player for Ireland and he joins the show to make a case for his former side.Wales finished their Pool phase in unconvincing fashion with a win over Uruguay. They now take on France in the quarter finals and former Ospreys coach Sean Holley believes they have got themselves a favourable draw as they target 240 minuets to win the tournament.As for England, they had the benefit of a week off thanks to Typhoon Hagibis, next up for them is a clash with Australia which both Brian and Maggie believe will cause fireworks due to the short tempered nature of both coaches, Eddie Jones and Micheal Cheika.And as the three year funding deal for the Tyrell's Premier 5's begins its final year Maggie explains how the Women's game is only going to continue to get bigger and bigger.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Pool stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup drawing to a close, and the quarter finals starting to take shape, Brian Moore is joined in studio by former Springbok captain and World Cup winner Bob Skinstad to analyse which teams are likely to top their pool and ensure a safer route to the latter stages of the tournament.England came through their first tier one test with relative ease but we're aided massively by a red card to Argentinas' Tomas Lavanini. The decision has divided rugby fans across the World but both Brian and Bob agree with the punishment and think it will lead to more sensible tackles moving forward.Despite the win, Brian is still not convinced we've seen the best of Eddie Jones side just yet. Former World Cup winner Mike Tindall joins the show and gives us his take on how England should line up for their final pool match with France.As for France, they laboured to a narrow win over Tonga and have guaranteed their place in the quarter finals. Ahead of their pool decider with England there have been rumours of a rift between captain Guilhem Guirado and the senior coaching staff. One man who knows what it's like to coach France at a World Cup is Philippe Saint-André, he joins the show and explains why the French are more of a 4x4 than a Formula One car at present.Three teams could still make it out of Pool A. Hosts Japan are the only side heading into their final game with a 100% record, they take on Scotland on Sunday morning and former full back Hugo Southwell looks ahead to that game as well as the number of permutations surrounding the pool.And we get Bob's thoughts on South Africa's campaign so far, with issues off the pitch making more headlines the performances on the pitch.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week two of the Rugby World Cup is done and dusted and it was hosts Japan who dominated both the front and back pages for their win over Ireland.Fiji’s Olympic Gold Medal winning coach Ben Ryan is back in the studio alongside Brian to reflect on a big win for the host nation and what it means for the development of the game in Asia.Oliver Trenchard was covering the game in Tokyo and he joins the show to discuss how the Japanese public have fallen in love with their rugby team after the win on Saturday morning.Wales saw off a second half fightback from Australia to win what was arguably the best game of the competition so far. A jubilant former Wales and Lions Number Eight Scott Quinell joins the show to reflect on a big win for Warren Gatland’s side.One man who was not happy with Wales victory was the Austrailia head coach Micheal Cheika, he accused the referees of being ‘spooked’ by rugby’s hierarchy. He’s not the first person to criticize the level of officiating at this year's tournament, World Rugby themselves says that there have been a number of mistakes made already. Former International referee Jonathan Kaplan is on hand to offer his insight into what’s gone right and wrong in the tournament so far and how it can be refereed better.We also look ahead to England’s first match with Tier One opposition, they take on Argentina on Saturday morning. Plus Ben tells us all about Rugby X, an exciting new format of the game making its debut in London in October For more information and tickets for Rugby X head to https://www.rugbyx.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is officially underway in Japan and what a weekend it was.Fresh off Wales's bonus point win over Georgia, Brian Moore is joined in studio by former Wales and Lions full back Lee Byrne to discuss the major talking points from round one.England needed 'Fergie time' to ensure their bonus point against Tonga, and friend of the show and World Cup finalist George Chuter is on hand to reflect on their uninspiring performance and to look ahead to their next pool match against the USA.Ireland showed glimpses of their former self by thrashing Six Nations rivals Scotland in a rain-soaked Yokohama. Irish Times journalist Liam Toland makes a welcome return to the show to discuss whether the game was a display of Irish brilliance or Scottish incompetence.The standout tie of the opening weekend came on Saturday morning as tournament favourites New Zealand edged out second favourites South Africa. A relieved former All Black, Zinzan Brook, joins the show and says he expects both sides to get better despite impressing in game one.And we look back on Wales 2011 World Cup campaign with Lee and get his take on the infamous red card shown to former captain Sam Warburton which many argue cost them a place in the World Cup Final.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is just four days away and alongside Brian today is World Cup winner and Hall of Famer Maggie Alphonsi.The pair look ahead to all three games involving the home nations this weekend and assess who is best placed to make a challenge for the Web Ellis Cup.Harlequins scrum half Danny Care joins the show and admits his disappointment at missing out on selection for Eddie Jones England squad. He's questioned World Rugby's residency rules which have allowed the likes of Willie Heinz to get selected ahead of himself. England's first obstacle is a Tonga side who were soundly beaten by New Zealand in their final warm up game, Pacific Island Welfare CEO and former Samoa international Dan Leo, explains what England's opponents, along with the other Pacific Island sides can offer to this years tournament, and what World Rugby needs to do to make sure they remain within reach of the World's tier one rugby nationsThe pick of the opening weekend fixtures sees holders New Zealand take on South Africa, former Springbok Thinus Delport joins the show to talk about Springbok coach and his former teammate Rassie Erasmus who has turned the South African's from outsiders into one of the favourites for the competition.And Maggie reflects on her own Rugby World Cup up's and downs as well as offering her insight on transgender women playing in the women's game.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is now less than three weeks away and joining Brian in studio for the very first time is former Springbok captain and World Cup winner Bob SkinstadBob believes that in the past eighteen months a number of teams (especially South Africa) have proved they can not just go far, but win the World Cup.Bob shares his experiences of working with current England head coach Eddie Jones who he believes is the best man manager is the game at the moment, and that he is England's secret weapon heading into the tournament.Wales and Ireland played out a forgettable warm up match in Cardiff and both sides have now confirmed their 31 man squads for the tournament, former Leinster and Ireland second row Mike McCarthy discusses Joe Schmidt's decision to omit Devin Toner, and former Osprey's coach Sean Holley dissects Warren Gatland's squad, one which Gatland says is good enough to win him the trophy.In the Southern Hemisphere, defending back to back champions New Zealand have named their squad. Former All Blacks skipper Sean Fitzpatrick runs the rule over Steve Hansen's selection and defends his side's tactics at the breakdown amid more allegations of cheating.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Moore is joined in studio by former Leicester and England hooker George Chuter after Eddie Jones side laid down a serious marker at Twickenham by thrashing Ireland.The pair discuss where the result leaves in England heading into next month's tournament and whether George Ford and Owen Farrell will both start games together throughout the competition.As for Ireland, they look like a shadow of the team that dominated 2018, Joe Schmidt now has to prepare a side to take on Wales in Cardiff and Liam Toland of the Irish Times offers his opinion on where it's going wrong for them.World Rugby made a major statement this week by announcing they will become the first global sporting organisation to adopt gender neutral naming rights ahead of the Women's World Cup in 2021, we get the thoughts of England World Cup winner Sarah Hunter on what it means for the game as well as sports marketing expert Tim Crow on how it can help the game grow commercially.Plus George gives us his story of 2007 where England went from a 36-0 defeat in the pool stages to World Cup finalists a month later.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rugby World Cup is fast approaching and we have a new side at the top of the World rankings.Congratulations to Wales for overtaking New Zealand and for their win against England in Cardiff which propelled them to the top of the list amongst rugby's elite. Former Wales and Lions prop Adam Jones joins the show to talk about the new found pressure on Warren Gatland's side heading into the World Cup this autumn.Former England and Fiji sevens coach is alongside Brian in studio, he runs his eye over Eddie Jones 31 man squad and says Owen Farrell should be wrapped up in cotton wool until the tournament starts, because England have no chance of winning it if he is not playing outhalf.France have a habit of peaking before the World Cup and their former coach Phillipe Saint André joins the show to reflect on their impressive win over Scotland and also about the story behind his new academy https://www.psaacademies.com/New Zealand silenced a few doubters with a convincing win over Australia to retain the Bledisloe Cup, former All Black winger Scott Hamilton gives us his verdict on Sevu Reece and George Bridge after both players impressed in the win.And we discuss the fate of the Pacific Island nations heading into the World Cup and whether more can be done to help develop the sides after it emerged that 18% of the global professional rugby population come from Pacific Island descent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back for another season of Brian Moore's Full Contact and it's all eyes on the World Cup which is just 39 days away.Former England centre Tom May is alongside Brian to dissect Eddie Jones final 31 man squad for the tournament in Japan.The pair also analyse England's warm up win over Wales and what the benefits are of playing matches of high intensity so close to a major competition.As for Wales, they were the number one ranked side in the World for only a few hours before their defeat against England, we ask former Ospreys head coach Sean Holley if they're preparation is right heading into Japan.South Africa are hitting form at just the right time, their former skipper Bob Skinstad tells us how Rassie Erasmus has turned them into one of the tournament favourites in just over a year in charge, and we discuss some radical rule changes and player welfare following the decision to show New Zealand's Scott Barrett a red card during their defeat to Australia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was the most thrilling final Saturday's sporting line up had to offer, and Saracens retained their title with a 37-34 win over Exeter in the Twickenham sunshine. Alongside Brian Moore for the season finale, it's George Chuter.Listen in as they chew the fat over Saracens victory, how the scrum halfs were integral to the game, and how it was Saracens' star quality which just made the difference in the end.Former Saracen Michael Owen joins to discuss his former side, to shed light on his former pupil Nick Isiekwe, and to discuss what is going wrong for the Welsh regions.We speak with referee Nigel Owens on the BaaBaas v England match and whether he changes his style for the occasion, we speak about the TMO involvement in matches, and we discuss the fitness test of a referee.Plus former Saracens Director of Rugby Mark Evans joins to debate whether rugby is at a tipping point, and we answer your questions on substitutions, scrum halfs, and rugby's laws. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have a repeat of last years Premiership final as the top two sides in the country, Saracens and Exeter, both won their home semi finals with ease to set up a thrilling final in Twickenham on Saturday.Brian Moore is joined in studio by Harlequins second row James Horwill to reflect on the dominance of the Premiership's top two sides and discuss whether anyone can catch them next season.Exeter Chairman and Cheif Executive Tony Rowe joins the show to celebrate his side's fourth consecutive Premiership final and also discuss his tenure at the club which began back in 1993. He outlines how he got the Chiefs out of the Championship and into the top tier of English rugby and also how he manages to turn a profit at the club when so many other clubs throughout Europe struggle to do so.In the Pro 14, Leinster retained their title in front of a record final crowd at Celtic Park, former hooker Shane Byrne explains why his old side were more relieved than anything else to have beaten Glasgow to retain their title.Bristol coach Pat Lam explains how he plans to beat England with the Barbarians this weekend and gives an insight into how you coach a team of World class talent on just a week's notce.We also get James' thoughts on his Harlequins teammates Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler potentially lining up opposite each other this weekend, the future of young Quins fly half Marcus Smith and what James plans to do next after announcing he will retire at the end of the seasonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a fantastic finale to the Premiership regular season as the action unfolded on Saturday with Saints getting into the play offs and Bath sneaking into the Champions Cup places. Alongside Brian to discuss that and the other results of the weekend is the former England and Bath full back, Matt Perry.Brian and Matt mull over the action including the upcoming rematch between Exeter and Saints, they discuss how Quins can improve, and the impressive season Worcester have had following their shock win over Saracens. Matt takes us through his thoughts on Bath rugby club and where their future lies.With Gloucester up against Saracens in their Premiership play-off, we speak with Head Coach Johan Ackermann about what they need to do to beat the reigning Champions, why they can't get carried away, and he discusses his relationship with Danny Cipriani.It's not all about England as the PRO14 semi finals took place at the weekend with Glasgow and Leinster coming out on top against Ulster and Munster respectively. Rory Lawson joins to tell us about the impact Dave Rennie has had at the club, the reasons Stuart Hogg is moving to Exeter, and how much of a home advantage Glasgow will have in the final.Plus we speak with Rob Vickerman about the upcoming London 7s and its added importance in an Olympic year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week saw Newcastle relegated from the Premiership, the race for fourth continue to tighten, and the PRO14 quarter final play-offs. Alongside Brian Moore to discuss this and more is the Telegraph's rugby reporter Charlie Morgan.With Falcons' relegation confirmed we speak with former Newcastle back Tom May about why it went wrong for them this season, whether they can bounce straight back up again, and if ring-fencing should seriously be considered by the Premiership. Charlie and Brian also go through the other Premiership results including Saracens inflicting a heavy defeat on Exeter.With the PRO 14 semi finals decided, Brian and Charlie discuss the impact of Dan McFarland at Ulster and Kieran Crowley at Benetton with the latter just minutes from beating Munster at Thomond Park.Plus we look ahead to the Champions Cup final, speaking with former Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman about his former side's chances against Saracens, and we get into those all important head-to-heads across the field. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson joins Brian Moore in studio this week to discuss the fallout from the Gallagher Premiership and Pro 14 as both competitions are approacing an end. Rory casts his eye over his former side Newcastle who looked destined for relegation after their loss at home to Northampton, as for the Saints, both Brian and Rory are impressed by the job Chris Boyd is doing with them as they close in on the final play off spot. In the Pro 14 Benneton Treviso became the first Italian side to qualify for the play offs and Sean Holley joins the show to discuss "Judgement Day" and whether it was the boost that Welsh regional rugby needed. Saracens women retained their Tyrell's 15 crown with a comfortable win over Harlequins, their skipper Lotte Clapp joins the show to reflect on another brilliant season for Saracens and the overall growth of the Tyrells 15's. And former England and Fiji coach Ben Ryan discusses Rugby X, a brand new format of the game set to launch in the autumn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Champions Cup semi finals it's Saracens and Leinster who are left to fight it out for Europe's top honour next month. With Brian Moore to discuss it all is former Scotland full back Hugo Southwell. Listen as they discuss how Saracens were able to overcome Munster, the booing of Billy Vunipola, and the importance of Ben Spencer to the side. For an Irish perspective we speak with former Leinster man James Downey on their win over Toulouse and just why the French side played Dupont at fly half rather than scrum half. We speak with London Irish winger Topsy Ojo on the return of the Exiles to the Premiership after they beat Richmond at the weekend to secure promotion. The Full Contact book club opens as we delve into the history books to speak with author David Beresford on his work, "Brothers in Arms", on the 1980s French golden generation to find out where they are now. Plus we speak with Harlequins Ladies coach Gary Street about the Premier 15s final as his side get ready to face Saracens this weekend.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Moore is joined in studio this week by former Leicester and England hooker George Chuter to dissect another big weekend and the top and bottom of the Premiership as well as preview a big weekend of European rugby. Brian expresses his view that England number 8 Billy Vunipola was wrong to acknowledge Israel Folau's controversial social media post but insists that Vunipola's and Folau's cases should be looked at differently, and that the England star should recieve no more than a reprimand from the RFU. Saracens and Argentina centre Marcelo Bosch joins the show to talk about how Saracens are preparing for this weekends Champions Cup semi final and to talk about his recent decision to retire at the end of the season. Former Leinster and Ireland prop Mike Ross discusses his old side's chances in the other Champions Cup semi with Toulouse, and Sale Sharks Director of Rugby outlines how he is preparing to overcome La Rochelle in the Challenge Cup semi final.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.