Rephonic
Artwork for The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

The Irish Times
Leinster
Rugby
Ireland
Six Nations
Munster
Irish Rugby
Champions Cup
Leinster Rugby
Ireland Rugby
New Zealand
Connacht
URC
Munster Rugby
Australia
Lions Tour
Ulster
Ireland National Rugby Team
World Rugby
Ulster Rugby
All Blacks

A rugby podcast from The Irish Times, presented by Nathan Johns with regular panelists John O'Sullivan, Gordon D'Arcy and Gerry Thornley.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes228Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RugbySports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

Latest Episodes

John O'Sullivan joins Gordon D'Arcy and host Nathan Johns to discuss his recent chat with Leo Cullen as he heads into his final season as Leinster head coach.

Several successors have been discussed on this podcast and elsewhere, but is there one pot... more

As world rugby moves away from multi match tours, instead preferring the nations championship, two of its biggest brands are going the other way. 

Ditching traditional southern hemisphere competitions, New Zealand are embarking on a lions style tour... more

Noah Byrne, a member of the Irish U20s, recently opted to move to Aussie rules instead of taking a Leinster academy contract.

Is a move like this, often seen in GAA circles, going to become more prevalent in rugby, or are we dealing with a fascinat... more

After defeat to the All Blacks wrapped up Ireland’s season, Nathan Johns, Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan talk through Ireland’s ups and downs.

Firmly ranked below the world’s top sides, where do Ireland go from here as they look to close the gap... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Left Wing
The Left WingIrish Independent
Indo Sport
Indo SportIrish Independent
OTB Rugby
OTB RugbyOTB Sports
The 42 Rugby Weekly
The 42 Rugby WeeklyThe 42 Rugby Weekly
The Ruck
The RuckThe Times

Recent Guests

Leo Cullen
Head coach of Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby
Episode: As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened?
Dan Gallan
South African rugby writer
The Guardian, Rugby Pass
Episode: Why are New Zealand embarking on their own Lions tour?
Jonathan Drennan
Sydney Morning Herald journalist based in Sydney, Belfast-born
Sydney Morning Herald
Episode: Can Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies upset Ireland?
Brett Igoe
Former Leinster and Scotland analyst, numbers-focused rugby analyst
The Currency (writer) and podcast contributor
Episode: How Bordeaux outfoxed Leinster and URC quarter-finals preview
Owen Doyle
Former referee who writes a column for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: Is rugby’s TMO process fair?
Mark Palmer
Scottish rugby correspondent for The Times
The Times
Episode: Do Scotland have a genuine chance at breaking their 11-match losing run to Ireland?
Sam Larner
Rugby analyst and author of Attacking the Space
Author, rugby analyst
Episode: Data in rugby and Ireland’s tactical revolution explained
Jack Hanratty
Head coach of the US women's rugby team
US Women's Rugby Team
Episode: Can rugby take off in America?
Simon Thomas
A recurring analyst on issues within Welsh rugby
Welsh rugby analyst
Episode: Could a multiple URC champion be on the way out?

Hosts

Nathan Johns
Host of The Counter Ruck, rugby journalist with The Irish Times
John O'Sullivan
Rugby journalist; regular panelist and Ireland Under-20s specialist

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 138 ratings
  • Average

    ‘Bar bites’

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bazza 17
    Irelanda year ago
  • John, stop using the phrase “if you like” inappropriately

    John O’Sullivan needs to stop using the phrase “if you like” at the end of every sentence inappropriately

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    jizzhandle
    Ireland2 years ago
  • D4 central

    Im a Leinster supporter but this podcast is ridiculously Leinster/D4 centric.. like a private school boys club

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Moncarmar123m
    Ireland2 years ago
  • Replace Gavin C with Liam T and it’s perfect!

    This is a great rugby pod but could be perfection if you could switch out the gossip-focussed Cummiskey with the far more knowledgable and insightful Liam Toland.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobVals
    Ireland7 years ago
  • Fantastic!

    Super podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rob626262
    Ireland7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall high-quality discussions with practical, on-pitch takeaways
Some listeners feel coverage is Leinster/D4-centric and could be broader
Panel consistently delivers deep rugby analysis from seasoned Irish Times reporters
Guests and insights are strong, but diversity of topics could improve over time

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#9
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#24
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#26
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#11
Germany/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#16
Italy/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#28
France/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened?
Q: How might backroom staff and coaching appointments influence Leinster's season?
There is a belief that a new coach or reshaped backroom team could better align with Leinster's identity and Irish system constraints, affecting overall performance.
As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened?
Q: Which areas of the Leinster squad are seen as priorities if signings do occur?
The discussion points to more type five depth and possibly a winger, while also considering the broader need to maintain a strong core and integrate academy players.
As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened?
Q: What is the status of NIQ contracts and potential signings as the season approaches?
The hosts acknowledge Leinster have room for NIQ signings but stress the need for the right fit; the timing and availability of players will determine whether new arrivals materialize before September.
As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened?
Q: Has Cullen found a clear plan for how Leinster will win the Champions Cup this season?
The interview suggests Cullen is focused on building the puzzle piece by piece, emphasizing squad balance, development of younger players, and strategic use of NIQ contracts rather than chasing a big-name overhaul.
Why are New Zealand embarking on their own Lions tour?
Q: Could this format devalue the World Cup or other major events?
There's debate that frequent meetings between the biggest brands could dilute the prestige of the World Cup if not managed carefully, but proponents argue that selective three-test series and high-profile matchups can enhance global interest without eroding the pinnacle events.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rugby-focused discussion program featuring top Irish rugby writers and analysts who dissect Ireland's campaigns, international matchups, and global rugby dynamics. Recent episodes center on scheduling and governance, cross-code talent movement, a regional transfer of attention between Irish rugby and international rivals, and tactical deep-dives into Ireland's attack, defense, and selection decisions. Notable strengths include access to long-standing reporters and ex-players who offer practical on-pitch insights, plus thoughtful commentary on player welfare, broadcasting deals, and the evolving European and Southern Hemisphere rugby landscape. The show often balances technical analysis with sport-politics context, making it valuable for l... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Left Wing
2. Indo Sport
3. OTB Rugby
4. The 42 Rugby Weekly
5. The Ruck

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 228 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Leo Cullen
2. Dan Gallan
3. Jonathan Drennan
4. Brett Igoe
5. Owen Doyle
6. Mark Palmer
7. Sam Larner
8. Jack Hanratty

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days