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The Counter Ruck

The Irish Times
Six Nations
Rugby
Irish Rugby
Ireland
Ireland Rugby
Welsh Rugby
Gordon D'arcy
Scrum
France
England Rugby
Scotland
Jack Crowley
Wales Rugby
European Rugby
Twickenham
Jamie Osborne
Mike Bubbins
Italy Rugby
Ireland Under 20s
World Cup

A rugby podcast from The Irish Times. Produced in association with Harcourt Bar & Garden.

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes134Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RugbySports

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Artwork for The Counter Ruck

Latest Episodes

The return of the URC is upon us as all four provinces gear up for the new campaign. New coaches, new players, teams looking to improve on a down season for Irish rugby as a whole domestically, there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on.

Join... more

Ireland came close to upsetting France in the World Cup quarter-final, only for an improved display to come up short.

How did they nearly pull off the unthinkable? What to make of the bite on Aoife Wafer and subsequent punishment? Where does this Ir... more

Ireland’s green wave came crashing back down to earth after a 40-0 defeat to New Zealand in Brighton. The saving grace is that, after defeating Japan and Spain in their opening games, a quarter-final spot has still been secured. They play Six Nations... more

Ireland have qualified for a Women’s World Cup quarter-final for the first time since 2014 having beaten Spain. Whether they win the pool, and their knockout opponent, will be decided on Sunday when taking on the Black Ferns. Across their first two g... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lindsay Peat
Retired Irish rugby player, former loose-head prop who played in the 2017 World Cup.
Episode: Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald
Current Irish rugby player and former participant in the 2017 World Cup.
Episode: Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Larissa Muldoon
Former Irish scrum half who played during the 2017 World Cup and scored the first try of the tournament.
Episode: Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Louise Lawless
Rugby writer covering the Irish women's rugby team for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: Ireland’s World Cup: limping to the start line or a golden opportunity?
John O'Sullivan
Irish Times Rugby writer
The Irish Times
Episode: Who is Ireland’s greatest ever Lion?
Sean O'Brien
British and Irish Lion and former Leinster and Ireland rugby player
Episode: Slow Lions build-up finally culminates in Test week
Jonathan Drennan
Belfast-born rugby writer based in Sydney, working for the Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney Morning Herald
Episode: Will the Lions tour save Australian rugby?
Gerry Thornley
Irish sports journalist and rugby analyst
The Irish Times
Episode: How can the provinces break France’s dominance?
James Harrington
Rugby journalist based in France
Episode: Is French club rugby becoming more popular than Ligue 1?

Host

Nathan Johns
Host focusing on rugby discourse and the progression of women in the sport.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 124 ratings
  • Average

    ‘Bar bites’

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bazza 17
    Ireland5 months 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
    Irelanda year 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
    Irelanda year 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
    Ireland6 years ago
  • Fantastic!

    Super podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rob626262
    Ireland6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

While the show is well-regarded for its quality and depth, some audience members wish for a broader focus on different sports.
Listeners appreciate the insightful analysis of players and matches, particularly relating to women's rugby.
There are mixed feelings regarding the host's frequent use of specific phrases, which some find repetitive.
Overall, it is viewed positively for its content richness and the expertise of its guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#10
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#32
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#9
Italy/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#22
Germany/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#35
France/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Q: Do you think your perspective has changed going from playing to coaching?
Yeah, definitely. The players are all about next moment focused, whereas the coaches are maybe bigger picture focused.
Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Q: Was there any preparation in 2017 that is replicable today?
No, not at all. We were only in camp at the weekends back then, so it would be all day Saturday, all day Sunday, and you go back to work on Monday morning.
Ireland are back at the World Cup. How will they fare?
Q: How do you approach goal-setting as a group?
The group focuses on taking it game by game while acknowledging their ambitions, emphasizing the importance of performance one game at a time.
Ireland are back at the World Cup. How will they fare?
Q: How do you reflect on where the group is post that given it was a game that probably the outside public would have expected a victory?
The squad felt disappointed after losing the expected victory, but they are building on what went wrong and integrating new players effectively.
How can the provinces break France’s dominance?
Q: What are your thoughts on the current landscape of Irish rugby and its accessibility on television?
There will be no free-to-air matches for URC or the Champions Cup next season, which results in limited access for fans and raises concerns about the sport's visibility.

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 The Counter Ruck

What is The Counter Ruck about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the dynamics and evolution of rugby, particularly women's rugby, this podcast explores various facets of the sport with a keen eye on Ireland's performance on the world stage. Episodes often feature in-depth discussions around significant tournaments, major matches, and the challenges faced by teams, particularly in the context of the Women's Rugby World Cup. Noteworthy is the focus on player insights and the historical changes within the sport, which not only add depth to discussions but also capture the emotional and cultural significance of rugby in Ireland. With expert analysis and guest perspectives from players and sports writers, the content offers both statistical insights and personal anecdotes that resonate well with r... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Counter Ruck?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Counter Ruck:

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

How many episodes of The Counter Ruck are there?

The Counter Ruck launched 8 years ago and published 134 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Counter Ruck?

Recent guests on The Counter Ruck include:

1. Lindsay Peat
2. Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald
3. Larissa Muldoon
4. Louise Lawless
5. John O'Sullivan
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Jonathan Drennan
8. Gerry Thornley

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