Rephonic
Artwork for The Ruck

The Ruck

The Times
Six Nations
England Rugby
Champions Cup
England
Ireland
Premiership Rugby
Rugby
Scotland
Rugby Union
Australia
Steve Borthwick
France
New Zealand
Lions Tour
Women's Rugby World Cup
Wales
Northampton Saints
England Rugby Team
Rugby World Cup
World Cup

The Ruck is the journalists' rugby podcast from The Times & The Sunday Times.

Join Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and a selection of guests every week as they provide insight and reports throughout the season, including big-name interviews and forthright analysis.

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes592Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RugbyNewsSportsSports News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Ruck

Latest Episodes

As we continue to build-up to the start of the new Gallagher Prem season, Alfie and Will are in the North-West.

They've made the trip to Sale Sharks to chat with new signings Alex Lozowski and Courtney Lawes.

Lawes returns to English rugby followin... more

It's the start of a new Gallagher Prem season!

Alfie and Will are at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, to look ahead to another campaign.

They're joined by Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Dan McFarland, Harlequins and England prop Fin Baxter and the Nort... more

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry concluded with the Springboks winning the fourth test in Baltimore to secure a 3-1 series victory.

Alfie, Alex, Charlie and Elgan look back on the epic contest and discuss the best approach for beating the Boks.

With the ma... more

The third match in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry produced another brilliant test!

South Africa leads the series 2-1 after beating New Zealand 29-24. Attention now turns to the USA as the fourth test takes place in Baltimore.

But, does that matter? Were ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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.

Rugby Union Weekly
Rugby Union WeeklyBBC Radio 5 Live
The EggChasers Rugby Podcast
The EggChasers Rugby PodcastTim Cocker, Jonathan Beardmore, Phil Largan

Recent Guests

Fin Baxter
Harlequins and England prop
Harlequins/England
Episode: Season Preview: Who will win the 2026/2027 Gallagher Prem?
Dan McFarland
Newcastle DOR
Newcastle Falcons
Episode: Season Preview: Who will win the 2026/2027 Gallagher Prem?
Sean Fitzpatrick
Former All Blacks captain
New Zealand Rugby / The Greatest Rivals (The Ruck series)
Episode: Is the 3rd test the unofficial decider? Plus: Did Rassie break the rules?
Alex Lowe
South Africa correspondent for The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times
Episode: An All Blacks win for the ages: Is Pollard South Africa's answer?
Jamie Wall
Rugby journalist, writer and historian
The Times / The Sunday Times
Episode: Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 5: Readmission for a Rainbow Nation
Rob Louw
Former Springbok captain, player
South Africa Rugby
Episode: Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 3: The Flour Bomb test
Stu Wilson
Former All Blacks wing
New Zealand Rugby
Episode: Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 3: The Flour Bomb test
Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Argentina's great former back row and current Pumas assistant coach
Pumas
Episode: Can Los Pumas inflict another Argentine defeat on England?
Charlie Morgan
Rugby journalist, fresh from trip to Liverpool
The Times & The Sunday Times
Episode: How can anyone stop the Springboks?

Hosts

Will Kelleher
Host of The Ruck; The Times / The Sunday Times
Alex Lowe
Host of The Ruck; Co-host; Times rugby correspondent
Alfie Reynolds
Host of The Ruck; on-site commentary; Times & The Sunday Times
Charlie Morgan
Co-host / Journalist on-site; The Times & The Sunday Times

Reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars from 886 ratings
  • Good pod but

    Is Alex okay ? Sounds out of breath

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bokka pilot
    United Kingdom24 days ago
  • SA NZ series

    Epic series on the rivalry between these two. Amazing insight and guests. A must listen this summer!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rucker25
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • I was looking forward to a rugby review with the politics referenced

    Instead I got a potted history of apartheid with rugby mentioned en

    passant . No mention so far of the great players , the head to head rivalries -instead a repetition of ancient unpleasant politics. At least the clown has not appeared…. yet

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Anorak201
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Will Collier

    Can we have more please, he’s exceptional, what a great catch for the Ruck.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The back row chap
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Brilliant pod

    Thanks to all the team as a regular listener to a few rugby podcasts, what I like about this one is the journalistic approach I find it insightful in a way that I don’t necessarily find in other. The take on England this week was particularly interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    agah1971
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Long-form interviews and on-the-ground reporting are frequently highlighted positives.
Criticism centers on some guests or hosts being perceived as biased or confrontational.
Listeners praise the insightful, balanced, journalistic approach.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#5
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#10
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#58
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#3
Germany/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#8
Italy/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Season Preview: Who will win the 2026/2027 Gallagher Prem?
Q: What are the main changes at Queen's for the new season and how might they impact on-pitch identity?
Fin Baxter explains the shift toward a stronger set-piece and forward pack, with new coaches emphasizing a modern, high-energy approach and a plan to reestablish Queen's identity while integrating new signings.
Is the 3rd test the unofficial decider? Plus: Did Rassie break the rules?
Q: And what do you make of the Colby selection drama?
Colby's late promotion is seen as a signal there was more at play than a simple injury update, suggesting strategic experimentation within the rules.
Is the 3rd test the unofficial decider? Plus: Did Rassie break the rules?
Q: Let's speak about the All Blacks, Alex. Where do you think they'll be here?
They remain in a strong position with more tries and resilience, but must sort out the scrum and line-out issues to stay competitive in the decider.
Is the 3rd test the unofficial decider? Plus: Did Rassie break the rules?
Q: But what do you reckon?
The hosts discuss the implications of late-week selections, suggesting that while there are concerns about regulatory breaches, the broader impact is how teams use the 23-man squad and the public narrative, and whether this can be repeated weekly.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 3: The Flour Bomb test
Q: Firstly, can you try and sum up for us how 81 was allowed to happen politically?
Jamie Wall explains that the international community had signed the Glen Eagles Agreement prohibiting race-based selection and banning South Africa from international sport, which set a controversial stage for the tour; despite this, political realities and government stance in New Zealand pushed forward with the tour, leading to widespread protest.

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 Ruck

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

A rugby-focused, journalist-led show that blends hard analysis with on-the-ground reporting, interviews, and industry context. Episodes commonly tackle international comparisons, leadership debates, tournament formats, and club-level strategies, all through a Times/Sunday Times lens. It stands out for its candid, sometimes provocative conversations, strong panel dynamics among veteran correspondents, and a track record of high-profile guest insights that appeal to rugby professionals, execs, and serious fans seeking depth over hot takes.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Ruck?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Ruck. 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 The Ruck and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Ruck get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Ruck, 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 The Ruck?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Ruck, 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 The Ruck have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Ruck 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 The Ruck?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Ruck:

1. Rugby Union Weekly
2. For The Love Of Rugby
3. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
4. The EggChasers Rugby Podcast
5. The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

How many episodes of The Ruck are there?

The Ruck launched 10 years ago and published 592 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 The Ruck?

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 The Ruck?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Ruck 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 The Ruck?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Ruck. 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 The Ruck?

Recent guests on The Ruck include:

1. Fin Baxter
2. Dan McFarland
3. Sean Fitzpatrick
4. Alex Lowe
5. Jamie Wall
6. Rob Louw
7. Stu Wilson
8. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe

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