Rephonic
Artwork for The Ruck

The Ruck

The Times
Champions Cup
Six Nations
Rugby Union
Gallagher Premiership
Owen Farrell
Netflix
Rugby
Media
English Rugby Teams
England Rugby
Joe Schmidt
Louis Rees-Zammit
World Cup
Six Nations Championship
Scotland Rugby
Calcutta Cup
Northampton Saints
Funding Circle
Henry Arundell
Sale Sharks

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 weeklyEpisodes542Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RugbySports NewsNewsSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Ruck

Latest Episodes

It's Calcutta Cup week as Scotland host England in the 6 Nations.

Alfie, Alex and Will are in Edinburgh to look ahead to the match. They discuss the pressure on Gregor Townsend and Scotland, England's poor record north of the border with their last ... more

On the opening weekend of the 6 Nations Scotland lost against Italy to heap pressure on Gregor Townsend, Ireland lost to France who produced a statement performance and England hammered Wales.

Alfie Reynolds is joined by Owen Slot and The Times' new... more

England got their 6 Nations campaign up and running with a ruthless 48-7 victory over Wales who endured a torrid day at Twickenham.

Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher and Elgan Alderman look back on all the action and discuss whether the result actually ... more

What chance do Wales have of beating England at Twickenham this weekend in the opening round of the 6 Nations? The bookmakers have them as huge outsiders so from the England team hotel Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher and Elgan Alderman look ahead to th... 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 Rugby Pod
The Rugby PodThe Ringer
The EggChasers Rugby Podcast
The EggChasers Rugby PodcastTim Cocker, JB, Phil

Recent Guests

Mark Evans
Former CEO of the Fijian Drua
Episode: Will Welsh rugby ever recover?
Liam Napier
Sports journalist known for covering rugby in New Zealand
New Zealand Herald
Episode: Did Scott Robertson 'lose the dressing room'?
Henry Pollock
Young rugby star with a rising profile in the sport
Northampton Saints
Episode: Henry Pollock Special
Laurie Dalrymple
CEO of Harlequins
Harlequins Rugby Club
Episode: What's happening at Harlequins!?
Will Collier
Professional rugby player and scrum expert
Castres Olympique
Episode: How to save the Champions Cup, scrums and the Champ
André Esterhuizen
Springboks and Sharks player, known for playing both in the back line and as a flanker.
Sharks
Episode: Is this Bath's year in Europe? Plus hybrid hero André Esterhuizen
Richie McCaw
One of the great All Blacks and rugby players.
Episode: Richie McCaw previews England vs New Zealand
Stephen Kitshoff
Double World Cup winner and former Springbok player
Springboks
Episode: Steven Kitshoff: Life threatening injury, France vs Springboks and bomb squad beer
Phil Dowson
Director of Rugby at Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Episode: Two Lions on the pod: Fin Smith staying at Saints & Tommy Freeman’s positional switch.

Hosts

Alex Lowe
Co-host and journalist specializing in rugby analysis and commentary.
Alfie Reynolds
Co-host and rugby commentator noted for incisive insights into the game.
Will Kelleher
Co-host and sports reporter focusing on rugby, providing in-depth analysis and coverage.

Reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars from 852 ratings
  • New fan

    As a new fan, this is one of the pods I love to listen to every week.

    Keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eddie Panic
    United Statesa month ago
  • Alfi the football chap

    Send him back to football, he offers nothing about rugby

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The back row chap
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Solo episode

    I enjoyed the Will solo episode on Saints. Makes a nice to change to hear from those involved in the game rather than just the journalists (ditto the recent episode with Simon Gillham)

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ERS1970
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Excellent and comprehensive coverage

    I don’t usually write reviews but was astounded to see the ‘low’ average rating as this is the best and most comprehensive rugby podcast on the market. Friendly, measured and knowledgeable journalists who aren’t afraid to tackle difficult issues surrounding the game.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CJG-L.U.F.C
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Excellent coverage of Lions series

    Alex and Will, expertly chaired by Alfie did a great job down under. Good content with insight and always timely best competition hands down. Only blot was one early episode with Stephen Jones when he was downright rude to his copresenters and frankly to a big chunk of the listeners..

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    a in gx
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the extensive and knowledgeable coverage of rugby events, with many highlighting the informative analysis provided by the hosts.
The podcast is seen as a valuable resource for fans seeking both insights into current matches and broader commentary on the rugby landscape.
Audience members express occasional frustration with specific hosts, citing a desire for diverse voices in discussions and a move away from perceived biases.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#4
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#173
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#5
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#12
Germany/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Who are the 6 Nations favourites?
Q: What impact does the one less rest week have, if anything?
It presents a new dynamic in how teams approach the championship and may influence strategies regarding player fatigue and injuries.
Henry Pollock Special
Q: What would you pick out from 2025 as maybe a couple of little unseen moments that you really cherished about last year?
My debut in Wales and the drive back after being picked for Lions were really special moments.
Henry Pollock Special
Q: Is it a really exciting time to come back from Christmas?
Yes, it's a massive time for the team and I've been looking forward to it.
What's happening at Harlequins!?
Q: Will there be any immediate changes with the coaching?
We've decided not to make knee-jerk decisions and will benchmark our current coaches with external candidates to identify the right person for the club's future.
What's happening at Harlequins!?
Q: How have the last few weeks been and what's happening at Harlequins?
It's been a difficult season so far. We're in a situation where we're not performing to the sum of our parts despite having great players and coaches, and there are multiple issues affecting our performance.

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?

This podcast offers in-depth commentary and analysis on the latest happenings in international rugby, engaging listeners with expert insights and lively discussions. It covers various competitions, notably the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup, alongside matches featuring major teams like England, New Zealand, and South Africa, discussing team strategies, player performances, and match outcomes. The hosts often bring on notable guests, including former professional players, to enrich conversations with personal experiences and nuanced perspectives, making it a prime destination for rugby enthusiasts and sports analysts alike. With its combination of journalistic integrity and passionate discourse, the podcast appeals to fans looking for a... more

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 three 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. The Rugby Pod
3. For The Love Of Rugby
4. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
5. The EggChasers Rugby Podcast

How many episodes of The Ruck are there?

The Ruck launched 9 years ago and published 542 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. Mark Evans
2. Liam Napier
3. Henry Pollock
4. Laurie Dalrymple
5. Will Collier
6. André Esterhuizen
7. Richie McCaw
8. Stephen Kitshoff

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