Rephonic
Artwork for The Ruck

The Ruck

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

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 weeklyEpisodes518Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsSports NewsRugbyNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Ruck

Latest Episodes

Alfie, Alex and Will react to England's victory over Australia at Twickenham as Steve Borthwick's side started their November campaign with a 25-7 win.

They chat about the impact of the England bench, Henry Pollock (of course!) and how they got over... more

England begin their November internationals this weekend by welcoming Australia to Twickenham.

Alfie and Alex are at the England training base to preview the match. They discuss Steve Borthwick's bold matchday squad and explain why the England head ... more

It's the start of the November internationals so Alfie and Will look ahead to the matches this weekend, including England's game against Australia. They discuss Steve Borthwick's bold selection of moving Tommy Freeman to outside centre, which means n... more

Alfie, Alex and Will are at England's training base after Steve Borthwick announced his training squad ahead of the November internationals. Teenage sensation Noah Caluori has been fast-tracked into the set-up, could he genuinely play a role next mon... 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.

Recent Guests

Sam Warburton
Former professional rugby player and current pundit
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions player
Episode: Warburton on Welsh rugby's future & Freeman the centre
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.
Fin Smith
Fly-half for England and Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Episode: Two Lions on the pod: Fin Smith staying at Saints & Tommy Freeman’s positional switch.
Tommy Freeman
Winger for England and Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Episode: Two Lions on the pod: Fin Smith staying at Saints & Tommy Freeman’s positional switch.
Tom Kershaw
Investigative journalist who tackled the connection between MND and elite sports
The Times
Episode: Lewis Moody's heart-breaking MND diagnosis - what is sport's connection to the disease?
Alex Sanderson
Director of Rugby at Sale Sharks
Sale Rugby Club
Episode: 'PREM' season preview - A new Red Bull era and Thursday night rugby
Steve Diamond
Director of Rugby at Newcastle Rugby
Newcastle Rugby
Episode: 'PREM' season preview - A new Red Bull era and Thursday night rugby
Simon Massie-Taylor
CEO of PREM Rugby
PREM Rugby
Episode: 'PREM' season preview - A new Red Bull era and Thursday night rugby
Morwenna Talling
England second row player of the match in the quarter-final victory over Scotland
England Women's Rugby Team
Episode: Were Ireland robbed of a World Cup semi-final?

Hosts

Alfie Reynolds
Co-host focusing on insights from the rugby realm and deep analysis of current trends.
Will Kelleher
Co-host providing expert commentary and personal anecdotes from the rugby field.
Alex Lowe
Co-host sharing analytical perspectives and match insights.

Reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars from 829 ratings
  • 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 Kingdoma month 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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • Could do with a diversity of voices

    Have enjoyed this podcast in the past but listening to 3 former English schoolboys speaking on behalf of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland feels very one-dimensional and lacking serious analysis. One example is speaking of the “Jockography Six” or whatever terrible coinage is at play here. Lots of chuckles from the boys but not serious analysis. In summary, a good listen if you enjoy being subordinate in the showers at a middling fee-paying school. If you prefer your podcast hosts to have mat... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MCCORMAROCK
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Great when not ruined by Stephen Jones

    Great podcast and discussion by top journalists. Ruined by Stephen Jones attacking players with misplaced arrogance and is insufferable. Almost made me stop listening. He’s lost touch with the modern audience & game. Would of been 5/5 without him

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    RyanH1990
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Steven Jones my god…!

    Stopped following the podcast as a direct result of Steven Jones’s. Unlistenable. Please please please put him out to pasture. Old fashioned, out of touch. Pollock has just been named man of match by hamish Watson on another podcast and here is Steven jones saying he’s a “terrible player”. Are Steve borthwick, Andy Farrell, does on all blind? Shame I can’t listen any more, I like Will and Alex.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    willpalmer12345
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the insightful and timely discussions on rugby with notable commentary, especially during major tournaments.
Reviewers point to a strong analytical angle that enriches fans' understanding of the games and broader themes in rugby.
Some feedback indicates a desire for more diverse perspectives to enhance discussions and include a broader representation of rugby narratives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#5
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#246
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#9
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#34
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#10
France/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Two Lions on the pod: Fin Smith staying at Saints & Tommy Freeman’s positional switch.
Q: How do you view the competition with other players for your position?
It's great having Anthony come in and play as well as he has; we challenge each other.
Two Lions on the pod: Fin Smith staying at Saints & Tommy Freeman’s positional switch.
Q: What were your thoughts from the Lions tour?
It was an unbelievable experience, and I'll reflect on it with hugely fond memories, as it was an amazing tour.
Two Lions on the pod: Fin Smith staying at Saints & Tommy Freeman’s positional switch.
Q: How does it feel to announce your new contract at Saints?
It's a really exciting time for me personally, and I'm delighted to have made a decision that I'm really happy with.
Were Ireland robbed of a World Cup semi-final?
Q: What has this second World Cup been like compared to that first one?
This World Cup has been much more enjoyable, being close to home and feeling more confident.
Were Ireland robbed of a World Cup semi-final?
Q: How do you judge your own performance?
I focus on unseen work, like hitting rucks effectively, rather than just making highlights.

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 provides in-depth analysis and discussions centered around rugby, focusing especially on major tournaments and fixtures within the sport. Episodes frequently feature expert insights and commentary from a host of engaging speakers who bring their experiences as journalists and players to the table, enhancing the understanding of the game for listeners. Noteworthy is its emphasis on the growing popularity of women's rugby, the dynamics of national teams, and the impact of past tournaments such as the Lions Tour. The show strives to balance both detailed match analysis and broader discussions about the strategic elements influencing rugby's evolving landscape, making it appealing to both rugby enthusiasts and those seeking compreh... 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. The Telegraph Rugby Podcast
2. Rugby Union Weekly
3. The Rugby Pod
4. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
5. For The Love Of Rugby

How many episodes of The Ruck are there?

The Ruck launched 9 years ago and published 518 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. Sam Warburton
2. Phil Dowson
3. Fin Smith
4. Tommy Freeman
5. Tom Kershaw
6. Alex Sanderson
7. Steve Diamond
8. Simon Massie-Taylor

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