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The Ruck

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

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 weeklyEpisodes549Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RugbySports NewsSportsNews

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Artwork for The Ruck

Latest Episodes

England make the trip to Rome in the 6 Nations following two defeats and two terrible performances against Scotland and Ireland. So how much pressure are they under ahead of facing Italy on Saturday?

Alfie Reynolds, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe are o... more

Last week the English league system saw its biggest shake-up since the dawn of professionalism: it was confirmed that from 2029/30 the PREM will change to a franchise system and there will be no promotion or relegation starting next season.

Alex Low... more

It's a fallow week in the 6 Nations so Alfie Reynolds, Elgan Alderman and Stuart Barnes discuss all of the action from round three.

They chat about Scotland's nervy performance in Cardiff as Gregor Townsend's side (just!) got the victory. Was this S... more

YouTube

England's hopes of a 6 Nations title went up in smoke as they lost to Ireland at Twickenham.

Following a loss to Scotland a week ago, Steve Borthwick's side produced another lacklustre and dreadful performance.

Alfie, Will and Charlie try to pick ... 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

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
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.
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.

Host

Alfie Reynolds
Host of a leading rugby podcast, providing insights and discussion on various rugby topics.

Reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars from 865 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 States2 months ago
  • Alfi the football chap

    Send him back to football, he offers nothing about rugby

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The back row chap
    United Kingdom4 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 Kingdom5 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 Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There's a strong sentiment for the engaging and lively discussions among the hosts, making for an enjoyable listening experience.
Listeners appreciate the knowledgeable analysis and insights from experienced journalists on current rugby events.
Some criticisms highlight a perceived lack of diversity in voices and opinions presented, particularly in discussions focused on player performance.
Overall sentiment is generally positive, valuing the in-depth, journalist-driven content that appeals to dedicated rugby fans.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#9
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#6
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#71
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#9
France/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#14
Germany/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

England's 'alarming' defeat to brilliant Ireland
Q: Why have England been so bad?
It's baffling how England can collapse after being slick and well put together in previous matches, indicating deeper issues within the team.
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.

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?

Focused on the world of rugby, this series features insights and discussions from knowledgeable journalists who explore the current events and stories surrounding the sport. With a panel of experienced hosts and guest experts, topics include match analyses, team performances, and key player developments, particularly during major tournaments like the Six Nations and the Champions Cup. The content is characterized by a blend of detailed reporting, personal anecdotes from the guests, and a lively camaraderie among the hosts, making it both informative and entertaining for rugby enthusiasts.

Listeners are likely to appreciate the in-depth discussions on pressing issues, historical context, and future predictions regarding the sport. Unique of... more

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How many listeners does The Ruck get?

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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 Telegraph Rugby Podcast

How many episodes of The Ruck are there?

The Ruck launched 9 years ago and published 549 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.

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

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What guests have appeared on The Ruck?

Recent guests on The Ruck include:

1. Mark Evans
2. Liam Napier
3. Henry Pollock
4. Will Collier
5. André Esterhuizen
6. Richie McCaw
7. Stephen Kitshoff
8. Phil Dowson

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.

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