Rephonic
Artwork for The Rugby Bunker
England
England Rugby
Premiership Rugby
Women's Rugby World Cup
France
Bath Rugby
Scotland
South Africa Rugby
Women's Six Nations
Wales
Steve Borthwick
New Zealand
Canada Rugby
R360
Rugby
Champions Cup
Ireland
Argentina
Fiji Rugby
France Rugby

The Rugby Bunker gives you the insight and tactical understanding you need, hosted by Ben Coles (The Observer) and featuring regular guests including Charlie Morgan (The Times). Listen for expert analysis from established rugby journalists, with regular features plus a range of guests, and improve your knowledge of the game each week by joining us in The Rugby Bunker.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes28Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsRugby

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Artwork for The Rugby Bunker

Latest Episodes

In a bonus episode after Friday's announcement, Ben Coles (The Observer) breaks down the implications of Andy Farrell's contract extension until 2031 for Ireland, but also England and Saracens.

Follow Ben's Substack: theofffieldreview.substa... more

Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) break down Exeter against Saracens - effectively a quarter-final shootout to make the playoffs with Exeter ahead of Saracens by three points going into the final day of the PREM season.

They di... more

Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by Will Kelleher (The Times) to discuss how Alex Mitchell's hamstring injury could change England's scrum-half plans this summer, before Fiona Tomas (The Telegraph) examines the appointment of Jo Yapp as the first-e... more

Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) discuss Steve Borthwick's press conference from earlier this week, including the Benhard Janse van Rensburg call-up, and guess the backline England want to pick moving forward.

They also break ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Will Kelleher
Journalist, The Times
The Times
Episode: England's scrum-half plans and Jo Yapp to coach the Lions | The Rugby Bunker
Fee Thomas
Journalist, The Telegraph
The Telegraph
Episode: England's scrum-half plans and Jo Yapp to coach the Lions | The Rugby Bunker
Joe Byrnes
BUCS specialist, Sevens commentator
BUCS/Sevens analyst
Episode: Picking an England backline, plus the future of BUCS and Sevens | The Rugby Bunker
Fi Tomas
Contributor, Telegraph
Telegraph
Episode: Geoff Parling for coach of the year? Plus, France-England for the Women's Six Nations title | TRB
Billy Vunipola
Montpellier number eight, former England number eight
Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Episode: Billy Vunipola interview: I won't play for Tonga and I'm proud to be English | The Rugby Bunker
Zack Mercer
Professional rugby player discussed as a guest in earlier chats
Toulon (via prior interview)
Episode: Can Bath beat Bordeaux-Bègles? When do England pick Calouri? | The Rugby Bunker
Billy Harding
Rugby player for Blackheath Rugby, noted for a record-breaking season
Blackheath Rugby
Episode: The pros and cons of a British and Irish Lions tour to France | The Rugby Bunker
Charlie Morgan
Regular guest journalist from The Times
The Times
Episode: Analysis: What does 'next hole attack' mean? | The Rugby Bunker
Fiona Tomas
Head of the Women's Six Nations coverage for The Telegraph
The Telegraph
Episode: Women's Six Nations Preview, plus Courtney Lawes joins Sale | The Rugby Bunker

Host

Ben Coles
Host of The Rugby Bunker with long-running involvement across episodes; frequently drives analysis with a focus on tactical breakdown and player selections.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 14 ratings
  • Excellent

    Very thorough but easy to digest. Is Ben Coles breathing through the outer housing of a Biro?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matt Zuttle
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and conversations are consistently insightful, with practical takeaways for fans and professionals alike.
The host's quick, sharp humor keeps complex rugby tactics accessible.
Listeners praise the show for thorough but digestible analysis and strong host presence.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#163
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#24
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#93
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#112
France/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#208
Australia/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#7
Ukraine/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Picking an England backline, plus the future of BUCS and Sevens | The Rugby Bunker
Q: What is the current thinking on the England backline and center partnerships?
There is ongoing speculation about pairing Freeman with Atkinson, plus the possibility of Janse van Rensburg in the mix, depending on how performance and fit evolve as the season progresses.
Surprising player-club fits and Champions Cup Round of 16 preview | The Rugby Bunker
Q: Charles, these Champions Cup Round of 16 games, how do you rank them in terms of intrigue before kickoff?
The conversations suggest a mix of high-profile English matchups and tougher international ties, with upsides varying by team form and squad selection; in short, the most intriguing games are those where lineup decisions could swing outcomes, like Bristol vs Bordeaux and Leicester vs Toulouse.
Will defence ever dominate rugby again? Your questions answered
Q: Does the Six Nations need to change the fixture arrangements, or is the current rotation sufficient given competing interests?
The hosts discuss that fixtures are periodically refreshed, with some desire for more variety and spread, but acknowledge the calendar and tradition make sweeping changes unlikely, suggesting incremental tweaks may be the pragmatic route.

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 Rugby Bunker

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

A tactical rugby-focused show that analyzes upcoming matches, lineup decisions, and strategic nuances across the professional scene. Episodes frequently dissect England, New Zealand, and Premiership matchups, with attention to kicking games, player selection, and how coaching changes could shift team philosophy. Noteworthy is the hosts' consistent emphasis on depth, experience, and the practical implications of bench strength, along with occasional guest perspectives from journalism and rugby media. The format tends to blend data-driven insights with personal anecdotes from the hosts' rugby backgrounds, making it accessible to listeners who want actionable takeaways for teams, players, and fans.

Listeners can expect expert-level context, t... more

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How many listeners does The Rugby Bunker get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Rugby Bunker?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rugby Bunker:

1. The Ruck
2. The EggChasers Rugby Podcast
3. For The Love Of Rugby
4. Rugby Union Weekly
5. Maul or Nothing

How many episodes of The Rugby Bunker are there?

The Rugby Bunker launched 9 months ago and published 28 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 Rugby Bunker?

Recent guests on The Rugby Bunker include:

1. Will Kelleher
2. Fee Thomas
3. Joe Byrnes
4. Fi Tomas
5. Billy Vunipola
6. Zack Mercer
7. Billy Harding
8. Charlie Morgan

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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