For The Love Of Rugby

International rugby is back, baby! The Nations Championship is up and running and England responded to intense media criticism with a scintillating attacking performance to defeat Australia. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are joined by Wallabies great Matt Giteau to break down the action at Allianz Stadium. Meanwhile, New Zealand swatted Scotland aside to show their title credentials and Sam Prendergast led Ireland to victory over a beleaguered Argentina. Plus, there were victories for Wales and South Africa, whilst France's injury woes further. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Nations Championship is BACK and so are Ben Youngs and Dan Cole! In the first instalment of a jam-packed November that will be full of content from your favourite rugby duo, there’s plenty to talk about ahead of round one’s action. It’s a huge Autumn for Steve Borthwick and England, with Ben and Dan previewing their upcoming fixtures, and their opening clash with Australia. All games are covered, with Scotland hoping to end 121 years of hurt against New Zealand, whilst Ireland, Wales, Italy and France will be hoping hemisphere-advantage can help them past Argentina, Japan, South Africa and Fiji respectively. 🎟️ WIN the ultimate Round 4 weekend: https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/en-champions-cup-game-centre-EPCR-for-the-love-of-rugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

International rugby returns this weekend and Ben Youngs has called in the cavalry ahead of the Nations Championship, with Springbok legend Steven Kitshoff and New Zealand broadcaster Ross Kyle joining the show. With each host flying the flag for their side, Kitsie makes the case for the Springboks, Ross backs the All Blacks, and Ben takes on the challenge of defending the Northern Hemisphere. We break down the strengths and weaknesses of the leading contenders, asking whether the Springboks can build on their recent success, whether the All Blacks are finding their feet under Dave Rennie, and which Northern Hemisphere nation poses the biggest threat. Can England rediscover the form that made them one of the most exciting teams in world rugby? Can France overcome their injury crisis and finally get the better of South Africa? And could Ireland once again prove to be the Springboks' biggest nemesis? 🇿🇦 Listen to For The Love Of Rugby: South Africa: https://podfollow.com/1888296557 🇳🇿 Listen to Aotearoa Rugby Pod: https://podfollow.com/1525663883 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole sit down with David Algie, the creator of the Raeburn Shield, to explore the story behind one of rugby's most unique and fascinating concepts. How did the idea come about? What inspired David to create it? And what does it take to bring a new tradition to international rugby? From the origins of the Raeburn Shield to its growing place in the rugby world, David joins Ben and Dan to discuss the thinking, passion and ambition behind the project. 🛡️ Check out the Raeburn Shield website: https://www.raeburnandutrechtshields.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby's two brightest history minds, Joe Heyes and Dan Cole, have summoned class clown Ben Youngs for a lecture on the entire history of rugby. Spoiler alert: it's crazy. 📜 Follow Joe's history page: https://www.instagram.com/heyestory/ 🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are back to react to Steve Borthwick’s latest England squad announcement! Who’s made the cut, who’s missing out, and what do the selections tell us about England’s plans? Plus, the boys rank the weekend’s derby games on the SPICE METER 🌶️ Which rivalry delivered the biggest fireworks, which game lived up to the hype, and which derby left us wanting more? Squad debates, derby-day drama, try-scoring records and plenty of strong opinions - all on For The Love Of Rugby. 💰 Click here to enter the Funding Circle competition: https://www.fundingcircle.com/uk/rugby/competition/the-pitch/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=the_pitch_sme_comp&utm_content=ftlor_yt_description&utm_term=nc 🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2026/27 season is well underway and ahead of Prem Rugby's Derby Weekend, reporters Dan Cole and Robbie Owen from Squidge Rugby assess how England's brightest prospects are shaping up. Spain are bidding to host the 2035 World Cup, could this pave the way for them to join the Six Nations? And more importantly, does this mean Coley can fulfill his dream of playing in a radical new competition? Plus, a deep dive into Wales's Nations Championship squad; and was the Bledisloe Cup all a bit disappointing? 💰 Enter Henry Pollock's Funding Circle competition: https://www.fundingcircle.com/uk/rugby/competition/the-pitch/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=the_pitch_sme_comp&utm_content=ftlor_yt_description&utm_term=nc 🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Investec Champions Cup is BACK! Dan Cole and Steven Kitshoff have peeled themselves from their sofas to talk about all the action... With the URC and Top 14 teams dominating, what does this say about the state of English club rugby? And could it affect the national team? That said, on Friday night under the lights at Kingsholm, Gloucester stood firm against the Galacticos of Bordeaux; whilst their West Country rivals Exeter came within a whisker of an historic result in Toulouse. Meanwhile, with the Bulls and Stormers securing emphatic wins, is this a sign that South African teams are taking the competition seriously? 🚘 Book your Test Drive in the new JAECOO 8 at www.jaecoo.co.uk 🏉 Can you pick a better team than Dan & Kitsie for the next round? Join our Investec Champions Cup Superbru fantasy league: LOLR3773 📊 Vote for who you think was the Player of the Round this week: https://instagram.com/loveofrugby ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe 📹 Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 💭 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby 🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Dan are back with a SPECIAL BONUS episode for all of you, as the Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup return this weekend! Leinster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions back-rower Jack Conan joins the lads for a chat about all things Investec Champions Cup, Nations Championship and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Investec Champions Cup begins this weekend and Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Anthony Watson have headed to the Investec office to preview the biggest international club rugby tournament in the world. 🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices