Premiership play-offs and Gnasher the Goldfish

Ashy and Chris are suited and booted for the RPA awards in central London where they manage to track down some of the biggest Premiership names who will be involved in this weekend's play-offs. First up on the pod it's Northampton duo Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith who look ahead to their showdown with Saracens which will be Lawes' final game at the Gardens after 17 seasons! They also grab a word with England and Saracens back row Ben Earl who says they're so focused for Friday night it's 'scary'. Ashy is forced to pick between George Ford and Finn Russell as we look ahead to Saturday's semi-final between Bath and Sale. Plus we grab a word with the legendary England and Lions centre Jeremy Guscott, who was part of the last Bath team to win the title back in 1996!

It's Premiership semi-final week, so to kick things off we have a special episode with the directors of rugby from the four clubs competing for a spot at Twickenham this weekend. Mark McCall, Johann van Graan, Phil Dowson and Alex Sanderson are all together to chat to Chris about the challenges of a season that was delayed by the World Cup and put on hold during the Six Nations. Does a 10-team league work? And are we any closer to achieving promotion and relegation? They also discuss big name players leaving for France and whether the RFU should relax its eligibility rules for overseas players. And with four of the best fly-halves around on show this weekend, each DOR explains why their 10 is the best.

This special bonus episode of the pod comes from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Chris and Ashy bring us on the whistle reaction to a dramatic Champions Cup final. Toulouse were the winners against Leinster but it was a match that had everything – including going to extra time. Chris chats to man-of-the-match and player of the year, Antoine Dupont and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn, who both had excellent performances for the French side. But also Chris catches up with Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, as his players came so close to winning the final.

Sale's Ben Curry is our special guest this week after they stunned Saracens in the final round of the Premiership. He tells Chris and Ashy what's been behind their remarkable run to the play-offs and why Alex Sanderson had them catching tennis balls wrapped in white tape all week. We also discuss Saracens' farewell tour and whether Northampton's decision to rest key players for the semi-finals will backfire. Also, is the Champions Cup final this weekend the unofficial World Cup final?

Will Saracens or Bath secure a home semi-final? Can Sale hang onto fourth spot? Or will Exeter, Harlequins or Bristol leapfrog them? Ashy, Ugo and Sara look ahead to the final round of the Premiership season which has all the makings of a classic weekend. There is also plenty of fallout from round 16 including THAT 90-0 defeat for Gloucester, late bonus points and emotional send-offs. We find out how Saracens are taking inspiration from Ted Lasso their run-in and Ashy's pet goldfish.

Fresh from his trip to Toulouse, Danny gives Ugo and Chris the inside track on Quins’ defeat in the south of France. He tells us about his latest rendezvous with his favourite scrum-half and how Blair Kinghorn ended up in his bad books on Sunday. We also discuss Northampton’s narrow defeat at Croke Park and ask who will have the edge in the final at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. But will an English club get a better chance of competing for club rugby’s biggest prize? And will Gloucester’s season be considered a success if they manage to lift the Challenge Cup despite their struggles in the Premiership?

Chris, Danny and Ashy are on the sofa as the race for the Premiership play-offs hots up. Are Bristol genuine title contenders after another big win? Elsewhere Harlequins beat the league leaders Northampton, but should Danny have been sent off? And why are scrum-halves the lowest-paid players in the league? We also chat to former England lock Geoff Parling after his appointment to the Australia coaching staff, and discuss how is he set to make rugby history next summer.

Sara is pitch side in Bordeaux with World Cup winner Katy Daley-McLean after England wrapped up a third straight Grand Slam with victory over France. They speak to an emotional John Mitchell and Katy is reunited with two of her favourite former team-mates. They also speak Ellie Kildunne who reveals some big news on the pod. Sara and Katy also wrap up the rest of the final round drama as Wales left it late at the Principality and there was surprise win for Ireland over Scotland.

Sara, Chris and Philippa preview the final round of the Women’s Six Nations as England chase a third successive Grand Slam. Red Roses captain Marlie Packer talks about the challenge of facing France out in Bordeaux. We look ahead to a big day for Wales at the Principality as they look to avoid the wooden spoon, and the battle for third place which would secure World Cup qualification.

On the 30th anniversary of England's victory in the 1994 World Cup final, Sara sits down with Giselle Mather and Gill Burns to relive that historic day in English women's rugby. It was the tournament that almost never happened, but Scotland stepped in to host at the last minute and the rest as they say is history. Gill and Giselle take us back to the struggles being a rugby player in the early 90s juggling work and even sharing beds with players while on tour. They also delve into the final itself and explain how they toppled the defending champions USA in front of packed stadium in Edinburgh.