#13 RWC 2027 Pools Reaction and Predictions, & Scottish Surge in Champions Cup

This week’s bonus episode is a special Rugby Pod × Fozcast crossover as Ben Foster and Tom Ochoa join Jim, Biggs and Goodey for a brilliant conversation that digs into what really separates, and connects, elite football and rugby. The lads compare the financial realities of both sports, how contracts work, the demands of training and match preparation, and the very different ways each game handles injuries, stars, player welfare and fandom. They open up on their journeys growing up in academies, the pressure to perform, and the star players who shaped the sports. It’s an open, honest and funny chat, with the lads learning about each other’s world. A fantastic listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lads are buzzing after being named in the top 1% of podcasts globally on Spotify Wrapped. It ain't about us though, as The Rugby World Cup 2027 pools are out, the format’s changing, conspiracy theories are flying, and the lads are already calling their final. We get stuck into all the permutations and who’s got the cleanest run to the big dance and who's going home early. Then it’s over to the opening round of Champions Cup rugby, with Leinster too sharp for Quins, Bath batter Munster, Edinburgh topple Toulon, Glasgow come roaring back, and Sarries run riot. Add in Etzebeth’s ban, Rassie signed up for the long haul, transfers, coaching shake-ups, plus a few spicy hot takes… it’s a big one. Strap in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s Rugby Pod, the lads wrap up the Quilter Nations Series before diving head-first into the return of domestic rugby, with big Premiership and URC results to get stuck into. We're also welcoming Springbok legend Gurthrö Steenkamp for an unbelievable deep-dive into scrum culture, Rassie’s revolution, and life in France. We check in on Bath’s statement win at the StoneX to Exeter’s comeback in Sale, plus a massive round in the URC as the Stormers storm Thomond and Scarlets stun Glasgow. The Rugby F.C. documentary has blown up on YouTube, fans are asking how to help Rugby Lions FC, and we’re back on the road with a London live show this Wednesday ahead of the Champions Cup kicking off exclusively on Premier Sports. Add in some transfer news, a few reds in France, and all the Good, Bad & Ugly, and some shoutouts, and it’s another stacked episode of the world’s most listened-to rugby podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four happy men in the studio this week after a blockbuster weekend of Quilter Nations rugby. England made it 11 wins on the bounce despite late fireworks in their clash with Argentina, Jim’s beloved Scotland stuck a half-century on Tonga without conceding a point, and Wales showed real ticker in a brave performance against the All Blacks. But the headline act was in Dublin, where South Africa and Ireland produced one of the craziest Test matches we’ve ever seen – five yellows, a red, scrum carnage, psychological warfare from Rassie, and Irish fans and Boks fans going at it online. The lads break down the madness, look at England’s growing depth and midfield options, debate the Curry–Contepomi tunnel drama, assess Wales’ best showing of the autumn, dig into Scotland’s momentum and Townsend rumours, and ask whether France now boast the best young backline in world rugby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England stun the All Blacks at Allianz Stadium, Ireland run riot with Mack Hansen’s hat-trick, Wales leave it late against Japan, and Scotland implode spectacularly against Argentina, and the lads have plenty to say about all of it. Jim’s still emotionally scarred from Scotland’s collapse, while Goodey digs into England’s biggest win of the Borthwick era, from Ford’s masterclass to Henry Pollock’s Haka moment. We break down a huge weekend across the Autumn Nations Series, ask whether the Springboks have a discipline problem despite winning with 14 men again, and look ahead to Ireland–South Africa after a record Irish win over Australia. Plus lots more other news, shoutouts, chaos, and craic, so settle in and make sure you’re subscribed on Spotify. Upgrade your wardrobe and save on trueclassic at trueclassic.com/RUGBYPOD! #trueclassicpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s one of the best periods of the season and the lads are buzzing as the Autumn Nations Series North v South showdowns kick off, including England v Australia at Twickenham and Ireland gearing up to meet the All Blacks in Chicago. Goodey and Jim dig into Borthwick’s latest England squad tweaks, some epic Premiership clashes including Saints v Sarries and Leicester v Sale, plus unbeaten runs in the URC from Munster and the Stormers. There’s lots of other news and listener questions all before the lads hit the road for live shows in New York and Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pod is back with Goodey and Jim fresh (and a bit bruised) from the 745 charity game - where Jim “put the fear of God” into a few league legends. The lads break down a huge weekend of international rugby: England’s bench-powered surge past Fiji, Scotland’s heartbreak against the All Blacks, and the Springboks’ masterclass in Paris despite going down to 14 men. There’s plenty of chat about Fin Smith v George Ford, and Rassie proving why he's the smartest coach in rugby. The boys also reveal some big travel plans, plus Ireland bounce back against Japan, Italy going back to back against Australia, and Argentina out muscling Wales. Settle back, hit subscribe, and get ready for another big week of rugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The Pod, Jim, Goodey, Bigs dive into a massive opening weekend of the Quilter Nations Series — red cards, redemptions, and peroxide-blond hair. England made it eight wins on the bounce with a dominant bench-inspired victory over Australia, with Borthwick building his own “Bomb Squad.” Ireland meanwhile, were left reeling after a controversial red card and second-half collapse against the All Blacks in Chicago, while Scotland and South Africa both flexed with huge wins over the USA and Japan respectively. Plus, Wales and Lions winger Josh Adams joins the show to chat about life in camp, the mood under Steve Tandy, and where Wales are going into some massive games with World Cup qualification implictions. Plenty of laughs this week as the lads are on great form after their US trip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Munster sent shockwaves through Irish rugby with a statement win over Leinster at Croke Park, dismantling their biggest rivals to go joint top of the URC. Is it a shift in power, or a Lions hangover? Goodey, Big Jim and Biggs get stuck into the fallout from that fiery clash, the form of Jack Crowley, and what it all means for Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad heading into the Autumn Nations Series. The lads also dig deep into Steve Borthwick’s England squad announcement, including omissions, combinations, and some exciting star power coming through. We also wrap up all the weekend’s domestic action, from Noah Caluori’s five-try explosion for Saracens to Leicester’s last-gasp win over Bath, and all the biggest talking points from the Prem and URC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was Derby Day in the Prem, and the lads are back to break it all down. Jim and Goodey chat through an epic weekend of rivalries with Saints edging Tigers in a thriller with lots of niggle, Quins toppling Sarries again, and Bath blitzing Gloucester. Marcus Smith is back firing, as is Fin Smith, and a few new faces making an impression. We also take a look at a big win for Ulster against the Bulls in the URC, and look forward to an Irish derby in Croke this weekend between Leinster and Munster. Plus plenty of other news including Jack Willis winning the Top 14 Player of the Year and what it means for England and R360 getting kaiboshed by Unions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices