Rooming with Pollock, Lions forfeits and Alex Mitchell’s pod debut

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are back in the For The Love Of Rugby studio to take you inside Leicester Tigers camp as they prepare for their Premiership play-off against Sale Sharks on Saturday. Also, with news that a breakaway franchise league called R360 has emerged, we ask the question as to whether anyone actually wants another revolution in rugby. 🏏 Listen to For The Love Of Cricket: https://podfollow.com/1818436692 🩸 Use code FTLOR to get 20% off your first Thriva blood test: http://thriva.co/ 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠ 📋 Have your say in our FTLOR survey: https://forms.gle/1MQ32bQwxzVKa7B79 ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe 📺 Watch For The Love Of Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 🤑 Win money for your rugby club: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 📹 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

Who is the Michael Jordan of the Leicester Tigers Last Dance season? Ben Youngs and Dan Cole give the inside story on an emotional day at Welford Road as they got to run on with their kids (and not George Martin), before a standing ovation as they walked off together after 43 minutes. Only to secure another home game next week in the semi-finals.  Plus Anthony Watson joins for the second half as we pick our ultimate Lions squad from the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours. Most of the players seem to get picked based on who’s the best tourist. To get 20% off your first Thriva blood test, click here: thriva.co and use the code LOVEOFRUGBY 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠ 💭 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 If you want to nominate your local club to take part in THB, here is the link: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 📹 Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 💗 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

In 2009 Sir Ian McGeechan came back to save the Lions, four year after their disastrous tour of New Zealand. He initially left Tom Croft out of his squad, but through a combination of hard work, scrabble, Alan Quinlan getting banned and Crofty being in the form of his life - he started the first two tests! It was the most brutal test series we’d ever seen, and in this special episode Crofty takes us inside the squad that took on the world champion Springboks, restored pride in the Lions jersey and brought Geech to tears.  To get 20% off your first Thriva blood test, click here: thriva.co and use the code LOVEOFRUGBY 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠ 💭 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 If you want to nominate your local club to take part in THB, here is the link: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 📹 Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 💗 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

After 118 caps for England, two British & Irish Lions tours and over 340 appearances for his boyhood club Leicester Tigers, Dan Cole has decided that the time is right to hang up his boots at the end of the season. In this episode, we celebrate the career of a true rugby legend, hear from famous faces from the sport, and discover what comes next for one of England’s greatest ever players. 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.22% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📋 Have your say in our FTLOR survey: https://forms.gle/1MQ32bQwxzVKa7B79 ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe 📺 Watch For The Love Of Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 🤑 Win money for your rugby club: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 📹 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

Bordeaux Bègles are Champions of Europe after defeating Northampton Saints in the 2025 Investec Champions Cup Final. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have gathered in the virtual For The Love Of Rugby podcast studio to analyse the action. Elsewhere Bath Rugby secured their second trophy of the season as they romped to a win against Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup final. Plus, with the news that a Club World Cup is in the works, is this what rugby really needs? 🎮 Play the JAECOO game and win tickets to next year's final in Bilbao: https://kickfor7.play.gamify.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac7ZSbxybNkm6YXwUrVzg5UYwiHwnUA0zTCeKbSoCCmvA_TwrVRz2uXUqX48w_aem_UkewTX8swZNdYy7V7p2KHw 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.22% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📋 Have your say in our FTLOR survey: https://forms.gle/1MQ32bQwxzVKa7B79 ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe 📺 Watch For The Love Of Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 🤑 Win money for your rugby club: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 📹 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

Part-time guitarist and full-time tackle monster Sam Underhill joins the show to preview Bath Rugby’s Challenge Cup Final against Lyon on Friday.   Sam takes us inside a Bath dressing room that has gone from rock bottom to front runners in the Premiership across just three years, discusses his England Summer Tour ambitions, and just how he became a tackle machine. 🎟️ Get tickets for both European finals here: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/principalitystadium/Events?preFilter=45&preFilterName=EPCR%20Finals%202025?utm_source=EPCR&utm_campaign=EPCR&utm_medium=webArticle&utm_content=Cardiff%202025 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.22% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠⁠⁠ 📋 Have your say in our FTLOR survey: https://forms.gle/1MQ32bQwxzVKa7B79 ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe 📺 Watch For The Love Of Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 🤑 Win money for your rugby club: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 📹 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

Geoff Parling is the new Leicester head coach, Danny Care is retiring and Northampton are trying to win the Investec Champions Cup. Saints, England and Lions scrum-half Alex Mitchell joins Ben Youngs and Dan Cole to look ahead to Bordeaux in Cardiff this Saturday.  Get tickets for both European finals here: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/principalitystadium/Events?preFilter=45&preFilterName=EPCR%20Finals%202025?utm_source=EPCR&utm_campaign=EPCR&utm_medium=webArticle&utm_content=Cardiff%202025 To get 20% off your first Thriva blood test, click here: thriva.co and use the code LOVEOFRUGBY 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠ 💭 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 If you want to nominate your local club to take part in THB, here is the link: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 📹 Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 💗 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

Dan Cole is joined by Squidge Rugby to answer your questions! How did Robbie become the world's biggest rugby YouTuber? Do players use stats in their game? And most importantly who would win in a fight between Napoleon or Churchill? 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.22% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠⁠ 📋 Have your say in our FTLOR survey: https://forms.gle/1MQ32bQwxzVKa7B79 ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe 📺 Watch For The Love Of Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 🤑 Win money for your rugby club: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 📹 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

Will Genia and Ben Youngs went head to head for England, Australia and the Lions for a decade. In this special episode they tell each other how they prepared to take each other on, analyse the best scrum-halves in the world right now and reflect on the 2013 Lions series in Australia. To get 20% off your first Thriva blood test, click here: thriva.co and use the code LOVEOFRUGBY 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠ 💭 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 If you want to nominate your local club to take part in THB, here is the link: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 📹 Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 💗 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

The British & Irish Lions squad to face Australia has been announced and Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are here with the ultimate guide to the team. In this episode we’ll bring you analysis of the final squad and you’ll hear from the coach Andy Farrell; the captain Maro Itoje; Lions Ellis Genge, Ollie Chessum, and Elliot Daly; and oracle Squidge Rugby. 🩸 Use code FTLOR to get 20% off your first Thriva blood test: http://thriva.co/ 🏦 Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠http://tide.co/offers/ftlor⁠ 📋 Have your say in our FTLOR survey: https://forms.gle/1MQ32bQwxzVKa7B79 ✍️ Subscribe to Coley's newsletter: https://loveofrugby.substack.com/subscribe 📺 Watch For The Love Of Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveOfRugby 🤑 Win money for your rugby club: https://forms.gle/9PrSEohCYiLB4D9R6 📹 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