DEBATE: Is A British & Irish League In Rugby Inevitable Or Impossible?

Are the Barbarians RFC still relevant in 2026? For this mini-documentary I took a trip to Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) to watch the Barbarians vs Wales in June 2026 to see if the famous rugby team still mattered. I watch both the men's and women's teams take on the Welsh to see what the differences were between both sides. With star players like Faf de Klerk and George North, can the Baabaas still work their magic? Or has Ruby Tui shown that now is the time for the women to take over? Featuring  @Sport-in-a-Minute  and  @8-9Rugby  the 89 combo pod referenced: https://youtu.be/nfswgdQjBu0?si=UkMFzwsMuFbfbeWu #rugby #barbarians #Wales #highlights #vlog #interview #documentary #springboks #women Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103 Chapters 0:00 Historical Team 1:45 The Problem 3:24 CONTROVERSIAL TAKE 4:19 The Game Begins 5:46 The George North Bit 7:28 The Other Barbarians 9:20 Ruby Tui Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

link to the members only video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hXGWUrycjz8 leagues not mentioned because they are still ongoing or not started yet: - WER - Super W - Super Aupiki - NPC - Currie Cup follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bernard Jackman joins me to discuss the prospects for Antoine Dupont and France as they head down to the Souther Hemisphere for the July tests and the Nations Championship. We discuss if Dupont's position in the France team is under threat from the likes of Maxime Lucu and where France truly lie in the global game. How will that play out against the All Blacks and Australia? Bernard gives his take exclusively on the HG Rugby podcast. We also deep dive the TOP 14 final and Bernard explains what makes Stade Toulousain (or Toulouse to you and me) the powerhouse that they are - from coaching, to players, to culture. Finally, to finish the pod, Bernard gives his take on the current unrest in Irish rugby, the lessons he learnt from Welsh Rugby and what he really thinks about Fabien Galthie. Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow Bernard on twitter: https://x.com/bernardjackman Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103 #france #rugby #podcast #ireland #wales #top14 #toulouse #dupont #allbacks #coaching #analysis Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:49 TOP 14 Final Review 6:11 Mauvaka vs Sheehan 10:58 Toulouse's Winning Secret 19:15 How Good Are France REALLY? 23:47 Honest Thoughts on Fabien Galthie 29:40 Dupont vs Lucu 34:47 All Blacks & Wallabies Expectations 38:58 Irish Rugby Divided? 43:26 A Warning To Wales 54:02 What's To Come? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I don't get Bath Rugby Club. In this video I will use highlights and analytics to explain why they shouldn't be as good as they are and what really makes them such a competitive rugby team (spoiler: Finn Russell helps). I’m going to investigate this bizarre contradiction of numbers verses reality. I’ll be asking if Johann van Graan doing something to break rugby statistics as we know them, or are Bath simply overrated? Then, at the end of the video, I’ll be saying something that English rugby fans are going to absolutely hate… Keywords: Bath Rugby season review, Bath Rugby highlights 2025, History of Bath Rugby, Best tries Bath Rugby, Bath Rugby interview, How good is Bath Rugby, Bath Rugby vs top teams, Finn Russell Bath Rugby, Bath Rugby academy / youth, Bath Rugby training #bath #rugby #prem #england #analysis #highlights #southafrica #dyson #explained Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103&sk=reels_tab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The story of the forgotten Barbarians vs All Blacks game of 2009: how one of the strongest Barbarians teams of all time defeated New Zealand at Twickenham. Including the reflections of Bryan Habana, who scored a hat trick on the day and funny easter eggs from the Kiwi broadcast Full interview with Bryan Habana: https://youtu.be/1VWXYSA368U?si=JgGlzNGKLWIt-mA0 #rugby #barbarians #springboks #allblacks #allblacks #southafrica #newzealand #documentary #habana follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103 Chapters 0:00 A Golden Age 1:18 The Teams 3:25 First Half 5:46 Second Half 7:44 The Aftermath Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back with a bonus where I tackle a topic! this week it's the dreaded/desired British & Irish league: are we closer than ever to it happening or is it still the realms of fantasy? I consider the possibilities with the help of Will Kelleher. Follow me on Twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:55 Business Sense 3:45 The English Want It 6:27 Toes Being Dipped? 10:20 The Italians & South Africans 12:00 Do The Celts Trust England? 13:40 Will Kelleher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was joined by  @thetimessport  journalist Will Kelleher to talk about the English PREM Rugby: the off-field and on-field changes that are turning the league into something new, the reasons for those changes and the risks they bring along the way. We use highlights and analysis to bring the Gallagher PREM 2025/26 into the spotlight and ask what will happen next.#england #rugby #PREM #englishrugby #podcast #debate #sale #harlequins #northampton Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow Will on twitter: https://x.com/willgkelleher Chapters 0:00 Will Kelleher's Journalism Origins 1:30 Northampton Saints Buck The Trend 7:05 Sale & Harlequins Collapse 15:50 Crazy Scorelines 20:15 PREM Hurting England? 25:50 Change Is Needed 29:40 Thoughts On Newcastle RedBulls 34:00 The Soul Of The League? 42:10 The South African Problem 46:45 Ellie Kildunne Thoughts 49:30 Women's Rugby Question 56:05 Steve Borthwick Safe? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breaking down the PREM Rugby salary cap report for 2024/25. Watch the video version by heading over to my YouTube channel and hitting the 'join' button! PREM Report Substack: https://thepiraterugby.substack.com/publish/post/199629107?back=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fscheduled PREM Report Itself: https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/M5OO/1BSdBWIjCfFoN5/e6dad4d4-42dd-45cb-a5ce-02ba5f5b9304.pdf TOP 14 Report Substack: https://thepiraterugby.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/195009524?referrer=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fpublished Follow me on socials Twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huw.griffin/ Chapters 0:00 Clubs Spending More 15:45 Player Wages 24:35 The Cap Isn't Working Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Six Nations Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-198430148 My Insta: https://www.instagram.com/huw.griffin/ The topics I cover in this podcast: Kolbe to Stormers Scarlets transfers latest St Helens drama Lowe to leave Leinster? Nohamba to Sharks World Rugby's Six Year Plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this mini-documentary I name the misleading rugby stat that pundits and fans love but defence coaches hate. With the help of writers, analysts and coaches, I explain the nuance of defending in rugby, what people are getting wrong and the tactics teams use to mask defensive weaknesses. The video discusses some excellent defenders like the Springboks' Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and names some poor defenders too... References: 1. The Stats Do Lie by Wayne Smith https://www.therugbysite.com/blog/news-opinions/the-stats-do-lie-by-wayne-smith 2. Jacques Nienaber Interview (Irish Times) https://x.com/RugbyKino/status/1746465474123121104?s=20 3. Missed Tackles: What are they good for? By Sam Larner https://samlarner.substack.com/p/missed-tackles-what-are-they-good 4. Will Rowlands Interview (BBC) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66791500 5. URC official website https://stats.unitedrugby.com/statistics/2025-26 6. Gareth Jenkins Interview https://x.com/jpstafford/status/1690955381155954688?s=20 7. Shaun Edwards Interview (WalesOnline) https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/shaun-edwards-explains-wales-missed-17074287 8. Outflanked: How Ireland Exposed England's Defensive Issues Out Wide by Jonathan McCormick https://t.co/vHIInFED4A 9. Complete nonsense: What are the NRL'S most overrated stats? By Mike Meehall Wood https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/07/26/complete-nonsense-what-are-the-nrls-most-overrrated-stats/ 10. Jacques Nienaber and his defence playbook at Leinster by Ultimate Rugby https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/jacques-nienaber-and-his-defence-playbook-at-leinster/660790 11. Wales vs France Preview by Jonny McCormick https://t.co/v05tPZ9xTu 12. Opta Club Rugby Stats Hub https://theanalyst.com/club-rugby-stats 13. Inside Channel: Who is the best defensive Fly-half by Angus Usher https://analystgus.substack.com/p/inside-channel-who-is-the-best-defensive 14. Andre Pretorius Interview on HG Rugby https://youtu.be/9JjVBxg6bbs?si=tJ41JszyO0B6gBm4 15. Angus Usher Interview on HG Rugby https://youtu.be/s7HsVMg1a7k?si=cpnk8pV6AsB0tWZt 16. Analysis by Brett Igoe https://x.com/brettruganalyst #rugby #defence #tactics #coaching #analysis #documentary #springboks #southafrica #ireland Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Chapters 0:00 Problematic Numbers 1:17 A Broken Narrative 3:22 Not All Missed Tackles Are Equal 6:52 Making A Tackles vs Being Ran At 9:15 Hiding Weak Defenders (The South African View) 14:37 Which Stats Are Useful? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices