The Ruck cover art

The Ruck

The Ruck

By: The Times
Listen for free

About this listen

The Ruck is the journalists' rugby podcast from The Times & The Sunday Times.


Join Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and a selection of guests every week as they provide insight and reports throughout the season, including big-name interviews and forthright analysis.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times
Politics & Government Rugby
Episodes
  • Groundhog day as brilliant Scotland bulldoze England
    Feb 14 2026

    Scotland destroyed England 31-20 to win the Calcutta Cup!


    From the stands at Murrayfield Alfie Reynolds, Mark Palmer and Will Kelleher try to unpick a crazy match.


    The ghosts of Calcutta Cups past came back to haunt England as they once again produced a lacklustre performance in Edinburgh. Their losing streak in the Scottish capital continues. But Scotland were brilliant and bounced back from defeat to Italy the week before.


    What does this tell us about both sides? Are France the best side in the 6 Nations by some distance? And, why can't England win away?


    ***


    The Ruck Live!


    Before the final whistle is blown on the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, there’s the small matter of Super Saturday. This year the final round promises to be even more explosive, with rivals England and France going head-to-head in the very last match of the competition at the Stade de France.


    Tough-tacklers Courtney Lawes and Serge Betsen will join Charlie Morgan, Senior Rugby Writer at The Times, and Alfie Reynolds — host of our podcast The Ruck — to compare notes on Le Crunch and the biggest moments of this year’s tournament.


    Book tickets on thetimes.com/events


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Can England finally win in Edinburgh?
    Feb 12 2026

    It's Calcutta Cup week as Scotland host England in the 6 Nations.


    Alfie, Alex and Will are in Edinburgh to look ahead to the match. They discuss the pressure on Gregor Townsend and Scotland, England's poor record north of the border with their last win being back in 2020 and Steve Borthwick's squad for the match on Saturday.


    They chat about England's continuing drive for positional versatility and ask 'how good are Scotland?' who come into the fixture on a poor run of form, despite the quality of their side on paper.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • What now for Gregor Townsend? And a pod debut!
    Feb 9 2026

    On the opening weekend of the 6 Nations Scotland lost against Italy to heap pressure on Gregor Townsend, Ireland lost to France who produced a statement performance and England hammered Wales.


    Alfie Reynolds is joined by Owen Slot and The Times' new signing, Charlie Morgan, to look back on all the action.


    The boys discuss whether Townsend departing seems inevitable, whether Andy Farrell has done a poor job in regenerating this Ireland team and whether Thursday night 6 Nations rugby works.


    Plus, they look ahead to round two which includes a massive Calcutta Cup clash in Edinburgh, Ireland hosting Italy in a game which could go either way and Wales taking on France which could be in front of a half empty Principality.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.