A lot of major rugby has been played in the past six months. The Rugby World Cup took place, the Lions toured and a new Six Nations about to kick off. And with all this rugby comes an abundance of media surrounding it, from preview shows to highlights packages and post-game analysis.
The aim of this article is to provide a list of current weekly rugby shows and podcasts for fans who want to enjoy their rugby with a bit more substance.
Our top weekly rugby shows:
Rugby Tonight (NBC Sports, Youtube)
Much of NBCs broadcasting covers the NFL and American football, but as a result they have a lot of resources to pull on for their rugby coverage. In particular their “Rugby Tonight” show is excellent with two or three presenters on each episode. Hosted by Alex Corbisiero or Liam Toland, they usually have a guest from one of the Six Nations teams and a reporter based in Europe. It is worth noting that although they reside in America, NBC has access to highlights from all major European competitions.
The Rugby Pod (Soundcloud)
Spending over two hours discussing all things rugby, The Rugby Pod gives great insight into the game with weekly guests. They also take an informal approach, using their own names instead of the usual “presenter” tag.
Unfiltered (Soundcloud)
Unfiltered is a podcast hosted by ex-England international James Haskell and journalist Andy Goode. It follows a similar format to “The Rugby Pod” with one-on-one interviews and roundtable discussions. The banter between Andy and Haskell is worth the subscription alone.
Around the Grounds (Facebook)
Much like a blog version of “Rugby Tonight” this podcast features weekly interviews with reporters based in Europe, along with previews of each Six Nations game. The hosts, Rob in Swansea and Gav in London, do a great job of summarizing the previous week in five minutes or less.
The Rugby Pod (Soundcloud) Part of “The Scrum” network alongside “Unfiltered”, this podcast uses a more traditional approach with two presenters discussing all things rugby for an hour or so.
Rugby Breakdown (Youtube)
“Rugby Breakdown” is hosted by Will Slattery and features weekly analysis of the Aviva Premiership, Top 14 and Rugby Championship. He sometimes has experts to supplement his opinion but his insight into the game is often so good you won’t need them!
Scrum Cast (Youtube)
Another “Scrum” podcast, the weekly 30-minute episodes are hosted by ex-England coaches Mike Catt and Graham Rowntree. Expect in-depth discussion of current team news, tactics and statistics.
Rugby Radio (soundcloud)
Starting off as a rugby chat show, Rugby Radio has since shifted to a weekly roundup of the European game. The show is hosted by former London Wasps and England Sevens player Tom Willis, who also interviews one or two guests each week.
The Rugby Union Weekly (libsyn)
Hosted by Susie Adams and ex-Wales international Jamie Roberts, this podcast features roundtable discussions with a backline player, a front rower and a coach. It can be too insider at times but overall very good for those interested in the tactics of the English and Welsh club game.
Pundit Pod (libsyn)
Hosted by Will Slattery, this podcast features interviews with former players from the Rugby Premiership to discuss their life after rugby and also their current thoughts on the game. The show is quite long but it’s good to hear from players who have recently retired rather than the usual ex-player pundits!
So between that bunch, you’re sure to be able to find all the rugby updates you need – from Rugby Union South Africa through to the Premiership rugby standings.
