The Ruck

At the midway point in the Prem season Harlequins find themselves in a crisis. They're 8th in the table, having only won two of their nine games, including a 66-21 defeat to Northampton at the weekend.So, Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe are at The Stoop to chat with the Quins CEO Laurie Dalrymple. They discuss the coaching upheaval in the summer and the knock on impact to the clubs current struggles, player retention and why so many academy products have departed South-West London, as well as the importance of keeping Marcus Smith and the clubs financial situation in regards to an aim of breaking even. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the end of 2025 so in keeping with tradition The Ruck's end of year selection meeting is back as Alfie, Alex, Will and Elgan name a world XV of the year.South Africa are the number 1 side in the world but how many springboks will make it into the team? Who gets selected at fly-half? And, in a year where positional versatility has been so important what does the bench look like?Plus, given that the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour wasn't a 'vintage' series, how much weight do they put on Lions selection? Which big name superstar misses out? And, despite hardly playing any international rugby this year, does Antoine Dupont make it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final pod before Christmas and Alfie, Alex, Will and Elgan are back to review all the action over the weekend.They discuss humbling defeats for Gloucester and Harlequins and ask whether the current top five will be the teams to battle for a play-off spot at the end of the season.Plus, why are there so many high profile transfers ahead of next season? And, what can the whole league learn from Bath as they try and build a squad to win a title?Following Sports Personality of the Year they also praise Ellie Kildunne for coming 2nd in the individual award, ask whether the Red Roses should have picked up the team award and discuss what the British & Irish Lions missing out on a nomination reveals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will and Alex are solving all sorts on the Ruck this week. Mark Palmer comes on to chat about Glasgow's extraordinary win over Toulouse in the Champions Cup -- a rare shining light in another mixed round of the competition -- and the boys then debate how to fix the tournament, so there are fewer blow-out pool games. Could there be a "European Super League" instead? Or would it work playing it in one block in May and June?Then Will Collier, the Castres tight-head, joins us to discuss demystifying the scrum, following on from the superb guest column he wrote for The Times last week.And Alex dissects some news and theories around promotion from the Champ to the Prem, a subject that refuses to go away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ruck has a South African flavour this week as we interview Springboks hybrid hero André Esterhuizen, the centre who can also play back-row. We talk about that innovation, the Boks' fine 2025 and the upcoming Champions Cup clash between his Sharks and Saracens on Saturday.Will, Alex and Elgan delve into the first round of the Champions Cup, which featured some of the same old issues but good wins for Northampton Saints, Bath, Bordeaux-Begles and the Scottish sides. Plus, the boys rattle through the 2027 World Cup draw, and a gouging ban for Eben Etzebeth. We ask how the South Africans can be stopped from winning three tournaments in a row, and whether Rassie Erasmus might throw the Italy game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.