Gordon D’Arcy

speaker

1,870 appearances 12 recordings 2 series first heard Apr 2026 last heard 30 Jun

Gordon D’Arcy’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

Trend

recordings per month · last 12 months

Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 12 in all, peaking in Jun 2026 with 6.

Appearances

newest first · ▶ plays the moment

The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast · What to make of Andy Farrell's Ireland squad to tour Australia and New Zealand · 18 Jun 2026 podcast

I think there's quite a considerable gap in experience terms.

And I think I can understand why.

My understanding is the RFU were looking for a development tour during the summer as well.

And they looked at a couple of places because they need to continue to need to give players between the ages of 22 and 25 opportunities for test rugby or for just something different, something other than A interprovincials.

Absolutely agree.

I think that there was an opportunity.

The other thing we haven't discussed is that I think the third test in the Lions series was August the 1st.

So we're 12 days shy.

When I look at the squad, I can think of three, four, five players who would have benefited from the summer off.

Yeah.

And I think that is something where you look at it from that perspective and you say, well, as Gordon has already pointed to the fact that the world rankings aren't that important.

Yes, it's the first ever Nations Championship and you want to do well.

Yeah, that's fine.

But ultimately, would you have benefited from leaving, giving four or five players the summer off, allow them to

recover and go into pre-season with more energy and less care worn would that have been better and in the in their absence give others an opportunity I think Gordon you touched on it before we came on air if you look at some of the decisions in relation to players who are going on the Ireland tour who are not involved with Leinster this weekend and whether it's not all of it is injury so you know

They're consistent in that.

Like they did it last year with the New Zealand.

We jumped up and down about it last year that they left so many behind because of the top 14.

So this is not something new.

And France have just kind of shrugged their shoulders.

Showing 141–160 of 1,870 · page 8 of 94