The Ruck
Episodes
Interview Special: Wayne Barnes
25 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this special edition of The Ruck, Stephen Jones talks to Wayne Barnes about life as a referee, the tactics officials will be keeping an eye on in t...
Secrets of the Saracens turnaround
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Owen Slot welcomes Alex Lowe and former Saracens player, Will Fraser. They discuss the final round of the European group stages, the re...
Why Irish sides are dominating whilst English sides stall
15 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot welcomes Stephen Jones and Alex Lowe to discuss another thrilling weekend of European rugby. Peter O'Reilly joins the debate from Dubli...
The problem with Jones and Hartley
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Ruck returns with Stephen Jones, Owen Slot, Stuart Barnes and Jonny Fordham.The panel discuss why Dylan Hartley's club form will not cha...
Boxing Day Special
26 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot welcomes Stephen Jones, Al Dymock and Steve James for a festive round up of 2017. The panel pick their rugby heroes and villains of the year...
Could there be no English quarter finalists?
18 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones welcomes Steve James, Owen Slot and Al Dymock for the penultimate Ruck of the year.The panel cover: Dan Cole's struggles, Beno Obano's t...
No other nation would disregard lethal Ashton
11 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot, Stephen Jones and Alan Dymock analyse a terrible weekend in Europe results-wise for English clubs. But podcast favourite Peter O'Reilly cal...
Too many tests dangerous for player welfare
04 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones, Owen Slot and Sam Peters are feeling weary after the autumn internationals, with the debate raging on as to the physical damage that co...
Eddie Jones wins Eddie of the year
27 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot welcomes Jonny Fordham of The Sun, Tom Hamilton from ESPN and Al Dymock from Rugby World to reflect on the weekends action.They offer answer...
Great Scots, player dissent and the weekend reviewed
20 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones is joined by The Times Owen Slot, Rugby World's Al Dymock, and the finest freelancer around, Adam Hathaway.They review England's win ove...
Are England really "headache inducing"?
13 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones is joined by Steve James and Stuart Barnes for a comprehensive round up of the autumn internationals.The panel cover: the difficulty of ...
Have the autumn internationals lost their appeal?
07 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones returns and welcomes Alex Lowe from The Times, Sarah Mockford from Rugby World, former World Cup winner and man who works upstairs now, ...
Three Men and a Baby
30 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In a podcast first and almost certain last, Owen Slot welcomes, Ben Ryan, Fiji Seven's gold medal winning coach, Sam Peters from The Sunday Times, and...
One of the great European weekends
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones returns from holiday and welcomes Alex Lowe from The Times, Rugby's finest greyhound expert Adam Hathaway and Rugby World's Alan Dymock....
Saracens, Leone Nakarawa and no easy games in Krasny Yar
16 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stuart Barnes takes charge for the first time and welcomes Alex Lowe from The Times, resident greyhound expert Adam Hathaway and Rugby World's Sarah M...
The state of the nations...
09 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot welcomes Times writers Alex Lowe and John Westerby, and commentator Alastair Eykyn. The panel give their insights on the state of the world'...
Are new rules causing the mass injury pile up?
02 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones welcomes Owen Slot from The Times, Tom Hamilton from ESPN and Alex Spink from The Mirror. The panel pick their highlights of the week, i...
Special Part 2: Will Fraser reflects on life beyond the game
26 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot speaks to Will Fraser for the second part of this special.The former Saracens player recalls telling his team mates of his retirement before...
Special: Will Fraser reflects on forced retirement
25 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot welcomes Will Fraser for the first part of this special episode.The former Saracens player reflects on having to retire due to serious injur...
The American damp squib and "rugby royalty"
18 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones, Owen Slot and Alex Lowe are joined by rugby royalty in the form of Rachael Burford. They talk about exporting rugby to the USA and deve...
Crises everywhere you look
11 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones welcomes Owen Slot and Alex Lowe from The Times and deputy editor of Rugby World Magazine, Sarah Mockford.The panel discuss their highli...
Contracts, new laws and a complete Premiership season preview
05 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Ruck returns for a brand new season as Owen Slot welcomes Stephen Jones, from The Sunday Times, Alex Lowe from The Times and Adam Hathaway, "Rugby...
The Ruck on tour: The biggest Lions series reviewed
09 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones presents the season finale of The Ruck banishing all others to offer his final thoughts on an incredible series which he describes as "t...
The Ruck on tour: One of the biggest games in history
06 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot welcomes Stephen Jones, Peter O’Reilly and Stuart Barnes to preview the deciding test.The panel bill the game as "one of the biggest games...
The Ruck on tour: resolute Lions will only be happy with series win
03 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
From Auckland, Stephen Jones, Peter O’Reilly and Nick Cain review a stunning second test. Later Owen Slot and Jonny Fordham report from Queenstown.C...
The Ruck on tour: second test team selection baffles
29 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The panel are totally confused by Warren Gatland's second test team selection.Stephen Jones, Peter O’Reilly, Owen Slot and Alex Lowe attempt to make...
The Ruck on tour: reasons to believe
26 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones welcomes Owen Slot, Peter O'Reilly and long time sports photographer David Rogers from Getty Images. David has been to nearly every Lion...
The Ruck on tour: Warren Gatland won't die wondering...
22 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the first test, Stephen Jones, Alex Lowe and Owen Slot analyse Gatland's thinking, decide who's unlucky, and debate whether the logic stacks ...
The Ruck on tour: has the shirt been devalued?
19 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded From Hamilton, New ZealandStephen Jones is joined by Stuart Barnes, Owen Slot and Peter O'Reilly. Discussed by the panel: can Henshaw, Willia...
The Ruck on tour: a journey to the Vegas of New Zealand
15 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones is joined by Stuart Barnes, Owen Slot and Peter O'Reilly for a review of NZ papers and a key examination of 'Gatland's Law' in the se...
The Ruck on tour: Lions personalities shining through
12 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot and Stephen Jones go head to head on a range of Lions issues and come out with about 30 seconds worth of agreement. The weekend victory is r...
The Ruck on tour: how many defeats can the Lions take?
08 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded in Christchurch, The Times' Owen Slot welcomes Stephen Jones from The Sunday Times, Nick Cain from The Rugby Paper and Tom Hamilton from ESPN...
The Ruck on tour: are the Lions doomed?
05 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this second episode on the road in New Zealand. Stephen Jones is joined by Nick Cain from The Rugby Paper alongside regulars Stuart Barnes and Owen...
The Ruck on tour: Jetlag, roadworks and the first match preview
01 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded in New Zealand The Times' Owen Slot welcomes a bleary eyed Stephen Jones from The Sunday Times, and a jet lagged Jonny Fordham from The Sun f...
The Lions Live Preview Special: Part Two
30 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this second special edition of the podcast Owen Slot is joined by Stephen Jones, Stuart Barnes, Lawrence Dallaglio, and a live studio audience to p...
The Lions Live Preview Special: Part One
29 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this special edition, Owen Slot is joined by Stephen Jones, Stuart Barnes, Lawrence Dallaglio, and a live studio audience to preview the British an...
17. Premiership final preview and Lions build up
23 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In the final northern hemisphere podcast of the season Owen Slot, Stuart Barnes and Stephen Jones preview the Premiership final, the Pro 12 final and ...
16. Are Saracens the greatest club side ever?
15 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week Stephen Jones welcomes Owen Slot, Alex Lowe and Adam Hathaway. The panel discuss their highlights of the week, if the Rugby Sevens is actual...
15. Should the residency rules be changed?
09 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot is joined by Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes to debate all things rugby from the last 7 days.On the agenda: a review of the final weekend of...
14. The huge importance of the grass roots game
02 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones is joined by Owen Slot and Nigel Botherway for a review of the weekend's rugby and a special feature on the state of grass roots rugby. ...
13. European Club Rugby matches the International standard
24 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones welcomes Alex Lowe, Alan Dymock, and Adam Hathaway to discuss the week in rugby.On the agenda: A review of the European Semi-Finals and ...
12. Slot vs Jones on the Lions, England and Europe
20 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With so much to talk about Owen Slot and Stephen Jones go head to head on the Lions, a 'bizarre' England squad, and the European ties at the weekendCo...
11. Rugby's Sergio Garcia moments
10 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones welcomes Stuart Barnes, Owen Slot and Adam Hathaway to discuss the week in rugby and for the first two minutes, The Masters. In a packe...
10. Saracens analysed, Sartre on George Ford and the Welsh club mess dissected.
03 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In a packed podcast, Owen Slot is joined by Stephen Jones, Stuart Barnes and ESPN's Tom Hamilton to cover the week in rugby.On the agenda, Saracens' m...
9. European quarters, the Lions picture and Newport
28 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Jones is joined by Nick Cain from the Rugby Paper,Al Dymock from Rugby World, and Adam Hathaway from 'various tabloids' as Stephen puts it. On...
8. Did anyone have a good Six Nations?
21 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The big questions get answered this week:Did any side have a good tournament?Can anyone make a case for Hartley starting beyond loyalty?What would you...
England justify the hype and the perils of Welsh press box
14 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week Stephen Jones welcomes The Times' Owen Slot, World Cup Winner Michael Lynagh and The Sunday Times' Peter O'Reilly.They discuss, England's pu...
6. Alternative rugby destinations and Scotland's mistake with Cotter
07 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week Owen Slot welcomes Stephen Jones, Mark Souster and Mark Palmer to discuss England vs Scotland at a crucial stage of the 6 nations. They also...
5. Cynical tactics from...England and European rugby in focus
28 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week SJA rugby journalist of the year Stephen Jones welcomes The Times' Owen Slot, Rugby World's Deputy Editor, Sarah Mockford and Simon Halliday...
4. Mental health, the Solomona problem and Farrell's progression
21 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week Owen Slot welcomes The Sunday Times's Stephen Jones, columnist Stuart Barnes, and founder of the Rugby Players' Association Damian Hopley. T...
3. Back to the 5 nations?
14 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Sunday Times' Stephen Jones welcomes Owen Slot and Steve James from The Times and Jonny Fordham from The SunThis week:The writers pick the highlig...
2. Conclusions from the opening weekend
07 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
After a dramatic start to the 6 nations, Owen Slot welcomes Stephen Jones from The Sunday Times and Alex Lowe from The Times, for a packed programme. ...
1. Six Nations Special
02 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Slot welcomes Stuart Barnes, Stephen Jones and Adam Jones for 45 minutes of lively, light hearted debate on the eve of the 6 nations tournament. ...
The Ruck Trailer
01 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The new Rugby Podcast from The Times. Owen Slot is joined by Stuart Barnes, Stephen Jones, and Adam Jones for a lively debate recorded in front of liv...