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BBC Radio 5 Live

Rugby Union Weekly is presented by Ugo Monye, Chris Jones and Danny Care. Between the bickering and tangents they'll bring you special guests and cover the biggest stories in the game. Get in touch with the pod via 5 Live Sport on social media or email rugbyunionweekly@bbc.co.uk, and remember to leave us your ratings and reviews!

Rugby Union Weekly

After South Africa crushed the All Blacks to seal a 3-1 victory in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, Ugo, Danny and Chris debate how you beat the Boks, and if anyone can stop them winning a record third successive World Cup. We react to your messages following our exclusive with Conor O’Shea and get Danny’s take on Steve Borthwick’s contract extension. Will we see a Six Nations match in the USA? World Rugby is keen, with the 2031 men’s and 2033 women’s World Cup heading Stateside, but would it actually help rugby break America, or would the tournament be selling its soul? We also discuss the new 4.5 size ball that is being trialled in WXV as the Red Roses come from behind to beat Australia.

Brilliant Boks and Six Nations Stateside?

Ugo and Chris sit down with the RFU performance director Conor O’Shea for a wide-ranging conversation about the big issues shaping English rugby. O’Shea reveals they plan to extend Steve Borthwick’s contract to cover the 2028 Six Nations and prevent speculation around his future. They discuss the importance of the upcoming autumn and despite a poor 2026 O’Shea tells us England can go all the way at the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Should the RFU scrap the rule preventing overseas-based players being picked for England? And how do they improve the coaching pathway for English coaches to make the jump from domestic to international rugby? They also quiz O’Shea on the Red Roses’ dominance and the succession plan for John Mitchell.

Conor O'Shea: Borthwick's contract, overseas rule & Red Roses

The big-name guests keep on coming on the pod as we continue our build-up to the new season. On this episode Chris and Ashy chat to four players who have made big moves over the summer. First up is England centurion Courtney Lawes. Why Sale? Which Prem ground is he most excited to play at? And will we see him play for England again? There has been plenty of Welshman on the move. Prop Nicky Smith talks scrums and reflects on a disappointing summer tour with Wales. Jac Morgan talks us through swapping Ospreys for Gloucester and how he’s finding life in Cheltenham. We are also joined by scrum-half Raffi Quirke, who hopes to rediscover his best form at Newcastle. After a plethora of new signings, is this finally the year Red Bull see a return on their investment?

Lawes, Morgan & Quirke: The New Signings

The pod is back after the summer break and we have three big-name guests to kick off the new season. Chris and Ashy chat to Maro Itoje who reflects on being rested by England this July and about becoming a father later this month. We chat to Finn Russell about weddings, chilling on yachts in Cannes and a big year ahead for club and country. And fresh from making his England debut in the summer, centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg makes his pod debut. Chris and Ashy also catch up with Ugo and Danny to discuss the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series so far and debate Rassie’s last-minute changes to his team.

We’re back with Itoje, Russell & Janse van Rensburg!

It’s a full house on the pod this week as Ugo, Danny, Ashy and Chris bring the curtain down on the summer window of the Nation’s Championship. There is plenty of fallout from England’s victory over Argentina. Ugo and Danny have their say on Felipe Contepomi’s criticism of England’s post-match celebration and Steve Borthwick hits back at the media. We ask if the All Blacks are back after they dismantled Ireland at Eden Park. And with Chris arriving fresh from The Open at Royal Birkdale, we discuss who is on par for the summer and if the past three weeks has shaken up the world order.

Have we learnt anything from the Nations Championship?

Sara, Ashy and Matt Dawson bring you reaction to crazy night Santiago del Estero as England hang on to beat Argentina. But should Bautista Delguy's last-minute try have stood? Was Henry Slade's covering tackle legal? A combined seven yellow cards were shown on Saturday, with England receiving four in the second half and twice being reduced to 13 players. Why are England still struggling with their discipline? Immanuel Feyi-Waboso impresses Ashy with his performance and Tommy Freeman delivers again on the other wing, but what does all this mean for England's centre combo? And after racking up 25,000 miles, and two Test wins, has this summer window been a success Steve Borthwick and ended any speculation around his future?

Late TMO drama as 13-man England beat Argentina

Chris, Tom and GRO preview the final round of the Nation’s Championship this summer. Can Sam Prendergast cement his position as Ireland's number one fly-half as Andy Farrell's side look to become the first team to win at Eden Park since 1994. Can the Wales maul bring them any joy against the Springboks in Durban? The pod is full of admiration for Jesse Kriel and it prompts GRO to quiz the guys on the most-capped centre partnerships in Test rugby. Is it time for Fiji to move away from the offload game? And can England end the summer on a high? Tom explains why he's got Argentina as favourites in Santiago del Estero.

The Nations Pod

Danny, Ashy and Chris look back at round two of the Nation’s Championship with the north and south both on six wins each. Scotland scored four tries and pushed the Boks all the way in Pretoria. Did they show the England coaching team the best way to attack the double world champions? Danny reacts to Marcus Smith’s cameo at scrum-half against Fiji and we look ahead to England’s trip to Argentina as the injured Alex Mitchell is replaced by Raffi Quirke. We also look at the logistics issues hampering the tournament and discuss whether some teams are getting an unfair advantage. Will Jordan broke the All Blacks try record at the weekend, but does he make our all-time Nee Zealand back three? The game of the weekend sees Ireland head to Eden Park. Can Andy Farrell’s side finally end the All Blacks’ 32 year, 52 Test, unbeaten home record?

Nations Championship: Tries and tribulations

Ashy and Chris bring you instant reaction from the Hill Dickinson stadium as England thrashed Fiji in Liverpool to end their five-match unbeaten run. But what are the positives for England after such a one-sided victory over a disjointed Fiji? We hear from Steve Borthwick who heaps praise on his defence despite scoring 73 points. Noah Caluori is back on the pod after a devastating Test debut. He set up a try with his first touch in international rugby and scored a try with his second. Ashy was impressed with the young winger but it was Tommy Freeman who caught his eye. Should Freeman continue on the wing? And Henry Pollock came on to score an impressive second-half hat-trick. Does he now start in Argentina or was his impact exactly why he’s suited to coming off the bench?

Pollock hat-trick helps England end losing run

Ashy and Chris go inside the England camp ahead of the must-win Test against Fiji. After the defeat at Ellis Park, Ashy quizzes skipper Jamie George on the England gameplan against the Boks and why they keep repeating the same mistakes. Centre Henry Slade is also on the pod to discuss his return to the starting XV and England’s state of flux in midfield. Can Slade replicate the influence he's had at Exeter for his country? Finn Russell is back for Scotland. Ashy and Chris look ahead to their clash in Pretoria and react to Louis Rees-Zammit dropping to the Wales bench. Why hasn’t the Welsh winger managed to replicate the form eh showed before his NFL stint?

Slade takes centre stage against Fiji

Chris, Scrum V's Gareth Rhys Owen and Tom English from the BBC Scotland rugby podcast return as the countdown to the Six Nations continues. They delve into what lies ahead for the four home nation teams. Gareth questions whether Warren Gatland still has the passion to guide Wales. Will Simon Easterby’s leadership bring a new look to Ireland? Tom voices his concerns about Scotland’s mounting injury troubles, while Chris explores the challenge facing England. Plus, find out which member of the team has found a new inner calm ahead of tournament.

BBC Sounds / 5 Live Six Nations commentaries this week: 

Friday 31st January France v Wales 2015 kick-off - 5 Live 

Saturday 1st February 
Scotland v Italy 1415 kick-off - Sports Extra 
Ireland v England 1645 kick-off - 5 Live

Six Nations: The Nations Pod is back

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