The Ruck

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Will a 6 Nations match happen in the USA?

#30 trending · Rugby

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry concluded with the Springboks winning the fourth test in Baltimore to secure a 3-1 series victory. Alfie, Alex, Charlie and Elgan look back on t

Sep 14
44 min

Boks vs All Blacks: Does the 4th test count?

The third match in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry produced another brilliant test! South Africa leads the series 2-1 after beating New Zealand 29-24. Attention now turns to th

Sep 7
39 min

Is the 3rd test the unofficial decider? Plus: Did Rassie break the rules?

The Greatest Rivalry series is level at 1-1! South Africa beat New Zealand in Cape Town and now attention turns to the third test in Johannesburg. Despite being a four m

Aug 31
39 min

An All Blacks win for the ages: Is Pollard South Africa's answer?

The first test between South Africa and New Zealand produced a famous win for the All Blacks. Can South Africa respond? Was this the best thing for the four match series

Aug 24
38 min

The Greatest Rivalry: Is this New Zealand's ultimate test?

South Africa and New Zealand play the first test of their four match 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series this weekend. Alfie is joined by Alex and New Zealand journalist J

Aug 21
36 min

Rugby’s Greatest Rivals| Episode 6: The Incomparables and a rivalry reimagined

In episode 6 of our special series on the fierce rivalry between rugby’s superpowers, the sport is hurtling into the professional era. South Africa are world champions a

Aug 20
25 min

Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 5: Readmission for a Rainbow Nation

In episode 5 of our special series on the fierce rivalry between rugby’s superpowers, Nelson Mandela walks free, apartheid crumbles and South Africa becomes a new country

Aug 19
24 min

Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 4: Rebellion to isolation

In episode 4 of our special series on the fierce rivalry between rugby’s superpowers, we focus on the most controversial rugby tour in history: the 1986 New Zealand Caval

Aug 18
20 min

Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 3: The Flour Bomb test

In episode 3 of our special series on the fierce rivalry between rugby’s superpowers, we are into the 1980s - a decade defined by rebellion. The 1981 Springbok tour to N

Aug 17
15 min

Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 2: Racial lines drawn, and blurred

In episode 2 of our special series on the fierce rivalry between rugby’s superpowers, the former Springbok Morne du Plessis talks about the sheer, violent ferocity of tes

Aug 16
25 min

Rugby’s Greatest Rivals | Episode 1: Consider your country at war

The Springboks and All Blacks share a rivalry like no other - and it’s about so much more than just the rugby itself. The real story goes back over a century of racism, r

Aug 15
12 min

Nations Championship Round 3: Are Ireland still a top side? Plus, a new Springbok captain?

The 3rd round of the Nations Championship saw New Zealand hammer Ireland, England hold on to win against Argentina and South Africa destroy Wales. Alfie Reynolds, Stuart

Jul 20
53 min

Borthwick slams the "Negativity Committee" as England dodge disaster

England finished their Nations Championship matches this summer by beating Argentina 24-31! Steve Borthwick's side produced some of their best rugby of 2026 but also suf

Jul 19
54 min

Can Los Pumas inflict another Argentine defeat on England?

Argentina host England in the Nations Championship this weekend! Can Los Pumas make it another Argentine win following the football World Cup semi-final? Will Kelleher

Jul 16
52 min

How can anyone stop the Springboks?

After the second round of the Nations Championship Alfie Reynolds, Stuart Barnes and Charlie Morgan look back on all of the action. They ask which nation might be able t

Jul 13
52 min

England back to winning ways: But did we learn anything?

England absolutely dismantled Fiji 73-8 to return to winning ways on the second weekend of the Nations Championship. Fiji were ill disciplined and lacking accuracy as St

Jul 11
33 min

Full strength England face 'must win' Fiji test

It's the second round of the Nations Championship with England taking on Fiji in Liverpool. How much pressure are Steve Borthwick's team under after their defeat to Sout

Jul 9
40 min

Nations Championship starts with a bang. Is captain Pollock the answer for England?

The opening weekend of the Nations Championship produced some brilliant matches! Alfie Reynolds, Stuart Barnes and Elgan Alderman look back on all the action, including

Jul 6
56 min

England 'obliterated' by ruthless South Africa

England's opening match in the Nations Championship saw them hammered 45-21 by South Africa at Ellis Park. From the stadium Will Kelleher, Alex Lowe and Charlie Morgan r

Jul 4
49 min

How Can England stun the Springboks?

What are the odds that England beat South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday? From South Africa, Will Kelleher is joined by Alex Lowe and Charlie Morgan to look ahead to

Jul 2
54 min

Chart trend

Position in the Rugby chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#26#51JunJulAugSep

all-time peak

days in the top 3 since Aug 2025

Chart positions

Where The Ruck ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 19, 2026).

#5 ▼ 1 Rugby US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Great panel and one up. Particularly like Lawrence’s facilitation and ex player insights as well as Jonesy’s controversial but stimulating thoughts.

Colet S · Jul 2020

This combo of insightful journalism (Owen Slot, Stuart Barnes) and recent ex player knowledge (Dallaglio) is a far superior alternative to some of the more laddish alternatives. Keep it up gents!

Clive & Felix · Feb 2020

A great rugby podcast soiled by Mr Jones. His opinions often seem irrational and irresponsibly biased. His comments on the quarter finals this weekend were ludicrous (“DuPont was off his game”, refereeing has taken a massive step back”). And his loathing of South African rugby is palpable to the degree he cannot find a good thing ever to say about them. I would ditch him Mr Lowe. He weakens a great podcast.

Stixieyoubaby · Oct 2023

... and I would leave 0 if I was allowed to. I used to read the Sunday Times purely for their rugby coverage, I then subscribed to the iPad edition for the same reason. And I would eagerly await each episode of this podcast to hear the pundits thoughts and comments. I have found Stephen Jones’s increasing bias against English rugby increasingly harder and harder to stomach, and his incessant Eddie Jones bashing in particular has become unbearable. Today I got to the point where I decided I couldn’t listen any more, so I will be deleting the podcast. What was it that pushed me to that point? It was SJ’s uncontrollable need to point out - for the second week running - that Gatland’s selection for his Lions squad of certain England players who EJ doesn’t select is above all a clear signal of what a poor coach EJ is. This was totally irrelevant to the conversation taking place at the time and has begun to sound like vitriol, rather than relevant reporting. Interestingly, another very enjoyable podcast makes the exact opposite point about some of the England players that both WG and EJ favour. Other views are available, Stephen, but the more I listen to you the more I realise you aren’t capable of grasping that concept, which is not what I personally want from a journalist. Another point worth mentioning is there are far too many adverts in this podcast - you’ve got to sit through too many minutes of hard sell before you get to any rugby conversation at all. If you haven’t already tried it, I highly recommend the BBC Rugby Union Weekly for a really enjoyable pod, with a great banter from current/recent players and Chris Jones (lots of Jones’s in rugby!) the BBC rugby correspondent combined with excellent knowledge of the game.

otherviewsareavailable · May 2021

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.