Episodes

  • Andy Farrell stays put - what it means for Ireland, England and Saracens

    Andy Farrell stays put - what it means for Ireland, England and Saracens
    Jun 5 2026
    In a bonus episode after Friday's announcement, Ben Coles (The Observer) breaks down the implications of Andy Farrell's contract extension until 2031 for Ireland, but also England and Saracens. Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    17 mins
  • Exeter vs Saracens for the PREM playoffs, plus news on Jacques Nienaber and Ellie Kildunne | The Rugby Bunker

    Exeter vs Saracens for the PREM playoffs, plus news on Jacques Nienaber and Ellie Kildunne | The Rugby Bunker
    Jun 5 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) break down Exeter against Saracens - effectively a quarter-final shootout to make the playoffs with Exeter ahead of Saracens by three points going into the final day of the PREM season. They discuss Saracens' five-match winning run and change to their attacking ethos, Mark McCall's legacy, Exeter's excellent recruitment and make a prediction. The two journalists then also discuss stories from this week involving Leinster and Jacques Nienaber, along with Ellie Kildunne's exit from Harlequins. Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • England's scrum-half plans and Jo Yapp to coach the Lions | The Rugby Bunker

    England's scrum-half plans and Jo Yapp to coach the Lions | The Rugby Bunker
    May 29 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by Will Kelleher (The Times) to discuss how Alex Mitchell's hamstring injury could change England's scrum-half plans this summer, before Fiona Tomas (The Telegraph) examines the appointment of Jo Yapp as the first-ever coach of the British and Irish Lions Women before their tour of New Zealand next year. Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read #rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #englandrugby #britishandirishlions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • Picking an England backline, plus the future of BUCS and Sevens | The Rugby Bunker

    Picking an England backline, plus the future of BUCS and Sevens | The Rugby Bunker
    May 21 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) discuss Steve Borthwick's press conference from earlier this week, including the Benhard Janse van Rensburg call-up, and guess the backline England want to pick moving forward. They also break down the key tactics ahead of the Champions Cup final between Leinster and Bordeaux-Begles, before commentator Joe Byrnes joins the episode to discuss the latest BUCS season and players to watch, plus the upcoming Celestial Sevens tournament. Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan #rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #englandrugby #steveborthwick #championscup #bucsrugby #sevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • Steve Borthwick explains why England called up Benhard Janse van Rensburg | The Rugby Bunker

    Steve Borthwick explains why England called up Benhard Janse van Rensburg | The Rugby Bunker
    May 19 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) recaps Tuesday's press conference from Steve Borthwick discussing England's review into their poor Six Nations, what happens this summer to the likes of Maro Itoje, and why England have called up Benhard Janse van Rensburg - who qualifies in July - and has left out Ollie Lawrence of Bath. Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read #rugbyunion #englandrugby #rugbyanalysis #rugbynews #rugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    15 mins
  • Geoff Parling for coach of the year? Plus, France-England for the Women's Six Nations title | TRB

    Geoff Parling for coach of the year? Plus, France-England for the Women's Six Nations title | TRB
    May 14 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by Charlie Morgan (The Times) to discuss Leicester's playoff push and why Geoff Parling should be named coach of the year, before looking at this weekend's PREM fixtures and trying to find an upset. Then Fiona Tomas (The Telegraph) joins to break down the Women's Six Nations and discuss Sunday's title decider in Bordeaux between France and England. 01:39 Charlie's thoughts on Leicester-Northampton, why Geoff Parling should win coach of the year 17:28 The Champ, with Charlie going to Richmond-London Scottish 22:56 This weekend's PREM matches 29:38 Fi joins to discuss the Women's Six Nations 43:23 Would a loss, strangely, help England? Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan Fiona's work for The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/f/ff-fj/fiona-tomas/ #rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #leicestertigers #premrugby #womenssixnations #englandrugby #francerugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • Billy Vunipola interview: I won't play for Tonga and I'm proud to be English | The Rugby Bunker

    Billy Vunipola interview: I won't play for Tonga and I'm proud to be English | The Rugby Bunker
    May 11 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) speaks with Billy Vunipola in an exclusive interview about the former England's number eight's successful spell with Montpellier, why he won't play for Tonga at next year's Rugby World Cup, and the build-up to his arrest in Mallorca two years ago and how it changed him. 02:39 Life at Montpellier 12:16 What led to his arrest in Mallorca 34:50 Playing for Tonga? Read the interview in The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/news/sport/article/vunipola-i-will-never-switch-to-play-for-tonga-i-am-not-afraid-to-say-im-english Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read #rugby #rugbyanalysis #rugbyunion #billyvunipola #englandrugby #tongarugby #rugbyworldcup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • England's 'underwhelming' Six Nations review | The Rugby Bunker

    England's 'underwhelming' Six Nations review | The Rugby Bunker
    May 7 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are back to discuss last weekend's Champions Cup semi-finals (and TV angles), before diving into the RFU's announcement regarding England's Six Nations review and previewing this weekend's PREM and Women's Six Nations matches. Stay for the Daniel Day-Lewis reference. 04:09 UBB defeat Bath, Leinster hold on against Toulon 16:16 The RFU's announcement regarding England's Six Nations review 34:00 This weekend's PREM matches 43:13 Women's Six Nations round four Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan #rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #championscup #bordeauxbegles #ubb #bathrugby #leinsterrugby #englandrugby #premrugby #womenssixnations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins