5 live’s Rugby Union Weekly

Irish rugby legend Peter O’Mahony joins Danny and Sara for a special episode reflecting on his extraordinary career. We discuss World Cup heartbreaks, Six Nations success, and the sacrifices he made over 20 years as a pro. O’Mahony gives a fascinating insight into how Joe Schmidt transformed Ireland and unlocked a different level in him, and how team and environment has evolved since Andy Farrell took charge. He tells us how he was deeply affected by the tragic passing of Anthony Foley and how it changed him as a person and a rugby player. We hear how he bonded with Jamie George on the Lions tour in 2017 and why you should think twice before asking Ma’a Nonu for an All Blacks jersey. We also talk rivalries and quiz O’Mahony on his beef with Scotland.

Ugo, Ashy and Danny raise a glass to Brendan Venter’s short stint as Saracens’ wine consultant and review round two of the Prem. Venter finally spoke to the media, but was it worth the wait? And has the whole saga damaged the club’s reputation? The West Country clubs continued their 100% start to the season. Louis Rees-Zammit is back on the wing and scoring tries as Bristol put 41 points on champions Northampton, Gloucester schooled Quins at Kingsholm and Bath dug deep to edge another thriller with Exeter at The Rec. We also talk Sir Kev, Bristol’s new approach to post-match media and hear about Ashy’s trip up north.

Sara Orchard sits-down with two of the biggest names in women's rugby, Lions Women's head coach Jo Yapp and New Zealand women's head coach Whitney Hansen. A year out from the inaugural Lions Women's Tour and who would have thought the darts is at the forefront of Whitney Hansen's mind. The Black Ferns head honcho also discusses how New Zealand didn't capitalise on their 2022 RWC win, but is open to innovation with the Lions on what women's sport could look like in the future. Coaches dance-off, maybe? Yapp confirms New Zealand as her ideal destination and reveals her hopes a Lions Women documentary that can make the same impact as the men's from 1997.

There were 52 tries, four away wins and three hat-tricks as the Prem returned after its long summer break. Ashy, Ugo and Chris discuss who made the biggest statement on the opening weekend. Was it Saracens surviving a 20-minute red card at Welford Road? Or Gloucester’s demolition of last season’s finalists Exeter? Ashy reacts to Christian Wade closing in on his Prem try record and we discuss the impact of the Welsh players who have joined the league. There’s more on the Red Roses dramatic over the Black Ferns and Australia’s sensational win over the Springboks. Is this a sign of things to come from the Wallabies ahead of 2027?

Zoe Harrison is on the Rugby Union Weekly after she scored a last-gasp intercept try as England defeated New Zealand at Twickenham. World Cup winner Kat Merchant joins Sara Orchard for reaction to another classic encounter between the Red Roses and Black Ferns. Attack coach Emily Scarratt is also on the pod who reflects on England extending their unbeaten run to 41 matches and the impact Shaun Edwards joining the coaching team.

Ugo and Sara are inside the Red Roses camp ahead of their showdown with the Black Ferns at Twickenham. What makes this the biggest rivalry in the women’s game? They chat to head coach about this and the appointment of legendary defence coach Shaun Edwards. Has he already made a big impression? Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt is back on the pod. She shares her thoughts on the size 4.5 ball and asks for fans to manage their expectations from the players’ post-match. Ugo and Sara also sit down with Maud Muir and Sadia Kabeya to discuss line dancing and what three words best describe them off the field.

Who will be crowned champions? Who will be the four teams in the play-offs? Who will be named player of the season? Who was voted the best finisher in the league? These are just some of the questions put to the 10 Prem DORs in an anonymous survey ahead of the new season. Ashy, Danny and Chris pick through the results and give us their own big predictions. We ask whether Tommy Freeman is literally worth his weight in gold, and why wingers don’t become head coaches. Plus, we react to the news that legendary defence coach Shaun Edwards is joining the Red Roses on a short-term deal after leaving France. What will Edwards bring to the role? And will this lead to a role with the men’s team?

We have a bumper pod for you ahead of the new season, as Chris and Ashy chat to some of the biggest stars in the Prem. First up is England fly-half Fin Smith, who tells us he wants Northampton to become one of the greatest teams in Premiership history. But just how many more titles would they need to achieve that? And is Henry Pollock really worth a million pounds? Ashy gives his thoughts and shares an interesting take on the Pollock contract saga. Finn Baxter tells us what it’s like to watch a game of rugby with the Princess of Wales, Jack van Poortvliet discusses his England contract and holidaying in Rio, while Dafydd Jenkins talks to us about mauling up sand dunes on the beach in Devon. Louis Rees-Zammit speaks openly about his struggles last season after returning to the sport. Plus, we discuss his love of kicking and whether he’s going to become a long-distance kicker like Elliot Daly. We also hear about Ashy meeting the Queen, an awkward case of mistaken identity involving Dylan Hartley and Sir Jackie Stewart, and the most brutal pre-season fitness sessions.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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 makes his pod debut after a productive 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?

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?

Fresh from his jaunt following Scotland in the World Cup, Tom joins Gareth and Chris to unpick the big talking points from the weekend and look ahead to the second round of the Nations Championship. They assess Scotland's Finn Russell dilemma, ask if South Africa has an advantage with its teams playing in Europe, and discuss whether England's clash with Fiji could define Steve Borthwick's future.

What did we learn from the opening weekend of the Nations Championship? Ashy, Ugo and Danny look back on a dramatic first round of fixtures and ahead to what next weekend has in store. They ask why England appear to have made little progress since the Six Nations, whether Wales can build on their win over Fiji against Argentina, and how impressive Scotland were without their talisman, Finn Russell. Plus, there was also time to compare weekends, with Ashy enduring the great outdoors on a camping trip he absolutely hated, while Danny somehow found himself living the high life in the Royal Box at Wimbledon.