The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

Vive Bordeaux! Ex-England, Kenya and USA Sevens coach, Mike Friday dives into a jaw-dropping week of rugby alongside Payno and Hask. The lads debate the titanic final between Bordeaux and Northampton Saints, centring on accusations of foul play against Rugby’s greatest showman, Henry Pollock. What did our young Lion learn? & as the EPCR announce a new Club World Cup, we look to rugby’s future.

Sevens guru Mike also reacts to the sport’s management in the face of heartbreaking headlines that Ireland Men’s Sevens team will cease to exist and Great Britain men and women will move to a part-time programme. Is its Olympic status at stake?


WOB
Group & GBR Competition Entry Form



To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to nordvpn.com/goodbadrugby -  our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. And, there's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee!



🛞 00:00 - Strap In With Continental Tyres!

🤼 03:32 - Kabaddi v Rugby: Sevens Stars In India’s RPL

🔥 07:33 - Northampton v Bordeaux - The Breakdown

🌟 16:18 - Pollock Steals The Show

🤔 28:26 - Did Penaud Make The Difference?

🏆 33:04 - Bath Bring It Home

🌍 35:31 - A New Rugby World Club Cup?

‼️ 45:34 - Sevens Revolution: Changes To The World Series

📉 58:53 - Why Were Ireland and GB Sevens Cutback?

🥇 01:06:16 - Flag Football v Sevens: An Olympic Battle

🦁 01:10:12 - Solutions… A British & Irish Lions Sevens Team?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready for the Investec Champions Cup final! This week, we're breaking down the Anglo-French showdown between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux, with Ben Kayser's inside track on the big-budget French side and their attacking genius Jalibert.



We also delve into Bath's Gallagher Premiership dominance and their upcoming Challenge Cup Final. Plus, huge news on Red Bull's potential takeover of Newcastle Falcons and Antoine Dupont's move into American rugby ownership. All this, plus our final picks for the ultimate Investec Champions Cup Dream Team.



Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres. 



WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form



00:00 🛞 Strap in with Continental Tyres

02:25 🛁 Bath's Premiership Dominance: Is Their Squad Unstoppable? 

10:19 💸 Rugby Ticket Prices: "Obscene" for Fans!!! 

13:02 🐯 Leicester Tigers' New Era: Geoff Parling Appointment Discussed 

20:03 😇 Northampton's Champions Cup Cohesion

24:39🍷 Bordeaux's "Freak Attack": Jalibert & Lucu's Magic 

48:55: 🦓 Investec Champions Cup Dream Team: Our Ultimate Picks! 

55:36 🪽 Red Bull Buys Newcastle Falcons?! A Major Game Changer 

01:05:49 🇺🇸 Antoine Dupont's American Rugby Investment
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Northampton and England winger Tommy Freeman joins the pod for a laugh-out-loud, raw and at times deeply personal chat. Fresh off a Lions call-up and in red-hot form - with 15 tries in his last 10 games - Tommy reflects on the moments that shaped him, from the heartbreak of missing out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup to living with epilepsy. With Saints heading into the Investec Champions Cup Final, we look ahead to his blockbuster showdown with Louis Bielle-Biarrey as Northampton prepare to face Bordeaux.



Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres. 



WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form



🎧 00:00 – Strap in with Continental Tyres

🦁 02:00 – Freeman’s a Lion 

💥 10:00 – Tommy on Pollock 

🔄 19:28 – Mr Versatile - winger, fullback, centre... and maybe even a 10?

👬 23:07 – Mitchell & Smith - the big kids of Northampton

👑 27:00 – Hampton Court & Royal Questions 

🔥 33:00 – Try Machine

🚨 38:28 – Hooked by Eddie Jones

🐯 42:28 – Why Tigers Passed 

💔 43:57 – Missing the 2023 RWC 

🧠 45:00 – Living with Epilepsy

🔵 54:36 – The Leinster Recap 

🙌 01:00:00 – Fraser Dingwall Appreciation Society 

⚡ 01:04:00 – Final H2H: Freeman vs Bielle-Biarry 

🏆 01:08:00 – The People’s Final – Saints vs Bordeaux

⌚ 01:14:30 – Watches of Bath Quiz 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Filmed in style at the House of Rémy Martin, this week’s episode finds Alex, Hask, and Jonny May enjoying life in Cognac-deep in wine country and not far from Bordeaux’s dismantling of Toulouse-as they unpack a seismic weekend in the Investec Champions Cup.



Northampton’s young guns stun Leinster, prompting big praise for Pollock, Smith, Freeman and more. But how might the Saints’ heroics shake up Andy Farrell’s Lions selection? Plus, Jonny faces another pronunciation test-this time courtesy of Bielle-Biarrey.



Please enjoy your Rémy Martin responsibly.



Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres. 



WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form



🚗 00:00 – Buckle Up with Continental Tyres

🥃 02:53 – Welcome Rémy Martin!

🎤 05:00 – Hampton Court Live Show Details

☘️ 06:33 – How the Saints Stunned Dublin

🔥 14:51 – Fearless ? Northampton’s Mindset

🎨 24:00 – Pollock’s not so secret talent

🦁 31:30 – How the results will impact the Lions selction

😱 46:24 – What happened to Leinster?

🍷 50:00 – Bordeaux make their first Champions Cup Final!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As French club rugby thrives, English rugby finds itself at a crossroads. Alex and Tins are joined by Jonny May, Courtney Lawes, and rugby powerbroker Simon Gillham [OBE] for a timely conversation on what England can learn from across the Channel. From the dominance of ProD2 and the booming Top 14 to the structural chaos at home, the team digs into the future of the English game.



Plus: Courtney’s Lions ambitions & Investec Champions Cup semi-final previews. Tickets are selling fast for finals weekend in Cardiff on the 23rd and 24th of May, head to EPCRugby.com for more details.



Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres. 



WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form



🛞 00:00 – Buckle Up with Continental Tyres
🎙️ 02:00 – Meet Simon Gillham OBE: Rugby’s Quiet Powerbroker
🤝 05:47 – When Brive Signed Courtney Lawes: Inside the Transfer
🏆 11:14 – Why Promotion & Relegation Still Works
🇫🇷 21:13 – What English Rugby Can Learn from France
📺 27:30 – Prem Rugby’s £200M TV Deal: Gamechanger?
⚠️ 40:18 – The Hidden Problem with Premiership Academies
🏗️ 45:47 – Franchise Model: Big Questions
🔥 51:35 – Investec Champions Cup Semi-Final Preview
🔍 56:59 – Courtney’s  Saints Scouting Report
🦁 01:04:00 – Lions 10 Debate: Smith, Prendergast, Ford, Farrell?
🇫🇷 01:09:49 – Bordeaux v Toulouse: All French Affair
🔮 01:11:50 – Semi-Final Predictions: Who’s Going to Cardiff?
🎯 01:13:50 – Courtney on a 3rd Lions Tour?
🧠 01:18:00 – England’s New Coaching Team & Players to Watch this Summer
🐉 01:21:25 – Dave Reddin Joins Wales




Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices