Episodes

  • 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
    Show More Show Less
    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
    Show More Show Less
    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
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • Can Bath beat Bordeaux-Bègles? When do England pick Calouri? | The Rugby Bunker

    Can Bath beat Bordeaux-Bègles? When do England pick Calouri? | The Rugby Bunker
    Apr 30 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are back to break down this weekend's Champions Cup semi-finals - Leinster v Toulon and Bordeaux-Bègles against Bath - before discussing when Noah Calouri should make his England debut and paying tribute to the retiring George North. 02:00 Bordeaux-Bègles v Bath preview 14:20 Leinster v Toulon 24:45 When will England pick Noah Caluori? 36:23 Tribute to George North 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 #toulon #leinsterrugby #georgenorth #noahcaluori Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • The pros and cons of a British and Irish Lions tour to France | The Rugby Bunker

    The pros and cons of a British and Irish Lions tour to France | The Rugby Bunker
    Apr 24 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) discuss Thursday's news from Charles Richardson (The Telegraph) that the British and Irish Lions are open to a new touring destination after 2029, with France, Japan and the Americas all possible destinations. Ben and Charlie then discuss the Women's Six Nations and PREM fixtures ahead of the weekend. 01:15 The breaking news about the Lions 14:28 Round three of the Women's Six Nations 23:01 The PREM with Bath travelling to Northampton 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 #britishandirishlions #lionstour #womenssixnations #premrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Analysis: What does 'next hole attack' mean? | The Rugby Bunker

    Analysis: What does 'next hole attack' mean? | The Rugby Bunker
    Apr 17 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are back to discuss the top four in PREM Rugby and the Women's Six Nations, while Charlie unpacks some analysis on one of the latest bits of rugby jargon being used by coaches, 'next hole attack'. 01:50 'Next hole attack' 12:24 The PREM top four race 21:07 Women's Six Nations round two 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 Charlie's piece on 'next hole attack': https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/bath-northampton-saints-attack-analysis-champions-cup-f29vd2ftg#rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #womensixnations #redroses #elliekildunne #finnrussell #bathrugby #northamptonsaints Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Women's Six Nations Preview, plus Courtney Lawes joins Sale | The Rugby Bunker

    Women's Six Nations Preview, plus Courtney Lawes joins Sale | The Rugby Bunker
    Apr 10 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are joined by Fiona Tomas (The Telegraph) to preview the Women's Six Nations, questioning whether any other side can stop world champions England. Ben and Charlie also discuss Courtney Lawes' move to Sale, and whether it could lead to a Test recall. 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 Fi's work for The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/f/ff-fj/fiona-tomas/ Charlie's deep dive on National One: https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/financial-advisers-v-electricians-inside-the-countrys-best-title-race-vqb7b6mxf #rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #womensixnations #redroses #elliekildunne #abbieward #courtneylawes #englandrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Surprising player-club fits and Champions Cup Round of 16 preview | The Rugby Bunker

    Surprising player-club fits and Champions Cup Round of 16 preview | The Rugby Bunker
    Apr 3 2026
    Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by Charles Richardson (The Telegraph) to discuss duck hearts (yes, really), Rob Baxter's new Exeter deal, this weekend's Champions Cup knockout games and after Mako Vunipola joining Leicester, more transfers it took us a while to get our heads around. 03:57 Rob Baxter's new Exeter deal 07:25 Round of 16 preview 27:26 Transfers which took getting used to Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/ Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read Charles' work for The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/c/cf-cj/charles-richardson/ #rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #championscup #exeterchiefs #leicestertigers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins