Rugby Union Weekly

The final Test match of this series had everything - drama, lightning, stoppages and monsoon like conditions which made it a very eventful game between the Lions and the Wallabies in Sydney.

In the end the weather appeared to favour the home side as Australia won 22-12 on the night – with Andy Farrell’s side taking the series victory 2-1.

Chris is joined by former Lions, Andy Nicol and Alex Cuthbert, as well as Aussie great Stephen...

On a filthy Sydney afternoon, we bring together a gang of loyal pod listeners to thrash out some of the major talking points of this Lions tour from a fans' perspective. How much do Lions fans just want to win, and how much do they want a close contest? How has this tour compared to others from a supporters' perspective? And does it matter if your country is represented in selection? We have people pop in from all across Britain an...

We’re podding from the Lions team hotel after Andy Farrell named his squad for the third Test in Sydney. Chris, Ugo and John Barclay discuss the two changes to the Lions starting XV with Blair Kinghorn replacing James Lowe on the wing and James Ryan coming in for Ollie Chessum at lock. Joe Schmidt has turned to veteran scum-half Nic White who bows out from international rugby on Saturday, but there is no Rob Valetini or Carlo Tizza...

1997 or 1974? Two iconic tours to South Africa, but which one ranks higher? In the final episode of our top 10 series, Lions legends Jamie Roberts and Matt Dawson join Chris to rank the best tours of all time. We ask Jamie to rate his two tours - the 2013 win in Australia and the epic series against South Africa in 2009. We debate what makes a great tour - is it all about winning the Test series or are there other factors that dete...

We're in Sydney next to the opera house chatting to Wallabies legend Michael Hooper to get his take on THAT clearout and to discuss the health of Aussie rugby following the series defeat with the World Cup coming up in two years. We also chat to World rugby boss Alan Gilpin who has rejected Joe Schmidt's claim that the decision at the end of the second Test contravened the sport's player welfare drive. Chris also heads into the vic...

Chris and Tom have made it to Sydney for final Test week and GRO is back in the Nations pod squad having been declared fit for selection. There is lots of love for Finn Russell and how he orchestrated the final moments of the game. Of course, Jac Morgan’s clearout is also a hot topic of conversation as another series delivers another controversial moment at the death. Do this Lions team need to win the series 3-0 to be considered o...

What a match! The second Test in Melbourne had everything – drama, comebacks, grit and fight as the Lions fought hard to beat a much improved Wallabies side by 29 points to 26 – to take the series victory, meaning they have won a series for the first time in 12 years.

Chris is joined by Lions rugby royalty – Matt Dawson, Andy Nicol and Jamie Roberts - live from a bar with all the on the whistle reaction.

Andy wishes Australia playe...

Can Australia bounce back at the famous MCG to level the series? Or will the Lions clinch a second successive series down under? With nine Irishman in Andy Farrell’s team, Chris gets the Irish perspective on the second Test with friend of the pod Murray Kinsella from The 42. We also hear from Lions assistant coach John Fogarty on the significance of playing at Australia’s most iconic sporting venue and find out what legendary Lions...

Chris, Ugo and John Barclay react to Andy Farrell's team for the second Test against Australia. There's no Sione Tuipulotu or Garry Ringrose as Huw Jones and Bundee Aki make up the midfield. But Jac Morgan does make the 23 to give the huge travelling Welsh support something to shout about. What can we expect from the Wallabies at the MCG now they have Rob Valetini and Will Skelton in their side? And how much will conditions effect ...

Will Andy Farrell make big changes for the second Test? Will the fitness of Joe McCarthy force his hand? Lauren steps in for GRO this week as we are forced to make our own selection calls ahead of the second Test. Has Jac Morgan done enough to force his way into the 23? A rugby nation holds its breath. We hear about Tom’s burgeoning love of cricket after a trip to the MCG as the Lions look to wrap up the series at one of the most i...

Chris Jones and former Lions and Wales wing Alex Cuthbert give their on the whistle reaction as the Lions faced a test against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. It was a tight match but the Lions had the edge in the end – in what was an exciting 80 minutes at Marvel Stadium.

Alex and Chris dissect what went right on the pitch – especially the first ten minutes for the visitors - and where improvements could be made wi...

Chris is live from Brisbane after the Lions beat the Wallabies 27-19 in the first Test. Former Lion Andy Nicol and ex Scotland captain John Barclay join the pod to give their expert analysis of what they saw on the pitch.

Both agreed it was a strong start by Andy Farrell’s men – then things went a little flat... Australian broadcaster Quentin Hull also drops by to give his insight into this Wallabies side and asks was a slow start...

The first Test in Brisbane is almost upon us! Can Australia defy the odds and shock the Lions at their spiritual home? Chris catches up with Lions legend Jamie Roberts to get his take on Jac Morgan's omission and what the impact will be on the Welsh fans' love for the Lions. Jamie also pinpoints where he expects Australia to target Andy Farrell's side tomorrow. We also get the Wallabies perspective with Geoff Parling, a former Lion...

Chris and Ugo are in Brisbane as Andy Farrell names his long-awaited Lions Test team. There are some big selection calls in the back row as Farrell weighs up form against pedigree, while it’s an all-Scottish midfield in an otherwise Irish and English dominated squad. How will Jac Morgan be feeling after being left out? And what are the other areas of debate? We also discuss the Australia team after they lose some big names up front...

Tom has managed his first round of golf of the tour and turns up to the pod with news of a hole in one – sort of! GRO is starting to get tour FOMO now that Chris is on the ground, but how will he feel after the series done? We discuss what we want from the Tests, and if the Wallabies can deliver jeopardy and drama we crave. Would three resounding wins for the Lions be a good thing? News of the Test team has started to emerge in Bri...

The pod is on the ground in Australia with the Test series days away. Chris and Lauren are joined by Wallaby great Stephen Moore to look ahead to a special few weeks. But with Australia eighth in the world rankings, what will we get from the home side? And how much does the Australian sporting public need the Wallabies to fire? There is breaking news from the Lions camp with Mack Hansen a doubt and we discuss protocol on long-haul ...

What is the most controversial moment in Lions history? Where does the infamous spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll rank in our list? There's the infamous Battle of Ballymore and the '99' call to discuss, but our shortlist is littered with controversial moments that happened off the pitch. Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts are at the heart of two of them. We get the lowdown on Matt's infamous newspaper column from 2001 that almost got him...

It was a dominant performance by the Lions against the AUNZ invitational side in their last match before the first Test – where they confidently beat their opponents 48-0. Danny joins Ashy and Sara on the pod and today was all about which player had done enough to get picked for the first Test in seven days time.

Ashy and Danny both praised the Lions win – and this has made team selection for Andy Farrell much harder. They also ge...