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PODCAST

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls

Welcome to Rucks Mauls & Oval Balls, the ultimate podcast for all things English rugby! Hosted by two former university teammates who shared the pitch and forged a lasting bond, this show takes you behind the scenes of the rugby world, blending insightful analysis with a shared passion for the sport. Each episode dives deep into the game, with a special focus on statistics, player performance, team dynamics, and match breakdowns. Whether you"re a die-hard fan or new to the game, Rucks, Mauls

sports rugby

All Episodes

87:25

S2 Ep 17 - Gloucester Gloom Grows Whilst Saints Style...

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2026/01/07

A sold-out Kingston Park, a year-long drought snapped, and a recruitment plan that actually makes sense—Newcastle’s resurgence sets the tone for a week where club identity matters more than hype. We unpack how the Red Bull-backed project is prioritising prime-age talent, robust coaching, and behind-the-scenes investment that turns travel, data and welfare into wins. It’s not about Galácticos; it’s about a system that survived a storm and put Gloucester to the sword. From there, we turn the l...

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81:32

S2 Ep 16 - Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls 2025 Rugby Wrap...

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/12/31

Joined by Mark Williams from MWRUGBYCOACHING Two hours of rugby without the fluff: we look back at 2025’s biggest swings and set our stall out for 2026. From the Lions’ series win to Elliot Daly breaking French hearts, from Bath’s irresistible maul to Saints’ statement in Europe, we map the moments that mattered and why they’ll shape the year ahead. We get into the rise of Steve Borthwick’s England and the culture piece that actually makes teams better, drawing on coach Mark Williams’ work a...

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82:56

S2 Ep 15 - Wild Weekend Where Exeter Stun Saracens &...

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/12/24

A weekend that felt like a pressure test for the Premiership delivered on every front. Leicester bullied the basics and shredded Gloucester’s confidence, Exeter turned the StoneX into a second-half workshop, Saints ran riot against a leggy Sale, Bristol lit up Big Game while Quins wilted, and Bath rolled out an eight-man bench detonation that shows exactly why they’re so hard to live with. We also talk transfer tremors—Tommaso Menoncello to Toulouse and Siya Kolisi’s rumoured return to the St...

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93:01

S2 Ep 14 - Franchises For Prem & Fixing Faltering...

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/12/17

A pint-soaked weekend in Cork quickly gives way to the biggest question in English rugby: is a sealed Premiership the only path to stability? We don’t dodge it. We weigh romance versus reality, outline how a franchise model can expand into Yorkshire and the southeast without ripping clubs from their roots, and sketch a ten-year roadmap that funds academies, powers a revived A‑League, and reconnects the Championship to meaningful, high-standard rugby. Investors want certainty; fans want honest...

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100:53

S2 Ep 13 - Champions Cup Mega Pod

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/12/10

European rugby didn’t whisper this weekend—it roared. We dive straight into a Champions Cup slate packed with statement wins, shock upsets, and a few uncomfortable truths about where the competition stands. From the moment Sale’s injuries met Glasgow’s 25‑minute surge, the theme was clear: momentum punishes hesitation, and the best sides control the tempo. We unpack Saracens suffocating Clermont at the set piece, Leinster’s seamless power with Quins fighting for a deserved bonus point, and B...

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98:12

S2 Ep 12 - Saints Stumbled, Harlequins Humbled, R360...

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/12/03

A week off and the rugby world refused to sit still. We kick things off with the headlines: R360’s two‑year delay and why the money never looked real, a quietly improving Premiership balance sheet that’s letting clubs hand out deals to 2029, London Irish stirring again, and ITV nabbing England tests for free‑to‑air. Great for reach—so long as the coverage upgrades from remote sofas to real insight on the touchline. From there, the pitch does the talking. Newcastle’s Red Bulls era already hin...

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93:59

S2 Ep 11 - Bomb Squad, Pom Squad & Los Bombas

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/11/19

A 12–0 hole against the All Blacks usually means lights out. Not this time. We break down how England wrestled control back at Twickenham: Ford’s cold-blooded drop goals, a backline reshuffle that added real speed with Marcus Smith at 15, and a pack that went from shaky lineouts to statement scrums. Dingwall and Lawrence offered balance and bite in midfield, while Underhill and Earl set the tone with dominant contact and tireless carrying. It wasn’t perfect, but it was organised, ruthless, an...

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79:33

S2 Ep 10 - Fiji Frights & Pom Squad Delights

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/11/12

A bright afternoon in Bath set the scene for a tougher truth: cohesion beats potential. We walk through England A’s sobering loss to a slick New Zealand XV and pull out what matters for selection, development, and how fast “promising” becomes “test-ready.” Two names rose above the noise — Ollie Hassell-Collins under the high ball and Tom Pearson around the breakdown — but the wider lesson was clearer still: the basics decide everything when pressure bites. Switching to Twickenham, we break d...

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76:32

S2 Ep 09 - USA Unready & England Unleashed

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/11/05

England put on a clinic. We break down how a sharp kicking plan, relentless two‑man tackles, and a late “Pom Squad” surge turned Australia’s momentum to dust, with Alex Mitchell’s box kicking and Tom Roebuck’s aerial work setting the tone. We get into the selection debates too: Tommy Freeman’s smart decision‑making at 13, a three‑way race at 10, and why Freddie Steward’s tough takes under targeted kicks deserved more credit than criticism. Then we head to Chicago, where Ireland and New Zeala...

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91:51

S2 Ep 08 – Autumn Action & Prem Rugby Passion

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/10/29

A whirlwind weekend gave us everything: Saints igniting Franklin’s Gardens with 30 minutes of pure velocity, Saracens scrambling to recover, Tigers and Sale trading test-level shots, and the PWR roaring back with pace and bite. We dive straight into the England squad for the Autumn Nations and ask the real selection questions: stack the 9-10-12 with Northampton’s chemistry, or ride Ford’s control and cold-blooded decision-making? Build a back row for collisions with Underhill, or tilt toward ...

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86:37

S2 Ep 07 - Caluori Counting & Harlequins Humbling

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/10/22

Money, momentum, and a meteoric rise collide in a round that had everything—from a test-match brawl at Welford Road to a 65–14 shockwave in north London. We open on England’s Autumn Nations training squad and the headache it exposes: power up front and depth at fullback. With George Martin sidelined and Tom Willis choosing Bordeaux, we dig into the balance between national ambition and financial gravity, and ask whether England’s domestic-only policy still makes competitive sense as French an...

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76:48

S2 Ep 06 - Derby Days & Broken Plays

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/10/15

Forget clichés—this weekend showed exactly who’s for real and who’s searching for answers. We start with Bath, who didn’t just win, they imposed a standard: relentless collisions, clean set-piece, and a midfield pairing that bends games their way. Even with rotation, they rolled Gloucester with control and depth that’s frankly scary. We break down why their structure travels and how Ojomoh-Lawrence unlocks space for Russell and Arundell to finish the job. Then we head to the Stoop, where Har...

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88:50

S2 Ep 05 - Prem Power Plays & Player Pains

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/10/08

A rebel league selling glitz and “player IP,” a beloved flanker facing MND, and a Prem weekend that swung on packs, pressure, and poise—this one has layers. We open the hood on R360’s promises and ask the only questions that matter: who sanctions it, who plays when international camps clash, and who still cares after the marketing burn wears off. Pre‑contracts aren’t contracts, and IP only pays if the audience is real. Best case, it nudges the established game to modernise; worst case, it’s n...

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88:26

S2 Ep 04 - Red Roses Bloom, Prem Rugby Booms

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/10/01

A world title in one hand, a battered match ball in the other—this week swings from the Red Roses’ crowning moment to a wild Premiership opening round that had big hits, bigger scrums, and even bigger talking points. We start with England’s blueprint against Canada: ruthless ruck denial, set-piece authority, and a calm response to early pressure. From Ellie Kildunne’s momentum-shifting finish to Alcroft, Matthews, and Botterman setting the tone, we unpack why this run felt inevitable—and why ...

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56:38

S2 Ep 03 - Black Eyes, Bites & Red Roses in Bloom

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/09/17

The global rugby landscape is shifting dramatically, and we're here to break it all down. In a revealing conversation about Newcastle Red Bulls' resurgence, we witness what appears to be the birth of a northern powerhouse. With an impressive 9,000 fans turning out for a mere cup fixture and more star signings on the horizon, Kingston Park finally has reason for optimism after years in the wilderness. Our deep dive into the Women's Rugby World Cup quarterfinals reveals the emergence of clear ...

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72:47

S2 Ep 02 - Women's World Cup, Red Bulls Rising & Prem...

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/09/10

The Women's Rugby World Cup takes center stage as the pool stages wrap up with England facing their first genuine test against Australia. While the Red Roses secured a comfortable 47-7 victory, questions emerge about their clinical edge in the backline as they prepare for potentially facing New Zealand's lethal attack in the knockout rounds. We dive into standout performances across the tournament and highlight how teams like Brazil and Samoa are making history simply by competing on this glo...

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65:43

S2 Ep 01 - Red Roses, Red Bull & Mr Blobby Under a...

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/09/03

The flirty season begins! After a refreshing break, we're diving headfirst into rugby's most exciting developments with renewed energy and the same unfiltered perspectives you've come to expect. Welsh rugby finds itself at yet another crossroads, with the WRU contemplating a reduction to just two regions. We explore what this East-West Wales structure might mean for traditional clubs caught in the crossfire and whether burning everything to the ground might actually be the solution this perp...

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49:00

Ep. 31 - Lions, Leaps & Last-Minute Drama

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/07/30

The second Test between the Lions and Australia delivered everything rugby fans could hope for - drama, controversy, physicality, and a last-gasp victory that secured the series for the tourists. After a relatively straightforward first Test win, the Lions found themselves thoroughly tested by a transformed Australian side at the MCG. Will Skelton's return to the Wallabies' pack proved transformative, with the towering lock imposing himself on the contest through sheer physical dominance. Hi...

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74:39

Ep. 30 - Broken Fridges & Battered Wallabies

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/07/23

When test match players deliver test match performances, Andy Farrell looks like a rugby genius. The Lions dominated Australia physically in the first test, with Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne silencing critics through outstanding displays that vindicated their controversial selections. Curry's phenomenal work rate—hitting nearly 90% of defensive rucks—alongside Beirne's disruptive presence created the platform for a convincing victory, though questions remain about the Lions' second-half drop-of...

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59:03

Ep. 29 - Are the Lions Ready to Pounce?

Rucks, Mauls & Oval Balls ·

2025/07/16

Dave and Rory deliver a rugby-packed discussion covering the Lions tour, England's Argentina series win, and Premiership recruitment. • Lions are in a good position heading into the first Test despite some underwhelming performances in warm-up matches • Standout Lions performers include Ben Earl, Ben White, Huw Jones and Joe McCarthy • Full Lions Test team predictions with debates around the competitive seven position and potential Irish bias • England's Argentina tour produced several "test...

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48 results

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