Under The Sticks Rugby

Andy and Adam reflect on the opening salvos in the Guinness Six Nations and what's in store for R11 of the Guinness PRO14 this weekend. Mark Palmer of the Sunday Times tells us about Finn Russell's mood after their recent one to one interview about his Scotland absence, Simon Thomas of WalesOnline has reasons to be optimistic about Wales - and Dragons - while Rassie Erasmus has arrived on Twitter with some very intriguing behind the scenes chats he had with his Springboks.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Week one of the 2020 Six Nations is done and dusted and Andy had James Downey with him in studio to discuss what it might tell us about the games to come, and the risk/reward of tackling the latch. Charlie Morgan (@charliefelix) from the Daily Telegraph dialled in to talk about England's lost power game, and Charlie ran through the ruck numbers to demonstrate just how impressive Gregory Aldritt was for France. Andy and James were then joined by Ged and Dan from the Attacking Scrum podcast (@AttackingScrum) to talk Falatau, Welsh expectations, and the loss of Shaun Edwards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Guinness Six Nations is right on our doorstep and Andy McGeady is back in action. Simon Gleave of Nielsen Sports breaks down the age and experience information surrounding the Six Nations squads to see who is best placed to succeed. Mark Palmer of the Sunday Times joins us to break down the Finn Russell situation at Scotland and where they go from here with Adam Hastings and at scrum-half. Adam and Andy are then joined by JB from the EggChasers podcast in a new segment of ‘Pod Pals’ and he gives us an in-depth behind the headlines look at the salary cap issue with Saracens. We also point to some top trolling in Rugby League and grab a listener question.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded in Cardiff - Paul Williams and Sean Holley join Adam Redmond to digest the end of the European pool stages, ramifications for Six Nations and what's next for Munster.  Sean tells a great tale about Dan Biggar, we finally have some disagreements on the podcat after a billion episodes. Sarries news is updated before fast becoming out of date and we answer listener's questions.  Oh, it's a big long, but worth it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With squads named for the Guinness Six Nations and the final pool stages of Europe to come not to meniton plenty of recruitment news there is no shortage of discussion points on Under The Sticks. Adam Redmond is joined by Ben Coles of the Daily Telegraph to wade through a tasty week of rugby news and action to come. PS Don't worry superfriends, Andy McGeady will be back soon! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Williams joins Adam Redmond for a thorough deep dive of the week's news, a look back at the Guinness PRO14 weekend and a look ahead to Europe Sarries, Contract news, injury news Reasons to be cheerful in Wales Battle of Conference B Scottish Rising Scrum-half schooling Listener questions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Guinness PRO14 Media Day in Cardiff City Stadium - Andy McGeady and Squidge Rugby met each of the teams... For Dragons it's Rhodri Williams and Dean Ryan  Kits, home, away, European and pesky commercial artists! Ryan wiping the slate clean and surprised at the great resources and talent Increasing Dragons contingent in Wales team Making it harder for internationals to return How do you coach a talent like Taine Basham Caterpillar rucking Applying the law of the ruck to attacking players Squidge’s free advice World Cup Final funnies See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Guinness PRO14 Media Day in Cardiff City Stadium - Andy McGeady and Squidge Rugby met each of the teams... For Scarlets it's Brad Mooar and Rhys Patchell  What can Brad Mooar see in the eyes of his players? Holistic approach to coaching  Identity  How to generate penalties  Guinness PRO14 has the DNA of 'intent to play' Patchell talks Running Rugby at Scarlets 'win a certain way' No kicking rules! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Guinness PRO14 Media Day in Cardiff City Stadium - Andy McGeady and Squidge Rugby met each of the teams... For Ospreys, James Hook and Richie Pugh join the guys to chat: Tough start to the season Richie talks first-ever Ospreys game from 2003 Squidge is grilled over his Twitter shot at James How younger players cope with social media See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Flight Commander McGeady MIA Adam is joined by Premier Sports duo Lauren Jenkins and Ross Harries.  Champions Cup re-format? Rob Howley ban Mooar to the All Blacks? Dragons talent Cockerill Post pads TV times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy battles through the bubonic plague to breakdown a big European weekend with Adam See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the top coaching talent from the Guinness PRO14 all in one place for the Media Day, Premier Sports' Sean Holley sat down with Richard Cockeril (Edinburgh), Kieran Crowley (Benetton) and Dave Rennie (Glasgow Warriors) to peek inside the minds of the coaching fraternity  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flight Commander McGeady is MIA so Sean Holley joins Adam to get into the weeds of the Guinness PRO14, Edinburgh's rise, Ruddock's rescue act at Ospreys, Opta rankings, European look ahead. Plus: Which PRO14 team did Sean almost join? What's next at Bristol? Fantasy PRO14 PRO14 Elite Referee Manager Greg Garner talks to Sean See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when Paul Williams, Squidge, Ali Stokes and Andy McGeady sit down over a few Guinness at the PRO14 Media Day in Cardiff... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get buzzing for the weekend's rugby: Bernard Jackman joins Andy McGeady and Adam Redmond in studio to chat through a great weekend of rugby and a serious week of rugby news. Fiona Tomas of The Telegraph explains her piece on concussion in womens sport - Salary caps from Grenoble to Sarries Ireland v France Prendergast Racing 92 Making weight Toulouse back to their best? Can Connacht score Lyon want Top 14 ahead of Champions Cup Lyon will want signature win over Leinster Ospreys tough against Sarries Benetton step forward Glasgow Warriors: Rennie / Wilson  Wilson-Sherratt combo Martyn Williams to Wales as team manager TAINE BASHAM High ceiling Fiona Tomas Concussion in women’s sport Are female athletes more prone to concussion CVC Statement Sustainable businesses See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sean Holley and Ben Coles join the moustachioed Andy McGeady and Adam Redmond as they break down: The Southern Kings win over Ospreys What's in store for the Welsh in Europe How could Sean's teams compete with iPad-jaunting Sarries Ben Coles on how the rugby community reacted in real time How is the stage set for Europe? Listener's Questions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jam-packed pod with in-depth analysis around South Africa's World Cup Final win and a breakdown of the emerging trends noted by (14 mins) Simon Gleave of Gracenote Analysis. Andy McGeady and Adam Redmond also speak with former World Cup winner Ruan Pienaar (44 mins) about the Boks victory, Rassie Erasmus' eye for detail, what the Cheetahs can achieve in the Guinness PRO14 this season and how grateful he is for the opportunity to play in his home town. We look back at R5 of the Guinness PRO14 (56 mins) and what lies ahead this weekend with seven matches on the card. A potential Guinness PRO14 salary cap is discussd (1hr 1min) while we delve into the reaction to Saracens' sentence for their breaches of the Premiership salary cap (1hr 4 mins). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Palmer & Brenden Nel help Andy & Adam hype up the World Cup Final with some Guinness PRO14 chat thrown in too. The gang cover a lot of ground, too including: SpiderCam Scaries Siya Kolisi's incredible rise to become Bok captain Why England will likely run out winners What Rassie Erasmus will do next? Where will Dave Rennie end up? Plus loud noises See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get primed for the weekend as Andy & Adam drop insights and nuggets to help you sound like a half-baked pro for the weekend as they break down the Rugby World Cup Semi-Finals now that the teams have been selected. Who has suffered the bigger losses to injury - Wales or South Africa? What does the change in George Ford's 'role' mean for England and we borrow some analysis from Squidge Rugby who believes this All Black team is now playing its best rugby of the last four years. All this and lots of Guinness PRO14 chat ahead of R4 - Can Cheetahs do it on cold evening in Galway? Will Ian Keatley reach the 200 mark and just what to make of the battle in Conference B. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tales from Wales: Ross Harries of Premier Sports has penned a new book Behind The Dragon which brings readers into the dressing room to reveal some very powerful stories about wearing red. Behind the Dragon lifts the lid on what it is to pull on the famous red shirt - the trials and tribulations behind the scenes, the glory, the drama and the honour on the field, and the heart-warming tales of friendship and humour off it. Absorbing and illuminating, this is the ultimate history of Welsh rugby - told, definitively, by the men who have been there and done it. rugby See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.