In this special mini-series around the events going on in Tokyo; Johnnie is joined by Shona Powell-Hughes. Wales star Shona has represented her country and 15s and 7s, including the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Johnnie goes right into the GB camp and speaks to co-captain Abbie Brown. They chat about the extraordinary 12 months the 7s programme has, the commitment to even get to the games. The preparations are spoken about not just in the months leading up to the games but also in the last few days; including how to deal with the conditions. Abbie chats about some of the players to watch out for in the squad and tells of the excitement of being at an Olympics and going into the “village.” Johnnie and Shona also discuss the preparation that goes in, the feelings on the eve of the tournament and dealing with the nerves. And they run through all the pools and teams plus give their predictions as to who is going to reach that gold medal final.   Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Women's Rugby Pod

WRP 83 - Mini-Olympic series part 1 with Abbie Brown

WRP 82 - The final curtain.........for now. Well another season comes to an end, so this week Johnnie and Burf look back at what has been an extraordinary year for so many reasons. With 38 episodes in the series and nearly 60 guests the pair meander down memory lane for this final episode of the series. Burf recounts her favourite moments and yes winning the Premier XVs title does get mentioned!!! But also what other teams have shone on and off the field; which personalities and players have made the season what is has been. They pick out just some of the guests that really struck a cord with them; like Alison Hughes who spoke about the open-mindedness from so many to create the W XV. Chelsea Alley and her hard-hitting account of life as a "semi professional" for the last decade, some of the male points are also recalled, Brian Moore, Sir Bill Beaumont and Brian O'Driscoll. All in all it's a fun look back at the highs and lows of the season both on the park and on the pod. Plus, as ever, there's all the news from around the world and some news as to what to expect from The WRP in the not too distant future. Don't forget to check out our new shop www.halbro.com/WRP Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 82 - The final curtain.........for now

WRP 81 - The Champions edition. Following on from Harlequins Women victory in the Premier XVs final last weekend, the WRP have a full review for you. Johnnie speaks in depth with Rachael, the winning captain, about the day, the results, the nerves, the season leading up to this, what effect previous finals have had.........basically everything! If that wasn't enough, Chief Superintendent and Quins coach Karen Findlay also joins in the celebratory chat. The former Scotland international reminisces about her time at the club but also her time in English rugby, where the strides have been made but also the growth that still needs to happen. Burf, in a lovely heart-warming way, also gives her assessment of the contribution that "Jock" has made to the game. All the news from around the world, as ever but also Brian O'Driscoll!! The Irish and Lions captain, who is becoming more and more of a promoter of the women's game speaks of his relationship with the game, what excites him about the future and what he feels could help push the game to where it should be; so his daughter has the same opportunities he was afforded. A LONG SHOW BUT PACKED WITH SOME AWESOME GUESTS AND AWESOME CHAT. GET YOUR EARS AROUND IT! Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 81 - Champions edition

WRP 79 - Semi......precious pod!! Just days away from the most competitive semi finals the English Premier XVs has ever seen. Johnnie & Burf explore the merits of all four sides: Harlequins, Saracens, Loughborough & Wasps. World Cup winner, Burford, gives her experience from facing these sides already this season, plus where each other may get the upper hand! Plus there is all the news, Great Britain, France & Ireland 7s are discussed; including who Burf thinks should be captaining Team GB heading into Tokyo.......... There is news from Uganda, Israel & UAE, Wales, an announcement on this year's Farah Palmer Cup, the World Cup 2022 confirmed match schedule and loads more. And we give all the details of our live show next week. Yes, next Wednesday 26th May at 7:30pm Johnnie & Burf will be joined by top draw guests from the finalists, to draw battle lines, talk tactics, the key personnel & battles & get unique insight into each of the respective camps. Who knows Burf have been replaced for this live show??!!!??! The details you need to know: WHEN: Wednesday 26th May 2021 7:30pm TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/154403173047 Early bird tickets (first 100 tickets at £3, after that £5) Each purchased ticket includes entry to the prize draw, where there are 4 tickets to the Premier XVs final up for grabs. #wrp Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 79 - Semi......precious pod!!

WRP 78 - Alley chat! On this week's episode Chelsea Alley, the Black Fern, joins Johnnie & Burf. The World Cup winner chats about the recent historic Blues v Chiefs game down in New Zealand, & just what it meant on & off the field for that event to happen. But she also elaborates on the comments she made after the match, around the sustainability of what the top New Zealand players are doing around playing for their country. Chelsea describes her day to day life holding down three jobs & squeezing that all in around being at the very top of her sport. The midfielder also gives her suggestions as to how to move forward & some of the solutions her, & so many others', problem. Plus there is news & results from all over the globe. The regular season of the Premier XVs came to end end at the weekend, JH & RB reflect on the round 18 results & on how the teams have faired this term. There's also news from Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Kenya, Tunisia & Madagascar. Also BREAKING NEWS: that London Irish are setting up a women's side & Kingsholm will host the Premier XVs final. As ever there is also your shout outs from Community Corner & the biggest news of the day (!!), we announce details of our next live pod.................#wrp #wrugby Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 78 - Alley chat!

WRP 77 - Lights on.....Mids! Simon Middleton, the Red Roses Head Coach joins Johnnie & Burf on this week's episode, plus loads of news from around the rugby world to get stuck into. After a successful 6 Nations campaign where England were crowned champions, being undefeated in the successive tournaments, "Mids" chats about the bizarre end to the game in France last weekend, his assessment of the campaign, the wonderful selection head aches he now faces & the benefit of having the World Cup pushed back a year. Plus RB & JH chat about the historic Super Rugby game down in New Zealand between The Chiefs Wahine & The Blues Wahine, there's news from Uganda, Russia & France. It's the last regular season round of games in the Premier XVs, so we have predictions to those, plus reflections on the impact of Karen Findley departing Harlequins. #WRP @podwomensrugby Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 77 - Lights on......Mids!

WRP 76 - 6 Nations Team Of The Tournament with Scrum Queens. Ali Donnelly, creator of Scrum Queens joins Johnnie & Burf along side Sara Orchard from the BBC to make the team of the 2021 6 Nations. Who will start at 10, Sochet or Moloney, Joyce or Parsons, how many of England's outside backs made it, who will wear the armband? So much to decide upon in the end of the discussions there is a XV, a captain & a player of the tournament, which the panel all agree on (well....sort of). Plus Ali, Sara & Burf chat about the tournament as a whole; the "stand alone" slot, the element of Super Saturday, what should stay & what should go. Plus there the news from around the world & just does why Burf sound like Dot Cotton this week?!?! #WRP #Scrumqunnes #wrugby Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 76 - 6 Nations Team Of The Tournament with Scrum Queens

WRP 75 - Super Saturday Preview with Aldcroft, Nelson & McMahon. Another bumper attention of the WRP with Johnnie & Burf ahead of the 6 Nations Super Saturday. With three finals being played out at the weekend we have every game covered. Zoe Aldcroft the in-from England forward tells us where The Red Roses are looking to improve, who got the hair dryer out at half time in Italy, lock or 6? & just what a challenge the French are. Edel "Tricky" McMahon the Ireland international gives her assessment of the two performances so far from Ireland, against Wales & France. Plus Edel speak about the challenges when playing Italy, how they will be approaching it & just why is she called "Tricky!!" We have the Scotland angle covered as well, with stand in skipper Helen Nelson. The centre goes into detail as to where she thinks Scotland are on their journey, the growing depth of the squad & of course meeting Wales at the weekend. She also chats about the importance of presenting their best-selves in the game, especially as it is being broadcast on BBC Scotland. Plus who is leading the Match Predictor race & the Fantasy team? And, as ever, JH & Burf get you up to date with all the news from around the world. Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 75 - Super Saturday Preview

WRP 74 - Hunter, Abrahams & Murphy at the half way of the 6 Nations. England skipper Sarah Hunter MBE, joins Johnnie again this week to not only look back at last week's games in the tournament but also look ahead to round 3. The Red Roses skipper takes us through what it was like to be back out on the park for the first time in 13 months, her nerves & how much exhaustion did that smile hide. But the 124-cap World Cup winner also tells Johnnie where the areas where England can improve & who is stepping more & more into leadership roles within the squad. "Sunter" & Johnnie also discuss the Ireland v Wales game in depth with the company of Wales Head coach Warren Abrahams & Ireland favourite Jenny Murphy. Warren gives the WRP an honest reflection of Welsh campaign so far & the parts of the games where his side struggled against France & the Irish. But he also speaks passionately about the journey they are starting out on, the youngsters coming through & where Wales are wanting to build for a sustainable future. Jenny Murphy, as we know now, housemate of Ireland scrum half Kathryn Dane, gives her views on her nation's impressive win in the 6 Nations. Where that result & performance came from; plus who is really making a mark within the squad..............including her housemate!!! She also looks ahead to France at the weekend, including giving her prediction. As always there is the news from around the world, with 7s from New Zealand & Premier XVs preview ahead of round 17 this weekend. Assessment of the Fantasy league & MatchPint predictor positions are made!!!! And if that wasn't enough Johnnie gets passionate about the broadcast standards of the 6 Nations & why the players deserve so much more. Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 74 - Hunter, Abrahams & Murphy at half way of the 6 Nations

WRP 73 - 6 Nations round 1 with Brown, Coughlan, Franco & Hunter. Another huge pod for you to look at every angle of round 1 of the 6 Nations & looking ahead to an exciting round 2. Sarah Hunter MBE, the England captain, steps in as co-host this week...........why where her socks pulled up with a gumshield in them?!!? If it was enough to get the World Cup winner's thoughts; Ireland & Italy make their bows in the tournament so former Ireland captain, Fiona Coughlan join us. Fi runs her eye over the Ireland camp, the team, who she thinks will play at 1o. But also her thoughts on the Wales side Ireland will meet in the weekend. Italy host winners from round 1 - England, the last side they faced in 2020. Giada Franco the former Harlequins flanker takes us inside the Italian camp, their preparations, where they think the game will be won & what it is like to line up against Sarah Hunter! The third & final guest is Shaunagh Brown, who came on as a replacement against Scotland. Her review of the game, scrumming with Lagi Tuima on the flank. Plus the tight head looks ahead to Italy this weekend (if she is selected!!), what the squad are preparing for over in Italy. The rest of the news & the England captain gives a few shouts!!!!! Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 73 - 6 Nations round 1 with Brown, Coughlan, Franco,& Hunter

WRP 72 - 6 Nations...we've got it covered! Another massive week for the game, so a massive pod coming at you! Not just one but two of the 6 Nations captains and a Red Rose. Yes, three brilliant guests this week in the forms of Siwan Lillicrap, Dr Rachel Malcolm and Lark Davies. Lightening front rower Lark, joins us from the England team hotel, in Doncaster, to give us a unique insight into the squad, the training, life in a COVID bubble; plus the new players to look out for. Lark also looks ahead to Scotland this weekend and where she thinks the game will be won and lost. Wales skip Siwan Lillicrap, speaks to Johnnie about all the recent changes at The WRU, including the difference Warren Abraham is making. Siwan takes us through some of the newer faces in the team and just what she is expecting in Vannes, against France on Saturday. Johnnie also caught up with Dr Rachel Malcolm, the engaging Scotland captain. Rachel chats about the steps forward the squad have made in the last year or so only to be hampered by COVID. We get the lowdown on the squad and all the chat about when she comes up close and personal to her club team mates and in particular player/coach Sarah Hunter (MBE!!!!). Plus there's full previews of Ireland, Italy and France as well. We have all the news from around the oval world, including those big clashes in the Premier XVs, as the race for the play-offs really hots up. Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 72 - 6 Nations....we've got it covered!

WRP 71 - Clarity...not just 6N (finally) but WXV too! - More huge news from the game; 6 Nations fixtures & broadcast details (well some of them anyway!), women's football get a "proper" tv deal, Quins & Sarries in the play-offs already, Johnnie & Burf react to it all. Plus there's Alison Hughes, World Rugby's Competitions Operations Manager & Rugby World Cup 2022 Tournament Director. Alison drills down into the detail of the announcement of the sport's first ever global calendar the WXV; promotion & relegation, how Spain can break in, the amount of "spots" Australasia has, all the detail explained by the lady in charge. And as ever, we have the review the Premier XVs results from the weekend including wins for Saracens & Wasps. Johnnie & Burf also look ahead to the Premier XVs games this weekend including the huge fixture, a re-run of the final the last two years: Saracens v Quins. Plus there's your shout outs. #WRP Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 71 - Clarity...not just 6N (finally) but WXV too!

WRP 70 - Announcements here, there & everywhere. This week Johnnie & Burf react to the huge news coming out of World Rugby about the new global season for the Women's game, the WXV. Burf, who was involved in the process of creating a first for the sport, gives her reaction to the news. Plus there's chat around CVC's money going into the 6 Nations & what that means for the game, an update from the Lionesses, positive news from Italy. Burf chats her new role in the game & gives her predictions for the Premier XV games at the weekend. Results from around the globe, as ever & your shout outs......... #WRP Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 70 - Announcements here, there & everywhere

WRP 69 - Moore perspective. On this week's pod loads of talking points for Burf & Johnnie to get stuck into! Talk of a women's British & Irish Lions tour, elite players having to Crowdfund to pay of medical bills, the return of grassroots rugby & HSBC World sevens series, all the results from around the world & World Rugby's leadership plans. Plus a very unique perspective for the WRP as a legend of the men's game, England & British & Irish Lions hooker Brian Moore, a real advocate of the game is on the pod. Brian gives his views on the women's game from his own daughters playing right to the very top of the game. The commercial aspect, the broadcast aspect & everything around it, is discussed. There's big news of the WRP team, with launch of the Youtube channel & a dedicated team bringing you more than ever content across the board from Johnnie, Burf & the WRP team! Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 69 - Moore perspective

WRP 68 - WC & YSC - Following the announcement of the 2021 World Cup being delayed for a year, Johnnie 7 Burf get immediate ruction from the Red Roses camp & her captain Sarah Hunter MBE. "Sunter" depicts how the decision has been met with her team mates & herself but also the longer term ramifications on her personally & her career. Also on the pod, all the way from Texas, Wendy Young, who runs "Your Scrum Half Connection," a website that has supported & promoted the game since 2006. Wendy talks about her rugby journey, how she first got involved, why she love the game. Also the wider perspective of the struggles facing the Eagles that are being funded by donations from the public! The consequences of the delayed World Cup & what she'd fix if we gave her a magic wand! And as ever there is all the news from around the oval world, with Madrid 7s, European Championship game, Wales & GB 7s squad & all the results & previews for the Allianz Premier XVs. P.S. Johnnie apologies about the sound quality this week.............5/10 must do better!!!! Coming soon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WRP 68 - WC & YSC

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