WRP 163 - Packer & PWR. Power-packed pod, with the return of Sunter, CEO of the best league in the world and the world's best player! The most capped English player is back to host with Johnnie, chatting about her unexpected role in the Red Roses coaching set up, wXV1 and being back out in New Zealand. And there is real honesty from Sunter about the challenges she has faced going straight from being a player to a coach, "comfortable with feeling uncomfortable!" World Rugby's Player of...

WRP 162 - wXV 1 champ Maud Muir. Sadia Kabeya hosts the pod again this week, with Johnnie and they are joined by Red Roses star Maud Muir; who also happens to be one of Sadia's best friends! The Red Roses pair chat about England defeating New Zealand on their home patch to be crowned the inaugural wXV 1 champions. and if this victory gives some redemption for the World Cup final loss just a year ago. The overall thoughts and impact on wXV as a whole (well three tournaments...) is discussed....

WRP 161 - wXV comes to a climax. Another huge week for the Women's game at wXV. Scotland were crowned champions of wXV 2, Emma Wassell joins us - expressing the happiness & joy within the group, plus what the celebrations were like; as well as a bird's eye view of Sarah Bonar's "length of the field" try!! Ireland picked up their third win of the tournament, beating Spain but only just. Sadia and Johnnie discuss all the final round games from wXV 2 & wXV 3, including that huge win for...

WRP 160 - Wall to wall wXV. Huge weekend in wXV, the international women's rugby tournaments and we reflect on it all; with co-host Red Rose star Sadia Kabeya. wXV 1 saw history made as France beat New Zealand for the first time ever, England beat Australia and Wales went down to Canada. Talking us through that result and looking ahead to a massive game against The Black Ferns, Kelsey Jones, the Wales hooker drops in for a chat. Kelsey relays the excitement in the camp ahead of the game,...

WRP 159 - A new dawn. This week all three wXV (the new global women's rugby competition) tournaments are in action, wXV 1 in New Zealand, wXV 2 in South Africa and wXV 3 in Dubai. We have a a very special co-host this week in Red Rose star Sadia Kabeya. The flanker chats of her injury, the mood of the squad out in New Zealand, selection, competition for places and what she feels she is missing out on most! We reflect on last week's results from wXV 2 and 3, with wins for USA, Spain, Italy and...

WRP 158 - wXV is here! Finally the wXV is here, the new global women's rugby tournament, all kicking off in South Africa and Dubai this weekend. We hear from two of the 6 Nations teams; we hear from Emma Wassell - the Scotland stalwart about her thoughts on the new tournament, how the team is shaping up. But also her return from injury, something very new for her, how she coped mentally and physically and why she couldn't wait to get back to the rugby! We also chat with the new Ireland Head...

WRP 157 - A horde of rugby! SO much women's rugby on at the moment and as ever The WRP is across it!!! England and Canada are mid series; The Red Roses started their new chapter with a resounding win, can Canada bounce back, we speak to their Captain Fantastic, Sophie De Goede. There's all the news from around the world over the last month or so; Ireland have a new coach, as do USA, who won the Ireland Interpros and did Canterbury win another title down in New Zealand; and where are the games...

WRP 156: Red Roses, soft launch. Another season begins, for us here on the World's first and only podcast exclusively on the women's game of rugby union; it's the start of series 5. Next week will see a full-blown start to new season with chats with The Barbarians, Canada, England, Leinster and Auckland Storm. For now the Red Roses take on Canada in a two test series, both preparing for WXV 1. We were in the England camp, with plenty of fresh faces - players and coaches; and spoke to our very...

WRP 155 - Queensholm shone!! England has a new name on it's trophy. On the final whistle at "Queensholm" Burf & Johnnie reflect on an incredible final; the game, the players, the atmosphere, the occasion itself. There is immediate reaction from a jubilant winning co-captain, Mo Hunt and flanker Bethan Lewis; both, understandably, full of emotion. And there's reflection from the other side of the coin with Susie Appleby, the Exeter coach, on coming up short in two consecutive finals &...

WRP 154 - Chiefs at The Circus! We are down to the final two in England, Gloucester-Hartpury - known as the Circus - and Exeter Chiefs. The Premier XV final being played at Kingsholm (the home ground for Gloucester-Hartpury has been turned into "Queensholm," for what promises to be an epic final, in front of a record crowd. Gloucester-Hartpury have topped the table most of the season and came through a tough semi final against Bristol but this is their first ever final, we speak to cherry and...

WRP 153 - Rocking semis with Rocky! This week Rocky Clark, the Red Rose legend drops in to co-host and their is plenty to chat about!! Last weekend, in England, the Premier XVs finalists were decided and it's Gloucester-Hartpury and Exeter; so there will be a new name on the trophy this season!! They were exceptional games of rugby, they had everything and great occasions too. Rocky gives her thoughts on the two games, pinpointing were the wins were gained, the key tactical battles and the...

WRP 152 - Fab four. Our focus this week is the English domestic league The Premier XVs which sees it's most competitive semi-finals this weekend. On Saturday Gloucester-Hartpury take on Bristol and Sunday sees Saracens travel to Exeter and we spoke to all four of the club's bosses, Sean Lynn, Dave, Ward, Susie Appleby and Alex Austerberry. From Gloucester-Hartpury the chat circulates around "winning" the league but the most important bit being still to come. Sean speaks about his side's...

WRP 151 - Madagascar & Pineapple!!  What a show for you this week!! Over the last few weeks the Rugby Africa Cup has been taking place in Madagascar, for the very first time with Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa and the hosts all trying to qualify for WXV. The scenes of sheer rugby joy coming out of Madagascar and being beamed around the world has been fantastic to see. So (of course) we got the lady who has had a huge influence on delivering this, the Manager of Women's Rugby in Madagascar,...

WRP 150 - The Green & Gold Queen. This week, one of the sport's true "greats" retired from the game in style. A Wallaroo for no less than 13 years, Shannon Parry said goodbye against Fiji at the weekend, so we had to get her on the pod! The legend talks about bowing out, watched on by her family, the match itself but also her emotions around the occasion. We take the gold medal Olympian back to when she started the game, why she started the game; there is also chats about all those World...

WRP 149 - So much news! On this week's episode there is plenty of news to catch up on. The Premier XVs, in England, it is the last few rounds of the regular season with some interesting results to review & a packed fixture list this week; Burf & Johnnie discuss who has the best run in, Bristol or Quins, in that race for the fourth spot. New Zealand have dominated the entire season of 7s that came to an end last weekend, why that is is chatted about. Also out in Toulouse who grabbed...

WRP 148 - Captain to coach. This week we catch up with our very own Sunter & there is plenty to catch up on!!! Weeks after retiring as Red Rose captain, Sarah was appointed as one of the assistant coaches for the national side. Sunter chats about how it came about, what conversations she has had with the head coach, John Mitchell, how those conversations have been; plus her views on the "right person" for the job. We also take a whistle stop tour around the world with all the news; like...

WRP 147 - Coaches, WXV & Team of the tourny!  As the dust settles after an historic 6 Nations, Rachael Burford & Johnnie Hammond - still buzzing from the "occasion" at Twickenham; give their final review. They also pick a WRP 6 Nations "team of the tournament," is it Vernier or Heard, Tremouliere or Aitchison, Packer or Callender? Before that, even more news coming out of women's rugby & as ever The WRP is across it all. The Red Roses new coaching set up, with John Mitchell &...

WRP 146 - It didn't disappoint! Bonus on the whistle pod... Twickenham saw history made for a world record crowd at a women's test match, nearly 60,000 people were there to witness The Red Roses crowned as Grand Slam Champions, in a riveting game. All the WRP team were there (wild horses and all that....) & after the final whistle, Burf & Johnnie sat down to try & put into words just what an extraordinary day it was. The joyous pair try to convey the emotion, excitement, the vibe...

WRP 145 - Super Saturday with 50K + An historic game awaits the 50K + supporters (and they all pid for their tickets!) that will travel to Twickenham on Saturday; the first game of Super Saturday, Italy face off against Wales and Scotland host Ireland. As well as looking ahead World Cup winner Rachael Burford and Johnnie Hammond reflect on last weekend, with some fascinating performances and results. The biggest talking point was that victory for Scotland, finally; no better person to speak...

WRP 144 - Round 2...final whistle A quick pod after the final whistle at Franklin's Gardens where England beat Italy 68-5, in the final game of the 6 Nations' second round. Johnnie catches up with co-host Sarah Hunter, after her television appearance but also to chat about the game. What did Sunter make of the Red Roses' performance, how complete it was; what did she make of the back row as a unit plus Zoe Aldcroft at no.8, her shirt just last week! Plus the occasion at the home of...

WRP 143 - 6 Nations chapter 2 In the second pod of the week, well it is 6 Nations time, co-host Sarah Hunter is in the chair with Ireland star Anna Caplice to preview the round 2 games; Ireland v France, Wales v Scotland & England v Italy. All but Italy had announced their team, at time of record, the team selections are discussed, as well as tactics, areas to improve on from round 1. Ireland's selection at fly half & what would constitute success for them out of this game, as well as...

WRP 142 - Round up, round up!  For the first pod this week, something slightly different! We take a look back at the opening round of the Women's 6 Nations, where there were victories for England, Wales & France; with respected rugby journalists. Lauren Jenkins, of BBC Wales, & Gary Heatly of GH Media, join to discuss all the twists & turns of the three games. The send off for Sarah Hunter, the sell out crowd, England's attack & power all are spoken about; as well as...

WRP 141 - 6 Nations captain special.....including Sunter!  YES it's the start of the 6 Nations! Wales v Ireland, England v Scotland and Italy v France, plus the Super Rugby Aupiki finals & the Super W gets underway; so another huge week for women's rugby. We speak to three of the 6 Nations captains, from England, Sarah Hunter appearing in her last ever game of competitive rugby signs out in style in her home town of Newcastle. She will lead the side out for the last time on the occasion...

WRP 140 - Front row union! This week not one but two members of the front row union; Lana Skeldon, of Scotland & Worcester & Wasps' & Red Rose squad member, Liz Crake. Scotland have just announced their squad for the up coming 6 Nations, of which Lana was, unsurprisingly, selected for. The international front rower chats about coming off the back of the World Cup, the lessons they learnt from it & what they are taking into this new chapter of women's rugby in Scotland. Lana...

WRP 139 - Tails....every time! Former Wales captain & Sale "acting head coach," Rachel Taylor joins Johnnie on the pod this week. "Tails" talks all things Wales with the 6 Nations squad announcement earlier this week, the balance of the squad, her views on the captain & who are the ones to look out for. The new wave of twenty five contracts are also chatted about & the small but constant steps the WRU seem to be making in the women's game, despite all the doom & gloom around...