Best Roar Rugby Podcasts (2025)

1
Left in the Changing Room: A Holiday Message from Barrie McDermott & the squad! 1:10

Play Pause

14m ago1:10

1:10

As the year comes to a close, the Changing Rooms team are here (sort of) to say a simple thank you to everyone who’s tuned in and shared in the launch of the podcast this year. It’s been a brilliant start—full of honest conversations, unforgettable moments from the pitch, and stories that reach beyond the final whistle. This short holiday message i…

1
Ep 3434: Can Villa Keep This Up, Amorim Is For Turning, Pep Not Eternal, Rogers Better Than Bellingham, Jake Paul Nonsense - 22/12/25 1:11:29

3d ago1:11:29

1:11:29

Inside us all are two wolves. Unfortunately for Wolves the football team (despite Matt Doherty's reverse Churchill) it's the wolf that is currently the worst at football in all of Europe. Meanwhile, the Romulus and Remus of Serie A get their teeth into Evan. To talk about Ruben's back four, Villa's rise, Rogers V Bellingham and happy Pep we chat to…

1
Salah's AFCON, A Country For Old Men, Fat Quiz, Ribald KENCALL 24:00

6d ago24:00

24:00

It was “Super-Friends Of The Show” week this week, between Killian Sundermann coming in for the Second Captains FAT quiz of the year, a chat with US Murph, our first ever festive edition of KENCALL and Oluwashina Okeleji on Salah's AFCON 2025 and Nigeria's legal route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup . We’ve had an amazing year on the podcast this year, …

1
Ep 3249: Send In The Second Rows, The Munster Project, Clutch Charlie Smyth - 15/12/25 46:29

10d ago46:29

46:29

Munster and Leinster both won their Champions Cup games over the weekend, both came through sticky situations against English opposition, but overall satisfaction levels are low. We chat to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble about Clayton McMillan's realistic outlook on the Munster project, Leinster's pre-Chistmas form, and they react to former Leinst…

1
Episode 3428: Evan Hype Re-Up, Ruben's High Horse, Anfield Ceasefire, Xhaka Best Mackem, Uefa Cup Robbie 1:13:25

10d ago1:13:25

1:13:25

It looks like Celtic arrived at a good time for Evan Ferguson, while Robbie Keane seems to be having so much fun in Europe the question is how he will ever be tempted back to the league where he made his name. Morgan Rogers' Stan Collymore-like winner for Villa at West Ham reminds us that it's been a while since Ken read out some npG minus xG stats…

1
Salah Week, Ken Called It, Chess Cult 23:11

14d ago23:11

23:11

We’d another barn-storming week this week, with the main story being Mo Salah’s rapidly-deteriorating relationship with Liverpool Football Club, which we covered in depth. We had a brilliant chat with Danny Rensch, the co-founder of chess.com, which went from being a successful start-up to a billion dollar company during the pandemic, thanks largel…

1
From Rookie to Respected: Barrie McDermott, Adrian Morley & Shaun Lunt on First Jobs, Fear and Proving You Belong 40:47

14d ago40:47

40:47

Welcome back to Changing Rooms, where Barrie McDermott lines up once again with Adrian Morley and Shaun Lunt for more candid conversations - from the pitch and the places where real life hits hardest. This week the lads rewind to a moment most of us remember vividly – your first day. The first job, the first training session, the first time you wal…

1
Ep 212 - A mid week 'Edu-Pod' with a deep dive into all things Pau and a chat with the Bears Supporters Advisory Committee 38:50

16d ago38:50

38:50

Just like the BBC, the pod is here to inform, educate and entertain so we were delighted to chat with Rob Graham from the Rosbifs Rugby pod about all things Pau. He gives us an insight into this less fashionble club from the foot of the Pyrenees and predicts how they might shape up at Ashton Gate on Sunday. We also hear from Mark and Cameron from t…

1
Ep 3423: Rio's World Cup Jitters, Munster Take A Bath, Rieko Arrives, Dingle At The Death - 08/12/25 57:44

17d ago57:44

57:44

Permutations Man had a rough week last week and he is back on air today to explain what happened. Ken asks if Rio Ferdinand was the worst possible choice for a complex World Cup tv draw? The Champions Cup is back, and Munster got a reality check inside the first 20 minutes against Bath on Saturday evening. Munster legend Dave Kilcoyne and Gerry Tho…

1
Ep 3422: Villa's Glory, Ken Weeps for Europe, Mixed Zone Mo - 08/12/25 1:08:27

17d ago1:08:27

1:08:27

The memory of Friday's FIFA draw continues to linger like the smell of a dead rat under the floorboards. As he whines about middle-of-the-night kick offs, people are accusing Ken of being 'eurocentric' - but surely somebody has to be? Meanwhile Mo Salah seems to have torched his future at Liverpool by accusing the manager and club of throwing him u…

1
Ep 211 - European campaign underway as Bears squeeze past a dogged Scarlets 54:47

18d ago54:47

54:47

In this episode we review the game against Scarlets. It looked like we were cruising at 12-0 up with more points to come but the home side had other ideas and put in a proper shift to take us to the wire. We discuss the reasons why this might have happened as well as hear the thoughts of some listeners. Equally as importantly the game marked the fi…

1
Jimmy Dunne On The Miracle Of Budapest, A Szoboszlai Never Forgets, Hasan Piker On The American Berserk 25:53

21d ago25:53

25:53

We've seen it all this week on Second Captains, from ultrarunning with 100 mile world record holder Caitriona Jennings to 'American ultraviolence' with Hasan Piker on Ken's Politics Podcast, taking in our Sports Book of the Year Show and a brilliant follow-up chat with Ireland and QPR's Jimmy Dunne along the way. For six independent ad-free shows a…

1
Ep 3417: Caitriona Jennings On Her 100 Mile World Record, Saint Charlie, Rugby Loses Its Marbles - 01/12/25 48:45

24d ago48:45

48:45

Caitriona Jennings is the proud World Record holder over the terrifying distance of 100 miles and she spoke to us in studio about how and why she was able to run this distance, what it feels like mid race, and her harrowing London Olympics marathon experience. We discuss Charlie Smyth’s extraordinary journey from the Down senior Gaelic football tea…

1
Ep 3416: Watching Pots Boil, Premier League Mad Men, Caicedo Erupts, The Como-verse - 01/12/25 1:13:24

24d ago1:13:24

1:13:24

Just as a watched pot never boils, an obsessively tracked Irish striker in Europe does not deliver goals under the desperate hungry eyes of the nation. Is it time for us to back off Troy and Ev and give them some space to do their thing? Maybe, but not today! James Horncastle joins us to talk about Roma v Napoli. How happy is Gian Piero Gasperini l…

1
Ep 210 - Bears win well in the one game Prem restart as West Wales awaits 1:03:19

25d ago1:03:19

1:03:19

SORRY - for some unspecified reason the sound quality isn't as crisp us usual but there isn't much I can do about it 😭. Let us know what you think!By Bears Beyond The Gate

1
Liverpool Lack Anger, The Dutch Perspective On Slot, Tantalising World Cup 24:56

27d ago24:56

24:56

Welcome to our world service e taster show! To access all our shows go to secondcaptains.com/join To get some insight into the man presiding over Liverpool’s worst run of defeats in more than 70 years, we welcome Mikos Gouka, journalist with Algemeene Dagblad and author of the recently released Arne Slot: The New Era. There’s no contracts, no hidde…

1
Life After Rugby: Morley, Lunt & McDermott on Identity, Change and Starting Again 40:59

28d ago40:59

40:59

Welcome to the very first episode of Changing Rooms, where every show Barrie McDermott sits down with fellow hosts and rugby league stalwarts Adrian Morley and Shaun Lunt. With decades in the game - and just as many stories - the Changing Rooms squad dig into life on and off the pitch. In this episode, the boys kick things off at the end… with some…

1
Ep 209 - Rapid Saints preview 31:24

30d ago31:24

31:24

The lads jump on Zoom to speculate on the team for Saints this coming Saturday now that the Autumn International break is over. Which returning players will feature? Have we succesfullly reduced our Guinness world record breaking injury list to more manageable levels? Is the officiating team for the weekend more akin to watching a mash up of Last o…

1
Ep 3411: Lest We Forget Evan, Trophies In November, Spreadsheet Early, Glasgow Kiss- 24/11/25 1:33:07

1M ago1:33:07

1:33:07

GOOOOOLAZZOOOO... OK Evan Ferguson's first goal for Roma was not quite in that category but we can say now that the Eternal City has officially entered Fergie Time. Meanwhile Troy Parrott scored another nice goal: is this an unprecedented attacking selection headache for Ireland? What's the deal with playing two strikers anyway? How many teams are …

1
Ep 3410: Back In Your Boks, Scrumpocalypse, Ryan's Original Sin, Stop Start Rugby - 24/11/25 57:30

1M ago57:30

57:30

South Africa beat Ireland 24-13 but in reality it was a demolition by Rassie's men. Did the whole game hang on James Ryan's deserved red card, or could Ireland have done more to adapt to the situation against the world's best team? We chat to our man in South Africa, Craig Ray about the rash of reds and yellows, if refs get influenced by external n…

1
The Post-Hungary Glow, Next Up Czechia, Branno Comes For Ken's Throne, The Ashes Is Underway 25:14

1M ago25:14

25:14

It's been a beautiful, podcast-packed week on the World Service since Troy Parrott stole the nation's heart on Sunday afternoon in Budapest. Seven shows later, we're bringing you a taste of what member-led broadcasting looks like in a golden few days for Irish football. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the res…

1
Introducing: Changing Rooms 1:32

1M ago1:32

1:32

What happens when one chapter ends and the next one’s a mystery? Making it in elite sport, staring down the competition, overcoming challenges in the game and in life after rugby, Adrian Morley, Shaun Lunt, and Barrie McDermott know what it takes to keep moving forward. Join them for Changing Rooms for some honest chat about change, resilience, and…

1
Ep 3404: Ireland Hammer Australia, Mack Is A Catch, Which 10 For SA, The Red Boks - 17/11/25 51:56

1M ago51:56

51:56

The Irish lineout was near perfect, their kicking game was on point, a few key players are back in form, they have a new fullback option in Mack Hansen, both 10's played well, they beat Australia by a record margin and the fans in Lansdowne Road went home happy for the second time in four days... the good times just keep rolling in Irish sport. We …

1
Ep 3403: Parrott Meets The Moment, Good Times Return For Irish Football - 16/11/25 52:16

1M ago52:16

52:16

Skill, heroics, late late glory... things like this don't happen to us, until now. Ken, Eoin and Murph record today's show in a state of joyous disbelief, and Branno joins us from Budapest to reflect on the goals, the emotion, the madness. Plus there's the playoff picture, Troy's week and the brilliant post match interviews. Hosted on Acast. See ac…

1
Ireland 2-0 Portugal, Tantalising Football, Isak And Zlatan 21:36

1M ago21:36

21:36

We've recorded a lot of podcasts.... but the one we just posted today about all the great moments, all the heroes, all the Ronaldo comedy and all the joy of beating Portugal 2-0 is maybe our favourite ever. Our best of show includes a taste of that joy, plus some Ken education and a great chat about Swedish football, Zlatan and Isak. On Sunday we w…

1
Ep 3398: Ireland's Quick Fix, Farrell's Few Words, Boks Are The Best - 10/11/25 52:03

1M ago52:03

52:03

Ireland eventually got the win over Japan on Saturday but all the same doubts remain about a team that has had very few good performances since the summer of 2024. Andy Farrell was honest with the media afterwards, stating “we need to get over ourselves and get on with the big boy stuff". We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Farrell's f…

1
Episode 3397: Shamrock Rovers Eat World, FAI EGM Draws US Attention, Man City The Peoples' Underdogs, Icicle Kick 1:20:35

1M ago1:20:35

1:20:35

It was a surprise to wake up on Saturday morning and find that US Senator Lindsey Graham had been putting the boot into the FAI. https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1986961533193032133?s=20 Graham was referring to the resolution that was due to be voted on at Saturday's FAI EGM, asking the FAI to forward a motion to the UEFA Executive Committee re…

1
Ep 208 - Dunnie's off - when is an exhibition not an exhibition - women lose to Sarries - and listener loose ends tied up 55:48

2M ago55:48

55:48

Let us know what you think!

1
Infantino's Award, Why Bellingham, DJ' Carey's Motive - 06/11/25 32:50

2M ago32:50

32:50

It was a heck of a spread put out for our world service members this week with Infantino announcing the creation of a new FIFA peace prize and appearing on stage at the same event as Donald Trump in Miami last night, Champions League action featuring Yamal and Dan Burn, Liverpool outplaying Madrid, Trent getting booed, the DJ Carey sentencing, Irel…

1
Ep 3392: Ireland Fade To Black, Clown Show In Chicago, Almighty Dollar, Sacha So FineBerg - 03/11/25 59:44

2M ago59:44

59:44

For an hour on Saturday Ireland looked comfortable, if not quite in control, against NZ, and then came a sliding doors moment as Jamie Osborne dropped a pass from Crowley, and within four plays the All Blacks were ahead and, as it turned out, home and hosed. Ireland have now lost to NZ three times in a row, and since the 2023 RWC have had very few …

1
Ep 3391: Frank Tanks, Techno Fascism, Rice/Caicedo GOAT Battle, XG O'Neill, Sado-Brannochism - 03/11/25 1:12:38

2M ago1:12:38

1:12:38

Players despise fans, we know that, but should they nevertheless feel compelled to salute them at the end of every game or can we all do without this level of insincerity? Bohemians sealed fourth place in the League of Ireland and will qualify for Europe if Shamrock Rovers complete the double next weekend, but this did not improve the mood of manag…

1
The Week That Was; Conor Murray's Chicago Memories, Shooting Hoops With The Mob, Leopold Bloom's League Of Ireland 27:27

2M ago27:27

27:27

This week winter announced its arrival with rain that was general all over Ireland, nonetheless we've been having a fun week here at Second Captains Towers and now we want to share some of that with you. Before Ireland take on New Zealand in Chicago we hear from Conor Murray who was a guest of ours at the Gaiety a few weeks back. Can Ireland repeat…

1
Ep 3386: Madrid Back On Top, Slot’s Doom Spiral - 27/10/25 1:14:52

2M ago1:14:52

1:14:52

Is Keith Andrews the new Mikel Arteta? Hard to say for sure, as it suddenly seems as though everybody wants to be the new version of the Arsenal coach, whose bulletproof juggernaut continues to bulldoze all comers. But it was another good weekend for Andrews, whose team personify the spirit of 2025. We also talk about the wildly different interpret…

1
Ep 207 - 'Feisty one you are!' The derby does not disappoint as Bears battle hard but Bath are a bit better 57:18

2M ago57:18

57:18

It was a derby day to remember and although it didn't go our way for us, the effort was there. Pete, Lee and Miles ‘deep dive’ into the heated clash with them down the road, where the Bears battled hard, created big moments, but ultimately found that Bath were just that little bit better on the day. 🔥 Key Talking Points: Early impact & momentum: Fr…

1
Believe The Hype, Orla's Year, Parker And Lee, Ruthless Giants 27:10

2M ago27:10

27:10

Orla Comerford has just come off a sensational year, one which started in Paris in September 2024 when she took a Paralympic bronze medal in the 100m and finished 3 weeks ago with double World Championship golds in the 100 and 200m. She joined us in studio this week to chat through the madness of the last 13 months. It’s almost World Series time, a…

1
Ep 3381: Munster Monster Leinster, Jack Of Heart, NZ Clouds Gather - 20/10/25 57:57

2M ago57:57

57:57

Munster had 35% possession, 31% territory, had to make 270 tackles to Leinster's 117, had the inferior scrum, went down to an early try, and we're playing against a team full of Lions and Ireland internationals.... and won it easing up, with a 4-try bonus point. We chat to Shane Horgan and Barry Murphy about Munster's brilliant all-round display, b…

1
Ep 3380: The Old Premier League World Is Dying, And The New World Struggles To Be Born - 20/10/25 1:27:25

2M ago1:27:25

1:27:25

Ken is on holiday!! Come back, please keep reading, there is a but coming.. Ken is on holiday BUT given the enormity of the football weekend we have all just lived through he is taking a break from his mini-retirement to dial in from the beautiful citadel of Milan(o) and bring you today's football pod. Enthused by the fresh alpine air of which he n…

1
Ep 206 - Bears regain the Rifles Cup with a seven-try skittling at Kingsholm but an angry Bath await! 1:08:34

2M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

This week we go over Friday night’s 7-try, 49-point dismantling of Gloucester under the lights and in front of the baying crowd at Kingsholm. We regained the Rifles Cup with another warrior-like performance of grit and graft but also sprinkled some fantastic handling and offloading. Despite our injury woes if felt a bit like the Bears Way in its fu…

1
Dunphy At The Gaiety, Martin O'Neill On XG, Kuper's World Cup Fever 39:37

2M ago39:37

39:37

What an Incredible week we’ve had in Second Captains, and thanks again to our guests and those who came to the Gaiety both nights. Eamon Dunphy got the biggest Second Captains standing ovation of all time, and we have a taster for you on today's best of show. We also had Martin O'Neill at the Gaiety and he was keen to debate the merits of data and …

1
Ep 3375: Andy Farrell On His Life And Career - 13/10/25 47:38

2M ago47:38

47:38

It’s live show day in the Second Captains offices, but we still found time to send our best and brightest (and oldest), Simon Hick off to talk to Andy Farrell, on the release of his autobiography “The Only Way I Know” this week. Simon chats to Andy about what shaped Farrell as a person and a coach, how he has dealt with coaching with and against hi…

1
Ep 205 - Bears win ugly in the ding-dong derby 1:16:46

2M ago1:16:46

1:16:46

Pete, Miles and Lee pick through the narrow win against the Chiefs as well as previewing the upcoming fixture against Gloucester with help from Ed Price from the Cherry Jam fan pod. There is also the usual excellent contributions from listeners and a bonus section on Bennard Janse Van Rensburg's post match interivew with Clare Thomas. Finally, we f…

1
Ep 3374: One Battle After Another - 11/10/25 42:16

2M ago42:16

42:16

Ireland have fallen to their second defeat of the 2026 World Cup Qualifying campaign and now sit bottom of Group F on one point. Ken dials in from Lisbon as we talk through a night in which we came so close to a positive result. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Heimir's Armenian Hangover, England's Golden Losers, Ben Healy's Big Break, KenCall Live - 09/10/25 38:34

3M ago38:34

38:34

Finn Azaz was asked about Heimir’s comment last week that the Irish players underestimated the challenge of Armenia. “I think it goes further than that. “In terms of the build up, the wins against Bulgaria, the improved performances and results leading up to that game. . . maybe there was a lack of understanding of the challenge that we were coming…

3M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

It was a wild Ryder Cup weekend at Bethpage Black, for good and for bad. Despite heckling from American fans that managed all at once to be annoying, unoriginal and verging on the obscene, Europe wiped the floor with the US over the first two days of the tournament. And then came Sunday... Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times is in studio and Joe Cal…