A statement weekend episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 5, 2026 · 57 MIN

A statement weekend

from Rugby Union Weekly · host BBC Radio 5 Live

It’s the first pod of 2026 and there is plenty to discuss with club statements and statement performances on the pitch. Chris, Ashy and Ugo look at what we can and assess the runners and riders ahead of the Six Nations which begins in Paris one month today. Are England finally ready to deliver silverware or will Ireland rise again under Andy Farrell? We analyse the growing issues at Harlequins and Gloucester after damaging defeats at the weekend. What will the coaching reshuffle look like at Kingsholm? And how have Quins gone from champions to languishing at the bottom of the table? We also talk Billy Searle and Adam Radwan’s form at Leicester and Mark McCall’s comments following another Saracens defeat.

It’s the first pod of 2026 and there is plenty to discuss with club statements and statement performances on the pitch. Chris, Ashy and Ugo look at what we can and assess the runners and riders ahead of the Six Nations which begins in Paris one month today. Are England finally ready to deliver silverware or will Ireland rise again under Andy Farrell? We analyse the growing issues at Harlequins and Gloucester after damaging defeats at the weekend. What will the coaching reshuffle look like at Kingsholm? And how have Quins gone from champions to languishing at the bottom of the table? We also talk Billy Searle and Adam Radwan’s form at Leicester and Mark McCall’s comments following another Saracens defeat.

NOW PLAYING

A statement weekend

0:00 57:55

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Rugby Union Weekly?

This episode is 57 minutes long.

When was this Rugby Union Weekly episode published?

This episode was published on January 5, 2026.

What is this episode about?

It’s the first pod of 2026 and there is plenty to discuss with club statements and statement performances on the pitch. Chris, Ashy and Ugo look at what we can and assess the runners and riders ahead of the Six Nations which begins in Paris one...

Can I download this Rugby Union Weekly episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!