Is French club rugby becoming more popular than Ligue 1?
Bordeaux seem to represent a rare enough phenomenon; a domestic rugby team growing in both on-field and commercial success. They are the best attended club in France, to the extent they can boast to be more popular than the local football team. We all know of their on-field talent, the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Mathieu Jalibert playing a brand of rugby which is easy on the eye. Of course, with Joey Carbery and Noel McNamara involved, there is Irish interest in the French side as they prepare for Saturday’s Champions Cup final. But how has the on-field product built into their off-field success? Is their rise an indication of France’s domestic success, as rugby’s television rights continues to dwarf those of football’s Ligue 1? To what extent can this story be repeated elsewhere?Host Nathan Johns is joined on the podcast by France-based rugby journalist James Harrington.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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20:26
Were the IRFU right to cut the men’s Sevens?
Nearly a week on from the IRFU’s decision to cut the men’s Sevens programme, Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to debate the merits of the decision. Gordon, as a former Sevens player, is well placed to offer insight on the merits of Sevens for players moving into 15s. John has covered the Sevens team as extensively as anyone in recent years and he offers his experience as he dwells on the decision. Do rugby’s financials leave the IRFU with any other choice? Is Sevens simply a luxury which cannot be afforded? Why cut the men’s team but not the women’s? Does this move place too much faith in Ireland’s academy structures, narrowing an already small talent pool? Was this decision handled in the best way possible?Produced by John Casey.Survey link is here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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37:30
‘Getting the top two inches ready’ - How important is sports psychology to breaking a losing habit?
Inevitably, plenty of public commentary in the last few weeks has focused on Leinster’s inability to get over the line in big games. Clearly, they have the talent. Is the problem instead to be found in the top two inches? Enda McNulty, a former All-Ireland winner with Armagh, worked with both Leinster and Ireland as a sports psychologist. He joins Gordon D’Arcy - with whom he worked during his playing days - to look at the importance of sports psychology in winning environments. Does sport psychology work? How do you get players to buy in? Why did Leinster and Ireland under Joe Schmidt embrace training the mind so readily? To what extent can previous success be attributed to training the mind? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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45:01
Have rugby fans stopped caring about the URC?
This weekend was a crucial round of URC action, with Munster and Ulster squaring off for playoff places, Connacht looking to stay in the hunt and Leinster aiming to wrap up the league’s top seed. Not to mention the occasion it was for the likes of Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray playing their final game in Limerick. Yet the crowds were on the low side, despite what was on the line. Does the public simply have a case of rugby fatigue? Perhaps the season stretches on too long, with emotional energy being preserved for the URC knockouts, Ireland’s summer tour and of course the Lions’ trip to Australia. Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to figure out how to capture the public imagination with the URC, drawing comparison to France where club rugby still seems to be top dog. Plus, D’Arcy gives a masterclass of international centre play, explaining why the job is more difficult than you think and why some Irish players are struggling with the nuances of the role.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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44:39
Who is in the most Irish Lions squad of all time and why?
Andy Farrell has picked his long-awaited Lions squad ahead of this summer’s tour to Australia. 15 Irishmen have been named, a record for the touring side, just about pipping the 14 originally named in 2009. A man who was belatedly called up to that squad 16 years ago, Gordon D’Arcy, casts his eye alongside the latest crop. Alongside John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns, who attended the launch bash in London, this episode delves into the runners and riders, along with those who may have been unfortunate to miss out. Do Ireland deserve to have so many tourists? Would Caelan Doris have been captain if fit? Why does this squad have the lowest Welsh representation since the war? Are any Irish players, such as Robbie Henshaw or Sam Prendergast, unlucky to have missed out?Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland