For The Love Of Rugby

Is Courtney Lawes England’s best ever player? The Northampton captain talks to Dan Cole and Ben Youngs about the art of smashing people, how he became a world class ball carrier and what motivates him to keep getting better.  Plus there's a chat about how the tight five miss at least a third of each game they play in.  📹 Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 💭 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby 📊 Stats provided by Opta 🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are back to reveal the results of what some people are calling the sporting event of the year... the For The Love Of Rugby 2024 Draft!   Ahead of the final weekend of the Women's Six Nations, we look ahead to the Grand Slam decider between France and England. After Ben's scouting mission into the Red Roses camp, can John Mitchell's side claim the championship once more in Bordeaux?   Plus, Coley reveals his plans for retirement. It's a straight shootout between going on Strictly Come Dancing or become a Radio 4 traffic and travel reporter, of course. 📹 Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 💭 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby 📊 Stats provided by Opta 🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ellis Genge and Anthony Watson join Ben Youngs and Dan Cole for an NFL-style draft. Every international rugby player (from the last 12 months) is available for selection as Dan tries to take charge of proceedings. He has a lot of rules, a stats book and a plant pot for a bell. It’s just like the NFL. Get involved and vote for the winning team. Just head to @loveofrugby on Instagram.  Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do coaches drop players? And how does it feel when it happens to you? It’s another questions episode as Ben Youngs talks about his dyslexia, and Dan Cole has started thinking about the global structure of club rugby.  Would we change England’s overseas policy? What’s the difference between Premiership standard and international standard? Plus Jordie Barrett signs for Leinster.  Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/TrB1MB2V2krVXdqd7 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you heard of Things People Do? It’s the sensational podcast by Joe Marler and Tom Fordyce, which Dan and Ben are big fans of.  In this episode, you’ll hear Joe meet his favourite ever guest. Josh is a modern day Dick Van Dyke, but way better. He tells us all about being a chimney sweep, including finding skeletons in the houses of parliament, being invited to random weddings because chimney sweeps are good luck, and a phenomenal story about the time he found some 'romantic' letters up a chimney, from a wife who was having an affair. This episode really has everything. If you want more, go and search for Joe Marler’s Things People Do, or click here: https://podfollow.com/the-joe-marler-show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Cole remembers to podcast, but forgets to text his mum back about the use of his pressure washer. Ben Youngs takes a break from cleaning his decking to analyse the Champions Cup quarters finals, and the latest Red Roses demolition job in the Women’s Six Nations. Send us your rugby videos: https://forms.gle/1nVigrVebg36GhX88 Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are rugby’s underrated players? What’s your favourite tour story? And please tell us about the time Eddie Jones tried to shave his own head and left a patch of hair on the back.  Dan Cole and Ben Youngs answer the best questions Reddit users can offer up in this special episode.  Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Cole and Ben Youngs are back from their weekend in Dublin to review a big weekend of Champions Cup. Leinster and La Rochelle prepare to meet again, Exeter master the wind against Bath at Sandy Park, Northampton and Munster deliver a classic, Dupont and Ntamack are back for Toulouse, and the Bulls need to get themselves to East Midlands Airport as soon as possible. Can Harlequins win in Bordeaux? Should commentators be nicer about scrums? And Ben tells us about his new role as Leicester waterboy.  Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you listening Peter Jackson? Dan Cole and Ben Youngs call out the special effects in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, before turning their attention to Leinster in the Champions Cup on Saturday night. There are airport stories, an invite from the Red Roses and Ben picks England’s three scrum-halves for their summer tour.  Got a question for us? Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/4o1f7VCSFvj5aZb38 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is the greatest rugby shirt of all time? Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are here to discuss the history of rugby kit, which includes the curious case of the precious kit man, Ben breaking a wrist at an England kit launch and the time Dan had to do a Mizuno appearance with Olympic sprinter Marlon Devonish (WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt4ckW27wVs). Plus Ben makes us all jealous when he explains how much free stuff he gets from Adidas. 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Easter holidays have turned Dan Cole and Ben Youngs into grumpy old men. They tell stories of the good old days when men were men and pizza hut buffets were an acceptable fuel source for professional athletes.  There’s a Christmas tree prank, the real reason for Dan’s Stone Cold Steve Austin impression, the origins of Lendrid and a long pause when the lads are asked about their hobbies. 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ollie Chessum joins Dan Cole and Ben Youngs to talk about his new role in charge of organised fun in England camp. He’ll tell you why he loves lineouts, how Ben could live in his shoes, and you’ll never guess who he picks to sit next to Antoine Dupont and Dan Carter at dinner. Dan tells a story about the sweatiest bus ever, and we take a deep dive into the Chessum family tree. 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal: https://nordvpn.com/ftlor/ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Cole has a lot of questions to answer as he returns from England camp for podcast duty. What were his favourite off-field memories? And how many attack sessions were there between the Scotland game and the Ireland game? And in an attempt to become a relevant pundit, Ben Youngs commits to putting George North in a list of the best Six Nations players ever, but struggles to work out the rest of his top 10. 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal: https://nordvpn.com/ftlor/ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Cole gets home from France, has a Sunday roast, puts the kids to bed and then calls Ben Youngs to review the final weekend of the 2024 Six Nations.  Ireland are champions, England are going in the right direction, and the atmosphere in Lyon might be the best Dan has ever played in.  We’ve seen the last of George North in Wales shirt, but what will Dan do next? 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Cole is in his element as gives Ben a lesson on the history of French rugby. But what does the anthem really mean? And where's the best away day? With Dan facing Posolo Tuilagi in Lyon this weekend, we hear all their tales of the Tuilagi family dynasty. Plus, Ben and Dan pick their ultimate GB Men's Sevens team to take on the Paris Olympics this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Tom Fordyce return to review England’s dramatic win over Ireland at Twickenham. Albeit a bit late after some epic celebrations. Ben breaks down the final play in minute detail including what Ireland should have done to kill the game, and there's a triumphant voice note from the victorious Dan Cole. They also discuss Italy's first home win since 2013 as they put relegation chats to bed, and surprisingly, there's some sympathy for Wales. But what will happen on the final weekend? Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs and Dan Cole come together for a bonus episode to celebrate scrum-half Danny Care as he joins the 100 cap club for England. Only five other men have won 100 England caps... two of them present this podcast! Ben and Dan talk World Cup comebacks, Grand Slam tries, and sharing the nine shirt as they reel off some of Danny's highlights. And in a game of Top Trumps, Dan finds out who's better on a night out, who's got the best lid, and they call up a couple of fly-halves to help settle the debate of who has the better pass. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal: https://nordvpn.com/ftlor/ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Dan Cole and Ben Youngs's ultimate guide to the Ireland and British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell. Is he someone you avoid at the breakfast table? What’s his aura like? And are his leadership skills genetic? From playing for him for England, to playing against his Ireland side, Dan and Ben give the lowdown on the master motivator, including that famous Lions ‘hurt arena’ speech. To choose your Lions captain, visit https://bit.ly/4322GSU 💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ellis Genge takes a break from the Six Nations to visit Dan Cole and Ben Youngs in their secret studio in a secret location. Have you had your Christmas ruined by Gengey? He’s got an AdBlue story that might explain why you were stuck in traffic on Christmas Eve, plus some advice on how not to buy a van, and a theory on how playing on the wing is easy. He brings a smelly pair of shorts for one lucky listener, and tells you how rugby’s new Netflix documentary was made. Plus important updates on biscuit gate, and what Richard Hill actually does in England camp.  💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

💗 Buy a bobble hat: https://crowdnetwork.co.uk/podcasts/for-the-love-of-rugby/ Dan Cole has made it back from Edinburgh following England’s Six Nations loss to Scotland to be reunited with Ben Youngs in the studio. Dan takes us inside England changing room, shares his experience of being ambushed by a bagpipe flash mob, and gives a comprehensive run-down of that kick chase. Ben’s been busy taking the podcast to all corners of the planet, hearing from listeners as far as Brazil, Australia and Stoke. He also shares some lessons from his new role as social media manager… Plus the best of your questions, we reveal which England player could scale Edinburgh castle, and we’ve got some brand new merch! Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs calls up England and Lions winger Anthony Watson for some world class analysis of Scotland’s hat-trick hero Duhan van der Merwe. How much are England actually working on their attack? Why are they making so many handling errors? And how does Ben feel about the Calcutta Cup staying in Scotland for yet another year? Ireland are still on for a grand slam, Wales lose again, but Italy should have beaten France with the last kick of the game in Lille. Can somebody please give Paolo Garbisi a hug? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Cole gives a history lesson on the Calcutta Cup while Ben Youngs tells us about his England debut on the England wing. Is Flower of Scotland the best Six Nations anthem? What do you say to Princess Anne? And could the bagpipers walk any slower? Dan has also researched the Murrayfield pitch and the top five tourist attractions in Edinburgh.  Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the huge success of their game day episode, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs are back to tell you about everything that happens after an international fixture. They tell stories about post match interviews, children on the pitch, ice in the showers and Ben is scathing about the post match function. Dan, who is still employed by the RFU, would like to go on record as saying he doesn't mind them. As long as nobody asks for his shorts, he's happy.  How do players really feel on the bus home? What do coaches say in the changing room after a defeat? And there's a Joe Marler drug testing story you won't be able to forget. Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan beats Wales, does the school run and heads straight to the studio to record a podcast when he could be with his family. All for the love of rugby, and because he needs to tell you what happened inside the England changing room on Saturday. Meanwhile Ben Youngs gets called a poor man’s Andy Gomarsall and goes to the wrong pub for a Six Nations event.  Plus the best of your questions and Dan’s tales of service stations, getting called “too old” and having cramp. Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs, Justin Tipuric and Tom Fordyce review England’s win over Wales at Twickenham. They have praise for Ben Earl, George Ford and Tommy Reffell, but explain how Wales could have managed the game better, and probably should have won. Scotland fans might still be watching video replays, but there’s an art to making sure the TMO can’t see enough evidence a ball has been grounded. Plus Dan Cole gets called the ‘godfather of cheats’ and Ben slags off the kids who sang their hearts out at the World Cup. Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Youngs, Justin Tipuric and Tom Fordyce look ahead to England against Wales at Twickenham - which is one of the biggest days of the rugby year. They dive deep into the back row battle, analyse how Wales can beat England’s new defence and remember their favourite England-Wales memories.  Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Cole and Ben Youngs take you through every minute of their pre-match routine. Do you like detailed insight into the often mundane lives of professional sportspeople? Well, this is the episode for you. They’ll talk to you about pre-match meals (there are many), tell you who sits where on the team bus and take you on a behind the scenes tour of Twickenham on match day. Dan uses a plot device from Law and Order to make this all possible. If you haven’t seen Law and Order then he owes you an apology. Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England win their opening Six Nations game for the first time in five years, but Italy score three tries and look pretty good. Wales are awful for 40 minutes and then nearly pull off one of the greatest comebacks of all time against Scotland, while Ireland show everyone why they’re favourites and why France could do with Antoine Dupont. Ben Youngs is joined by Mike Brown and Tom Fordyce for the best Monday morning podcast analysis you'll find anywhere. Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s nearly here! England are on their way to Rome for the opening weekend of the Six Nations, and the FTLOR lads are bringing you their ultimate guide to the eternal city. And by ultimate guide, we mean Dan Cole going through Tripadvisor and Ben Youngs telling stories of what not to do at the Colosseum. They’ll tell you about the changing rooms at Stadio Olimpico, the lengthy walk to the pitch and Dan translates the Italian national anthem. It’s a great episode. Make sure you’re following us on socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby We’ll be back on Monday to review the first weekend of the Six Nations.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Ben a bad farmer? Which club has the best post match food? And how does it feel when everyone slags you off? If you’ve got a question for Ben Youngs or Dan Cole, get in touch on the socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby We’ll be back on Thursday for another episode ahead of England’s trip to Italy in the Six Nations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this first episode, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs take you on a tour of the England team hotel. They tell you what’s it really like when players live, train and eat together, before sleeping next to each other every night. Dan has just gone into England camp for yet another Six Nations, but how much of his life has he spent there? Which player is most likely to stay up until 4am playing Call of Duty? Who’s most likely to Facetime their dog? Who sleeps in? Who plays Barbara Streisand in the gym? And what do the England squad have for pudding? If you’ve got a question for the pod, get in touch on the socials: https://linktr.ee/loveofrugby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No man has played rugby for England more than Ben Youngs. He’s also a scrum-half so he’s spent most of his 127 games chatting away to team-mates, opposition and referees.  His mate Dan Cole also has over 100 caps, is still in the England squad, and has cult hero status thanks to his no-nonsense approach to most of life’s events. They’ve spent 20 years together at Leicester Tigers, toured together for the British and Irish Lions, and now podcast together every week. Throughout the Six Nations they’ll bring their ultimate guide to the championship, give you a behind the scenes tour of Twickenham, and tell you what really happens inside an England camp. They’ll occasionally have guests, and special correspondent Joe Marler will be on speed dial for whenever they need him. Oh and they just love rugby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices