# The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

A podcast by The Irish Times. A rugby podcast from The Irish Times, presented by Nathan Johns with regular panelists John O'Sullivan, Gordon D'Arcy and Gerry Thornley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feed: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece

## Latest episodes

- [Could Tadhg Furlong miss the Nations Championship over alleged genital grab?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/3fbfa815000b) (2026-10-27, 48 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6ae085da33b363c95dca5206/media.mp3
- [Can this Ireland squad make an impact on the Nations Champsionship?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/0409345a2ed5) (2026-10-23, 32 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6adaf8b0015ffbd13970eebf/media.mp3
- [Are the provinces fortunes turning after a clean sweep in Europe?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/47b695302446) (2026-10-20, 49 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6ad649c0940d96315606e083/media.mp3
- [Steven Kitshoff: World Cup glory, the Rassie factor, and his time at Ulster](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/94bd4a5d17e7) (2026-10-16, 42 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6ad1d5425f788808a78bbbdb/media.mp3
- [First interpro excites while Leinster return to winning ways at the RDS](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/9a4ef9006770) (2026-10-13, 45 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6acd5be2eea51f2aa3891f91/media.mp3
- [A new era for Munster?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/959b63b01b56) (2026-10-09, 28 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6ac7bb7339599f7c56387e25/media.mp3
- [Irish 10s steal the limelight on an encouraging URC weekend](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/1daac70b0479) (2026-10-06, 38 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6ac42d27924bc02b556f3e6a/media.mp3
- [Is Irish and British domestic rugby broken?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/cd50496d5831) (2026-10-02, 64 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6abeeaef7cc37804e3976b17/media.mp3
- [Historic opening weekend ends in defeat for all Irish provinces](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/a0103419a0c4) (2026-09-29, 43 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6abac6b0f4720dfefb2fdd13/media.mp3
- [Big URC preview and how did Ireland throw away victory vs the USA?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/040276653381) (2026-09-25, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6ab5b8f3554d86cd55e874a2/media.mp3
- [Leinster's RDS bump and Munster's outhalf crisis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/59295fd27fe6) (2026-09-18, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6aac6362fce2f882262b7d6d/media.mp3
- [As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/637cc9c89788) (2026-09-11, 34 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6aa33315564171e32a342659/media.mp3
- [Why are New Zealand embarking on their own Lions tour?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/c4c4afacd732) (2026-08-07, 26 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a74f940d410c25118b8daa9/media.mp3
- [The AFL comes for Irish rugby](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/11fa7ce74f54) (2026-07-31, 16 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a6baeba87f5f77b02552b0a/media.mp3
- [Where do Ireland go from here?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/57f93835b918) (2026-07-21, 47 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a5eacb1c8941e6991990b0e/media.mp3
- [Reaction: New Zealand ease to victory over Ireland](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/d1a6c8a1c3e3) (2026-07-18, 19 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a5b87124d4b991ebe6548b0/media.mp3
- [Underdog Ireland gear up for All Blacks test](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/7e63c6b9b964) (2026-07-17, 24 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a5957d5f782764c4c191f2a/media.mp3
- [Irish rugby's state of the union down under](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/1df478836d69) (2026-07-14, 33 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a5596d875790d5f01936509/media.mp3
- [Reaction: Ireland run in five tries as they beat Japan](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/81fa2011d6c6) (2026-07-11, 23 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a52718f73fcc6a8a7cc2b05/media.mp3
- [What to make of Ireland's rotation for Japan?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/e4d91a8fc787) (2026-07-10, 30 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a5021fa0be8a67717379c99/media.mp3
- [Where do Ireland now stand in the Nations Championship?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/af46757fb96e) (2026-07-07, 38 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a4bd2010f098230b2ab8c71/media.mp3
- [Reaction: Ireland squeeze home against Australia](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/9494c1da6888) (2026-07-04, 27 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a493c825ef16cb80477c6cf/media.mp3
- [Can Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies upset Ireland?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/0be1082be914) (2026-07-02, 25 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a4649a7a2ba271831a7be43/media.mp3
- [Ireland come up short against England in Under-20s World Championship](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/3e602ee2d445) (2026-06-30, 31 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a42eb3171668e370634821c/media.mp3
- [Who to look out for in Ireland U20s at the World Cup](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/171bc94dc33c) (2026-06-26, 25 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a3dc60f13f23e0ab6f53d5a/media.mp3
- [Why is Leo Cullen leaving Leinster?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/3ba16d0560e1) (2026-06-22, 18 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a396177520e67813445f507/media.mp3
- [Leinster win back-to-back URC titles](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/7f52e61f293b) (2026-06-19, 22 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a35c6b36f90df4cb73de431/media.mp3
- [What to make of Andy Farrell's Ireland squad to tour Australia and New Zealand](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/cd5b547fcdb7) (2026-06-18, 42 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a33354ba43c1651f486b762/media.mp3
- [Why is James Lowe leaving Leinster?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/d345cf0965ed) (2026-06-12, 29 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a2b2c7f90aa100df9282d36/media.mp3
- [Leinster into another final, but are their fans buying into their URC run?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/eef85ba54102) (2026-06-09, 40 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a26e953ec7c103dca4735de/media.mp3
- [Are Leinster being set up tactically for success?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/fc2e20e43e2d) (2026-06-05, 32 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a2200f4e25fe33c7c771c6a/media.mp3
- [Have Leinster hit their ceiling this season?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/84ef2c093baa) (2026-06-02, 36 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a1e0cfa302b9e359c1d16e6/media.mp3
- [How Bordeaux outfoxed Leinster and URC quarter-finals preview](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/30248c116c6f) (2026-05-29, 20 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a18bdf7029c20a5f61081c8/media.mp3
- [Where do Leinster and Ulster go from here?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/7e8445f23d49) (2026-05-26, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a147e0acb11d38a8b690589/media.mp3
- [Leinster suffer Champions Cup humbling at the hands of Bordeaux](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/0be30bc551bd) (2026-05-23, 29 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a12100742bb55037b9fbb46/media.mp3
- [Can Leinster break their European hoodoo?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/0c1001fb6442) (2026-05-21, 26 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a0f1c0dd7997e788c59feba/media.mp3
- [How Leinster and Ulster warmed up for their European showdowns](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/ffa6b95aad3d) (2026-05-19, 27 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a0b881fcdab12b21cb2c3dd/media.mp3
- [How all four Irish provinces can make the URC knockouts](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/0c0ac5ff2b32) (2026-05-15, 26 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a06508e68dc584edaf04e61/media.mp3
- [How Connacht are proving a stark contrast to reeling Munster](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/3bde0dd2f1b1) (2026-05-12, 30 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/6a02009237a1e7308d929464/media.mp3
- [Is rugby’s TMO process fair?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/4e503c0820de) (2026-05-08, 30 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69fd3da42ba0ef2ccab3c431/media.mp3
- [Leinster reach a record ninth Champions Cup final](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/866b9461f7ea) (2026-05-05, 47 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69f9281c68235ca3bc21d6de/media.mp3
- [Leinster out to heal Champions Cup trauma; and is Aviva Stadium fatigue creeping in?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/a6a4a49e1d3e) (2026-05-01, 30 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69f37c80ad985792893d4637/media.mp3
- [How concerned should Leinster be for Europe after Benetton defeat?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/41ceae992aec) (2026-04-28, 31 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69ef8c497cc011b3f64be47c/media.mp3
- [Could injuries derail Ulster's stellar season?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/699c4acb2829) (2026-04-24, 24 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69ea3252289eeb2c7ba8b78b/media.mp3
- [Leinster dismiss pretenders Ulster, Connacht find consistency and Ireland women crush Italy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/ffc05a4ba6a3) (2026-04-21, 33 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69e69ee80b4baf3bf241e7ec/media.mp3
- [URC preview, women’s Six Nations and Munster’s controversial new appointment](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/74eb4d68954d) (2026-04-17, 24 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69e16adf23929c3a2af2a058/media.mp3
- [Leinster have yet to fully find their mojo heading into a Champions Cup semi-final – when will it all click?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/a69e24344735) (2026-04-14, 40 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69dd0bc6715b7d1039dceb2c/media.mp3
- [What’s gone wrong in Munster?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/f1922630bf30) (2026-04-09, 34 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69d7dcead3f0dd77476222b0/media.mp3
- [Are Leinster champions cup contenders/how have things gone this badly wrong for Munster?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/05e5fc0f7efe) (2026-04-07, 55 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69d429ad1d7024f1a7c03223/media.mp3
- [Are we living in rugby's good old days?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1341682574/d74bbbdf6b2a) (2026-04-03, 36 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/e/69ce83ca1d7024f1a7c05770/media.mp3

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.