Rob Henderson: Irish Rugby Turning Point, Lions Tour Chaos & Meeting the Pope | Stick to Rugby EP 20

The latest episode of Stick to Rugby, brought to you by Defender, welcomes former Ireland and British & Irish Lions centre Rob Henderson to the panel alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, Tom Shanklin and Katy Daley-Mclean for a fast-paced and emotional deep dive into Irish rugby’s rise, Lions heartbreak and life on tour.

Henderson opens up about his late start in rugby, why it was “always Ireland” for him, and how the iconic 2001 win over England became a defining moment for Irish rugby. He reflects on the Lions tour to Australia, the devastation of the Test series loss, and the famous “we ran out of petrol” line that still haunts him.

There are tales of chaos and camaraderie; sharing a room with Lawrence, getting fake tanned before games, and when the Irish team met the Pope. He reveals how Clive Woodward changed his career, why “you hate losing more than you like winning”, and what it meant to earn his first cap.

From huge hits to wild stories, this episode captures the full spectrum of rugby life: unfiltered, hilarious, and deeply personal.

Once a Lion, always a Lion. Don’t miss it.

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00:00 - Intro
05:45 – Wildest Tour Stories
15:21 – Favourite Career Memorabilia
20:52 – “Fill in the Blanks” Game
23:12 – Why Rob Dyed His Hair Blonde
24:29 – Rob Henderson’s Ireland Journey
32:26 – Missing Out on the World Cup
35:26 – Lions Tour Highlights & Heartbreak
47:42 – Meeting the Pope in Rome
50:11 – Moves Named After Teammates
50:56 – Friendships Formed on Tour
53:47 – From Amateur to Pro Rugby
55:39 – Life Playing in Toulon
58:41 – Toughest Teammate Ever
59:44 – Henderson’s Best Career Moments

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