What Can We Learn From French Rugby?

As French club rugby thrives, English rugby finds itself at a crossroads. Alex and Tins are joined by Jonny May, Courtney Lawes, and rugby powerbroker Simon Gillham [OBE] for a timely conversation on what England can learn from across the Channel. From the dominance of ProD2 and the booming Top 14 to the structural chaos at home, the team digs into the future of the English game. Plus: Investec Champions Cup semi-final previews and Courtney’s Lions ambitions. Tickets are selling fast for finals weekend in Cardiff on the 23rd and 24th of May, head to EPCR.com for more details.

🛞 00:00 – Buckle Up with Continental Tyres
🎙️ 02:00 – Meet Simon Gillham OBE: Rugby’s Quiet Powerbroker
🤝 05:47 – When Brive Signed Courtney Lawes: Inside the Transfer
🏆 11:14 – Why Promotion & Relegation Still Works
🇫🇷 21:13 – What English Rugby Can Learn from France
📺 27:30 – Prem Rugby’s £200M TV Deal: Gamechanger?
⚠️ 40:18 – The Hidden Problem with Premiership Academies
🏗️ 45:47 – Franchise Model: Big Questions
🔥 51:35 – Investec Champions Cup Semi-Final Preview
🔍 56:59 – Courtney’s Saints Scouting Report
🦁 01:04:00 – Lions 10 Debate: Smith, Prendergast, Ford, Farrell?
🇫🇷 01:09:49 – Bordeaux v Toulouse: All French Affair
🔮 01:11:50 – Semi-Final Predictions: Who’s Going to Cardiff?
🎯 01:13:50 – Courtney on a 3rd Lions Tour?
🧠 01:18:00 – England’s New Coaching Team & Players to Watch this Summer
🐉 01:21:25 – Dave Reddin Joins Wales

Season 5 is sponsored by Continental Tyres.

WOB Group & GB&R Competition Entry Form: https://forms.gle/FgVKoWvgCQB7b4PL7

WIN a Lions 2025 Tour Package to Australia Courtesy of Howden: https://bit.ly/412UzVN

Welcome to The Good, The Bad & The Rugby with journalist and former broadcaster Alex Payne, England and Lions flanker James Haskell, and World Cup Winner Mike Tindall.

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