Rugby Union Weekly

Home News Sport Weather iPlayer Sounds Bitesize CBeebies CBBC Food Home News Sport Business Technology Health Culture Arts Travel Earth Audio Video Live Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.Find out how to listen to other BBC stationsEpisode detailsRadio 5 Live,·09 Sep 2026,·60 minsAvailable for over a yearUgo and Chris sit down with the RFU performance director Conor O’Shea for a wide-ranging conversation about the big issues shaping English rugby. O’Shea reveals they plan to extend Steve Borthwick’s contract to cover the 2028 Six Nations and prevent speculation around his future. They discuss the importance of the upcoming autumn and despite a poor 2026 O’Shea tells us England can go all the way at the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Should the RFU scrap the rule preventing overseas-based players being picked for England? And how do they improve the coaching pathway for English coaches to make the jump from domestic to international rugby? They also quiz O’Shea on the Red Roses’ dominance and the succession plan for John Mitchell.Programme WebsiteMore episodes