About the episode
The Rugby Pod is back for 2026, and the lads kick off the New Year by rounding up a huge, festive period of rugby before looking ahead to what promises to be a blockbuster year. Jim, Goodey, and Bigs dig into the Premiership at the halfway mark, picking their biggest surprises so far, before taking a deep dive on England’s wing options as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso steals the show and selection debates rage ahead of the Six Nations. There are statement wins for Northampton, Leicester, and Newcastle and big questions for Harlequins and Gloucester. Over in the URC, the table is turned on its head as the Dragons surge, Leinster and Ulster flex their muscle, and the South African derbies deliver some chaos. The lads also preview a massive weekend of Champions Cup action on Premier Sports, fire through some predictions for 2026, and hand out the first Good, Bad & Ugly of the season.