If you’re a true rugby fan, then you’ll love listening to experts discussing various teams, upcoming matchups and sports history. Podcasts are a must for sports fans these days.
There are hundreds of Irish rugby podcasts available for free. Here are some of our favourite rugby podcasts, which include everything from insightful analysis to entertaining commentary.
Off The Ball
Off The Ball is one of the UK’s and Ireland’s most popular sports shows, covering everything from football to rugby. It’s been around since 2017 and has experienced rave reviews and huge success.
Not to be confused with the Scottish radio football program of the same name, Ireland’s Off The Ball is a fantastic resource that focuses only on information and expert opinion. There’s very little off the cuff here, and everything is straight to the point and informative. For anyone following rugby closely, Off The Ball is a must-listen. The hosts share sharp insights and match analysis that can also give you a better feel for rugby betting odds, helping fans make more considered predictions rather than just guessing.
Potholes and Penguins
Aptly named, Potholes and Penguins is another one of the major Irish rugby podcasts that focuses on the sport from an athlete’s perspective.
The hosts include former rugby star Andrew Trimble, best known for representing Ireland in international competitions as a union member. Together with Dermot Sheedy and famous football manager Brian Barry Murphy, they review previous matches and use their industry experience to speculate on upcoming matches.
Potholes and Penguins is a podcast best listened to by sports fans who also play rugby themselves, or for fans of commentary that comes from players rather than commentators.
The 42 Rugby Weekly
One of the best reviewed Irish rugby podcasts of all time is The 42 Rugby Weekly. It has a slightly misleading name as they sometimes upload biweekly rather than weekly. Regardless, this podcast is a very reliable choice for weekend recaps of the most recent matches.
Hosted by mega rugby fans Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Ciarán Kennedy, The 42 Rugby Weekly has an emphasis on international matches, new team selections and all things Irish rugby.
Though this podcast team has more of an old-fashioned approach that may not satisfy people looking for shows with more of a technological or business perspective, their recaps and reviews are fantastic for getting up to speed on anything you may have missed.
House of Rugby URC
Launched in 2017, House of Rugby URC, which is short for United Rugby Championship, is more of a variety podcast that discusses many things both beyond and adjacent to Irish rugby.
House of Rugby often discusses rugby tactics, but they are also fans of discussing movies, music and anything else with their athlete guests. Their guests often include current and former rugby players, making this show an excellent choice for viewers looking to get opinions straight from the pros. Above all, House of Rugby URC is a great place to find stories. Everyone on the show is constantly sharing interesting personal anecdotes, which makes this Irish rugby podcast a great choice for fans who are looking for more personable and social conversations.
Second Captains
With a prestigious reputation thanks to its many awards and accolades, the Second Captains podcast is considered by many to be the single best Irish rugby podcast around. Though they are primarily known as a football show, they also do rugby episodes, which are some of the best you can find.
Part of what makes Second Captains so special is that they upload new content every day, not just every week or two. Many people use them as their only sports podcast because they upload so much material. They have a wide focus, including personal anecdotes and opinions, insider info, reviews of recent matches, developments in Irish women’s rugby and betting on who will win upcoming championships. Second Captains is special not just because of all the awards they’ve won over the years, but because of their hosts. With five commentators, Second Captains has many more voices than the average sports podcast.
In addition, many of them have their own individual shows that focuses on more specific sports topics. Second Captains also provides radio content, live shows and a Patreon that grants members access to VIP content and merchandise. In short, the Second Captains podcast is considered second to none for going above and beyond what a podcast is expected to do. It’s so good that it could turn someone who never cared about rugby into a true fan.