Total Rugby Radio

ON THE SPOT: SEAN FITZPATRICK
On New Zealand... As momentum builds towards next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, so does the inevitable pressure on the hosts. Ranked number one at the start of the decade and craving success on the biggest stage, the All Blacks carry with them a heavy burden, one that Fitzpatrick is familiar with.

On the early days… We also travel back to the start of a career that ended with him being – to date – the most capped All Black of all time.

DR JAMES ROBSON
It’s one of the most pressing issues confronting the game today – as the players get faster, fitter, bigger and stronger, is it getting too physical? Dr James Robson is head of Medical Services for Scottish rugby, was with the Lions in South Africa and is generally acknowledged to be one of the world’s leading authorities on rugby injuries. We asked him his views on the current generation.

BILL MCLAREN – IN MEMORY
Bill McLaren, who died this week at the age of 86, was known throughout the world quite simply, and deservedly, as the Voice of Rugby. Over half a century he brought pleasure to countless millions who listened to his commentaries and the tributes have flown in, among them Gavin Hastings and Nigel Starmer-Smith.

WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP: CHERYL SOON
This year England will host the sixth Women’s Rugby World Cup and one team hopeful of prising the trophy from three-time winners New Zealand are the Wallaroos of Australia. Winners in 2009 of the first ever women’s World title in Sevens, they’ve come to like the taste of success. We speak with team captain, Cheryl Soon..

THE RUSSIAN DUBLINER
As Russia prepare to take on Namibia in a one-off test, we speak with a flying winger recently added to their armoury. Vasily Artemyev may be Russian by birth but, by a quirk of fate, he comes armed with all the rugby skills Ireland has to offer.