{"podcast":{"title":"The Ruck","slug":"the-ruck-1115414","podcast_index_feed_id":1115414,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/d0e840b0-f5fe-47d3-b781-71019347fb0b","website_url":"https://www.thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-ruck","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/61ba0ecc1a8cbe70e43cf148/1767917470701-837c1e75-c823-43db-bad3-e27646e9eeac.jpeg","author":"Reynolds Alfie","episode_count":575,"summary":"The Ruck is the journalists' rugby podcast from The Times & The Sunday Times. Join Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe, Will Kelleher and a selection of guests every week as they provide insight and reports throughout the season, including big-name interviews and forthright analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-12T18:20:55.688798+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ruck-1115414"},"episode":{"title":"Do the Prem's blowouts challenge its franchise future?","slug":"do-the-prem-s-blowouts-challenge-its-franchise-future","published_at":"2026-04-20T15:46:29+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ruck-1115414/do-the-prem-s-blowouts-challenge-its-franchise-future","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ruck-1115414","url":"https://shows.acast.com/theruck/episodes/do-the-prems-blowouts-challenge-its-franchise-future","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/theruck/e/69e64a556e5b90839aea518f/media.mp3","summary":"It was a week of contrasts in both the Prem and Women's 6 Nations. In the Gallagher Prem the league continues to attract new investment but Sale were humiliated at home on Sunday, whilst Gloucester, Newcastle and Harlequins also suffered heavy defeats. Was that down to a lack of jeopardy due to no relegation? Or other factors? Scotland v England at Murrayfield set a new record attendance for a standalone women's sporting event north of the border. But, on the pitch are the sides further apart than ever after England's thumping win? When will the Red Roses next lose? Plus, Joe Launchbury chats to Alfie & Will after he announced he would retire from rugby at the end of the season. *** Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","meta_description":"It was a week of contrasts in both the Prem and Women's 6 Nations. In the Gallagher Prem the league continues to attract new investment but Sale were humi…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3606,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ruck-1115414/episodes/do-the-prem-s-blowouts-challenge-its-franchise-future/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ruck-1115414/do-the-prem-s-blowouts-challenge-its-franchise-future.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}