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Lions Tour Special: reviewing the highs and lows of Australian adventure

Lions Tour Special: reviewing the highs and lows of Australian adventure

Simon Lewis in Sydney reflects on his time in Oz following the tourists Down Under, with host Brendan O'Brien.

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025

Lions Tour Special: Wallabies' complaints and Farrell shows his hand for final Test

Lions Tour Special: Wallabies' complaints and Farrell shows his hand for final Test

Brendan O'Brien is joined by Simon Lewis from Sydney

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Lions Tour Special: 'Highway robbery' - the Australian view of the decisive second Test

Lions Tour Special: 'Highway robbery' - the Australian view of the decisive second Test

The British and Irish Lions have secured the series with a game to spare, but the second Test ended in controversy. Julian Linden joins Simon Lewis to assess it all.

Listen | Sat, 26 Jul, 2025

Lions Tour Special: a crucial innings for the Wallabies in Melbourne

Lions Tour Special: a crucial innings for the Wallabies in Melbourne

Andy Farrell's tourists will attempt to clinch the series win against Australia at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. Simon Lewis checks in with Brendan O'Brien.

Listen | Fri, 25 Jul, 2025

Lions Tour Special: Can the Lions now finish the job?

Lions Tour Special: Can the Lions now finish the job?

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien reflect on a first Test win and preview a busy week ahead.

Listen | Mon, 21 Jul, 2025

Lions Tour Special: Farrell shows his hand for first Test

Lions Tour Special: Farrell shows his hand for first Test

Irish Examiner rugby columnist Donal Lenihan joins Simon Lewis in Australia to discuss Andy Farrell's team selection and look ahead to the first Test with the Wallabies.

Listen | Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Lions Tour Special: a blow-out for the tourists in final warm-up

Lions Tour Special: a blow-out for the tourists in final warm-up

Simon Lewis in Adelaide joins Brendan O'Brien to reflect on the whitewash victory.

Listen | Sat, 12 Jul, 2025

Lions Tour Podcast: Andy Farrell's men going in the right direction

Lions Tour Podcast: Andy Farrell's men going in the right direction

Simon Lewis and Mick Cleary review the Lions' impressive win in Brisbane.

Listen | Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Lions Tour Podcast: Finn Russell puts himself in pole position for Test 10 jersey

Lions Tour Podcast: Finn Russell puts himself in pole position for Test 10 jersey

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis review the Lions' opening game of the tour Down Under, a 54-7 victory over Super Rugby side Western Force.

Listen | Sat, 28 Jun, 2025

Lions Tour Podcast: Sheehan skipper as Lions need to hit the ground running in Perth

Lions Tour Podcast: Sheehan skipper as Lions need to hit the ground running in Perth

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis assess Andy Farrell's selection for the opening tour match with Western Force.

Listen | Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Lions Tour Podcast: Special occasion but Pumas deliver long list of learnings

Lions Tour Podcast: Special occasion but Pumas deliver long list of learnings

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis review Argentina's defeat of the Lions in their Aviva Stadium pre-tour clash.

Listen | Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Lions Tour Podcast: Will we see Ireland in red or something different?

Lions Tour Podcast: Will we see Ireland in red or something different?

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis review Andy Farrell's first Lions selection and look ahead to Friday night's historic meeting with Argentina at Aviva Stadium.

Listen | Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: where are Ireland after a strange trip to Italy?

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: where are Ireland after a strange trip to Italy?

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis in Rome reflect on the climax of the Six Nations championship

Listen | Sun, 16 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland into the final furlong in Rome

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland into the final furlong in Rome

Simon Lewis in Rome and Brendan O'Brien, at Cheltenham, look ahead to Ireland's final Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday.

Listen | Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Moneyball says no room for tinkering in Rome

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Moneyball says no room for tinkering in Rome

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien look ahead to Ireland's final Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday.

Listen | Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Sifting through the ashes as France torch Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Sifting through the ashes as France torch Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes

Simon Lewis and Brendan O’Brien take us through the talking points after France torched Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes in Dublin.

Sat, 08 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland to produce their best at most important time

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland to produce their best at most important time

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien review the Ireland selection and look ahead to Saturday's crunch Six Nations decider with France.

Listen | Thu, 06 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Irish injuries, bench splits, Thierry Henry and Garry Ringrose suspension

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Irish injuries, bench splits, Thierry Henry and Garry Ringrose suspension

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis take us through the big talking points ahead of Ireland's showdown with France this weekend.

Listen | Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: A new Munster chief and three Ireland exits

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: A new Munster chief and three Ireland exits

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis talk us through the retirements of some Irish greats and the upcoming arrival of Munster's new head coach.

Listen | Fri, 28 Feb, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland win in Cardiff, France back in form

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland win in Cardiff, France back in form

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien reflect on an incident-packed weekend of Six Nations action.

Listen | Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

Irish Examiner rugby podcast: Much-changed Ireland selection and Easterby to Wales?

Irish Examiner rugby podcast: Much-changed Ireland selection and Easterby to Wales?

Simon Lewis and Brendan O’Brien discuss Simon Easterby’s reaction to being linked with the Wales job, and on the much-changed side the interim Ireland head coach has named for the weekend’s Six Nations tie in Cardiff

Listen | Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Will Ireland shuffle the deck for Wales?

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Will Ireland shuffle the deck for Wales?

Brendan O’Brien and Simon Lewis chat about the latest news and views from in and around the Ireland and Wales squads ahead of their Six Nations tie in Cardiff.

Listen | Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Gatland departs and Ireland's fast Six Nations start

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Gatland departs and Ireland's fast Six Nations start

Brendan O'Brien and Mick Cleary discuss all the storylines from the opening two rounds of the 2025 Six Nations including Warren Gatland departing as Wales head coach, the possibility of Simon Easterby replacing him and Ireland's winning start.

Listen | Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

James Lowe celebrates his try with Dan Sheehan, Robbie Henshaw Hugo Keenan, James Ryan and Sam Prendergast 9/2/2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ruthless Ireland dominate Scotland again

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis discuss Ireland's 32-18 bonus point victory over Scotland in the Six Nations.

Listen | Sun, 09 Feb, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland show their hand for Scotland trip

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland show their hand for Scotland trip

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis reflect on Simon Easterby's team announcement ahead of the trip to Edinburgh.

Listen | Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland start as they mean to go on

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland start as they mean to go on

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien reflect on an impressive first win for Simon Easterby.

Listen | Sat, 01 Feb, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v England preview

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v England preview

Brendan O'Brien joins Simon Lewis from the Aviva Stadium to discuss Ireland's team selection for the Six Nations opener with England, what the Irish camp have to say, as well as Thursday night's U20s defeat in Cork.

Listen | Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ronan O'Gara previews the Six Nations

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ronan O'Gara previews the Six Nations

The La Rochelle coach -- and Irish rugby legend -- speaks to Tony Leen about a tournament he knows well.

Listen | Thu, 30 Jan, 2025

Simon Easterby 21/1/2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Six Nations preview

Donal Lenihan joins Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis to look ahead to the 2025 Six Nations, assess Ireland's chances without Andy Farrell and pick their likely tournament winners

Listen | Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v Australia

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v Australia

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien reflect on Ireland's battling win over Joe Schmidt's Wallabies.

Sat, 30 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v Australia preview

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v Australia preview

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien look ahead to Joe Schmidt's return to Dublin to face Ireland in Andy Farrell's final game... for now.

Listen | Fri, 29 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Munster backroom deals, Joe's Wallabies in town

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Munster backroom deals, Joe's Wallabies in town

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien convene after a busy day to discuss staff developments at Thomond Park, Joe Schmidt's return to Dublin and the news from the Ireland camp.

Listen | Tue, 26 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v Fiji

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Ireland v Fiji

Simon Lewis and Brendan O’Brien look at the individual standouts from Ireland’s 52-17 win over Fiji on Saturday.

Listen | Sun, 24 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Farrell rings the changes, Sam's the man, Fiji challenge

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Farrell rings the changes, Sam's the man, Fiji challenge

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien discuss Andy Farrell's team selection for the third November test against Fiji.

Listen | Thu, 21 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: focus turns to Fiji

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: focus turns to Fiji

Simon Lewis and Brendan O’Brien tun through the new faces we can expect to see ahead of a “dangerous” week and game against Fiji in Dublin this Saturday

Listen | Tue, 19 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner rugby podcast: Ireland v Argentina review

Irish Examiner rugby podcast: Ireland v Argentina review

Simon Lewis and Brendan O’Brien look over the good, the bad and the ugly indiscipline after Ireland’s narrow 22-19 win against Argentina

Listen | Sat, 16 Nov, 2024

Rugby podcast: Bouncing back from All Blacks defeat and the Argentina challenge

Rugby podcast: Bouncing back from All Blacks defeat and the Argentina challenge

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien discuss what needs to change for Ireland this week as focus shifts from the All Blacks defeat to the visit of the Pumas.

Listen | Tue, 12 Nov, 2024

Andy Farrell 6/11/2024

Podcast: Team selections, revenge and New Zealand in transition? Previewing Ireland's All Blacks reunion

Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis convene for a special rugby podcast to look ahead to Friday night's big game.

Listen | Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Your Six Nations preview with O'Gara, Lenihan, Cleary and Lewis

Irish Examiner Rugby Podcast: Your Six Nations preview with O'Gara, Lenihan, Cleary and Lewis

Ronan O'Gara, Donal Lenihan, Mick Cleary and Simon Lewis preview this year's tournament, with Tony Leen.

Listen | Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: how was it for you?

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: how was it for you?

Brendan O'Brien, Simon Lewis and Mick Cleary review the tournament.

Listen | Mon, 30 Oct, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: down to the final two

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: down to the final two

After a couple of very different semi-finals, we're left with two of the game's heavyweights.

Listen | Mon, 23 Oct, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: down to the final four

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: down to the final four

It's back to reality but the World Cup keeps turning as we reach the semi-final stage.

Listen | Wed, 18 Oct, 2023

Rugby World Cup Podcast: Scotty Stevenson joins the lads in Paris from New Zealand for the big match preview

S Rugby World Cup Podcast: Scotty Stevenson joins the lads in Paris from New Zealand for the big match preview

New Zealand broadcaster and sportswriter Scotty Stevenson joins the Irish Examiner's Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien to preview the World Cup quarter-finals.

Listen | Fri, 13 Oct, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: a memorable night in Paris

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: a memorable night in Paris

Ireland made a statement with a clinical win over the Scots.

Listen | Mon, 09 Oct, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: the Ireland v Scotland preview

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: the Ireland v Scotland preview

Mick Cleary joins Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis in Paris to build up to the Pool B finale in Saint-Denis.

Listen | Fri, 06 Oct, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: live with O'Gara, Stander and Lenihan

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: live with O'Gara, Stander and Lenihan

We look ahead to showdown with Scotland and the rest of the tournament at a special live event.

Listen | Thu, 05 Oct, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: the Scottish view

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: the Scottish view

The countdown is on to Saturday night's final pool game in Paris.

Listen | Tue, 03 Oct, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: The world keeps turning without Ireland

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: The world keeps turning without Ireland

Peter Jackson joins Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis to preview a busy week of tournament action.

Listen | Fri, 29 Sep, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: a massive Ireland win over South Africa

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: a massive Ireland win over South Africa

Donal Lenihan joins Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien to review an eventful weekend of rugby in France.

Listen | Mon, 25 Sep, 2023

The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: the Ireland v South Africa preview

S The Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast: the Ireland v South Africa preview

All roads lead to Paris for the much-anticipated meeting of two tournament favourites.

Listen | Fri, 22 Sep, 2023

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