Forty20 Rugby League Podcasts

As Super League heads towards their 30s, we talk about a Giant lack of class, how the BBC going off air was the only positive for Castleford on Saturday, and plenty of other rugby things that happened....

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lights are on, and we are home...Challenge Cup round-up, more from the NRL's Magic Money Tree, Huddersfield and stuff.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A podcast of two, unequal halves, as we hand a debut to sports journalist Molly Fairhurst and chat about Halifax's return to the Championship, and that competition in general, as well at talks between the NRL and the RFL (or whoever) before James Child returns and we look over the action from the weekend, as Wigan and Leeds lead the way at the top of the very early table.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hull KR are the Champions of the World, put on a great show, and there's plenty of unpredictable results in the Super League and Championship...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James explains tripping, why Mikey Lewis SHOULD play in Thursday, superlatives for York, Warrington and Toulouse amongst others, and another mad week in the Championship all from the sponsor of Wakefield Trinity's newest signing....

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An extremely special guest this week as 1986 Challenge Cup Final try scorer Jamie Sandy is over in the UK, and talks to us about loads of things and tells plenty of stories. A fun 80 minutes or so!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Almost an hour of interviews form the Betfred Super League Launch event in Manchester, inclufing Elliot Minchella, Junior Nsemba, Jackson Hastings and Brian Carney (amongst others.)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JAMES CHILD IS BACK, and not just because it's Pride Month, honest. Loads more to talk about than we thought pre-show, including Oldham, Greater Manchester in general, whatever happened this week on the field, and the Challenge Cup upcoming...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monday was not a day to be travelling on the railways on routes that go through Huddersfield, but we did, and ended up in Liverpool!

You can hear our interviews with a host of names from St. Helens, but first, for those who don't, we have a chat while waiting for a delayed train home to talk through whatever went on last weekend...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After guiding York Valkyrie to back-to-back Grand Finals wins in 2023 and 2024, Lindsay Anfield announced her departure from the club at the end of 2025.

She's now taken up a new role at the Catalans Dragons, with the club making their Betfred Women's Challenge Cup debut this year against St. Helens and Huddersfield Giants.

We spoke to her about that move, where's the women's game is in France, why it's attractive to players from Australia, and much more besides... ------ Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https...

The Championship is here, Shaun Wane steps aside and there's Challenge Cup action to enjoy this weekend...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While we were in Wakefield for the Championship Season Launch, Phil dragged Serious About Rugby League and the Yorkshire Evening Post's Peter Smith for a chat about some Rugby League, with Featherstone Rovers and more on the agenda...plus, interviews from Salford, Oldham, Sheffield Eagles, Midlands Hurricanes and London Broncos! ------ Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/forty20-rugby-league-podcasts/id1434352450 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0JPKZd2GZ9uK8XAbZmUVBP Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Forty20TV Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forty20LIVE ...

Rugby League is back this weekend (weather permitting) and we are as well. An hour of chat about stuff, as we try to work out what is happening. And a new feature....

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2025. Quite a good year for Hull Kingston Rovers, Wigan Warriors and Halifax Panthers, and, having been at Wembley, and all three Super League Grand Finals, we've got the words of the winners here in celebration, and a few others as well! ------ Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/forty20-rugby-league-podcasts/id1434352450 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0JPKZd2GZ9uK8XAbZmUVBP Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Forty20TV Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forty20LIVE And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/forty20live.bsky...

A quiz, a load of biscuits, special guests, and as little Rugby League as possible. Merry Christmas from us to you! ------ Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/forty20-rugby-league-podcasts/id1434352450 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0JPKZd2GZ9uK8XAbZmUVBP Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Forty20TV Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forty20LIVE And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/forty20live.bsky.social Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forty20magazine/

Learn more about your ad...

A double guest special in this episode, as first we welcome back Rob Hawkins, who, after winning the treble with Halifax Panthers, helped England to Ashes success in Australia to secure back-to-back Golden Boots.

Then, another returning guest, as author J.R. Rickwood talks about his book Year of the Cougars, Keighley's 1995 season, and more...

You can get the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/ak5oj3X

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're joined by the RFL's Head of Match Officials Phil Bentham to talk about the recent documentary - "Beyond the Whistle" - taking a look behind the scenes at the world of professional match officials.

Plenty to discuss, including how it came about, refereeing in the modern world, how the Premier League sees our video systems and how we're looking to improve in 2026, and plenty more besides.

If you haven't seen it, follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtXyTvaAHrc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com...

Remember the 2000 Rugby League World Cup? It was rubbish, that's what we were told, but two men who were there in the thick of it (the press box) are here to dispute that.

Authors of Super League: The First Ten Years (still available somewhere) - our own Phil Caplan and Jonathan Doidge - reminisce over a tournament which was wet, expansive and won by Australia...

Jonathan will be hosting a range of events in 2026 with something for RL, Leeds United and cricket fans... https://x.com/jdzevents/status/1994851574842364284

An end of season review of sorts, as teams have started pre-season for 2026, we're ready for hibernation. Back live in January, but still more to come before the end of the year...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's over....and it went as expected. Or did it? Australia return with the Ashes again, England score two tries in three games, and Shaun Wane's in charge...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2020 feels like a long time ago, and that's when Sophie Robinson last joined us on the podcast. Since then, she's taken a break from playing, until returning for her Jamaica debut last week, but it's not the start of a comeback.

The former Leeds Rhino tells us what she's been up to, what's keeping her busy, the international game, how Jamaica fits in that and how, despite playing, she's back involved at her old club.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes are going back to Australia, again, so is there anything we can do to change that going forward? Other Rugby League news and stuff as well, of course...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's The Ashes...and we're 1-0 down. What went wrong, and can we stop the Aussies? Probably not, but we're still looking forward to Everton on Saturday....and loads of other Rugby League topics.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes are here, and so is James back in the studio, so we can talk about those, the changes to Super League, and everything else we can think of...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"There's Only One Channy Crowl!" is the title of Channy Crowl's autobiography, as you could probably guess, and she joins the podcast to talk about it, representing her birth nation of Canada this autumn, 2025 for St. Helens, future plans and how she ended up on a TV quiz show, but can she get through our tough questions? A fun half hour!

You can find more details on how to buy the book on this link: https://womensrl.com/?p=776

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Grand Final, coaching changes, and Jake Connor isn't in the England squad, to the surprise of no-one, but hasn't stopped them being upset regardless...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A proper Super Sunday of Rugby League to look back on, with champions crowned from Greater Manchester, Queensland and the South of France, a repeat Grand Final to look forward to, and concentrating as much as we can on, rather than off the field...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of this weekend's Women's Grand Final, Richard de la Riviere from womensrl.com joins us to talk about that, and a very busy weekend on the pitch where there were comebacks galore, Leigh impressing across the park, Halifax winning the Wheelchair Grand Final and the most ridiculous try there's every been...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We were at the presentation of the 2025 Super League Dream Team this week, and spoke to a load of Rugby League people, so here they are!

00:00 Intro

00:41 Adrian Lam

04:16 Umyla Hanley

06:29 Daryl Powell

11:33 Mike McMeeken

15:58 Paul Wellens

18:50 Morgan Knowles

23:38 Brad Arthur

26:13 Lewis Martin

29:01 Denis Betts

35:05 Caitlin Casey

38:52 Craig Richards

43:04 Matt Peet

46:31 Willie Peters

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Technical issues plagued the broadcast, but not he recording device, and, would you believe it, we're really excited and positive as the men's Super League play-offs begin, and we have the first Grand Final coming up on Sunday.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Almost as long as Canberra vs. Brisbane, but you can decide if the quality matches that...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some weeks loads happens, some less so. Still, always plenty to talk about in the world of Rugby League, as the play-off picture is almost set for the men, is for the women, and heading towards a GF in the wheelchairs. The weather has turned...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A midweek bonus for you as we're joined by former prop forward and current BBC Radio Cumbria commentator Becca Thompson to talk her transition from pitch to press box, following the Barrow Raiders through this Women's Super League season, how they've gone, the future in the North West, commentating without always having a summariser, and her future hopes...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Simpson-Hill joins us to talk Leeds' expulsion from the Wheelchair Super League play-offs , and much more, James Child makes an amazing entrance as we discuss Shaggate, and everything else going on this week... --- A. "A swing dance" B. "Fine cut tobacco" C. "A bird" ---- Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/podcast/forty20-rugby-league-podcasts/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Forty20TV Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forty20LIVE Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forty20magazine/

Learn more about...

James returns to a week of a little bit of drama in the Wheelchair game, new coaches in the running game. League 1 exists, Woman of Steel shouts, gingers, boots as cups and the usual other stuff. ---- Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/podcast/forty20-rugby-league-podcasts/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Forty20TV Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forty20LIVE Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forty20magazine/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We may have had internet issues at points, but the programme cannot be stopped!

The latest nonsense from Salford, a key reason why there shouldn't be too many worries about Sport England, and some actual Rugby League to talk about....

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Salford's situation

Arthur's seat remains at Headingley

We love S4C

Other stuff

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not much new news, but plenty to talk about, but not bullies. John Davidson is back, and Phil and Richard try to keep him away from the biscuits and discuss all the latest in Rugby League. ---- Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/podcast/forty20-rugby-league-podcasts/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Forty20TV Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forty20LIVE Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forty20magazine/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WHAT! A! SHOW!

James Child and John Davidson are both back with us as we start with tributes to Ray French, and the usual news and stuff, but, at 30 minutes or so in, Super League announces it will be expanding to 14 teams NEXT SEASON and all hell breaks loose.... ---- Buy the magazine: http://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/ Grab the podcast: https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/podcast/forty20-rugby-league-podcasts/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Forty20TV Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forty20LIVE Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forty20magazine/

<...

The future of TV, loads of talking points on the pitch, the new game and cake.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices