Rugby Rodeo

It’s the final episode of the year and we’re going out with an absolute cracker. This week, Ellie and Jess are joined in studio by Canada international scrum-half and Saracens star Liv Apps — one of the most exciting players in the women’s game right now. From RWC stardom to making an instant impact in the PWR, Liv opens up like never before. Liv takes us through how her short-term move to Saracens came about and what life has been like settling into a new club and country. We rewind all the way back to her rugby beginnings in Canada, a nation where rugby isn’t always front and centre, and explore the journey that’s shaped her both on and off the pitch. In a powerful and honest conversation, Liv shares her story of being diagnosed with alopecia at just seven years old, how it affected her growing up, learning to embrace her identity, and becoming a role model for young girls watching her perform on the biggest stages in world rugby. She also reflects on the heartbreak of the Rugby World Cup final, how she processes that experience now, and the advice she’d give her younger self. This episode is brought to you by Physique Management. Use code Rodeo10 for 10% off at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jess is be poorly this week (get well soon cowboy 🤧❤️), but fear not — because Ellie is joined by a VERY special stand-in host… the one and only Boda is back in the saddle! And it’s a HUGE week to return because… ELLIE KILDUNNE HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR!We break down everything: how she found out, why it felt different being in a room full of world-class athletes, whether she knows who’s won (👀) — and how this compares to last year’s World Rugby POTY honour. SPOTY is live on Thursday 18th December — so get it in your diary and make sure you VOTE FOR ELLIE & THE RED ROSES! 🙏🔥 We’ve also got plenty more this week: Ellie & Boda return to winning ways as Harlequins beat Leicester 56–28 — including that celebration… did she wind herself?! Inspired by Chris Ashton? Noah Caluori?? We get the full story.  Saracens’ 33–15 comeback win over Loughborough Lightning, their final home game of 2025. PWR: Played 6, won 5 — tidy. Ellie meets football superstar Alessia Russo 🤩 What was she like? What did they talk about? Did Ellie shoot her shot to get her on the pod? We answer your best questions including: What did the girls Spotify Wrapped look like this year? Most underrated PWR player? Should women’s rugby have a Champions Cup-style competition across England, France & NZ? Death row meals, Christmas food identities, tips for new centres, and our sporting role models growing up. Huge love to the grassroots this week: Dundee Girls – finalists at HIVE Stadium BIGGAR RFC U18s – heading to Murrayfield for the National Cup Final Wigtownshire Ladies – first ever league title! Marr Ladies – first win of the season after losing every game 🙌 Trojans U14s – unbeaten and flying high! See you next week… YEE-HAW! 🤠🌹 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Rugby Rodeo, Jess is joined by not one… but TWO Kildunnes! That’s right — Ellie’s little brother Sam Kildunne jumps in the saddle for a family edition of the pod. Sam’s just 22 but already has some CV: BUCS Super Rugby with Loughborough, a GB 7s jersey, and now a contract with Ampthill in the Championship. Jess goes straight for the sibling dirt — what Ellie was really like growing up, who caused the most chaos, the pettiest argument they’ve had this year, and whose fault it was (because it’s always someone’s). And yes, we get the definitive verdict on sibling rivalry in the Kildunne household. Ellie dives into Sam’s rugby journey — BUCS life, moving into the Championship, the physicality jump, how he balances sevens aspirations with 15s, and what advice he has for players at uni or school trying to go pro. Plus Sam reveals his proudest moment watching Ellie — grab tissues. We also cover: 🏉 Aby Dow’s retirement ⏱️ Ellie’s Lateness Chart — has Double Kildunne doubled the delays or fixed them? ✈️ Ellie hearing her own voice on the Heathrow tannoy 🎄 Jess vs Archie’s advent calendar controversy 🏟️ Ealing 5–57 Saracens — London fully belongs to Sarries, with Jess in the mix for a couple of tries YEE-HAW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach are back in the saddle for another week of Rugby Rodeo — and London is looking extremely festive. But have the girls even bought a single present yet? Jess has just landed back from Jersey with stories to tell, while Ellie’s been everywhere: hosting a lunches, dancing and still finding time to watch all the Quilter Autumn Nations games... We chat: Tom Curry's late shot on Juan Cruz Mallia and the fallout that came of it, England's new magician Max Ojomoh and the most one-sided scrum domination we've ever seen! 🎤 Listeners’ Questions:Skills swaps, underrated perks of being Red Roses, hardest hitters, talent shows, crisp flavours(?!), and Jess gives her Top 3 tips for becoming a world-class winger. 💌 SHOUTOUTS GALORE!We go global this week — from Broad Plain U8s to the WBRC Bobcats in the US, the Kyogale Cockies in Australia, Toronto City Amazons, Santa Monica Women’s Rugby in LA… and heaps of love for teams across the UK including Mansfield Ladies, the Lowestoft Dragons U14s, Bromsgrove Calts, Yate Women’s Rugby and a big get-well-soon to Beatrix recovering from concussion ❤️ And that’s us done for this week! Back next Thursday — AND we’ve got some exciting guests coming up. Until then… YEEEEE-HAW! 🤠 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re flying out of Heathrow anytime soon, don’t be shocked if you hear a familiar Yorkshire twang over the tannoy. Yep — Ellie is officially the Voice of Christmas at Heathrow. We get the full story of how she ended up bringing festive cheer to Terminal 5. Jess also had a pretty special week as Chichester Rugby Club officially named a stand after her. She tells us why the club means so much to her, how it all came about, and what went down on the SURPRISE opening day. The girls break down Ellie’s mystery announcement she teased on socials, before diving into England men’s massive win over the All Blacks at a packed Allianz. We chat England climbing to 3rd in the world, THAT oldest-to-youngest haka formation, Henry Pollock licking his lips, and which exciting young players the girls are backing right now. Then—HUGE news for the PWR: Ruahei Demant signs for Bristol Bears. The 2022 World Player of the Year and World Cup-winning Black Ferns captain heading to England?! Jess and Ellie discuss what it means for the league, the Bears, and the growing pull of English women’s rugby. Jess had her feet up this weekend but Sarries barely noticed—a 79–5 demolition of Leicester, a ridiculous Olivia Apps finish, and another big flex of their international-stacked depth even with Jess resting. Meanwhile, Ellie breaks down what went wrong for Quins in their disappointing defeat away down at Sandy Park. Then it’s LISTENERS QUESTIONS time with an elite batch this week:– One quote they live by– Favourite Lioness– What they miss most about home– How they unwind after big match adrenaline– Are they hyped for GTA 6?– What made them fall in love with rugby– And… which kitchen utensil they’d be 🤠 Finally, SHOUTOUTS galore this week: 💙 Dunbar RFC U16s heading to Orkney in the Scottish National Cup💛 Medway U12s smashing 3/3 in the waterfall league🌍 INTERNATIONAL SHOUTOUT: Ade and Piper spreading the women’s rugby gospel in Ethiopia and now Virginia – get down to NOVA Vipers Rugby and join the crew! See you next week, YEE-HAW! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices