10 Things That Must Happen Before Season’s End

The Good, the Bad & the Rugby podcast delivers a high-octane, contrarian take on the final stretch of the 2025-26 rugby season, laying out 10 bold predictions that could reshape the sport. At the top of the list: England defeating the Springboks in Johannesburg on July 4th—a statement win that would shatter South Africa’s dominance and ignite a global narrative ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The episode is a masterclass in provocative thinking, arguing that the sport’s stagnation stems from complacency, and only radical change—like Welsh regions joining the Premiership, reforming the RFU council, and overhauling the Champions Cup format—can reignite passion. The hosts challenge the status quo with unapologetic calls for elite competition, fan-centric broadcasting, and a Women’s Six Nations with real stakes. They also spotlight Eddie Hearn’s potential to revolutionize rugby’s commercial model, comparing it to boxing’s global explosion. While some ideas are wildly ambitious, the episode’s core message is clear: the game is at a crossroads, and if it doesn’t evolve, it risks fading into irrelevance.