What The Ruck

Ireland and Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne and Luke Delaney are joined in the studio by former Leinster and Ireland hooker James Tracy. Following Ireland’s victory over Italy, the lads dive deep into the technical issues facing the Irish scrum and how the pack can find that elite level again ahead of the next round of the Six Nations.
James opens up about the devastating neck injury that forced his retirement in 2022 and what life looks like after the jersey. But it’s not all serious—we’ve got legendary stories involving Sean O’Brien, Tadhg Beirne, and Sean Cronin, plus James reveals his "Dream Pack" of teammates.
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What The Ruck is hitting the road for the 2026 Six Nations Championship! In this special mobile episode, we’ve teamed up with MSL Motor Group and BYD North Dublin, Navan Road, and BYD South Dublin Deangrange to take the pod on tour in the brand new BYD Seal U. Our first stop? We’re picking up a true legend of the game: former Ireland underage star and Italian International Fly-Half, Ian McKinley. Ian joins Dave Kilcoyne and Luke Delaney to share his remarkable story. After a freak accident in a club game left him blind in one eye, Ian’s career appeared to be over. Instead, he made a historic return to professional rugby in Italy, eventually earning his Test cap under Conor O’Shea. In this episode, we discuss the accident that turned his life upside down and the long road to recovery. We dive into how Ian defied the odds to become the first player to wear protective goggles at the Test level, his move to Italy to find a second home in rugby, and his expert breakdown of the opening round of action in the 2026 Six Nations. With BYD South Dublin Deansgrange and BYD North Dublin Navan Road, part of the MSL Motor Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2026 Six Nations has arrived, and the landscape for Irish rugby has shifted. With the "Old Guard" absent and a mounting injury list, Dave Kilcoyne and Luke Delaney dive deep into what this new era looks like for Andy Farrell’s squad.
In this episode of What The Ruck, "Killer" gives us the unfiltered truth about Bundee Aki’s shock suspension and what it means for the squad’s depth. We also go behind the scenes to reveal what life is actually like in camp during Six Nations week—from the intense mental preparation to the ferocity of facing a French pack on home soil.
In this episode:
The Bundee Aki Situation: Dave reacts to the biggest headline of the tournament.
The Next Gen: Who steps up in the absence of Porter, Keenan, and Hansen?
Parisian War: What it’s really like in the trenches against France.
Killer’s XV: Dave picks the starting lineup he wants to see in the opener.
Whether you're looking for tactical analysis or legendary stories from the dressing room, we’ve got you covered.

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Former Munster, Leinster, and Ireland star Andrew Conway joins Dave Kilcoyne and Luke Delaney this week for a massive episode of the pod.
The lads dive deep into their 10 years as teammates at both provincial and international levels, sharing never-before-heard stories from the inner circle of Irish rugby. Dave finally reveals the full story of his infamous 6:00 AM drunken encounter with Joe Schmidt, and the lads reminisce about the wildest nights out on tour.
Beyond the laughs, we get into the serious side of the game. The trio breaks down exactly what went wrong for Munster in the Champions Cup and what needs to change at Thomond Park. Plus, with the Six Nations around the corner, Andrew gives his honest assessment of Ireland’s chances and who needs to step up for Andy Farrell.
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Welcome back to What The Ruck for our first episode of 2026! We are kicking off the year with a massive guest as legendary Irish Times rugby journalist Gerry Thornley joins Dave Kilcoyne and Luke Delaney in the studio.
In this episode, the lads dive straight into a hectic festive period of rugby, breaking down the recent European results for the Irish provinces. With the 2026 Six Nations just around the zone, the conversation turns to the growing Ireland injury list. From the front row crisis to the high-stakes battle for the Ireland number 10 jersey, Gerry and Dave analyze who has the form to step up for Andy Farrell.
Beyond the pitch, Gerry reflects on his illustrious career in the media, sharing stories from his favorite tournaments and the most memorable players and coaches he has interviewed over the decades. Plus, Dave pulls back the curtain on life in the dressing room, revealing what players really think about the media and how they handle the cameras.
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