Second Captains

Eoin and Ken talk about the rebirth of Torres, the struggles of Bale, and what happens when the Map is big enough to cover the Territory. Jonathan Wilson explains why expanding the World Cup to 40 teams is the worst idea since they decided to expand it to 32 teams. Sid Lowe on Cesc Fabregas' obsession with hierarchy and status. And Raphael Honigstein decides which Bayern Munich player deserves to win World Player of the Year

In his first year as a senior international Jason Quigley has won the National Champs, the European Champs and became the first Irish man to win a world silver medal - we talk to him about why he's still not satisfied. Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Conor Murray and Donnacha Ryan have all recently been linked with moves abroad. Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan explain how the IRFU need to act quickly and must revamp their approach to keeping the talent here. We ask former Olympian Jerry Kiernan if the incredible times run by Kenyan marathon runners can be believed. We also have narky captains, the worst position in sport and the evolution of 'running man'.

Eoin and Ken discuss interviewing techniques, buying referees, and how an average person might feel after kicking a boot into the face of an employee who was sitting just a few feet away. Kevin Kilbane joins us in studio to talk about his new book, Killa. James Appell on the reaction in Russia to the racist chanting of CSKA Moscow fans during their match with Manchester City. And Richard Fitzpatrick discusses the pressure on Spanish referees ahead of this weekend's edition of El Clásico.

With Joe Ward and Jason Quigley fighting for World Championship glory this weekend we speak to Billy Walsh about how he manages to coach and motivate such a diverse range of characters. US Murph will let us know how 2 late goals for the US men's soccer team might be enough to wipe away 250 years of hatred across the Rio Grande, and we speak to one of the greatest Aussie Rules footballers of all time - Adam Goodes, about racism, the stolen generation and representing Indigenous Australians. All that plus Daniel Day Lewis as John Delaney, Daily Express nutrition, Nation Lampoon's vacation and a miracle cure for baldness...

Four wins from four in the Heineken Cup for the Irish provinces last weekend, and Ulster might just be the form team in Europe at the moment. Shane Horgan and Eddie O'Sullivan on what Ulster learnt from last year, Munster and Leinster flaws, and who is best placed to take over from O'Driscoll at the end of the season. The subject of concussions in rugby has been getting plenty of coverage recently, and we speak to a player who's had more than his fair share of difficulties in that area - Ulster and Ireland centre Luke Marshall. And 6 months after the Boston marathon bombing, we hear how the city's most potent sporting symbol, the Red Sox, have played a part in the recovery process. All that plus baseball's Macho Man Randy Savage, the frequency illusion, Rock of Gibraltar and retiring the 13 jersey.

Eoin and Ken talk Alex Ferguson's book, which includes even less than might be expected about Rock of Gibraltar....except all the times Roy Keane irritatingly brought it up. Dion Fanning was at today's book launch in London and talks to us about the Fergie-Keane feud. Graham Hunter joins us to discuss how David Moyes might be feeling about the looming presence of his predecessor. And Philippe Auclair fills us in on the war between Patrice Evra and most of France's top football pundits

Four wins from four in the Heineken Cup for the Irish provinces last weekend, and Ulster might just be the form team in Europe at the moment. Shane Horgan and Eddie O'Sullivan on what Ulster learnt from last year, Munster and Leinster's flaws, and who is best placed to take over from O'Driscoll at the end of the season. The subject of concussions in rugby has been getting plenty of coverage recently, and we speak to a player who's had more than his fair share of difficulties in that area - Ulster and Ireland centre Luke Marshall. And 6 months after the Boston marathon bombing, we hear how the city's most potent sporting symbol, the Red Sox, have made it to the World Series. All that plus baseball's Macho Man Randy Savage, the frequency illusion, Rock of Gibraltar and retiring the 13 jersey.

Four wins from four in the Heineken Cup for the Irish provinces last weekend, and Ulster might just be the form team in Europe at the moment. Shane Horgan and Eddie O'Sullivan on what Ulster learnt from last year, Munster and Leinster's flaws, and who is best placed to take over from O'Driscoll at the end of the season. The subject of concussions in rugby has been getting plenty of coverage recently, and we speak to a player who's had more than his fair share of difficulties in that area - Ulster and Ireland centre Luke Marshall. And 6 months after the Boston marathon bombing, we hear how the city's most potent sporting symbol, the Red Sox, have made it to the World Series. All that plus baseball's Macho Man Randy Savage, the frequency illusion, Rock of Gibraltar and retiring the 13 jersey.

Eoin and Ken discuss Roy Hodgson's inspirational half-time methods, Noel King v Eamon Dunphy, and Mick McCarthy's days as Ireland manager. Dion Fanning analyses the potential prospect of Mick's return to the Ireland job, and Tim Vickery joins us from Rio to talk about whether Romario is to be taken seriously as a political reformer.

Rob Penney and Conor O’Shea savaged their teams last weekend – can coaches motivate players by criticising them in public? Shane Horgan had experience of this in his playing days and joins us to discuss the rights and wrongs. We also speak to Leinster’s Sean Cronin, who was the player of the weekend in the first round of the Heineken Cup, with the numbers to prove it. And we speak to US Murph about beard tugging Bostonians and the difference between Mr April, and Mr October. Plus we have Mickey Goldmill wisdom, the prize bullock, why Eoin is like Aldous Huxley, and where’s the beef.

After last weekend's surrender to Edinburgh, we ask Trevor Hogan and Gerry Thornley if complacency is an acceptable excuse for Munster. We also look at Sean O'Brien's evolving game, and how the provinces are shaping up for next weekend. Australia's International Rules side will be represented by an indigenous selection, one of the few exciting elements to this series. We chart the history of the Aboriginal player in the AFL and the role the sport has played in their fight against racism. We speak to Carl Frampton, the Belfast boxer who is managed by Barry McGuigan. Frampton defends his EBU European title in his home town on Saturday night, and the hype surrounding him is being likened to the McGuigan era. Plus we have the baby calf, Ken manager, boxing dinosaurs and balls of steel.

Eoin and Ken talk about Kevin Doyle's goalscoring instincts, whether the Ireland job is a poisoned chalice, and Alan Pardew's unflattering assessment of Mike Ashley's footballing insight. Emmet Malone has the latest from the Ireland camp, including McGeady's suggestion that Ireland are primed to give a Germany-like performance against the Kazakhs. And we try to goad Jonathan Wilson into admitting he secretly believes that, after their 4-1 demolition of Montenegro, England are probably going to win the 2014 World Cup.

Eoin and Ken discuss Ireland's primitive football DNA, Wayne Rooney's status anxiety and Jack Wilshere's forthright take on the concept of Englishness. Emmet Malone and Brian Kerr join us from Cologne to preview Germany v Ireland and react to Jogi Loew's comments about Ireland's tradition of brainless passion. And we look at Steve Gerrard's contribution to the frenzied debate over English national identity.

Eoin and Ken discuss Ireland's primitive football DNA, Wayne Rooney's status anxiety and Jack Wilshere's forthright take on the concept of Englishness. Emmet Malone and Brian Kerr join us from Cologne to preview Germany v Ireland and react to Jogi Loew's comments about Ireland's tradition of brainless passion. And we discuss the frenzied debate over English national identity that has pushed the qualifier against Montenegro into the background.

A doctor in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital believes that he has found the first case of early onset dementia caused by head injuries while playing rugby - in the week that Peter O'Mahony was taken off the pitch by Munster's medical staff, Grenoble coach Bernard Jackman and Jonny Watterson of The Irish Times talk us through why rugby has to do more to protect its players. Jason Ryan loved the idea of being a selector and coach with Kildare this summer, while manager Kieran McGeeney took all the heat. But now he's been named as McGeeney's successor, he talks to us about getting back into the hot seat. We also have US Murph on the real-life epilogue to Moneyball, the return of Pierce Brosnan's Emigrant Shout Outs, and Ken's nuanced view of the medical profession.