5 live Rugby League

In front of a live audience at St Helens Dave Woods is joined by Paul Wellens, Joe Batchelor, Sam Brady and Phil Veivers who speaks candidly about his battle with depression. The panel discuss the impact mental health has had on them and the sport and find out how and why St Helens are tackling the issue in their own community.

Adrian Lam talks extensively to Dave Woods about his career in rugby league. He reveals the tragic circumstances which lead to this reserve debut, touches on captaining the State of Origin and playing for Papua New Guinea, explains how and why he moved to Wigan and what it was like returning to the club as head coach.

Dave Woods sits down with Shaun Wane on the day he replaced Wayne Bennett as England Head Coach and finds out when and how he got the job, how he plans to tackle the Ashes series and the World Cup and where he feels the squad can improve. Plus Dave questions the RFL’s Chief Executive Officer Ralph Rimmer on why Wayne Bennett was stood down, and gets the thoughts of the Sports Editor of the Wigan Observer and the Wigan Post Phil Wilkinson and editor of the League Weekly Paul Bennett.

Dave Woods heads to the Super League launch at Headingley to find out how the clubs are preparing for the season, how Sonny Bill Williams will take to the league and speaks to players and coaches including Toronto Wolfpack’s Jon Wilkin; Wigan Warriors’s George Burgess and Salford Red Devils’s Tui Lolohea to get their insights ahead of kick-off. Listen to match commentaries form the Super League every week on Radio 5 live Sports Extra.

St Helens great Paul Wellens and Jon Wilkin join Dave Woods to discuss the privilege of pressure within a top team and why flat pack furniture offers a key life-lesson.