LTW Fancast

Jacob Bassford

The Leicester Tigers Women's Fancast

Chatting about all things to do with Leicester Tigers women's team. Hosted by Jacob Bassford and a series of special guests.

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21 episodes
Avg 55 min
English

Episodes 21

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S4 · E78
October 30 · 1 hr 9 min
Russell Removal Reaction with Vitty de Lazzer
It's been a hectic week for Leicester Tigers Women as the club announced the immediate departure of five players, including star and fan favourite Jordan Russell. Jacob and Vitty react to this news, as well as talking Red Roses, Lions vs France and tres cher heritage stash. There's also a discussion on Leicester's 2026 Annual Report & Financial Statements and what it tells us about the women's programme. It's a lengthy one but we hope you enjoy!
S4 · E77
September 28 · 1 hr 2 min
Has international women’s rugby ever been this good? With Jess Bunyard
The two JBs are reunited once again as Jess Bunyard returns to give a bit of a catch-up. The two chat about possibly the best women's rugby international match ever played between the Red Roses and the Black Ferns, in which Jess was in attendance. The pair also talk about Tigers Women involvement across in WXV as the USA beat Wales, South Africa beat Italy and Australia beat Scotland. Enjoy this bonus podcast!
S4 · E76
September 17 · 1 hr 22 min
Sydney Sweeney, Sarries, Scary Stats & Shoddy Predictions - Saracens (H) Next Gen Cup Preview
Hannah returns to offer as much optimism as a Welsh fan full with dread can muster ahead of Tigers Women's competitive return to action in the 2026-27 season with a home opener against Saracens. Before then, Hannah and Jacob discuss 'Laurence of iPlayer-gate', WXV and the backlash to Sydney Sweeney's advert, and how women's rugby players present themselves on and off the pitch has long been a sensitive issue within the sport. Hear exclusive interviews from Tigers Women's head coach Fraser Goatcher and captain Tess Feury then Jacob and Hannah ponder as to how strong the side will be, will the match be competitive unlike so many Saracens games in the past... and actually, is that elusive win a genuine possibility? Enjoy!
S4 · E75
September 8 · 57 min
The Big 2026-27 Season Preview with Vitty de Lazzer
Freelance Sports Journalist and Tigers supporter Vitty de Lazzer hops on to the Fancast to talk about the Black Ferns/Springbok Women game/preview WXV, of course a mention about 4.5 balls and we react to the news that Brewdog is becoming a sponsor of Leicester. Then, Jacob showcases his talent at sharing a zoom screen (or significant lack thereof) as we do on an overview of the Tigers squad and try and predict where this team could go this season in the PWR and Next Gen Cup.
S4 · E74
September 4 · 58 min
Tigers Women are back for the 2026-27 season (sort of?) with She’s the Champ Pod
Leicester Tigers Women were back in action as they were hosted by old enemies Cheltenham Tigers on the 27th August. Was it a joint training session, was it a proper fixture, was it an U23s development game? As discussed by Jacob and returning guest Bluebell (from She's the Champ pod) the answer was a combination of all three. Before we discuss that game, we react to Tigers signing Welsh winger Lisa Neumann, Tigers involvement in WXV squads and the shock news that Swys de Bruin has left his role as head coach of Springboks Women! Enjoy!
S4 · E73
August 28 · 19 min
Pathway Progression - Exclusive Interview with Tim Westwood
Head of University of Nottingham WRFC and Lichfield Ladies Head Coach Tim Westwood once again joins Jacob for an exclusive chat to preview the impending season. Westwood reflects on last season, how Nottingham can do one better this season and achieve promotion to BUCS Super Rugby Women's (BSRW), his excitement at the continuing partnership with Leicester and his ambitions for Lichfield.
S4 · E72
August 25 · 1 hr 5 min
The craziest PWR transfer off-season yet? With Huw Griffin
Huw Griffin joins Jacob to discuss Tigers kit (isn't everyone) and all the reasons behind this off-season being CRAZY in terms of PWR transfers. From Ruby Tui joining Trailfinders, Marlie Packer swapping Sarries for Quins, and World-class Wallaroos heading to Leicester, the PWR next season looks to be better than ever.
S4 · E71
July 5 · 10 min
So, what is behind this Walleroo partnership with Leicester Tigers Women?
In this bonus podcast, Jacob provides an audio-visual version of his substack article looking at what's behind all these Australians rocking up to Mattioli Woods Welford Road next season. Over a month ago, Rugby Australia officially announced a partnership with various PWR clubs, although Leicester Tigers seem to be the club that have considerably benefitted so far. So, how is this partnership going to benefit Tigers next season, will it turn the club’s fortunes around, and what do Rugby Australia get out of this arrangement? Enjoy this bonus episode and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
S3 · E70
June 11 · 1 hr 8 min
A Performance To Be Proud Of - Loughborough Lightning (H) Review with Hannah Crawfurd
Hannah returns to talk to Jacob about the insane transfers happening in the PWR at the moment, as well as a bit of Lions chat. We speculate whether a certain Gabrielle Vernier or Ellie Kildunne could be wearing the red, green and white next season. After that we break down the East Mids Derby, in which Tigers Women saved their best performance till last, but it was not enough to achieve that elusive win. Enjoy this last episode of Season 3 of the Fancast!
S3 · E69
June 8 · 12 min
Bonus Pod - Loughborough Lightning Post-match Reaction with players and coaches interviews
As the dust settles from that near miss against Loughborough in the final game of the season, Jacob gives an emotional initial reaction to the season as a whole, whilst you can also hear exclusive pitch side reactions from coaches Fraser Goatcher and Ross Bundy, and players Emerson Allen and Jordan Russell. Enjoy!
S3 · E68
June 3 · 10 min
Bonus Pod - Interview with Fraser Goatcher and Emily Henrich
Hear an exclusive interview from Leicester Tigers Director of Women's Rugby Fraser Goatcher and star outside centre Emily Henrich in the Tigers Women press conference ahead of their final game against Loughborough Lightning.
S3 · E67
June 2 · 1 hr 8 min
Transfers Galore - Harlequins (A) Review and Loughborough (H) Preview with Hattie the Rugby Historian
Welcome back to the LTW Fancast. Hattie the Rugby Historian returns to chat about Tigers Women re-signings and two exciting international signings, before a review of the Harlequins game and previewing the Loughborough game. We also cover the big Welsh and Scottish departures from Bristol and Loughborough as part of a massive shake-up of the league ahead of next season. Enjoy!
S3 · E66
May 26 · 1 hr 3 min
Wait a minute, the PWR is back? Harlequins (A) Preview with Hannah Crawfurd
Hannah returns, disheartened from Wales' 6 Nations campaign but buzzing to talk about the PWR returning as Tigers Women travel to Quins away. Before then, we talk about the big transfers of Tatanya Heard and Zoe Stratford to Sale, bemoan Sale's social media admins' lack of geographical knowledge, and all these cool re-signing videos being dropped by Tigers Women. As Tigers return to action from literally the longest international break ever, we ponder whether it's better to look towards the future and give some U23s players a run out against Quins before going all out at home against Loughborough. Enjoy the episode!
S3 · E65
May 18 · 1 hr 9 min
International Round-Up and Tigers Women's U23 with Jess Bunyard
Jess Bunyard returns to discuss her latest work as a freelancer, including some cool work with Staffordshire in the Gill Burns County Championship! We discuss all the latest in international women's rugby, looking at Tigers involvement in Pac4 and the Six Nations U21s as well as a general discussion on the Six Nations. We also chirp into the Size 4.5 debate. In more Tigers-related news there was another win for the U23s over Sale, and then hear our wildly inaccurate theories on a Tigers Women announcement scheduled after record. Enjoy!
S3 · E64
May 1 · 56 min
Tigers Women U23s for the win (quite literally): Sale Sharks U23s (A) Review with She’s the Champ Pod
Bluebell Nicholls, Champ 1 player and host of the She's the Champ podcast joins Jacob to discuss Tigers Women U23 fixture against Sale Sharks, and what that means for both the PWR development programs as well as for Champ 1 rugby! This is also available in audiovisual form on YouTube, so go check that as well! I know there are some audio blips in this episode due to connectivity issues so I do apologise for that but as ever let me know in the comments your feedback! Enjoy!
S3 · E63
April 8 · 1 hr 6 min
Big Tigers Statement and the PWR to Expand? Reaction with Tracey Denny
Wow what a jam-packed episode this is for you, Gloucester-Hartpury fan Tracey Denny dials in to help Jacob digest two big important news. There is the PWR's intention to expand, discussed briefly in last week's episode but all the ramifications are explored in detail in this episode. Furthermore, Tigers Women released a statement saying the club is going to increase some much needed investment into the women's rugby programme, so we critically review that statement and break down some of that LinkedInese jargon to ask... is it as good as it sounds? Enjoy!
S3 · E62
March 31 · 54 min
The One Not at Villa Park: Women’s Slater Cup Review with Sam Bytheway
Sam Bytheway of the Women's Rugby Show returns to discuss a lot of news, including Nottingham's defeat to Surrey in the BSRW playoff and squad announcements for Pac Four and the Women's Six Nations. We then chat about Tigers' defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury and with just two rounds of the PWR left after a massive eight week break, just what will Tigers be prioritising for the rest of the season?
S3 · E61
March 17 · 1 hr 8 min
Trials and Tribulations of Running a Women’s Rugby Fancast: Sale Sharks Women (H) Review with Gwalia Gainline
In this episode, Jacob is joined by Sarah who is part of the sister act who run Gwalia Gainline, the only other women's club fancast in the UK. They chat about Nottingham's chance at history to win their North/South playoff into BUCS Super Rugby Women (BSRW) and other news. After then, they have a broad discussion on the challenges of running a women's rugby fancast, and why they're so rare. Finally, it can't be avoided, in an initially competitive and fiesty encounter with Sale ended in another big defeat for Tigers Women, Jacob and Sarah review what went wrong and why the team couldn't make more out of the opening quarter.
S3 · E60
March 12 · 1 hr 9 min
Clawed by the Bears: Bristol Bears (A) Review and Sale Sharks (H) Preview with Rhiana Lewis
Rhiana Lewis from the Back the Girls podcast returns to chat to Jacob about the latest news in women's rugby, from whether teams like Lichfield or Bath should change to 'Women' rather than 'Ladies' and exciting developments in South African women's rugby. Then a tough dissection of the Bristol game follows, are we firm but fair? Let us know! To round everything up, we then preview the Sale Sharks game as familiar faces will be returning to Mattioli Woods Welford Road for the first time since leaving the club over the summer. Enjoy!
S3 · E59
March 4 · 1 hr 23 min
A New Standard Set? Trailfinders Women (H) Review and Bristol (A) Review with Hannah Crawfurd
After a brief interlude of Jacob experimenting with Instagram reels instead of doing what he does best (jabbering on), the pod is back. Hannah dials in once more to talk about signing predictions, reviewing a positive performance against Trailfinders and deliberating as to whether if Bristol away is an opportunity for a scalp. Plus, Jacob has a catch-up with UONWRFC and Lichfield Ladies head coach Tim Westwood on BUCS promotion, the Tigers U23 Programme and a successful squad rebuild at Lichfield. Enjoy!

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