5 live's Rugby Union Weekly

Danny invites a whole host of guests to keep him company in London as Chris gets to grips with Tokyo with a Japanese expert. Billy Vunipola talks about watching his father play for Tonga as he prepares to face the southern Pacific nation. Plus Bobby Skinstadt tells us why Siya Kolisi’s tale is inspiring the nation of South Africa.

Chris joins Danny on the sofa for one last time before he jets off to Japan. Ugo’s gone on loan for the Rugby World Cup but taking his place for the next seven weeks is Chris Ashton! All Blacks legend Tana Umaga joins us to talk New Zealand, our Ireland correspondent Jamie Heaslip is back on the pod and we find out what Tom Fordyce of That Peter Crouch Podcast fame has been up to in the England camp. Plus, Chris and Danny pick their top three wingers and scrum-halves to watch out for in Japan.

Ugo, Chris and Danny are together for one last time before the World Cup begins as Ugo takes up a short-term loan with TV. We discuss whether England's power game can win them the World Cup, if Wales could be undone by Fiji in their group and the issues of the residency rule after Ireland's squad selection. We also ask if Scotland's game is perfectly suited to the hot and fast conditions and what are Ugo's top tips for Japan?

With Chris stuck in Italy and Danny in surgery, Ugo heads to Cardiff to recruit a new co-host in Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, as we try to get to the bottom of his name and play a round of top trumps. Chris also dials in from an Italian piazza to discuss Warren Gatland’s squad announcement and Scotland’s victory over Georgia.

Danny, Ugo and Chris are back after the bank holiday to discuss why Eddie Jones loves Ben Youngs, if Owen Farrell and George Ford have to start at 10 and 12 for England in the World Cup, and Ben Te'o's England career after he signed for Toulon. We also debate where Ireland go from here, if Scot Hamish Watson is the best flanker in Europe, and after his Ashes heroics, who is rugby's Ben Stokes?