Photo via BBC Sport

Rugby Union Weekly: Fin Smith, Louis Rees Zammit & more!

Ahead of the upcoming Premiership campaign, BBC Radio 5 Live released a 72-minute preview featuring interviews with several high-profile rugby union figures. England fly-half Fin Smith outlined his ambition to turn Northampton into one of the league's all-time great squads, prompting debate alongside opinions regarding Henry Pollock's high-profile contract situation.

Louis Rees-Zammit reflected candidly on the difficulties he encountered following his return to the sport, while also addressing his interest in long-range kicking duties akin to Elliot Daly.

Additional player accounts included Finn Baxter sharing his experience spectating alongside the Princess of Wales, Jack van Poortvliet detailing his national contract alongside a trip to Rio, and Dafydd Jenkins describing intensive sand dune drills in Devon. The discussion also recounted a mistaken-identity mix-up between Dylan Hartley and Sir Jackie Stewart, alongside reflections on encounters with royalty and severe pre-season conditioning regimens.