Rooney, Richards and Hart Row the Hudson After Norway Reach World Cup Last Eight
Wayne Rooney made a bold prediction before the tournament that he would “row the River Mersey” if Norway made the World Cup quarter-finals. Norway did exactly that — and Rooney was left to make good on his word, albeit on New York’s Hudson River rather than back home in England.
According to The Guardian, the BBC punditry trio of Rooney, Micah Richards and Joe Hart duly took to the water together, with Erling Haaland adding extra spice beforehand by teasing the former England captain: “I’m looking forward to seeing you, Wayney boy.”
Rooney was relatively upbeat about the experience afterwards, admitting it was “more relaxing than I thought” once the group found their rhythm — though he did suggest Richards caused him some back trouble along the way. Hart, for his part, apparently looked like a seasoned rower.
Richards summed it up with characteristic good humour, saying he enjoyed it but wouldn’t rush to repeat it. Hart drew a neat parallel between the rowing session and the trio’s broader approach to their punditry work at the World Cup 2026 hub: “None of us were so comfy doing it but no one cared, we all got on with it and it was a good laugh.”
A Natural Chemistry in the Studio
The three men first worked together as a BBC unit during England’s goalless draw with Ghana on 23 June, and by all accounts the on-screen chemistry has developed quickly. Hart put that down in part to their shared history — he and Richards first met when Hart joined Manchester City from Shrewsbury back in 2006, when both were teenagers, while Rooney first encountered Richards when the defender broke into the England squad in November 2006.
That familiarity clearly translates on screen. Richards noted that BBC coverage has attracted as many as 24 million viewers at points during the tournament — significant numbers that reflect well on how the new-look panel has been received.
Rooney compared working in the studio to playing football, explaining that good punditry relies on reading when to speak and when to hold back — very much a question of timing and trust between colleagues.
Hart also made a point of defending players when they have difficult games, arguing that the standard at a World Cup is exceptionally high and that poor performances often have more nuanced explanations than lazy criticism allows for.
With the knockout rounds now in full swing, you can keep up to date with all the results and how the tournament is shaping up on our live standings page.