JAMES HARRINGTON
FRENCH COLUMN

Pre-season is now underway for all Top 14 sides apart from champions Montpellier, who officially return to camp on Monday.
Some clubs kicked off preparations at the beginning of the month, while those whose campaigns ran into the post-season play-offs returned to training later to give their players - and coaches - a much-needed break.
Castres Olympique, the unfashionable Top 14 side that lost in the final to Montpellier just 36 days ago, were the latest to resume preparations for the upcoming campaign.
The club’s new recruits - seven of them, including loa...