JAMES HARRINGTON
FRENCH COLUMN

The impending World Cup and being home to the second-best international side on the planet are having a positive effect on French rugby audiences – those on their sofas at home, watching on TV, as well as those in the crowd at matches.
“This context puts rugby at the centre of expectations and attention,” the LNR’s Emmanuel Eschalier said, recognising that interest in the domestic game in France owes a lot to the success of Galthie’s squads.
That said, on the flip side, the Top 14’s crowd figures do not suffer over-much even if the fixture list coincides wit...