JAMES HARRINGTON - FRENCH COLUMN

More people than ever are flocking through the turnstiles of Top 14 and ProD2 matches, according to figures published by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR).
In total, some 2,204,597 fans were in the stands for the 147 Top 14 matches up to and including last weekend’s 21st round of the season – an average per match of 14,997, up 3.5 per cent on the 2022/23 campaign at the same point, and an all-time record for the league.
One area at Bordeaux’s Stade Chaban Delmas, which hosted yesterday’s Women’s Six Nations decider between France and England, has been close...