James Harrington

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s James Harrington news, views, opinion and other content.

Ntamack at 12 with Jalibert 10 is the plan

24 October 2021 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN After this weekend’s Top 14 matches, Fabien Galthie’s chosen 42 will head to FFR’s spartan ‘Marcatraz’ headquarters for the pre-November internationals […]

A lot rests on Kolbe’s shoulders – and knee

17 October 2021 2 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Toulon have welcomed a few global superstars down the years – but it’s difficult to imagine any of them have generated […]

Japan cash could force marquee men u-turn

10 October 2021 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Fears over the future contracts of France’s internationals have raised the spectre of a marquee player system in the Top 14 […]

Toulouse looking to splash the Kolbe cash | James Harrington

3 October 2021 2 comments

Summer recruits scored 32 of La Rochelle’s 59 points against Biarritz last weekend to the delight, no doubt, of Ronan O’Gara and his coaching team. […]

Quesada’s prediction over Stade comes true

26 September 2021 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Stade Francais’ head coach Gonzalo Quesada insisted this week that he was thoroughly aware of the state of the club he […]

Dominici trophy will offer clubs a respite

19 September 2021 2 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Toulon meet Stade Francais in the weekend’s final Top 14 match this evening. The Sunday night game doesn’t usually get much […]

Fly-halves on move are talk of the town | James Harrington

12 September 2021 1 comment

Clubs’ recruitment and retention plans never stop. No sooner have they closed the book on squad hires for one season, than they’re looking to fill […]

Kolbe saga could lead to transfer windows

5 September 2021 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Cheslin Kolbe’s midcontract switch from Toulouse to Toulon raised a few eyebrows in France. The deal itself is not a problem […]

Ronan O’Gara’s diamonds can come up trumps | James Harrington

29 August 2021 0 comments

James Harrington previews the new Top 14 season and sees promise in La Rochell’s hopes of banishing heartbreak in the final

Threat to pro rugby in Biarritz is very real | James Harrington

22 August 2021 0 comments

On paper, there was little out of the ordinary about Friday’s preseason friendly between impending Top 14 rivals Biarritz and Bordeaux. Fifteen days out from […]

Council steps in to take care of Beziers after Emirati takeover collapse | James Harrington

15 August 2021 1 comment

Thirteen months ago, you probably recall, a proposed mega-money takeover of French ProD2 side Béziers dominated the rugby headlines on the French side of the […]

Brookes in to power up Toulon set-piece | James Harrington

8 August 2021 0 comments

A Toulouse-like revival at Toulon doesn’t look set to happen this season on paper

Pau-bound Daniel Ikpefan braves the crossover | James Harrington

1 August 2021 2 comments

After falling out of favour at Toulon, Ikpefan gets a shot at starring elsewhere in the Top 14 at Pau

Fighting talk from Galthie should put fear in rivals | James Harrington

25 July 2021 3 comments

How Fabien Galthie is building depth with France whilst also being ’90 per cent’ sure of his squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup

Ibitoye on the move again after relegation | James Harrington

18 July 2021 2 comments

A relatively quiet transfer circus this year round in the Top 14, writes James Harrington

France are suffering a recurring nightmare | James Harrington

11 July 2021 0 comments

A tough loss for France to deal with in Brisbane – but they’ve been here before, writes James Harrington

Can French ‘third string’ spring more surprises? | James Harrington

4 July 2021 3 comments

Against seemingly evermounting coronavirus odds, France’s July tour of Australia is still set for Test takeoff – it may not quite have passed the abort […]

Double delight for pragmatic Toulouse | James Harrington

27 June 2021 0 comments

Toulouse were crowned champions of France for the 21st time on Friday night, some 13 months after the players had first gathered for a […]

Bryce Hegarty tipped to be a star for Tigers

27 June 2021 0 comments

QUEENSLAND Reds attack coach Jim McKay says Bryce Hegarty’s signing for Leicester is a “win-win” for the player and the club. The 28-year-old will join […]

Toulouse keep their‘ double’ dream alive with La Rochelle rematch | James Harrington

20 June 2021 1 comment

Friday’s 2020/21 season Top 14 final will be a repeat of last month’s blood-and-thunder Champions Cup showpiece, after both La Rochelle and Toulouse won their […]

Perpignan power up for return to Top 14 | James Harrington

6 June 2021 0 comments

Perpignan returned to the Top 14 in style after a two-year break, comprehensively beating Biarritz 33-14 in yesterday evening’s ProD2 final at Montpellier’s GGL […]

Battle for last play-off place goes to the wire | James Harrington

30 May 2021 1 comment

Top 14 rugby returned to broadcast in the UK with tries aplenty being scored

Strict new protocols provoke reaction | James Harrington

9 May 2021 1 comment

James Harrington looks at the tough measures taken by the LNR to ensure the Top 14 and Pro D2 seasons conclude without any further Covid outbreaks

Midweek pile-ups impossible to avoid | James Harrington

2 May 2021 0 comments

James Harrington explains why the Top 14 schedule is in a bottleneck

European contenders will go into battle cold | James Harrington

25 April 2021 1 comment

Bordeaux-Begles and Montpellier will not have played a game since the quarter-final by the time the final four go head-to-head next weekend in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup

Harmony at Toulouse is music to Kaino’s ears | James Harrington

11 April 2021 1 comment

Earlier this week, both Toulouse and Clermont head coaches insisted that their sides are underdogs for today’s Champions Cup quarter-final at Stade Marcel Michelin. Regardless […]

Franck Azema exit confirmed, destination unknown | James Harrington

4 April 2021 0 comments

Jono Gibbes is high among the favourites to replace Azema at Clermont Auvergne, writes James Harrington

Racing snap up bargain of the season in Fickou | James Harrington

28 March 2021 0 comments

Racing 92 have signed Gael Fickou to form an all-France midfield with Virimi Vakatawa

Biarritz explore options far and wide | James Harrington

21 March 2021 0 comments

With signings Steffon Armitage and Henry Speight in the fold, ProD2 Biarritz are poised to launch a promotion bid this season. But simmering tensions lie under the club’s hierachy