JAMES HARRINGTON

The pre-season period of summer 2021 was fairly humdrum in France. Not that most players, coaches, or journalists for that matter, minded much. Pre-season, even in the Top 14 and ProD2, is supposed to be pretty humdrum.
This one had been no exception, with – once France’s July tour of Australia was out of the way – the focus on player fitness, predictions for the new season, and what club managers say might happen.
And then Springbok sensation Cheslin Kolbe switched clubs from Toulouse to Toulon.
That fairly woke up the rugby media.
You may remember the timeline of events ...