Top 14

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Top 14 news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

stdClass Object ( [id] => 3 [league_name] => Top 14 [league_logo_id] => 0 [league_logo_url] => [parent_league_id] => 0 [wp_league_id] => 146 )

Biarritz

Bordeaux

Brive

Castres

Clermont

La Rochelle

Lyon

Montpellier

Paris

Pau

Perpignan

Racing 92

Toulon

Toulouse

Lam: I understand Sinckler decision

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam understands Kyle Sinckler’s decision to turn his back on England and join the exodus to France next season. The 68-cap […]

Slade: I’m happy to stay a Chief

31 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By MARK STEVENS Henry Slade is set to reject the advances of clubs on the other side of the English Channel and […]

It’s time to consider talent, not geography

24 March 2024 0 comments

If everyone is heading to French club rugby, including the England centurion Courtney Lawes, it makes Courtney Lawes right: rival unions need to rise above […]

Toulon heading in right direction

24 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULON coach Pierre Mignoni earned something of a reprieve this weekend, as his side’s 54-7 win over Montpellier at Stade Mayol […]

Fiji star Nayacalevu signs for Sale

17 March 2024 0 comments

Sale have signed Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top 14 side Toulon on a one-year contract with an option for a further year. He […]

Toulouse and Stade in line for a race to glory

17 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The top two tiers of French domestic rugby have been on hiatus this weekend, giving fans a clear run at the […]

French setting sights on Tuilagi

10 March 2024 0 comments

Perpignan and Montpellier are chasing the signature of England centre Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi would join up with his nephew Posolo Tuilagi at Perpignan and represent […]

Oyonnax have to keep on believing

10 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Oyonnax manager Joe El-Abd promised last week that his side would ‘fight to the end’ following their so-near-so-far 35-39 home defeat […]

Nowell extends deal to stay at La Rochelle

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By MARK STEVENS Jack Nowell’s French connection is set to go on for a few more years yet, after the Cornishman this […]

Big clubs are hit by ‘doublon’ clashes

3 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN We always knew the World Cup would play havoc with the Top 14 season – as soon as the 2023/2024 schedule […]

Big two leading charge

3 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON STADE Francais and reigning champions Toulouse look set to continue their twohorse race for top spot with both victorious this weekend. Paris-based Stade […]

“Time feels right” to make Racing move – Farrell

28 February 2024 0 comments

Owen Farrell admits that leaving Saracens was a “difficult decision” but that he is ready to “experience something different” by moving to Racing 92. Farrell’s […]

Collazo may risk all to beat the drop

25 February 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN It is a truth universally accepted in French domestic rugby that the side propping up the Top 14 at Christmas is […]

Toulon need to win over the critics

18 February 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Sometimes it’s not immediately obvious whether a side is in good shape or not. A simple look at the Top 14 […]

Ludlam has his sights set on Toulon

11 February 2024 0 comments

ENGLAND flanker Lewis Ludlam will leave Northampton at the end of the season, with Toulon understood to be his destination. The 28-year-old Saints captain, who […]

Calvet’s likely to step in at Agen

11 February 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN France Under-20s coach Sebastien Calvet has emerged as favourite to replace Bernard Goutta on the conveyor-belt of managers at ProD2 side […]

Brive line up move for Lawes

4 February 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes is set to leave Northampton this summer to join Brive. According to reports in France, the former England back row has agreed a […]

Kennedy wanted in France

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Top 14 giants LA Rochelle and Racing 92 are both eyeing up a move for Saracens recruitment guru Nick […]

Marchant will see out deal at Stade

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Stade Francais are expecting former England centre Joe Marchant, who only moved to the French capital after the World […]

Davidson relief as Castres stop rot

4 February 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The afternoon after the Friday-night chastening Six Nations defeat in Marseille before, a subdued French rugby audience tuned in to the […]

Sinckler may head to France after England snub

28 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam accepts that Kyle Sinckler may be more tempted to leave Bristol for France after being left out of the England […]

Hill’s move to Lyon hangs in the balance

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon’s move for England lock Jonny Hill appears to be on the brink of collapse after he suffered a […]

Esterhuizen says no to Toulon

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen is on the shopping list for several clubs in Japan after appearing to have rejected […]

Farrell’s jumping from fire…into fire

28 January 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS I don’t know about you but it’s occasionally been a bit of a torture watching Owen Farrell struggle with himself ever since England’s […]

Lyon get it right against Perpignan

28 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON In a league featuring the likes of Racing 92 and Toulouse, Toulon and La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Stade Francais, there’s a ‘big match’ […]

Farrell Racing switch confirmed

22 January 2024 0 comments

Owen Farrell’s much-rumoured move to Racing 92 has been confirmed, ending his 15-year career at English champions Saracens. Farrell, 32, captained England in their most […]

Alldritt to captain France

21 January 2024 0 comments

La Rochelle captain Gregory Alldritt will lead France in the absence of Antoine Dupont, who will miss the Six Nations to join France’s Sevens programme […]

Now Slade holds talks with Stade

21 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has had a […]

Harrison happy at Provence

21 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former England back row Teimana Harrison has pledged his future to ProD2 promotion hopefuls Provence for at least another season after signing […]

Willis rules himself out of England

21 January 2024 0 comments

England won’t have Jack Willis available for selection for at least another two years after he activated a one-year option in contract to remain playing […]

Lucu the man to replace Dupont

21 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN An email drop and social media flurry confirmed the line-up of France’s 34-player training squad for the Six Nations, which kicks […]

Bordeaux deal for van Rensburg

14 January 2024 0 comments

Former Sale centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg will be on the move again at the end of the season after signing at Bordeaux for the […]

Farrell will cost Racing £500k transfer fee

14 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens have put a €600,000 (£515,000) price tag on England’s World Cup skipper, Owen Farrell, before they agree to […]

Pay me what I’m worth – Lawes

14 January 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes has sent a warning to Northampton and told the club, “I’ve got to be paid what I’m worth,” after having talks with Racing […]

No rush to get Tuilagi involved

14 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Something of a big deal was made last week about the fact that, a matter of days before Fabien Galthie announces […]

McCall: I wouldn’t blame Farrell

7 January 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Saracens boss Mark McCall did little last night to dampen the speculation that England captain Owen Farrell is set to join Racing […]

Lawes looks like leaving

7 January 2024 0 comments

Northampton are struggling to hold on to Courtney Lawes. The 34-year-old former England flanker, who retired from international rugby after the World Cup, is mulling […]

Lyon set to swoop for pair of Sharks

7 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon are eyeing up a double raid on Sale Sharks to take their England and Lions stars Luke Cowan-Dickie and […]

Farrell’s future the only talk in town…

7 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Fabien Galthie will have a reduced training squad for the 2024 Six Nations after a player release agreement was reached between […]

Launchbury’s impressed by French fitness

31 December 2023 0 comments

TRP Podcast By NICK POWELL Joe Launchbury feels giant Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou’s form reflects a growing trend of Top 14 forwards adding fitness alongside […]

Simmonds is facing a fight for survival

31 December 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE final weekend of 2023 – and we’re almost at the halfway point of the Top 14 season. There’s still a […]

Toulouse are the most entrancing side of them all

24 December 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Dupont or no Dupont, Ntamack or no Ntamack, this latest edition of the Champions Cup may well turn out to be […]

O’Gara’s problems keep on coming

24 December 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Australian hooker Tolu Latu went straight into La Rochelle’s matchday squad for pre-Christmas trip to Stade Francais, days after completing a […]

Henry’s French leave won’t hold him back

17 December 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT IT’S time for the RFU/Premiership to wake up and go, ‘Wow, what’s wrong with us that a young player with the talent of […]

Skinner staying at Edinburgh

17 December 2023 0 comments

Scotland lock Sam Skinner has agreed to sign on at Edinburgh for another two years, opting for loyalty rather than a lucrative move to the […]

Olympics causing financial headache

17 December 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The new cycle of French senior men’s rugby starts here – a month-and-a-half after the 2023 Rugby World Cup ended, and […]

Bears step up hunt for new tighthead

3 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Bristol Bears have stepped up their search for a tighthead as they face up to the prospect of losing […]

Laporte & Co hit the panic button

3 December 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A week after ripping out their coaching set-up and employing an Etch-a-Sketch style reset to their season, Montpellier officially hit the […]

Ludlam closing in on move to Toulon

28 November 2023 0 comments

Northampton Saints back row Lewis Ludlam’s highly anticipated move to Toulon, first rumoured in The Rugby Paper’s Blindside Column in early October, is set to […]

Fearing players going abroad is a false storm

26 November 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WORLD Cups provide rugby union with an opportunity to reset, and the actions taken following the 2023 tournament, […]

Top 14

Biarritz

Bordeaux

Brive

Castres

Clermont

La Rochelle

Lyon

Montpellier

Paris

Pau

Perpignan

Racing 92

Toulon

Toulouse

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