Top 14

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

90 players in search of a new club

9 July 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON | FRENCH COLUMN What links 16 props, 12 hookers, 10 second rows, 15 back rowers, 13 scrum-halves, 11 wingers, eight centres, two full-backs, […]

Dupont is looking to take a sabbatical

9 July 2023 0 comments

Antoine Dupont could take a sabbatical year after the 2024 Olympic Games, reports in France suggest. The France captain, 26, is looking ahead to an […]

Montpellier U-turn blocks Thomas from playing in Wales

2 July 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Montpellier have done a U-turn on Henry Thomas, slamming the door on the former England prop playing in Wales next season. Thomas […]

Arundell’s deal a blow for England

2 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Henry Arundell, one of England’s most exciting talents, could be unavailable to Steve Borthwick […]

Biarritz to keep on spending

2 July 2023 0 comments

Biarritz Olympique are poised to step in and continue the spending splurge that their president Jean-Baptiste Aldigé had planned for Agen before calling off his […]

Biarritz are left sweating on future

2 July 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN By the time you read this, ProD2 side Biarritz were supposed to be under new management after a deal finally brought […]

Agen on the trail of top Welsh trio

25 June 2023 0 comments

By NEIL FISSLER French ProD2 outfit Agen, who are in the middle of a takeover battle, are courting a trio of Welsh internationals as they […]

Toulouse duo use trophy to ride the waves

25 June 2023 0 comments

Toulouse playmakers Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack took their Top 14 title celebrations to the beach this week, attempting to use the famous Bouclier de […]

Willis: I’d never have left Wasps

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England back row Jack Willis admits that he would never have left Wasps if they hadn’t become one of […]

Witty looks set to sign for Rouen

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs lock Will Witty is set for another move this summer with a drop-down from the Top […]

Toulon have No.9 White in their sights

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Top 14 giants Toulon are courting a move for Scotland scrum-half Ben White, who has been looking for a new club since […]

Team of the season is packed with brilliance

25 June 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The 2022/23 Top 14 season is done. Toulouse are champions for the 22nd time, after pipping ambitious La Rochelle to the […]

Teague keen to be heading home

18 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Former England attack guru Rory Teague, below, is ready to explore options nearer to […]

Borthwick’s plea for Irish boys to stay

11 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England boss Steve Borthwick hit the phones last week in a plea to stop London Irish players moving to […]

Racing trying to tempt Marcus

11 June 2023 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Racing 92 have made England and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith an offer of around €500,000 (£425,000) gross to move […]

Abendanon: French rugby is far more fun

11 June 2023 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Former England full-back Nick Abendanon says that the Premiership is not entertaining enough to compete with the French club game and worries […]

There’s no stopping Ramos

11 June 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Thomas Ramos is en route to finishing the season 100 or so points clear of his nearest challenger across Europe’s three major Leagues. […]

Top two get set to put on the glitz

11 June 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN It’s the final the Top 14 wanted and needed. Toulouse and La Rochelle – the two best sides in the French […]

Series 2, Episode 22: Nick Abendanon on his career and French vs English domestic rugby, tributes to David Emery

7 June 2023 0 comments

In April earlier this year Bath and Clermont legend Nick Abendanon called time on a stellar 17-year career. Nick joins host Ollie Little as well […]

Kremer’s red gives Racing easy ride

4 June 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Argentinian back-row Marcos Kremer’s last act for Stade Francais was to get sent off – for the third time this season […]

Now Stade eye Cowan-Dickie

28 May 2023 0 comments

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie could still play in France next season despite the recent collapse of his move to Montpellier, with Stade Francais thought to […]

Toulouse look set to take top spot

28 May 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON Tonight, more than 24 hours after both the Premiership and URC celebrated their champions for the 2022/23 campaign, the Top 14 reaches its […]

Moneybags Racing keen to sign Smith

21 May 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Racing 92 are serious about tempting Marcus Smith to quit south-west London for a move to the French capital […]

Galthie’s message of hope to top 100

21 May 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Top 14 coaches, pundits and fans have had the calculators, slide rules and computer modelling programmes out this weekend as they […]

Salary cap hurting, not helping – Biggar

14 May 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Dan Biggar feels the Premiership’s exodus of players to France is a result of the league’s reduced salary cap ‘hurting it more […]

All to play for in final days of the season

14 May 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Top 14 coaches, pundits and fans have had the calculators, slide rules and computer modelling programmes out last weekend as they […]

Boost for finances as recovery continues

7 May 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE Commission des Championnats professionnels de l’Autorité de régulation du rugby – the new name for the financial auditors of the […]

Toulouse look set to lead from the front

30 April 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN As the French Top 14 takes a week’s break for the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals, here’s a look at the […]

New deal for Willis

16 April 2023 0 comments

Flanker Jack Willis has signed a new three-year deal with Toulouse, potentially putting his England future in doubt. Willis joined Toulouse in November after Wasps […]

Abendanon joins Bayonne

16 April 2023 0 comments

Former England full-back Nick Abendanon continues to climb the coaching ladder in France and will join a new-look coaching team at Bayonne this summer. Abendanon, […]

Toulouse hit the turbos to cruise clear of Sharks

9 April 2023 0 comments

By CAM STEPHENS Toulouse …………………. 54pts Tries: Mallia 35, 56, Ramos 47, 72; Mauvaka 68, Retiere 75, Ntamack 78 Conversions: Ramos 47, 70, 73, 77, […]

Itoje sets sights on toppling champions

9 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… La Rochelle v Saracens Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Marcel-Deflandre Visit infinitysportstravel.com to view our packages or call us on 0203 725 […]

O’Gara turning to Seuteni to plug gaps

9 April 2023 0 comments

Champions Cup holders La Rochelle have looked to strengthen their midfield to face Saracens after bringing in UJ Seuteni at outside centre channel. Raymond Rhule […]

Toulon have too much power for Lyon

9 April 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Toulon ………….. 48pts Tries: Wainiqolo 26, 66; Baubigny 38, Priso 40, Vuidravuwalu 49, Ollivon 57, Luc 77 Conversions: West 39, 40, 50, […]

Parra has his eye on a final flourish

2 April 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN For a while, it looked as if Morgan Parra’s season – and possibly his career – had ended with an unwelcome […]

Toulouse set to deny Bordeaux and keep Willis

26 February 2023 1 comment

Toulouse are confident they will be able to see off a late bid from Bordeaux to keep Jack Willis at the Stade Ernest-Wallon when his […]

Lyon on a mission to land Adams

26 February 2023 1 comment

Lyon are confident that they are close to reaching a deal with the WRU that will see Wales and Lions winger Josh Adams, above, move […]

Lyon are yet to give up on Adams

12 February 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon haven’t given up hope that they will be able to tempt Wales and Lions winger Josh Adams into […]

Hot seats which are always on the line

12 February 2023 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Who’d be a high-level coach? They’re loved and hated, praised and criticised in equal measure on a near-daily basis. Their reputations […]

French fade away as Champions Cup heads to the business stage

29 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES The Heineken Champions Cup is still occasionally referred to as Europe, but the presence of three South African franchises has transformed the […]

Gibbes given his marching orders after Tigers mauling

22 January 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Christophe Urios will take charge at Top 14 side Clermont on Monday, after the “breathing space” afforded his predecessor Jono Gibbes […]

Maunder: French leavers a big blow

8 January 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Exeter scrum-half Sam Maunder admits the departure of their England stars at the end of the season will be a big loss […]

Convicted Laporte ‘suspends himself’

31 December 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN PICTURE: Getty Images AS 2022 gives way to 2023, and about three weeks after he was convicted of corruption charges, the […]

Crossdale staying put

23 December 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Former England prospect Ali Crossdale could remain in France next season, with Perpignan who could take up a one-year option […]

Morahan to leave Bristol for Bayonne

18 December 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Luke Morahan will make his final appearance for Bristol today when they face Zebre in the Challenge Cup having spent five years […]

Conviction that spells the end for Laporte

18 December 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Bernard Laporte’s future as president of French rugby’s governing body has to be untenable after he was found guilty of corruption […]

Kpoku on alert as he gets set for Saracens

11 December 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Raring to go: I’m massively excited about our match against my old club, says Lyon’s Joel Kpoku PICTURE: Getty Images Two […]

Bath and Racing to battle over Russell

4 December 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE Racing 92 have stepped up their bid to keep Scotland ace Finn Russell in the French capital next season amid interest from […]

Ex-Tiger Henry on his way to Stade

4 December 2022 2 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Leicester Tigers fly-half Zack Henry, above, could be on his way to Stade Francais when his Pau contract runs out at […]

Clermont face fight to hold on to Penaud

4 December 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Star player: Damian Penaud is one of the hottest properties in French rugby PICTURE: Getty Images Damian Penaud is one of […]

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