Top 14

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

Coach O’Gara receives his fourth ban in a year

27 November 2022 1 comment

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara has been given a fourth suspension in a year after being banned for 10 weeks due to “harming the […]

Falcons lock Merrick heading for Top 14

27 November 2022 1 comment

Former England U20s lock George Merrick has left Newcastle Falcons with ‘immediate effect’ to join an undisclosed French club. The 30-year-old has made 13 appearances […]

Toulon’s Kolbe has Japan in his sights

27 November 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN FIFTEEN months ago, news of Cheslin Kolbe’s switch from Toulouse to Top 14 rivals Toulon delivered an electric shock to what […]

Lucu gets chance to show what he can do

20 November 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Opportunity: Maxime Lucu steps up for France in today’s match against Japan PICTURE: Getty Images When an international side has a […]

Bayonne turning home into a fortress

6 November 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN HEADING into the three-week international break, two Top 14 teams in particular will be pretty happy with their opening 10-game block. […]

Langdon’s looking to improve in France

30 October 2022 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE Travelling man: Curtis Langdon, seen here playing for Worcester, has joined Montpellier PICTURES: Getty Images On a whim, former Sale and Worcester […]

The going now gets tough for Toulouse

30 October 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN IT’S very much a case of so far, so good for Top 14 leaders Toulouse, who headed into this ninth weekend […]

Lancaster bombs out Giroud at Racing 92

16 October 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Injury concern: France may be without full-back Melvyn Jaminet for the autumn internationals PICTURE: Getty Images The announcement this week from […]

Whitford poised to join Lancaster

9 October 2022 0 comments

Stuart Lancaster is set to turn to an experienced hand when he moves to Racing 92 next season, with Tom Whitford tipped to join his […]

Labit and Ghezal set to link up in Paris

9 October 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN France attack coach Laurent Labit is set to replace Gonzalo Quesada at the head of Stade Francais – and is expected […]

Lancaster’s Racing switch confirmed

26 September 2022 1 comment

Stuart Lancaster’s move to Racing 92 at the end of the season has been confirmed today by current club Leinster. The move has been much […]

Vakatawa highlights a serious problem

18 September 2022 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT The desperate news surrounding Virimi Vakatawa – a proper centre on his day and plenty good enough for most opposition even when he […]

Wade seals Racing 92 move

12 September 2022 0 comments

Christian Wade has secured a fairytale move to Racing 92, as he recommences his rugby career after four years away. Wade, 31, made no hint […]

Racing 92 hit hard by Vakatawa retirement

11 September 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN For Racing 92, this is the first weekend after the unexpected retirement before. A matter of days after the club’s French […]

England and Top 14 star Mercer first name in Razor-rog Barbarians squad

6 September 2022 0 comments

England, Bath and Montpellier star Zach Mercer has been named in the Barbarians squad for November’s Killik Cup 2022 match against All Blacks XV taking […]

Christian wades in with a dream return

28 August 2022 0 comments

By MATT BADCOCK Christian Wade marked his return to rugby after four years away with two tries. The 31-year-old former England international went over twice […]

France set to rock with the best league in the world

28 August 2022 1 comment

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW French flair: La Rochelle may be champions of Europe but they finished fifth in their league PICTURE: […]

Concern as refs switch to other side

28 August 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Another of French rugby’s leading gamekeepers turned coach this week, as Top 14 referee Maxime Chalon put down his whistle and […]

French clubs look at Nowell

21 August 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE Exeter winger Jack Nowell could move to France after the World Cup with his CV doing the rounds of Top 14 recruitment […]

Broncan: We want to invest in youth

31 July 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Pre-season is now underway for all Top 14 sides apart from champions Montpellier, who officially return to camp on Monday. Some […]

Worsley: Cut season length to safeguard the players

24 July 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Joe Worsley insists the length of the Top 14 season must be cut and contact sessions in training dramatically reduced to protect […]

Clash of the champions will open new season

10 July 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Two blockbuster matches are scheduled for the opening weekend of the 2022/23 Top 14 season as European champions La Rochelle entertain […]

Top 14 Final Preview – Castres and Montpellier eye the big prize

24 June 2022 0 comments

Castres will be the narrowest of favourites as they play Montpellier in what promises to be a classic French Top 14 final. Castres finished top […]

Cheslin Kolbe returns in time for Challenge Cup Final

26 May 2022 0 comments

Springbok superstar Cheslin Kolbe returns for Toulon in time for their European Challenge Cup final against Lyon at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Despite both […]

Mercurial Teddy’s off in search of Test rebirth

5 December 2021 2 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN France international winger Teddy Thomas wasn’t even in Racing 92’s squad for this weekend’s Top 14 defeat at Castres – yet […]

Mercer in top form as Eddie looks on

28 November 2021 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The Top 14 returned after a three-week international break for two rounds ahead of the start of the European competitions, with […]

Finn Russell says no to Japan’s offer of ‘at least’ £1m

26 September 2021 0 comments

FINN Russell has turned down the chance to become the best-paid player in the world and will see out the remaining two years of his […]

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola in new contract talks as Top 14 watch

29 August 2021 0 comments

Saracens are set to ask England prop Mako Vunipola to take a salary cut, TRP understands

The club hoping to make Scotland ace Finn Russell rugby’s richest man

15 August 2021 0 comments

Michael Cheika wants to bring the star of the third Lions Test to Japan

Leicester Tigers academy product Tandoh to head to France

8 August 2021 0 comments

The Tigers back row has the option to return to Oval Park after deciding to take a year to play for Stade Francais and study in Paris

Top 14 is favourite destination for Argentina’s Olympic star Marcos Moneta

1 August 2021 0 comments

Moneta was key to Argentina Sevens winning the bronze medal in Tokyo

Richard Cockerill keeps his England options open

25 July 2021 1 comment

Clermont Auvergne and England are interested in the coach who left Edinburgh this week

Where Martin Landajo is off to after leaving Harlequins

11 July 2021 1 comment

The Argentinian left the Stoop earlier this month after his contract expired

Saints prepared if Toulon persist in Dan Biggar swoop

4 July 2021 0 comments

NORTHAMPTON Saints have set aside a ‘healthy budget’ as they search fora new fly-half that places question marks over the future of Dan Biggar at […]

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 […]

Will Skelton will end his career in France

27 June 2021 1 comment

WILL Skelton has closed the door on a return to the Premiership after signing a four-year contract extension with La Rochelle. The former Saracens lock […]

Leicester’s Zack Henry is off to Pau

13 June 2021 0 comments

ZACK Henry is set to make a quick return to France next season after being released from the final year of his Leicester contract. The […]

EXCLUSIVE: Lions duo Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes wanted by Toulouse

6 June 2021 2 comments

EUROPEAN champions Toulouse are looking to make a double swoop on Northampton Saints to take Lions pair Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes to the Top […]

Facundo Cordero honoured to continue Santi’s Chiefs legacy

6 June 2021 0 comments

Facundo Cordero reveals his desire to play alongside brother Santi, whether that be at Exeter Chiefs or not

Where Henry Thomas will be playing next season after Bath confirm prop’s exit

4 June 2021 0 comments

The tighthead will be leaving his boyhood club this summer to move to France, TRP understands

Alex Lozowski eyes glory finish to iffy start in France with Montpellier

16 May 2021 0 comments

Lozowski compares his experiences playing alongside Owen Farrell for so long at Saracens and his season in France with Handre Pollard

Bath prop Henry Thomas on his way to join La Rochelle

16 May 2021 1 comment

Henry Thomas is out of contract this summer at Bath

Stade Francais sign All Blacks star Ngani Laumape

11 May 2021 0 comments

Laumape steps in for the Top 14 club who have lost their two first-choice centres in Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty

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

London Irish lock Rob Simmons interests Racing 92

2 May 2021 1 comment

RACING 92 are on the lookout for a new lock and have put London Irish’s former Wallaby star Rob Simmons on their wanted list. Simmons, […]

Carl Fearns fired up for Newcastle Falcons swansong

25 April 2021 0 comments

Carl Fearns in back in English rugby with Newcastle, Jon Newcombe caught up with the newest member of the Falcons pack

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

Jeremy Jordaan may quit Agen for Newcastle Falcons

11 April 2021 0 comments

Dean Richards offers South African lock way out of Top 14 basement boys Agen

Long-serving Henry Trinder to leave Gloucester

11 April 2021 0 comments

LONG-SERVING Gloucester centre Henry Trinder has left Kingsholm to kick-start his career with French club Vannes on a deal until the end of the season. […]