JAMES HARRINGTON
FRENCH COLUMN

It turns out the week leading up to the first round of the Six Nations – the week Covid limits were lifted on crowd sizes in France has been a good one for burying important French rugby news.
Amid all the international hype, it virtually flew under the radar that, from next season, those once overseas players-heavy clubs in the Top 14 and ProD2 will be obliged to average 17 players who have come through the French age-grade rugby and academy system – also known as JIFF players – out of the 23 on their Top 14 matchday teamsheets, the...