14 poised to hit the ground running

JAMES HARRINGTON

FRENCH COLUMN

THE 2024/25 Top 14 campaign kicks off in six weeks' time. Players and coaches are, mostly, well into pre-season work. Gameplans and strategies are being developed, new signings are – where they're not still on holiday – integrating into their teams.

Here are 14 players – one from each club in the French top flight – to watch when the new season gets under way on the weekend of September 7.

Owen Farrell (Racing 92)

There's a long tradition of big-name international 10s at Racing 92: Andrew Mehrtens, Juan Martin Hernandez, Johnny Sexton, Dan Carter, Pat Lambie, Finn Russell – and, now, Farrell. His job? To do what only Carter among those has managed so far: take a hugely talented and frustratingly underachieving squad and lead them to major silverware.

Antoine Frisch (Toulon)

Frisch scored an international try for France this summer, but has yet to feature in the Top 14, having left Rouen in 2021 for Bristol Bears, before joining Munster.

Fabien Galthie ‘won' a lengthy selection tug-oflove with Ireland, and Toulon have gained a strong running, hard-tackling centre to replace Waisea Nayacalevu, who has joined Sale. He's a different type of player to Waisea, but it shouldn't take him long to win fans' favour if he plays like he did for France in Argentina.

Salesi Rayasi (Vannes)

Yes, prop Mako Vunipola is the big-name signing for Vannes, but they've given themselves a better-than puncher's shot at first-season survival with firepower on either wing. If he settles, Super Rugby try machine Rayasi – backed up by Filipo Nakosi and the under-rated Romaric Camou – could be the signing of the season in entire the league, let alone the promoted Brittany club.

Kane Douglas (La Rochelle)

The 35-year-old Australian international lock was La Rochelle's only senior signing for the new season, so gets here almost by default. It was a very quiet recruitment year for Ronan O'Gara's side – they have also only signed two new academy players. But they have extended the contracts of nearly two dozen players, with Douglas brought in to cover the engine room departures of Remi Picquette and Thomas Ployet.

Raffaele Costa Storti (Stade Francais)

Bit of a cheat this one, as Portugal's Storti is returning from a two-season loan, rather than a new signing. But the serial ProD2 try-scorer will be the face of what Laurent Labit, Karim Ghezal and – particularly – attack coach Morgan Parra hope will be a new-look effective attack to go with Paul Gustard's miserly defence. After a season of dull success, Stade are looking for some excitement.

Nicolas Martins (Montpellier)

Another Portuguese legendin-the-making, flanker Martins – player of the matc h in Portugal's World Cup win over Fiji last year – steps up to the French top flight after Soyaux-Angouleme. He jumps, he tackles, he runs, he hits rucks, he does all the things two seasons with a flanker should – and better than most. With Lenni Nouchi on the other flank and Billy Vunipola between them, Montpellier have the makings of a highly dangerous back row.

Barnabe Massa (Clermont)

Clermont look to have recruited cannily for the 2024/25 season.

But their best signing is arguably France's U20 hooker, Massa, who joins after a full-on season at Grenoble. He and Bayonne's new arrival Lucas Martin look set to lead the next generation of French international hookers after Marchand and Mauvaka. Watch out for them.

Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (Pau)

Sevens watchers will recognise the new Pau signing, as he was part of Les Bleus SVNS Series Grand Final-winning team, and is on the squad for their Olympic gold bid in Paris. The 24-year-old has sevens pace and a sevens engine, and looks a smart catch by head coach Sebastien Piqueronies, who recognises game early. He's building a squad for the future at Stade du Hameau. Grandidier Nkanang is a crucial part of that.

Tomas Lavanini (Lyon)

While Pau have opted for a youth-first strategy – there are just seven 30-year-olds in their senior squad next season – Lyon have gone for experience, brining in four over 30s, including the Argentinian second row with a card-happy reputation. There's no doubt he'll add some fight to the pack, but his history will have raised a few eyebrows, nevermind the fact he's picked up just one yellow card in the past two seasons, and none since November 2022.

Manu Tuilagi (Bayonne)

You know what you get with Tuilagi. He brings sackfuls of international experience to Stade Jean Dauger and – if he can remain injury-free – it looks like this could be a good late-career move for the now-former England centre.

Joey Carbery (Bordeaux)

Young backrow Temo Matiu is the headline-grabber among Bordeaux's new arrivals in France. The rising Biarritz star has all the potential and time to realise it. But Carbery, fresh out of Munster, has the more difficult job. Covering for and challenging Matthieu Jalibert for the 10 shirt. The 38-cap Ireland international is more controlled than the 33-cap France star. But he's less instinctive. Bordeaux fans won't take to Carbery like they have Jalibert, but he could win them over with some smart game management.

Christian Ambadiang (Castres)

Castres bought out the last year of winger Ambadiang's Nevers' contract to bring him to Stade Pierre Fabre this summer. He's big and powerful and quick – and has deft hands to boot. Castres have a habit of picking unheralded players from the lower leagues – they did it with Nathanael Hulleu last season. Looks a lot like they'll pack threats on both wings now.

Jefferson-Lee Joseph (Perpignan)

Another young France sevens gun switching back to the 15-player game after the Olympics. Perpignan get a high-potential SVNS Series champion to add to a backline that, at times, was simply unstoppable last season.

What's not to like?

Leo Banos (Toulouse)

Like La Rochelle, Toulouse have kept recruitment to a minimum, preferring to develop what they already have. And, with the academy production line rolling out players like Mathis Castro-Ferreira and Paul Costes, Ugo Mola has good reason not to go looking when he doesn't really need to. He's admired Mont-de-Marsan backrow Leo Banos for some time, however, signing him temporarily as a World Cup joker last year. There was never a doubt he'd join the club as soon as he could. And now he has.