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Tag: Biarritz

Oyonnax must live without Joe El-Abd

15 December 2024 0 comments

By James Harrington Oyonnax’s seven-try 53-10 bonus-point win over ProD2 rivals Soyaux-Angouleme on Friday – their first victory since October 25 – was a relief […]

Biarritz was truly a baptism of fire

10 November 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY DAVID McILWAINE THE FORMER ULSTER, BRISTOL, DONCASTER & LEEDS FULL-BACK On the run: David McIlwaine playing for Bristol against Rotherham PICTURE: Media […]

Carbonel will add the flair for Stade

25 August 2024 0 comments

James Harrington French column Last season, Stade Francais finished second in the Top 14 to qualify directly for the semi-finals – where an after-the-hooter conversion […]

Time for players to behave properly

14 July 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN There are no ‘good’ responses to Melvyn Jaminet’s violently racist outburst on social media, or the serious sexual assault allegations levelled […]

Another lesson from the French

16 June 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT Now that Vannes have made it into the top tier of French rugby and the people running things across the water are preparing […]

Team Brittany show what might have happened in Cornwall

16 June 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS GO west young man. The phrase, attributed to American newspaper editor Horace Greeley, became a byword for the expansion of the United States […]

Hogg has eyes set on Top 14 surprise

9 June 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Stuart Hogg’s reported surprise reverse-ferret back into the professional game after his retirement last year – and repeated suggestions that he […]

Pink city deserves its place at the top

2 June 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Anybody watching the crowd scenes in front of the big screen […]

Dramatic finale puts Brive into play-offs

19 May 2024 0 comments

By JAMES HARRINGTON The ProD2 supplied a final glorious regular-season round for the ages in a perfectly timed reminder to broadcasters interested in bidding for […]

I may sell Toulon for €1 – Lemaitre

12 May 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A matter of weeks after ProD2 strugglers Biarritz were sold for €1, Toulon owner Bernard Lemaitre suggested he might be willing […]

New owners provide financial guarantees

12 May 2024 0 comments

BIARRITZ’S new owners this week provided French rugby’s financial watchdog with suitable guarantees of their finances, and revealed an eight-year plan to rebuild the club […]

Biarritz’s fight for survival goes on

5 May 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Ten days ago, under-new-management ProD2 strugglers Biarritz gave themselves what looked a lot like a crucial safety net with a 26-30 […]

Try-fest with big issues below the surface

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Paris Games, more formally known as the XXXIII Olympiad, are almost upon us and the Rugby Sevens schedule is full to overflowing. Yet there […]

Hurricanes storm in despite triple yellow

21 April 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Hurricanes overcame a poor second half in which they conceded three yellow cards to beat Fijian Drua 38-15 […]

We need Biarrtitz back to their best

14 April 2024 0 comments

SERGE Blanco, the finest full-back ever to grace the union game, spent his entire club career at Biarritz. So did the celebrated loose forward Michel […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

André, high priest of French running rugby

14 April 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Andre Boniface, who died earlier this week aged 89, and his younger […]

Biarritz’s future is back in its hands

14 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN To the relief of fans, white smoke was finally seen over the stand tops of Biarritz’s Parc des Sports d’Aguilera recently, […]

Andre Boniface, the epitome of French flair

14 April 2024 0 comments

FRENCH rugby has paid tribute to one of its greats this week – Andre Boniface, who died at the age of 89 last Monday. A […]

It’s all a difficult question of trust

7 April 2024 0 comments

Leicester’s latest fine for salary cap irregularities – their second in as many years – throws up an interesting question or two about the structure […]

The day Crane had final word at Cardiff

7 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW The Millennium Stadium once staged a trio of penalty shoot-outs in four years as fondly remembered by […]

I was thrilled to bits to be picked for England

17 March 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Magnus Lund – The former England, Sale and Biarritz flanker talks about his life in the game AS most people […]

Joseph third player confirmed by Barbarian F.C. for Killik Cup encounter

13 March 2024 0 comments

Jonathan Joseph will pull on the famous black and white hooped jersey of Barbarian F.C. for the first time in his career this summer, the […]

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 […]

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 […]

Clouds of confusion hang over Evans

28 January 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW At the end of a week when the clouds of confusion thickened over Wales, one victim of […]

It’s all to play for as class of ’24 get set

28 January 2024 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK ENGLAND As the U20s Six Nations kicks off on Friday, England’s primary focus is to shore up their leaky defence. During last […]

At last we are going in right direction

31 December 2023 0 comments

It is always easier to bury English rugby’s alleged leaders than to praise them, but it would run counter to the seasonal spirit not to […]

Dungeon of obscurity needs to be shut

17 December 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT Barely able to buy a round of drinks, let alone a win – the good men and true of Kingsholm are up against […]

Cornish Pirates dual-registered prop Alfie Petch, of Exeter Chiefs

Biarritz offer deal to Petch

8 October 2023 0 comments

Former Exeter and Northampton tighthead Alfie Petch is heading to France after joining Biarritz as a medical joker on a contract until the end of […]

Biarritz enjoy a change in fortune

1 October 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN FRANCE could… Scotland need… Australia on the brink of… Fiji might … South Africa will… Wales already have… If Italy… There […]

Webb tests positive for growth hormone

26 August 2023 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Former Wales international Rhys Webb has tested positive for a growth hormone following an unexpected check by the French Anti-Doping Agency carried […]

Joseph bows out of Bath after a decade

23 July 2023 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA FORMER England centre Jonathan Joseph’s departure from Bath has been confirmed. After ten years at The Rec, Joseph has signed a deal to […]

Patchell’s switch

9 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell who was thought to be heading to France after being released by The Scarlets could now be on […]

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 […]

Williams heading for Japan

25 June 2023 0 comments

WALES and Lions wing Liam Williams has left Cardiff midway through his contract to join Kubota Spears in Japan. The 32-year-old had a year to […]

Biarritz lead chase for Webb

23 April 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER Biarritz are on the verge of completing a deal for Wales and Lions scrum-half Rhys Webb as the exodus of players from […]

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. […]

Biarritz ………………22 Ealing………………….21

21 August 2022 1 comment

By IAN ROBSON Ealing Trailfinders were beaten at the death in Biarritz on Friday courtesy of a last minute 50m penalty from Brett Herron. The […]

Transfer market that never sleeps

21 August 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Accepted wisdom has it that the shortest period of time is the New York Second – helpfully defined in the Urban […]

Fofana, one of the stars of 2006, to bow out

24 July 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Clermont star Wesley Fofana this week became the latest Top 14 player to join the annual line of those permanently signing […]

Bayonne lead the chase for Boyde

22 May 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS French interest: Cardiff flanker Will Boyde PICTURE: Getty Images WILL BOYDE could be heading for Bayonne after securing an early release from […]

Now’s the time for the French revolution

15 May 2022 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT AS a rule of thumb, English teams good enough to fight their way into a Champions Cup final eventually go on to win […]

Toulon must do their maths to avoid points deduction

17 April 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULON’S end-ofseason run-in – and their points total for next season – may be complicated by JIFF rules. Under current rules, […]

Good on Diamond for telling it like it is

27 February 2022 1 comment

CHRIS HEWETT HATS off to the straight-talking Steve Diamond, “lead rugby consultant” – aka “new boss” – at Worcester. In this paper last weekend, Diamond […]

Beziers’ heroes get warm welcome in wee hours

16 January 2022 1 comment

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful Iconic Rugby Pictures: PART 93 Welcome […]

Postponed European rugby matches cancelled amid future uncertainty

12 January 2022 0 comments

All postponed matches from round two of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup have now been cancelled, while uncertainty hovers over the remainder of […]

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 […]