THERE’S something about crossing The Channel that seems to bring out the best in England’s Top 14 exports, with a rejuvenated Jack Nowell scoring a […]
By ROGER PANTING Bath ……………………………………………………….. 20pts Tries: Dunn 47, Roux 56 Conversions: Russell 47, 56 Penalties: Russell 4, 30 La Rochelle …………………………………………… 24pts Tries: Jegou […]
CROWD numbers in French rugby’s top two professional leagues have risen to record levels, according to figures released from the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). […]
ENGLAND lock Jonny Hill has been given a 10week suspension following an incident involving a fan after Sale’s Premiership semi-final defeat by Bath in June. […]
NEWS EXTRA RONAN O’Gara has ruled himself out of the running to replace Graham Rowntree as Munster head coach. Munster announced Rowntree’s departure this week […]
By Gary Fitzgerald European glory days came thick and fast for Ross Molony during his love affair with his boyhood club Leinster. Yet, despite making […]
French Column – By James Harrington Racing 92’s veteran centre Henry Chavancy reached a remarkable career milestone on Saturday when he came on to replace […]
THE Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be shown on Premier Sports in the UK next season, with tournament organisers EPCR agreeing a three-year deal with the subscription channel.
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN On the move: Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec will be joining La Rochelle PICTURE: Getty Images YES, it’s still August – I’ve […]
Paul Gustard believes the RFU should look at scrapping the overseas player ban and allow Steve Borthwick to pick players based outside the Gallagher Premiership.
Nick Cain Column When an elite competition like the European Cup comes up with a dullard draw which has deposed two-time champions La Rochelle playing […]
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 […]
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Never mind that the words ‘Stade Toulousain’ have only just been meticulously punched into the plaque on the Bouclier de Brennus […]
Allez: Jonny Gray agrees French deal SCOTLAND second row Jonny Gray has joined Top 14 runners-up Bordeaux-Begles following his exit from Exeter Chiefs. The 30-year-old […]
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 […]
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE English Football League’s Championship play-off final is sometimes referred to as ‘the richest game in football’, with £100million of spoils […]
FRENCH COLUMN By JAMES HARRINGTON Jimmy Gopperth won’t be the oldest-ever player to feature in the Top 14 next season after all, after his Provence […]
By BEN JAYCOCK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Champions Cup final player of the match and European rugby’s biggest star Antoine Dupont revelled in captaining Toulouse […]
European rugby‘s two most successful sides battle it out for Champions Cup glory as Leinster face Toulouse in the final on Saturday afternoon at Tottenham […]
By BEN JAYCOCK Thibaud Flament has risen from Loughborough University’s fifth team to become a French international with the intention of next weekend becoming a […]
PAUL REES EXAMINES THE FALLOUT FROM GLOUCESTER’S 90-0 HIDING BY NORTHAMPTON SAINTS George Skivington has had better weeks. He knew his decision to field a […]
By PAUL REES Nearly half of the Champions Cup finals have involved Toulouse or Leinster, the two most successful sides in the competition, but Saturday […]
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 […]
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 […]
By BEN JAYCOCK Having finally toppled their Champions Cup bogey team La Rochelle, next up for Leinster is Premiership pacesetters Northampton Saints and flanker Will […]
JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN More people than ever are flocking through the turnstiles of Top 14 and ProD2 matches, according to figures published by […]
By BEN JAYCOCK Despite their fierce London rivalry with Harlequins, Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell is pleased two Premiership sides reached the last four of […]
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK JORDIE Barrett’s signing by Leinster on a six-month contract from December until the end of next season looks […]
Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]
Northampton pair Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith, and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith have been nominated for the Champions Cup player of the year award. Leinster […]
Leinster have confirmed the signing of experienced All Black utility back Jordie Barrett on a short-term deal from December to the end of next season. […]
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IMMANUEL Feyi-Waboso was a pretty unknown factor before the Six Nations, but the 21-year-old winger’s rise from Cardiff […]
Leinster’s victorious squad are looking forward to their ‘home” semi-final at the 82,000 capacity Croke Park, two miles across Dublin from the Aviva Stadium. Skipper […]
The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame the unaccountable administrators turning […]