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Tag: Montpellier

We were a bit Keystone Kops against Pau – Diamond

15 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Newcastle v Dragons Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Kingston Park NEWCASTLE are aiming for their fifth straight home victory when they welcome the […]

Ospreys crash to earth

15 December 2024 0 comments

■ By SIMON THOMAS Montpellier ……………. 59pts Tries: Martins 11, DuGuid 15, Uelese 29, Coly 37, Akrab 43, Moustin 52, Cadot 54, Forletta 62, Tambwe […]

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 […]

No Zach Mercer decision until end of season

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Gloucester will not decide on Zach Mercer’s future until the end of the season as speculation that he will return to France […]

Montpellier are pushed all the way by Dragons

8 December 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Dragons …………. 14pts Tries: Basham 26, O’Brien 40 Conversions: O’Brien 27, 40 Montpellier ….. 18pts Tries: Tambwe 13, Tauleigne 21 Conversion: Barreau […]

Ex-Scotland captain Stuart Hogg sentenced to non-harassment order

5 December 2024 0 comments

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been sentenced to a five-year non-harassment order and fined after breaching bail. Hogg had his sentence for […]

Stade are heading in right direction Racing

1 December 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN IS there an early winter equivalent to the idiom about solitary swallows and the impending arrival of summer? Because – whatever […]

Schmidt praised for Sua’ali’i shift

17 November 2024 0 comments

■By CAMERON STEPHENS Winger: Joe Tomane FORMER Wallaby wing Joe Tomane says Joe Schmidt’s coaching qualities are the reason why Joseph Sua’ali’i has had such […]

Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions

10 November 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has – so far – been no exception. In fact, […]

Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg admits domestic abuse

4 November 2024 0 comments

Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has admitted abusing his estranged wife over the course of five years. Hogg, 32, had been due to stand trial […]

Titi Lamositele’s happy to do his talking on the pitch

20 October 2024 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Titi Lamositele is happy at being the quiet achiever at Harlequins having moved to a club full of big characters from Montpellier […]

Gustard needs to get Stade rocking

20 October 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE November break cannot come quickly enough for Stade Francais, no matter what happens against Clermont in Paris on Saturday night […]

Manu Tuilagi makes mark for Bayonne

13 October 2024 0 comments

French Column, by James Harrington While the focus of French rugby attention is on Stade Ernest Wallon and the return to action of a certain […]

Luke Cowan-Dickie tipped for an England return

6 October 2024 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson has backed hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie to play a prominent part in England’s autumn, and stay in the […]

Tom Willis: Ben Earl is an inspiration to all

6 October 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Saracens No.8 Tom Willis will be taking inspiration from clubmate Ben Earl when he heads into England training camp. Willis is back […]

Zach Mercer focused on job at Kingsholm

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Zach Mercer has brushed aside speculation over his future and insists Gloucester can hit the ground running when they begin their Premiership […]

Henry Chavancy notches No. 400 for Racing 92

15 September 2024 0 comments

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 […]

Castres steal it in dramatic late show

8 September 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The big kick-off: Henry Arundell scored Racing’s first try of the season but it was not a debut to remember for […]

Set-piece woes leave Quins adrift in Corsica

1 September 2024 0 comments

■ By NICK POWELL Montpellier …..37pts Tries: Tisseron 8, Camara 20, Tauleigne 66, Karkadze 72 Conversions: Coly 9, 21; Barreau 67, 73 Penalties: Coly 15, […]

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 […]

Racing 92 confirm Le Garrec is leaving

18 August 2024 0 comments

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 […]

Flamboyant Harlequins add steel to their spine

21 July 2024 0 comments

HARLEQUINS are following the path trodden by Northampton a year ago, one that took the Saints to Twickenham and the title as a team known […]

Vannes facing a tough early test

21 July 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Promoted ProD2 winners Vannes will kick off their first-ever season in the Top 14 at home against 23-time French champions Toulouse […]

International pair join Montpellier

14 July 2024 0 comments

MONTPELLIER have confirmed the signing of England No.8 Billy Vunipola, right, and former Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg, below. Hogg, who retired last summer after four […]

Spanish relishing their dream debut

23 June 2024 0 comments

SPAIN This year’s newcomers are Spain but the Lions face a tough task in their first-ever World Championship. Spain qualified last summer with a thrilling […]

Mistake to select Tom and not Ted

16 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Ted Hill must be wondering what else he has to do to get back into an England […]

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 […]

There is no warm welcome for Spain

16 June 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Gone but still winning. Sort of! London Irish may have met with […]

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 […]

Burrows living the dream with Yorkshire at HQ

16 June 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN FORMER Newcastle and Coventry star Ryan Burrows has spoken of his personal joy at being able to fulfil a boyhood dream in […]

Carbonel winner ensures last-gasp Montpellier survival

16 June 2024 0 comments

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 […]

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 […]

Gopperth misses out on top flight

2 June 2024 0 comments

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 […]

Dream Team

26 May 2024 0 comments

Rob Miller, the former Newcastle, Wasps, Sale, Tynedale & England U20 full-back, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Peter Southern […]

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 […]

Vunipola trio to depart Saracens

14 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens players Billy, Mako and Manu Vunipola are to leave the North London club at the end of the current campaign. The trio have amassed […]

Tbilisi win was key – Skivington

12 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE George Skivington has credited the European Challenge Cup win against Black Lion in Tbilisi as the moment Gloucester turned their season around. […]

Power of the four musketeers

12 May 2024 0 comments

A common theme of last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals was the influence of the four scrum-halves, the catalysts of teams that look to get the […]

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 […]

Vunipola arrested and tasered twice in Majorca incident

29 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens and former England number eight Billy Vunipola has been arrested following a violent incident in a bar in Majorca. According to reports in The […]

Langdon is quick to make his point

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton have placed an emphasis this season on putting pace in the legs of their players and that suits Curtis Langdon, a […]

Record crowds flock to matches

28 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN More people than ever are flocking through the turnstiles of Top 14 and ProD2 matches, according to figures published by […]

I’m loving every single minute

21 April 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens finds former Exeter Chiefs playmaker Joe Simmonds enjoying his new life in France In the picturesque town of Pau nestled at the foot […]

JIFF looks likely to play a vital role

21 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN It’s logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins – to think purely in […]

Pienaar heads the list for Europe’s golden oldies

14 April 2024 0 comments

In the course of wheeling their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend against the Cheetahs, the Michelin Men of Clermont brought a somewhat […]

Montpellier lead chase for Munster ace Frisch

7 April 2024 0 comments

Montpellier are leading the chase for Munster centre Antoine Frisch, who has declared his allegiance to France over Ireland. Born in Fontainebleau, France, Frisch qualifies […]

Ulster set for massive fight

7 April 2024 0 comments

Preview Montpellier v Ulster Today. 12.30pm ULSTER interim head coach Richie Murphy says a ‘massive test’ awaits in Montpellier. Ulster have lost their last two […]

Clermont survive second-half scare

7 April 2024 0 comments

Clermont ……..27 Cheetahs …….22 ■By BEN JAYCOCK THREE-TIME Challenge Cup winners Clermont held off a Cheetahs fightback to earn a place in the last eight. […]

Toulon will have to wait for Carbonel

1 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN LOUIS Carbonel’s immediate Top 14 future is in Montpellier. The question is: for how long? The Toulon-born fly-half has been the […]