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Jack Willis: I’m loving my life with Toulouse

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens While some sides would consider the tag of defending champions as a target on their backs, it appears Toulouse see it more […]

Freddie Steward leads calls for Michael Cheika to stay at Leicester Tigers

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Michael Cheika will hold talks with Leicester after Christmas over his future having signed a one-year contract with the East Midlands club. […]

Jack Nowell proves that he’s still the lad

22 December 2024 0 comments

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 […]

At least the French are going full-bore in Champions Cup

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Jackson Neutrals the world over will relish the prospect of Toulouse and La Rochelle invading Cardiff at season’s end for the seventh all-French […]

Bouscatel looks like he will run again

22 December 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN ADVENT tensions rather than goodwill in the corridors of French rugby power in the week leading up to Christmas, as Top […]

Scotland will benefit from winning habit – Blair Kinghorn

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Blair Kinghorn has been getting into the winning habit with Antoine Dupont and co at Toulouse and reckons that could spell bad […]

England-born Junior Kpoku rules out playing for France

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Hard-hitting: Racing 92 lock Junior Kpoku Junior Kpoku, ineligible for Steve Borthwick’s England team while playing for Racing 92, says the prospect […]

Ronan O’Gara keeps on driving La Rochelle

15 December 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens talks to the former Ireland No.10 about his plans in France – and what could happen next In the heart of La Rochelle, […]

Mark McCall: There is no margin for error in this format so we have to back up last week

15 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Match Preview Stade Francais v Saracens Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stadium Mark McCall has warned his Saracens players not to be fooled by […]

Duncan Weir’s set for Toulon tester

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Match Preview Toulon vs Glasgow Today. 3.15pm Duncan Weir feels his Glasgow side must get to grips with Toulon’s boisterous atmosphere at […]

Roebuck the star as Sale cruise in

15 December 2024 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Sale ……………………………………………………….. 29pts Tries: J-L du Preez 19, Roebuck 34, Carpenter 51, Curry 60 Conversions: R du Preez 35, 52, 61 Penalty: […]

The global travellers who light up game

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed There is nothing especially funny about short-term memory loss, but it may just have an upside when it comes […]

Cian Prendergast takes reins

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock PREVIEW… Perpignan v Connacht Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade Aimé Giral Connacht captain Cian Prendergast returns to lead his side for the first […]

Off-target Gloucester get lesson in finishing

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Vannes………………………….. 43pts Tries: Benmegal 2, 46; Ruru 4, 10; Chateau 65, Blanchard 70 Conversions: Lafage 3, 5, 47, 66, 71 Penalty: Lafage […]

Darcy Graham sparks Edinburgh into life

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Edinburgh ……..58 Bayonne ……….. 12 Darcy Graham showed what Edinburgh missed in their defeat to Gloucester as the winger heralded his return […]

Wales duo out for revenge

15 December 2024 0 comments

■ By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Scarlets v Black Lion Today. Kick-off 1pm, Parc y Scarlets WALES internationals Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies resume their half-back […]

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 […]

Sale Sharks vs Racing 92 – Match Betting Preview

12 December 2024 0 comments

The second week of the Champions Cup begins with an exhilarating Friday night clash at the Salford Community Stadium, where Sale Sharks face Racing 92. […]

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 […]

Jack Nowell: I’m loving life on and off the pitch at La Rochelle

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan McGilligan As Jack Nowell stepped off the plane to start his La Rochelle career, he was stepping into the unknown challenges that would […]

I’d rather have the old Champions Cup format – Stuart McCloskey

8 December 2024 0 comments

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey admits he preferred the Champions Cup’s previous format, with the current structure leaving some teams with an “absolutely terrible draw”. Teams […]

Clermont have far too much class for Benetton

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Clermont………..28 Benetton…………. 0 Clermont out-muscled Benetton to cruise to a commanding bonus point victory with Peceli Yato and Barnabe Massa both grabbing […]

Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell get back in the old routine

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Northampton Saints…… 38pt Tries: Dingwall 3, Mayanavanua 8, Augustus 43 62; Langdon 49, Pollock 74 Conversions: Smith 4, 9, 50, 75 Castres……………………………. […]

Ulster facing Antoine Dupont threat

8 December 2024 0 comments

Match Preview By Ben Jaycock Toulouse v Ulster Today – 3.15pm Ulster are gearing up for the daunting visit to reigning champions and Top 14 […]

Bath fail to make most of chances

8 December 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bath ……………………………………………………….. 20pts Tries: Dunn 47, Roux 56 Conversions: Russell 47, 56 Penalties: Russell 4, 30 La Rochelle …………………………………………… 24pts Tries: Jegou […]

Joe Heyes hoping to put on a magic show in Bordeaux

8 December 2024 0 comments

Match Preview By Jon Newcombe Bordeaux v Leicester Tigers Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade Chaban-Delmas Joe Heyes is hoping that Leicester can rekindle a bit of […]

Oh, for a one-stop TV shop for the lot

8 December 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Gogglebox: Bath taking on La Rochelle on Friday night PICTURE: Getty Images HERE’S a brain teaser: if you happen to be […]

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 […]

Bayonne ……… 17 Scarlets ……… 16

8 December 2024 0 comments

■By TOM CLEMENTS JORIS Segonds broke Scarlets’ hearts with a late penalty that denied the Welsh side an opening round victory. Ioan Lloyd nudged the […]

Emanuel marks historic Cardiff debut in style

8 December 2024 0 comments

■By SIMON THOMAS Lyon ………………..37pts Tries: Dumortier 7, 38, Parisien 25, Charcosset 48, Gonzalez 63 Conversions: Meliande 26, 49, 64 Penalties: Meliande 70, Gonzalez 75 […]

Sailing around the Med for a year is next for me – Tyler Ardron

8 December 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby TYLER ARDRON THE CANADA FORWARD, CURRENTLY AT CASTRES, WHO PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR OSPREYS AND THE CHIEFS In 18 months’ time, when […]

France won’t play All Blacks in USA

8 December 2024 0 comments

French Column – By James Harrington The FFR has rejected a proposal from New Zealand to relocate the third Test of next July’s tour to […]

Ghezal’s job is to drag Lyon out of a hole

8 December 2024 0 comments

GOOD news has been hard to come by at Top 14 strugglers Lyon in recent weeks. Last Saturday’s defeat at Pau, which saw them drop […]

Champions Cup potential breakout stars

6 December 2024 0 comments

Every year, an unexpected player rises to perform on the European stage, with it being a great place for both young and fringe talent to get a bit […]

Bath vs La Rochelle – Champions Cup Preview

6 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Under the lights this Friday, we will see two European giants, Bath and La Rochelle, clash in a sensational contest. […]

Will this be the year a South African club lifts the Champions Cup trophy?

5 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports The most significant competition in club rugby kicks off this weekend as the Champions Cup gets underway. Teams from the […]

All my energy is the going into Beziers

1 December 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY JOHNNY HOWARD THE FORMER NORTHAMPTON, BEZIER AND ENGLAND SEVENS SCRUM-HALF IT’S a dream to be a part-share owner of AS Beziers Hérault, […]

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 […]

What does the future hold for French rugby in 2025?

28 November 2024 0 comments

The Future of French Rugby: Perspectives for 2025 French rugby is undergoing a transformation. The French national team, Le XV de France, has emerged from […]

Waisea Nayacalevu filling Manu Tuilagi-shaped hole at Sale Sharks – Alex Sanderson

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock There’s only one Manu Tuilagi but Alex Sanderson is hoping Waisea Nayacelavu can partly fill a void left by the former England […]

Paul Sheehan

24 November 2024 0 comments

French show how it’s done AFTER five successive defeats, should England get rid of its overseas player rule? While they’re about it, the RFU should […]

DREAMTEAM

24 November 2024 0 comments

ALFIE PETCH, THE GLOUCESTER AND FORMER ENGLAND U20, EXETER, CORNISH PIRATES, BIARRITZ AND NORTHAMPTON PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH… 1. Alex […]

It’s not looking good for Lions from Wales

24 November 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW ONLY once in the last 100 years have the Lions chosen to play an entire Test series […]

Plummer cashes in on five minutes of fame

24 November 2024 0 comments

HARRY Plummer’s imminent transfer from the Blues in Auckland to the Michelin Men of Clermont Auvergne may well leave him with one of the briefest […]

Time to recognise Etzebeth’s talents

24 November 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S THE World Rugby annual awards tonight, held of course in that […]

Sadourny gets nod to replace Davidson

24 November 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Hat-trick man: Toulon wing Gael Drean runs in to score against Bayonne PICTURE: Getty Images IN April 2019, then-France coach Jacques […]

Mega-league plan will have to overcome huge hurdles

17 November 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week If 200 of the world’s highest-paid players are about to join the rugby union version […]

Simon Gillham must get justice for the Championship

17 November 2024 0 comments

Simon Gillham’s arrival as chair of the Championship/Tier 2 Board should be good news for English club rugby. Gillham, below, who spent 20 years in […]

Roll up, roll up: Crowds are rising to record levels

10 November 2024 0 comments

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). […]

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, […]

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