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Tag: Top 14

Stade are on journey – but is it to relegation?

17 September 2017 0 comments

FRENCH COLUMN On the move? French fly-half Jules Plisson could be leaving Stade Fair to say that Terry Bouhraoua is better known to the French […]

My Life in Rugby: Jamie Noon – former England, Newcaslte and Brive centre

12 September 2017 0 comments

Scoring a hat-trick against Scotland in my first Six Nations campaign – I think I was the first England player to do so in a […]

Pint-sized Gabriel cuts down Clermont

10 September 2017 1 comment

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Gabriel Lacroix, of La Rochelle, is an unlikely lad in the muscular world of the Top 14. He is a titch […]

Tolofua in challenge to Jamie

3 September 2017 1 comment

HARD-HITTING France hooker Christopher Tolofua believes quitting once-mighty Toulouse for European champions Saracens and a battle with Lions star Jamie George and Schalk Brits will […]

‘The Beast’ plots more try havoc in the Premiership

3 September 2017 2 comments

NAPOLIONI Nalaga, one of the most devastating finishers world rugby has seen, has declared himself fit and ready to take the Premiership by storm and […]

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

3 September 2017 1 comment

THE FORMER ENGLAND, NEWCASTLE FALCONS AND BRIVE CENTRE JAMIE NOON Scoring a hat-trick against Scotland in my first Six Nations campaign – I think I […]

Henson gets hit out

13 August 2017 0 comments

Montpellier 40 Dragons 15 GAVIN Henson made his return to Welsh club rugby on Friday night but it was in a losing cause as the […]

New-fangled PRO 14 is disaster waiting to happen

6 August 2017 0 comments

COLIN BOAG There is no shortage of top-class rugby players, but my goodness the game seems to be very light on worldclass administrators. You would […]

Mike Ford: My love of risk-taking has landed me in the USA

3 August 2017 0 comments

The opportunity to try something new appealed to me when Dallas Griffins owner Phil Camm asked me to head up the club’s rugby operations ahead […]

8 reasons why it’s worth betting on rugby

2 August 2017 0 comments

The year 2017 places rugby second only to football regarding global popularity. The game with a rich and occasionally controversial history is growing leaps and […]

Old pals Catrakalis and Swiel set to battle it out

30 July 2017 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY Order of the boot: Demetri Catrakilis shows his kicking repertoire for Montpellier against Quins PICTURES: Getty Images NEW Harlequins fly-half Demetri Catrakilis […]

YOUNG GUNS

30 July 2017 0 comments

MATT WORLEY RACING 92 FULL-BACK It was a PR stunt that took Matt Worley from Hong Kong to Racing 92, but two years later the […]

Far from fun as Wild era kicks off in controversy

30 July 2017 2 comments

In the spotlight: Stade’s Fijian wing Waisea Nayacalevu PICTURE: Getty Images It wasn’t quite what Dr. Hans- Peter Wild ordered this summer when he bought […]

Andy Goode: You’ve got to be a big noise now, Demetri!

28 July 2017 0 comments

The fly-half merry-go-round has been in full swing throughout a frenetic last few months with a host of No.10s switching clubs in the Premiership or arriving […]

Peter Jackson: How Leigh Halfpenny went from hero to zero offers in less than six months

26 July 2017 0 comments

Six months ago Leigh Halfpenny found himself under a veritable bombardment of offers on an ever-escalating scale over his next move. They came raining down […]

From hero to zero in less than six months

23 July 2017 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Six months ago Leigh Halfpenny found himself under a veritable bombardment of offers on an ever-escalating scale over his next move. They came […]

You’ve got to be a big noise now, Demetri!

23 July 2017 0 comments

ANDY GOODE The fly-half merry-goround has been in full swing throughout a frenetic last few months with a host of No.10s switching clubs in the […]

I was left out in 2015 and I’ll risk missing 2019 to prove my class in Europe, says Exeter signing White

20 July 2017 0 comments

Revved-up Aussie maestro Nic White has revealed why he rejected the chance to fight for a place at the 2019 World Cup in favour of […]

Vintage crew quits Top 14

16 July 2017 0 comments

FOR the first time this century, a quartet of Test veterans will be missing when the Top 14 come under starter’s orders next month. Julien […]

Cruden can help restore the thrills

16 July 2017 0 comments

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Montpellier fans cannot wait to see All Black fly-half Aaron Cruden in their colours this season. They see him as the […]

Namibian star for Scottish

16 July 2017 0 comments

NAMIBIANinternational Tjiuee Uanivi has signed for London Scottish from Glasgow Warriors. The 26-year-old can play either second-row or flanker, and has played Top 14, Super […]

Ashton signs on to mixed reception

9 July 2017 1 comment

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Show-off? Chris Ashton dives to score PICTURE: Getty Images The headline writers in Toulon are giving Chris Ashton the name of […]

As the pressure ramped up, so cool Gatland kept his nerve

2 July 2017 1 comment

Big impact: Courtney Lawes BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT This Test was not only a compelling thriller which instantly claims its place in Lions folklore but a […]

‘Unexpected’ Sale move for James O’Connor

21 June 2017 0 comments

Despite denying having spoken to the player a few weeks back, Sale have confirmed the signing of James O’Connor on a three-year deal. On April […]

Sorry Gloucester but I had to put family first – Fearns

18 June 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY CONTRACT renegade Carl Fearns says securing his family’s future outweighed all other considerations once it became apparent that Top 14 outfit Lyon […]

Bad boy Pape signs off in inimitable style

18 June 2017 1 comment

PETER JACKSON reveals his exclusive table of Europe’s saints and sinners Leaving his mark: Stade Francais second row Pascal Pape PICTURE: Getty Images Gerard Cholley, […]

Clerc feels driven to repay debt to Toulon

18 June 2017 1 comment

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Most of the good things come in threes for Vincent Clerc, the veteran winger who will share a Toulon dressingroom with […]

Gloucester Statement – Carl Fearns

14 June 2017 0 comments

Gloucester have confirm that Carl Fearns will be staying in France to continue playing his rugby in the Top 14 with Lyon, despite putting pen […]

Halfpenny and Sexton time out

11 June 2017 0 comments

HADthe French initiative on clocking goalkickers been transferred to New Zealand, the Lions would have been in even more of a pickle. Two of their […]

I’m restless as ever to achieve says Haskell. I’m not here to drink coffee

11 June 2017 1 comment

Nick Cain talks to James Haskell abut his ambition that burns so intensely to succeed for the Lions. Nick Cain JAMES Haskell is a Lion […]

Vermeulen meets with specialist ahead of series opener against France

6 June 2017 0 comments

South Africa number 8 Duane Vermeulen will not play a part in the three-Test home series against France this month. Vermeulen picked up a shoulder […]

Leroy Houston signs with Bordeaux-Begles

6 June 2017 0 comments

Former Bath fan favourite Leroy Houston has signed for Top 14 side Bordeaux-Begles after requesting his Reds contract be terminated with the Super Rugby side. […]

Brits: Champions Cup must be season finale

4 June 2017 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY SCHALK Brits has blasted the timing of this year’s Champions Cup final and insists bosses of Europe’s three major leagues must ensure […]

Exiles bring in Top14 star wing and six others

2 June 2017 0 comments

London Irish have landed Top 14 winger Napolioni Nalaga from Lyon ahead of next season. Nalaga, 31, who racked up 105 tries in 165 games […]

CONFIRMED: Picamoles leaves Northampton

31 May 2017 0 comments

Northampton Saints have announced that Louis Picamoles will be leaving the club to rejoin Montpellier. The France No.8 only moved to Franklin’s Gardens last summer […]

Eddie’s in need of a big rethink says Lamb

31 May 2017 0 comments

France-bound fly-half Ryan Lamb says Eddie Jones‘ decision to exclude Freddie Burns, Danny Cipriani and Christian Wade from the tour to Argentina is “unbelievable”. Lamb, […]

Cockerill faces his old rivals in the final

28 May 2017 0 comments

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Richard Cockerill, Nick Abendanon and David Strettle, rivals for so long in different colours in their homeland, will give a distinctly […]

Abendanon: It’s not a nice feeling but we’ll be back again

14 May 2017 1 comment

NICK Abendanon was left gutted by Saracens’ stunning finale after his side had fought their way back into the match. He said: “It’s probably a […]

England will be firing the killer shots in pool of death

14 May 2017 1 comment

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Like all rugby fans, I was looking forward to this week’s draw for the World Cup […]

Stade sale begins as club await new owner

14 May 2017 1 comment

Stade Francais turned the winning of the first European trophy in their history into a farewell party for some of their greatest heroes. Their Challenge […]

Brendan Gallagher: Crusading Clermont are closing in on their Holy Grail

11 May 2017 0 comments

It possibly won’t surprise you that Clermont – who took 99 years to land their first French Championship and who are almost defined by their […]

Picamoles has stood out despite Saints’ struggles

7 May 2017 0 comments

Dominant: Northampton No.8 Louis Picamoles PICTURE: Getty Images IT is no real surprise that there are three Wasps in the RPA Players’ Player of the […]

Carter set to face England for last time

30 April 2017 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Home play-off here we come: Sam Hill, right, celebrates Chiefs’ fourth try in their defeat of Northampton PICTURE: Getty Images DAN CARTER […]

Derby day can inspire us says Matson

30 April 2017 1 comment

BATH’S European ambitions came crashing down last Sunday in Paris but they have to bounce back quickly if they are to make the Premiership semi-finals […]

Dusautoir will end his career at Twickenham

30 April 2017 1 comment

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Thierry Dusautoir will bring the curtain down on a phenomenal career with his first-ever match for the Barbarians against England at […]

Abendanon: I’m coming home to push bid for 2019 World Cup

23 April 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY NICK Abendanon could yet compete for an England full-back spot at the 2019 World Cup after revealing he is likely to head […]

Wasps’ defeat ends hopes of Lions call-up for Cipriani

9 April 2017 0 comments

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN As if to prove the point I made last week about the standard of club verses […]

Crossword

9 April 2017 0 comments

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS Across: 1 Hogg 3 Ojomoh, 7 Munster, 8 Earls, 9 Slack, 11 Black, 13 Butts, 15 Egerton, 16 Huxley, 17 Beal. Down: […]

Stade are enjoying their new lease of life

9 April 2017 1 comment

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Stade Francais, so recently facing extinction in a merger with Racing, have become a key element in the fixture wrangle dividing […]