Top 14
This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Top 14 news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoTV deal hits the €700m jackpot
By JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Jeroboams of champagne all round at Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) headquarters earlier this week, after...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoDramatic finale puts Brive into play-offs
By JAMES HARRINGTON The ProD2 supplied a final glorious regular-season round for the ages in a perfectly timed reminder to broadcasters...
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Peter Jackson
/ 2 years agoDavies the leading light in Welsh quartet
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Four international fly-halves took flight from Wales last year, understandably so given the...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoI may sell Toulon for €1 – Lemaitre
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A matter of weeks after ProD2 strugglers Biarritz were sold for €1, Toulon owner Bernard Lemaitre suggested...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoBiarritz’s fight for survival goes on
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Ten days ago, under-new-management ProD2 strugglers Biarritz gave themselves what looked a lot like a crucial safety...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoRecord crowds flock to matches
JAMES HARRINGTON - FRENCH COLUMN More people than ever are flocking through the turnstiles of Top 14 and ProD2 matches, according...
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Top 14
/ 2 years agoI’m loving every single minute
Mark Stevens finds former Exeter Chiefs playmaker Joe Simmonds enjoying his new life in France In the picturesque town of Pau...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoJIFF looks likely to play a vital role
JAMES HARRINGTON - FRENCH COLUMN It's logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins –...
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Chris Hewett
/ 2 years agoWe need Biarrtitz back to their best
SERGE Blanco, the finest full-back ever to grace the union game, spent his entire club career at Biarritz. So did the...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoBiarritz’s future is back in its hands
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN To the relief of fans, white smoke was finally seen over the stand tops of Biarritz’s Parc...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoMontpellier lead chase for Munster ace Frisch
Montpellier are leading the chase for Munster centre Antoine Frisch, who has declared his allegiance to France over Ireland. Born in...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years ago‘Immortal’ Whitelock to retire
By SAM JACKSON NEW Zealand’s mostcapped player Sam Whitelock will retire at the end of the French club season in June....
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoTV deal to break €500m barrier
FRENCH COLUMN - JAMES HARRINGTON France's Ligue Nationale de Rugby hopes to pocket more than half-a-billion euros, after launching a call...
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Top 14
/ 2 years agoToulon will have to wait for Carbonel
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN LOUIS Carbonel’s immediate Top 14 future is in Montpellier. The question is: for how long? The Toulon-born...
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Premiership
/ 2 years agoLam: I understand Sinckler decision
By PAUL REES Pat Lam understands Kyle Sinckler’s decision to turn his back on England and join the exodus to France...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoSlade: I’m happy to stay a Chief
ON THE BLINDSIDE By MARK STEVENS Henry Slade is set to reject the advances of clubs on the other side of...
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Chris Hewett
/ 2 years agoIt’s time to consider talent, not geography
If everyone is heading to French club rugby, including the England centurion Courtney Lawes, it makes Courtney Lawes right: rival unions...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoToulon heading in right direction
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULON coach Pierre Mignoni earned something of a reprieve this weekend, as his side’s 54-7 win over...
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Premiership
/ 2 years agoFiji star Nayacalevu signs for Sale
Sale have signed Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top 14 side Toulon on a one-year contract with an option for...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoToulouse and Stade in line for a race to glory
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The top two tiers of French domestic rugby have been on hiatus this weekend, giving fans a...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoFrench setting sights on Tuilagi
Perpignan and Montpellier are chasing the signature of England centre Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi would join up with his nephew Posolo Tuilagi...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoOyonnax have to keep on believing
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Oyonnax manager Joe El-Abd promised last week that his side would ‘fight to the end’ following their...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoNowell extends deal to stay at La Rochelle
ON THE BLINDSIDE By MARK STEVENS Jack Nowell’s French connection is set to go on for a few more years yet,...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoBig clubs are hit by ‘doublon’ clashes
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN We always knew the World Cup would play havoc with the Top 14 season – as soon...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBig two leading charge
JAMES HARRINGTON STADE Francais and reigning champions Toulouse look set to continue their twohorse race for top spot with both victorious...
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Latest News
/ 2 years ago“Time feels right” to make Racing move – Farrell
Owen Farrell admits that leaving Saracens was a “difficult decision” but that he is ready to “experience something different” by moving...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoCollazo may risk all to beat the drop
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN It is a truth universally accepted in French domestic rugby that the side propping up the Top...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoToulon need to win over the critics
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Sometimes it’s not immediately obvious whether a side is in good shape or not. A simple look...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoLudlam has his sights set on Toulon
ENGLAND flanker Lewis Ludlam will leave Northampton at the end of the season, with Toulon understood to be his destination. The...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoCalvet’s likely to step in at Agen
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN France Under-20s coach Sebastien Calvet has emerged as favourite to replace Bernard Goutta on the conveyor-belt of...
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Premiership
/ 2 years agoBrive line up move for Lawes
Courtney Lawes is set to leave Northampton this summer to join Brive. According to reports in France, the former England back...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoKennedy wanted in France
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Top 14 giants LA Rochelle and Racing 92 are both eyeing up a move for...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoMarchant will see out deal at Stade
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Stade Francais are expecting former England centre Joe Marchant, who only moved to the French...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoDavidson relief as Castres stop rot
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The afternoon after the Friday-night chastening Six Nations defeat in Marseille before, a subdued French rugby audience...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSinckler may head to France after England snub
By PAUL REES Pat Lam accepts that Kyle Sinckler may be more tempted to leave Bristol for France after being left...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoHill’s move to Lyon hangs in the balance
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon’s move for England lock Jonny Hill appears to be on the brink of collapse...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoEsterhuizen says no to Toulon
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen is on the shopping list for several clubs in Japan after...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoFarrell’s jumping from fire…into fire
RUGBY MATTERS I don't know about you but it’s occasionally been a bit of a torture watching Owen Farrell struggle with...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoLyon get it right against Perpignan
JAMES HARRINGTON In a league featuring the likes of Racing 92 and Toulouse, Toulon and La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Stade Francais,...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoFarrell Racing switch confirmed
Owen Farrell’s much-rumoured move to Racing 92 has been confirmed, ending his 15-year career at English champions Saracens. Farrell, 32, captained...
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Six Nations
/ 2 years agoAlldritt to captain France
La Rochelle captain Gregory Alldritt will lead France in the absence of Antoine Dupont, who will miss the Six Nations to...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoNow Slade holds talks with Stade
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade, who is out of contract at the end of the...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoHarrison happy at Provence
ON THE BLINDSIDE Former England back row Teimana Harrison has pledged his future to ProD2 promotion hopefuls Provence for at least...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoWillis rules himself out of England
England won’t have Jack Willis available for selection for at least another two years after he activated a one-year option in...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoLucu the man to replace Dupont
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN An email drop and social media flurry confirmed the line-up of France’s 34-player training squad for the...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoBordeaux deal for van Rensburg
Former Sale centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg will be on the move again at the end of the season after signing...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoFarrell will cost Racing £500k transfer fee
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens have put a €600,000 (£515,000) price tag on England’s World Cup skipper, Owen Farrell,...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoPay me what I’m worth – Lawes
Courtney Lawes has sent a warning to Northampton and told the club, “I’ve got to be paid what I’m worth,” after...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoNo rush to get Tuilagi involved
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Something of a big deal was made last week about the fact that, a matter of days...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoMcCall: I wouldn’t blame Farrell
By ROB WILDMAN Saracens boss Mark McCall did little last night to dampen the speculation that England captain Owen Farrell is...
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