Top 14

French fade away as Champions Cup heads to the business stage

29 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES The Heineken Champions Cup is still occasionally referred to as Europe, but the presence of three South African franchises has transformed the […]

Gibbes given his marching orders after Tigers mauling

22 January 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Christophe Urios will take charge at Top 14 side Clermont on Monday, after the “breathing space” afforded his predecessor Jono Gibbes […]

Maunder: French leavers a big blow

8 January 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Exeter scrum-half Sam Maunder admits the departure of their England stars at the end of the season will be a big loss […]

Convicted Laporte ‘suspends himself’

31 December 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN PICTURE: Getty Images AS 2022 gives way to 2023, and about three weeks after he was convicted of corruption charges, the […]

Crossdale staying put

23 December 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Former England prospect Ali Crossdale could remain in France next season, with Perpignan who could take up a one-year option […]

Morahan to leave Bristol for Bayonne

18 December 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Luke Morahan will make his final appearance for Bristol today when they face Zebre in the Challenge Cup having spent five years […]

Conviction that spells the end for Laporte

18 December 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Bernard Laporte’s future as president of French rugby’s governing body has to be untenable after he was found guilty of corruption […]

Kpoku on alert as he gets set for Saracens

11 December 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Raring to go: I’m massively excited about our match against my old club, says Lyon’s Joel Kpoku PICTURE: Getty Images Two […]

Bath and Racing to battle over Russell

4 December 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE Racing 92 have stepped up their bid to keep Scotland ace Finn Russell in the French capital next season amid interest from […]

Ex-Tiger Henry on his way to Stade

4 December 2022 2 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Leicester Tigers fly-half Zack Henry, above, could be on his way to Stade Francais when his Pau contract runs out at […]

Clermont face fight to hold on to Penaud

4 December 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Star player: Damian Penaud is one of the hottest properties in French rugby PICTURE: Getty Images Damian Penaud is one of […]

Coach O’Gara receives his fourth ban in a year

27 November 2022 1 comment

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara has been given a fourth suspension in a year after being banned for 10 weeks due to “harming the […]

Falcons lock Merrick heading for Top 14

27 November 2022 1 comment

Former England U20s lock George Merrick has left Newcastle Falcons with ‘immediate effect’ to join an undisclosed French club. The 30-year-old has made 13 appearances […]

Toulon’s Kolbe has Japan in his sights

27 November 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN FIFTEEN months ago, news of Cheslin Kolbe’s switch from Toulouse to Top 14 rivals Toulon delivered an electric shock to what […]

Lucu gets chance to show what he can do

20 November 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Opportunity: Maxime Lucu steps up for France in today’s match against Japan PICTURE: Getty Images When an international side has a […]

Bayonne turning home into a fortress

6 November 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN HEADING into the three-week international break, two Top 14 teams in particular will be pretty happy with their opening 10-game block. […]

Langdon’s looking to improve in France

30 October 2022 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE Travelling man: Curtis Langdon, seen here playing for Worcester, has joined Montpellier PICTURES: Getty Images On a whim, former Sale and Worcester […]

The going now gets tough for Toulouse

30 October 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN IT’S very much a case of so far, so good for Top 14 leaders Toulouse, who headed into this ninth weekend […]

Lancaster bombs out Giroud at Racing 92

16 October 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Injury concern: France may be without full-back Melvyn Jaminet for the autumn internationals PICTURE: Getty Images The announcement this week from […]

Whitford poised to join Lancaster

9 October 2022 0 comments

Stuart Lancaster is set to turn to an experienced hand when he moves to Racing 92 next season, with Tom Whitford tipped to join his […]

Labit and Ghezal set to link up in Paris

9 October 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN France attack coach Laurent Labit is set to replace Gonzalo Quesada at the head of Stade Francais – and is expected […]

Lancaster’s Racing switch confirmed

26 September 2022 1 comment

Stuart Lancaster’s move to Racing 92 at the end of the season has been confirmed today by current club Leinster. The move has been much […]

Vakatawa highlights a serious problem

18 September 2022 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT The desperate news surrounding Virimi Vakatawa – a proper centre on his day and plenty good enough for most opposition even when he […]

Wade seals Racing 92 move

12 September 2022 0 comments

Christian Wade has secured a fairytale move to Racing 92, as he recommences his rugby career after four years away. Wade, 31, made no hint […]

Racing 92 hit hard by Vakatawa retirement

11 September 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN For Racing 92, this is the first weekend after the unexpected retirement before. A matter of days after the club’s French […]

England and Top 14 star Mercer first name in Razor-rog Barbarians squad

6 September 2022 0 comments

England, Bath and Montpellier star Zach Mercer has been named in the Barbarians squad for November’s Killik Cup 2022 match against All Blacks XV taking […]

Christian wades in with a dream return

28 August 2022 0 comments

By MATT BADCOCK Christian Wade marked his return to rugby after four years away with two tries. The 31-year-old former England international went over twice […]

France set to rock with the best league in the world

28 August 2022 1 comment

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW French flair: La Rochelle may be champions of Europe but they finished fifth in their league PICTURE: […]

Concern as refs switch to other side

28 August 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Another of French rugby’s leading gamekeepers turned coach this week, as Top 14 referee Maxime Chalon put down his whistle and […]

French clubs look at Nowell

21 August 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE Exeter winger Jack Nowell could move to France after the World Cup with his CV doing the rounds of Top 14 recruitment […]

Broncan: We want to invest in youth

31 July 2022 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Pre-season is now underway for all Top 14 sides apart from champions Montpellier, who officially return to camp on Monday. Some […]

Worsley: Cut season length to safeguard the players

24 July 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Joe Worsley insists the length of the Top 14 season must be cut and contact sessions in training dramatically reduced to protect […]

Clash of the champions will open new season

10 July 2022 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Two blockbuster matches are scheduled for the opening weekend of the 2022/23 Top 14 season as European champions La Rochelle entertain […]

Top 14 Final Preview – Castres and Montpellier eye the big prize

24 June 2022 0 comments

Castres will be the narrowest of favourites as they play Montpellier in what promises to be a classic French Top 14 final. Castres finished top […]

Cheslin Kolbe returns in time for Challenge Cup Final

26 May 2022 0 comments

Springbok superstar Cheslin Kolbe returns for Toulon in time for their European Challenge Cup final against Lyon at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Despite both […]

Mercurial Teddy’s off in search of Test rebirth

5 December 2021 2 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN France international winger Teddy Thomas wasn’t even in Racing 92’s squad for this weekend’s Top 14 defeat at Castres – yet […]

Mercer in top form as Eddie looks on

28 November 2021 1 comment

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The Top 14 returned after a three-week international break for two rounds ahead of the start of the European competitions, with […]

Finn Russell says no to Japan’s offer of ‘at least’ £1m

26 September 2021 0 comments

FINN Russell has turned down the chance to become the best-paid player in the world and will see out the remaining two years of his […]

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola in new contract talks as Top 14 watch

29 August 2021 0 comments

Saracens are set to ask England prop Mako Vunipola to take a salary cut, TRP understands

The club hoping to make Scotland ace Finn Russell rugby’s richest man

15 August 2021 0 comments

Michael Cheika wants to bring the star of the third Lions Test to Japan

Leicester Tigers academy product Tandoh to head to France

8 August 2021 0 comments

The Tigers back row has the option to return to Oval Park after deciding to take a year to play for Stade Francais and study in Paris

Top 14 is favourite destination for Argentina’s Olympic star Marcos Moneta

1 August 2021 0 comments

Moneta was key to Argentina Sevens winning the bronze medal in Tokyo

Richard Cockerill keeps his England options open

25 July 2021 1 comment

Clermont Auvergne and England are interested in the coach who left Edinburgh this week

Where Martin Landajo is off to after leaving Harlequins

11 July 2021 1 comment

The Argentinian left the Stoop earlier this month after his contract expired

Saints prepared if Toulon persist in Dan Biggar swoop

4 July 2021 0 comments

NORTHAMPTON Saints have set aside a ‘healthy budget’ as they search fora new fly-half that places question marks over the future of Dan Biggar at […]

Double delight for pragmatic Toulouse | James Harrington

27 June 2021 0 comments

Toulouse were crowned champions of France for the 21st time on Friday night, some 13 months after the players had first gathered for a […]

Will Skelton will end his career in France

27 June 2021 1 comment

WILL Skelton has closed the door on a return to the Premiership after signing a four-year contract extension with La Rochelle. The former Saracens lock […]