News By James Harrington
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Autumn Internationals
/ 2 weeks agoFrance 48-33 Australia: The French take their time to get into right gear
France took their time getting going, but they put on their best performance of the autumn, condemning Australia to a 10th...
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Columnists
/ 3 months agoFrench Column: Baptiste Jauneau and Lenni Nouchi to stay where they are
Last weekend, the futures of two of France's most sought-after young stars was a major topic of conversation. Montpellier flanker Lenni...
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James Harrington
/ 4 months agoFrench Column: Ten players who could hit the spot in ProD2
It's high summer in France – not that you’d necessarily know it given the weather over recent days, which has been...
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James Harrington
/ 5 months agoFrench Colummn: Bayonne in the fast lane for No.9 Leo Coly
It was mid-August last year – the 13th, to be precise – when Racing 92 suddenly confirmed their highly rated and,...
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Columnists
/ 5 months agoFrench Column: Top c14 lubs getting back in the swing
The Top 14 final brought the curtain down on the 2024/25 French rugby season just 15 days ago, with Toulouse lifting...
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Columnists
/ 5 months agoJames Harrington: Fabien Galthie’s squad will need to step up in New Zealand
After all the fuss from players and New Zealand Rugby, after the negotiations between union and league bosses, after the hints...
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Columnists
/ 6 months agoJames Harrington: Back to the future again for Biarritz
The decision, when it came, was no great surprise. ProD2 side Biarritz, relegated for financial reasons shortly after the end of...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoToulouse looking to splash the Kolbe cash | James Harrington
Summer recruits scored 32 of La Rochelle’s 59 points against Biarritz last weekend to the delight, no doubt, of Ronan O’Gara...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoFly-halves on move are talk of the town | James Harrington
Clubs’ recruitment and retention plans never stop. No sooner have they closed the book on squad hires for one season, than...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoRonan O’Gara’s diamonds can come up trumps | James Harrington
James Harrington previews the new Top 14 season and sees promise in La Rochell's hopes of banishing heartbreak in the final
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoThreat to pro rugby in Biarritz is very real | James Harrington
On paper, there was little out of the ordinary about Friday’s preseason friendly between impending Top 14 rivals Biarritz and Bordeaux....
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James Harrington
/ 4 years agoCouncil steps in to take care of Beziers after Emirati takeover collapse | James Harrington
Thirteen months ago, you probably recall, a proposed mega-money takeover of French ProD2 side Béziers dominated the rugby headlines on the...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoBrookes in to power up Toulon set-piece | James Harrington
A Toulouse-like revival at Toulon doesn't look set to happen this season on paper
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoPau-bound Daniel Ikpefan braves the crossover | James Harrington
After falling out of favour at Toulon, Ikpefan gets a shot at starring elsewhere in the Top 14 at Pau
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James Harrington
/ 4 years agoFighting talk from Galthie should put fear in rivals | James Harrington
How Fabien Galthie is building depth with France whilst also being '90 per cent' sure of his squad for the 2023...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoIbitoye on the move again after relegation | James Harrington
A relatively quiet transfer circus this year round in the Top 14, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoFrance are suffering a recurring nightmare | James Harrington
A tough loss for France to deal with in Brisbane – but they've been here before, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoCan French ‘third string’ spring more surprises? | James Harrington
Against seemingly evermounting coronavirus odds, France’s July tour of Australia is still set for Test takeoff – it may not quite...
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James Harrington
/ 4 years agoDouble delight for pragmatic Toulouse | James Harrington
Toulouse were crowned champions of France for the 21st time on Friday night, some 13 months after the players had...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoToulouse keep their‘ double’ dream alive with La Rochelle rematch | James Harrington
Friday’s 2020/21 season Top 14 final will be a repeat of last month’s blood-and-thunder Champions Cup showpiece, after both La Rochelle...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoPerpignan power up for return to Top 14 | James Harrington
Perpignan returned to the Top 14 in style after a two-year break, comprehensively beating Biarritz 33-14 in yesterday evening’s ProD2...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoBattle for last play-off place goes to the wire | James Harrington
Top 14 rugby returned to broadcast in the UK with tries aplenty being scored
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoStrict new protocols provoke reaction | James Harrington
James Harrington looks at the tough measures taken by the LNR to ensure the Top 14 and Pro D2 seasons conclude...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoMidweek pile-ups impossible to avoid | James Harrington
James Harrington explains why the Top 14 schedule is in a bottleneck
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoEuropean contenders will go into battle cold | James Harrington
Bordeaux-Begles and Montpellier will not have played a game since the quarter-final by the time the final four go head-to-head next...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarmony at Toulouse is music to Kaino’s ears | James Harrington
Earlier this week, both Toulouse and Clermont head coaches insisted that their sides are underdogs for today’s Champions Cup quarter-final at...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoFranck Azema exit confirmed, destination unknown | James Harrington
Jono Gibbes is high among the favourites to replace Azema at Clermont Auvergne, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoRacing snap up bargain of the season in Fickou | James Harrington
Racing 92 have signed Gael Fickou to form an all-France midfield with Virimi Vakatawa
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoBiarritz explore options far and wide | James Harrington
With signings Steffon Armitage and Henry Speight in the fold, ProD2 Biarritz are poised to launch a promotion bid this season....
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoBayonne push Agen one step nearer the inevitable | James Harrington
Midway through the second half of Italy v Wales, the Top 14 caught up with its Covid-hit schedule as the final...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoCanal Plus keep rights in bumper Top 14 deal | James Harrington
James Harrington reports on the megan deal Top 14 bosses and broadcaster Canal Plus have struck in France
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoMinister of Sport may withdraw support for Six Nations | James Harrington
French rugby has been in chaos for the past week, James Harrington explains
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoRest week turns sour for France as Antoine Dupont falls victim | James Harrington
James Harrington breaks down the week in French rugby, with Antoine Dupont's positive Covid-19 test a concern for Les Bleus
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoAll change for coaches as Cheika stands by | James Harrington
Top 14 club owners plan big coaching changes, with Michael Cheika under consideration by Montpellier president Mohed Altrad
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoTalks begin to expand Top 14 to 16 next season | James Harrington
A u-turn in French rugby after talk last month suggested the Top 14 would be reduced to 12, now it has...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoLacroix: We’ll get Euro Cups done | James Harrington
James Harrington reports on what is next for Top 14 clubs after the French government called to the Champions Cup and...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoJalibert in box seat to replace injured Ntamack | James Harrington
James Harrington reviews the week that was in French rugby, as Fabien Galthie faces up to being without star fly-half Romain...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoFrench feelgood factor is shortlived | James Harrington
James Harrington attacks the hyperbole surrounding the Press' dubbing of a France 'Replacement XV' which competed for the Autumn Nations Cup
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Top 14 clubs pay respects to France icon ‘Domi’
French rugby expert James Harrington recaps how French rugby paid tribute to Christophe Dominici following his tragic death
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Fabien Galthie names 16 newbies for Italian job
France took the unusual step of announcing their squad to play Italy even before their match against Scotland in the Autumn...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Clubs pay heavy price for out-of-window Test
James Harrington delivers his column on all things French rugby, with Toulouse the hardest hit by international call-ups
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: London-based firm Novalpina bid for a slice of the Top 14
James Harrington collects the stories you may have missed in French rugby over the past few weeks
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Handre Pollard a doubt for Lions tour after ACL horror
James Harrington recaps the second round of Top 14 action, in which £1m man Pollard was dealt a cruel blow
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Club Rugby
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: LNR chief warns Top 14 may need state aid
James Harrington reports on the situation facing French clubs, with COVID cases propping up in the player pool and TV rights...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Stade Francais looking less and less likely to be ready for Top 14 season
The Paris-based club has reported COVID-19 positive players have developed lesions on their lungs
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: FFR agree brutal schedule for Top 14 and Pro D2
James Harrington reports on how the 2020-21 French rugby schedule is shaping up and the outlook for Beziers
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Tuilagi and Faletau wanted in France, as clubs vote on lowering salary cap
Top 14 and Pro D2 presidents to meet in Toulouse for salary cap vote
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Mayor bid by Mohed Altrad hit by third cap scandal
Montpellier are being investigated for potentially breaching the Top 14's €11.3m salary cap threshold
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: French cash crisis and JIFF rule should halt Racing’s bid for Itoje
Racing 92's recruitment thus far closed their chequebook after the signing of Kurtley Beale, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 6 years agoHarrington column: Takeovers, big moves, life goes on in Pro D2
James Harrington reports on how money is swirling around the second tier of French rugby












