JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN

TODAY, as fans get their breaths back after the Rugby World Cup final and the end of 48 matches of intense international pressure over seven weeks, the domestic Top 14 returns from a seven-week non-compete pause with a full schedule. Truth be told, this is effectively the start of a 23-match season – after the faux depart of the pre-World Cup three-match sprint. And it’s going to be a tough campaign. This is the start of an endurance block of 15 matches without a break that will stress-test squad resilience to destruction before the Si...