James Harrington

Autumn Internationals

/ 2 weeks ago

France 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...

By James Harrington

Latest News

/ 2 weeks ago

Pau rise high to cut down Bordeaux

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Pair of aces: Matthieu Jalibert in action for Bordeaux on Friday and, inset, Pau’s tyro No.10 Axel...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Autumn Internationals

/ 3 weeks ago

France 34-21 Fiji: Nicholas Depoortere at the double to take Les Bleus out of sight

Centre Nicolas Depoortere scored in each half as France all-but guaranteed themselves a top-six seeding in the Rugby World Cup 2027...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 month ago

Perpignan expected to move for Labit

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Last 10 standing: Perpignan fly-half Tommaso Allan and, inset, Joe Worsley PICTURES: Getty Images EIGHT. That was...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

Toulon’s Herve on his way to Castres

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULON fly-half Enzo Herve is on the move, a few months after he rejected a proposed swap...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 3 months ago

Head injuries force Willemse to retire

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN IT has long been expected, but this week – nearly a year after his last appearance on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 3 months ago

Reasons to be cheerful at Stade

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Back in favour: Stade Francais fly-half Louis Carbonel PICTURES: Getty Images ONE match does not make a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Miscellaneous

/ 3 months ago

French pair part of exciting generation

JAMES Harrington, our excellent go-to man on all things French, informs us that two of the country’s prime talents – the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Columnists

/ 3 months ago

French 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...

By James Harrington

Columnists

/ 6 months ago

James 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...

By James Harrington

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Another bad day for sorry Grenoble

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN All action: Grenoble’s Julien Farnoux takes the fight to Perpignan at Stade des Alpes PICTURE: Getty Images...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Columnists

/ 6 months ago

French Column: Fabien Galthie prepares to spring surprises for New Zealand tour

White smoke of a sort was spotted this week, heralding FFR and LNR agreement on tweaks to the player release deal...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Biarritz made to pay price – again

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN HISTORIC French rugby side Biarritz were relegated from the ProD2 on Monday for financial reasons, just over...

By The Rugby Paper Team

/ 8 months ago

Top 14: Raffaele Storti set to get his chance at Grenoble

French Column by James Harrington Portugal winger Raffaele Storti has made a habit of not doing things the easy way –...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 9 months ago

Nice are planning a quick reversal

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Nice work: Former Wales fly-half Owen Williams PICTURE: Getty Images YOU may not have heard of Stade...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 10 months ago

U20s Six Nations: France run nine tries past overpowered Welsh lads

By James Harrington France................63pts Tries: Akrab 3, 40; Pacome 27, Mousques 50, 56; Brau Boirie 54, Taccola 71, Llaveria 77, Jabea...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Miscellaneous

/ 10 months ago

Dark clouds hanging over selection of duo

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN EVERY member of a France team must contribute to preserving an exemplary image,” reads the opening paragraph...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Miscellaneous

/ 11 months ago

Century of highs for La Rochelle

FRENCH COLUMN JAMES HARRINGTON AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 12 months ago

France won’t play All Blacks in USA

French Column - By James Harrington The FFR has rejected a proposal from New Zealand to relocate the third Test of...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Ollivon proves point (whatever he says)

By JAMES HARRINGTON France.................... 37pts Tries: Flament 9, Villiere 33, Penalty 36, Bielle-Biarrey 58 Conversions: Ramos 9, 33, 58 Penalties: Ramos...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Autumn Internationals

/ 1 year ago

France fight back to snatch thriller against All Blacks

By James Harrington France................ 30pts Tries: Buros 32, Boudehent 44, Bielle-Biarrey 51 Conversions: Ramos 33, 45, 52 Penalties: Ramos 7, 57,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Autumn Internationals

/ 1 year ago

France too strong for spirited Japan

By James Harrington France................52pts Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 4, 28; Gailleton 10, Roumat 19, Mauvaka 34, Gros 42, Boudehent 54, 65 Conversions: Ramos...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Henry Chavancy notches No. 400 for Racing 92

French Column - By James Harrington Racing 92’s veteran centre Henry Chavancy reached a remarkable career milestone on Saturday when he...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Carbonel will add the flair for Stade

James Harrington French column Last season, Stade Francais finished second in the Top 14 to qualify directly for the semi-finals –...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Racing 92 confirm Le Garrec is leaving

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN On the move: Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec will be joining La Rochelle PICTURE: Getty Images YES, it’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Mehrtens reported to lead group out to buy Beziers

JAMES HARRINGTON LESS than two weeks before the new ProD2 season kicks off, overseas buyers have officially submitted a bid to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Time for players to behave properly

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN There are no ‘good’ responses to Melvyn Jaminet’s violently racist outburst on social media, or the serious...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Jalibert is top of the ‘wanted’ list again

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Never mind that the words ‘Stade Toulousain’ have only just been meticulously punched into the plaque on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Terrific Toulouse go on the rampage

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN “We didn’t just lose the arm wrestle – we had our wrists broken under the table,” Bordeaux...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Ntamack makes sure for Toulouse

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN RONAN O’Gara must be wondering what he has to do for his La Rochelle side to beat...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 1 year ago

Carbonel winner ensures last-gasp Montpellier survival

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE English Football League’s Championship play-off final is sometimes referred to as ‘the richest game in football’,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Hogg has eyes set on Top 14 surprise

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Stuart Hogg’s reported surprise reverse-ferret back into the professional game after his retirement last year – and...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 2 years ago

Gopperth misses out on top flight

FRENCH COLUMN By JAMES HARRINGTON Jimmy Gopperth won’t be the oldest-ever player to feature in the Top 14 next season after...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 2 years ago

TV 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...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 2 years ago

Dramatic 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...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 2 years ago

I 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...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 2 years ago

Biarritz’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...

By The Rugby Paper Team