Top 14 - The Rugby Paper

Tag: Top 14

Ban teams who pick reserves for knock-out stages

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Bulls are not the first outfit to undermine the European Cup by picking an understrength team, with some French clubs – Bourgoin in particular […]

I’m loving every single minute

21 April 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens finds former Exeter Chiefs playmaker Joe Simmonds enjoying his new life in France In the picturesque town of Pau nestled at the foot […]

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

21 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]

Crane: Sinckler’s an emotional guy

21 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Hard to handle: Kyle Sinckler in action for England against South Africa PICTURE: Getty Images JORDAN Crane feels England have failed to […]

JIFF looks likely to play a vital role

21 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN It’s logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins – to think purely in […]

England didn’t understand Sinckler – Crane

19 April 2024 0 comments

Jordan Crane feels England have failed to get the best out of Kyle Sinckler during his international career, with the tighthead prop set to be […]

Green seizes day for dazzling Quins

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ………..41pts Tries: Lucu 19, Buros 24, Depoortere 42, Bielle-Biarrey 59, Tambwe 64, 75 Conversions: Lucu 25, 43, 60, 65 Penalties: Lucu […]

Easy to spot the fairer competition

14 April 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN Gallagher reports on Leinster’s convincing win over Leicester Tigers in the European Champions Cup last 16. The Leinster side is drawn from a variety […]

Another barmy idea from the men in suits

14 April 2024 0 comments

The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame the unaccountable administrators turning […]

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

14 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded a new title sponsor […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

Andre Boniface, the epitome of French flair

14 April 2024 0 comments

FRENCH rugby has paid tribute to one of its greats this week – Andre Boniface, who died at the age of 89 last Monday. A […]

Montpellier lead chase for Munster ace Frisch

7 April 2024 0 comments

Montpellier are leading the chase for Munster centre Antoine Frisch, who has declared his allegiance to France over Ireland. Born in Fontainebleau, France, Frisch qualifies […]

England need access to their overseas stars

7 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK ENGLAND and New Zealand, who meet in a two-Test series this summer, find themselves in similar places due […]

Ntamack back for heavyweight clash

7 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vRacing 92 Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Ernest Wallon ROMAIN Ntamack starts his first match since suffering knee ligament damage in […]

Ulster set for massive fight

7 April 2024 0 comments

Preview Montpellier v Ulster Today. 12.30pm ULSTER interim head coach Richie Murphy says a ‘massive test’ awaits in Montpellier. Ulster have lost their last two […]

Clermont survive second-half scare

7 April 2024 0 comments

Clermont ……..27 Cheetahs …….22■By BEN JAYCOCK THREE-TIME Challenge Cup winners Clermont held off a Cheetahs fightback to earn a place in the last eight. Clermont […]

Carreras’ boot keeps Gloucester in control

7 April 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ……… 30pts Tries: Mercer 8, May 27, Llewellyn 32 Conversions: Carreras 8, 27, 32 Penalties: Carreras 54, 60, 79 Castres …………….25pts […]

It’s still all to play for in race to the finishing line

7 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees predicts a nerve-racking end to the Premiership season where bonus points will prove crucial THE two-month Premiership break has made the jostling for […]

‘Immortal’ Whitelock to retire

7 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON NEW Zealand’s mostcapped player Sam Whitelock will retire at the end of the French club season in June. The lock, who played […]

TV deal to break €500m barrier

7 April 2024 0 comments

FRENCH COLUMN – JAMES HARRINGTON France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby hopes to pocket more than half-a-billion euros, after launching a call for tenders for Top […]

Premier Sports is set to get back to ‘business as usual’

7 April 2024 0 comments

IRELAND-BASED sports broadcaster Premier Sports makes its long-expected return to British EPGs on Tuesday April 9, after its buyout of Viaplay’s UK sports broadcast arm […]

Toulon will have to wait for Carbonel

1 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN LOUIS Carbonel’s immediate Top 14 future is in Montpellier. The question is: for how long? The Toulon-born fly-half has been the […]

Lam: I understand Sinckler decision

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam understands Kyle Sinckler’s decision to turn his back on England and join the exodus to France next season. The 68-cap […]

Japan rugby full of talent, warns Savea

31 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ardie Savea has issued a warning to England not to underestimate Japan in the two sides’ first ever meeting in Tokyo this […]

Toulon heading in right direction

24 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULON coach Pierre Mignoni earned something of a reprieve this weekend, as his side’s 54-7 win over Montpellier at Stade Mayol […]

Ireland lining up NZ and Wallabies

17 March 2024 0 comments

Ireland will face New Zealand and Australia in their autumn series before head coach Andy Farrell takes his leave of absence to lead the British […]

Fiji star Nayacalevu signs for Sale

17 March 2024 0 comments

Sale have signed Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top 14 side Toulon on a one-year contract with an option for a further year. He […]

Band of brothers grab the glory

17 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK France………………………….31pts Tries: Ferte 12, Gourgues 24, Carbonneau 26, Castro 45 Conversions: Reus 13, 25, 27, 46 Penalties: Reus 56 England……………………… 45pts Tries: […]

We need to make most of this team

17 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN The England U20s won their first Six Nations title since 2021 with a tremendous second-half effort in which they scored 33 points to […]

All the pressure’s on us – Cockerill

17 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Georgia vs Portugal Today. Kick-off 8pm, Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris Eddie Jones has coached three national teams, South Africa have won two […]

All set for a race to the finish

17 March 2024 0 comments

With the Premiership resuming next weekend, Paul Rees looks at how the runners and riders are gearing up The Premiership resumes this week after an […]

Toulouse and Stade in line for a race to glory

17 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The top two tiers of French domestic rugby have been on hiatus this weekend, giving fans a clear run at the […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 17/03/24

15 March 2024 0 comments

As the men’s Six Nations draws to a close find action from Super Saturday and a preview of the women’s competition, getting underway next weekend, in […]

Unwise for Prem to disappear from our sight

10 March 2024 0 comments

THE English top flight game during Six Nations time has disappeared, gone and is nowhere to be seen. The URC and the French Top 14 […]

At last! England find reason to be cheerful

10 March 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME We were waiting and hoping for a game that will define how far England have developed […]

Oyonnax have to keep on believing

10 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Oyonnax manager Joe El-Abd promised last week that his side would ‘fight to the end’ following their so-near-so-far 35-39 home defeat […]

Nowell extends deal to stay at La Rochelle

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By MARK STEVENS Jack Nowell’s French connection is set to go on for a few more years yet, after the Cornishman this […]

Borthwick should put faith in this trio

3 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED PETER Winterbottom knows a thing or three about our sport, so you would expect him to make some telling points over […]

‘It’s been a great start but there are tougher challenges ahead of us’

3 March 2024 0 comments

Q&A Ben Jaycock catches up with England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft to assess the current state of play in the Six Nations So, Mark […]

It doesn’t feel right to see Italy at the bottom

3 March 2024 0 comments

Various non rugby specialists have contacted me this week asking why Italy are currently bottom of the Six Nations table. Patiently I have described the […]

Big clubs are hit by ‘doublon’ clashes

3 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN We always knew the World Cup would play havoc with the Top 14 season – as soon as the 2023/2024 schedule […]

Murley bags hat-trick as England A thump much-weakened Portugal

25 February 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL England A……………………………………………91 Tries: Blamire 3, Pearson 6, Barbeary 14, Tuima 19, Muir 25, Murley 29, 72, 76; Hodge 34, Ojomoh 40+1, Penalty […]

Mercer: I’m focused on Gloucester

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES If desire to play for England was a factor in selection, Zach Mercer would be one of the first names on the […]

England U20 star joins Bristol

25 February 2024 0 comments

BRISTOL have signed England age grade back rower Kofi Cripps for next season. The 20-year-old flanker was formerly part of Wasps’ academy and has been […]

Lawes can bring some order

25 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says the former England captain who has signed for Brive will have much to offer when he retires Brive will be delighted that […]

Collazo may risk all to beat the drop

25 February 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN It is a truth universally accepted in French domestic rugby that the side propping up the Top 14 at Christmas is […]

No stopping Portugal as they put on a show

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Romania ……………………. 24pts Tries: Cojocaru 20, Gontineac 43 , Neagu 59 Conversions: Conache 21, 44, 60 Drop goals: Conache 35 Portugal …………………….. […]

Toulon need to win over the critics

18 February 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Sometimes it’s not immediately obvious whether a side is in good shape or not. A simple look at the Top 14 […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 18/02/24

16 February 2024 0 comments

As Scotland and England prepare for a crucial round three encounter at Murrayfield next weekend, don’t miss Paul Rees‘ preview of the Calcutta Cup in […]

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