All posts tagged "Top 14"
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoFrance show us how to do it – again
NICK CAIN THE 2024 Olympic Sevens was a massive showcase for Antoine Dupont’s extraordinary sporting talent, but also for rugby union,...
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Features
/ 2 years agoLions must work for pack
A YEAR AHEAD OF THE 2025 LIONS TOUR OF AUSTRALIA, PAUL REES LOOKS AT HOW ANDY FARRELL’S TEAM MIGHT LINE UP...
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Features
/ 2 years agoMcCall out to build new dynasty at Saracens
PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES FACING EX-CHAMPIONS AS THEY PREPARE FOR LIFE WITHOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO LAST season marked the end of...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoJaminet appeals against long ban
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN FRANCE international Melvyn Jaminet is to appeal against a 34- week suspension and €30,000 fine imposed by...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoAntoine Dupont inspires France to Olympic gold in Paris
Nine months on from their heartbreaking quarter-final loss in the World Cup to South Africa, Antoine Dupont inspired France's Sevens side...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBurke is tipped to take Prem by storm
By GARY FITZGERALD FERGUS Burke is the perfect replacement for Owen Farrell and can take the Premiership by storm. Former All...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoGustard urges RFU to ditch overseas player ban
and Kieran Brookes has done really well since he has been with Toulon and now moves to Perpignan. “I think it...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoDupont, the catalyst and the creator
BRENDAN GALLAGHER WE live in an age of superlative sports stars. Tadej Pogacar is very possibly the greatest cyclist we have...
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Latest News
/ 2 years ago14 poised to hit the ground running
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN One to watch: Owen Farrell is the next in a long line of big-name internationals who have...
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International Rugby
/ 2 years agoBuilding for a brighter future
PAUL REES LOOKS AT WHAT WENT RIGHTAND WHAT WENT WRONGFOR THE TOURING HOME NATIONS After Wales had lost the second Test,...
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Paul Rees
/ 2 years agoFlamboyant Harlequins add steel to their spine
HARLEQUINS are following the path trodden by Northampton a year ago, one that took the Saints to Twickenham and the title...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoVannes facing a tough early test
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Promoted ProD2 winners Vannes will kick off their first-ever season in the Top 14 at home against...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSaracens move for ex-England U18s forward
SARACENS have signed former England U18 forward Harry Wilson from Doncaster. The 27-year-old, who can play lock or back row, scored...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoInternational pair join Montpellier
MONTPELLIER have confirmed the signing of England No.8 Billy Vunipola, right, and former Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg, below. Hogg, who retired...
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Chris Hewett
/ 2 years agoTrio who tempt us to search for genius
CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED What do we mean when we talk of genius? It is a question as old as Noah,...
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Features
/ 2 years agoBig guns in danger of just looking after No.1
ANALYSIS PAUL REES WONDERS HOW THE SPORT CAN KEEP PAYING FOR ITSELF IN HARD TIMES....WHILE UNIONS BUILD FOR THE FUTURE When...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoThere’s more than money to Toulouse
RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER There have, rightly, been acres of words written...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoJalibert 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...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBordeaux-Begles swoop for Gray
Allez: Jonny Gray agrees French deal SCOTLAND second row Jonny Gray has joined Top 14 runners-up Bordeaux-Begles following his exit from...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoMako agrees two-year contract with Vannes
Probyn: Recalls for Marler and Cole is good news for England By SAM JACKSON Legend: Mako Vunipola is on his way...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoHunter-Hill joins Smith at Saints
PREMIERSHIP champions Northampton Saints have signed Callum Hunter-Hill after the second row left rivals Saracens earlier this week at the end...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoYoung stars following in fathers’ footsteps…
BRENDAN GALLAGHER So we are up and running again with another Junior World Cup to feast on over the coming fortnight....
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Features
/ 2 years agoPenaud proves the ultimate in French flair
Peter Jackson adds up the points scored last season across all games and finds the French with much to celebrate Damian...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoGatland hits the 50-mark for Wales
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Unless they change the habit of a lifetime in Australia over the next...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoTerrific 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...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoEvans unhappy with player release options
By JON NEWCOMBE Dismayed: Mark Evans MARK EVANS has taken a swipe at Top 14 and Premiership clubs for having double...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoMercer merited a place on tour
ZACH Mercer did not return to England with the intention of not playing for England, any more than this columnist expected...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSpongeBob glad of his place in the Oldies XV
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW TWENTY years ago this very week on the banks of the Clyde, New...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoNtamack 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...
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Features
/ 2 years agoThe unexpected revolutionary
Paul Rees says this should be a summer of opportunities for England and head coach Steve Borthwick Steve Borthwick is an...
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News Extra
/ 2 years agoBaa-Baas call for Whitelock
NEWS EXTRA TWO-TIME World Cup winner Sam Whitelock will join up with the Barbarians squad for Saturday’s Killik Cup clash against...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoTeam Brittany show what might have happened in Cornwall
RUGBY MATTERS GO west young man. The phrase, attributed to American newspaper editor Horace Greeley, became a byword for the expansion...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 years agoCarbonel 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’,...
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Premiership
/ 2 years agoNorthampton’s brilliant trio are leaving the club in the best hands
BRENDAN GALLAGHER You don’t always get what you deserve in sport, not least when it comes to the send-off you dream...
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Paul Rees
/ 2 years agoSaints stars give credit to Vesty
By PAUL REES On the run: Alex Mitchell breaks through against Saracens during the semi-final PICTURES: Getty Images Alex Mitchell and...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBorthwick needs a clear direction
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The fog around England’s take-off as an attacking force in the latter stages...
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Peter Jackson
/ 2 years agoQuins cashing in on Twickenham factor
Peter Jackson looks at how attendances have changed in the last 20 years and sees good news in the capital cities...
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Features
/ 2 years agoI want to improve and be best 9 in the world
Matthew Luddington talks to Gloucester and Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney following his eye-catching campaign Stephen Varney has truly had a breakthrough...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoIt’s close but Dupont edges out Edwards
RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Your columnist fell in love with rugby watching...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 2 years agoTime for Borthwick to stamp his mark
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME It's been well worth waiting until the end of the season to...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoHogg 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...
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English Gallagher Premiership
/ 2 years agoTime to let Borthwick pick from the best
PAUL REES SAYS THE ENGLAND COACH SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY SELECTING PLAYERS WHO PLAY IN THE PREMIERSHIP England's preliminary...
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Top 14
/ 2 years agoCholley has cast his fearsome shadow over Castres
Castres have reinforced their position as the most red-carded of clubs, a fact unlikely to surprise those who remember their most...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoPink city deserves its place at the top
RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Anybody watching the crowd scenes in front...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 2 years agoDowson’s right, let’s be more like French
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME In agreement: Mark McCall and, right, Phil Dowson PICTURES: Getty Images IT...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoGopperth 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...
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Paul Rees
/ 2 years agoOnce again, the French wizard calls the shots
PAUL REES Is there anything Antoine Dupont cannot do? Drop a goal with his left foot from his own half, perhaps?...
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English Gallagher Premiership
/ 2 years agoTry tsunami sends a mixed message
Peter Jackson looks at an increase in points scored but suggests the figures may be hiding a problem for the Premiership....
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoHurricanes fly-half to replace Burns at Ulster
Ulster are set to make their second signing for next season with Hurricanes’ fly-half Aidan Morgan to join the province. The...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoTV 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...












