By Alex Shaw The northern hemisphere season begins its final countdown towards conclusion this weekend, as the European Rugby Champions Cup semi-finals come to town. The festivities begin on Saturday…
France
Top 14: Ex-Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman readies Grenoble for Quins test
It’s not easy being Bernard Jackman. The head coach of Grenoble is put through the wringer every time his team plays. Last weekend for example, he watched as visitors Castres…
French rugby looking to close foreign player loopholes
French rugby's powers-that-be want to make the JIFF regulations stricter to stop the flood of foreign players into the Top 14
Champions Cup: Quarter-final previews
By Alex Shaw The stage is set this weekend for the return of European rugby, with the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals looming large amidst a packed sporting calendar. The…
Champions Cup: Stade Francais backrow Jono Ross has Leicester in his sights
From Blue Bull to Paris pink, South Africa loose forward Jono Ross recently signed a new deal with Stade Francais that will keep him at the club until 2020, having…
Are foreign players to blame for France’s diminishing powers?
We all know who’s to blame for the decline of France as a rugby power. Foreigners. It’s what everyone says, from Philippe Saint-Andre to Guy Noves, to most of the…
France: Five things we learnt v England
Coaching conundrum Some of Guy Noves‘ aura has faded in the last few weeks but he retains the faith of the French public. A survey published at the weekend revealed…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Good job, Jones A new generation of players has joined the list of England’s Grand Slam winners – the first to do so since 2003. Dylan Hartley has…
Analysis: Why New Zealand are masters of the offload
We compare the offloading skills of New Zealand and France to discover why the All Blacks are masters of the art
RBS Six Nations: France 21-31 England
England won their first Grand Slam in 13 years in a raucous atmosphere at the Stade de France. In a game where England could never quite relax, it was not…