I was at a loose end on Thursday evening. I did think about a trip to the cinema to see Paddington, but in the end I settled down with a…
France
The Top 14 and the death of l’esprit de clocher
There’s a revolution underway in French rugby, one that is having ramifications for the home nations. We’ve already seen evidence of it in October when Toulon, Toulouse and Racing Metro…
Autumn Tests 2014: End of series awards
The ‘In the black’ Award – New Zealand The marketeers at Adidas have their work cut out rebranding a black shirt, and this year they came up ‘the Blackest Shirt…
Doping in rugby: a Rugby World investigation
IN MAY 2013, during a Scottish training camp in the lead-up to the Junior World Cup, Melrose fly-half Sam Chalmers was pulled in for a random drugs test – his…
France: End of Autumn Series report
France’s November Tests are over and coach Philippe Saint-Andre will have seen some encouraging signs. A 40-15 victory over Fiji was followed by the heartstopping 29-26 defeat of Australia, but…
Have France sorted out their half-back issues?
UNLUCKY 13? Philippe Saint-Andre will be hoping not. Since he became coach of France after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Saint-Andre has gone through 12 half-back pairings in his quest…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
Saints Teddy Thomas: Remember the name The 21-year-old from Biarritz is the latest player to be anointed the ‘the prochaine grand chose’ in French rugby. It’s not hard to see…
Teddy Thomas: France’s new star
Find out more about the Racing Métro winger who scored a hat-trick on his France debut
Autumn Series: Players to watch
The next month should give us a pretty good idea of how sides are shaping up for the Rugby World Cup. It’s the final Tests between the Northern and Southern…
Time running out for Philippe Saint-Andre to revive France
Eight games to go. Eight opportunities for Philippe Saint-Andre to finally settle on his starting XV for France’s opening World Cup game, against Italy at Twickenham on September 19. The…