Gloucester to pack a punch Gloucester simply weren’t at the races last season, with a porous defence leaking 60 tries and finishing a lowly ninth. It served to be the…
France
Top 14: Grenoble reaping rewards of consistency
After the first three rounds of the Top 14, Rugby World looks at why sticking with a regular starting XV is paying off for Grenoble
Top 14: Is there a blueprint for success?
Last season’s Top 14 was fiercely contested with just a 16-point gap separating top side Toulon and Brive in ninth place. As a comparison, the difference between first and ninth place was 43…
Top 14: Five French kids to watch
With two rounds gone of the Top 14, Toulon and Toulouse are setting the pace at the top of the table with teams containing a lot of familiar faces. But…
French focus: Racing Metro double act aiming to build long-term success
Racing Metro are the Parisian club with the big names and the grand plans. A new stadium is under construction and president Jacky Lorenzetti has made no secret of his…
Magali Harvey scores incredible try against France
MAGALI HARVEY was voted IRB Women’s Player of the Year after her performances for Canada at the Women’s World Cup in Paris and this try in the semi-final against France…
Is the Women’s World Cup being let down by refereeing?
Is the standard of refereeing at the Women's World Cup a blight on the tournament?
Top 14 preview: Runners and riders
It’s mid-August which means only one thing – the Top 14 is back. Bayonne host champions Toulon in the opening match om Friday evening and then it’s ten months of…
Top 14: Bayonne’s Scott Spedding on the season ahead
THE SOUTH Africa-born Scott Spedding was one of the few consistent performers last season for Bayonne as the Basque club narrowly avoided relegation. Starting all but one of their 26…
Top 14: Tim Lane on his hopes for Lyon
TIM LANE is one of the world’s most experienced and respected coaches – and one of its most travelled. After winning three caps in the centre for Australia in the…