This summer’s tours reach their climax on Saturday 25 June, but two days earlier it will be politicians rather than rugby fans eagerly awaiting a result. The people of Britain…
France
Top 14: The rise and fall of Stade Francais
How have Stade Francais gone from French champions to relegation battlers?
Top 14: How many teams should be in France’s top domestic league?
There’s a numbers game going on in France at the moment: should there be 12, 14 or even 16 clubs in the top flight? It’s been the Top 14 since…
Seven talking points for the Champions Cup semi-finals
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…
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…