LET'S NOT get carried away. Gael Fickou had a good game for Toulouse in their win over Leicester on Sunday, but was the 18-year-old’s try-scoring performance really that special? Sure,…
Top 14
Can the French clubs rule in Europe?
WITH THE 2012-13 Heineken Cup starting on Friday how healthy are the French clubs ahead of the opening round? Runaway Top 14 leaders Toulon play Montpellier on Sunday evening but…
Byrne’s gunning for Heineken glory
IT IS a year since Lee Byrne won the last of his 46 caps for Wales, but the 32-year-old full-back hasn’t given up hope of hitting his half century this…
Magic Michalak on fire in France
“MICHALAK IS back” screams the headline in this week’s Midi Olympique, alongside a photograph of Toulon’s Freddie, a player for whom the word ‘mercurial’ could have been invented. Michalak played…
Sheridan’s fighting fit in Toulon
THEY SAY Lourdes is where you go in search of a miracle cure, but if you’re a thirty-something Englishman Toulon seems to be the place in France that has healing…
Vakatawa shines as he signals his French intent
THE TOP 14 may be a slow-burner right now with few games of real drama but one man doing his best to light the touch paper is Virimi Vakatawa. The…
Aled Brew enjoying French leave with Biarritz
HE'S GOT the Vespa, he’s learning French and Aled Brew has even been bodyboarding in the famous Biarritz surf. Yes, the former Dragons’ wing is enjoying his new life in…
Rise and fall of Sebastien ‘Caveman’ Chabal
By Gavin Mortimer, Rugby World writer FOR A man who two years ago was reputedly the highest paid rugby player in the world, Sebastien Chabal embarked upon the latest stage…
French test for Wales lock Luke Charteris
DOWN IN Perpignan Luke Charteris isn’t hard to miss. At 6ft 9in and 20st, and with that fair Celtic skin of his, he stands out a mile in the Catalan…
Jonny Wilkinson on the new Top 14 season
By Gavin Mortimer, Rugby World writer THE OLYMPICS are over and the football season is about to get underway. But don’t worry, it’s not all depressing news on the sports…