James Harrington - News, Views and Opinion - The Rugby Paper https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:47:10 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RP-flavicon-150x150.jpg James Harrington - News, Views and Opinion - The Rugby Paper https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/ 32 32 French Column: Ten players who could hit the spot in ProD2 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462843/ten-who-could-hit-the-spot-in-prod2/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462843/ten-who-could-hit-the-spot-in-prod2/#respond Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:09 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=462843 It's high summer in France – not that you’d necessarily know it given the weather over recent days, which has been more mid-April than end of July. Holiday season is in full swing and next weekend is, officially, the worst one of the year to even attempt a long road trip in l’Hexagone. But time […]

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French Colummn: Bayonne in the fast lane for No.9 Leo Coly https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462258/bayonne-in-the-fast-lane-for-no-9-coly/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462258/bayonne-in-the-fast-lane-for-no-9-coly/#respond Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:00 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=462258 It was mid-August last year – the 13th, to be precise – when Racing 92 suddenly confirmed their highly rated and, at the time, still uncapped scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec was to leave at the end of the season still to come to join La Rochelle. Soon after, Ronan O’Gara’s side confirmed his arrival, adding […]

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French Column: Top c14 lubs getting back in the swing https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461812/top-clubs-getting-back-in-the-swing/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461812/top-clubs-getting-back-in-the-swing/#respond Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:03 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461812/top-clubs-getting-back-in-the-swing/ The Top 14 final brought the curtain down on the 2024/25 French rugby season just 15 days ago, with Toulouse lifting the Brennus for the 24th time following a thrilling 100-minute final against Bordeaux at Stade de France – exactly a year to the day after the two sides had played out a rather more […]

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French Column: Mystery surronds Uzair Cassiem’s future https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461311/mystery-surronds-cassiems-future/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461311/mystery-surronds-cassiems-future/#respond Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:59:04 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461311/mystery-surronds-cassiems-future/ One-time Scarlets and Springbok back row Uzair Cassiem is at the centre of a transfer storm in France. The 35-year-old knew fairly early on that his services were no longer required at Bayonne, even though he featured in 20 matches this season. In total, he played 95 games for them in four seasons across the […]

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James Harrington: Fabien Galthie’s squad will need to step up in New Zealand https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/460634/galthies-squad-will-need-to-step-up/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/460634/galthies-squad-will-need-to-step-up/#respond Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:00 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/460634/galthies-squad-will-need-to-step-up/ After all the fuss from players and New Zealand Rugby, after the negotiations between union and league bosses, after the hints that – maybe, this time – the rules would be bent to allow more regular France first-choice players to tour, there was in the end, a particular and utterly predictable inevitability about Les Bleus’ […]

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James Harrington: Back to the future again for Biarritz https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459980/back-to-the-future-again-for-biarritz/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459980/back-to-the-future-again-for-biarritz/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:59:04 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=459980 The decision, when it came, was no great surprise. ProD2 side Biarritz, relegated for financial reasons shortly after the end of their campaign, learned on Friday that they had been reinstated on appeal – but would start next season with a three-point deduction. In a statement on its website, the club said it was, “proud […]

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French Column: Fabien Galthie prepares to spring surprises for New Zealand tour https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/458774/galthie-prepares-to-spring-surprises/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/458774/galthie-prepares-to-spring-surprises/#respond Sun, 08 Jun 2025 02:58:58 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=458774 White smoke of a sort was spotted this week, heralding FFR and LNR agreement on tweaks to the player release deal for this July’s tour of New Zealand. Habemus pactum, you might say, if you felt so inclined. Not everything about the trumpeted agreement is new. Fabien Galthie can, as per the original September 2024 […]

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French Column: Big guns want to take on All Blacks https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452975/big-guns-want-to-take-on-all-blacks/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452975/big-guns-want-to-take-on-all-blacks/#respond Sun, 20 Apr 2025 02:58:35 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452975/big-guns-want-to-take-on-all-blacks/ By James Harrington Could Fabien Galthie head to New Zealand for July’s three-Test tour with a France squad that looks more like ‘first team’ than originally planned? If key players have their way, he might. Romain Ntamack was the first to break cover and make it perfectly clear that he would rather tour this summer […]

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Top 14: Raffaele Storti set to get his chance at Grenoble https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/452327/storti-set-to-get-his-chance-at-grenoble/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/452327/storti-set-to-get-his-chance-at-grenoble/#respond Sun, 13 Apr 2025 02:58:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/452327/storti-set-to-get-his-chance-at-grenoble/ French Column by James Harrington Portugal winger Raffaele Storti has made a habit of not doing things the easy way – but, then, life has made a habit of not making things easy for him. Latest reports in France are that the 24-year-old is close to joining Grenoble at the end of what has been […]

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Top 14: All set for exciting race to the finish https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/451593/all-set-for-exciting-race-to-the-finish/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/451593/all-set-for-exciting-race-to-the-finish/#respond Sun, 06 Apr 2025 02:58:24 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/451593/all-set-for-exciting-race-to-the-finish/ French Column - By James Harrington Twelve Top 14 teams were involved this Champions and Challenge Cup round-of-16 weekend. The two teams not involved in this stage of the competitions: Stade Francais and Vannes. Just two of the eight Champions Cup games – Leinster v Harlequins and Glasgow v Leicester – and three Challenge Cup […]

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Top 14: Paul Gustard to stay at Stade Francais after all https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/450757/gustard-to-stay-at-stade-after-all/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/450757/gustard-to-stay-at-stade-after-all/#respond Sun, 30 Mar 2025 02:58:37 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=450757 French Column - By James Harrington So, Paul Gustard will remain at Stade Francais next season after all, despite asking to be released from the final year of his contract to join Premiership side Leicester. Last weekend, club owner Hans-Peter Wild made it perfectly clear that bosses at Welford Road had a fight on their […]

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Romain Ntamack: I’d love to take on All Blacks https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/450155/ntamack-id-love-to-take-on-all-blacks/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/450155/ntamack-id-love-to-take-on-all-blacks/#respond Sun, 23 Mar 2025 03:58:10 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/450155/ntamack-id-love-to-take-on-all-blacks/ By James Harrington - French Column So, Romain Ntamack wants to go to New Zealand in July. New Zealand have already made it clear they want Romain Ntamack to go to New Zealand in July. They’d prefer it if Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Thibaud Flament, Greg Alldritt, Francois Cros, Manny Meafou, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Thomas Ramos, […]

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Top 14: Racing 92’s delight at smash and grab https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/447632/racings-delight-at-smash-and-grab/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/447632/racings-delight-at-smash-and-grab/#respond Sun, 23 Feb 2025 03:58:42 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/447632/racings-delight-at-smash-and-grab/ French Column - By James Harrington Racing really needed that. A first win in the Top 14 since they beat Pau on the road in early November. A first win under commando manager Patrice Collazo. And, crucially, four league points to move out of the relegation play-off place and up to the heady heights of […]

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Patrice Collazo’s mission to rescue Racing 92 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446587/collazos-mission-to-rescue-racing-92/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446587/collazos-mission-to-rescue-racing-92/#respond Sun, 09 Feb 2025 03:58:24 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446587/collazos-mission-to-rescue-racing-92/ French Column - By James Harrington Lo! And, indeed, behold! Former Montpellier, Toulon, Brive and La Rochelle coach Patrice Collazo has parachuted in to save Racing 92 from relegation following the sudden but not altogether surprising departure of Stuart Lancaster, who left the club at the end of January, 18 months into a four-year contract. […]

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Encore for exiled prop star Rabah Slimani https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444891/encore-for-exiled-prop-star-slimani/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444891/encore-for-exiled-prop-star-slimani/#respond Sun, 19 Jan 2025 03:58:06 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444891/encore-for-exiled-prop-star-slimani/ French Column by James Harrington Last Wednesday, Fabien Galthie named six uncapped players in his 42-strong list for the first match of the senior men’s Six Nations tournament against Wales at Stade de France a week on Friday. Only one of the six could be classed as a surprise – though the press had been […]

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Fabien Galthie’s Six Nations dilemma: Who gets the vote at 10? https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444215/galthies-dilemma-who-gets-vote-at-10/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444215/galthies-dilemma-who-gets-vote-at-10/#respond Sun, 12 Jan 2025 03:58:25 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444215/galthies-dilemma-who-gets-vote-at-10/ French Column - By James Harrington There are bigger rugby weeks to come in 2025, but the Wednesday between January’s twin Champions and Challenge Cup weekends is a quietly important one for French rugby – as that is the day that the first 42-player France squad for this year’s Six Nations will be announced, 16 […]

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Stuart Lancaster looks like he will hang on https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/442910/lancaster-looks-like-he-will-hang-on-3/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/442910/lancaster-looks-like-he-will-hang-on-3/#respond Sun, 29 Dec 2024 03:58:54 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/442910/lancaster-looks-like-he-will-hang-on-3/ French Column, By James Harrington In the end, after weeks of speculation, chairman Laurent Travers will leave Racing 92 at the end of the season, while under-fire manager Stuart Lancaster seems set to remain in his post despite speculation that a move to URC side Munster might be imminent. Travers had been linked with the […]

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Oyonnax must live without Joe El-Abd https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436551/oyonnax-must-live-without-el-abd/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436551/oyonnax-must-live-without-el-abd/#respond Sun, 15 Dec 2024 03:58:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436551/oyonnax-must-live-without-el-abd/ By James Harrington Oyonnax’s seven-try 53-10 bonus-point win over ProD2 rivals Soyaux-Angouleme on Friday – their first victory since October 25 – was a relief in more ways than one. In fact, relief probably doesn’t cover it. A day before the match, coach Fabien Cibray, who will take over from Joe El-Abd at the end […]

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France won’t play All Blacks in USA https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436005/france-wont-play-all-blacks-in-usa/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436005/france-wont-play-all-blacks-in-usa/#respond Sun, 08 Dec 2024 03:58:11 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436005/france-wont-play-all-blacks-in-usa/ French Column - By James Harrington The FFR has rejected a proposal from New Zealand to relocate the third Test of next July’s tour to USA – a decision that probably will not go down well in the Land of the Long White Cloud, where officials are already smarting from reports that Les Bleus are […]

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Manu Tuilagi makes mark for Bayonne https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/431696/tuilagi-makes-mark-for-bayonne/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/431696/tuilagi-makes-mark-for-bayonne/#respond Sun, 13 Oct 2024 02:58:05 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=431696 French Column, by James Harrington While the focus of French rugby attention is on Stade Ernest Wallon and the return to action of a certain Antoine Dupont, elsewhere another club’s long wait for a star signing is over. Manu Tuilagi arrived in southwest France in July. At the end of August, he suffered a broken […]

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Henry Chavancy notches No. 400 for Racing 92 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/429831/chavancy-notches-no-400-for-racing/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/429831/chavancy-notches-no-400-for-racing/#respond Sun, 15 Sep 2024 02:58:29 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=429831 French Column - By James Harrington Racing 92’s veteran centre Henry Chavancy reached a remarkable career milestone on Saturday when he came on to replace Dan Lancaster in the 62nd minute of yesterday’s Top 14 match against Clermont in unusual surroundings. The 36-year-old France international marked his 400th appearance for the Ile de France club […]

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Carbonel will add the flair for Stade https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/428851/carbonel-will-add-the-flair-for-stade/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/428851/carbonel-will-add-the-flair-for-stade/#respond Sun, 25 Aug 2024 02:59:06 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=428851 James Harrington French column Last season, Stade Francais finished second in the Top 14 to qualify directly for the semi-finals – where an after-the-hooter conversion miss meant defeat to losing finalists Bordeaux. That marked the end of a campaign founded, built and fortressed on Paul Gustard’s no pasarán defence. The attack, under Morgan Parra – […]

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Vannes facing a tough early test https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/427391/vannes-facing-a-tough-early-test/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/427391/vannes-facing-a-tough-early-test/#respond Sun, 21 Jul 2024 02:59:18 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=427391 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Promoted ProD2 winners Vannes will kick off their first-ever season in the Top 14 at home against 23-time French champions Toulouse on the evening of Sunday, September 8, to round out the opening weekend of the 2024/25 campaign. Earlier the same day, La Rochelle will host Toulon at Stade Marcel Deflandre, […]

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Time for players to behave properly https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/427119/time-for-players-to-behave-properly/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/427119/time-for-players-to-behave-properly/#respond Sun, 14 Jul 2024 02:59:16 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=427119 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN There are no ‘good’ responses to Melvyn Jaminet’s violently racist outburst on social media, or the serious sexual assault allegations levelled against Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou during France’s July tour of Argentina and Uruguay. Within hours of Jaminet’s hateful comments, the FFR, LNR and his club Toulon published statements condemning […]

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Jalibert is top of the ‘wanted’ list again https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426846/jalibert-is-top-of-the-wanted-list-again/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426846/jalibert-is-top-of-the-wanted-list-again/#respond Sun, 07 Jul 2024 02:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=426846 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Never mind that the words ‘Stade Toulousain’ have only just been meticulously punched into the plaque on the Bouclier de Brennus to mark them forever more as 2023/24 Top 14 champions. Never mind that the ink is barely dry on one or two contracts for next season – or that promoted […]

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Terrific Toulouse go on the rampage https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426590/terrific-toulouse-go-on-the-rampage/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426590/terrific-toulouse-go-on-the-rampage/#respond Sun, 30 Jun 2024 02:59:12 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=426590 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN “We didn’t just lose the arm wrestle – we had our wrists broken under the table,” Bordeaux boss Yannick Bru admitted, graphically, after watching his side fall to a record 59-3 Top 14 final defeat at the hands of an irrepressible Toulouse in Marseille on Friday evening. “It’s hard to compete […]

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Carbonel winner ensures last-gasp Montpellier survival https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426099/grenoble-ready-to-give-it-best-shot/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426099/grenoble-ready-to-give-it-best-shot/#respond Sun, 16 Jun 2024 02:58:59 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=426099 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE English Football League’s Championship play-off final is sometimes referred to as ‘the richest game in football’, with £100million of spoils going to the victor. Similar importance – if not similar financial boosts – could be placed on today’s promotion-relegation play-off between Grenoble and Montpellier at Stade des Alpes. In the […]

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Hogg has eyes set on Top 14 surprise https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/425807/hogg-has-eyes-set-on-top-14-surprise/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/425807/hogg-has-eyes-set-on-top-14-surprise/#respond Sun, 09 Jun 2024 02:59:07 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/425807/hogg-has-eyes-set-on-top-14-surprise/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Stuart Hogg’s reported surprise reverse-ferret back into the professional game after his retirement last year – and repeated suggestions that he could be heading to Montpellier made numerous headlines over the past week. Hogg has been ‘in advanced talks’ to join the currently Top 14 side on a short-term medical joker […]

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Gopperth misses out on top flight https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/miscellaneous/425429/gopperth-misses-out-on-top-flight/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/miscellaneous/425429/gopperth-misses-out-on-top-flight/#respond Sun, 02 Jun 2024 02:58:58 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=425429 FRENCH COLUMN By JAMES HARRINGTON Jimmy Gopperth won’t be the oldest-ever player to feature in the Top 14 next season after all, after his Provence side – who finished the regular campaign at the top of the ProD2 – lost their home play-off semi-final to Grenoble 23-22 on Thursday evening. Provence outscored their opponents three […]

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TV deal hits the €700m jackpot https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/424967/tv-deal-hits-the-e700m-jackpot/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/424967/tv-deal-hits-the-e700m-jackpot/#respond Sun, 26 May 2024 02:58:50 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=424967 By JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Jeroboams of champagne all round at Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) headquarters earlier this week, after its TV rights tender landed a near-€700million jackpot. In early April, the organisers of the top two men’s professional rugby divisions in France – the Top 14 and ProD2 – called for bids for […]

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Dramatic finale puts Brive into play-offs https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/424321/dramatic-finale-puts-brive-into-play-offs/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/424321/dramatic-finale-puts-brive-into-play-offs/#respond Sun, 19 May 2024 02:58:40 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=424321 By JAMES HARRINGTON The ProD2 supplied a final glorious regular-season round for the ages in a perfectly timed reminder to broadcasters interested in bidding for TV rights for four years from 2027. Five days before bids had to be submitted to the LNR on a series of packages covering four years of domestic TV rights […]

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I may sell Toulon for €1 – Lemaitre https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/423837/i-may-sell-toulon-for-e1-lemaitre/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/423837/i-may-sell-toulon-for-e1-lemaitre/#respond Sun, 12 May 2024 02:58:38 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=423837 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A matter of weeks after ProD2 strugglers Biarritz were sold for €1, Toulon owner Bernard Lemaitre suggested he might be willing to sell the Top 14 side for a similar symbolic sum “to [a] serious buyer”. The club, sixth in the table coming into the weekend, had not troubled the play-offs […]

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Biarritz’s fight for survival goes on https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/423340/biarritzs-fight-for-survival-goes-on/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/423340/biarritzs-fight-for-survival-goes-on/#respond Sun, 05 May 2024 02:58:57 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=423340 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Ten days ago, under-new-management ProD2 strugglers Biarritz gave themselves what looked a lot like a crucial safety net with a 26-30 win at Agen – a match that had added spice because of simmering background bitter boardroom politics between the two clubs. The result, in the 28th round of the 30-match […]

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Record crowds flock to matches https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/422822/record-crowds-flock-to-matches/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/422822/record-crowds-flock-to-matches/#respond Sun, 28 Apr 2024 02:58:17 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=422822 JAMES HARRINGTON - FRENCH COLUMN More people than ever are flocking through the turnstiles of Top 14 and ProD2 matches, according to figures published by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). In total, some 2,204,597 fans were in the stands for the 147 Top 14 matches up to and including last weekend’s 21st round of […]

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JIFF looks likely to play a vital role https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/422360/jiff-looks-likely-to-play-a-vital-role/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/422360/jiff-looks-likely-to-play-a-vital-role/#respond Sun, 21 Apr 2024 02:58:34 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/422360/jiff-looks-likely-to-play-a-vital-role/ JAMES HARRINGTON - FRENCH COLUMN It's logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins – to think purely in terms of matches remaining, points potential, and table possibilities. In fact, with play-off and Champions Cup places up for grabs, and relegation to avoid, such thoughts are not just logical, […]

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Biarritz’s future is back in its hands https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/421780/biarritzs-future-is-back-in-its-hands/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/421780/biarritzs-future-is-back-in-its-hands/#respond Sun, 14 Apr 2024 02:58:08 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/421780/biarritzs-future-is-back-in-its-hands/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN To the relief of fans, white smoke was finally seen over the stand tops of Biarritz’s Parc des Sports d’Aguilera recently, following the sale of the club for a nominal €1. The good news broke 10 days ago, following weeks of speculation. And it is good news, too, because it means […]

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TV deal to break €500m barrier https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/421257/tv-deal-to-break-e500m-barrier/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/421257/tv-deal-to-break-e500m-barrier/#respond Sun, 07 Apr 2024 02:58:07 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/421257/tv-deal-to-break-e500m-barrier/ FRENCH COLUMN - JAMES HARRINGTON France's Ligue Nationale de Rugby hopes to pocket more than half-a-billion euros, after launching a call for tenders for Top 14 and ProD2 TV rights from the start of the 2027/28 season. Under the tender outline, the two professional men’s leagues have been packaged together for the first time, with […]

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Toulon heading in right direction https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/420298/toulon-heading-in-right-direction/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/420298/toulon-heading-in-right-direction/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2024 03:58:02 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/420298/toulon-heading-in-right-direction/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULON coach Pierre Mignoni earned something of a reprieve this weekend, as his side’s 54-7 win over Montpellier at Stade Mayol helped soothe a few ruffled feathers among fans – for now, at least. While the result, which bounced Toulon provisionally into the playoff places, will help, it will take more […]

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Toulouse and Stade in line for a race to glory https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/419683/toulouse-and-stade-in-line-for-a-race-to-glory/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/419683/toulouse-and-stade-in-line-for-a-race-to-glory/#respond Sun, 17 Mar 2024 03:58:17 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=419683 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The top two tiers of French domestic rugby have been on hiatus this weekend, giving fans a clear run at the senior men’s and Under-20s Six Nations matches – with the added advantage that it cleared the way for a number of young players to return to the age-grade side, after […]

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Oyonnax have to keep on believing https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/419144/oyonnax-have-to-keep-on-believing/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/james-harrington/419144/oyonnax-have-to-keep-on-believing/#respond Sun, 10 Mar 2024 03:58:24 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/419144/oyonnax-have-to-keep-on-believing/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Oyonnax manager Joe El-Abd promised last week that his side would ‘fight to the end’ following their so-near-so-far 35-39 home defeat against fellow Top 14 lowlanders Montpellier. “We have reason to believe,” he said. “We saw a team that fought right to the end in a very tough match from the […]

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Big clubs are hit by ‘doublon’ clashes https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/418749/big-clubs-are-hit-by-doublon-clashes/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/418749/big-clubs-are-hit-by-doublon-clashes/#respond Sun, 03 Mar 2024 03:58:30 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/418749/big-clubs-are-hit-by-doublon-clashes/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN We always knew the World Cup would play havoc with the Top 14 season – as soon as the 2023/2024 schedule came out last July, all eyes focused on those weekends when club and country commitments clashed. These weekends are known as doublons in French – or duplicates. There are nine […]

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Toulon need to win over the critics https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/417263/toulon-need-to-win-over-the-critics/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/417263/toulon-need-to-win-over-the-critics/#respond Sun, 18 Feb 2024 03:58:21 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=417263 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Sometimes it’s not immediately obvious whether a side is in good shape or not. A simple look at the Top 14 table coming into the weekend’s matches would suggest that Toulon have done reasonably well so far. They stood fifth in the table after 14 rounds of the season – in […]

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Calvet’s likely to step in at Agen https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/416620/calvets-likely-to-step-in-at-agen/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/416620/calvets-likely-to-step-in-at-agen/#respond Sun, 11 Feb 2024 03:58:24 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=416620 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN France Under-20s coach Sebastien Calvet has emerged as favourite to replace Bernard Goutta on the conveyor-belt of managers at ProD2 side Agen. Goutta suddenly quit the club on New Year’s Eve, almost two years to the day after his arrival on a rescue mission in January 2022. Since his departure, a […]

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Davidson relief as Castres stop rot https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/415983/davidson-relief-as-castres-stop-rot/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/415983/davidson-relief-as-castres-stop-rot/#respond Sun, 04 Feb 2024 03:58:22 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/415983/davidson-relief-as-castres-stop-rot/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The afternoon after the Friday-night chastening Six Nations defeat in Marseille before, a subdued French rugby audience tuned in to the final weekend of a non-stop 15-week block of Top 14 games. Players and coaches have earned their first weekend off since the day after the World Cup final at the […]

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Lyon get it right against Perpignan https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/415442/lyon-get-it-right-against-perpignan/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/415442/lyon-get-it-right-against-perpignan/#respond Sun, 28 Jan 2024 03:58:21 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/415442/lyon-get-it-right-against-perpignan/ JAMES HARRINGTON In a league featuring the likes of Racing 92 and Toulouse, Toulon and La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Stade Francais, there’s a ‘big match’ every weekend in the Top 14. In fact, those six teams face one another this weekend, with Racing 92 hosting Toulouse – with Antoine Dupont, but without the injured Anthony […]

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Lucu the man to replace Dupont https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/world/six-nations-championship/414936/lucu-the-man-to-replace-dupont/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/world/six-nations-championship/414936/lucu-the-man-to-replace-dupont/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2024 03:58:15 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/414936/lucu-the-man-to-replace-dupont/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN An email drop and social media flurry confirmed the line-up of France’s 34-player training squad for the Six Nations, which kicks off against Ireland in Marseille on February 2. Absent from the list were 11 players who had some role during Les Bleus’ quarter-final-halted World Cup bid. We know why Antoine […]

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No rush to get Tuilagi involved https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/414245/no-rush-to-get-tuilagi-involved/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/414245/no-rush-to-get-tuilagi-involved/#respond Sun, 14 Jan 2024 03:58:08 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=414245 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Something of a big deal was made last week about the fact that, a matter of days before Fabien Galthie announces his first French squad of 2024, Perpignan second row sensation Posolo Tuilagi does not have a French passport. Remember the brouhaha over Emmanuel Meafou and his long-delayed bid to play […]

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Farrell’s future the only talk in town… https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/413613/farrells-future-the-only-talk-in-town/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/413613/farrells-future-the-only-talk-in-town/#respond Sun, 07 Jan 2024 03:58:30 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=413613 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Fabien Galthie will have a reduced training squad for the 2024 Six Nations after a player release agreement was reached between the FFR and LNR this week. That news would have been the rugby story of the week in France, but for Friday afternoon’s emerging quantum singularity about Owen Farrell and […]

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Simmonds is facing a fight for survival https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/413106/simmonds-is-facing-a-fight-for-survival/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/413106/simmonds-is-facing-a-fight-for-survival/#respond Sun, 31 Dec 2023 03:58:59 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=413106 JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE final weekend of 2023 – and we’re almost at the halfway point of the Top 14 season. There’s still a long way to go, but this point is often a waymarker for the remainder of the campaign. It’s safe to say that the side at the bottom of the table […]

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O’Gara’s problems keep on coming https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/412772/ogaras-problems-keep-on-coming-2/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/france-rugby-top-14/412772/ogaras-problems-keep-on-coming-2/#respond Sun, 24 Dec 2023 03:58:54 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/412772/ogaras-problems-keep-on-coming-2/ JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Australian hooker Tolu Latu went straight into La Rochelle’s matchday squad for pre-Christmas trip to Stade Francais, days after completing a loan move to the club from Montpellier – and made an instant impact by scoring 10 minutes after coming on in the second half. His move, and immediate inclusion – […]

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