France
Top 14 talking points: And then there were eight
With three rounds of the regular Top 14 season to go, eight teams are left in the hunt for just six play-off places
French Rugby Explained
French rugby explained, dissected, discussed and enjoyed, from the international game, through the Top 14, ProD2, and Elite 1 and beyond
France
The other Kpoku brother
Quietly, and with little of the media fuss that has surrounded his brothers, Jonathan Kpoku is carving out a rugby career in France that he hopes will continue for a long time to come
France
Top 14 talking points: To the wire on a record-breaking weekend
Late drama and four away wins. French rugby's Top 14 had it all in the round before the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-final weekend
France
Top 14 talking points: La Rochelle want to believe again
France’s Top 14 returned with a Fan Days weekend to launch a two-match run before a hiatus for the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals.
France
Vannes, Montauban, Perpignan and French rugby’s play-off problem
French rugby is proud of its open pyramid structure that allows for any side to dream an impossibly big dream. In theory. But not, increasingly, in practice
Champions Cup
Top 14 talking points: Cup knockout dress rehearsals
How France’s Top 14 sides got on in their last domestic game before the return of the Champions and Challenge Cups
France
Top 14 talking points: Results blueshift
A total 17 of the 34 players who took part in France’s Six Nations-winning campaign were straight back in domestic action this weekend, as the Top 14 returned
France
Top 14 talking points: Street smart La Rochelle crash Castres’ big birthday party
Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle snap a 56-day winless streak, Toulouse hit the big 100 for the season, and Toulon step-up for recuperating manager Pierre Mignoni
France
‘Sliding doors’ moments that changed Pau fullback Jack Maddocks’ life forever
A try scored by a fellow Australian halfway across the world brought Jack Maddocks to the shadow of the Pyrenees in 2021. This is the story of what happened next
France
Top 14 talking points: Managers feel February blues
Bayonne boss nears exit door after a back-to-back Top 14 defeats at home, while Toulon manager threatens to walk unless his side’s performances improve
France
Wales v France: how Les Bleus are shaping up for Cardiff
Injuries and returns after their Six Nations’ opening night win against Ireland mean France have some decisions to make in the days before they face Wales
France
Top 14 talking points: Bayonne’s fortress breached 595 days later
Castres ended Bayonne’s 19-month Top 14 home run, Toulon continued theirs, Perpignan opened up what appears to be a crucial lead over Montauban at the bottom of the table, and Gregory Alldritt proved a point as La Rochelle went down fighting at Clermont.