Top14
The weird, the wacky, the numbers and names, we’ve got the Top14 Round Three covered. Larissa Falls delves deep to look at the best facts and figures from the French domestic league competition from last weekend’s action. 14 Facts from Top14 Round Three There were five multiple-try scorers in Top14 Round Three action last weekend: […]
All of the major domestic rugby titles have been decided over the month of June, with the Crusaders seventh title in Super Rugby supporting their status as the Premier rugby franchise across the globe. The Currie Cup grand final was also played on Saturday, with the Free State Cheetahs claiming the reward in South Africa’s […]
French rugby’s showpiece event, the Top 14 final will take place at the Stade de France on Saturday, June 17 as Toulouse goes up against European champions La Rochelle. Ronan O’Gara’s side will be looking to avoid a repeat of the 2020/21 season where they lost the final in this fixture after losing the Champions […]
As the Six Nations round two fixtures are set to kick off on Saturday, February 11, the law variations that were announced prior to the 2023 Championship launch last week are again being monitored by rugby observers. These include; a shot clock for placekickers, shortened time before a lineout and scrum is formed, fewer water […]
With the French Top 14 semi-finals, all set to go from Friday, June 17, matches including Castres, Toulouse, Montpellier, and the Bordeaux Begles will determine who can claim the famed Bouclier de Brennus shield. The pinnacle prize in French Rugby, the sides will compete as much to display their club’s abilities to peak but to […]
Over two hemispheres, final round playoff hopes hang in the balance for leading Tier One nation leagues of Premiership Rugby, French Top14, and Super Rugby Pacific. With the leading sides all but set, it is now up to those still in the fight to make the semi-finals of the 2021/22 Premiership and French Top14, and […]
The European rugby quarter-finals have finished for another year. Both the Heineken Challenge Cup and Champions Cup quarter-finals were settled last weekend, and they did not disappoint. There was plenty of drama across the two competitions. Knowing this, Last Word on Rugby has analyzed the main talking points. That penalty shoot-out! Breathtaking conclusion The biggest […]
More and more, mandating that only a fully vaccinated rugby player policy introduction will have an impact on both Northern and Southern hemisphere competitions. The internal reactions from rugby unions and administrators take into account the health and welfare of all stakeholders. Yet with personal choice highlighting some genuine fears and more social media scaremongering, […]
When the Cheslin Kolbe record transfer deal was confirmed this weekend, it helped step up the 2021/22 French Top14 competition countdown. Even though in rugby, the mere notion of a player transfer has no such impact as a Christiano Ronaldo, or a Lionel Messi move to PSG. Still, when one of the biggest names in […]
The Champions Cup 2021/22 draw was announced today as the build-up to the new season ramps up. As in last season, the 24 teams were drawn into two pools. Tier 1 sides will take on Tier 4 clubs, whilst Tier 2 and 3 teams will play each other home and away. After the success of […]
In securing his second French Top14 trophy, Jerome Kaino added to his ‘rugby-collection of awards’ over an almost 20-year career as a professional rugby player. Heralded for his individual skills, as well as his team-first priorities, Kaino has gone from provincial to International, to the European rugby market, in search of challenges – and he […]
Stade Toulousain are the team to beat following the conclusion of the Top 14 final round. After 26 rounds of almost non-stop action, the Champions Cup winners finished top of the league and will be looking to win their 21st Bouclier des Brennus. #TOP14 – J26Voici le classement définitif de la saison 2020/2021 !🥇🥈Toulouse et […]
After the Japan Top Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby playoffs concluded, the scene is set for more Northern Hemisphere rugby playoffs over the next month. Japan Top League (JTL) finals played out on the opposite side of the globe, while the two leading European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) leagues played their respective finals; the […]
Jono Gibbes is highly unlikely to change the nature of the team, but he is likely to see the sense in ensuring his side know what to do when the tide of a match starts to turn against him, and a strong defence is called for.
It may involve him opening his contacts to bring in a snarling, Kiwi attack dog to whip the defence into shape. After all, keeping a tighter defence will make life easier for Clermont when they eventually go on the attack,
Following reports that Bath back row Zach Mercer will sacrifice his chances of England caps by joining Montpellier Hérault, it has been announced that Gabriel Ibitoye will join the club as a ‘medical joker’. Neither will be impressed by their new club’s current form, however. In Round 14 they lead 19-0 at half time away […]
La Rochelle leads the French Top 14 after eight rounds of league action, after beating top of the table Clermont Auvergne 19-10. Last Word on Rugby brings you a summary of this weekend’s action and senior editor James Barker looks at the disrupted season so far. #TOP14 – J8Il y en a eu pour tous […]
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England’s rugby team silenced their many critics, with a huge win over Argentina to open their Rugby World Cup campaign. Courtney Lawes and George Ford led from the front in particular. The result was not clear cut, and England head coach Steve Borthwick must have feared the worst when Tom Curry was sent off in […]
“Being Louis Rees-Zammit” is a BBC One Wales documentary, edited and directed by Huw Crowley, with Steffan Morgan executive producing. A previous BBC One Wales documentary, “Slammed” is reviewed here. This writer was prepared for a cringe-fest, and although there are some cringe moments, Rees-Zammit comes across relatively unscathed. This is typical. We just can't […]
The 2023 Rugby World Cup promises to be the most open tournament since its inception in 1987. Pointers suggest France to win this World Cup as host . Realistically there are six teams who have a genuine claim to winning the famous Webb Ellis trophy. France are favourites, with Ireland and South Africa very close […]
The ongoing 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership preseason has heated up, and not just due to a long summer. The Barbarians FC became a ‘player’ last weekend when they pushed the Northampton Saints hard at Franklin’s Gardens. In a type of festival game atmosphere, spectators will have enjoyed the 12-48 win to the Baabaas, though Saints ‘dye […]
RWC Anniversary: 2007 Memories with Mamuka Gorgodze It’s been exactly 16 years since France last hosted the Rugby World Cup tournament. I was lucky enough to interview former 2007 competitor and Georgian international back-rower, Mamuka Gorgodze, as he takes us down memory lane and looks towards this years’ campaign. What are your memories of […]
After England’s first ever loss to Fiji at Twickenham, confidence has plummeted ahead of the World Cup. Now with fears of a Group Stage exit ever-present, the England v Argentina fixture sparks great anxiety for English fans. Below is a playing XV which offers a different approach. There is definitely some controversial calls enclosed, yet […]
RWC 2023 Pool C matches might be a case that ‘it’s anyone’s game to lose’. The pool promises to be exhilarating, as most of the teams have had mixed results in their recent test matches, making for somewhat of an unknown factor. The Rugby World Cup (RWC) is a different environment though. Fiji who have […]
Pool A promises to be a thriller with the host France taking on the All Blacks in the opening match of the RWC (Rugby World Cup) 2023. The host of this year’s RWC 2023 France will be keen to better their results in front of their home crowd. These two rugby powerhouse will be keen […]
About Author
Larissa Falls
Hey, Larissa here. I'm from Melbourne, Australia and have been writing on and off for over 12 years, for publications including Rugby World Magazine, Milkbar Magazine and now LWOS. My full-time job is a Graphic Designer and Content Creator where I can be seen developing anything from SM posts, sports posters, websites, E-Commerce stores, T-Shirts etc. Away from that, music and socliasing are my hobbies, but sport is my life!! Rugby is #1 but you'll still catch me watching anything and everything that features a ball!!! :)