Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
FEATURE: Essential 2023/24 French Top14 analysis before the competition kicks off this week. Last Word on Rugby contributor Larissa Falls has done a ‘deep dive’ to bring you the most comprehensive guide for the 2023/24 season, analysing all 14 competing teams. 2023/24 French Top 14 analysis: Part 1 of 2 Part 1 of 2 is […] READ MORE
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 […] READ MORE
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 […] READ MORE
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 […] READ MORE
We are fast approaching the business end of the season, with each week bringing a fixture of significant proportions. After enjoying a bye week last weekend, the Leicester Tigers’ big April commences this Sunday. The Tigers travel to France to play European hotshots Clermont Auvergne in the first of their two legs of their Heineken […] READ MORE
On Monday evening, 27th of December 2021, Jean Castex announced that there would be an immediate reinstatement of the “gauges”. In other words restrictions to the number of people who can gather in a crowd for recreational purposes. This of course affects rugby and sport in general. Within that evening’s announcements was the bombshell vaccine […] READ MORE
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, […] READ MORE
For the last seven seasons in the Champions Cup, Racing 92 have reached the knockout stages in Europe’s elite competition. Unfortunately, they have never won any European silverware despite losing in three finals to Saracens, Leinster and Exeter. Although last season’s run was underwhelming after a quarter-final defeat against Bordeaux Bègles at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, […] READ MORE
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 […] READ MORE
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 […] READ MORE
James is an Editor for Last Word on Rugby. He covers the Gallagher Premiership and in particular Gloucester Rugby, his hometown club. When not at Kingsholm James may also be found supporting Gloucestershire Cricket.