France and All Blacks in tug of war over latest star from New Caledonia
Patrick Tuifua is being courted by France's Top 14 giants but is also eligible for New Zealand.
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Gavin Mortimer
17 Apr 2024, 6:30
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Contributors
Gavin Mortimer
Few Anglophone rugby writers have such an intimate (and painful) knowledge of French rugby as Gavin Mortimer. Having been gouged, butted and stamped during two seasons as a player in the deep south of the country, Gavin now prefers the more sedate pastime of writing about the state of the game in France. Over the years he’s interviewed the likes of Bernard Laporte, Frederic Michalak and Antoine Dupont, and he also provides co-commentary for Canal Plus’s English language coverage of the Top 14.
The 'English invasion' gathers pace in France but is no guarantor of success
A trickle is turning into a torrent of English stars, departing their clubs for the delights of France but bumps in the road await
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Gavin Mortimer
04 Apr 2024, 7:50
New moon rising for Galthie
The doubters were out in force after a humiliating Ireland loss but France can look forward with renewed optimism.
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Gavin Mortimer
22 Mar 2024, 2:44
France used to fear England - have the tables turned?
Will the ghosts of Le Crunches past haunt Fabien Galthie's team in transition on a red-hot Saturday night in Lyon?
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Gavin Mortimer
14 Mar 2024, 1:38
Who cares who wins this year's Six Nations?
With France still in post-World Cup trauma and other nations in transition, is this year's championship largely irrelevant?
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Gavin Mortimer
05 Mar 2024, 0:39
Why serial underachievers Racing 92 spend big and win little
Galacticos keep swarming to Paris on eye-popping salaries, yet the storied club have almost nothing to show for their millions.
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Gavin Mortimer
27 Feb 2024, 13:40
Are the knives out for Shaun Edwards?
After a lacklustre start to the Six Nations, French opinion may be turning against the storied English defence guru.
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Gavin Mortimer
19 Feb 2024, 12:37
'The French believe that their team without Dupont is like Asterix without his magic potion'
The collapse of Les Bleus against Ireland has led to much wailing and navel gazing, with the absent Antoine Dupont coming under sc…
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Gavin Mortimer
07 Feb 2024, 4:47
Old timers back in vogue as France favour Springboks' approach
Fabien Galthié opts for experience over youth to help France recover from their World Cup setback.
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Gavin Mortimer
31 Jan 2024, 3:04
Late developer Lucu primed to step into Dupont limelight
Antoine Dupont will be conspicuous by his absence from the Six Nations, but his likely replacement could make life tough for Franc…
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Gavin Mortimer
11 Jan 2024, 8:16
French leave will broaden Arundell's horizons
Henry Arundell may be off limits to England in Paris but examples abound of young players boosting their careers by moving abroad.
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Gavin Mortimer
19 Dec 2023, 7:38
Are the French falling out of love with Europe?
Could the extra demands of the Top 14 be hindering the efforts of French sides in the Champions Cup?
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Gavin Mortimer
14 Dec 2023, 1:24
You’re fired! Top 14 follows football’s trend of ‘musical chairs’
Montpellier's brutal replacement of Richard Cockerill with a 'journeyman' underlines the Top 14's policy of hiring and firing coac…
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Gavin Mortimer
28 Nov 2023, 7:13
Antoine Dupont's Olympics dream divides France
The superstar's decision to forsake the Six Nations for Sevens has not been universally welcomed
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Gavin Mortimer
22 Nov 2023, 7:52
Why do the French love a bit of argy bargy?
The sad passing of enforcer Alain Esteve has brought into spotlight the reputation for thuggery in France in the 1970s
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Gavin Mortimer
09 Nov 2023, 14:27
Fabien Galthié's French honeymoon is over
As public and media attitudes cool towards him, which version of the French coach will we see next?
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Gavin Mortimer
30 Oct 2023, 4:05
The night the French dream died
The devastation took hold at the final whistle but when the pain recedes, France have a young squad and will throw everything at A…
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Gavin Mortimer
17 Oct 2023, 4:14
'The French respect South Africa but they don’t admire them the way they do New Zealand'
Little historical enmity exists between Les Bleus and the Springboks, but that won't dampen a phenomenal Rugby World Cup quarter-f…
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Gavin Mortimer
11 Oct 2023, 8:24
Will the Dupont palaver and limited opposition leave France undercooked for the knockouts?
The injury to the talismanic French captain has distracted France from another absence they’ve experienced: meaningful oppositio…
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Gavin Mortimer
03 Oct 2023, 7:15
Portugal are a work in progress that must be supported
Os Lobos have impressed with their ambitious play during the tournament and their development must continue
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Gavin Mortimer
27 Sep 2023, 8:58
After the Dupont calamity, what happens next?
The world's best player faces a race against time to play a part in the World Cup but France have to hold their nerve
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Gavin Mortimer
22 Sep 2023, 5:42
How France learnt to embrace winning ugly
While England are panned by the critics, France have dialled down their adventurous instincts and their fans have backed them
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Gavin Mortimer
20 Sep 2023, 8:57
How France fell in love with rugby again
The renaissance of rugby in France has been a long-time coming and Bernard Laporte deserves credit for his vision
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Gavin Mortimer
11 Sep 2023, 15:16
Why Jonathan Danty has become France's indispensable midfield lynchpin
A doubt for the World Cup opener against the All Blacks, the powerful La Rochelle centre has been key cog in the French revolution
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Gavin Mortimer
01 Sep 2023, 1:30
A nation expects
Fabien Galthie has the backing of a country and despite the injury of Romain Ntamack, confidence remains high as the World Cup app…
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Gavin Mortimer
22 Aug 2023, 3:52
The French star who could have been England’s saviour
Émilien Gailleton is not a household name yet, but if the 20-year-old is parachuted into the French World Cup squad, he soon coul…
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Gavin Mortimer
14 Aug 2023, 4:50
Why Antoine Dupont and a plethora of stars epitomise the soul of French rugby
Food, wine and rugby are inextricably linked in France and it is now de rigeur to swap the oval ball for a career in gastronomy
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Gavin Mortimer
18 Jul 2023, 9:48
Will Les Bleus give Macron a boost?
The French President is under much pressure domestically and he is hoping that a French World Cup win give him an election fillip
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Gavin Mortimer
19 Jun 2023, 14:22
Joe El-Abd: 'What a story it is to show little towns can compete against the biggest clubs in the world'
Little old Oyonnax have secured promotion to the riches of the Top 14 and Englishman Joe El-Abd is their inspiration
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Gavin Mortimer
05 Jun 2023, 9:06
Can Leinster be classed as a true European great?
The Top 14 towers over the URC which is why a double is a far more meaningful feat in France
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Gavin Mortimer
16 May 2023, 10:30
Jack the glad
England backrow star Jack Willis has swapped crestfallen Wasps for European royalty in Toulouse and he is loving his new life in F…
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Gavin Mortimer
25 Apr 2023, 7:00
Why England needs its top players in the Top 14
Relaxing the laws on English players playing in France may actually benefit the national team rather than hinder it
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Gavin Mortimer
11 Apr 2023, 14:38
England meet their Waterloo at the hands of irresistible French
The significance of Les Bleus's thunderous victory over England at Twickenham cannot be emphasised enough with a World Cup just mo…
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Gavin Mortimer
14 Mar 2023, 7:22
How Jonny Wilkinson killed off 'Le Crunch'
Anglo-French rivalry has lacked a little rancour since a certain English superstar seduced the heart of French rugby
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Gavin Mortimer
02 Mar 2023, 6:17
France get a case of the pre-World Cup jitters
Ireland’s emphatic win in Dublin has exposed the Bleus’ deficiencies and opened up insecurities in the host nation
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Gavin Mortimer
15 Feb 2023, 7:37
Can France rid themselves of the Twickenham hex?
France should win their first Six Nations match in England since 2005 – if they can overcome the fear factor
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Gavin Mortimer
25 Jan 2023, 3:34
France unites to ensure Bernie doesn't bring down Les Bleus
French rugby is determined disgraced FFR president Bernard Laporte won’t harm their chances of winning the World Cup
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Gavin Mortimer
05 Jan 2023, 0:00
The end of the line for Laporte?
Convicted of corruption by a court in Paris on Tuesday, the big question is, can Bernard Laporte remain a rugby powerbroker?
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Gavin Mortimer
15 Dec 2022, 1:40
France torn over whether Ntamack or Jalibert partners Dupont at RWC
Fabien Galthie and the French nation are praying that Antoine Dupont stays fit but who partners him at No 10 is up for debate
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Gavin Mortimer
23 Nov 2022, 1:38
November will show if injury-hit France have strength in depth to lift the World Cup
A raft of injuries and the burden of expectation on Les Bleus is ramping up with just 10 months to hosting a global jamboree
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Gavin Mortimer
01 Nov 2022, 10:04
Why is French rugby flourishing while in England it flounders?
Across the channel, there is befuddlement at the crisis engulfing English rugby but if you dig deep enough, you can see why the To…
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Gavin Mortimer
18 Oct 2022, 8:30
Wacky Racing: Will Stuart Lancaster finally help the enigmatic French club fulfil their potential?
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Gavin Mortimer
05 Oct 2022, 1:56
The French disconnection
French referees are different to Anglophone ones – as Bernard Foley discovered to his, and Australia's cost
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Gavin Mortimer
22 Sep 2022, 6:09
Dupont or Ollivon? The battle to be the boss of Les Bleus
French rugby is on a roll and head coach Fabien Galthie now has to choose his captain for the World Cup, it's a straight shoot-out…
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Gavin Mortimer
15 Sep 2022, 7:18
Bernard Laporte: Influential, inspirational and in the dock
French rugby is back at the summit of world rugby but politics threatens to engulf its most influential individuals a year out fro…
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Gavin Mortimer
19 Aug 2022, 4:23
Yoram Moefana: France's silent assassin
Hailing from Futuna, a tiny French-speaking South Pacific Island, the Bordeaux-Bègles centre is quietly making waves in Fabien Ga…
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Gavin Mortimer
22 Jul 2022, 0:14
Zach Mercer has usurped Jonny as France's favourite Englishman
The former Bath No 8 has taken the Top 14 by storm with Montpellier and he's been tipped to go to another level
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Gavin Mortimer
07 Jul 2022, 1:37
Will Fabien Galthie unearth more gold nuggets in Japan?
French rugby is on the crest of a wave and they know they can afford to take an understrength squad to Japan and rest their bigges…
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Gavin Mortimer
28 Jun 2022, 2:26
French offer lukewarm response to South Africa's inclusion in the Champions Cup
There is disquiet in France about the inclusion of South African sides in the Champions Cup with some feeling it has been foisted …
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Gavin Mortimer
14 Jun 2022, 4:16
Brain not brawn: the renaissance of Top 14 coaches
The traditional image of a hot-headed, combustible French coach has been replaced by a more reflective, intellectual coach that ha…
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Gavin Mortimer
24 May 2022, 0:57
French rugby points to England's broken system as the gulf between the Top 14 and ProD2 widens
French rugby's second division dwarfs the Championship in England both in terms of revenue and crowd numbers but there are still c…
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Gavin Mortimer
04 May 2022, 9:04
Return of the Saint
Philippe Saint-Andre was left battered and bruised from his experiences with Les Bleus but he has proved doubters wrong by guiding…
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Gavin Mortimer
20 Apr 2022, 1:10
France gets its act together while England bemoans structural failings
French political infighting brought the game to its knees but after a period of stability, results have seen the public fall back …
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Gavin Mortimer
29 Mar 2022, 13:50
Six Nations: Gael Fickou's ascendancy to French defensive lynchpin
The Racing 92 midfielder is the glue that knits a backline of superstars together and at 27, his best years lie ahead of him
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Gavin Mortimer
08 Mar 2022, 8:14
Emmanuel Macron hoping for a Grand Slam election bounce
Sport and politics do mix, and sometimes decide elections, which is why Emmanuel Macron is praying for French success in the Six N…
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Gavin Mortimer
16 Feb 2022, 23:37
Liberte, egalite, vaccine?
New laws state that professional rugby players in France are no longer free to play if they haven't been triple vaccinated
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Gavin Mortimer
19 Jan 2022, 0:31
Warming the bench for a once-in-a-generation talent
The little-known players toiling in the shadows of giants.
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Gavin Mortimer
17 Dec 2021, 23:57
Josh Brennan adds French accent to rich Irish heritage
The name and the accent are Irish but the heart of rising Toulouse star Josh Brennan belongs to France
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Gavin Mortimer
30 Nov 2021, 8:43
France v All Blacks: Over the Rainbow?
When French secret service agents sunk Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour in 1985, they fuelled a long rivalry wit…
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Gavin Mortimer
18 Nov 2021, 7:11
Antoine Dupont: Can Les Bleus' GOAT inspire 2023 glory?
Antoine Dupont is already the greatest player in French rugby history. Can he keep his focus as the spotlight intensifies?
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Gavin Mortimer
14 Oct 2021, 0:30
Break down the language barrier
It’s not fair to France that referees speak only English but will World Rugby translate that into action?
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Gavin Mortimer
22 Sep 2021, 9:28
Rags to riches
Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad has overcome a traumatic upbringing to become rugby's biggest powerbroker
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Gavin Mortimer
08 Sep 2021, 9:51
The rise and fall of Toulon
The dynasty built by Mourad Boudjellal has crumbled since he opted out and it is a shadow of its former self
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Gavin Mortimer
16 Aug 2021, 2:28
Baby Bleus widen Galthie's 2023 talent pool
France lost a tight series Down Under but there were enough longer-term positives to please coach Fabien Galthié
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Gavin Mortimer
20 Jul 2021, 10:47
France's tour of hotel hell
A callow French squad prepare to embark on their grinding voyage to Australia
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Gavin Mortimer
24 Jun 2021, 10:07
The empire strikes back
After a decade of decline, Toulouse are on the brink of a new era of European domination.
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Gavin Mortimer
20 May 2021, 9:04
Bright Vannes man
Nick Abendanon is a shining example of how overseas players should adapt to life in France
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Gavin Mortimer
11 May 2021, 1:14
French renaissance artist
Little-known coach Didier Retière has led the revival in France's fortunes
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Gavin Mortimer
18 Mar 2021, 2:28
Singing the Bleus
For all France's development, they will not win the next World Cup without a top-class goal-kicker.
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Gavin Mortimer
23 Feb 2021, 8:14
The French evolution
After a decade of turmoil, things are finally looking up for Les Bleus.
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Gavin Mortimer
07 Jan 2021, 6:54
Fun and games
Bernard Le Roux has been given a new lease of life by France's youngsters
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Gavin Mortimer
05 Dec 2020, 23:56
Love Islanders
Les Bleus are looking to Pacific territories for talent, but will it bring heartbreak for young players in France?
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Gavin Mortimer
05 Nov 2020, 9:33
Seeing red
A rash of Top 14 red cards, has seen many French commentators call for more flair and less flare
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Gavin Mortimer
14 Oct 2020, 10:12
French education
Gabriel Ibitoye left Harlequins for a new challenge and he's making headlines at Agen
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Gavin Mortimer
03 Oct 2020, 1:13
Storm clouds gather
Bernard Laporte's arrest has led to claim and counterclaim to further muddy French political waters
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Gavin Mortimer
23 Sep 2020, 10:21
Speed of light
A leap of faith has seen Cheslin Kolbe’s renaissance as a World Cup winner
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Gavin Mortimer
02 Sep 2020, 9:38
