Opinion
Can star-studded trio reawaken sleeping giant Béziers?
An ex-All Black, former Springbok and ex-F1 team boss are poised to take over the storied French club.
James Harrington
16 Oct 2024, 1:13
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Contributors
James Harrington
@Jamesonrugby
James Harrington is a freelance sports journalist and editor, based near Toulouse in southwest France, whose key focus is on the French rugby scene. He has worked with World Rugby, EPCR, RugbyPass, Rugby World, the Irish Examiner, SA Rugby Mag, Irish Independent, ESPN, and The Rugby Paper.
Interview
Dillyn Leyds: 'I was probably the main culprit... It was really tough'
Dillyn Leyds truly understood he wasn’t in Cape Town any longer when he first experienced the relative cold and dark of a La Roc…
James Harrington
13 Oct 2024, 0:30
Opinion
Made in France: How the 'JIFF' rules transformed French rugby
Home-reared quota systems were not universally popular, but over time their worth has proven vast.
James Harrington
01 Oct 2024, 3:44
5
Stade Francais sack Karim Ghezal just 4 games into Top 14 season
Karim Ghezal has left his role as head coach of Stade Francais, less than 48 hours after last season’s Top 14 semi-finalists sli…
James Harrington
30 Sep 2024, 6:15
Interview
Joe Simmonds: 'My rugby at Exeter was not where I wanted it to be'
Signing a long-term contract extension at Top 14 side Pau wasn’t the best or most important life decision Joe Simmonds made rece…
James Harrington
29 Sep 2024, 4:15
1
Analysis
After sidestepping disaster Biarritz are plotting route out of the woods
Gears shifted at historical French rugby giants Biarritz, after French rugby’s financial watchdog finally accepted the club’s …
James Harrington
14 Jun 2024, 3:21
1
Analysis
Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out
With multi-millionaire owner Louis-Vincent Gave about to walk away, the future of the five-time French champions is in doubt
James Harrington
28 Mar 2024, 4:07
1
Ex-England prospect Ibitoye left on shelf and facing season in ProD2
Barring a late call, former Harlequins flyer Gabriel Ibitoye could end up playing in France’s ProD2 next season for Agen, the cl…
James Harrington
12 Jul 2021, 11:00
Agen's season from hell: Airport fights, walks outs and conceding 42 points a game
Relegated Top 14 outfit Agen are in disarray having lost every game they have played this season and conceded more than 1,000 poin…
James Harrington
01 Jun 2021, 3:59
Laporte vs Grill: Final hours in the battle for France rugby's top job
Will it be Bernard Laporte or Florian Grill? Voting is under way as 1,900 rugby clubs decide who will be the next president of the…
James Harrington
02 Oct 2020, 10:32
Top 14 2020/21 club-by-club season preview: Pau
Pau started last season's Top 14 well, but things soon got difficult and it seems they have a lot of work to do if they are to imp…
James Harrington
03 Sep 2020, 6:45
Top 14 2020/21 club-by-club season preview: Agen
There's something about Agen - they have recruited and, on the whole, retained well which must mean they will do better than 13th …
James Harrington
29 Aug 2020, 5:25
Top 14 2020/21 club-by-club season preview: Bayonne
Bayonne will begin their difficult second season back in the Top 14 with lofty ambitions but could find their dreams quickly turn …
James Harrington
28 Aug 2020, 7:05
Top 14 2020/21 club-by-club season preview: Brive
Brive were worthy returnees to the Top 14 after a single Pro D2 campaign and while recruitment has been limited, there can expect …
James Harrington
26 Aug 2020, 4:17
Top 14 2020/21 club-by-club season preview: Castres Olympique
Castres Olympique threw out the old after a forgettable coronavirus-curtailed season and head into the 2020/21 campaign with a new…
James Harrington
20 Aug 2020, 7:58
Top 14 2020/21 club-by-club season preview: Lyon
Some of the new recruits at Lyon this season may be a little long in the tooth but make no mistake, the club is building for the l…
James Harrington
19 Aug 2020, 4:15
Top 14 club-by-club 2020/21 season preview: La Rochelle
La Rochelle were fifth when the 2019/20 Top 14 season was called off early, so why are we wondering about what might have been for…
James Harrington
18 Aug 2020, 5:05
Top 14 2020/21 club-by-club season preview: Bordeaux
Expect Bordeaux to take the frustration of last season out on their opponents this time around, but how well will they handle the …
James Harrington
17 Aug 2020, 0:47
Top 14 club-by-club 2020/21 season preview: Stade Francais
A new coach and some restrained, highly targeted, work in the transfer market could work wonders for Stade Francais in the Top 14
James Harrington
16 Aug 2020, 3:03
Top 14 club-by-club 2020/21 season preview: Montpellier
It's the second season for Montpellier under Xavier Garbajosa, who's aiming to bring the excitement back to the GGL Stadium.
James Harrington
06 Aug 2020, 9:54
