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Gallagher Premiership

108kg ex-England No.8 goes toe-to-toe with Louis Bielle-Biarrey in foot race

Bordeaux-Begles' French wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey (C) runs with the ball during the French Top14 rugby union match between Union Bordeaux-Begles (UBB) and Lyon Olympique Universitaire Rugby at the Chaban-Delmas Stadium in Bordeaux, south-western France, on October 4, 2025. (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP)
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There are few players, if any, in world rugby that are quicker than France and Bordeaux-Begles wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

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Anyone who can keep up with the recently-crowned French rugby player of the year clearly has a good turn of speed themselves. Lyon No.8 Sam Simmonds showed he was one of those players at the weekend.

The former England back-row has always been famed for his speed, but he showed just how quick he was when he was able to run toe-to-toe with the 22-year-old Frenchman.

The 30-year-old was able to keep up with Bielle-Biarrey as he raced in for his second try of the match in the final 10 minutes to deliver Bordeaux a 32-20 win. Though the Englishman was unable to prevent the try, it is worth noting that he was not running alongside the flyer; rather, he was running at an angle, meaning he had further to run.

Simmonds’ athleticism has been well-documented throughout his career, but despite his pace and footwork, he was never able fully to establish himself in the England squad, only amassing 19 caps during his time in England with Exeter Chiefs, where he won the 2020 Investec Champions Cup and Gallagher PREM double while being crowned European player of the year.

Speaking with RugbyPass recently, former England head coach Eddie Jones explained why the No.8 never quite made the grade in Test rugby.

“You see players who can be really good club players, but they just don’t have that little bit extra that’s needed at Test level,” Jones said.

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“Sam Simmonds was a really good player, an excellent player, outstanding at club level, but at Test level, he just lacked that little bit of bulk. He still played some good Tests for England, but he was never going to be that absolutely standout No.8. But a good player and a good lad.”

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SP 5 minutes ago
The best uncapped Irish prospects pushing for summer tour places

Mack Hansen wasn't wrong aboutrhe media, the doommongers were writing off Farrell and his squad, when actually IRFU player policy post the Lions meant our best players had no ckub rugby in their legs at the start of the 6N, and funnily enough got better with every game they played after getting hammered by a French side that were match sharp by contrast…

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Glasgow had three matches to go in the Champions League “all being well” before the Goliath of the North was downed by “underdogs” Toulon.



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Chris929 26 minutes ago
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We are already seeing evidence the future of the red roses looks less good with the u20 and u18 losing regularly now-not just to france who thrashed us at u18 and u20 level(and have done past few years) but also to the celtic teams.There is no guarantee senior level red roses success will continue indefinitely. We need more playing opportunities for young english players in the PWR-expanding to more english teams like Bath and Newcastle,which should be the priority, would help with that. Yet the RFU in its wisdom seems keen to bring in a welsh team,an irish team and a scottish team- something that would only benefit our rivals not us. They would become defacto national teams playing in the PWR and would only help them grow and develop. We already helping most teams with their squads playing in PWR. But including teams from other countries would be taking it to another level. Focus on english expansion first-bath,newcastle -maybe a team in yorkshire or cornwall

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Hammer Head 1 hour ago
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Hammer Head 1 hour ago
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It’s mostly flames fanned on the fans behalf, to be fair.

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That’s true too

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TT. 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Agree on Wright, it will be hard to overlook him if he plays at the same level than last year !

Indeed, if Lonergan is not in the team - which I think is probably the best option if they plan to start Carter Gordon - they will definitely need a goalkicker.



...

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BC1812 1 hour ago
'A really exciting option': WRU file PWR expression of interest

It’s all very well for the RFU to finance and develop overseas players in English teams, though I think it need so be scaled back, but enabling international Home Nations teams to play week in, week out is several steps too far and will be to the detriment of the Red Roses.

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SB 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Wright for sure if he can replicate his 2025 test form. Harvey looks like a great prospect though and his goal kicking could be something very valuable to the team, especially with Carter Gordon is in the team and Ryan Lonergan is not.

12 Go to comments
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TT. 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

And who would pick at 15 ? Tom Wright ? Harvey ?

12 Go to comments
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TT. 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Due to the League’s influence in our opinion ? Too young to recall that sadly…

Aren’t Paisami and Flook leaving Australia this summer ? Crichton could be the solution to a lot of their problems indeed.



...

12 Go to comments
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SB 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Him and Marky Mark on the wings at the World Cup, aerial kicks galore. Not sure where that leaves Jorgensen though.

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unknown 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

JAS plays at 13 because the Wallabies already have loads of high quality back three players and basically only two other top quality centres (ikitau and Parisian) one of whom is abroad currently and one of whom is heading to Japan (I’ve heard) - so that’s the area of key lack of depth

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NB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Aussie have always had a surfeit of good back three players, more so than centres, even in their best years around 2000-2003… I recall them trying to shoehorn Elton Flatley into 12 for the 2001 Lions series.

They have Paisami, Ikitua and Flook wto work with now, and poss Angus Crichton in future. So I’d ships to 14 or 15 now, with a view to a JAS-Marky-Jordo backfield for the RWC, and poss Lomax in the mix too.



...

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N
NB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Let’s hope so. Hunter Paisami is having a good season at 12 for the Reds, Len Ikitau is top drawer and Josh Flook at a very smart 13, so there is some material to work with there…

12 Go to comments
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NB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

They might start him at 14 and then move him to FB once he gets the hang of the backfield pendulum….

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Stephen11 2 hours ago
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I agree, which is why I find it strange that they only refer to part of her heritage. Her mom is also half Cook islander so why not mention that as well?

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SB 2 hours ago
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Fully agree, although 15 requires a lot of intelligence and I’m not sure he covers the back field well enough. Wing might be the best option for him.

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They have quite a few indeed, nevertheless, which would be their best backrow combination in your opinion ?

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Guest 3 hours ago
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