What if Fabien Galthie’s biggest mistake in the 2024 Six Nations was being too conservative with his France selection calls? Or has circumstance dictated plans? When he officially took charge…
James Harrington
Explained: Why a rugby ball is that shape?
Rugby balls are not ball shaped, so how did they get to be the shape they are - and why, exactly, are they still called balls?
“I thought the ground itself was shaking” – What awaits Ireland in Marseille
France v Ireland kicks off the Six Nations in Marseille on Friday, as Les Bleus go on the road for the 2024 tournament
How having a referee as a coach can transform a team’s fortunes
Top 14 sides and France have both moved to bring officials on board – and reaped the rewards
Who is Louis Bielle-Biarrey? Ten things you need to know about young France flyer
Louis Bielle-Biarrey should have gone to the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship with France in July. But France head coach Fabien Galthie insisted he – and fellow age-grade prodigy Emilien…
Fiji move to brink of quarter-finals with tense win over Georgia
Two second-half tries spared an uncharacteristically nervy Fiji’s blushes as they came from behind to beat Georgia 17-12. It put them on the brink of qualification for the quarter-finals –…
Who is Santiago Arata? Ten things you should know about Uruguay scrum-half
Santiago Arata has not had the ideal preparation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. In July, the irrepressible star of Uruguayan rugby suffered a broken finger that required surgery. However,…
Explained: What is rugby’s TMO bunker?
The effectiveness of the TMO bunker in rugby was called into question after England’s Owen Farrell had his red card for a dangerous tackle on Taine Basham rescinded. A Television…
Who is Matthieu Jalibert? Ten facts about France’s World Cup fly-half
Matthieu Jalibert seems certain to be entrusted with France’s 10 shirt in the injury-enforced absence of Romain Ntamack for this World Cup. For some time, the two players were the…
Every time France have played New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup
France v New Zealand kicks off the 2023 Rugby World Cup tonight. It’s a match-up with history, in all senses of the phrase. The bare statistics tell part of the…