RESTAURANTS IN France have Michelin Stars, rugby players have Midi Olympique stars. They are awarded in each Monday’s edition of the newspaper to the players who have caught the eye…
France
Erratic Toulouse have it tough taming the Tigers
NO DOUBT about the tie of this weekend – Toulouse’s visit to Leicester for a winner takes all confrontation. Between them they’ve won the Heineken Cup six times with the…
Heineken Cup Round 5: Five must-watch clashes
SPORTING CLICHES are often abused. Every tournament has a Group of Death and every player is weighed and measured to see if they will be found inferior or capable of…
Balshaw hoping to extend his French stay
FOR ALL the talk in recent weeks about Jonny Wilkinson, and will-he-or-won’t-he sign on for another stint at Toulon, there’s another Englishman in the south of France in a similar…
New Year predictions: 2013
GET THE chopping block ready. Remove the ceremonial stretching-rings. It's time to put my neck on the line. The season has, so far, provided very few genuine shocks. However, as…
Top 14: Expat half-term report
JONNY WILKINSON brought down the curtain on 2012 in fine style, signing off with a 26-point haul as Toulon crushed Perpignan 46-13 and consolidated their position as the Top 14’s…
Will Wales pick Hook at 10 after Priestland injury blow?
THE CHANCES of a white Christmas in Perpignan would seem about as likely as Wales one day beating Australia. Down in the deep south of France, the winters are mild…
Moneyball: The Best backrowers in Europe
RUGBY IS a subjective old sport. When it comes to talk of who is top of the pile, it's hard to come to a definitive answer, with pub-know-it-alls basing opinions…
The French are flying in the Heineken Cup
IT'S THE half-way stage of the Heineken Cup and for the French clubs things are looking good. With three of the six pool matches gone, only Biarritz of the seven…
World Cup draw holds no fear for France
DID YOU hear it then? That sound, shortly after the groans had ceased from the England and Wales camps. It was the sound of Gallic guffawing as they digested the…