World Rugby must act to change player eligibility rules immediately. It cannot allow for test match rugby to be tarnished any further. The sport is under attack at the highest level as unions are using the laws to their advantage to identity talent and nationalize players to, within three years, have …
Read More »Ngwenya set to join Brive
Takudzwa Ngwenya will be returning to France, according to French media sources. The US Eagles rocket-man will join Brive in the Top 14 in the coming days, signing as a medical joker for former Australia 7s rep Alfi Mafi who has undergone shoulder surgery. Ngwenya enjoyed nine seasons with Biarritz …
Read More »On This Day in 2007
September 07 2007, the day rugby changed forever, and for the better. The international order was turned on its head thanks to Argentina defeating France in the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2007. While many thought of it as being a major upset this was not the reality. Instead …
Read More »Comparing Rugby World Cup 2023 Bidders
Hosting a Rugby World Cup is something unions, supporters and players alike all dream of. For some the opportunity has already been realized. For others it is being mapped out as a futuristic goal. Argentina, Canada and the USA are all such instances. For 2023 none are bidding, with the …
Read More »Historic firsts for Trainor and Vannes
Conor Trainor could not have asked for a better start to his professional career in France. The Canadian centre enjoyed a memorable debut for Vannes against Montauban on Friday, scything through the defense to score his first professional try in the 33rd minute. Despite trailing 17-13 at the half, Vannes …
Read More »Pro D2 2016-2017 Season Preview
The second division of the French domestic championship – the Pro D2 – starts a new season today. Competing for the right to earn promotion to the Top 14 will be sixteen clubs. Eleven of them are in France’s south-west, the traditional hot bed of French rugby. But with large cities taking …
Read More »Americas Players in Pro D2 – Season Preview
A new season of Pro D2 rugby begins on Thursday. The opening round kicks off two months after the 2016 final. With there being 30 rounds and playoffs to be juggled alongside test rugby and European club rugby it is a long, long season. The new season sees Oyonnax and Agen back …
Read More »Americas Players in Top 14 – Week 1
Despite the French summer far from being over the country’s rugby season is set to start. Just 57 days after last season’s final Week 1 of the 2016-2017 Top 14 season gets underway on Saturday. With players have briefly rested before returning to training they are now set to play …
Read More »PRO Rugby 2016 – By the Numbers
PRO Rugby year one is in the books. The Denver Stampede are inaugural champions, lifting the unnamed trophy, and the verdict from American fans is unanimous – they want more. More teams, more players, more games, more exposure. It’s onwards and upwards from here. Before we look at where things …
Read More »Top 14 2016-2017 Season Preview
The French domestic championship – the Top 14 – starts a new season on Saturday. Competing for the ultimate prize in France will be clubs from large cities and small towns. They come from far and wide with the competition increasingly being nationwide as south-west small town representation has deteriorated. In the …
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