RugbyRebels

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:06 am**

francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 4:30 pm
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 8:05 am The new Top14 season begins today and tomorrow:

Stade Français - 13 Joe Marchant, 21 Zach Henry
Montauban - 8 Karl Wilkins (ex Saints)

Perpignan - 3 Kieran Brookes, 5 Poso Tuilagi (Manu's giant nephew)
Bayonne - 4 Alex Moon, 12 Manu Tuilagi

Castres - no Will Collier for the moment
Pau - 9 Dan Robson, 10 Joe Simmonds

Lyon - 8 Sam Simmonds (début match), 21 Paddy Jackson
Racing - 4 Jonny Hill, 10 Sam James, 18 Will Rowlands

Montpellier - 9 Ali Price, 19 Billy Vunipola
Toulon - 5 Dave Ribbans, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 8 Zach Mercer (début match), (Italian centre Ignacio Brex makes his début)

UBB - 18 Jonny Grey
La Rochelle

Clermont play Toulouse on Sunday evening and neither Jack Willis nor Blair Kinghorn are available.
Edit! I missed Nathan Hughes at 8 for Racing.

It's ok, nobody cares

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:46 am**

Danno wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:06 am
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 4:30 pm
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 8:05 am The new Top14 season begins today and tomorrow:

Stade Français - 13 Joe Marchant, 21 Zach Henry
Montauban - 8 Karl Wilkins (ex Saints)

Perpignan - 3 Kieran Brookes, 5 Poso Tuilagi (Manu's giant nephew)
Bayonne - 4 Alex Moon, 12 Manu Tuilagi

Castres - no Will Collier for the moment
Pau - 9 Dan Robson, 10 Joe Simmonds

Lyon - 8 Sam Simmonds (début match), 21 Paddy Jackson
Racing - 4 Jonny Hill, 10 Sam James, 18 Will Rowlands

Montpellier - 9 Ali Price, 19 Billy Vunipola
Toulon - 5 Dave Ribbans, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 8 Zach Mercer (début match), (Italian centre Ignacio Brex makes his début)

UBB - 18 Jonny Grey
La Rochelle

Clermont play Toulouse on Sunday evening and neither Jack Willis nor Blair Kinghorn are available.
Edit! I missed Nathan Hughes at 8 for Racing.
It's ok, nobody cares

I feel like you ought to clarify that with "about Nathan Hughes", rather than giving the implication that you're including all of francoisfou's endeavours in that!

Astounded that Racing are looking to move away from being fancy dan lightweight fripperies and have decided their best route to doing that is signing Nathan Hughes.

Puja

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2025 8:29 am**

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:46 am
Danno wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:06 am
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 4:30 pm

Edit! I missed Nathan Hughes at 8 for Racing.
It's ok, nobody cares
I feel like you ought to clarify that with "about Nathan Hughes", rather than giving the implication that you're including all of francoisfou's endeavours in that!

Astounded that Racing are looking to move away from being fancy dan lightweight fripperies and have decided their best route to doing that is signing Nathan Hughes.

Puja

francoisfou does do great work on here.

It's all a bit odd at Racing, for a club what's thrown some money at big name flyhalfs like Russell, Farrell, iirc Carter they are now starting Sam James at 10.

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2025 9:19 am**

Danno wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:06 am
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 4:30 pm
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 8:05 am The new Top14 season begins today and tomorrow:

Stade Français - 13 Joe Marchant, 21 Zach Henry
Montauban - 8 Karl Wilkins (ex Saints)

Perpignan - 3 Kieran Brookes, 5 Poso Tuilagi (Manu's giant nephew)
Bayonne - 4 Alex Moon, 12 Manu Tuilagi

Castres - no Will Collier for the moment
Pau - 9 Dan Robson, 10 Joe Simmonds

Lyon - 8 Sam Simmonds (début match), 21 Paddy Jackson
Racing - 4 Jonny Hill, 10 Sam James, 18 Will Rowlands

Montpellier - 9 Ali Price, 19 Billy Vunipola
Toulon - 5 Dave Ribbans, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 8 Zach Mercer (début match), (Italian centre Ignacio Brex makes his début)

UBB - 18 Jonny Grey
La Rochelle

Clermont play Toulouse on Sunday evening and neither Jack Willis nor Blair Kinghorn are available.
Edit! I missed Nathan Hughes at 8 for Racing.
It's ok, nobody cares

It seems that Nathan Hughes' team-mates don't care either, having been stuffed 32-7 away to Lyon (although Hughes did cross for his side's only try).

Elsewhere, Dave Ribbans and Zach Mercer were in impressive form for Toulon in their 27-17 away win in Montpellier, with Mercer scoring a try on his début.

Four penalties by Joe Simmonds helped Pau to a 17-15 win away to Castres.

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2025 5:38 am**

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:46 am
Danno wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:06 am
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 4:30 pm

Edit! I missed Nathan Hughes at 8 for Racing.
It's ok, nobody cares
I feel like you ought to clarify that with "about Nathan Hughes", rather than giving the implication that you're including all of francoisfou's endeavours in that!

Astounded that Racing are looking to move away from being fancy dan lightweight fripperies and have decided their best route to doing that is signing Nathan Hughes.

Puja

Oh gosh, I have posted my appreciation of ff's work in this thread before. No spite intended here!

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2025 10:19 am**

Danno wrote: ↑Mon Sep 08, 2025 5:38 am
Puja wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:46 am
Danno wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:06 am

It's ok, nobody cares
I feel like you ought to clarify that with "about Nathan Hughes", rather than giving the implication that you're including all of francoisfou's endeavours in that!

Astounded that Racing are looking to move away from being fancy dan lightweight fripperies and have decided their best route to doing that is signing Nathan Hughes.

Puja
Oh gosh, I have posted my appreciation of ff's work in this thread before. No spite intended here!

Posted: **Fri Sep 12, 2025 3:04 pm**

No news, yet, of Nathan Hughes' selection (just in case Danno is interested!)

Round 3 of ProD2 yesterday evening and this evening:

Agen - 9 Jack Maunder, 5 John Madigan
Grenoble

Provence - 6 Teimana Harrison, 3 Tomas Francis
Biarritz - 15 Zach Kibirige

Brive - 10 Jamie Shillcock, 5 Irné Herbst (first start for Brive), 22 Stuart Olding
Valence Romans - 14 Calum Randle (born in Cheltenham, brought up in France and played U16,18 & 20 for France)

Aurillac
Béziers - 3 Christian Judge

Nevers - 5 George Smith (ex Saints & Cov)
Carcassonne

Angoulême - Jonny May is not yet available, been injured is said to be back in training
Dax - 4 Charlie Matthews

Mont de Marsan
Vannes - 11 Ben Stevenson, 23 Nick Schonert

Posted: **Fri Sep 12, 2025 5:49 pm**

Top14 round 2 Brits:

Bayonne - 12 Manu Tuilagi, 4 Alex Moon, 18 Ewan Johnson
Montpellier - 18 Adam Beard, 20 Ali Price

Toulon - 7 Lewis Ludlam, 8 Zach Mercer, 5 Dave Ribbans
Castres - 23 Will Collier

Pau - 9 Dan Robson, 10 Joe Simmonds
SF

Montauban - 8 Karl Wilkins
Lyon - 8 Sam Simmonds, 21 Paddy Jackson

Toulouse - 19 Jack Willis, 22 Blair Kinghorn
Perpignan - 3 Kieran Brookes

Racing v UBB is on Sunday evening and teams not yet announced

Posted: **Thu Oct 02, 2025 11:01 pm**

ff is currently a Brit abroad - in the Queensland tropical forest where an internet connection is as rare as rocking-horse shit.
Normal service should be resumed mid-october.
In the meantime, does anyone have any news on Nathan Hughes? Or does nobody care?!!

Posted: **Fri Oct 03, 2025 10:03 am**

Nathan Hughes was a super sub last week, came off the bench and grabbed a try.

Posted: **Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:15 pm**

On Monday evening’s “Nuit de Rugby”, Jack Willis was awarded the Top14 Player of the Year award for last season.
Since he’s been with Toulouse, his team have won three Top14 titles and one European Champions’ Cup.
La vie est belle!

Posted: **Tue Oct 07, 2025 7:57 am**

francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:15 pm On Monday evening’s “Nuit de Rugby”, Jack Willis was awarded the Top14 Player of the Year award for last season.
Since he’s been with Toulouse, his team have won three Top14 titles and one European Champions’ Cup.
La vie est belle!

Yet, he wasn't an England regular before he went. Does he just fit the French game better or was he wrongly under-rated?

Posted: **Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:54 am**

Round 7 of ProD2 is currently under way.
Vannes beat Oyonnax yesterday evening 36-17. Ben Stevenson wore 11, Dave Cherry 2, Mako Vunipola 1, and ex Glaws and Tigers' 8 Sione Kalamafoni wore 19.

Agen - 9 Jack Maunder
Brive - 10 Stuart Olding (c), 7 Courtney Lawes, 5 Irné Herbst, 22 Jamie Shilcock

Béziers - 23 Christian Judge
Valence Romans

Provence - 8 Teimana Harrison (c), 3 Tomas Francis
Nevers

Angoulême - 11 Jonny May
Biarritz

Carcassonne - 10 Jonny McPhillips
Colomiers

Posted: **Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:12 am**

francoisfou wrote: ↑Thu Oct 02, 2025 11:01 pm ff is currently a Brit abroad - in the Queensland tropical forest where an internet connection is as rare as rocking-horse shit.
Normal service should be resumed mid-october.
In the meantime, does anyone have any news on Nathan Hughes? Or does nobody care?!!

Posted: **Fri Oct 17, 2025 12:10 pm**

francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:54 am Round 7 of ProD2 is currently under way.
Vannes beat Oyonnax yesterday evening 36-17. Ben Stevenson wore 11, Dave Cherry 2, Mako Vunipola 1, and ex Glaws and Tigers' 8 Sione Kalamafoni wore 19.

Agen - 9 Jack Maunder
Brive - 10 Stuart Olding (c), 7 Courtney Lawes, 5 Irné Herbst, 22 Jamie Shilcock

Béziers - 23 Christian Judge
Valence Romans

Provence - 8 Teimana Harrison (c), 3 Tomas Francis
Nevers

Angoulême - 11 Jonny May
Biarritz

Carcassonne - 10 Jonny McPhillips
Colomiers

Good to have you back again! How was Queensland? Actually, which Queensland were you in - there's a few!

Puja

Posted: **Fri Oct 17, 2025 12:57 pm**

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 12:10 pm
francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:54 am Round 7 of ProD2 is currently under way.
Vannes beat Oyonnax yesterday evening 36-17. Ben Stevenson wore 11, Dave Cherry 2, Mako Vunipola 1, and ex Glaws and Tigers' 8 Sione Kalamafoni wore 19.

Agen - 9 Jack Maunder
Brive - 10 Stuart Olding (c), 7 Courtney Lawes, 5 Irné Herbst, 22 Jamie Shilcock

Béziers - 23 Christian Judge
Valence Romans

Provence - 8 Teimana Harrison (c), 3 Tomas Francis
Nevers

Angoulême - 11 Jonny May
Biarritz

Carcassonne - 10 Jonny McPhillips
Colomiers
Good to have you back again! How was Queensland? Actually, which Queensland were you in - there's a few!

Puja

Queensland (Daintree rainforest) in the northeast of Australia was rather warm and thirst inducing and I had to lower myself out of necessity to drink 4X on more than one occasion!

Posted: **Sat Oct 18, 2025 11:41 am**

Top14 round 7

Bayonne - 12 Manu Tuilagi, 5 Ewan Johnson
Clermont

Castres - 3 Will Collier
Stade Français - 13 Joe Marchant

Montpellier - 8 Billy Vunipola, 4 Adam Beard
Lyon - 8 Sam Simmonds

Perpignan - 7 Jamie Ritchie, 23 Kieran Brookes
UBB - 19 Jonny Gray

La Rochelle - 14 Jack Nowell
Montauban

Pau - 10 Joe Simmonds
Toulouse - 10 Blair Kinghorn

Toulon play Racing on Sunday evening - teams not yet announced

Posted: **Fri Oct 24, 2025 5:28 pm**

I didn’t know that Nick Abendanon is a part of Bayonne’s coaching staff - skills, so I’ve just read.
He’s clearly happy with life in France having played six seasons for Clermont and three for Vannes.

Posted: **Fri Oct 24, 2025 5:37 pm**

'Brits Abroad' is the title but is there any significant presence anywhere else? Maybe the Prem needs to merge with the French leagues and scrub round playing in the European competitions.

Posted: **Fri Oct 24, 2025 6:20 pm**

I can hear the "hon hon hon hon hon" of French laughter from here

Posted: **Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:13 pm**

Danno wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 6:20 pm I can hear the "hon hon hon hon hon" of French laughter from here

Me too. My top rugby love is England and I want its best XV on the park. My brain comprehends the counter-arguments but the heart keeps saying bollix. With that said, I'll look forward to the Saints match shortly.

Posted: **Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:39 pm**

Danno wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 6:20 pm I can hear the "hon hon hon hon hon" of French laughter from here

Posted: **Wed Oct 29, 2025 11:35 am**

Joe Worsley is said to be about to become the new defence coach of the sinking ship Perpignan in the Top14. Played 8 lost 8 and nul points are the gloomy stats that he’ll already be aware of.
He’s made of stern stuff but the odds on survival in the Top14 are short, so good luck to him.

Posted: **Wed Oct 29, 2025 1:27 pm**

francoisfou wrote: ↑Wed Oct 29, 2025 11:35 am Joe Worsley is said to be about to become the new defence coach of the sinking ship Perpignan in the Top14. Played 8 lost 8 and nul points are the gloomy stats that he’ll already be aware of.
He’s made of stern stuff but the odds on survival in the Top14 are short, so good luck to him.

He's highly rated as a coach, so it'll be interesting to see if he can make a material difference there.

Puja

Posted: **Wed Oct 29, 2025 11:33 pm**

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:46 am
Danno wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:06 am
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 4:30 pm

Edit! I missed Nathan Hughes at 8 for Racing.
It's ok, nobody cares
I feel like you ought to clarify that with "about Nathan Hughes", rather than giving the implication that you're including all of francoisfou's endeavours in that!

Astounded that Racing are looking to move away from being fancy dan lightweight fripperies and have decided their best route to doing that is signing Nathan Hughes.

Puja

To be honest Puja I’d rather have Nathan in the England 8 jersey than the threadbare options we’ve got at our disposal this Saturday!

RugbyRebels

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