Tag Archives: Top 14

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 …

A new season of Top 14 rugby begins on Saturday. The opening round kicks off less than two months after the 2016 final was played in Barcelona. The quick turnaround is due to Rugby World Cup 2015 having delayed matches in the early part of the 2015-2016 season. With there being …

For the first time two Chilean players will compete in the top division of French rugby. Bayonne have confirmed that prop Ramón Ayarza will continue with the club this season after signing as a medical joker at the end of last season’s championship run in Pro D2. Together with second …

Ohio Aviators bookend Jamie Mackintosh is headed back to France. The one-time New Zealand All Black prop joined PRO Rugby after spending time as a medical joker with Montpellier last season. With his former provincial side Southland opting not to offer him a Mitre 10 Cup contract, Mackintosh will instead …

South African star Duane Vermeulen will not play against Argentina in the opening round of the Rugby Championship. The bruising no8 has injured his knee playing for his French club Toulon and has been withdrawn from the Springbok squad. An MRI has confirmed the damage and Vermeulen will undergo surgery …

The 2016-2017 Top 14 season kicks-off in a week from now. The opening round will see matches played on August 12 and 13. It is looming as being as competitive as ever with a range of possibilities for both champions and relegation. In order to enter with match practice teams …

Australian Head Coach Michael Cheika has finalized his roster for the Rugby Championship. Having named 36 players, the updated squad of 33 sees Nick Frisby, Luke Morahan and Toby Smith all released. The final roster sees a contingent of players back from France. Toulon backs Matt Giteau and Quade Cooper may yet …

In a radio interview with Raúl Taquini Agustín Pichot placed his cards on the table. The World Rugby Vice Chairman made it known that the future is one of great hope for a once isolated union. Hosting Rugby World Cup  2027 The former Pumas captain reaffirmed his desire for Argentina to host …

History was made this past Friday as Colombian Andrés Zafra debuted for Top 14 club, Lyon. Aged just 19 Zafra is Colombia’s first to ever play rugby in Europe. He is now on the verge of playing in the richest league in the world, the Top 14. His debut appearance for the club …

Following time spent at Montpellier, Newcastle, and Carcassonne, Nahuel Lobo has returned to Estudiantes de Paraná. Still aged just 24 the loosehead prop has turned down offers to remain in Europe to focus on an international recall. In an interview with UNO Entre Rios Lobo said “the last year I …