🚨Pod Drop!🚨 If you like French rugby quizzes answered (poorly) from a busy train station, then this one's for you! Paris derbies, lavish pastries and obscure Pro D2 trivia are available all in an abridged episode this week. Joyeux Noël! linktr.ee/rosbifsrugby

💊USAP v Clermont 🌋 Another huge game with two sides in need of a win, and both sides looking strong. 💊Looking about as strong as they have done all season. Yato up against his former club. Ritchie captains. Bench looks strong. 🌋Pack looks good, first choice half backs. Loaloa one to watch.

🌸 Derby Day 🩵🤍

Top 14 Round 12 🔮 Hopefully a finely poised return to #Top14 action, starting with Rob on the ground for the Paris derby. USAP will be itching for a first win against Clermont, whilst it's top vs bottom at the Sapiac. + Rob has done a full preview 👇 youtube.com/shorts/dMzsV...

🔮#ProD2 Round 15 🔮 Some belters this week! Mixed opinions, some form teams on the road and stacked sides before the Christmas break! Rob has given a rundown, give it a watch! 👀👇 youtube.com/shorts/WaT-6...

💰TOP 14 Salary Cap Info Some cracking visuals by Oval News of the Salary Cap audit released yesterday by the LNR. Shows: - how well Vannes did last year - why USAP are still struggling - why Stuart Lancaster lost his job

#ProD2 and #RugbyFinance News has been non-stop this week. Dax have been at the heart of it and have born the brunt of the penalties. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction for Dax.

This is for 2023-2024 and the €11.5m is in reference to the salary cap + international credits from France call-ups

🚨New Pod🚨 We ventured west, but the main events took place in Toulon and Glasgow! - Bruising Toulon overcome Bath - Toulouse succumb to Warriors - Lyon's unenviable record... + there's PROD2, the Jaminet saga draws to a close, and Spotify wrapped! linktr.ee/rosbifsrugby

Toulon have got to try and use that physicality in midfield to give space to their outside backs. Barely seen anything of their back three in that first half, but whenever Mathis Ferté has had a tiny bit of space, he’s looked threatening. Genuine tingle of excitement when he gets the ball.

📋Clipboard Update Great to see the Mignoni clipboard is also entirely blank for Champions Cup games and not just Top 14 games. #MonsieurClipboard #InvestecChampionsCup

These two kits are excellent. Monochrome from Bath (and two of their colours) and black with a trim of local colours from Toulon. Having Charles Ollivon wear your kit obviously helps it look stunning.. 😍 #InvestecChampionsCup #RCTvBAT

🏴‍☠️TOULON Team News Another strong team from Toulon. They NEED a win in this one. >Ollivon & Serin return to starting lineup 🔑 >Garcia is good, but only out and out fly half option >Ferté one of France’s brightest young stars >Huge physicality up front & in midfield 👇

Away Day of a different kind… ALLEZ SECTION! 💚🐂🏔️

💙🤍 CASTRES Team News Castres go in strong again. The pack is mighty, backline packs flair. >3 great front row bench options >Staniforth is a machine 🔑 >Papali’i game changing ball carrier >Leone, King of Fijian Flair on bench 🔥 >Vargas is exciting Discipline has to be better

🚣‍♂️BAYONNE Team News Another strange looking side from Bayonne, albeit slightly stronger than last week >Strong front row >Tom Spring has only ever started at 10 in Challenge Cup >Maqala returns dynamite 🧨 >Watch out for Capilla - he has it all 🔥🔥🔥 More details 👇

📰 EPCR TEAM NEWS There is SO much rugby and plenty of team news to digest - and it’s another mixed back from the French sides. Here is all you need to know about what the Top 14 sides are offering this week 👇 allthingsrugby.com/news/will-th...

💚MONTAUBAN Team News First home game in EPCR, a decent side but still mix and match. >Fortunel returns at 10 >Tuculet being fit is game changing >Back row looks really strong. Face up against Moriarty whose last game in 🇫🇷 was Brive’s humbling defeat in ProD2 SF v USM @ospreyspodcast.bsky.social

🌸STADE FRANCAIS Team News It’s largely a 2nd Team, with the exception of the high-class centres (and they’ve also got Néné on the bench). Back row and Olympian🥇Andy Timo has his first ever start on the wing. Plenty of power still in that pack, so should still win.

💊PERPIGNAN Team News It’s largely a mix of youngsters, Fijians and Georgians and it’s certainly not full strength. >Hugo Reus was immensely promising in U20s - first start since joining as 🩼cover from Montpellier >Lotrian & Boyer Gallardo are ones to watch 👀 @spritzandscrums.bsky.social

🛡️TOULOUSE Team News Wow. Just wow. It’s rare Toulouse look weak, but this is tasty 🤤 >Tony D’s 1st start since ACL injury >Gorgeous Gourgues has overtaken centre partner Costes in the hype stakes >Willis back after a few weeks Game of the round?

🍇UBB Team News After a trip to 🇿🇦+altitude, a bit of rotation understandable. Still 4/7ths of that 🧨 backline >Palu & Coleman combo is 👌 >Matiu back to best last wk >Falatea chance to push for 🇫🇷 Last UBB v Scarlets game was 2022 & 1st pro start for LBB. He scored a hat trick…

🌋CLERMONT Team News The pack is as strong as it can be with 🔑men Ceyte & Tixeront returning. Makes it all the more strange they rest their 1st choice half backs. >Immense pack >Simone only 2nd ever start at 10 >Moala is a game-changer, alongside 18yo debutant >Raka is back 🔥

⛵️LA ROCHELLE Team News This is a wildly under strength side. Horrific injury list, yes, but: >19 & 20yo locks as flankers >only 2 over-21s in the backs >135kg Tighthead prop covering back row (we think?) That said: >Jurd is an exceptional goal kicker >Daunivucu has it all, but he’s raw

Pro D2 Round 14 🔮 Late off the mark, and not for the first time, 0/1 with SAXV sneaking a crucial win against Agen. Some seriously tough away gigs this round, but there will surely be a shock in there somewhere. Dax vs Colomiers an intriguing mix of styles, could be a cracker!

SAXV v Agen Tricky one to preview this week, and not just because of the form of these two sides… We’ve tried our best to summarise over on All Things Rugby👇 allthingsrugby.com/news/pro-d2-... Despite SAXV’s selection, game itself should be a cracker - loads of young talent on show!

In other Thomas Ramos off-field news… Is it just us, or does he bear a striking resemblance to ‘The Good King Wenceslas Guy’ from Love Actually…? 🤔

Incredible 😂

🚨New Pod🚨 So much rugby, so many talking points, and an underwhelming return for the French in 'Europe': - Toulon defied in Edinburgh - Dazzling Jalibert & UBB - More cards for Castres! + A spicy round of PROD2, and Big Joe's in the kitchen! 🎧👇 linktr.ee/rosbifsrugby

What he said 👇

In some off the field issues Toulouse's LNR hearing over Melvyn Jaminet's 2022 transfer from Perpignan started this afternoon in Paris They risk a points penalty over his €450,000 move #Top14

Two late changes for Pau, and two big ones. Montoya out, Lucas Rey in - probs helps their lineout, but de-powers the scrum and breakdown. Maddocks out, Valentino in - they’ll lose a bit of physicality in midfield there.

What’s worse: sending a weakened side for the second round of the tournament or for the first round when all eventualities are possible? From the Tigers fan half of Rosbifs, very disappointed with the side they sent over to France - even worse given La Rochelle’s form coming in to this weekend.

He played like a man who was enjoying himself and finding things pretty easy. Being 30kg (or 25%) heavier than your opposite man probably helps a bit too…

🐂🏔️PAU Team News! This *could* be one of the games of the round. Pau have gone semi strong. Most notably their French internationals and best JIFF players are rested. >Jolmes needs to fire >Back row has work rate for days >Desperes’s tactical kicking game with Arfeuil will be 🔑 >Plenty of pace

Top 14 Teams in the Challenge Cup — explained! 🇫🇷🏉 If your club is facing a French side in Europe this season, this thread is for you. We’ve created short guides for every French side in Europe to help non-French fans understand who you’re up against 👇 #InvestecChampionsCup

⛵️LA ROCHELLE Team News Unsurprisingly, is as strong as they can go, given injuries and suspensions. >Plenty of their breakdown threats available >West & Lleyds have been in sparkling form >Atonio returns for first game this season - HUGE boost >19yo fly half Jurd is amazing

🍇BORDEAUX Team News Very disappointing that UBB don’t start their defence with a game at home…WTF!? 😡 BUT they have gone full noise for their trip to Pretoria 👏🏼 >Moefana returns for 1st time this season! >Palu & Woki have been great this season >Keep an eye on Matiu 🧨

🌋CLERMONT Team News Clermont have actually gone pretty strong for this game - could be a cracker! > First choice half backs are critical to how they play > Changed up pack, but still plenty of power > Moala returns to the bench 🧨🔥👀 Clermont poor on the road generally - Sarries strong favourites

Top 14 Teams in the Champions Cup — explained! 🇫🇷🏉 If your club is facing a French side in Europe this season, this thread is for you. We’ve created short guides for every French side in Europe to help non-French fans understand who you’re up against 👇

#PROD2 Round 13 🔮 Just the 18 games left in PROD2 then, kicking off with fancied Colomiers vs a Grenoble side building back to full strength. Oyonnax and Provence will fancy their chances away on recent form, whilst SAXV will surely respond after some firm words last week!

Think this is a net positive from a Pau perspective. 🤔 Gailleton has been excellent this season, while Desperes is ever improving as the back up to Simmonds - he was even fly half in Top 14 team of the month.

According to L'Equipe, Uini Atonio will make his injury return, after six months out, against Leicester in the #ChampionsCup on Saturday Nolann Le Garrec not back until December 20 www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actual...

Portugal v Uruguay feels like such a Pro D2 fan choice for game of the tournament. They even put those 2 teams in Group D to help people work it out!

🗞️MUST READ No.2! Second article recommendation for your Wednesday morning. Slightly biased recommendation this one, because its written by us! Still check it out, cos last weekend was MAD! 🤯 The Rosbifs Round Up of the weekend is on All Things Rugby allthingsrugby.com/news/rosbifs...

Crazy stuff this. Will put him at 5 clubs in just over 2 seasons. Incredible talent, was a class apart in a very very good France U20s side. Wonder why he can’t seem to settle anywhere in #Top14

🗞️ MUST READ! This is an absolute cracker of an article by @elgantimes.bsky.social about Toulouse’s 🇪🇸 tight head Joel Merkler. 🔥 www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

🚨New Pod🚨 The Champions Cup is here and we're delighted to be joined by Tigers 10 Billy Searle ahead of their trip to La Rochelle! - Settling into life at Leicester - A mad two seasons in France - Top 14 Winning Merch! + The usual 🇫🇷 mumblings. 🎧👇 linktr.ee/rosbifsrugby

Gailleton has an unfortunate habit of picking up injuries when he is playing his absolute best rugby

Cracker of a game top kick off Top 14 Round 11! Lenni Nouchi the stand out man (yet again!) for MHR. Jalibert threatened to steal the show - he was fizzing - but for 2nd week in a row, UBB lineout lets them down at the crucial moment, 5m out with the line (& win) at their mercy.