What I liked from the opening round of the #NationsChampionship Theo Attissogbe's finishing Scotland's attack Damian Willemse's everything

Argentina have only conceded more points at home twice since 2022 I really liked the look of Scotland's attack, so clinical, it will be needed at Loftus #ARGvSCO #NationsChampionship

Scotland good, or Argentina bad? #ARGvSCO

“Environmental racism” is how community members refer to the treatment of Port Arthur by the oil giants who operate there. Meanwhile Aramco is pumped into fans’ and viewers’ eyeballs day after day, match after match. Not much World Cup joy here, 100 miles from a host city.

Hutchinson and Tuipulotu works then #ARGvSCO #NationsChampionship

At a quick glance, I think that's England's heaviest defeat (24 points) since losing 53-10 to France in March 2023

Tour de France Stage 1 result

Galthie on NLG's box kick: "Tactically it was good but techincally we didn't succeed. It was too deep" #NZLvFRA #NationsChampionship

Nolann, non. #NZLvFRA #NationsChampionship

Childhood friends Gazzotti and Barnabé Massa together for La Marseillaise #NZLvFRA #NationsChampionship

If you’ve listened to our podcast this week, you will know that Macron almost certainly recognises Dupont, Ramos, Ntamack and Flament from one rogue night out…

The Gazzotti Gazzette #NZLvFRA #NationsChampionship open.substack.com/pub/illtudda...

Always fun to see and hear what Emmanuel Macron says to the players before a #Top14 final Beard spoke perfect French, Erdocio was very happy Macron genuinely recognised Dupont, Ntamack, Flament and Ramos Macron told Ramos "Bravo once again for the Six Nations"

Putting together the final touches to this week's Jouez: The French Rugby Dispatch and this story has JUST missed the cut Lens attacker Florian Sotoca has bought a stake in the #ProD2 club The 35-year-old was born in the Mediterannean town www.rcnarbonnais.fr/florian-soto...

The make-up of France's third, fourth and fifth tiers for next season Always mad to see how many clubs there in the south-west

The transfer of Nu'u has now been confirmed and it's a four year deal! Looking forward to seeing him at La rabine. www.rugbyclubvannes.bzh/raymond-nuu-...

#LeTour can actually start now The #TDF2026 official shop has opened in central Paris!

Spoke to former New Zealand, Chiefs and Stade Francais scrum-half Brad Weber today before #NZLvFRA He knows Dave Rennie very well "He has this uncanny ability to get that extra 5% out of you that you didn't know you had" Full piece out tomorrow #NationsChampionship

Great to see @GrmayeBiniam and @andresiniesta8 reunited in BCN 🙌 🇪🇸 🇫🇷 #TDF2026 #WeAreNSN | @weare_nsn

Racing 92 confirm their close-season signings and Julian Salvi's arrival as defence coach Costes & Uru are yet to pass their medicals hower #Top14

The former Grenoble back-rower, who could have played for Italy and Lithuania is the focus of this week's Jouez: The French Rugby Dispatch Out tomorrow here: substack.com/@illtuddafydd #NationsChampionship #NZLvFRA

No 8 Marko Gazzotti is set to make his first France start on Saturday, against New Zealand in the #NationsChampionship With Gregory Alldritt's stock lowering, it gives him a chance to claim the starting shirt for #RWC2027 #NZLvFRA

France's probable team to face New Zealand on Saturday Attissogbe, Moefana & Jalibert the only players to keep their starting spaces from the #SixNations win over England Bamba, Auradou & Guillard were on the bench Named tomorrow at 8am (CET) #NationsChampionship #NZLvFRA

Final team to announce its Tour squad is Pinarello-Q36.5: Tom Pidcock Xabier Mikel Azparren Chris Harper Quinten Hermans Damien Howson Xandro Meurisse Brent Van Moer Fred Wright

According to Midi Olymique, Peato Mauvaka will be blocked from playing against New Zealand on Saturday due to the FFR/LNR agreement He was set to be a travelling reserve as back-up for Maxime Lamothe and Barnabe Massa #NationsChampionship #NZLvFRA www.rugbyrama.fr/2026/07/01/x...

Not sure what stands out there, until we know who has to go South Africa #ChampionsCup

Crossing fingers for a trip to La Rabine or Mayol...

Imagine, just imagine, what Nike might be capable of creating with those stunning colours. One of the all time most beautiful kits incoming...? 😍

#Top14 veteran Jonathan Wisniewski named Valence-Romans director of rugby #ProD2 www.vrdr.fr/le-club/actu...

Bayonne x Nike, get in! #Top14 www.abrugby.fr/news/article...

✍️Champions Cup Draw Today! Let plans for French rugby travel commence! ✈️🇫🇷🏉 Useful explainer of pools draw from #EPCR (🔗 below) Generally a fan of the changes: 👍Bonus point changes 👍Last 16 Qualification changes 👍Toulouse & UBB in separate pools #ChampionsCup www.epcrugby.com/champions-cu...

After today's session, Max Spring is battling with Grandidier-Nkang and Fabien Brau-Boirie with Depoortere for a place in the starting 15 There will be another session tomorrow Team will be announced on Thursday (6pm local, 8am Paris) #NationsChampionship

Los Pumitas lock Luciano Asevedo joins Toulon on a two-year deal to replace Bayonne-bound Brian Alainu’uese Accordig to Midi Olympique RCT are still looking for a loose-head prop and a winger for next season #Top14 rctoulon.com/luciano-asev...

Another French club joins Macron's stable Castres leave Umbro #Top14 castres-olympique.com/macron-nouve...

A useful back-up to Michael Ruru, plenty of energy off the bench One of the rare Fiji backs not to have played in Europe, yet! #Top14 www.rugbyclubvannes.bzh/simione-kuru...

#Top14 side Castres confirm 19yo tighthead prospect Mael Turpin - in Georgia with France u20s - has signed a contract through to 2029. castres-olympique.com/mael-turpin-...

France hold their first open training session in Australia tomorrow According to Midi Olympique here's the team to face New Zealand on Saturday Attissogbe; Penaud, Depoortere, Moefana, Grandidier-Nkang; Jalibert, Lucu; Gazzotti, Jegou, Bochaton; Staniforth, Auradou, Poirot, Lamothe, Bamba

Tonyrefail RFC on last night’s France2 news The town’s been twinned with Villeneuve d’Allier (just to the south of Clermont) since 1978 Uppa Ton!

All makes for a busy Saturday... #NationsChampionship

Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack officially added to France’s #NationsChampionship squad Available for the Australia & Japan Tests

Romain Ntamack confirms he’s joining the France squad too Kalvin Gourges, Peato Mauvaka, Lenni Nouchi and August Cadot also linked with a placr on the plane #NationsChampionship #Top14

“What’s unfortunate is that we can only be annoyed at oursleves” Caudullo also questions how the breakdown was refereed but says Jordan Uelese’s disallowed try was refereed perfectly #Top14

Antoine Dupont confirms to France Televisions he's heading to the #NationsChampionship "We leave on Monday with a few other players after a few days of celebration" Australia, Japan, beware #Top14

Getting away with a lot

And we're back, always a first #Top14

Roasting at the Stade de France #Top14

Some final thoughts on today Montpellier were calm if slightly annoyed about how many questions about overriding favourites Toulouse they had to answer Ugo Mola was petulant at the press conference and his players were tight-lipped but they seemed far more relaxed out on the field #Top14

How on earth is Lenni Nouchi ONLY 22 years old? #Top14

Francis Saili joins #ProD2 new boys Nice after leaving Vannes Saili worked under president Jean-Baptiste Aldige at Biarritz between 2020 and 2022 www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actual...

There it is, I’ve officially baptised him Jacques Willis #Top14