News By James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 6 days agoJames Harrington: Back to the future again for Biarritz
The decision, when it came, was no great surprise. ProD2 side Biarritz, relegated for financial reasons shortly after the end of...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoToulouse looking to splash the Kolbe cash | James Harrington
Summer recruits scored 32 of La Rochelle’s 59 points against Biarritz last weekend to the delight, no doubt, of Ronan O’Gara...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoFly-halves on move are talk of the town | James Harrington
Clubs’ recruitment and retention plans never stop. No sooner have they closed the book on squad hires for one season, than...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoRonan O’Gara’s diamonds can come up trumps | James Harrington
James Harrington previews the new Top 14 season and sees promise in La Rochell's hopes of banishing heartbreak in the final
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoThreat to pro rugby in Biarritz is very real | James Harrington
On paper, there was little out of the ordinary about Friday’s preseason friendly between impending Top 14 rivals Biarritz and Bordeaux....
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James Harrington
/ 4 years agoCouncil steps in to take care of Beziers after Emirati takeover collapse | James Harrington
Thirteen months ago, you probably recall, a proposed mega-money takeover of French ProD2 side Béziers dominated the rugby headlines on the...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoBrookes in to power up Toulon set-piece | James Harrington
A Toulouse-like revival at Toulon doesn't look set to happen this season on paper
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoPau-bound Daniel Ikpefan braves the crossover | James Harrington
After falling out of favour at Toulon, Ikpefan gets a shot at starring elsewhere in the Top 14 at Pau
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James Harrington
/ 4 years agoFighting talk from Galthie should put fear in rivals | James Harrington
How Fabien Galthie is building depth with France whilst also being '90 per cent' sure of his squad for the 2023...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoIbitoye on the move again after relegation | James Harrington
A relatively quiet transfer circus this year round in the Top 14, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoFrance are suffering a recurring nightmare | James Harrington
A tough loss for France to deal with in Brisbane – but they've been here before, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoCan French ‘third string’ spring more surprises? | James Harrington
Against seemingly evermounting coronavirus odds, France’s July tour of Australia is still set for Test takeoff – it may not quite...
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James Harrington
/ 4 years agoDouble delight for pragmatic Toulouse | James Harrington
Toulouse were crowned champions of France for the 21st time on Friday night, some 13 months after the players had...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoToulouse keep their‘ double’ dream alive with La Rochelle rematch | James Harrington
Friday’s 2020/21 season Top 14 final will be a repeat of last month’s blood-and-thunder Champions Cup showpiece, after both La Rochelle...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoPerpignan power up for return to Top 14 | James Harrington
Perpignan returned to the Top 14 in style after a two-year break, comprehensively beating Biarritz 33-14 in yesterday evening’s ProD2...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoBattle for last play-off place goes to the wire | James Harrington
Top 14 rugby returned to broadcast in the UK with tries aplenty being scored
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoStrict new protocols provoke reaction | James Harrington
James Harrington looks at the tough measures taken by the LNR to ensure the Top 14 and Pro D2 seasons conclude...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoMidweek pile-ups impossible to avoid | James Harrington
James Harrington explains why the Top 14 schedule is in a bottleneck
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoEuropean contenders will go into battle cold | James Harrington
Bordeaux-Begles and Montpellier will not have played a game since the quarter-final by the time the final four go head-to-head next...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoHarmony at Toulouse is music to Kaino’s ears | James Harrington
Earlier this week, both Toulouse and Clermont head coaches insisted that their sides are underdogs for today’s Champions Cup quarter-final at...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoFranck Azema exit confirmed, destination unknown | James Harrington
Jono Gibbes is high among the favourites to replace Azema at Clermont Auvergne, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoRacing snap up bargain of the season in Fickou | James Harrington
Racing 92 have signed Gael Fickou to form an all-France midfield with Virimi Vakatawa
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoBiarritz explore options far and wide | James Harrington
With signings Steffon Armitage and Henry Speight in the fold, ProD2 Biarritz are poised to launch a promotion bid this season....
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoBayonne push Agen one step nearer the inevitable | James Harrington
Midway through the second half of Italy v Wales, the Top 14 caught up with its Covid-hit schedule as the final...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoCanal Plus keep rights in bumper Top 14 deal | James Harrington
James Harrington reports on the megan deal Top 14 bosses and broadcaster Canal Plus have struck in France
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoMinister of Sport may withdraw support for Six Nations | James Harrington
French rugby has been in chaos for the past week, James Harrington explains
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoRest week turns sour for France as Antoine Dupont falls victim | James Harrington
James Harrington breaks down the week in French rugby, with Antoine Dupont's positive Covid-19 test a concern for Les Bleus
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoAll change for coaches as Cheika stands by | James Harrington
Top 14 club owners plan big coaching changes, with Michael Cheika under consideration by Montpellier president Mohed Altrad
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoTalks begin to expand Top 14 to 16 next season | James Harrington
A u-turn in French rugby after talk last month suggested the Top 14 would be reduced to 12, now it has...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoLacroix: We’ll get Euro Cups done | James Harrington
James Harrington reports on what is next for Top 14 clubs after the French government called to the Champions Cup and...
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Columnists
/ 4 years agoJalibert in box seat to replace injured Ntamack | James Harrington
James Harrington reviews the week that was in French rugby, as Fabien Galthie faces up to being without star fly-half Romain...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoFrench feelgood factor is shortlived | James Harrington
James Harrington attacks the hyperbole surrounding the Press' dubbing of a France 'Replacement XV' which competed for the Autumn Nations Cup
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Top 14 clubs pay respects to France icon ‘Domi’
French rugby expert James Harrington recaps how French rugby paid tribute to Christophe Dominici following his tragic death
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Fabien Galthie names 16 newbies for Italian job
France took the unusual step of announcing their squad to play Italy even before their match against Scotland in the Autumn...
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Clubs pay heavy price for out-of-window Test
James Harrington delivers his column on all things French rugby, with Toulouse the hardest hit by international call-ups
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: London-based firm Novalpina bid for a slice of the Top 14
James Harrington collects the stories you may have missed in French rugby over the past few weeks
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Handre Pollard a doubt for Lions tour after ACL horror
James Harrington recaps the second round of Top 14 action, in which £1m man Pollard was dealt a cruel blow
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Club Rugby
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: LNR chief warns Top 14 may need state aid
James Harrington reports on the situation facing French clubs, with COVID cases propping up in the player pool and TV rights...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Stade Francais looking less and less likely to be ready for Top 14 season
The Paris-based club has reported COVID-19 positive players have developed lesions on their lungs
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: FFR agree brutal schedule for Top 14 and Pro D2
James Harrington reports on how the 2020-21 French rugby schedule is shaping up and the outlook for Beziers
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Tuilagi and Faletau wanted in France, as clubs vote on lowering salary cap
Top 14 and Pro D2 presidents to meet in Toulouse for salary cap vote
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Mayor bid by Mohed Altrad hit by third cap scandal
Montpellier are being investigated for potentially breaching the Top 14's €11.3m salary cap threshold
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: French cash crisis and JIFF rule should halt Racing’s bid for Itoje
Racing 92's recruitment thus far closed their chequebook after the signing of Kurtley Beale, writes James Harrington
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Takeovers, big moves, life goes on in Pro D2
James Harrington reports on how money is swirling around the second tier of French rugby
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Presidents scrap over playoff principle
The 'hellscape' facing France's Top 14 with TV and player welfare ramifications
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Top 14 in turmoil with no option to cut player wages
It has been estimated the Top 14 will lose up to €100m (£88m) if the season was cancelled
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Philippe Saint-Andre calls for cup shootout to decide title
James Harrington points out the three options open to the Top 14 and Pro D2
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Columnists
/ 5 years agoHarrington column: Fabien Galthie and the new-look France set to maximise potential
France have a rich depth of talent to pick from in the Top 14. James Harrington examines JIFF rules and Galthie's...
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Columnists
/ 6 years agoHarrington column: Mourad Boudjellal ready to pack his bags at Toulon
Is one of rugby's most eccentric owners set to leave the Top 14?
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Columnists
/ 6 years agoHarrington column: Heyneke Meyer leaves, now Stade Francais look to Quesada
Stade Francais are comfortably the basement boys of the Top 14, with Meyer gone they are now chasing Gonzalo Quesada