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The Fans Championship enters a new phase!The first phase of the Fans Championship is over, but don’t worry—a new adventure begins soon! Get ready to join Phase 2, which will run from November 4 to January 12, 2025. This new phase, offered by LegendaryPlays, will highlight the derbies. Your goal? Collect as many Plays as possible from these historic matches to rack up points in your album!How does it work?The rule is simple: the more Plays you collect from a derby, the more points you earn! To help you maximize your score, here’s a list of matches that will grant you bonus points in your album. Don’t wait; start collecting your Plays now by clicking the button below to purchase your pack:I buy the packList of derbies to follow:- Bayonne-Biarritz- Racing-Stade Français- Dax-Biarritz- La Rochelle-Bordeaux- Lyon-Oyonnax- Oyonnax-Grenoble- Bayonne-Pau- Toulon-Montpellier- Bayonne-Bordeaux- Mont de Marsan-Bayonne- Colomiers-Toulouse- Castres-Colomiers- Toulouse-Castres- Clermont-Brive- Dax-Bayonne- Béziers-Perpignan- Lyon-Grenoble- Pau-Biarritz- Aurillac-Brive- Narbonne-Perpignan- Albi-Toulouse- Vannes-Rouen- Castres-AlbiBoost your collection!Don’t forget to participate regularly in Challenges available to take on extra challenges that let you earn even more Plays. This is the perfect chance to upgrade your album and assert your dominance in this competition!Win exclusive rewardsYou can win exclusive prizes, such as:- 6 match tickets for the TOP 14 Final- 20 match tickets for the TOP 14 Semi-Final- 3 signed TOP 14 jerseys- 3 official TOP 14 jerseys- 14 places to visit the LNR and see the Brennus Shield up close Below is a summary table of the rewards you can win based on your overall ranking:Overall RankingReward1-32 tickets for the TOP 14 Final at Stade de France*4-132 tickets for the TOP 14 Semi-Final at Groupama Stadium (Lyon)*14-66LegendaryPlays Pack*67-10050% discount code on a LegendaryPlays Pack You also have the chance to win prizes through your club ranking!Club #1Player PositionReward1stSigned club jersey + LNR visit*2ndClub jersey*3rdClub jersey*Club #2Player PositionReward1stSigned club jersey + LNR visit*2ndClub jersey*Club #3Player PositionReward1stSigned club jersey + LNR visit**subject to having at least 7 Plays in your album.For clubs ranked 4th to 14th, the top player in each will be rewarded with an LNR visit.Quick reminder:Your Phase 1 album has been closed, and your score has been reset.This is the perfect time to rewrite your story and climb to the top of the LegendaryPlays rankings.Ready to take on the challenge? It’s your move!
Join the Fans Championship with LegendaryPlays and win exclusive rewards from the world of Rugby!The 2024/2025 Fans Championship is here, so don’t wait and show everyone that you’re the biggest fan and that your favourite club has the best supporters.Play to win:50 unique VIP experiences, including:- A private visit to the champion team with access to the trophy;- An exclusive dinner or a guest appearance on the Rugby Legends show with a Rugby legend;- The right to attend a playoff match from the stadium pitch;- Participation in the post-final press conference. 400 match tickets Seats for the championship semi-finals and final, and annual subscriptions.200 collectible itemsRugby balls and jerseys signed by Rugby stars.Over 1,000 digital itemsExclusive Plays packs to collect and use in the game. How to Play :Create your “Fans Championship” album with your favorite club and fill it with your Plays:- Every album opened in the name of your club earns points for it and boosts its position in the club rankings. Spread the word!- Increase your album’s score by carefully selecting the Plays you include. Your points will also benefit your club.- Check out the detailed scoring mechanics for TOP 14 and URCThe championship is divided into 5 stages (clubs, derbies, international players, playoffs, and the grand finale) with new prizes to win at each stage. Discover the prizes for Stage 1, which ends in late October, for TOP 14 and URC To win these prizes, it’s simple :- Ensure your club ranks as high as possible on the club leaderboard.- Be at the top of the global and club-specific individual rankings.So, join LegendaryPlays and experience the excitement of Rugby like never before! It's your turn to play!
The 2023-2024 URC season saw the Glasgow Warriors crowned champions for the second time in their history. With a victory over the Bulls in the final, winning 16 to 21, the Scots achieved a remarkable feat, defeating Munster away in the semi-finals before overcoming the South Africans in their own backyard in the final. Let's take a look at the standout players of this 2023-2024 season.1) Jamie Osborne, a Four-Star CloverThe versatile back from Leinster showcased his immense talent this season. With 13 games in the championship and 4 in the Champions Cup, including the final against Stade Toulousain, Osborne became a key player for his franchise. Scoring 3 tries and displaying great promise, the Irishman earned his first caps for the Ireland national team at just 22 years old! A line-breaking force in Leinster's attack, Osborne is known for his excellent kicking game and remarkable game-reading skills. The challenge now is to secure his place as an undisputed starter in the green jersey, a significant task given the competition...Watch his opportunistic try against the Ospreys 2) Sacha Mngomezulu, a Debut with the SpringboksSacha Mngomezulu stood out this season with his club, the Stormers. Playing 11 matches and scoring 5 tries, 9 penalties, and 9 conversions, the South African center made a significant impact. A reliable kicker, solid defender, and sharp attacker, Mngomezulu's impressive season was rewarded with his first caps for the national team. He participated in all 4 summer test matches with the Springboks, scoring 17 points. At 22, the young Stormers center is a player to watch in the coming years... 3) Cameron Winnett, the New Welsh GemThis season marked a turning point in the career of the young Welsh fullback, Cameron Winnett. At 21 years old, Cardiff's number 15 had a remarkable season 2024! Delivering strong performances for his club, including two tries, Winnett earned his first call-up to the Wales national team. He even started in all the Six Nations matches for the Welsh team. His counter-attacking prowess and electric footwork have won over Welsh fans. 4) Mackenzie Martin, Cardiff's PowerhouseStanding at 1.96 meters and weighing 116 kilograms, these are not the dimensions of a refrigerator, but of Cardiff's flanker, Mackenzie Martin. After a stellar season with his club, featuring in 11 URC matches and 4 in the Champions Cup, Martin also earned his first caps for the Welsh national team. Appearing in three matches during the Six Nations and two test matches, Martin is experiencing a true breakthrough. With his powerful impact, the flanker has the potential to become a standout player in the URC and perhaps for the Wales national team... a player to keep an eye on.. Intégration Vidéo YouTube 5) Max Williamson, the Glasgow GiantThe lock with exceptional size, standing at 2.01 meters and weighing 120 kilograms, made a name for himself this season with the Glasgow Warriors. Crowned URC champion after playing in 15 matches, Williamson also featured in 5 Champions Cup games for his club. Known for his strong impact in both attack and defense, his performances earned him a place in the Scotland national team this summer, participating in 3 test matches. At only 22 years old, the lock had a fantastic season, which he now needs to build on to establish himself in the national team.
Glasgow Warriors Triumph in the 2023-24 URC SeasonThe 2023-24 URC season has concluded, with the Glasgow Warriors emerging as the champions. This marks their second victory in the competition, their first since 2015, after defeating the Bulls in the final with a score of 16-21. Let's take a look back at their remarkable season that led them to lift the trophy.WE ARE WARRIORS ⚔️🛡️WE ARE CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mGVXqsSP4b— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) June 22, 2024 Their PerformancesGlasgow finished the regular season in 4th place, boasting 13 wins and 5 losses, a commendable record. This secured them a spot in the quarterfinals, where they faced the South African Stormers for a place in the semi-finals.At Scotstoun Stadium, the Warriors convincingly beat the Stormers 27-10, advancing to the last four for a highly anticipated clash against the defending champions, Munster.The Scots arrived at Thomond Park as underdogs to challenge the Irish side, who had finished 1st in the regular season. In a tightly contested match, Glasgow pulled off an upset, winning 10-17, thus securing a spot in the final against the Bulls in South Africa.Scoring three tries and demonstrating heroic defense in the final moments, the Glasgow Warriors clinched their second title in history, after 2015, and were crowned the 2023-2024 URC champions.Match Winner 👏@GlasgowWarriors’ Grand Final winning try 🏆Power Angles from @BKTTires 🛞📹#BKTURC #URC | #BKTPowerAngles pic.twitter.com/K9uzuHux6Z— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 24, 2024 Championes, championes, ole ole ole 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lvrldgST7Z— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) June 23, 2024 The Benchmark MatchPerhaps their standout match was the very first of the season. Facing Leinster on the opening day, the Warriors overpowered the Irish team, scoring six tries. The final score? 43-25, setting the tone for their season. A champion’s spirit was likely born that day, foreshadowing their eventual triumph. Revisit the sensational try scored by winger Sebastien Cancelliere in this remarkable match. The Best TryIn the semi-final against Munster, the Warriors delivered an exceptional play that ended with a try. Tom Jordan launched an attack from his own 22 meters, passing to his flanker, who then set up Huw Jones in the gap. The Scottish international broke through, executing a perfect 2-on-1 to assist his winger. Sebastien Cancelliere, once again, completed the play by scoring a try. Player of the SeasonAchieving their second title, the Glasgow Warriors had a stellar season. One player who particularly stood out was hooker Johnny Matthews.Why? The choice is quite clear. In 18 matches, Matthews scored 14 tries, an extraordinary statistic for a hooker, making him the top try-scorer of the championship. Additionally, Matthews was the best line-out thrower in the league, with 162 successful throws, significantly ahead of the second-place thrower with 135.Given the importance of this aspect in rugby, the Scottish hooker truly deserves our admiration. Check out one of his tries.
He's a child of the club, who grew up among the volcanoes. Anthony Floch isn't just a Clermont player, he's a pure ASM product. After losing three finals (2007, 2008 and 2009), he was part of the generation that finally brought the Brennus back to the Place de Jaude. An unforgettable success for the man who, as a kid, simply dreamed of playing a match at Michelin. But he did more than that: he left an indelible mark on the history of his beloved club. A few words. At the start of the 2009 season, this team's history began with three consecutive lost finals (2007, 2008 and 2009). Before the 2009-2010 season, did you have any doubts?Inevitably, after 3 finals, doubts creep in. You're always afraid of stumbling on the last step. So it was paradoxical, because in those years, with Toulouse, we dominated the championship. But we couldn't close the deal. So maybe deep down we were a little apprehensive when we got to the final, because the weight of the past was unconsciously acting on us. But there was also this paradox, which was also the strength of our group, that as soon as we lost a final, the next day we got together and said “too bad, it's not that time, but we're going back. Next year we'll go again”. That shows the strength of character of the group we had. The band of mates we were... to be able to get up every time and go back.On paper, Clermont are a steamroller. What's the Cotter identity?We can't say it was all about attack. But let's just say that we had a group that had already been playing together for a few years. We already had a solid foundation. Every year, maybe one or two new recruits would join us. But each one added value to our squad. The strength of this group is that we've spent a lot of time together, and gone through hard times that have made us stronger and tougher. We had the thickest skin in the world. Because we took it in our stride.If you go back in time, we lost to Stade Français in 2007 (LINK) in the last minute. But before that year, we came out of nowhere. We weren't invited and it was Vern's first year. Nobody was expecting us, and maybe not even us at the time. In 2008, we came up against a great Toulouse team, and that was the only final where there was no contest. And then in 2009 against Perpignan, well... I don't know... Maybe the two previous finals weighed on us. I don't know, it's hard for me after all these years to diagnose the whys and wherefores. I'm not going to say that one team wanted it more than the other, because as soon as you get to the final you've got your teeth into it. But it turned out in USAP's favor, quite simply.At the helm of this team is a player who is, no offense to him, a complete unknown. It's Brock James. Do you remember when he first arrived?Basically, he's not the one to arrive. It was Cameron McIntyre who was due to arrive from the Crusaders, and in fact he signed for Castres. And we ended up with Brock James, who nobody knew. Even us, within the group, were thinking “olalala, the guy's a replacement at the Western Force, but who is he, we're going to get another guy... pfffff”. But then he got everyone to agree. Already when he arrived, during the first training sessions, we could see that technically, he was very strong. With his hands and feet, I said “wow”. Afterwards, I said to myself “maybe we'll wait for the matches”. Because some guys are good in training, but when it comes to the match, there's the management, the pressure and it's just not the same. But I have an anecdote about Brokie when he arrived: before he was here, I was still scoring a few goals. We played our first match in Biarritz. We got a penalty, and I went forward to take it, like in other years. And he comes forward and says, “Look, I've got a good feeling about this one, let me take it”. I said okay, take it. I never stumbled again (laughs)! And in the game?He wasn't just a goalscorer. He was a real strategist. I think he was the missing link in our team. He was the lad who was able to sublimate the team. He knew, along with Vern, that we were very powerful up front and very fast at the back, but we needed chemistry for all that and it was Brock who sorted out a lot of things.From a personal point of view, this 2009-2010 season is one of your most accomplished. You played 31 games. Was that the year you played your best rugby ?No. The year I had the most fun was the first year with Vern. In 2007. There, yeah... I really had a blast. Really, really, really had a blast. Because, once again, the years before weren't so good. And then everything changes. And then it's off to a flying start. And then I had Julien Malzieu, Aurélien Rougerie, I had my mates next to me, the Auvergnats, the kids from the club, a Michelin in fusion, invincibility... I don't know how many tries I scored this year, but it must have been the most prolific year in terms of tries and assists for my mates. For me, the best year, from a rugby point of view, is my best season. Afterwards, I preferred to stop scoring, because Aurelien blamed me - I was scoring too much, and that was preventing him from breaking records, so I preferred to give him the balls (laughs)!That year, you weren't as dominant as in previous seasons: you had to get past the play-offs. Then in the semi-final, you had to go through extra time against Toulon...(He cuts off) an anthology match. For me, it's the greatest match in the history of the Top 14. It played terribly. And I forgot to mention a player who is going to take us to the next level: Morgan Parra. His talent and his win have done us a world of good.It's funny, because he explains that in December, he went to see Vern Cotter to tell him he wanted to leave...Yes, I remember that very well. It was hard for him at first. It takes time to adapt to a new game plan and a new environment. Then there was Kevin Senio, who'd been there for one or two years and had a better grasp of things. And Morgan, he's a huge competitor, and he'd never known failure. So there were a few discussions with Vern (Cotter), with Aurélien (Rougerie), about him. And it's true, he almost dropped the ball. But it shows the character he has and the player he was. But he was an important stone in this club's success.What impressed you most: his composure, his talent or his thirst for victory?In training, we used to have penalty shoot-outs, or little games like that: he always wanted to win. When you play tennis with him, he always wants to win. What really stood out for me was his strong mental attitude. After that, there's everything that goes with it, talent and all. Don't forget that Morgan isn't the most physical player in the league. I told him! With your small body, he sacrificed himself in defense. He never hid. For me, there's one image that sums up Morgan, and that's when Clermont were champions in 2017, and it was he who scooped up the winning ball. He was a dog. It was a bit tough at first, but once he got into his stride and got the measure of his position, he really became a leader.It's strange because this finals campaign is a very tight play-off, a semi-final that goes into extra time, with 24 hours less recovery time. It's as if Clermont have never been in such dire straits before a final. How is the week leading up to the final going?It's weird, and I'm not the only one who felt that way: there was a serenity. The week, the day before, when we arrived at the match, that we didn't have in other years. There was no doubt. Maybe our route was harder. But there was no doubt that we were going to win. There was this bubble, this feeling that nothing could happen to us. And when I talk about it with my teammates at the time, we all felt that way. It was our year, it was for us, and nothing could happen to us. You can feel it in this final: it's controlled from start to finish. We were in a tough spot, but that freed us from something for this final. It's inexplicable, but we had that serenity.If you had to keep just one image from this final, what would it be?I have flashes that come back. Especially since my son is nine and plays rugby, and he's starting to take an interest in my career. So he asks me a lot of questions. So I tell him. It's quite moving. What I remember most are the last five minutes on the pitch. The score was up. So I took advantage. I enjoyed it, saying to myself, “At last”. At last we were going to be able to take it home and share it with these people, who have never given up on us. I could see all the fans jumping and dancing in the stands. And I just thought about enjoying that, those five minutes of happiness. It was the first time I'd left the Stade de France with a banana. Every time, I used to cry in the dressing room. But this was a pleasure... Rugby-wise, I've never experienced a pleasure like this before. Besides, I was born in Clermont, I'm a child of the club, my father is a supporter of the club. When I was three, I was in the stands at the MichelinIn this Top 14 final, you put in a drop. It's a lovely symbol. Did you dream of this when you were a kid?But when I was a kid, I never dreamed that far ahead. My dream was just to play a match at Marcel-Michelin. That was it. That was my dream. Just to play a match with the pros. I've played over 220, in full stadiums, with my mates... I've had some fabulous years.
Formed at Colomiers, where he had his finger on the pulse of a French championship title and a continental crown, the situation is strange. Despite his immense talent, at the dawn of 2006-2007, David Skrela had only won one title with Stade Français (2004) and had just one cap for Les Bleus. In 2007, after losing two finals, he finally returned to the thrill of victory. And settled in with the French national team. A look back at an immense season. And a hard-fought victory at the Stade de France.At the start of the season, Paris was one of the favorites. Did you quickly sense that this team could win a title?Ever since I arrived in Paris in 2003, we've always had a squad capable of going all the way. The year before, we lost to Toulouse in Lyon in the semi-finals. The year before that, we'd lost two finals in extra time. So we had a squad capable of going all the way in all competitions. We had talent everywhere, so yes. We had the profile.Since your arrival in 2003, the Stade Français has made a name for itself with its pink shirts, nude player calendars and matches at the Stade de France. How do you feel about this somewhat... extravagant team?It's true that it's a bit unsettling at first. I've been with Colomiers since I was a kid. It took me a little time to adapt and I had five or six months that were a bit complicated. Time to adapt to Paris, a new city, a new club, new teammates. Quite simply, a new life. But it's very different from other clubs. You're a bit of a household name when you're at Jean-Bouin. But after 300 meters, nobody knows you anymore. We're the capital's club, but apart from a few people like Christophe Dominici, in Paris we were quiet. That's what I liked about it. As soon as the match was over, we'd go and have a drink in Paris, and we'd relax. It was precisely to get away from that that Max had the idea of doing things that were a little... a little offbeat (smiles). The calendar, the pink shirts, the Stade de France with all those matches against Toulouse, the concerts, the fireworks. Rugby changed era then. We were an insiders' sport, and even if that's still the case, I think that thanks to Max, rugby has moved into another dimension.Once you've made that adjustment, you'll go on to play an impressive series of matches. It sounds crazy, but for example, you played 36 games in 2004/2005...I was young. It's the strength of age. Between the ages of 25 and 30, that's when you play the most, you're the fittest and you don't get too many injuries. And I played with some exceptional players. It's true that 36 games is a bit crazy. But we could handle them. We'd had two decent seasons, but without a title. And when you play for a club like Paris, you always need titles. Because that's the goal of every season. And to validate everything we've been working on for weeks, months and years. In 2006-2007, we really wanted to win a title. We had exceptional players like Domi, Juan-Martin (Hernandez), Agustin Pichot and Sergio Parisse, who was just arriving. We had top-level players, and we were ready for it.The Stade Français quickly became irresistible. What makes this team so strong?We have a lot of mature players, between 25 and 30. There were a few young players like Julien Arias. But a lot of the players had been here for a long time, and we knew each other very well. Fabien had taken over the club a year or two before, so Fabien's touch was starting to show. All the indicators were green for this team.And yet, there was a bit of a blip during the Tournament.Yes, that's true. Even if we were a bit used to seeing all the international players leave. I'm leaving that year too, and then it's the World Cup. We also had a huge squad... We had 35 or 40 top players. If a player got injured, the one who replaced him was sometimes just as good, or even better, depending on the circumstances. It's a bit like Stade Toulousain today. Even without the internationals, things were running smoothly. For example, at one point we had Pablo Lemoine to replace Sylvain Marconnet on the left. That's not too bad (smiles). That was our strength. The end of the season was marked by injuries to two major players: Sylvain Marconnet and Pieter De Villiers. Nani Corleto is also affected. So has Shawn Sowerby. So it's a young right-back who's going to have to hold down the fort for the finals. His name is Pedro Ledesma. It's true that Pedro came from nowhere. Unknown a few months before. But we had more Peter. But he did the job. He was well supported by everyone. It takes a bit of success to be a champion. So good for him, and good for us. The finals begin for you with a ½ final against Biarritz. Were they a scary team ?They'd been French champions the previous year, and had given Stade Toulousain a real thrashing... Biarritz were a big team, with Yachvili, Traille, Brusque and Peyrelongue. They were always special games against Toulouse or Biarritz. Two years earlier, we lost to them in extra time at the Stade de France. I think that night, Yach put in 30 points, while I put in 27 or 28... So yes, they were always special games. In the end, you're going to get rid of the BO. We're off to the Stade de France to take on ASM. Is Clermont the surprise team of the season?We didn't know too much about them yet. But we discovered James, Nalaga, Floch and Cotter. It was a team that was just coming together. It wasn't a surprise that they were in the final, because they'd had a great season. Behind them were Tony Marsh and Julien Malzieu. And up front, Elvis Vermeulen, Privat, Cudmore, they had a great team of tough guys (laughs)! I remember that at half-time, there wasn't a big gap (9-0 in favor of Clermont, editor's note). But I'm thinking “I don't know how we're going to beat this team”. I remember that we were being pummeled. They crossed with Nalaga, with Floch... They had three or four clear-cut chances. At half-time, in the dressing room, we didn't know where to start. Our heads were a bit upside down. And then, Fabien (Galthié) coaches early. Even I go out quickly. Brian Liebenberg comes in at center. Sergio comes in. The match evened out and we got back into the game. And then came that try.Can you tell us about it?Yes, I remember it very well. From a Clermont touchline, we spiked the ball into touch. Brian Liebenberg made a jump pass and we broke through with Julien Arias in midfield. And on the return, Radike Samo scores the try just like in the semi-final. We're two or three minutes from the end. It's strange because Radike Samo had arrived like a star. But he'd been struggling all season. What do you remember about this player?That he was a really nice guy. A bit cool too, not too headstrong. But he was really physical. He was a piece of wood. After that, he was very fragile, always aching in his muscles, his knees, his ankles. But his physique ... he ran fast, he did incredible things for a forward. After that, he went back to Australia and scored a crazy try against the Blacks, breaking through from 60 meters. He was a UFO. But it's true that he'd been a bit stagnant all season, and then he scored twice in 15 days to help us become champions.You have a special bond with Fabien Galthié, as he was your captain before becoming your coach. You knew him as a player before you knew him as a coach. What can you tell us about Fabien Galthié, the Stade Français coach? It's true that he was a very good technician who turned the club around after Nick Mallett's time at the helm. Nick was really the South African school, with a lot of physical preparation and rigor. But it worked, and he went on to become champion twice. So Fabien came up with principles of play that gave the players more freedom. There was a framework, but for each situation, we worked on two or three possibilities. That's when we started to see the tactician. After that... There were always things he had to work on. Managing people was rather complicated. Sometimes things got a bit heated, and there were some temperamental people at Stade Français. But he always knew how to remobilize us and get us back on the right track.To see the best moments of this interview on video, go to the networks! On X (ex-Twitter), Facebook, Tiktok and Instagram ! @legendaryplays_officiel Tu te souviens de cette finale ? 😍🥹 #rugby #sportstiktok ♬ son original - LegendaryPlays
Julien Candelon's story is a strange one. From the Stade Toulousain training center to winning a title in Catalonia, no one could have predicted such a destiny. A player who was too small to play at the highest level, not serious enough to make his mark... but who managed to convince even the coach of the French national team. Julien Candelon agreed to confide in us, between lucidity and humility. A look back at a historic 2008-2009 season and Perpignan's title! The season begins with a legacy. It's been 54 years since Perpignan last won a title. Can you talk about this “curse”? My seniority with the club was one season. What's clear is that the club's objectives were to be one of the potential teams to reach the final phases every year. But I didn't even know that it had been so long since the club had won the title. It wasn't a goal at the start of the season to say “this year we have to be champions”. We had to stay at the highest level and do better than in previous years. But I'd never felt the need to bring back something that hadn't been brought to Perpignan for a very long time. One of this team's strengths is something that happens off the pitch. It's the Catalan identity. Can you catch it? “Yes. Let's just say that when you arrive in Perpignan and you have this identity and these players, you have to get used to the identity and immerse yourself in it. My personal case is a little different, because I've been married to a Catalan woman for over 20 years. So in fact, I'd already been immersed in this culture for years. But it's true that integration into the group is as much down to the terrain as it is to character. It was important, when you weren't Catalan, to show or prove that you deserved to wear the jersey. In the summer, USAP was hit by a thunderbolt: the signing of Dan Carter, rugby's biggest star at the time. When did you realize you'd be playing with him?For me, there are two stages. The first is what happens the season before. Halfway through the season, we were ninth. It was a season that seemed like a nightmare. Then a rebound in the capital enabled the club to finish the season on a high. Against all the odds, we reached the semi-finals, where we lost to Clermont. But it was so unexpected that it's considered a successful season. We're going to finish the season on a high. After that, we're off on vacation. And while I'm on vacation, I open “L'Indépendant” and learn that Dan Carter has signed for Perpignan. And it's not even “going to sign”, because we know what it's like in the villages, the maybe. In this case, it was affirmative. There was no conditional. So the first thing you think of is “maybe I'll get the chance to play with the best player in the world”. After that, everyone feels differently. But for me personally, my career is about an individual who lives in the midst of his passion, in the midst of players he admires and respects. For most of my early career, I played against people I idolized. It was an attitude of support and pride. And a desire to participate in his arrival. When you know that Dan Carter is going to play for L'USAP, everyone steps up their game in terms of preparation and involvement. And we saw that when Dan arrived, there was an increase in power. And we were able to gain a certain confidence. And even when he was injured, that continued. Because we'd all raised our standards. And that showed on the pitch. Another player signed for USAP that year. Maxime Mermoz. A young player who “reeks of rugby” as they say...We already knew that Max was a talented player. He arrived with a lot of humility but also a lot of commitment. He was a man with a vindictive streak, because for him, not having made it big at Toulouse was something that mattered to him. He was a very serious, committed, hard-working player. And yes, he reeked of rugby. He had the support qualities of a handball player, because that was his first sport. He was a complete player. A complete player who also fitted in very well with the profile of the players we had. Whether it was David Marty, the identity carrier, or Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, who had the profile of a midfield striker. And the short association with Dan worked. And on the pitch that year, he was monstrous. Incidentally, I think he scored a crazy goal against Leicester? If I'm not mistaken, that was the day Dan joined the team. He intercepted the ball at the back of the line and scored a try from 90 meters. Today, when you listen to his comments, you can feel the tactical and technical side of him. With an assertive identity and some very talented players, you're having an excellent season. Are you happy with this team?It was difficult for me to integrate at first. I had a hard time finding my place in a new team. That season, we had very healthy competition in the winger's position, because thanks to our results, we were able to rotate players and thus keep the team fresh and competitive. Personally, I liked it because we had a very offensive ¾ line. We had a few butchers in midfield... I'm thinking of Gavin Hume, who was a destroyer, and David Marty, who let me loose some really good balls offensively. And on top of that, an extraordinary, extravagant crowd. It was pulsating. Those memories are still very strong today. As a winger, are you addicted to scoring tries? Yes, that was my leitmotiv. It was about making things happen. It was seeing the smiles on my partners' faces, because I was the last link in the chain to do my job. Because of my profile, I never exploded with joy because I managed to turn a guy around in defense. You can talk to any winger about the desire to get to the end line, and the satisfaction that comes from making something happen for your partners. It's not just happiness, it's something you want to share with others. For me, being the one who makes things happen for others is part of my character: I really enjoy pleasing others. This season is under control. Now the final stages are on the horizon. And above all, the final. Opposite you is Clermont. How are you preparing for this match? The last championship final we played was in 1998 against Stade Français. There weren't many participants in that final who were still at the club. So there was no feeling of revenge. And the last final played by the club was a European Cup final against Stade Toulousain in 2003. From memory, David Marty and Nicolas Mas were part of that adventure. So, at the time, there were a lot of experienced players, but few who carried the weight of the club's history in that respect. So yes, the spirit is liberated. Because when you get to the final, you can't ask yourself any more questions. And once again: all the spotlights were on Clermont. They had lost to Stade Toulousain and Stade Français in the previous finals. And everyone agreed that this was certainly the easiest final for them to play, given the quality of their opponents. Somehow, the pressure didn't get to us. What's more, the staff's decision to isolate us in Matemale meant we weren't caught up in the hype. Particularly when it comes to ticket sales. Because by training in public every day, we knew that we'd be able to appreciate the scale of the event. But when we went up to Cerdagne, apart from the cattle, the locals and a few goats that we roughed up a bit, we were quite isolated from the popular fervor. However, the start of the match in this final was not ideal.I played an important role in the start of the match, because right from the off, we lost a ball, I missed a tackle on Benoit Baby who gave me a cad-deb, and then the classic ruck, ball to Brock James, diagonal kick, Nalaga try. I couldn't have got this final off to a better start (smiles). And it's true that Clermont-Ferrand's confidence should have shifted quite quickly. But we're stuck at half-time, 10-6 up. And apart from that one move, nothing too dangerous was happening. So I helped to liven things up a bit in the first half. How do you find the resources to come back?I know that David Marty, speaking on Philippe Guillard's radio, was very confident when he announced that we would take control of the game. And it's true that when we got back to the dressing room, there was no panic, no feeling that the event was too big for us. And it was just like the rest of the season. There are years when your squad may not be the best in the league. But there was an atmosphere in the group that meant we were very close-knit. There was a lot of collective confidence. So at half-time, there was no panic in the dressing room. Nobody was looking at each other's shoes. There was a lot of determination. And even on a personal level: when you start a final like that, you think “I'm going to ruin the group”. But very quickly I felt that the group would be there for me. And that translated into the second half. It hit hard, but it was controlled and mastered... Incidentally, there's an anecdote about the pre-match... (laughs). We couldn't stop plugging away at the forwards. And on the day of the final, a L'Équipe magazine came out, with the whole Clermont pack in black-and-white photos, they were on Harley-Davidsons, with a “we were too nice, we've become nasty, we've understood” speech. And the ¾, spearheaded by David Marty, he threw the magazine on the table at breakfast, and said to the fat guy, “apparently, you're going to get your ass kicked tonight”. As we had a pack that knew how to be nasty, and that you didn't have to tell too many stories to get a rise, it stung them and helped kick-start the final a bit! The deliverance was a try from David Marty. Can you tell us about it?We were dominating the game, advancing into their camp. We tried to put them at fault, because we knew that Jérôme Porical wasn't shaking in his boots that day. And then it all started with this redouble between David Marty and Jérôme Porical. I said to myself “watch out, you're in for a treat, there's a redoubled”. Well, not served (laughs)! And then finally David Marty passed. I say to myself, “this could be our chance to make up for what happened at the start of the match”. David faked the pass and spiked inside, catching Napoleoni Nalaga off-guard, who was only waiting for me to be served and for him to split me to send me into the G block of the Stade de France stand. It was a great relief. Because the lock is broken. And then we're like crazy. Our batteries are recharged and our confidence soars. And that's when you tell yourself that it can't be taken away. Behind the barbed wire, you're less exposed... You only have to look at David's face when he scores. He's someone who doesn't really express his joy or his sorrow. And here, he expels it all. What image do you retain of this title?Strangely enough, everything that happens after the final whistle goes so fast... you don't realize what you've achieved, what you're sharing with the public. For me, what's most important is the return to Perpignan. The return is a reflection of what we used to be. The club didn't necessarily have the means or the ambition to hire a double-decker bus. So we arrived at Perpignan airport, where we took a closed bus. We set off down the road, exiting the airport under police escort. And on the inspiration of Henri Tuilagi, who opened the bus hatch, we all climbed onto the roof. Then, of course, the bus started moving at 10 or 15 km/h. Because otherwise, at the first skid, we'd all be sliding past the windscreen (laughs)! We were sitting on the edge, with our feet dangling in front of the driver. So from Perpignan airport to the Place du Castillet, that's quite a distance. It took us a little while to get there... And arriving at the Castillet was a real highlight for me. Because it was THE moment of sharing. There were those who had come up to Paris to experience the event with us. And then there were all the others. Family, friends, villages, all the people who made up our daily lives. There were 20, 25,000 people crammed in there for hours. We were supposed to arrive earlier, we arrived later... We arrived a little late, but that's when you connect with the passion, the passion of the people, and you share. If you don't share a track, there's not much left. Now, every time I talk about our arrival at the Castillet, I get emotional. It was exceptional. And that's something you experience once in a lifetime. Or maybe you spend your days at the Stade Toulousain and it happens to you every year (smile). Did the kid from Tournon dream all this up?No. The kid from Tournon didn't dream about all that. He dreamed of rugby. I dreamed of playing first grade in Tournon. But I always thought all that was out of reach. And every time I took a step forward in my life, I was always the atypical one, the one who had to prove himself, a bit too much of a joker, a bit too much of this, a bit too much of that. And each time, I had the curiosity to explore new things. I was telling you earlier. I feel like I've been living a dream, because I've played with or against players I admired. I played against guys I watched as a kid: Bennetton, Benazzi, I was lucky enough to be at Stade Toulousain and to have been in contact with Califano, Delaigue, Desbrosse, Ntamack... So no, it wasn't a dream. But I lived a dream.
Is there a player with more heart than Mauro Bergamasco? The emblematic flanker of the Italian XV experienced the first thrills of the Squadra Azzura and the finest hours of the Stade Français. The Italian centurion (106 caps) agreed to tell us about his most beautiful and painful memories. All with what has always characterized him : generosity. What is your fondest memory on a rugby field? It would be easy to say “victories.” There is no one moment in particular. There are several memories, each with their own importance. But if there is something more special, more touching, I would say the victory against Wales, in Rome, when I played center with my brother (Mirco). Why was it the most beautiful? Because it was our first victory against them, I played more than 40 minutes with my brother, it was at home, it was unexpected, we won in the 74th minute or something like that... Who is the best player you have played with? Listen, I had the chance to join Stade Français in 2003, which was full of great players everywhere. There were so many internationals that it was a team that could have played at international level. But hey, I had someone named Diego Dominguez. He was someone I followed, who was always next to me, because his role and my role were linked in a common space. There was Pichot, number 9, who was someone very intelligent, powerful on the pitch… but I could give you all the players! Marconnet and De Villiers for the pillars, Momo Blin at the heel, Auradou and Mike James in the second row, Tabacco, Martin, Moni, Rabadan… behind Dominici, Corleto, Liebenberg. There was a lot of talent. I had the chance to play with great players. I always liked the players who were around me, especially in Paris. But the most complete player? Hernandez. And maybe Dominguez. I could give you some names and forget others. Look, Brian Liebenberg for example! Another player who was very physical, but who could play with the hand, with the foot... Il était une fois...Photo de l’équipe du Stade Français Paris devant notre chère Notre-Dame...(saison 2006-2007 où nous sommes Champions de France avec le maillot à fleurs de lys) pic.twitter.com/fUmAvoLBUx— Max Guazzini (@MaxGuazzini) April 17, 2019 Who was the player you feared the most on the field? He didn't really scare me, but I always had this rivalry, when we played against Ireland, with Brian O'Driscoll. We had caught each other quite a few times. And each time, they were very aggressive encounters. And after the match, there was still this friendship, this conviviality of the third half. But it’s true that we only met on an international level. There was a little less possibility of being able to speak. And then I shouldn't have been the nicest player for him, so he wasn't the player I interacted with most easily (laughs) ! What is your best memory in Top 14? The one that comes to my mind was the try I scored in the 2004 final, against Perpignan. It was something we tried in training, but we didn't really believe in this combination. And at that moment, we looked into each other's eyes, I remember, and we said to each other "we're going to go there now". And this touch, this combination, it ends with a test as we wanted. And it was huge because I scored this try while I was coming back from injury, I was lucky to be there for the final stages... and behind it I scored a try, in the final, at the Stade de France, with my Stade Français, against USAP. It was wonderful. What is the most beautiful stadium you have played in? In Italy, I always preferred when we played in Flaminio. Because it was the beginning, because it was us, because it was our story. But I admit that the old Lansdown Road was magnificent. With the train... let's say that I like old stadiums, where there is no track around and where the stands are on the pitch. And then in 2009, when we played the All-Blacks at San-Siro, it was magnificent.
He was captain of the Scottish national team (76 caps) and scrum-half at Clermont for 3 seasons. Charismatic, humble and endearing, the Edinburgh striker agreed to share his VI fondest memories with us on the occasion of the launch of our "Internationals" collection. What is your fondest memory as a player? I'd have to say (he hesitates) ... Being captain of the Scottish team, that's my best memory. I don't really have a specific moment, but yes, being captain of Scotland. In France I also have some very good memories. In particular, playing in the Top 14 final. And even though we lost to Toulouse (24-18 in 2019, editor's note), which was very disappointing, it's still a great memory. Just to have had the opportunity to fuel the passion of the Clermont fans was incredible. What was your worst memory on the pitch? That's a very good question. I'm going to talk about Scotland again. Maybe against England in 2013 or something like that (2014). We lost 20-0 at home. It's one of my worst memories in a Scotland shirt. In the Top 14, I'd say it was my debut. Because I arrived in France in the summer after a Lions tour where I'd been injured. So my arrival was perhaps a little difficult. But after that, things fell into place and I loved it. What was the most stressful moment of your career? Oh there have been so many... (laughs). I'd say it's pretty much any game in England, especially when I was captain of Scotland. You have to deal with a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure. Congrats to Greig Laidlaw on one helluva international career. A captain who we’d always be right behind as he believed in us all. Brought the best out of everyone at every opportunity. Enjoy the family time mate. Legend 🏴❤️ pic.twitter.com/vw8kHEFOb7— Stuart W Hogg (@StuartWHOGG_) December 19, 2019 Who's the best player you've ever played with? I think I'd have to say Clermont. Isaia Toeava, a player from New Zealand. He was incredibly talented, a beast. Typically the player you want in your team but don't want to play against. He had it all: speed, strength, technique, tackling. An incredible player. And the player you feared most on the pitch? I'd have to say Sébastien Chabal. I remember playing against him when I was very young. I was playing for Edinburgh and he was playing for Racing-Métro. And he was such a huge guy. He too had everything: he was wide, fast, explosive and powerful. He's certainly the most intimidating player I've ever played against. Finally, what was your fondest memory of your time in France? I think it was the Challenge Cup final against La Rochelle. Or maybe the Top 14 semi-final against Lyon. We were playing in Bordeaux's football stadium, and it was a way of reminding me just how much our supporters, the Yellow Army, were prepared to do anything for the club. It was incredible. It's a moment I'll never forget.
He didn't really have the physique of a third row, he probably wasn't the most flashy of Toulon's galactic recruits, he didn't have the thickest CV in the RCT, nor the biggest list of honours in the Var dressing room. So yes, on paper, Steffon Armitage wasn't the biggest star in the red and black. But in reality ? He was Toulon's best player at the heart of the Var's best era. A Mayol icon who, to mark the release of the "Internationals" collection, agreed to look back on his best memories: from London Irish to Section Paloise, from England to the harbour via Biarritz. An immense career. And marked by the presence of a brother who is still a role model today. What is your fondest memory of playing on the pitch? There are so many that it's hard sometimes to put a number up front. There's my first match with the England team, with my brother. It was during the Tournament against Italy. It was something really special. Not just for me, but for my family, my friends, everyone. And of course there's Biarritz, the last kick of the match and the penalty shoot-out. That will stay with me for the rest of my life. What's the worst moment you've experienced on the pitch? The worst moment was when Martin Johnson, the England coach, came to see me after the Tournament. He told me "you're not good enough, you need to improve to play for England". I was nominated for best player in the league. I thought that was a bit unfair, because he didn't give me a chance. That was the worst moment, and the moment that actually created me. After that I left England. Because with London Irish, I was starting every game, but I'd given it everything I had. So I decided to leave the club a year before the end of my contract to go to Toulon and get some new competition. Who's the best player you've ever played with? I shouldn't really say, because he's already got a big head, but for me it's my brother, Delon. His character on and off the pitch... He was a guy who gave a lot on the pitch. Not everyone liked that, but that was his character. And it's thanks to him that I've always tried to do my best. So as not to disappoint my brother. His qualities? He could change a match. He was very solid in the air, he was quick off the mark and, above all, he had a great kick. He could kick penalties from over fifty metres. He did everything and was never afraid of anyone. Did he see guys twice his size? No problem: he'd put the ball in the back of the net.#MonSouvenirRCToulon2013 L'essai de Delon Armitage en finale de la #HCup ! #ChampionDEurope pic.twitter.com/TRQr5tGe9q— La #TeamRCT (@team_rct) December 31, 2013 Which opponent did you fear the most?I'd have to say Clermont. We've always had very close matches, very difficult matches. Back then, it was always Clermont-Toulon in the final or semi-final. It was always the match where you thought "now we're going to be sore" (laughs). After that, I wasn't scared of anyone. But when they were all together, from time to time they'd target me. I prepared myself for everyone! Julien Bonnaire, who was an excellent player, Cudmore, Benjamin Kayser, you had all these guys who wanted to rip my head off. And that turned me on. To think that, while you had all the players in our team who had done so much more than me in their careers, they were targeting me... It made me a bit proud (laughs)! Jamie Cudmore est prêt pour la finale Européenne contre Toulon - http://t.co/UYSBX0NSad pic.twitter.com/U7V41SOUqa— blog-rct.com (@Blog_RCT) April 30, 2015 What's the most beautiful stadium you've ever played in? And you're not allowed to answer Mayol?That's unfair ! So the most beautiful stadium... There again I could say Clermont. Michelin, compared to their supporters, was always full, you could only see yellow. It made you want to go. And then after that Twickenham. The home of rugby. What makes you most proud? A lot of people will say that doesn't count, but to have had a 13-year career with my brother. Doing everything with him, from the first championship I won to the last. That's what makes me the proudest. To have had this career with him. At Pau or Biarritz, I missed him. And even if today we live a bit far apart, he's really someone I've appreciated in my career and in my life. Maybe it would have been different in Biarritz with him.But frankly, listen, I can't complain about my career. There are millions of kids who would love to be in my shoes. So I have to be happy that I've had the chance to play for my country and win titles. I'm proud of my career. I could have done more. But I mustn't complain. I have no regrets.
For almost 15 years, the Tarn-born lock has dazzled the rugby world with his talent. To his credit? 73 caps and a staggering list of honours: three-time French champion (2008, 2011, 2012), three-time European champion (2003, 2005, 2010) and three-time winner of the VI Nations (2004, 2007, 2010). LegendaryPlays spoke to the former Toulouse centre about some of the highlights of his career. To mark the release of the "Internationals" collection, Yannick Jauzion is doing what he does on the rugby pitch: no frills, no sentiment, just raw efficiency. The essential, again and again. What is your best memory of your career ? I think it was the 1/4 final against the All-Blacks. It's the context, it's the match, it's everything. We were the underdogs. I remember that we managed to reverse the psychological advantage as the match went on. And we managed to control the Blacks towards the end of the match. At club level, I've had some great moments, some great victories. But this was really special, in the context of the World Cup. And then the scenario of the match... it's powerful.Dans notre série "commentaires mythiques", on poursuit avec Thierry Gilardi lors de France-Blacks en 2007: entrée de Michalak, en-avant, percée sur l'aile, retour intérieur (sans écouter Thierry Lacroix😁) et essai de Jauzion. On en a fait une affiche : https://t.co/EaX73YiOhZ pic.twitter.com/1DzIZTSVrP— Pop&Kop (@popandkop) November 24, 2020 And your worst memory ? Er... I don't know... (he hesitates)... Oh yes, though: the final against Biarritz (Top 14 final 2006). Well, that was a bit of a rout and the start of a major shake-up at the club. I was lucky enough to go on tour just after that and end the year on a positive note. But to leave it at that is frustrating, that's for sure. Who's the best player you've ever played with ? Fabien Pelous, because of his aura, his presence. And then Thierry Dusautoir, in his own way. They were the most consistent. Then in terms of talent, I started at Colomiers and I was lucky enough to play with Fabien Galthié and Jean-Luc Sadourny. And Jean-Luc was a very talented man. In his running, his timing. He couldn't do everything, but he excelled at it. And I liked that. 🏉 #UnJourUnEssai : Pendant cette période de confinement, nous allons vous proposer chaque jour un magnifique essai à partager sans modération ! 😃 Pour ce 1er épisode, l'essai "du bout du monde" de Jean-Luc Sadourny contre les @AllBlacks en 1994 ! #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/Qiv6mRYz1v— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 18, 2020 Which player did you fear the most ? At international level, I played against Tana Umaga a few times. He was a difficult player to play against because of his athleticism. I played him a bit at the end, but then... He had speed like a lot of All-Blacks, but he also had power. He was very impressive. In France, there was Christophe Dominici, who was hard to get hold of. He was complicated to play against. He was difficult to defend. He had a very toned build and was very fast. Bon anniversaire Tana Umaga ! Le centre des All Blacks a participé aux #RWC1999 et #RWC2003 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/0FmhBxnEoJ— Rugby World Cup FR 🇫🇷 (@RugbyWorldCupFR) May 27, 2023 Can you tell us about your best try ?It was in 2010, in the ¼ final of the European Cup at home to Stade Français. I managed to catch the ball with one hand and I gave it to Florian (Fritz), who passed his arms and as he fell he gave the ball back to me. Then I was tackled just before the line, but I got up and a couple of plays later I picked the ball up to go and score in a pick-and-go. What's the most beautiful stadium you've ever played in, apart from the Stade de France? I like Cardiff, but I don't know if it's to do with my first cap or not, but I really like the stadium in Johannesburg, Ellis Park. It's a special atmosphere in South Africa, a bit more folkloric, with music and singing. You can feel that the fans love rugby.
Given his talent, his track record and even his double metre height, it would have been easy for Nathan Hines to look down on much of the rugby world. But the Scottish giant is not just a great player. He is a monument of Scottish rugby. From the URC to the Top 14, from Australia to Scotland, 20 years after his debut on the field, the memories are bound to be numerous. To coincide with the release of our 'International' collection, Nathan agreed to share some of those memories with LegendaryPlays. We take a look back at the career of this Wagga-Wagga colossus.What's your fondest memory of your career ?There are quite a few. In fact, I played for 20 years, but if I have to pick just one... (silence). My first cap, winning the Top 14 with Perpignan, my last match with Scotland, the last match of my career... I think it's important to remember all those moments. There are so many times when you lose games and you're not in good form, and you have to keep those good memories to motivate yourself. But I'll tell you the best memory I have in my head: I was at Murrayfield this weekend. And it always reminds me of the day I was with the Scottish team. I saw a father and his son watching our bus go by. The little boy waved at us. And I did the same thing. And I know that little boy will remember that for the rest of his life. That's what I remember about my career.My last day at Murrayfield helping a fine group of men. Proud to have been able to share it with my 8yr old son Josh. 📸@Fotosport_Gibbo pic.twitter.com/tpYSgZ3eF4— Nathan Hines (@Wagga5) March 22, 2017 And the worst moment on the pitch ? There are several too (laughs) ! My first red card with Scotland, the time I broke my cruciates against Biarritz and I thought I wasn't going to play again and that I wouldn't have the chance to continue my career... And even if there are a lot of matches where we didn't play well, we lost, but there aren't many bad memories. Even when we lost to France for the Grand Slam or Ireland for the Triple Crown. Because that's sport.Is there one try that you remember more than the others ? In fact ... (he bursts out laughing!) The day I got my red card with Scotland, I'd scored a try before that. I'd done it all in one match. That was in 2000, and fortunately there was no video like there is today. What's more, I only got a week's suspension. But it was a scandal (laughs)! In truth, the try I remember most was the try against Northampton in the European Cup final in 2011. It was my only try for Leinster, and what's more it was a crazy match. We were behind at half-time. Then we came back with Jonny Sexton and then me. It was incredible.2011 Heineken Cup - CardiffOne of my greatest experiences in a club shirt. Good luck to @leinsterrugby today in the @ChampionsCup Final. pic.twitter.com/NDOXdTzwN5— Nathan Hines (@Wagga5) May 28, 2022 Who's the best player you've ever played with ? The best player... Olalala. I've played with so many good players. And it actually makes me blush when I think that I've played with Brian O'Driscoll, Dan Carter or that I've played with the Lions. There are times when I wonder why I played in the same team as them. He was an extraordinary player. He was brave. I remember: during the Lions Tour in 2009, he smashed his shoulder in the tackle taking on Danie Rossouw. When I was at Leinster, he was the first one to say yes to little games. Even if he was the best player in the world, he'd still come and play passes before training, setting an example. An example of humility. And he wanted to beat everyone.'He was an enormous man!' | 🏉'I was equally in bad shape' | 😵💫Brian O'Driscoll recalls, somewhat, that big hit on Danie Rossouw in the second test of the 2009 @lionsofficial tour | 🦁@VodafoneIreland | #UniteThePride Full chat ➡️ https://t.co/wvDyFpHoYL pic.twitter.com/5u4ktyLUGO— Off The Ball (@offtheball) June 27, 2021 Was there any player you feared ? Yes... all the wingers and all the fast guys (laughs)! Shawn Williams, Ngwenya, all those guys. In fact, guys like Danie Rossouw. Everyone was talking about Matfield and Botha, but Rossouw was strong. Very strong. In France, there was Pascal Papé, Jamie Cudmore, Gorgodze... but I'd say that you knew Botha and Rossouw were going to be difficult. And what is... Wait a minute! In 2005, when I arrived in Perpignan, there was David Couzinet! David gave me a real hard time. He punched me in the face. He broke my nose and everything. It was at home, I hadn't done anything, it was in front of the referee and he got a yellow card. Welcome to the Top 14. Back then it was a bit like the wild west. What's the most beautiful stadium you've ever played in? I'm going to say two, because they're very different. The Stade Aimé-Giral and the Michelin. Both are very beautiful, but at Perpignan, even more so at that time, they were savages (laughs)! There was a lot of noise, a lot of passion for the team. A really passionate public, that's the word. And then I think I'd just come from Edinburgh, where we played in front of 3,000 people at Murrayfield. And there you had 12, 13,000 people singing... It was impressive. It really blew me away. In Clermont-Ferrand, it was a bit the same thing, but it wasn't the same atmosphere. It was great, we didn't lose a game at home, except the last one against Castres. That creates a special bond between the fans and the players.
What are Boosters?These are remarkable Plays that earn you points when they are placed in the MyLegendaryPlays album during the month in which they are boosted. They earn you an extra 300 points, for a total of 500 points by play ! With 5 Plays Boosters this month, earn up to 1,500 extra points if you own these plays.Ospreys : Conversion of Stephen Myler against Stormers The conversion that gave the Ospreys a draw against Stormers. It took some nerve to convert this corner kick in the pouring rain. English kicker Stephen Myler stood up to the pressure and slotted the conversion between the posts.Edinburgh : Hamish Watson try's against Ospreys Hamish Watson finishes in the in-goal after a superb maul by the Edinburgh team. The twirling Scottish back row is a veritable poison in these combat zones.Leinster : Hugo Keenan try's against Glasgow The Irish international full-back was at the end of a great move by Leinster. Keenan is a true star of Irish rugby, with his top speed and amazing footsteps.Glasgow Warriors : Jack Dempsey try's vs Benetton What power from the Scottish number 8! He held off two Italian defenders to get behind the line. Power and determination are the 2 essential attributes of a good No 8.Munster : Simon Zebo try's What a try from Simon Zebo! The Irish winger used his exceptional speed to lay waste to the Sharks defence. A try worthy of the greatest.
Do you love rugby for its destructive tackles and thunderous hits? Well then, do we have the collection for you!LegendaryPlays has selected 29 memorable tackles and hits from the URC. In this collection, you'll find international stars, you'll find #URC legends, and you'll find club hero's who all have one thing in common, they know how to bring the hurt!So, without further ado, let's discover the 'butchers' who have been selected for this very special collection...Bundee Aki, the Irish bulldozerPlaying against Irish rivals Munster, Connacht's Bundee Aki quite literally knocked the opposition scrum-half off his feet. And take our word for it, when you're hit by a 102kg bulldozer, it can do some damage...The New Zealand-born Irish centre has more than 50 caps for the Irish team, winning 3 XI Nations tournaments, including 2 Grand Slams (2018 and 2023)! Aki is also a winner of the Pro12 with Connacht, and was voted player of the season in 2016!At 34, Bundee Aki is still one of the best centres in World rugby, and shows no signs of slowing down. Sione Tuipulotu, Scottish PowerIn the all-Scottish duel between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Sione Tuipulotu breaks through the defence before knocking the opposing scrum-half off his feet. BOOOOMMM! The second impact on the Edinburgh forward also left its mark!Originally from Australia, Tuipulotu joined Glasgow in 2021, where he has made quite the name for himself. He currently has 25 caps for the Scottish national team, and has scored two tries.Able to play centre or wing, Sione is 1.79m tall and weighs 104kg. When Sione Tuipulotu hits you, you feel it. Garry Ringrose, the Irish PrinceAgainst Connacht in his home province of Leinster, Garry Ringrose produced the perfect tackle, exactly the kind you learn at rugby school. Low to the ground, with a solid upper body and arms held tight, the Irish international put his opposite number firmly in his place.Ringrose has already amassed 56 caps for Ireland, and is the proud winner of 3 XI Nations tournaments (2018, 2023 and 2024)For Leinster, Ringrose has won the PRO 14 four times (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021), and became a European champion in 2018. Simply put, Ringrose is everything you'd want a modern day centre to be.Ringrose is known for his speed, running style, and finishing skills, but he's not afraid to put his body on the line, and all of these things combined, have made him a legend of Irish rugby. Duhan Van der Merwe, the Scottish PhenomenonAgainst the Irish province of Ulster, Edinburgh winger Duhan Van der Merwe sat his opponent down, figuratively and literally, with a thunderous collision. It was an exceptional move by the winger, now recognised as one of the World's best.The Scotsman has an atypical physique, coming in at 1.93 metres tall and weighing 106 kilos! Duhan Van der Merwe has the body of a 2nd row yet can run the 100 metres in 11 seconds... Terrifying! Van Der Merwe has 36 caps for the Scottish team and has scored 23 tries, a ridiculous strike-rate. VDM is a true finisher who has put his extraordinary power to good use. Jamie Osborne, the next Irish star?What a tackle by the Leinster three-quarter! Against Munster, the Irish centre was involved in a play just as important as a try. No, he didn't score, but his defensive return cancelled out a huge opportunity for Munster.The versatile Leinster three-quarter is just 22 years old, and whilst his record and caps are not as impressive as those of his predecessors, Osborne's talent is undeniable. A starter in Leinster's last 2 Champions Cup matches, Osborne could soon be in line for his first cap for Ireland. Here are the other URC players you can find in this Big Hits Collection: Alex Cuthbert : Ospreys 🏴Antoine Frish : Munster 🇫🇷Ashton Hewitt : Dragons 🏴Caeland Doris : Leinster 🇮🇪CJ Stander : Munster 🇮🇪Dewaldt Duvenage : Benetton 🇿🇦George North : Ospreys 🏴Jack Connan : Leinster 🇮🇪Jack Dixon : Dragons 🏴Jacob Stockdale : Ulster 🇮🇪Johnny Williams : Scarlets 🏴Keith Earls : Munster 🇮🇪Kieran Treadwell : Ulster 🇮🇪Mark Bennett : Edinburgh 🏴Nick Timoney : Ulster 🇮🇪Robert Baloucoune : Ulster 🇮🇪Sebastian Negri : Benetton 🇮🇹Sione Kalamafoni : Scarlets 🇹🇴Tommy O’Brien : Leinster 🇮🇪Viliame Mata : Edinburgh 🇫🇯Zander Fagerson : Glasgow 🏴 All of these players and their "Big Hits" are now available on LegendaryPlaysSo don't waste any time, open your pack now, and feel the thrill of adding these plays to your LegendaryPlays album.
Toulouse solid against Racing 92On the opening round of this 22nd Top 14 matchday, Stade Toulousain came out on top against Racing 92 (32-12). Two weeks after their victory over the same "Ciel et Blanc" side in the Champions Cup, the "Rouge et Noir" have consolidated their place in the Top 2. The only black mark was the attacking bonus that was left on the table at the very end of the match... But you can't have everything, even when your name is Toulouse.Replay the splendid team try scored by Blair Kinghorn Bordeaux topple Bayonne at Jean-Dauger!21 January 2022 was the date on which Jean-Dauger last fell in the league. 2 years and 3 months later, the Basques fell to a valiant Bordeaux side. With a brace from Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Union Bordeaux-Bègles climbed onto the Top 14 podium. However, this defeat relegates Bayonnais to 12th place. The Basques will have to fight until the end to keep their place in the Top 14.Louis Bielle-Biarrey's line-out try Oyonnax win for the 1st time this year!Oyonnax were the sensation of matchday 22, overturning Castres Olympique to win for the first time in 2024 (22-19). Trailing 7-19, the Oyonnaxiens managed to turn the match around, helped by the 2 red cards received by the Castres team. The win means they still have a slim hope of staying in the Top 14 next season.We show you Jonathan Ruru's try Lyon win with a bonus against PauThe LOU can rest easy. Close to the relegation zone before this match, Lyon dominated Section Paloise to win with an attacking bonus (38-20). The win gives them an 8-point lead over 13th-placed Montpellier in the TOP 14.However, the Top 6, synonymous with qualification for the play-offs, is slipping further away for Section Paloise.Watch Alexandre Tchaptchet's try for the attacking bonus. Perpignan continue their impressive run5th win in a row for USAP! The Catalan fans turned out in force in Montpellier and are now dreaming of a play-off place. With this victory (20-25), the Perpignanais are now 7th in the Top 14, just two points off 6th place!For "Les Cistes", on the other hand, defeat at the hands of their neighbours was a bitter pill to swallow. Montpellier are 13th, and their place in the elite of French rugby is not assured.We show you the try scored by Lucas Dubois, who finished off a fine team effort. Clermont outclass leaders ParisASM host leaders Paris at Le Michelin on Saturday evening. Quickly reduced to 14 men after Halaifonua was shown the red card, Stade Français sank at Clermont. A 41-18 victory for the Jaunards with an attacking bonus. A hat-trick from Alivereti Raka gave the Clermontois some breathing space in the red zone.Vibre in front of one of the best tries of the weekend. It was scored by Baptiste Jauneau. La Rochelle on top at homeFaced with a reshuffled Toulon side, Stade Rochelais secured the essential victory (27-17). In a match in which the two teams went head to head, it was the Maritimes who had the last word thanks to a final try from Oscar Jegou.Toulon lost the defensive bonus at the very end of the match...In the standings, the Rochelais are 5th and the Toulonnais are 6th.We show you the first try of the match, scored by Mathieu Smaili.
A couple of years ago, they were a strong leading team in Europe. Eleven of their players were Six Nations’ champions in 2009 - remember Ronan O’Gara? Peter Stringer? Or Paul O’Connell? All part of this Irish success: their second Grand Slam. Well, these are good memories. But in the past few years, this Munster was struggling to get back to the top. On the European front for instance, the last time they played a final was in 2008 - and they won to Toulouse. So, it was about time that one the most prestigious Irish team was back to the top. An up and down seasonThis is a great sum-up of Munster’s 2023 season: ups and downs. Seven rounds in the tournament and they had only two wins. Quite a small ratio. At one point, the Irish province was fourteenth in the ranking table. But thanks to a strong finish of the season, they made it to the finals. A win away in South Africa to the Stormers (24-26) and a draw to the Sharks (22-22): two crucial wins to qualify for the knockout stage after finishing fifth overall. Was it the impact of Graham Rowntree, coach since the year before? Could be. origin" allowfullscreen="">But what was to come wasn’t really a walk in the park, by any means! Munster dealt pretty easily with Glasgow Warriors in the quarter-finals, defeating them away from home (5-14). And then, it was another tricky game to come - still away from their bases, against solid fellow Irishmen from Leinster. A drop goal, two minutes before the end of the match by Jack Crowley, gave Munster the win (15-16). Isn’t he a worthy successor to ROG? With an incredible end against the two-time European Rugby Champions Cup finalist, they reach the Grand final and yet, who would have bet on them? With four wins away from home after an almost disastrous start of the season, they made it to the end - if that’s not a crazy happy ending, then what is? Yet, Crowley’s teammates had one last step. One final chapter of their story to write down.What an ending show !Twelve years without a win, although they had three shots to make it. In 2015, 2017 and 2021, Munster had reached the last step without any success. So, this May 27, 2023, the stakes were up high for the Irishmen. For the SA team as well, truth be told. Proof is: three hours after going on sale, the game was sold out at the Cape Town DHL Stadium. This final was going to be huge with more than 56,000 people who made it to that special day. A full stadium for a showpiece match. Actually, the most crowded stadium ever for any DHL Sortmers game, with 5,000 travelling Irish fans.The home side got up and running early on, as Manie Libbok intercepted and raced to the line to score the opening try. But with a yellow card for No 8 Evan Roos, the SA team got in danger and had to defend: he was yellow-carded for deliberate offside. Munster leading 2 tries to one and scoring 74 from John Hodnett the try of the victory converted by Jack Crowley. It was a hard fought final. Juste like we enjoy them. A game that could have gone either way and was in the balance until the very end. The Irish did just enough, right at the end, to defeat the defending champion (19-14) to claim a title they hadn’t won since 2011.
Farewell Celtic League. Goodbye Pro14. It is time for something new. Something fresh. Please welcome the United Rugby Championship. A new name to represent elite clubs across two hemispheres, because yes, it is also time to welcome the four new South Africa teams: Sharks, Stormers, Lions and Bulls. As incredible as it seems, two of them made it to the final for their very first year. What a start! But let’s rewind back to a crazy season, when the new teams have gained confidence through the year. Stormers lead the wayIn this new environment of 16 teams, they’ve all been separated into regional shield pools. And Stormers led the way to the South African one. With only four losses - the best total overall, all teams included - they finished second of the table ranking. Only Leinster, in the Irish group, did better in terms of wins with thirteen victories. One more win and six more points that made the reigning champion leader of the overall ranking table. Bulls’ achievement As the eight first teams made it to the play-offs, only Stormers, Ulster, Bulls and Leinster played the semis. An interesting South-African - Irish duel for a spot in the Grand final. And it was a massive choc in Dublin. The defending champion was knocked out of the competition against a brilliant Bulls ambush. The reigning champion, who had already lost to La Rochelle in the European Champions Cup less than a month ago, didn’t manage to get the best of the Bull’s aggressiveness. A super-close game (26-27) that stopped the Irish province from getting a fifth successive title, and a first final for the SA team of Pretoria. A great revenge for Jake White’s team who had lost in Ireland on the opening week (31-3) and didn’t want to live the same experience twice. On the other semi, Stormers got past Ulster with the same difficulty (17-15).A first URC final for a first SA derbyIt was definitely not the expected final - rather a real showpiece between two traditional rivals. But a great show to come between two teams that had both won 10 of their last 11 games as they marched through the play-offs.More than their individual performances, for the very first time in history the final of the competition did not include at least one Irish province. A great for time for the newbies, ending a run of 14 years dominated by Ireland. Prior to their arrival in the URC, the two teams had already met once in the Super Rugby final, Bulls winning (25-17) giving them a third title in four years. A crazy victory led then by Morne Steyn - still in the squad but on the bench for this special day to come. A packed Cape Town stadium welcomed Cheslin Kolbe and Victor Matfield to bring the trophy onto the pitch before celebrating what would for sure be a historical moment.Bulls were off to a better start. Ten points to three before half-time in a game dominated by kicking and gaining territory. But what could stop them from lifting their very first URC trophy in history? Probably their lack of discipline even though another part of the answer came from Evan Ross. At 22 years old, the No 8 had been playing incredible rugby the whole season and it made perfect sense that the rebellion came from the one awarded as the Next Gen Player of the year. Back from the locker-room craving to score, he turned things upside down in the game. The leading team suddenly became the defensive one and as discipline stayed a weakness, Cornal Hendricks left the pitch for 10 minutes. After almost an hour of play, Stormers eventually led the way and never let it go. Libbok secured the victory (18-13) with a drop-goal five minutes right before celebrating with teammates, becoming at the same time the player to score the most points in the regular season.
2020-21 Pro 14 season was different. Pandemic dictated, only twelve teams were involved, all regrouped in Europe - without South Africa. And it kind of brought back old memories. After a hat-trick last season with a victory over Ulster, Leinster hadn’t yet satisfy their appetite for more success. They managed to do something even more incredible that we could have imagined.A title for the agesSensational. Something that had never been done before. Historic.By winning an 8th United Rugby Championship title - a fourth one in a row - the 2021 version of Leinster has made history once again, securing a spot as one of the greatest club in the league history.This kind of superiority is likely to remain unmatched for a very long time. It is, indeed, quite hard to defend your title in URC: the only team to succeed in such a challenge was… Leinster, back in 2013 and 2014.And they meet again…It was a close season for Leinster and Ulster, being neck and neck in Conference A (14 wins, 2 losses each). But thanks to a display of tries in the previous games and 13 bonus points earned, the defending champion was ahead in the ranking table. One more victory over their fellow rivals in the round 14 (38-19) and Leinster had secured a top spot advancing to a 13th championship final. origin" allowfullscreen="">A 13th championship final against their best rival: Munster (recording a 14W-2L this season as well). The two Irish teams have played each other twice in a final, winning one each (Leinster in 2002 (24-20) and Munster in 2022 (19-9)). It was time to find out which one was going to take the lead.But this season’s final game didn’t take the expected take-off. Was it due to Covid-19 restriction and the empty crowd? Probably. But Porter, Keenan, Hanshaw and Cie kept up the good defensive work until Jack Conan found a breach. The only try of the match to secure a 16-6 win over Munster and an 8th championship title. origin" allowfullscreen="">Not the expected show, but a memorable time for the Irish team, fans and followers all around the globe.
What are Boosters?These are remarkable Plays that earn you points when they are placed in the MyLegendaryPlays album during the month in which they are boosted. They earn you an extra 300 points, for a total of 500 points by play ! With 5 Plays Boosters this month, earn up to 1,500 extra points if you own these plays.Benetton : Try of Padovani in the italian derby In the Italian derby between the Zebras and Benetton, the international full-back ensures victory for Treviso. A few months later, he will be the man who scored the final try in Italy's victory against Wales, during the 2022 VI Nations. Padovani, the Italian renaissance.Cardiff : Josh Adams’ tackle against Scarlets He is Wales' most talented offensive player. However, it is also through his defense that the winger stands out in matches. Josh Adams, Cardiff's most beautiful gem !Connacht : Mack Hansen’s try against Ulster The Australian strorm not take long to convince the Irish XV. His speed, his skills and his instinct did the rest. Hansen, the pure talent of Connacht.Dragons : Ross Moriarty’s try Solid, powerful, aggressive... It's better to play with him than against him. Ross Moriarty has long been the most physical Dragons player. He was a real bonus for his team. His departure, one more in Wales, has been difficult to compensate for since.Scarlets : Jonathan Davies’ try Jonathan Davies is the symbol of this Scarlets team. Decisive in the only Welsh URC title, essential in the great Red Dragons team with four VI Nations won, he transforms all the teams where he plays. And makes all his teammates better. So, the booster is obvious.
It’s a revengeful Warriors’ team that found their way to a second final in a row. Losing to Leinster the year before - the Irish becoming the first club ever to retain the trophy - the stakes were up high on the Scottish front. That season also marked something huge rugby wise: for the very first time in the league history, Leinster started the season without Brian O’Driscoll who had retired after 186 appearances with the green jersey and one last title. A good startThey were on a streak. After their 2014 campaign, Warriors kept going with the same intensity in their rugby. Sixteen wins at the end of the regular season and they easily and logically finished first of the ranking table. Right behind, Munster didn’t have any reason to blush either. 75 points as well but one less victory and they were second. Play-offs didn’t seem to be a huge obstacle as they quickly took the lead against welsh from Ospreys (21-18). The story could have been completely different for the Scot. Right before the 60th minute, Ulster was on the lead (6-17). Ulster was also dominating. It was then hard to know if the Warriors could turn the situation around. The stroke of genius came from Daniel Sander Merwe. One try, five minutes before the whistle was blown and the two teams were up to 14 all. Then, it all happened between the feet of Finn Russell. For his second season with the blue jersey, he had now the kick of the victory to kick. And he did it. 16-14. Warriors were off to a second final in a row. Exceptional. And the best was yet to come. An ever better endingThis one might have been an easy one. Truth be told - they probably deserved it after such a long and intense season. And once more, they showed a team with much character. Munster and O’Connell might differ opinion since their giant second row was playing his last rugby game. Not the expected farewell, but he’ll remain a name we remember as lock reference. A great player and a great man who gave so much to rugby.Warriors quickly and easily scored three first-half tries and Finn Russell sealed the win with a fourth right before the hour was indicated on the clock. With joy and emotion, Townsend’s men triumphed by 18 points (13-31) in a not very contested final but such a joyful one for the Scottish side.Glasgow had never won the title. No - not a single Scottish team had won a professional trophy, and that’s something to remember. A remarkable day for Scotland. A date to remember. At last, a trophy for a Scottish club in the professional rugby history.
This seventh edition of the championship was played with a four-country format and it might have not be obvious to bet on a Welsh team to succeed in a competition that had been mostly dominated by Ireland. But if you had look a bit closer, you would have seen that the Scarlets had signed big names before the start of the season: Rhys Patchell, Werner Kruger, Jonathan Evans and Jonathan Davies, being back from Clermont, where he was playing in the French Top 14. The favourites had a solid start of their season. As per usual - almost - Munster and Leinster took the two first positions of the ranking table. And then, surprise - or not - Scarlets and Ospreys completed the top four. Four teams qualified for the semis. No Italy, no Scotland. An unforgettable prowessAfter a strong season, Scarlets became a dangerous team and definitely a hard one to beat! In the regular games, they had only lost to Ospreys and to Leinster, winning a capital game to Munster at Thomond Park (21-30).A good preparation before what was to come: the play-offs. Firstly, they got their revenge to Leinster (15-27) at the RDS Arena, getting three tries very early on and heading to a tumultuous final. More than a good preparation. Having already won to Munster probably gave the welsh team more confidence, but this final was almost a walk in a park. They produced a brilliant display to defeat Munster in the Dublin final.With an attendance of almost 45,000 people at the Aviva Stadium, they didn’t get scared, producing a spell of superb passing and attacking prowess which saw them quickly take the lead. Liam Williams delivered an amazing performance, showing the way and scoring the opening try for what was to be his last game with the team before heading to the Saracens in England. Soon, he was imitated by Steff Evans, who scored his 11th try of the season, making him best scorer, helping his team to bring their first title since 2004. A memorable triumph.
LegendaryPlays offers unique rewards that you can earn by completing your My Legendary XV album.Below are the rewards you can win.More experiments to come... Attends the post-match press conference for a TOP 14 match 2 tickets to watch the TOP 14 final in a box with a rugby star A close encounter with the ultimate prize, the Brennus Shield So how do you go about winning these exceptional awards?You buy play packs, complete your album, and see your ranking on the leadeardboard (coming soon).It's first come, first served, so don't wait if you want an unforgettable experience.
URC Digital Collectibles offers unique rewards to LegendaryPlayers that you can earn by completing your My Legendary XV album. As one of the top 30 most beautiful albums, you have the opportunity to choose your reward from these outstanding rewards. An all-inclusive hospitality experience for 2 at the URC 2023/24 Grand Final + €500 pocket money Have you ever imagined experiencing the URC Final in dream conditions? Pack your bags: wherever it takes place, two places for you and your guest are waiting! And to make sure you experience this event in the best possible conditions, you'll have an extra €500 in your pocket!Receive a signed shirt from the players of your favourite clubDo you want to be able to show off in front of all your mates? Do you want to be the star of your entourage? We'll give you a signed shirt from your favourite players! A unique and priceless prize that you can win thanks to LegendaryPlays.Follow in the footsteps of a legend by getting your boots worn on the pitch! A pair of incredible shoes that will have experienced a URC tournament match like you could never have imagined! So, are you ready to slip your feet into them?The VIP URC TV Pass is finally here! Put on your fan gear and watch the matches you want in front of your TV. You'll have access to all URC matches for 1 season, anytime anywhere. So make the most of it and enjoy the biggest matches in the league.Remember when you were a kid? You used to dream of meeting your favourite player, the one who made you love this sport, the one who made you thrill in front of the television. Now you can meet him for real! Experience an unforgettable meet and greet with your urc rugby hero. Win a signed ball from your favourite URC club.Have you always wanted to catch the ball in the stands and take it back home?We've got something even better for you! A ball signed by all the players of your favourite URC club. But don't play with this one, the signatures might fade...If you love going to the stadium to experience inexplicable and unrivalled emotions, then this is the prize for you. Win a season ticket for your favourite URC club for the 2024-25 season and attend every home round of matches. So how do you go about earning these exceptional rewards? Buy Plays, your collectibles in packs, complete your album, and check your ranking on the leadeardboard. To spice up the game, the first few weeks are blind.You put together your team and develop it according to the strategy you choose: your dream line-up, jerseys from 1 to 15, 100% moments from your favourite club. There are many ways to earn bonus points for consistency or thanks to Boosters.You can check them out here. Where do you rank in the leaderboard?Check where you stand in relation to the other players.What tactics will you adopt to aim for the top of the leaderboard: racking up boosters, adding rare Plays, working on the consistency of your XV? First come first served: so don't wait if you want to enjoy some unforgettable experiences. Do you know which one to pick up when you'll be reaching the TOP 30 on 31 May 2024?
TOULON OUTCLASS MHR On the opening day of this 19th Top 14 round, Toulon literally blew Montpellier out of the water (54-7). With 8 tries scored, "Les Varois" are back in the Top 6, synonymous with qualification for the finals. Review Duncan Paia'aua's try PERPIGNAN WIN CRUCIAL MATCH FOR SURVIVAL In the battle for survival, the Catalans won by the slimmest of margins against Oyonnax (14-15). The win takes USAP out of the relegation zone. However, the home defeat (almost) doomed the Oyonnax side. Watch Alistair Crossdale's solo try RACING SPRING A SURPRISE IN CASTRES With the return of Le Garrec, Gibert and Fickou, the team from Paris won in the final minutes at Pierre-Fabre (21-23). It was a hugely important win, and one that secures their place in the Top 6. Vibre ahead of the personal achievement of Racing winger, Christian Wade CLERMONT REASSURES AGAINST PAU After their disappointing draw against Oyonnax, Clermont were eagerly awaited when they took on Section Paloise. In a match that featured 8 tries, it was the Yellow and Blue who had the last word, winning 31-28. Check out Baptiste Jauneau 's try after some excellent work by his forwards. STADE FRANÇAIS CONFIRM TOP SPOT After being outplayed by Lyon for over an hour, the Parisians came out like champions at the end of the match. The pink soldiers remain leaders of the championship with this victory over the LOU (22-13). We show you winger Lester Etien's try from the end of the line. BAYONNE BY A HAIR AGAINST LA ROCHELLE The Basques continue their incredible unbeaten run at Jean-Dauger! Trailing 13-0, the Rochelais responded at the end of the match to pull back to within a point of the Aviron (13-12). Hastoy even had the match ball two minutes from time. But he only hit the post... Victory by a tiny point for Bayonne. Watch the magnificent team effort by the Rochelais, finished off by Judicaël Cancoriet. BORDEAUX WITHSTANDS TOULOUSAIN'S COMEBACK It was THE match of the day. In an electric atmosphere at the Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux seemed to be heading for an easy victory, leading 24-7 at the break. But the Toulouse team came back strongly just after the break. It was not enough against Bordeaux, who held their nerve at the end of the match. Victory 31-28 for UBB. Watch again the speedy try by France international Damian Penaud.
LA ROCHELLE POWER 5 AGAINST STADE FRANÇAIS On the opening day of the 18th TOP 14 season, "Les Maritimes" beat leaders Paris 23-3 with an attacking bonus. For the first time this season, Ronan O'Gara's men are in the TOP 6! Watch the fantastic try by South African winger Dillyn Leyds. CLERMONT AND OYONNAX GO HEAD TO HEAD In the battle of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Clermont and Oyonnax played out a 15-15 draw. Plisson and Miotti scored all 15 of their teams' points from penalties-kick See Domingo Miotti's penalty-kick at the siren, which gave Oyonnax a draw. LYON ON TOP AGAINST CO After their rout in the Basque Country, Lyon won 34-19 in front of their home crowd against Castres Olympique. An attacking bonus earned at the very end of the match means that the LOU are now well clear of the relegation zone. Replay the first try of the match, scored by3rd row Jordan Taufua. MONTPELLIER WIN BY THE SLIMMEST OF MARGINS AGAINST UBB The MHR secured the vital points against Bordeaux with a narrow 10-3 victory. This was the fourth consecutive victory for the Montpellier side, who have confirmed their revival this season. Replay the only try of the match, scored by Cobus Reinach. PAU DEFEATS BAYONNE IN AN XXL MATCH 82 points scored, 42 to 40 for Section, it was THE match of the weekend! The 64 derby produced an 11-try encounter in which Pau and Bayonne went head to head. In the midst of all this madness, there was one magnificent try! It was scored by Palois winger Théo Attisogbe. PERPIGNAN TOPPLES TOULOUSE IN 2024! The reigning French champions fell to the Catalans! After 8 straight wins in all competitions, Stade Toulousain lost for the first time in 2024. It was a late win for the Catalans (27-17), who are always irreproachable at Aimé-Giral. Discover the winning try, scored by Tommaso Allan RACING GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS (AT LAST) After 5 consecutive league defeats, Racing 92 got back to winning ways with a 20-6 victory over RCT at Paris La Défense-Arena. The win keeps "Les Ciel et Blanc" in the Top 6 of the Top 14. Replay the only try of the match scored by Maxime Baudonne.
What if we took a step back in time? What if we relived the best actions of the French championship?Legendary Plays has selected 49 iconic Top 14 players just for you. You'll be able to rediscover some of these players' finest actions and most memorable moments.This collection will take you back ten or even twenty years! Without further ado, here is a presentation of some of the players in this collection.Christophe Dominici, the shooting starAgainst Biarritz Olympique, in the Top 16 final at the time, Christophe Dominici scored one of the finest tries ever scored in a French championship final.He picked up the ball on the halfway line, accelerated but was caught out...But he wasn't held! He rose to his feet at lightning speed, after sliding off his knees. His top speed then did the rest as he finished behind the try line. It was quite a career for the man with 67 caps for the French national team, and winner of the 1998 V Nations Tournament and 3 Six Nations Tournaments. A two-time European runner-up and 5-time French champion with Stade Français, Dominici was one of the greatest French wingers in history. Frédéric Michalak, the gifted FrenchmanDuring the 2001 final between Stade Toulousain and ASM Clermont, Michalak used his full range of skills to score a penalty from almost 50 metres. At just 19 years of age, the player trained at Stade Toulousain is discovering himself in the eyes of the rugby world.And his record of achievements is STRATOSPHERIC. Three times French champion (2 with Toulouse and 1 with Toulon), 6 times European champion (3 with Toulouse and 3 with Toulon). He has won the Six Nations Tournament 4 times, including 3 Grand Slams, and is the highest scorer in the history of the French national team with 436 points! Are you still alive? We can hardly believe it! Sébastien Chabal, Hummmm « Chabal »Naturally, this list includes the monster, the beast that is Sébastien Chabal, 62 caps for the French national team. A 113-kilogram colossus colliding with you at full speed obviously leaves its mark. His monstrous tackle in the Top 16 semi-final in 2003-2004 was a case in point.Click here to try to obtain his extraordinary tackleTo his credit? Two Six Nations tournaments, in the squad for two Rugby World Cups with Les Bleus. Apart from winning the French Pro D2 title with LOU in 2014, his record of achievements in France unfortunately does not reflect his career... A SENSATIONAL player that French rugby will never forget. Juan-Martin Hernandez, “El Mago”Juan-Martin Hernandez scored his side's only try of the semi-final in the corner against Bourgoin with his club Stade Français. It was a crucial try that sent the Parisians into the final at the Stade de France, before they went on to win it.A two-time French champion with Stade Français and European champion in 2015 with RCT, the Argentinian magician has spent some fine seasons on French soil. Whether he played as an opener, fullback, centre or even winger, his time in France was marked by his vision and exceptional intelligence. Hernandez won 74 caps for the Pumas, with whom he played in three World Cups. A monstrous career for an exceptional player. Imanol Harinordoquy, the leaping basqueDuring the Basque Country derby between Biarritz Olympique and Aviron Bayonnais, Imanol Harinordoquy was on the receiving end of a clever overhead kick from Dimitri Yachvili.The Basque player has won twice the French championship with Biarritz Olympique and is a two-time finalist in the European Cup.Winner of 4 Six Nations tournaments with the French team, including 3 Grand Slams (2002, 2004 and 2010), Imanol has also taken part in three Rugby World Cups, reaching the final in 2011. Finishing his career with Stade Toulousain, Harinordoquy's career was a reflection of his size (1.92 metres and 105 kilos): HUGE. You can find other old-fashioned players in our collection:Fabien Galthié : Stade Français 🇫🇷Xavier Garbajosa : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷Florian Fritz : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷Rupeni Caucaunibuca : SU Agen 🇫🇯Napolioni Nalaga : ASM 🇫🇯Jonny Wilkinson : RCT 🏴Jean-Baptiste Elissalde : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷Julien Arias : Stade Français 🇫🇷Yann Delaigue : Castres Olympique 🇫🇷Dimitri Szarzewski : Stade Français 🇫🇷Brock James : ASM 🇦🇺Sonny Bill Williams : RCT 🇳🇿Lionel Beauxis : Stade Français 🇫🇷Pierre Mignoni : ASM 🇫🇷Pepito Elhorga : Aviron Bayonnais 🇫🇷Patricio Albacete : Stade Toulousain 🇦🇷Felipe Contepomi : RCT 🇦🇷Julien Malzieu : ASM 🇫🇷Byron Kelleher : Stade Toulousain 🇳🇿Iain Balshaw : Biarritz Olympique 🏴Julien Dupuy : Stade Français 🇫🇷Clément Poitrenaud : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷Joe Van Niekerk : RCT 🇿🇦David Skrela : ASM 🇫🇷Sireli Bobo : Racing 🇫🇯Paul Sackey : Stade Français 🏴Luke McAlister : Stade Toulousain 🇳🇿Romain Teulet : Castres Olympique 🇫🇷Matt Giteau : RCT 🇦🇺Benoit August : Biarritz Olympique 🇫🇷Ignacio Corleto : Stade Français 🇦🇷Jamie Cudmore : ASM 🇨🇦Jean-Baptiste Poux : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷Lionel Nallet : Racing 🇫🇷Mario Ledesma : ASM 🇦🇷Nicolas Brusque : Biarritz Olympique 🇫🇷Nicolas Mas : USAP 🇫🇷Pascal Pape : Stade Français 🇫🇷Percy Montgomery : USAP 🇿🇦Rodrigo Capo-Ortega: Castres Olympique 🇺🇾Sylvain Marconnet: Stade Français 🇫🇷Thibaut Privat: ASM 🇫🇷William Servat: Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷Yoann Maestri: Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷All these players and their actions are now available on Legendary Plays So don't wait, open your pack the old-fashioned way and let the magic begin.
Toulouse improve against neighbours Castres The South-West derby quickly turned in favour of Ugo Mola's men. Impressively effective, Toulouse outclassed their neighbours with 5 tries scored (33-6). A bonus-point victory that puts Stade Toulousain comfortably in the top 2 of the rankings. Watch the try scored by Juan-Cruz Mallia Bayonne outclass LOU in the race to stay up In an important game at the bottom of the table, it was the Basques who came out on top, and with flying colours. In front of their home crowd at Jean-Dauger, Bayonnais waited until the hour mark to turn the match in their favour (39-10). Replay the5th Bayonnais try by fullback Cheikh Tiberghien Montpellier record 3rd consecutive win over Oyonnax Les Cistes confirm their current good form. The MHR won at Oyonnax (35-39). The win sees the Montpellier side leave the red zone for the first time since matchday 4! Oyonnax remain in last place in the Top 14. Watch again the try by Montpellier3rd row Nico Janse Van Rensburg Stade Français consolidate top spot The Parisians beat Section Paloise 25-12 at the Stade Jean-Bouin. Thanks to a brace from the inevitable Sekou Macalou, Stade Français clinched an attacking bonus point and remain top of the league. See one of Sekou Macalou's tries Toulon forget the bonus point against USAP A convincing victory for "Les Varois" on their home turf against USAP (44-22). Gaël Drean scored twice, enabling Toulon to regain a place in the top 6. USAP, on the other hand, find themselves relegated. Enjoy the crazy run made by Toulon winger Gaël Drean Bordeaux reassure themselves against Racing After their heavy defeat at Castres, UBB responded well in front of their home crowd with an easy 21-5 win over Racing 92. With Nicolas Depoortere on fire, Bordeaux are back on the podium. The Francilians, on the other hand, are on a downward spiral, suffering their fifth successive defeat in the league... For you, the Nicolas Depoortere rocket ! La Rochelle close in on the Top 6 It was a victory that will do La Rochelle's morale a world of good. In poor form since the start of the season, the Maritimes put on a show at Marcel-Deflandre. By scoring no fewer than 6 tries, the "Yellow and Black" secured a valuable attacking bonus point in the race for qualification. Final score? 42-3! You can see Teddy Thomas' try here
Montpellier secure home advantage Buoyed by their comfortable win at Racing last week, Montpellier are continuing their drive to stay in the top flight. Les Cistes won on home turf against a valiant Bayonnais side (28-23). The Basques secured a precious bonus point at the end of the match. Replay the MHR team try, scored by Brandon Paenga Amosa Pau dispose of Toulon Following their success at Chaban-Delmas, Section Paloise overcame RCT this weekend (17-9). It was a small but precious victory for the Palois, who are back in the TOP 6. Watch the interception that led to Luke Withelock's try USAP win with bonus point against La Rochelle The Catalans have confirmed that they will be hard to beat at Aimé-Giral. Perpignan beat the European champions 27-15 with an attacking bonus. Replay of Tommaso Allan's splendid try from the line Castres Olympique roll over UBB In the top-of-the-table match, it was Castres Olympique who came out on top against Bordeaux. A bonus-point win (41-12) sees Jeremy Davidson's men join the Top 14 podium. Take a look at the first try scored by Jack Goodhue, the all-black centre in the colours of the CO. Lyon take a breath of fresh air LOU Rugby beat Oyonnax 43-26 in a match crucial to their survival. The Lyon side are now 10th in the table, while Oyonnax are more relegated than ever. Watch Davit Niniashvili's splendid try Stade Français take the derby by storm The Paris derby was the eagerly-awaited match of matchday 16. The match ended in a solid victory for Stade Français at La Défense Arena (11-27). With Peniasi Dakuwaqa on fire, the men in pink are still top of the Top 14. Vibre ahead of Peniasi Dakuwaqa 's crazy 127-metre run! Toulouse's Espoirs win at Clermont It's THE big win of the 16th matchday. With a (very) young team, Toulouse won the battle against Clermont (33-37). With no fewer than 10 tries scored in the match, Ugo Mola's men join Stade Français at the top of the table. Watch Arthur Retière's speedy try
Lyon bounce back against Rochelais. The LOU beat the reigning European champions 28-17 thanks in particular to a brace from Baptiste Couilloud. The Lyon side have given themselves some breathing space, but are still under pressure in the race to avoid relegation. Check out the trickster try by Lyon's captain. Pau score big in Bordeaux Section Paloise beat Union Bordeaux Bègles 20-10 at Chaban-Delmas. The Béarnais are back on track after a run of 4 consecutive defeats, while the Girondins have come to a real standstill. Replay the first try of the match scored by Axel Desperes Paris snatch bonus point from USAP. The pink soldiers were held by the Catalans for 60 minutes before winning 32-19. The Parisians take the offensive bonus point and the lead in the French championship. Watch the 4th Parisian try by Rory Kockott. Racing humiliated by Montpellier. The league's bottom side pulled off a major coup with a 44-20 win at Paris La Défense Arena. The bonus-point win moves the Cistes back to within a point of 12th place. You will find the trial of Christopher Tolofua, who arrived a week ago from Toulon. Toulouse beat Oyonnax in a festival of tries The red-and-black duel was won by Toulouse with a (prolific) score of 61-34. It was a big win with an attacking bonus, marked by a four-try haul from Paul Graou, named man of the match. Watch one of the tries scored by Toulouse's scrum-half Bayonne win their tussle with Clermont. The Basques maintained their unbeaten home record by beating ASM 21-13. Grégory Patat's men continue to defend the impregnable Jean-Dauger turf, and are now in tenth place in the league. Watch again the try by Bayonne centre Guillaume Martocq. Castres dominate Toulon and return to the top 6 In this duel between contenders for the final stages of the competition, Castres defeated Toulon 25-17. Thanks to this victory, the Castrais are back in the Top 6 and confirming their good momentum. The winning try was scored by Josaia Raisuqe, and you can relive it here!
UBB's young winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey gave the French team the victory in the Six Nations match against Scotland (16-20). Scoring a solitary try with 10 minutes remaining, 'LBB' demonstrated his extraordinary athletic qualities to the French people. At just 20 years of age, the Bordeaux winger is slowly establishing himself as a starter in the French team. Find out more about Bielle-Biarrey's greatest Top 14 tries for Bordeaux. Legendary Plays tells you all about his qualities.A rare precocity: first try at 18!it was in March 2022, against ASM, that Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored his very first Top 14 try! Well served by an amazing pass between the legs of Gatien Massé, he picked up the ball on the wing and accelerated to finish behind the goal line. The first try of a long series. He's barely of age, but he's already fearless. Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Crazy speed, amazing stepsAgainst the Stade Toulousain on the round 24 of the 2022-23 Top 14 season, Bielle-Biarrey was at the end of a splendid move by UBB. Pierre Bochaton escaped along the touchline and fed his winger inside. The Girondin accelerated and left aside Retière with a side step before finishing between the posts. It was a try that confirmed that the 19-year-old winger was in the process of blossoming at the highest level. Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. A constant concern for supportAnother illustration of his qualities, this time against LOU Rugby. On the 6 of the 2022/23 Top 14 season, Jalibert broke through the Lyon defence in midfield. Louis Bielle-Biarrey stepped up to the ball and all he had to do was to extend his stride to score his 2nd Top 14 try. Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Concluding aloneThis try he created all by himself! Against Montpellier, Bielle-Biarrey was on the left wing with no space in between... He took out two opponent players with a magnificent inside step, accelerated and then literally put the last defender down to score a try of his own. An action worthy of the greatest! Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. A scorer's instinctIt was against Oyonnax a few months ago, in December 2023 to be precise. Under the snow, Maxime Lucu kicked a penalty right next to the posts... The Oyonnax backs couldn't catch the ball and 'LLB', who came in at full speed, scored the try. It was a "strange" one, but opportunistic one for the international winger. Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo.
5-point victory for USAP over RacingPerpignan comfortably beat the Racing 92 on their Aimé-Giral field (26-5). The bonus-point victory moves the Catalans away from the red zone, where they now lie 11th in the table.With this defeat, the team from the Paris region lose their spot at the top of the table and drop to the 4th one.Louis Dupichot's early try. Stade Français win at OyonnaxWith their 19-23 victory over Oyonnax, the Parisians are now at the top of the Top 14. The men in pink have confirmed that they are serious contenders for the title.Despite their defeat, we show you the powerful try scored by former Parisian Théo Millet. Clermont improve against LyonClermont won their 4th consecutive win in all competitions against LOU. With 6 tries scored, ASM pocketed the attacking bonus point and returned to the Top 6.Watch the try scored by Fijian third row Peceli Yato. La Rochelle secures victory over MontpellierLa Rochelle battled hard, but came out on top against MHR. An 18-10 victory in front of their home crowd keeps the Maritimes in touch with the play-off places.Brice Dulin's try was a model combination. Castres scores big against PauCastres' run of bad luck came to an end at Pau. After 4 straight defeats in the league, the CO won nicely against the Section Paloise (33-44). Les Béarnais, on the other hand, have been at a standstill for a few weeks now, suffering their 4th consecutive defeat in the league.You can find Vilimoni Botitu's try here. Toulouse at the very end against BayonneAfter a long struggle against a courageous Bayonne team, Toulouse finally came out on top against the Basques (46-26). This last-gasp bonus-point win means that Ugo Mola's men can hold on to the 2nd place in the table.Replay Antoine Dupont's splendid chistera for Pita Ahki. Bordeaux wins at Toulon for the first time in their history!It was THE match of the 14th round! Union Bordeaux-Bègles won in Toulon, something they had never managed to do before. A sumptuous try from Nicolas Depoortère gave Bordeaux victory at the very end of the match.
Stade Français spring a surprise in Bordeaux!The club from the French capital beat Union Bordeaux-Bègles 26-30 at Chaban-Delmas. It was a real performance from the men in pink, enabling them to leapfrog their opponents in the standings.Watch the best try of the match, scored on the counterattack by Romain Buros. Bayonne secure the points against OyonnaxThe Aviron gave itself a scare against a valiant team of USO. Trailing 14-6 after half an hour, the Basques turned the tide to maintain their unbeaten home record (21-17). A deft try from Aurélien Callandret gave Bayonne the victory at Jean Dauger. Clermont come from behind to beat CastresASM won 20-23 at Pierre-Fabre! It was a fantastic performance from the Yellow army, who confirmed their two last very good matches in the Challenge Cup. On the other hand, it was a second consecutive home defeat for Les Castrais.A worrying setback, despite Santiago Arata's bright try. Tough Lyon solid against USAPIn a hard-fought match, with 3 tries each, it was the LOU who emerged victorious (36-24). After suffering 45-0 at Ernest Wallon, the Rhodanians reacted well against Perpignan.Take a look back at the amazing try scored by Baptiste Couilloud. His fourth of the season. MHR give themselves some air against PauLast in the table, Montpellier needed to win at all costs against Pau. They did just that, with a precious 22-17 win. Jan Serfontein's early try was a major factor in the "Héraultais" success. Toulon wins by the skin of their teethOn Saturday evening's match between Toulon and La Rochelle, it was the men in Red and Black that came out on top at the very end. A final penalty kick from Melvyn Jaminet gave the RCT victory (25-23). Toulouse wins at the Defense ArenaIn the match of the day, it was Toulouse who emerged victorious. A final try from Ange Capuozzo gave Toulouse a precious victory (20-27).
This Wednesday, the Netflix platform launches its series devoted to the Six Nations Tournament. It's a documentary that gives the cameras plenty of space, including the dressing rooms. It's enough to plunge rugby into a mini existential crisis: do we have to show everything in order to please everyone? Desire was stronger than fantasy. Using the same recipe and the same levers as for its successful series devoted to Formula 1 or the Tour de France, Netflix is yet unveiling another secret. This time, it smells of Dolpic and tough talk. The dressing room of the VI Nations has opened its doors to the cameras and microphones of the American giant. In its quest for information, the public wants to know everything, and even see everything. And they are even prepared to pay for it.It's a bit of a blow for the oval traditionalists, who are sometimes nostalgic for a not-so-distant past. These guardians of the temple are former players or coaches. Sometimes both, like Pierre Berbizier (56 caps). Finalist in the 1987 World Cup as a player, semi-finalist in 1995 as coach, he knows this magical place by heart. Supernatural even. "For the general public, the dressing room remains a mystery. Seeing normal people go into this place, this cage, and seeing them come out like lions. Then to return to that place, and become normal people again. So you wonder what goes on in there to transform people completely".Olivier Magne (89 caps) strikes the same tone: "In the history of rugby, the dressing room has always been a secret place. And that secrecy has given rise to tales, legends... sometimes things that never happened there! It has generated very strong images and beliefs". Imagination, an infinite source of belief".This thirst for reality raises some simple questions: should everything be shown? Doesn't part of the magic lie in the invisible? That's Pierre Berbizier's opinion: "I think you have to keep the mystery in the dressing room. I've always accepted people. But I reduced it to very few. Because it has to be earned. Once the public has seen everything, it will demystify the place. On the contrary, I think you have to make people dream. Let them imagine what can happen there. You have to feed the fantasy. Living it is sometimes a disappointment".Opening the dressing room to others: fear of what?Rugby is a lascivious art, where things are suggested rather than shown. "I'm prepared to make people imagine things: to tell them what goes on there, explains Pierre Berbizier. But I don't like to show it. The dressing room has become a set and for me, it should remain a place where things happen".So what is it about the dressing room that bothers the players so much and gives rise to such mistrust? One word quickly comes to mind: shamelessness. "There are things that belong only to the players. Having shared important moments with team-mates, one look is enough to remind us of those moments that belong to us. They're ours alone," says Olivier Magne. "In the dressing room, you have complete privacy. It's where you meet up with your partners, your brothers in arms, and it's there that you really lay yourself bare. I wouldn't have wanted those moments to be public," he concludes.Richard Dourthe (31 caps for the French national team) agrees: "You can't know everything, there's no such thing. Pierre Berbizier said it very well: you have to earn it. The dressing room is a man's life. It's intimate. It's family life. And in family life there are arguments, in the life of a couple, there are arguments. And you don't want to go public with that".Behaviour influenced by cameras?Nostalgic, a little. But certainly not old-fashioned. Richard Dourthe readily admits that "media coverage is still very important for our sport. Because people can see that rugby is not a simple sport. It's a very tactical and strategic sport". Olivier Magne, for his part, thinks "it's rather good to show certain things. I'm even in favour of it. But wanting to open up to the media and the general public doesn't mean showing everything. Rugby and sport in general should have places like the dressing room. I'd like us to open up something that isn't the real dressing room. A sort of pre-changing room... a vestibule (laughs)!Because even among the glorious old-timers, no one questions the need for media coverage, the growing popularity, the need to please and satisfy a demanding public. But everyone has their own ideas. For Richard Dourthe, a finalist at the 1999 World Cup, there is a fine line. Showing things, why not. But without adding sound to this special place. It's a fine line, but one that he's trying to clarify: "What's said in the dressing room should stay there. As far as I'm concerned, there's no problem with cameras. But not the sound. Because images let the imagination work. Sound doesn't. He continues: "In all combat sports, there's bound to be over-motivation and irritation. I don't know a rugby player who walks onto a pitch and isn't scared. But you have to find ways of transforming that apprehension into courage. And sometimes that means saying things that can't be said elsewhere and that would be very badly perceived by civil society".Behind this mistrust lies another fear. That of the staging. Exaggerated headphones and shouting, false-sounding speeches and a few fake looks. Olivier Magne gives us his view of the "inside" camera: "Introducing the camera doesn't allow us to be completely naked. Even if you end up forgetting about the camera, it's not completely absent. Your behaviour, your actions, everything is also directed by the image you project. The players are very careful, and I think that certain things happen or don't happen because of the presence of this camera in the dressing room".An observer who becomes a player in spite of himself. Pierre Berbizier is convinced: "We're preparing for a fight. As soon as you have an outside eye, with a camera, they are no longer turned inwards. When you look at the guys, their attitudes are not the same".A new job, a place to findAndréa Lebourgeois is one of those famous "intruders". At just over 60 metres tall, she knows how to make herself even smaller to capture moments of life and moments of truth within the women's French national team. But always with modesty. "No, there's no voyeurism. I know what I'm shooting, and I know that there are things I'm not going to put in the report because it's too intimate". She has become more aware of her profession. "You don't have to show everything to show what's going on within the French national team. Andréa adds, "My job is to make sure they don't see me. It's when they stop paying attention to me that I say to myself, 'That's it, you're part of the team'. It's being at the heart of the action without participating". It was probably this sensitivity that helped Andréa quickly find her place. You have to strike a delicate balance between discretion and omnipresence. "I don't have a big camera, I have a small camera. Besides, I'm small and I'm a girl in a girl's dressing room. I make myself forgotten. Physically, it's difficult to find my place in the changing room, to find the place where I'm going to be the least visible".Like a player, it takes time to find your feet. And sometimes even their place. "In the first match against Italy, people were watching me. But after that first week, I felt that the girls were more at ease. And then in New Zealand, for the chat, I was crouched down in the middle, they were all around me, and at no point did I feel out of place. I really feel that today they've totally understood where I belong and what I'm doing.No one will be able to say whether unreal magic or naked truth should prevail. Or whether rugby should live through this questioning in suffering or in joy. The fact remains that the first issue of this new series will be available from 24 January. A first episode that, like the questions it raises, will inevitably lead to others.
Fabien Galthié has just unveiled the list of 34 French players who will take part in the 2024 VI Nations Tournament. Three months after the failure of the World Cup, the French national team wants to turn the page once and for all, and has just one goal in mind: to win again.Let's take a look at the players who could be celebrating their 1st cap for France. Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92, 21):With Antoine Dupont preparing for the Olympic Games with the French 7 team, Nolann Le Garrec is likely to make his 1st appearance for the Blues. Having made an excellent start to the season with the Racing 92, the 21-year-old scrum-half has already scored 6 tries in Top 14 this year. He will have the opportunity to show the whole rugby world his talent the international level. Nicolas Depoortère (Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 21):World champion with the under 20s in 2023 and top scorer in the competition with 5 tries, Depoortère is the new star of French rugby. At just 21, the Bordeaux-born player has been a key figure in his team this season. Behind Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou in the pecking order, will the 1.93m centre make his first appearance for the French national team? Possibly this season. Emmanuel Meafou (Stade Toulousain, 25):Naturalised French last November, the Toulouse second row is Australian born but has the measurement of an American fridge: 2.03 metres for 145 kilos! Barring injury, Meafou will play his first match for the French team in this 6 Nations Tournament. The scorer of 12 tries last season with his club the Stade Toulousain, he could already be the spearhead of Fabien Galthié's front eight. Esteban Abadie (RC Toulon, 26):His latest performances with RCT were so convincing that Fabien Galthié couldn't ignore them. The third row jumps, runs and tackles, often better than the others. The leader of Toulon's defence seems to have gone one step further on the Rade. The next step? Doing it in a shirt with the roster on it ! Antoine Gibert (Racing 92, 26):Consistent with the Racing since the departure of Finn Russell, the Frenchman has assumed his role a leader. Versatile facilitator, the Frenchman is capable of playing scrum or fly half. This is probably one of the reasons, in addition to his talent, that convinced the Tricolor staff to take him on board. Matthias Halagahu (RC Toulon, 22):This is THE surprise of the list for the first match of the Tournament. Toulon's second row was preferred to Paul Willemse. It's a strong choice, and one that speaks a lot about the hopes around the future of the player. This season, he has played 14 matches, starting 10 of them.
LA ROCHELLE CONFIRMS AGAINST THE SECTION PALOISEOn the back of their win over reigning champions Toulouse, the Stade Rochelais pulled off the biggest coup of the day with a 20-29 victory at Le Hameau. With a superb late try from Teddy Thomas, the Maritimes confirmed their revival at the start of 2024.MONTPELLIER REASSURES ITSELF AGAINST TOULONLast in the league with just 2 wins out of 11 games played, the MHR was desperate to win against the RCT. Patrice Collazo's men did just that, and thanks to a late try from Paul Willemse, they secured the essential points with a 27-17 win over Toulon.TOULOUSE OUTCLASS LE LOUIt was THE big performance of the round. The Stade Toulousain gave Lyon no chance at all. Thomas Ramos, Peato Mauvaka, Julien Marchand and Antoine Dupont all scored tries. The 45-0 victory sees the pink city climb back up to the 4th place in the table.STADE FRANÇAIS MIRACULOUSLY BEAT ASM AT HOMEClermont-Ferrand thought they had secured their 2nd away win of the season until the 79th minute! The score was then 14-7 to ASM when Peniasi Dakuwaqa, well served by his scrum-half, scored the try of hope in the corner (12-14). In that same corner, Zack Henry made no mistake and converted, giving Stade Français a draw (14-14). Check out all the results from the day:Pau 20-29 La RochellePerpignan 27-12 OyonnaxBordeaux 24-23 BayonneStade Français 14-14 ClermontRacing 34-30 CastresToulouse 45-0 LyonMontpellier 27-17 Toulon
BORDEAUX WIN A CRAZY MATCHIt was THE match of the round 11 of matches. A game with incredible twists and turns. First it was Bordeaux who took the lead on the half-hour mark (10-23). But Clermont came back strongly after the break to lead by two points (35-33) three minutes before the end. On the next kick-off, right after a penalty from Belleau, Peter Samu picked up the ball, accelerated along the touchline and crucified Clermont, beaten at home(35-40).PERPIGNAN ACHIEVE THE FEAT OF THE DAYIn the last match of 2023, the Catalans achieved the unthinkable by winning at Pierre Fabre in the dying seconds (13-17). A try from Tavite Veredamu secured USAP's first away win of the season, and put them back in a good position to stay on the league.BAYONNE UNSINKABLE AT JEAN DAUGERUnbeaten at Jean-Dauger since their return to the top league, the Bayonnais had a tough time of it against the Racing 92. Trailing by 10 points after 70 minutes, we all thought the Basques were going to lose for the first time. But Thomas Acquier gave hope to a whole nation with a powerful try 5 minutes before the end (20-23). Bayonne had one last chance to go for victory. Rémi Baget pulled off a personal masterstroke to rescue the Basque people, enabling his team to maintain their unbeaten home record (27-23).LA ROCHELLE OUTCLASSES TOULOUSEThe European champions from La Rochelle faced the French champions from Toulouse, the two finalists from the last TOP 14 final facing each other. Everything was in place for a clash that everyone had been waiting for. The only problem was that Toulouse decided to let the international players to rest. The eagerly-awaited match quickly turned into a thriller, with the Maritimes defeating the Stade Toulousain (29-8) with an attacking bonus point.
PERPIGNAN, BORDEAUX AND THE RACING AT THE TOPIn the opening match of this 10th round, the Catalans played a thorough game to win easily against Aviron Bayonnais (36-10), pocketing the attacking bonus.Against LOU Rugby, UBB confirmed that they were in top form, playing their usual type of rugby. A 46-10 bonus-point victory was a real demonstration.The performance of the weekend went the Racing 92. They scored no fewer than 10 tries to hand Oyonnax an easy 66-10 victory. Nolann Le Garrec scored a hat-trick just a few weeks before the start of the 6 Nations tournament...MONTPELLIER GETS REASSURED, TOULOUSE SCARESJust 1 win on the first 9 matches of the season : the results are very worrying for the 2022 French champions. "The Cistes" ended a run of 8 consecutive league defeats with a 30-21 win over Castres.In the clash of this round "Toulousains" and "Toulonnais" faced off at a packed Toulouse Stadium. Toulon quickly led 14-0 but the Stade Toulousain responded like champions against a valiant Toulon team. The final score was 25-17 for Toulouse.PAU AND STADE FRANÇAIS CONFIRM THEIR EXCELLENT START TO THE SEASONSection Paloise came from behind to beat ASM 22-11. The win puts the "Palois" in the 2nd place of the ranking table.On their side, the Stade Français also confirmed their status as one of the top teams in the league by overcoming the Stade Rochelais (18-13), who was reduced to 14 men following the former Parisian, Jonathan Danty, being sent off.
BORDEAUX AND TOULOUSE 10/10the Stade Toulousain and the Union Bordeaux-Bègles are the two big French success stories at the start of this competition.The Red and Blacks outclassed Cardiff 52-7 in their game opener, before beating the Harlequins 19-47 at the Twickenham Stoop. After a start to the season that was far from their standard in the Top 14, Ugo Mola's men scored 99 points in 2 Investec Champions Cup matches.For UBB, it was a similar story, with two bonus-point victories, first against Connacht (5-41), then at home against Bristol (36-17).A perfect start for the two south-western clubs.LYON IN A GOOD POSITION, BAYONNE BRAVELyon were cruelly beaten 36-34 by Bristol. A last-minute drop-goal denied the LOU a 5-point victory. Nevertheless, they left England with two bonus points (attacking and defensive). Then they then edged out the South African Bulls by a single point to claim an attacking bonus (29-28).The Bayonnais, for their part, were underestimated, but achieved the feat of drawing with Munster (17-17). They were unable to build on that result, however, losing 11-12 to Glasgow at Jean-Dauger.RACING, TOULON, LA ROCHELLE AND STADE FRANÇAIS IN A VERY BAD WAYFor these 4 teams, the agreegate is very high, with two games and two defeats for each.First of all, it was Toulon who came out cursed from these first two matches. Two narrow defeats that did not allow them to get off the ground in this Investec Champions Cup. They lost by a single point to Exeter (18-19) and by three points to Northampton (22-19).The two-time reigning European champions La Rochelle did not start their quest for a third star in the best possible way. First dominated by Leinster at home (9-16), the Stade Rochelais lost to the Stormers in South Africa in the last seconds of the game (21-20). A cruel scenario for Ronan O'Gara's men.The Racing 92 was beaten 28-31 by Marcus Smith's Harlequins at the Defense Arena. Then they then suffered a heavy defeat in Ireland against Ulster (31-15).After their success against the Stade Toulousain, the Parisians were disappointed in the Investec Champions Cup. First they were outclassed by the english team of Sale in the first match (28-5), before losing on their Jean-Bouin field to another English club, this time Leicester (24-27).
Rugby is a contact sport with several distinct phases. I'm going to explain the most important phases of the game for you to understand. I hope your neurons are switched on!1. THE SCRUMThe scrum is the most legendary and impressive phase of rugby. It's played 8 against 8 with guys weighing over 100 kg each - impressive, isn't it? It's made up of three players in the front row, two in the second row and three in the third row - and that's a good count! The funny thing is that the ball is introduced by the smallest player in the team, the scrum-half (n°9). The aim is to push as hard as possible so that the ball arrives at the feet of No. 8, the player at the very back of the scrum.BUT WHEN IS A SCRUM CALLED?A scrum is called when a team commits a knock-on, when a ball is unplayable or when the ball comes out dead. Easy to understand, isn't it?To make sure you understand, I'll show you a video. I know, I'm very nice. Ma Vidéo MP4 2. THE LINE-OUTLine-out is another key area of modern rugby. The hooker (n°2) sends the ball with both hands above his head to the jumpers, who are lifted by lifters. Yes, rugby is a difficult sport to understand, which is why we love it so much!The ball must be thrown and must travel at least 5 metres before the jumper catches it.WHEN DO PLAYERS TAKE A LINE-OUT?The answer is very simple: a line-out is called when the ball goes out wide.I'll show you what a line-out is. Ma Vidéo MP4 3. THE RUCKUnlike the scrum and the line-out, the ruck takes place in an accelerated, non-stopped phase. A ruck is formed when a player carrying the ball is tackled to the ground by an opponent, and the two teams fight over the ball on the ground.In other words, it's a bunch of little pigs trying to get the ball off the ground.BUT BEWARE, the referee is adamant about this kind of action.The scrapper (the person trying to retrieve the ball) must never put his knees or hands on the grass, otherwise you'll be penalised. Isn't that right, Mr Ben O'Keeffe? Ma Vidéo MP4 4. THE MAULA maul occurs when the ball carrier is surrounded by team-mates, and they move forward together while keeping the ball in the air.The aim is the same as for a scrum: to push as hard as possible to gain ground.Players from the defending team must try to stop the maul from advancing, but they are not allowed to collapse it, otherwise they are penalised. Ma Vidéo MP4 These phases of rugby are essential to understanding how the game unfolds and evolves on the pitch. Each of these phases requires specific skills and team coordination to succeed.RUGBY IS A TEAM SPORT, NOT AN INDIVIDUAL ONE
With Christmas just around the corner, we at LegendaryPlays have put together a selection of memorable actions from your favourite teams. Well, yours and everyone else's! There's a Gift Pack for every club: Stade Toulousain, Stade Rochelais, Castres Olympique, Stade Français... Every year, you're faced with the same question: "What should I get Hugo?" This year, you've found the perfect gift. And we've come up with four good reasons why you should give a Gift Pack to all the rugby fans you know, from the casual fan to the absolute fan!Remember the iconic moments of your teamChoose a pack from the TOP 14 favorite team by your friend Emma, your brother Julien, your uncle Max and even Claudine from the accounts department. You offer them the surprise of discovering which game moments they are going to own. They'll be able to replay some of their club's outstanding performances, such as the day Martin Bustos Moyano sent Aviron Bayonnais into the TOP 14, or when Cheslin Kolbe slammed home a 50metre drop goal in the final, or when Aurélien Rougerie scored a brilliant try in the TOP 14 semi-final.Innovative and originalFinally, a gift that's a change from gift cards and mugs. This year, you're offering a new product, a new experience. You're turning a rugby fan into an avant-gardist. You're already giving your loved ones the chance to relive past emotions by immersing themselves in the memorable actions of their favourite clubs, such as Stade Toulousain, ASM, RCT or Stade Rochelais, but you're also taking them into a new realm of commitment. Collect the Plays now, and you'll already be accumulating advantages for the Challenges on LegendaryPlays coming soon. The future, without the laser beams.Own a part of your club's historyYour friends and family will be able to collect official TOP 14 videos, authenticated and available as exclusive editions. Exceptional tries, destructive tackles, amazing drop goals, rugby's finest moves will belong to them. Distributed in limited quantities, owning these digital objects means perpetuating rugby's heritage. Easier to maintain than a piece of grass.Perfect for a Secret SantaMore accessible than a jersey, lighter than an encyclopedia and more elegant than a mouthguard, Plays are the perfect idea for a Secret Santa that will please all rugby fans. You can't put a price on owning a piece of the TOP 14 history. Well, yes, Gift Packs are available with one, three or six Plays, starting at €5.Click here to find out more
Technical gestures :Chistera:Technical move, often used by scrum halves. It involves passing behind the back with one hand. Not to be reproduced at home, unless your name is Antoine Dupont, he's the specialist. Overflow (or Cad-Deb) :A shortened form of the French word for "cadrage-débordement" or "framing and outflanking", this involves taking a defender on the wrong foot and outflanking him by accelerating. At the risk of killing your knee, ask Damian Penaud, he's a professional in this genre. Up and Under kick:Up and Under kick is a type of footwork where the ball rises very high to put pressure on the opponent. Watch an extract from the final between Toulon and Castres. Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Tchick-Tchak:This is a move specific to three-quarterbacks, and in particular wingers, which consists of performing a support-against-support to get past the opposing defender. If you don't want to break your back, who better to show you than Cheslin Kolbe. Tackles :A caramel, a cartridge, a cork:All these words actually mean the same thing, to literally cut up your opponent. If I were you, I'd run fast in the other direction to avoid getting the 'Dark Destroyer' in my face, a reference to Thierry Dusautoir, the former captain of "Les Bleus." Spear Tackle:This is a type of tackle that involves carrying your opponent and turning him over in the air so that he crashes to the ground. Obviously, this type of tackle is not permitted and can have serious consequences for both the tackler and the tackled player. Guilhem Guirado can't be proud of what he did, and neither can you who are watching this video. Ankle-tap:This tackle, on the other hand, is totally legal and involves tripping your opponent with the aid of your hand. Take a look at Jérôme Fillol's ankle-tap, a model of its kind. Naughty things :Fork:This totally forbidden gesture consists of putting your two fingers in your opponent's eyes to neutralise them. Never do that!A tie :A tie is a totally forbidden gesture that is summarised as a high tackle. It's called this because the tie is placed at neck level, like a high tackle.Obviously, we won't be showing you this kind of inexcusable rugby gesture.
TOULON, CASTRES AND LA ROCHELLE WITH THE BONUSThe Rugby Club Toulonnais started perfectly the round 9 of the championship off to a perfect start with a bonus-point win over Les Palois (36-13).After their defeat in Toulon, Castres Olympique responded well with a win over LOU Rugby. It was a 5-point victory for the Tarnais outfit.After a more than mixed start of the season, the Rochelais reassured themselves in front of their Marcel Deflandre fans by outclassing USAP (35-6).BAYONNE, CLERMONT AND STADE FRANÇAIS ASSERT THEMSELVES AT HOMEAviron Bayonnais continued their unbeaten run at Jean-Dauger with a 34-19 win over Montpellier. Les Cistes are more than ever in crisis, languishing in the last place of the table.ASM was solid at home to the Racing 92, who picked up a precious defensive bonus point at the end of the match (23-18).In the clash of the round, between the Stade Français and the Stade Toulousain on Matchday 9, it was the Parisians who came out on top. The men from the capital put in a strong performance against the reigning champions (27-12). BORDEAUX WIN AWAY FROM HOMEUBB picked up the only win away of the round against Oyonnax (23-29). The French internationals were in good shape with tries from Jalibert and Bielle-Biarrey. The inevitable Damian Penaud scored twice, confirming his excellent start of the season.
As you know, this Christmas, LegendaryPlays has decided to make a selection of memorable actions to celebrate this event in the best possible way. If you still haven't come up with any gift ideas, here's an article that might help you please your nearest and dearest. Why not give them a gift pack for December 25 ? Find out why by clicking here.Join us as we take a closer look at 4 exceptional players from our favourite leagues. Come with us into the intimacy of the selected Plays.Martin Bustos Moyano, the Argentinian gunnerIt was during the 2018-19 season and Bayonne was in the PRO D2 final against Brive. The winner of this match would be the French second division champion and would move up to the TOP 14! It was the 81st minute of the game and the score was 19-18 the Brivistes when Martin Bustos Moyano kicked the winning penalty. The Argentinian gunner did not hesitate and allowed the entire Basque nation to excult. They're back among the elite of French rugby!Finalist of the TOP 14 in 2011 with Montpellier and then French PRO D2 champion with Bayonne in 2019, the Argentinian striker is very popular with Bayonne, where he has scored more than 1,000 points. Maxime Médard, AKA WolverineThe 2008 TOP 14 final was being played at the Stade de France. After an hour mark, Maxime Médard substituted Yves Donguy on the right and, after some excellent work from his winger, Maxime finished off the action with a sumptuous inside step, putting two Clermont-Ferrand players in the wind. It was a move worthy of the Bleus full-back with 63 caps to his name.A legend of French rugby who has been loyal to his beloved club, the Stade Toulousain, throughout his career. His track records ? 5 times French champion and 3 times European champion, isn't that great? Juandré Kruger, the South African juggernautWhy such a name? 1.99 metres tall and weighing 112 kilos, he's quite a beast. During the 2014-15 season with the Racing, Kruger scored one of the greatest tries of all time for the team from the Paris region. Between speed, acceleration, offloads and chisteras, the South African giant recovered the ball with one hand to score a try from 100 meters!A French champion with Racing in 2016 and also former Toulon player, Kruger has won 17 caps for the Springboks. A career worthy of his size. Anthony Bouthier, a foot of steelDuring the 2022 TOP 14 final with Montpellier, Bouthier scored a splendid try that crucified the fate of the match, giving Montpellier the title of French champions after 12th minute played. Yes, you read that right, 12 minutes into the game and it was already Montpellier's 3rd try of the game against the Castrais, who hadn't even got off the bus yet.Anthony has 8 caps for France, was French champion in 2022 and won the European Challenge Cup with Montpellier in 2021. A successful career for a player who burst onto the professional rugby scene very late in life, playing his first Top 14 match at the age of 27!And by the way, you're wondering why he has such an iron foot? Just ask the English, who got 90 metres in their sights after Bouthier's monstrous kick. The English press even described it as the biggest clearance in the history of the 6 Nations. You'll be able to find this entire collection, featuring players who have played in our league over the last 20 years.So don't wait, open a pack of your favourite team by clicking here
ONLY ONE AWAY WIN AWAY, FOR THE NEWLY-PROMOTED OYONNAX!Coming from the second division Oyonnax pulled off the biggest shot of this round 8 of the TOP 14 with a 21-26 win away to Montpellier. The result lifted Oyonnax up to the 9th position in the standings, while Montpellier's 7th defeat in 8 rounds has taken them deeper into crisis... BORDEAUX, PAU, TOULOUSE AND RACING AT THE TOPUBB easily overcame Perpignan with an attacking bonus point (46-22), While Damian Penaud scored four tries in one half-time. The winger of France shone in his first match in front of his new home crowd at Chaban-Delmas.Pau confirmed their new status as one of the top teams in the TOP 14 by beating the Stade Français, playing their best rugby (30-6), with an attacking bonus well desserved.After their defeat in Castres, Toulouse responded well at Ernest-Wallon by beating Clermont with an attacking bonus (31-10). This bonus was earned on the last action of the match with a try from Baptiste Germain.To close this round 8, the Racing came from behind to beat La Rochelle, who was quickly reduced to 14 men. The 32-10 win sees the Racingmen move to the top of the table. LYON AND TOULON WIN IN STYLEAfter 3 consecutive defeats, Lyon bounced back with a 42-29 home win over Aviron Bayonnais.For their part, Toulon easily overcame Castres in the opening game (41-19). It was a win without a bonus, but one that puts the Var players in the 4th position, their best so far position since the start of the season.
You don't know what to get to a rugby fan for Christmas? Don't worry, the LegendaryPlays team has put together a cheat list for you: a selection of 10 gifts to put under the tree on December 25.A rugby ball, from his favourite teamObviously, a rugby ball is a rugby fan's number 1 ally. Just make sure it's oval before you buy it!A rugby shirt, from his favourite teamA jersey is the perfect gift for a rugby fan! Just make sure you choose the right club, or he'll soon start giving you the cold shoulder.A ticket to the stadium to see the match of his choiceGo and experience the fervour of a rugby match, feel unforgettable emotions and support your team to the maximum - this is the perfect gift for a rugby fan.A pair of studsA simple, basic gift that never disappoints. What would a rugby player do without studs? Not much, to be honest...A rugby key ringIdeal for a distinctive and discreet sign of his favourite team. It's also a great way of making sure you don't lose your keys. Remember, rugby players aren't the most organised people...An Ami x Antoine Dupont capThe perfect cap to subtly show that he's a fan of rugby and of the best player in the world, Antoine Dupont.A Gilbert helmetHe can't stand refereeing decisions against to his team any more, buy him a helmet so he can bang his head against the wall in complete safety.A book tracing the history of his clubAn ideal gift to extend his rugby culture, whether that's of French rugby or of his favourite club.A Canal+ subscription to follow all the TOP 14 matchesIf he's fed up of missing all the TOP 14 matches, buy him a Canal+ subscription so he can take full advantage of the best matches in the French championship.A Gift Pack with Plays from his beloved clubThe best gift, without a doubt, which will allow him to collect his favourite club's greatest actions and own a part of its history.An innovative and original gift that will surprise him as much as Ntamack's try in the TOP 14 final and delight him as much as when France achieved the Grand Slam in 2022. BE CAREFUL, though, not to give a rival team a jersey or, worse still, a poster of Ben O'keeffe. Every Frenchman remembers this, unfortunately...Also make sure you don't buy him any shin pads or round balls, as this could be very frowned upon...
RACING AND TOULON WIN AWAY FROM HOMERacing beat their Parisian rivals 13-9 in disastrous conditions. Henry Chavancy, who scored the only try of the match, gave his team-mates an 8th consecutive victory at Jean-Bouin against Stade Français.For their part, Toulon produced the performance of the day by winning at their great rivals Clermont-Ferrand. Pierre Mignoni's men had a scare at the end of the match, but were able to get the job done, winning 30-27. BAYONNE AND OYONNAX ON TOP, MONTPELLIER IN FREEFALL18 years! Aviron Bayonnais had not won against Section Paloise for 18 years, and now they have! The Basques continue their unbeaten run at Jean-Dauger since their return to the top flight, and did so with an attacking bonus (35-16).Oyonnax, for their part, easily overcame Lyon 38-20. The only negative point was that they missed out on an attacking bonus point that was within their grasp...In the duel between Perpignan and Montpellier, USAP came out on top 23-16. Les Cistes leave Aimé-Giral empty-handed and in last place in the table... A very difficult moment for the Héraultais. LA ROCHELLE AND CASTRES WIN THE CLASHESCastres-Toulouse and La Rochelle-Bordeaux, the two matches that rugby fans have been waiting for!In the first, Castres Olympique beat their neighbours Toulouse 31-23. A late try from Wilfrid Hounkpatin secured the win. The Toulousains are still going through their running-in period since the start of the season...On Sunday evening, it was the Rochelais who came out on top in front of their home crowd at Marcel Deflandre. Trailing by 13 points, Ronan O'Gara's men fought back to claim a precious win on home soil (25-21).
THE SOUTH-WEST IS STRONG AT HOMEIn the opening match of the round, the Stade Toulousain gave itself a scare but came out on top in a thrilling match against USAP with an impressive scoreline of 43-34!Castres Olympique clearly dominated Oyonnax (39-11), taking the offensive bonus point.The Section Paloise confirmed their victory over Toulouse by beating neighbours Bordeaux 20-11.Finally, La Rochelle got (very) scare against Aviron Bayonnais, but a last-minute penalty from Hugo Reus allowed the Maritimes to finally get their season off to a flying start! (18-15) STADE FRANÇAIS AND CLERMONT WIN AWAY FROM HOMEThe Parisians put in THE performance of the day with a 32-36 win away to Lyon. The win sees the men from the capital take their place on the spot of the TOP 14 throne.ASM, for their part, emerged victorious from their clash with Montpellier (17-20), plunging the Cistes a little further into crisis, 13th in the standings... TOULON-RACING, THE MATCH OF THE WEEKENDOn the hour mark, Toulon was cruising to a comfortable win in front of its home crowd, leading 31-7. However, the Racing was resilient and, with a brace from the new recruit Henry Arundell and another from Thomas Laclayat, came back to within 5 points (31-26). There was still 10 minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Francilians, Toulon held firm and avoided conceding the comeback of the year.Victory for the RCT 31-26 and a deserved defensive bonus point for the Ciels et Blancs.
LegendrayPlays is highlighting the "Fan Days" whish will be held on the weekend of November 18h, with a few derbies to follow. Prestigious fixtures such as the Paris derby between the Stade Français and the Racing, the South-West derbies with a mouth-watering La Rochelle-Bordeaux and Castres-Toulouse. 6 derbies in total, yes 6 derbies, Clermont-Toulon not being considered as such.So let's take a look back at the best moments of these derbies, which have always attracted us, as much for the pride of defending the colours of your home town as for the pride of winning against your worst enemy, your neighbour.Stade Français - Racing, a essential derbyThe derby that has all rugby fans on the edge of their seats is the one involving the Parisians. What else but this legendary clash between these two big clubs. Against the Racing during the 2018-19 season, Gaël Fickou used all his speed to score the first try of the match in the corner. At the time, Fickou was a Parisian, but now he plays for the Racing - what a turnaround! What better way to make this derby electric? And you, Parisian or Racingman? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Bayonne-Pau, 64 county in the spotlightThe derby of 64 county, the derby of celebration, the derby of songs, the derby of enthusiasm with that famous 'Peña Baiona'. Facing the Section Paloise section in the 2005-06 edition, Richard Dourthe, the man with 31 caps for the French blue jersey, showed us all his technique and skills in this penalty. And you, will you be singing the Peña Baiona during this match? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Perpignan-Montpellier, the Mediterranean duelThe duel of the southerners, the duel of the fine weather. Perpignan and Montpellier will meet this weekend, November 18, to defend their colours. François Trinh-Duc, a former Montpellier player who has worn the blue jersey 66 times, slammed home a marvellous drop-kick against Perpignan in the 2013-2014 season. A kick worthy of the greatest. Are you more into beach or rugby? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Castres-Toulouse, the clash of the Occitanie regionIt's THE biggest derby on paper! Castres, French champions in 2013 and 2018 and finalists in 2021-2022, face Toulouse, champions in 2019, 2021 and 2023. A duel that look like a final at Pierre Fabre. Romain Ntamack, 24 years old and who has already 36 caps for the French team, showed us all his running qualities to score a wonderful try in the TOP 14 semi-final. So, Team Tarn or Team Haute-Garonne? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. La Rochelle-Bordeaux, the Atlantic encounterAh, the Atlantic coast with its stormy seas, just like this derby. It's a match we're all looking forward to at Marcel Deflandre, which will obviously be sold out as always! It's also a match with the athmosphere of the final stages, like last year's semi-final. We're expecting a high-pressure game. Ask Ihaia West when he had to kick the winning penalty in Bordeaux, 2 years ago, if he didn't feel the pressure? So, Yellow and Black or Red and White? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Oyonnax-Lyon, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes classicThe least exciting derby on paper, or at least on the field, because in the stands it's no laughing matter! Lyon fans are ready to take on their neighbours in this match on the round 7 of the Top 14. Fun fact : The two teams have played each other more times in Pro D2 than in Top 14! Back then, Benjamin Urdapilleta, the driving force behind Oyonnax's revival, concluded a sumptuous move by his team in the 2014-2015 edition. Which team do you prefer? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. With all these stunning derbies, which one(s) will you be watching?
OYONNAX, PERPIGNAN AND STADE FRANÇAIS BY A NARROW MARGINOyonnax beats the Stade Rochelais 19-17 at their Charles-Mathon stadium. It was a fourth defeat in five games for the Maritimes...USAP finally got their first win of the season against Toulon, 26-22. A victory that will free the Catalans, who were stuck with a streak of 0 points in 4 games.Tristan Tedder was the hero of the day. He scored a try in the last minute and converted it himself to give the Racing the victory over Lyon (22-20).CLERMONT AND THE STADE FRANÇAIS POWER 5Clermont won with an attacking bonus point against Bayonne (46-14), scoring 7 tries. For their part, the Parisians outclassed Castres by winning 39-16 at Jean-Bouin, with an attacking bonus in their pocket.BORDEAUX REACTS, PAU CONFIRMS TOP SPOTAfter falling just 2 points short of a defensive bonus against Toulouse, UBB were quick to bounce back. Bordeaux beat Montpellier 26-13.Surprisingly top of the table after 4 rounds, Les Palois showed that this not a coincidence. On the final game of this fifth round of matches, "La Section" took on reigning champions Toulouse. Victory 13-9 for Pau, who remain on top of the league.
PAU, RACING AND CASTRES WIN AWAY FROM HOMESection Paloise confirmed their excellent start to the season with a 24-39 win at Aimé Giral. The Catalans, on the other hand, were left without a single point in the standings...Racing beat Montpellier in their own backyard, while the Castrais achieved the performance of the day with a 24-27 win over La Rochelle at Marcel Deflandre.LYON AND TOULON ON TOP, TOULOUSE IN TROUBLEAfter a poor start to the league season, Lyon and Toulon came out on top on their home turf. The LOU won with an attacking bonus against Clermont, while Toulon largely dominated Oyonnax (41-7) with the return of Ollivon and Villière.For their part, reigning champions Toulouse, had a scare at Ernest-Wallon. Faced with a valiant Bordeaux side, it was late in the game that the Red and Blacks made the difference, winning 29-22.BAYONNE, UNSINKABLE AT JEAN-DAUGERIn what was their 15th sold-out match, the Basques once again proved their worth in front of their home crowd against Stade Français. Bayonnais have been unbeaten at Jean-Dauger since their return to the top flight in 2022. It was a victory that will not go down in the annals (16-3), but which enabled Grégory Patat's men to maintain their mid-table position.
On October 6th, LegendaryPlays organised an unforgettable evening for rugby fans in the heart of Paris.In a private bar transformed into a cosy space, Louis Picamoles hosted an intimate reception for a dozen guests who were lucky enough to enjoy a unique experience. Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. French rugby legend Louis Picamoles shared his love of the sport with our guests. Hugo from RugbyenFrance and Jules from Rabrugby, two very generous content producers on social networks, were also there.Around a big screen, our guests watched an international match between France and Italy, put questions to Louis Picamoles and exchanged memories.The atmosphere was electric. Lucien, Tatiana, Andrea and all the other guests took part in wild blind tests on national anthems and the greatest stadium songs, challenging Louis Picamoles himself.They also took part in a special rugby quiz hosted by the legend, adding a dose of friendly competition to the evening.The ultimate surprise of the evening was the presentation of Legendary Plays shirts signed by Louis live on stage. They were also able to take advantage of a one-to-one photo session with the famous rugby player to leave with unforgettable memories.It was an evening of sharing and joy that all the participants will treasure forever...
LegendaryPlays showcases a selection of 21 players who are icons of world rugby. Retired or at the end of their careers, all these players have played in a Rugby World Cup and in the TOP 14. Passing through Toulon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Clermont, Stade Français or Racing, relive with us the most beautiful actions of these mythical players of the 21ᵉ century.This tribute collection will take you back in time to discover all the legends who have passed through the world's finest championship: the TOP 14!Jonny Wilkinson, the British sharpshooterAgainst the Stade Toulousain in the 2010/11 season, Sir Jonny Wilkinson showed us his exceptional footwork, slamming home a drop-goal from over 50 meters out to level the match. Rugby's iconic number 10, "Wilko" as he is known, has won everything in his career. World champion with England in 2003, winner of four 6 Nations tournaments, double European champion and French champion with the RCT. Sir Jonny is rightly regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time. Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Dan Carter, pure classOpposed to the Stade Français on the round 18 of the 2015/16 championship season, Carter was at the conclusion of a sensational move, initiated by his international teammate Joe Rokocoko. Like his English counterpart, the Blacks' No.10 has a wealth of honours to his name. Two-time world champion (2011 and 2015), 6 Tri-Nations, 2 Rugby Championship titles, and two-time French champion with USAP and the Racing, Dan Carter is the highest points scorer in international rugby history (1,598). In short, the GOAT of rugby. carter Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Vincent Clerc, the French finisherDuring the Classico against the Stade Français, Vincent Clerc showed off his speed by taking down the entire Parisian defense. The second-highest scorer in the history of Les Bleus, the second-highest scorer in the history of the European Cup and the highest scorer in the history of the French championship, with 101 tries scored, Vincent Clerc is a serial finisher. The former Stade Toulousain player is considered to be the best French winger of all time, with phenomenal speed and a fiery touch. vincent Clerc Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Matt Giteau, the helmeted kangarooAgainst Castres Olympique in the 2012-13 season, Matt Giteau intercepted a ball in midfield and used his sticks to finish in the opposition's in-goal. Giteau is an all-round player, a reliable goalscorer, a skilled ball handler, a tough defender and an outstanding finisher, and he made a major contribution to RCT's historic European Cup treble between 2013 and 2015. He also won the Top 14 in 2014 and was a two-time World Cup finalist in 2003 and 2015. Quite a career, wouldn't you say? Matt Giteau Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Sergio Parisse, the most French of ItaliansDuring the Paris derby between the Stade Français and the Racing in 2017, Sergio Parisse intercepted Carter's pass in midfield and extended his stride to flatten the ball between the posts. What a run for a number 8! Parisse is class above all else, a complete No. 8. Twice French champion with the Stade Français, Sergio was awarded the trophy for the best player in the Top 14 during the 2014/2015 season. He played in no fewer than 5 World Cups with Italy between 2003 and 2019, including 3 with the captain's armband. A player that the whole of France will find hard to forget... Sergio Parisse Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. If you want to find out more about Sergio Parisse, we've put together a summary of his career.You can find the whole of this collection, featuring rugby legends who have played in our league:Drew Mitchell: RCT (Australia)Adam Ashley-Cooper: UBB (Australia)François Steyn: Racing (South Africa)Juan Smith: RCT (South Africa)Bryan Habana: RCT (South Africa)Ma'a Nonu: RCT (New Zealand)Joe Rokocoko: Racing (New Zealand)Juan Martin Hernandez : RCT (Argentina)Felipe Contepomi: Stade Français (Argentina)Sébastien Chabal: Racing (France)Maxime Médard: Stade Toulousain (France)Louis Picamoles: Stade Toulousain (France)Jamie Roberts: Racing (Wales)Jonathan Davies: ASM (Wales)Napolioni Nalaga : ASM (Fiji)Jonathan Sexton : Racing (Ireland)All these players and their actions are available on LegendaryPlays.So don't wait, open your Pack and find out what plays you get.
Come and discover a summary of the career of one of France's greatest No. 8, Louis Picamoles.Louis Picamoles, the tricolour oak treeJust saying his name is enough to make the earth shake and thrill the stands quiver. And let's face it, so do a lot of his opponents. But there's nothing to be ashamed of, Louis Picamoles has measurements to make a plane tree pale: 1m92, 118 kilos. And with thighs as thick as tree trunks. While French rugby has produced three-lunged flankers with astonishing regularity, 'Pica' is probably unique in his field. He is a powerful, aggressive, massive player. His raids have become legendary and his charges spectacular. Over the years, Picamoles has gradually broken down every defence in Europe. His percussion has made the world's greatest stadiums resound. His charges have sometimes won matches in their own right. The paradox is that despite the noise and fury his matches generate, he is a quiet man. A quiet man who took years to open up. It's as if he had to make peace with himself to be able to wage war on everyone else. Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Louis Picamoles (@louis_picamoles) INTER / Young talent, new starHis career began but soon came to a halt in the Paris region. A teacher disgusted him with rugby, and he hung up his boots before even trying. Fortunately for him (and for French rugby), his family moved and he took up the oval ball again in Montpellier. Already oversized, he quickly caught the eye of MHR forwards coach Didier Nourault. Along with his mates Fulgence Ouedraogo, François Trinh-Duc, Julien Tomas, Jacques Boussuge and Joan Caudullo, he embodied the revival of "Les Cistes". A breath of fresh air that took him all the way to the Top 14, and then to the blue jersey. His beginnings were in his image: a little timid, but frankly dominant. The French championship discovered a kid with a baby face, capable of knocking any defender on his butt. He wasn't even 20 when he made his mark in the top flight.To reach the next level, he needed to win more than just duels. He headed for Toulouse, and his first successes. Each year, he won a title : 2010, the European Cup, 2011 and 2012, the championship. Toulouse needed a ploughman, so they brought in the finest Percheron in French rugby. And although in 2011 he took part of the adventure of the XV de France but watched the final from the stands, the arrival of Philippe Saint-André at the helm of Les Bleus changed everything. Louis Picamoles was no longer a player in the French team, he was one of its bosses. His coach, Ugo Mola, described him as "the No. 8 in the world". An oval world that includes Duane Vermeulen, Kieran Read, Sergio Parisse and Jamie Heaslip. Is he better than all of them? It's impossible to answer. But asking the question is enough to get a sense of the boy's dimension. That of an international star. Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Louis Picamoles (@louis_picamoles) INTER / The birth of King Louis, the new King of EnglandThat's probably why, after the 2015 World Cup in England, the Toulouse native changed his tune. In search for new challenges, he signed in England. To be closer to his grandfather and discover a new world, he headed for Northampton and the Saints. There, he became "King Louis". A symbolic coronation that he confirmed on the pitch. Sharper than ever, more dynamic than ever, he was marching on in the Premiership. Best forward in the 2017 championship, he spent two extraordinary seasons in the UK.But his return to France was inevitable. Montpellier was the obvious choice, followed by Bordeaux for one last dance. At MHR, he won the last title of his career, the last one missing from his collection: the Challenge Cup. At Bordeaux, he experienced the final thrills of the finals. Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Louis Picamoles (@louis_picamoles) INTER: Picamoles, the twilight of a giantAs the great chapter of his career draws to a close, what is there to remember? His power? Certainly. But to sum up his career solely in terms of his physical qualities would be a shameful shortcut. Louis Picamoles was able to convince 4 coaches, played in 3 World Cups, got 82 caps and enjoyed a long career of almost 18 years and just over 300 matches. Like the oak tree, Louis Picamoles has grown thicker over the years. And like the king of trees, he has become a symbol. The symbol of a relentless player who, thanks to his thick roots, has reached for the heavens. Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Union Bordeaux Bègles (@ubbrugby)
During the World Cup break, let's take a look at the performances of the teams in our league at the start of the season. AVIRON BAYONNAIS ➡️ A mixed start (1 win, 2 defeats) Bayonnais got the championship off to a perfect start with a 26-7 win over champions Toulouse at their Jean-Dauger stadium. They then lost to Toulon, but came away with a valuable defensive bonus point (19-14). Bayonnais, on the other hand, suffered a heavy defeat at Castres on Matchday 3, failing to score a single point (37-0). As if the Castres in-goal didn't exist. BORDEAUX-BÈGLES ➡️ An encouraging start to the season (2 wins, 1 defeat) The Bordelos-Béglais lost the opening match of the championship to Racing 92 (23-18), but picked up a defensive bonus point. They then followed that up with 2 straight wins over Castres (25-23) and Toulon (22-17) at their Chaban-Delmas stadium. Bordeaux loves suspense, and so do we! CASTRES OLYMPIQUE ➡️ A diesel start (2 wins, 1 loss) The Castrais won by the slimmest of margins on the opening day against Pau (24-23). They then lost at Chaban Delmas by just two points (25-23) before beating Bayonne on an amazing score (37-0). CLERMONT AUVERGNE ➡️ A monotonous start (2 wins, 1 defeat) ASM were outclassed by promoted Oyonnax in their league opener (36-17). They then responded well at home to USAP (38-14) and La Rochelle (11-10), in a boring match. LA ROCHELLE ➡️ A mediocre start (1 win, 2 defeats) Deprived of a number of key players, Les Rochelais opened their league campaign with a 26-15 defeat at Montpellier. They then responded well at Marcel-Deflandre against LOU (35-14). Just before the summer break, they left "Le Michelin" with a disappointing defensive bonus point (11-10). The Rochelais fans are eagerly awaiting the return of their international players. LYON ➡️ A good start, then a rout (1 win, 2 defeats) Lyon got their season off to the perfect start with an attacking bonus point win over RCT (27-15). They then conceded 35 points at La Rochelle and 40 at Pau. A break that will do the Lyonnais a world of good to get their heads back in the game. Over the past few days, we've had to deal with a few "LOUveteaux" on the pitch. MONTPELLIER ➡️ A very mixed start (1 win, 2 defeats) Despite their opening victory over La Rochelle (26-15), Montpellier then fell apart in the first half of the championship. Dominated by Toulouse on Matchday 2 (38-13), they failed to respond against Stade Français, losing 24-9. They will need to react quickly if they are to avoid going off course. OYONNAX ➡️ A decent start for a promoted team (1 win, 2 defeats) Admittedly, the results were not very good, but the content was rather encouraging. On their return to the top flight, Oyonnax beats Clermont 36-17 on their return to action. They then lost at Paris (28-18), before coming close to a defensive bonus against Toulouse (21-27). We're being rather lenient with the newcomers. PAU ➡️ Excellent recovery for The Palois (2 wins, 1 defeat) Despite losing by a single point to Castres (24-23), Les Palois quickly responded in the best possible way. After a hard-fought 19-17 win over Racing, the men in green outclassed LOU Rugby before the break, taking the attacking bonus (40-10). But who is this team? PERPIGNAN ➡️ A poor start (3 defeats) The Catalans have had a disastrous start to the season. Defeated at home by Stade Français on Matchday 1 (7-29), they failed to respond against Clermont (38-14) and suffered a heavy defeat against Racing on Matchday 3 (59-10). With 126 points conceded in 3 matches, Perpignan's start to the season has been nothing short of complicated. Should they have joined the Pro D2 last year? RACING 92 ➡️ A good start to the season (2 wins, 1 defeat) Racing got their campaign off to a good start with a 23-18 win over Bordeaux. They then lost to Pau at Le Hameau, picking up a defensive bonus (19-17). Finally, they unleashed their rugby against the Catalans of USAP (59-10), scoring 9 tries in the process. Les Ciel et Blanc show no mercy... STADE FRANÇAIS ➡️ Received 3/3 (3 wins) Admittedly, Stade Français have yet to face any of the big names in the Top 14, but they have done the basics - 3 games, 3 wins. First of all against Perpignan (7-29), then against Oyonnax (28-18), before dominating Montpellier (24-9). Real stadium gods! TOULON ➡️ A rollercoaster start (1 win, 2 defeats) RCT lost to Lyon in the opening match of the championship (27-15). They then responded well with a 19-14 win over Bayonne. Before the break, they came away from Bordeaux with a valuable defensive bonus point (22-17). Toulon is a mess. TOULOUSE ➡️ The rise crescendo (2 wins, 1 defeat) In the opening match of the championship at Jean-Dauger, the Toulousans looked unrecognisable against the Basques, losing 26-7. They then responded like champions by outclassing Montpellier (38-13), before winning at Oyonnax (21-27). Never doubt the big clubs. See you on 29 October to find out what happens next!
Come and discover the 15 reasons why you'll have an unforgettable experience alongside Louis Picamoles, legend of the XV de France:1. His expertise in the blue jerseyBecause with 82 caps, he's one of the most experienced players in the history of the XV de France. Only 9 of them have done better in the colours of the Rooster. So when it comes to a match with the French national team... he knows what he's talking about!2. His dressing room secretsHe played with 23 players in the France squad. So even though what happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room... he might still have some confidential files on his former teammates to share with you. 3. His memories against ItalyBecause he once lost a game to Italy. Yes, it happens even to the best. So he'll know perfectly well what pitfalls to avoid for the French XV. And why you should always be wary of the Squadra Azzura.4. The number 1000Because even though he has nothing to do with it, Louis Picamoles is international number 1000. And it's quite a feather in his cap.5. The title of bossBecause he probably played for your favourite club. Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, he's shone just about everywhere. And has always won unanimous praise. In fact, he's worn the armband almost everywhere.6. His nickname "King LouisLadies and Gentlemen: spend some time with one of the few Frenchmen to have played outside the Top 14. The third row was one of the major players in the English championship with Northampton. With the Saints, he became "King Louis", patron saint of our neighbours.7. His legendary recordBecause he's won everything. Or almost everything. Winner of the French Championship, the Champion's Cup and the Challenge Cup, the only trophy missing is the William Webb Ellis Cup. But he was a finalist in 2011...8. His travel bookBecause he played in the World Cup. Three times. On 3 different continents. Experience can't be given away, but sometimes it can be told.9. The MHR Fantastic 4Louis doesn't have any superpowers, but he has inherited a super nickname. Along with his Montpellier mates Fulgence Ouedraogo, François Trinh-Duc and Julien Tomas, they embodied the revival of the MHR. Young, handsome and talented, they are Montpellier's Fantastic 4. So Louis, what's it like to be a superhero?10. His friendsBecause what he misses in rugby are his friends. Just the thing: you're going to spend the evening with him! The start of a beautiful friendship?11. Its solidityHaving a friend who's 1.92m tall and weighs 118kg is reassuring. But that's no reason to look out for your neighbours in the stands!12. Its 2 big "dolphinsBecause you're about to spend some time with one of the most powerful players in the world. His former team-mate Sébastien Kuzbik used to say of him, "You tackle him at the top, you knock yourself out, you tackle him at the bottom, you knock yourself out. Nobody wanted to tackle him with his two big dolphins (thighs)". Do you like cetaceans?13. Its festivitiesBecause he was one of the players who imposed Freed From Desire in the dressing rooms of the French national team. Then after the French rugby team's victories. And football. And any sport. FREDDD FROMMM DESSSIRREEE! LA LA LA LALALA LA ! 14. His cheeseBecause you can talk goat milking and whey. Louis Picamoles is trying to launch a farm specialising in organic goat's cheese. A passionate job.15. His acting careerLouis may have starred in a film, but it's his cousin Quitterie Picamoles' career that you should be talking about. As the former third row says so well, "there's more to life than rugby". There's art too.
Just hearing the name of this archipelago immediately plunges you into an irrational world. The Fiji Islands. An invitation to travel, to dream, but also to fear. The rugby gods were probably born on these islands at the end of the world. And if this country is lost in the middle of the Pacific, there is nothing peaceful about the players who are born there. Perhaps the greatest mystery lies in this curious and insoluble equation: how can a country as populous as the city of Marseille, 750km from its nearest neighbour and more than 4,000km from Australia, produce so many talented players over such a long period of time? Squaring the circle in the land of ovalie.Today, 39 Fijian players play in the Top 14. Over the years, some have passed through the league like comets. Others have shone so brightly that they have made a lasting mark on the rich history of our championship. Focus on 4 Fijian stars who have shone in the French championship.Emori Bolo Bolo, the pioneer Emori Bolo Bolo was the first Fijian player to discover and, more importantly, win the championship. A player as devastating on the pitch as he is gentle off it. To paint a portrait of this atypical player, we turn to Denis Charvet, the man who discovered him and brought him to France. The former player was then coach of the backs at Stade Français. A club that had just climbed back into the Top 14. Denis Charvet - Rugbyrama"It's a crazy story: I was invited with the Babas for a tournament in Asia. I was travelling with Jean-Pierre Rives, Serge Kampfs and everyone else. We were in Hong Kong, I was watching the matches, and there I saw a player who crossed the pitch with every ball. Nobody knew him. But he was a monster. After the games, I bumped into him in the stands. I had a chat with him and said "with your talent, you should come to France". He seemed interested and gave me his number. When I got home, I immediately spoke to Bernard Laporte, the coach of Stade Français. Bernard had never seen him play in his life. But I told him, "Bernard, he's an extraterrestrial". So he trusted me. And he called him. The funny thing was, we called him, we managed to get hold of him, we got him to come to Paris. And then the most amazing thing happened: I found myself in the office with Max Guazzini, the club president. But Max asked me to come with him to NRJ because he spoke two words of English. He tells me 'how much he wants'. But I don't know anything about it. We don't know what he's worth, I've seen him play at 7s... I was the intermediary but I had no real idea what he was worth. I asked him how much he wanted. Then we signed and he arrived at Stade Français. A few months later, he scored the decisive try in the final of the French championship. The story is beautiful too, because this guy was pure Fijian. He was a gentle, modest man. It was difficult to really talk to him, but he was very endearing. And then on the pitch, he was ultra physical. He was the Fijian Jonah Lomu. He was very fast. He had everything. But still, on the wing, one side was Christophe Dominici and the other was Bolobolo. Physically, they weren't the same (laughs). I admit that what I missed was seeing him play 7s. He did what he wanted. It was a shock. Strangely enough, I wonder how this guy wasn't spotted before. How he didn't sign elsewhere. He was a cut above the rest. Today, you could compare him to Raka."IDENTITY CARD OF EMERI BOLOBOLOFull name: unknownHeight: 1m90Weight: 108 kilosClubs : Stade FrançaisSélections : Fidji 7-a-sideTitles : 1998 French Top 14 champion (Stade Français)Napolioni Nalaga, the islands buldozer "Napo" shook up the Top 14. His devastating charges and powerful style wreaked havoc for almost 10 years. With ASM Clermont, he reached the top of the league and the European peaks. So who better to talk about him than his alter-ego at Les Jaunards, Julien Malzieu. The French international remembers this fantastic player for you.Julien Malzieu, former Clermont and French national team player on Napoleoni Nalaga: Julien Malzieu - Rugbyrama"Napolioni Nalaga... The first time I met him, I think it was when he came up to train with the pros. But I'd already heard of him, because my brother had played with him with the Espoirs. He told me, "Be careful, he's a monster". In his first game with them, he scored 4 tries and crossed the field I don't know how many times. As we often say in rugby, "Napo" was an animal. Physically, he wasn't impressive. He wasn't a muscular player, he wasn't drawn like others, but the arms, the thighs, the calves, the back: everything was huge. He was monstrous. At the time, he weighed what? 105-107 kilos. But the funny thing was, he was a bit of an anti-Fijian. But be warned: he was a fake slow. His qualities were also support and speed. But it's true that his main weapon was his power. He specialized in beating people up (laughs). Because he was so big and bulky, it was very difficult to defend against him. If you caught him at the bottom, he'd dig you in. And if you caught him at the top, he'd give you an out-of-this-world racket. I have an image: in 2009, between two matches in the Six Nations Tournament, I went to Dubai to help out France 7s. Thierry Janeczek, the coach, knew that I didn't have the cash register like when I played with them. So at the start of the tournament, he kindly told me, "I'll put you on the wing, so you'll have less ground to cover". Only, we were up against Fiji and I found myself up against Napolioni Nalaga. I find myself defending against him. He comes in throwing. I'm not the best defender in the world, so I wait and wait... until contact. And then he puts the palm of his hand in my sternum. And without laughing, I take a shotgun blast in the chest. He's knocked me out. I fall to the ground and roll. Horrible... My other memory is from 2008, I think. The French team was playing the Pacific Islanders. And after 15 minutes, he missed his tackle and tore Jean-Bapstiste Elissalde's head off. He gets a red card. The last image that comes to mind when I think of him is a French Championship semi-final against Perpignan. That was in 2007. That day, we played a good match. Napo breaks through the first curtain. Nicolas Laharrague tried desperately to get back on him, and he made a huge racket. Laharrague goes from 25km/h to 0 km/h in half a second. He hit a wall. I remember that action because it was an important match. But stuff like that, Napo has done it dozens, hundreds of times."Identity card of Napolioni Nalaga :Full name : Napolioni Vonowale NalagaHeight : 1m91Weight : 109 kilosClubs : Clermont, LyonSélections :Titles : 2010 French Top 14 champion (Clermont), 2016 French ProD2 champion (Lyon) Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Rupeni Caucaunibuca, the raw diamonds He is perhaps the greatest Fijian of all time. Those who have played against him almost always refer to him as the greatest player they have ever come across. And those who have played with him do so every time. Rupeni Caucaunibuca, the genius, the nugget, the greatest. When he felt like it... A look back at his arrival and explosion in France with the man who was to serve as his captain and sometimes chaperone, Luc Lafforgue, SU Agen's other winger.Luc Lafforgue, former Agen player (1998-2009) on Rupeni Caucaunibuca : Luc Lafforgue - Rugbyrama"The first memory I have, I think it's the same memory as everyone else. He played against France in the World Cup. And we already knew he was a bomb. So when he arrived in Agen, he was stronger. Because a few months had gone by, he wasn't the most serious about his lifestyle and he'd put on a few kilos. But then a magician arrived. A genius. A guy who could do it all. Technique, speed, power: he was an extraterrestrial. To be honest, I've played rugby for a long time, and I've known some great players. But Rups was the best player I ever played with. He knew how to do everything. He could electrocute you on a percussion or drop you a metre away and you wouldn't touch him. It was just mind-blowing. Truly, a magician. Today, we'd call it the "X factor". But back then, it was simple: nobody could stop him. If he decided to score, he scored. I've known Nalaga, Bobo, brilliant finishers. But Rupeni wasn't just a finisher you put in the box. He was also a creator. He could try things out for himself. There were several times at half-time when we'd say to him: "Rups, you've got to help us", and in three or four balls, he'd win it all. Even we sometimes became spectators of what he was doing. Let me tell you, I realized that I was dealing with an extraordinary player, because he filled the stadium all by himself. Frankly, 50% of the stadium came to see SUA, and 50% came to see Caucaunibuca. He was capable of anything. I saw him cross the field holding the ball in one hand, I saw him run just a little faster than the fastest player in front, looking him in the eye to taunt him. Afterwards, I know that for the club, it was also a headache. Because for some training sessions, we had to fetch him from his home. Because when he went on vacation to Fiji, he'd come back 15 days late and 10 kilos overweight... Sylvain Mirande and I were in charge of looking after him in Agen. He was a great player, but he wasn't really adapted to European life, and it was quite difficult at times. You know, when at the end of the second series of 30/30 on a physical training session, he was walking... pffff. But he was so much better. He was winning games for us. So what do you want to say to him? I remember, against Clermont: he got inside the 22m, accelerated, hooked, re-accelerated, had 4 guys on his ass, and took them off to score all by himself... There was everything in that try: power, technique, speed. And then another match, against Toulon. It was awful, in the fog. We told him "Rups, come on, get us out of here". And he scored 1 or 2 tries. When he felt like it, he crossed the field. He's the Fijian par excellence: ultra-talented, but the laziest of them all (laughs). My funniest memory is the time Sylvain and I tried to get him on the phone in his village in Fiji to ask him to come home. And frankly, we got the whole village before we got him (laughs). But Laurent Lubrano, the General Manager, had to go and get him there. And getting there was hell. Finally, Rokocoko said he was the best of all the players he'd come across. And even at 130 plates (130 kilos NDLR) in Toulouse, everyone was laughing at him because he wasn't making any progress. But I watched the matches again: when Stade Toulousain won the title in 2011 and 2012, he was always the best player on the pitch."Identity card of Rupeni CaucaunibucaFull name : Rupeni CaucaunibucaHeight : 1m81Weight : 110 kilosClubs : Agen, ToulouseSélections : 8 sélections, 10 tries.Titles : French Top 14 champion 2011 and 2012 (Toulouse), French ProD2 champion 2010 (Agen) Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Sireli Bobo, the dean tightrope walkerAt over 40 years of age, he continued to abuse his opponents and thrill the stands. Sireli Bobo is a role model. An example of seriousness, hard work and longevity. But before being a wise old man and a spiritual guide, the winger was first and foremost the most elegant and fastest player in the Top 14. At Biarritz, he revealed himself and dazzled the championship with his class. Alongside him was a player who was to feed the Fijian glutton: Julien Dupuy. The scrum-half delves into his memories for you.Julien Dupuy, Biarritz and France team player, on Sireli Bobo: Julien Dupuy - L'Équipe"The first time I met him, frankly? I can't remember. On the other hand, I remember the first training session very well. Honestly, there was no other like him. Physically, he was lean, tall and slender. But it was mainly his speed. He was a sight to behold. I don't remember anything in particular. But as soon as he had the field, he was going at 10,000 an hour. To tell you the truth, we even had game launches made just to make him shine. We had moves to make him crunch (laughs). And then I also remember the physical sessions, the 10/10 and 20/20, we'd start off at a steady pace so as not to burn out. But for the first 10 metres, he'd take 4 steps while you'd take 20. And the rest, he did by walking. It was amazing. After that, he was always a free spirit in the group. We had to protect him a bit too. No, because when you take two hooks, three hooks, an overhang... well, after a while, he could take an opponent's knees behind his back in a ruck. And you have to remember that back then it wasn't exactly easy for him. There weren't as many Fijian players in the league. He did have a few evenings with Rupeni Caucaunibuca, but it wasn't the same era.Let's say I've come across 3 phenomena in my career. Alesana Tuilagi, Waisea Nayacalevu and Sireli Bobo. What's the difference between him and Waisea? I'd say it wasn't the same era. It's difficult to compare. But Waisea was capable of creating space for himself from any ball, while Bobo, given the slightest space, would break through to score. I can assure you: there weren't many guys who slept well the night before playing against Sireli Bobo. Because as I said, he was dry, sharp and rarely injured. And then you had to catch him... I'm not surprised to have seen him play until he was 42. Maybe back then, there was less fighting when you played on the wing. Maybe he wasn't the best defender in the world. But we forgive him. In fact, we forgive everyone. It's true that the try against Munster cost us a title. But it's more a problem of communication, not just a problem with Sireli. It's not just about him. So yes, he was an immense talent. But I think we forgive everyone. Even those who weren't as talented as he was. IDENTITY CARD OF SIRELI BOBOFull name : Isireli BoboHeight : 1m91Weight : 99 kilosClubs : Biarritz, Racing, La Rochelle, Toulon, PauSélections : 19 sélections, 11 triesTitles : French Top 14 champion in 2006 (Biarritz), French ProD2 champion in 2009 (Racing-Métro) Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. At the World Cup, Fiji will be in Pool C. They will face Wales (10 September), Australia (17 September), Georgia (30 September) and Portugal (8 October).LP invites you to play a game: who are the best Fijians in the history of the championship? It's up to you! And here's ours:The XV of the Fijians in the LP Top 14 :Ravai - Matavesi - SauloNakarawa - QovuBotia - Koyamaibole - QeraSerevi - Bai Nalaga - Tuisova - Radradra - Nadolo Talebula
LegendaryPlays is showcasing a selection of 34 players who play or have played in the world's biggest league: the Top 14. The second thing all these players have in common is that they have all been selected for the most legendary and eagerly awaited of competitions, the Rugby World Cup. Toulouse, Toulon, Clermont, Racing, La Rochelle, relive with us the best actions of the last 10 Top 14 seasons, in this tribute collection to the 2023 World Cup.Supplier of the world's best players, this collection will enable you to discover all the biggest names in our wonderful championship.Antoine Dupont, the Minister of the InteriorAgainst Union-Bordeaux-Bègles on the 24th day of the 2022-23 championship, Antoine lived up to his nickname of "Minister of the Interior", racing between the posts after a run worthy of his physical qualities. Number 9 and captain of Les Bleus during this World Cup, Dupont will undoubtedly be the man to watch during this World Cup. Let's hope for similar combinations in the World Cup... Cheslin Kolbe, the South African firebrandAgainst Pau, Kolbe was at the end of an exceptional move from the Toulouse try-line. His phenomenal speed enabled him to complete this sensational move. Cheslin is one of the best wingers in the world and will be the attraction of this World Cup. A world champion with the Springboks in 2019, the former Toulouse man is hoping to repeat his success of 4 years ago. His opponents in defence will have plenty to worry about during this competition. Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Josua Tuisova, the Fijian bombAgainst Perpignan four years ago, Tuisova was at the end of a superb team move. His speed and extraordinary power have always been his major assets during his career. 1m80 for 113 kilos, yes, you read that right, can the super-powerful Fijian help his team qualify for the quarter-finals? Faced with Australia and Wales, will Fiji be able to spring a surprise? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Damian Penaud, the serial scorer for "Les Bleus"Against Montpellier in 2019, Damian ran for almost 100 metres to score a typical try. Fast and athletic, Penaud showed his full physical range in this try. With 29 tries to his name already under his belt, Damian Penaud will obviously be the centre of attention. Will the new Bordeaux player help France lift the Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time? We ALL hope so. Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. Santiago Chocobares, el fenómeno argentinoIn the 2022-23 Top 14 final, Chocobares scored the first try of the match after a frantic run to give his team a clear advantage, and they went on to become champions. The Stade Toulousain three-quarter centre will be enjoying his first World Cup in a Pumas shirt, and will be the main focal point of the Argentinian team. During this World Cup, will he be able to repeat this feat and enable his team to follow in the footsteps of their footballing counterparts? Ma Vidéo MP4 Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. You will be able to find the whole of this collection, including major players of our championship:Cobus Reinach : MHR (South Africa)Eben Etzebeth : RCT (South Africa)Jack Willis : Stade Toulousain (England)Facundo Isa : RCT (Argentina)Juan Cruz Mallia : Stade toulousain (Argentina)Richie Arnold : Stade Toulousain (Australia)Nic White : MHR (Australia)Richie Gray : Stade Toulousain (Scotland)Levani Botia : La Rochelle (Fiji)Waisea Nayacalevu: Stade Français (Fiji)Matthieu Jalibert: UBB (France)Konstantine Mikautadze: MHR (Georgia)Beka Saginadze: LOU Rugby (Georgia)Davit Niniashvili: LOU Rugby (Georgia)Jonathan Sexton: Racing 92 (Ireland)Ange Capuozzo: Stade Toulousain (Italy)Martin Page-Relo: Stade Toulousain (Italy)Kotaro Matsushima: ASM (Japan)PJ Van Lill: Aviron Bayonnais (Namibia)Torsten Van Jaarsveld: Aviron Bayonnais (Namibia)Leigh Halfpenny: RCT (Wales)Dan Biggar: RCT (Wales)Samuel Marques: Section Paloise (Portugal)UJ Seuteni: UBB (Samoa)Duncan Paia'aua: RCT (Samoa)Fritz Lee: ASM (Samoa)Ben Tameifuna: UBB (Tonga)George Moala: ASM (Tonga)Santiago Arata: Castres Olympique (Uruguay) All these players and their actions are available on LegendaryPlays.
The "finishers" is the term constantly used by "Les Bleus" coach Fabien Galthié to describe his substitutions.When announcing a team composition, Fabien Galthié first mentions the starters for the match, before referring to the substitutes, or the "finishers" as he likes to call them. So why the name?Fabien Galthié, the coach of Les Bleus, doesn't like the word "substitutes" and prefers to use the term "finishers". Indeed, the term "substitutes" has a pejorative connotation and suggests that they are only there to replace a player who is injured or out of breath. He's 'only' the second choice because he's not good enough to be a starter. That's what the term 'substitutes' suggests, don't you think?On the other hand, the term 'finisher' is much more rewarding for players. A 'finisher' goes out onto the pitch to finish the game, to bring his physical and technical qualities to bear to help his team win. It's an 'impact player' who comes in to knock out his opponent and bring freshness to his squad. And what about you? If you were given the role of finisher in a rugby team instead of substitute, wouldn't that motivate you more to play?So how is this bench of finishers managed?During a match, the coaches have 8 finishers on the bench. So which tactics are adopted, 6-2 or 5-3?6-2" means 6 forwards and only 2 back rows on the bench, whereas 5-3 means 5 forwards and 3 back rows, which is easy to understand, isn't it? On the other hand, it's a dilemma so coveted by rugby coaches, so which solution should you choose?World Rugby PassportToday, coaches tend to recommend the "6-2" technique, as today's rugby is much more frontal and is played particularly up front. Coaches can therefore have a brand new front row (3 players) on the bench and generally 1 second row and 2 third rows. This means that they only have two versatile three-quarters on the bench (who can play in several positions).This is because the three-quarters (back rows) are more athletic and enduring than the forwards, and can therefore endure the 80-minute match more easily.Putting only 5 forwards on the bench could be detrimental in the second half, as the forwards have more difficulty finishing the match than the three-quarters because of their bigger bodies. On average, a forward weighs between 20 and 30 kilos more than a three-quarter - a huge difference, don't you think?
Rugby Mania 2023: what will your evening be like on Friday 8 September 2023?Like all rugby fans, you're preparing for an intense evening on Friday 8 September. With this opening match of the Rugby World Cup 2023, whatever club you support in the TOP 14, you'll be supporting the French jersey in this clash between France and New Zealand!Whether you're a stadium regular or just discovering the sport thanks to this global event, there are plenty of recipes for an unforgettable evening of rugby.1. The stadium experience: Nothing beats the electrifying energy of being at the heart of the action. Put on your jersey and immerse yourself in the frenetic atmosphere of the Stade de France. The chants, shouts and waves of supporters make up the atmosphere of the match and are an integral part of rugby! Of course, this option requires a bit of forethought, given the speed with which tickets sell out at the opening.2. The atmosphere in the bar: join a crowded bar where the excitement is at its peak. The cheers and collective encouragement will make you feel like you're in the stands. Don't hesitate to make new friends who share your passion for rugby. In general, the later the evening goes on, the closer the bonds become. It also works with the barman.3. Buddy night: organise a get-together at your place with your rugby fan friends. Beers, pizzas and a giant screen will turn your living room into an impromptu stadium. Discuss the action, make fiery predictions and shout out during the tries: it's a great way to hear which of your neighbours the picture is coming to late!4. Family time: if rugby is a family affair, get everyone together in front of the television. The lively debates, shouts of joy and tense moments will make this an unforgettable evening. Be careful, however, to select the right venue: flats with white sofas and a manic host are to be avoided.5. The child's trick: if you're a child and there really was no way of negotiating, why not try watching the match at the top of the stairs while your parents think they've put you to bed? A secret adventure to experience the match clandestinely!6. The stealth view: if an argument at home deprives you of access to the living room, try to catch a glimpse of the neighbour's TV behind the hedge. The suspense will be heightened as you watch every crucial moment of the match. Don't forget to pack a jumper.Stealth viewing is still an option on stormy evenings.A famous rugby player once said, "The spectators are our sixteenth man on the pitch, their passion drives us to give our best." So, whatever your choice, be ready to support your favourite team at this Rugby World Cup 2023. Wherever you are, make sure you're in for a great night of rugby!Where are you planning to watch the opening match of the World Cup?Our thoughts go out to our TOP 14 players who have rejoined their national teams, and our special support goes out to those who will be pulling on the blue - white - red jersey this evening.Long live France!
1 AWAY WIN FOR THE REIGNING CHAMPIONSAfter a complicated first trip to Jean-Dauger, the Stade Toulousain has just claimed a second successive win at Oyonnax (21-27). Led by Paul Graou, who scored a brace, Ugo Mola's men finished their first half of the season in style.4 ATTACKING BONUSES ON THE DAYCastres Olympique outclassed Aviron Bayonnais on home soil, leaving the visitors without a point (37-0). Meanwhile, the Section Paloise scored 4 tries in a comprehensive 40-10 win over Lyon. The Racingmen scored no fewer than 9 tries to inflict a heavy defeat on USAP (59-10). Finally, the Stade Français continued its perfect start to the championship with a bonus-point win over Montpellier (24-9).CLERMONT AND BORDEAUX STRUGGLE AT HOMEIn a tightly contested match, Clermont won by the narrowest of margins against the European champions Rochelais (11-10). For their part, Union Bordeaux-Bègles won their match against Toulon at Chaban-Delmas (22-17).STADE FRANÇAIS TOP, PERPIGNAN 0 POINTS DOWNBefore the World Cup break, there are two main points to remember. The first is that the Stade Français is the only team to have won all its matches (3/3). The second is that Perpignan is the only team to have lost all these matches, without even picking up a single defensive bonus point...
TOULOUSE AND LA ROCHELLE AS CHAMPIONSAfter their setbacks on the opening day of the championship, the last Top 14 finalists were quick to respond. Les Rochelais clearly dominated LOU rugby (35-14), but let the attacking bonus point slip from their grasp. For their part, Toulouse outclassed the MHR to close out the second day (38-13). With 6 tries scored, including 3 in the first twenty minutes, Ugo Mola's men ran riot despite the absence of 17 internationals.TOULON, PAU AND BORDEAUX NARROWLY BEATENThere were no away wins this week, but there were some very close matches. Union Bordeaux-Bègles won by just two points against Castres (25-23). The same goes for Section Paloise, who beat Racing 92 by the same scoreline (19-17). RCT, meanwhile, struggled to escape the Bayonne trap with a narrow 19-14 win.STADE FRANÇAIS CONFIRMS, CLERMONT REACTSStade Français Paris confirmed on home turf the success they had achieved in Catalonia on Matchday 1. Although they were not flamboyant, the men from the capital secured the essential points by beating Oyonnax (28-18). ASM Clermont, for their part, reacted well after their rout of Oyonnax. The Clermonts won with an attacking bonus (38-14) against USA Perpignan.STADE FRANÇAIS ALONE AT THE TOP OF THE LEAGUEJust two games in and only one team remains unbeaten in this championship. With two wins from two games, albeit against lower-ranked teams (Perpignan and Oyonnax), Le Stade Français is the sole leader of the Top 14.
AVIRON BAYONNAIS WINS LEAGUE OPENERIn a packed Jean-Dauger stadium, Aviron Bayonnais came out on top against champions Toulouse (26-7). Led by an outstanding Camille Lopez, the Basques confirmed that they will be hard to beat at home, having never lost at Jean-Dauger last year.RACING AND CASTRES WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCEThe Racing came from behind to defeat Union Bordeaux-Bègles 23-18. Reduced to 14 men after just 4 minutes, the Racingmen were helped by a brace from Nolann Le Garrec. For their part, Castres Olympique won by the slimmest of margins against Pau (24-23). With Castres conceding 8 penalties, Pau's indiscipline cost them dearly in this match.OYONNAX MAKES A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO THE TOP 14, LYON AND MONTPELLIER WIN THE CLASHESBack in the Top 14, 5 years after its last appearance, Oyonnax dominated Clermont at Charles Mathon stadium (36-17). Meanwhile The LOU, meanwhile, picked up an attacking bonus point against Toulon (27-15) to get their season off to a good start. To finish the first round, Montpellier beat last year's unfortunate finalists, La Rochelle, 26-15.
As the name suggests, there are 14 teams in the Top 14. Each team plays each other in a two-legged format, so there are 26 rounds (13*2).How does the TOP 14 rankings work ?A win earns 4 points, a draw 2 points for each team and a defeat 0 point. So far, it's easy to understand, which is why bonus points have been added, otherwise it would be too simple.The attacking bonus:A team that scores three tries more than its opponent is rewarded with an attacking bonus. This bonus gives you an extra point in the standings.A victory with an attacking bonus therefore earns the winning team 5 points (4+1).The defensive bonus:For the losing team, a defensive bonus point has been introduced. To earn this point, you must lose by a margin of 5 points or less. This defensive bonus point allows the beaten team to gain 1 point in the standings.Summary of TOP 14 points :Win: 4 pointsDraw: 2 pointsLoss: 0 pointOffensive bonus: 1 additional pointDefensive bonus: 1 pointCan the same team get the offensive and defensive bonuses in a match?The answer is YES. It is rare but a team can get the offensive bonus while losing the match. If, on top of that, they lose by 5 points or less, they also get a defensive bonus. This would give the team 2 points in the standings (1+1).Example: Clermont lost to Toulon 19-21.Clermont scored 3 tries, 2 of which were converted, and Toulon scored 7 penalties.In this case, Toulon pockets the 4 points for victory, while Clermont pockets 2 points with the offensive bonus (3 more tries than the opponent) and defensive bonus (defeat by 5 points or less).Is the team finishing 1st in the standings after 26 rounds the direct champion?The answer is NO, because once again that would be too easy.After the regular phase, there is a final phase. What's incredible about the TOP 14 is that the team finishing in 6th place can be champion - crazy, isn't it?The first 2 teams in the ranking qualify for the semi-finals.The 3rd-placed team plays the 6th-placed team at home in a play-off.The 4th-placed team plays the 5th-placed team at home in a play-off.The winners of both play-offs play the top two teams in the semi-finals at a venue scheduled at the start of the season (Bordeaux for the 2023/2024 season).The winners of the semi-finals meet in the final at the Stade de France to decide the season's champion (the final will exceptionally be played in Marseille in 2024 in preparation for the Olympic Games).Blog RCT - Example of the final phaseWhat's happening at the bottom of the table?The team ranked 14th and last is relegated to Pro D2 (2nd division).The team ranked 13th plays an accession play-off match against the loser of the Pro D2 final. The match takes place at the home of the Pro D2 member and the winner of this match either stays in or moves up to the Top 14.
At the age of 23, Morgan Parra was already champion of France with a club that had never won, winner of the VI Nations in a country that was no longer winning, finalist in the World Cup in the land of rugby, scorer for the French national team, best player in the championship ahead of Jonny Wilkinson and Vincent Clerc...Precocity is perhaps what best defines the scrum-half's career. He made his debut at the age of four, played his first games at six and left his home town of Metz at just fourteen. And even back then, you'd have to be blind not to see that this kid had something extra. A combination of confidence, courage and talent. And while the Dijon youth academy launched him on the road to a life as a professional rugby player, Parra decided to join a club that was like him. A team with a family feel, a terroir and a strong identity: Bourgoin. The 'Berjallie', the holy land of rugby, where Pascal Papé, Julien Bonnaire, Sébastien Chabal, Florian Fritz, Olivier Milloud and so many others were trained.Morgan Parra is different from all these players. He is a gifted player. At the age of 17, the club tried to obtain an exemption to allow him to play in the first division. The request was refused. Too bad: the CSBJ will wait. But not too long either! At the age of 18 and 3 days, he made his professional debut. And what followed was a long series of precociousness records: first-team regular at just over the age of 18, international at 19, goalscorer at 20, European Challenge finalist at 21. He has been compared to Jacques Fouroux for his natural authority, to Dimitri Yachvili for his footwork, to Elissalde for his control of the forwards. But Morgan Parra is unique, because he is all of these things at once. And while his attacking qualities have won him unanimous praise from the public and the press, within the group he impresses for something else. His partners at Bourgoin and in the Bleus describe him as a courageous young man. A soldier ready to go to the front despite his size. A warrior who gives up nothing. From "the shit", He becomes "the bramble". And from a young talent in the making, he changed his status to become the present of the XV de France. His explosion was complete when he left the Isère. He headed to ASM, the behemoth of the Top 14. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Morgan Parra (@parra_morgan)Before his arrival, Clermont was a monument. But above all, Clermont was the cursed club, the king without a crown, the best club in history to have never won a title. It's crazy, but before Morgan Parra arrived, the club had lost ten league finals. However, Parra was only 20 years old, and in his position was Pierre Mignoni, an international as well as a formidable leader. So when Parra wasn't playing after 4 months, he asked his coach Vern Cotter to leave. Fortunately, the coach refused. Probably because he saw in him the missing piece in the yellow and blue jigsaw.Little by little, the prodigy made his mark. It was as if the rugby fairies had all bent over his cradle, and he even led his cursed Clermont team to its first title. Things seem so simple, so natural with Morgan Parra. In fact, Parra himself would admit at the end of his career that at that very moment, aged 22, he was playing for the best club in France, he was a regular in the French team and he had just won the Grand Slam in the 2010 Six Nations... so in his mind, that was the starting point of the Clermont era, the Parra period, of French domination. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Morgan Parra (@parra_morgan) In fact, it would be 7 years before ASM and their scrum-half returned to the Stade de France. Seven long years and a second and final title, giving a clearer picture of Clermont-Ferrand's meteoric rise. He should have been reigning over hexagonal rugby, breaking all records with the French national team and racking up titles and honours. Instead, Morgan Parra settled for being the only Clermont player to have won the club's two Boucliers as a regular.His career came to an end with a final challenge, a final adventure, in Paris. After 17 seasons at the highest level, two Brennus and 71 caps, the kid had become a wise man. But the absolute, total, all-consuming passion for rugby can still be seen in his eyes. So, at the end of this season, he will swap his boots for a whistle and become a coach the Stade Français.
Sergio Parisse, Italian classSome players are gifted. There are players with talent. And then there are players with class. Sergio Parisse undeniably falls into this third category, that of stylish, elegant players who light up the game and invent new moves.Born in Argentina from Italian parents, Sergio discovered rugby at Club Universitario de La Plata. He quickly stood out from the crowd. Almost 2 metres tall, weighing just over 100 kilos, he had golden hands and rare speed for such a big man. John Kirwan's Italy were making eyes at him. And Parisse found himself making the journey to his parents' homeland, in the charming town of Treviso. That's where the story begins. At the age of 18, he signed his first professional contract for €800 a month. By the age of 19, he was a regular starter for his club. By the time he was 20, he was a key member of the Italian national team and played in his first World Cup, in Australia.His coach, John Kirwan, was spellbound. And he was already being compared to the greatest : Zinzan Brooke, Imanol Harinordoquy and Morné du Plessis. It has to be said that Parisse can do it all. A talented line-out jumper and a decent defender, Sergio's uniqueness lies in his ability to hold the ball up. Able to play before or after contact, to pass the arms, to take the intervals and even... to play on foot. All this would be quite normal if Sergio Parisse wasn't a forward.A talent like that could not stay in Italy. So, perhaps because he too is different, certainly because the Italo-Argentine colony is present in force there, the most natural club for Parisse could only be... Paris. The Stade Français, with all its glitz, glamour and ambition. And as if the two were made for each other, the romance is total. Parisse is elegant and unpredictable, classy, yet singular, inspiring and, let's face it, sometimes astounding. The No. 8 is capable of carrying the ball 50 metres, of screwing in a pass like an opener, and his style is out of this world. He is adored by his supporters and respected by his opponents. And wherever he goes, he seems to single-handedly carry the ambitions of his teams. It's even worse with Italy, where he occasionally gives the impression of being the only talented player in a bottom-of-the-table team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by sergioparisse (@sergioparisse) The love affair between Paris and its third row player will last fourteen years. That's enough time to win two Top 14 titles (2007 and 2015) and a European Challenge Cup(2017), and it's enough time to splash the championship with his class. Aerial, free-flowing and inspired, he can attack from fly-half position in the same match, deliver a decisive chistera and overrun a centre. But the spirited young third row has aged. And when Stade Français won the Brennus Shield in 2015, Sergio was already 32. A career can fly by when it's this full. What happens after this title? Complicated. Love makes time pass, time makes love pass. At 36, the club of his life no longer believed in him. Too old, too expensive. So the end of the road seemed to be drawing near. But one team was reaching out to him. The RCT, which has never been afraid to give experienced players a chance, offered him one last challenge. Initially for two seasons. Parisse would stay for four years. At the end of each season, the Italian colossus tried to put an end to his career. And each time, the devouring passion that drives him takes over. In 2021, he announced he was hanging up his boots. Then he didn't. In 2022, as radiant as ever on the pitch, he even announced his retirement, almost certain, on Canal+. "If I tell my wife I'm doing another season, she'll kill me," he said. Then he opens the door, "you should never say never". In the end, as unpredictable as he was on the pitch, Parisse extended his Toulon adventure one last time. His history as a player is ending on a symbolic note. At the age of 39, the almost-doyen of the French championship set out one last time to conquer Europe. In the final of the Challenge, the only European Cup to have been offered to him, Toulon overthrew the Warriors in a deluge of tries (43-19). Parisse left the field in tears. So this time it really was over. After a career spanning almost 20 years, with 142 caps to his name and hundreds of unforgettable performances, Sergio Parisse will be putting his boots away.Unless... Unless the almost forty-year-old offers himself one last challenge in the form of a final feint. Unless, in a supreme act of honour, he postpones his retirement for a few months to take part in the Rugby World Cup in France. That's a possibility. And even if he has to convince his wife...
How hard it must be to be heralded as a future great player at just 15 years of age. Yet that's exactly what has weighed on Remi Lamerat's (solid) shoulders. His career path initially resembles a motorway to success: recruited by Toulouse at the age of 15, international under 16, under 17, under 18, under 19, under 20, upgraded with Toulouse before even reaching the age of majority.The first testsAnd if the path has been so linear and meteoric, it's because the young man has everything going for him. Solid (1.85 metres, over 100 kilos), explosive, fast and technical. He hasn't even played a minute of professional rugby and already he's being compared to Yannick Jauzion and Damien Traille.But be warned: the weight of expectation is a tricky thing to bear. Especially for a kid. In 2008, when he was due to join the first team after the injuries to Clément Poitrenaud and Vincent Clerc, he too was injured. The first of many...A new start at CastresThe following year, a comet crossed the skies of the Top 14. It had been expected for years, but its passage was to be meteoric. In three seasons with the Stade Toulousain, the centre only played around twenty matches. This was obviously due to the competition. But also a certain fragility, which led to a succession of injuries. So, after three lacklustre seasons, Lamerat left Toulouse. The journey wasn't too far: 85km. He headed for Castres, the club where he needed to make his mark.But the misery continued: Remi Lamerat suffered two cruciate injuries in two years. And his first two seasons were blank. As the years went by, the prodigy was slow to establish himself at the top level. In fact, the first doubts even arose. Was Lamerat simply cut out for high-level rugby? The question remained, even when he finally made a comeback. After 5 seasons of not playing, or almost not playing, the road was no longer as clear-cut. Success might come his way, but not through the detours he took and the tortuous paths he followed. His time at Castres was punctuated by a title. A victory over Toulon, which he watched from the stands. Once again, injured. The turning point came the following yearThere was little time to make up for lost time. But the Girondins' rocket was launched: he finally established himself at the centre of the attack, multiplying his charges and his runs. He played more games in one season than in his entire professional career. Lamerat took the league by storm and never looked back. In 9 months, he had experienced it all: the joy of being a full-time rugby player, the exhilaration of a Top 14 final (which he lost this time), the joy of selection.The pinnacle: making his mark with "Les Bleus" and shining at club levelWith Les Bleus, Lamerat had to earn his place against the likes of Fofana, Bastareaud, Fickou, Dumoulin, Mermoz, Danty, Vakatawa, David, Chavancy and Ntamack (who made his debut at centre with the French national team). And yet he gradually made his mark. Perhaps because with Castres, then Clermont, he played in four finals in six years. Probably because his profile as a powerful puncher, a big defender and a courageous player meant that he could be associated with almost any other player without detracting from his qualities. He is at the peak of his powers at almost 30 years of age, a far cry from the promise of his precociousness. But that doesn't matter. With ASM in 2017, he won a third French Championship title of his own, his first as a regular starter.Rémi Lamerat should have been the best player of his generation. Yet when he hangs up his boots, the buffalo from Gironde will have no regrets. He was a French champion, an international, a starter at a World Cup and a fixture at almost every club he played for. A few nostalgic fans, or the curious few, will ask the fateful question: what if? And if Remi Lamerat had not suffered all those injuries, would he have been the greatest centre-half of all time? It's a question that will remain unanswered.
Romain Sazy has experienced it all with La Rochelle. Downhill, ProD2, back up, maintenance, explosion and titles. And if truth be told, the second row's career has been something of a fairytale. Or more accurately, a legend. That of a 'normal' player who manages to impose himself at the highest level. A little lad from ProD2 who, by dint of hard work, came to rub shoulders with the stars of the world. The courageous soldier who became captain of one of the best teams on the continent. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stade Rochelais (@staderochelais) From Montauban to La Rochelle: A duty playerIn fact, no, this is neither a princess story nor a fantasy tale. Romain Sazy's career is more than that: it's a miracle. For a start, he's not from La Rochelle. Over time, he has become more yellow and black than all the others. But he is from Montauban. That rugby land in the heart of the Tarn et Garonne. And when he arrived in Charente-Maritime in 2010, he was labelled a duty player. He's a stalwart, capable of playing second or third row, who loves a challenge and a fight. In fact, he even has a reputation for being a bit of a pain. He lays down the law in the rucks and is sometimes a vigilante. But he doesn't really have the image of a star in the making. And the only star he has is his nickname, 'the Sheriff of the Atlantic'.Captain and undisputed leader of the Rochelais packHowever, along with coach Patrice Collazo, he has established himself as an essential member of the Rochelais pack. A captain on the touchline and a leader in battle, he is one of those players who always gives 100%. And despite the club's express growth crisis, he still manages to raise his game. It's almost as if the little guy was made to play at the top level of the world... Whether paired with Qovu, Jolmes, Lavault, Lagrange, Tanguy or Eaton, he is always indispensable. Romain Sazy, who is sometimes shifted to the 3rd row to add even more weight to the front 8, has become indestructible.Key moments in Romain Sazy's careerBut frankly, despite his talent and his ability to be present no matter what the level of the opponent, who could have imagined such a destiny. First in the regular phase with the Stade Rochelais in 2016-2017, called up to the Barbarians in the same year to take on South Africa, European Challenge finalist in 2018-2019, Top 14 finalist and European Cup finalist in 2021... The Sheriff of the Atlantic needs almost nothing to add his name to the club's pantheon. And if the story was already magnificent, it is magnified by the final years of his career. Firstly, in 2022, when La Rochelle faced the best in Europe, Leinster, and won their first final in Marseille. Romain Sazy was and will remain the first player from the club to lift a major trophy. A title by way of appetiser, European Rugby Champion. A success that will be followed by many more. In the meantime, Sazy is celebrating a second tour with the 'Baabas', of which he is captain once again.The long-awaited farewell: A hero adulated by the townIn the end, it didn't take much for the ending to be as beautiful as the rest. In 2023, Romain Sazy turned 36. A more than honourable age for a duty player. Then came the time for farewells. The ones nobody wanted to see coming. Time flies when you love. And the fans adore him. His sense of sacrifice, his face, his words: Romain Sazy has been adopted by the town and its supporters. Along with Levani Botia and Uini Atonio, he is one of those who have known it all. Those who played for Stade Rochelais, when it was still "Atlantique". Those who fought with Narbonne, Mont-de-Marsan and Pau to climb to the top flight. So when it comes to his second European final and his second national final, you start dreaming of a happy ending. But his farewell was only half perfect. Against Leinster again, Sazy and his men fought a heroic battle. Trailing by almost 20 points after twenty minutes, La Rochelle came back into the match, levelled the score and overturned the Irish monster. Faced with 13 Irish players in the heart of Aviva Stadium, it was a miracle! And then some. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sazy Romain (@sazyromain) The last one. For against Toulouse in the Top 14 final, fate chose its side. Just as La Rochelle were placing one hand and four fingers on the Brennus Shield, a feat by Romain Ntamack put an end to the dream of an entire club. Romain Sazy will not be the first La Rochelle player to lift the shield.La Rochelle's heartfelt tribute to Romain SazyThe second row will have some consolation, however. Firstly, because the fans and the town of La Rochelle paid him a heartfelt tribute, adapting the usual chants and transforming the words into "Sazy, Sazy, c'est La Rochelle". And because he will remain the only sheriff who can claim to have won two stars. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Le Petit Chelem Rugby 🏉 (@lepetitchelem)
At the end of each season, the same key moment occur. From the coronation of the champions, to a fortunate rise, or a difficult relegation, a small handful of players have a regular appointment: retirement. It's time to say goodbye to the team, the fans and the pitch.Clap de fin looks back at the careers of five players whose qualities and longevity have left their mark on French rugby. This summer, the "Clap de fin" selection gives you access to some of the great moments in the careers of six emblematic players in French rugby.2022/2023 was their last season, find Clap de fin on LegendaryPlays.comMathieu BastareaudTo be discovered on LegendaryPlays.com from 3 to 24 July The bulldozer of French rugby, Mathieu Bastareaud, ended his career on 16 July 2023. His imposing physique and powerful game shook the opposing defences tremble. Discover the moments when he destroyed everything in his path.Romain SazyAvailable on LegendaryPlays.com from 10/07La Rochelle's iconic captain, Romain Sazy, said farewell to rugby on 20 August 2023. His unwavering determination propelled his team to the top. Discover his moments of bravery that electrified the crowds.Rémi LameratAvailable on LegendaryPlays.com from 24 July.Masterful centre Rémi Lamerat retired on 5 August 2023. His visionary play and impeccable technique made him a true master of attack. Discover his moments of genius that left their mark on French rugby.Sergio ParisseAvailable from 31 July on LegendaryPlays.comLegendary No. 8 Sergio Parisse played his last match on 12 August 2023. His leadership on the field and his vision of the game made him an icon of French rugby. Dive into the legacy he leaves behind.Morgan ParraAvailable on LegendaryPlays.com from 07 AugustExceptional scrum-half Morgan Parra has announced his retirement on 27 August 2023. His tactical intelligence and surgical precision on foot have made him a master of the game. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of this outstanding player.
The word legendary is sometimes over-used. But Romain Ntamack's 78th-minute try in the Top 14 final between Toulouse and La Rochelle deserves the supreme adjective.Historic. Unforgettable. Memorable.Don't waste any more.La Rochelle should have won the final ...Let's be honest, Toulouse should not have won this match. La Rochelle logically led 26-22, dominating the scrum, the touchline, the ground and the scoreline. The Stade Rochelais had done everything they could to take the lead with just a few seconds remaining.The fans believed in the miracle of a first title. Especially when the Toulouse opener, who was discovering the Stade de France as a first-team regular with Toulouse, kicked a dead ball on one of his team's rare highlights.At that precise moment, Toulouse could no longer win. Ugo Mola even thought of sending off the French prodigy, groggy after his blunder.But Romain Ntamack is not a normal player. He's not built like the others and, in his head, he's the strongest.Ntamack decided otherwiseIn a dazzling move on 78ᵉ minutes, the fly-half took an unlikely gap, tore through the black and yellow defence and finished off a furious 50-metre run into the Maritimes in-goal.La Rochelle had the shield in their hands. Romain Ntamack decided otherwise.An action like no other for a player like no other. A cruel outcome for the La Rochelle fans. Immense joy for the Toulouse fans.Toulouse's 29-26 victory will remain in the memories of all those who witnessed the match. Romain Ntamack's tears at the final whistle put an end to one of the greatest seasons in the history of the Top 14. View this post on Instagram A post shared by L'Équipe (@lequipe) Well done Toulouse. And thank you.
LegendaryPlays turned rugby fans' ultimate dream into reality with 'The Final like never before'. Eight winners had the chance to enjoy a VIP experience at the Stade de France, and they were not disappointed. Votre navigateur ne prend pas en charge la lecture de la vidéo. From the outset, everything was planned and personalised. A car came to pick them up, lighting the fuse of excitement. Once they arrived in the VIP box, they had the immense surprise of meeting Maxime Mermoz, a great rugby player and finalist in the 2011 World Cup with the French national team.The experience was simply incredible. The guests had a privileged view of the pitch, and Maxime Mermoz shared his experience as a champion and the highlights of his career with them, revealing a few little secrets. They were able to ask questions, discover anecdotes and even leave with their autographed photos with him.Hemma, David, Isabelle, Stéphane and all the LegendaryPlays guests, aged 9 to 59, had an unforgettable time. Even though there were Rochelais and Stade Toulousain supporters in the dressing room, they shared this final with other enthusiasts, experiencing strong emotions during the match right up to Romain NTamack's legendary try that gave Toulouse the Brennus (29-26).The Final like never before' is a dream come true for rugby fans and an unforgettable experience.
A look back at the TOP 14 semi-finals in San SebastianToulouse on top!In the Basque country, it was first Toulouse who easily brushed aside Racing.A match in the shape of a demonstration (or punishment...): 41-14, five tries, and a rare feeling of power.the Stade Toulousain is back in the final, 2 years after its last league title. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TOP 14 Rugby (English) (@top14rugby.en) La Rochelle on course for a doubleOn the other side of the Atlantic, La Rochelle got the better of their Bordeaux neighbours. In a stadium transformed into an oven, the Maritimes dominated the UBB by a narrow 24-13 margin. But, paradoxically, the reigning European champions never doubted. Probably because their defence kept the Girondins at bay.In the final, the two best teams of the regular season met.Which of La Rochelle or Toulouse will inscribe their name on the Brennus? And who will go down in the history of French rugby? View this post on Instagram A post shared by TOP 14 Rugby (English) (@top14rugby.en) The answer is this Saturday, 9pm, at the Stade de France.
In fifteen years of broadcasting on RMC Sport, Vincent Moscato's dream team has always been willing to share and be generous, offering listeners memorable radio sequences!LegendaryPlays has transformed the show's 15th anniversary into a unique experience for rugby fans by inviting them to the Super Moscato Show anniversary tour.Throughout the week leading up to the TOP 14 semi-finals, our guests attended the SMS from 4 French cities and even in Spain! Paris 5 June - Marseille 6 June - Lyon 7 June - Bayonne 8 June - San Sebastian 9 JuneOur guests enjoyed a great atmosphere on set, chatted with the hosts, took lots of photos and even got to try out the role of sports commentator. Sitting in Vincent Moscato's place, under live conditions, they were able to comment on emblematic TOP 14 tries selected by the Dream Team.LegendaryPlays guests were given access to the memorable 15th anniversary of the Super Moscato Show, in an ultra-festive atmosphere on a Parisian barge.Vincent Moscato, Pierre Dorian, Adrien Aigoin, Éric Di Meco and Denis Charvet have created a collection of 15 Plays to relive their greatest TOP 14 memories, which our winners won to start their collection.
It's a strange 24th round that has just come to an end. On the one hand predictable. And on the other surprising.Unsurprisingly, La Rochelle and Stade Toulousain winIn the category of trains that arrive on time, La Rochelle and Toulouse did as they do every weekend: they won.The Maritimes beat Toulon at the Velodrome. It was a clean, straightforward victory (8-23) that confirms La Rochelle second spot in the table.Meanwhile the Stade Toulousain, beat UBB 31-17. Toulouse remains on top of the league.Pau and Racing 92 win bigIn less expected news, Pau beat Castres 40-3 and Racing beat Bayonne 55-14.All of which served to remind us that the Tarnais are still sick. And that the Basques are a long way from qualifying for the finals.Brive's exploitFinally, there is the match that belongs in the realm of the supernatural.This Montpellier-Brive match will live long in the memories of the TOP 14 ... Because Brive was behind, because Brive was down to 14 men, because Brive was almost in ProD2, because Brive had to save its skin on the pitch of the French champions... And Brive did just that!A miraculous comeback in the last second, a conversion in the form of crazy hope beyond regulation time.A 26-27 win over the MHR had two contrasting consequences: the season for the Corréziens was not over. Montpellier's is already over.
Round 22 of the 2022/2023 Top 14 was a day of confirmations.Confirmation of the bosses:The first is that Toulouse and La Rochelle are indeed the two bosses of the 2022/2023 version of the Top 14, with Les Maritimes beating Bayonne 26-6 and Toulouse, without a number of key players at the start, holding off Lyon in a spectacular match.Confirmation of probable relegationThe second certainty at the end of the weekend was that the CA Brive would need a miracle to stay in the Top 14. Despite a courageous performance, the Corréziens lost at home to the Stade Français (22-27). The Coujoux are now 14 points adrift of 12th place. An abyss.Confirmation that Montpellier will not keep their titleIn a remake of the 2022 final, the Castres Olympique came from behind to defeat Montpellier. It was a defeat in the shape of a definitive stoppage for the MHR. And it provoked the anger of Philippe Saint-André, Montpellier's director of rugby: "We're ashamed of our fans, our president, our partners and the people who follow us. We were ready to play ping-pong and not rugby.Confirmation for RacingRacing won in the last second at home to Union Bordeaux-Bègles. It was a 31-28 win that has put the team from the Paris region back in the running for the finals. In the standings, the Racingmen are back in 6th place, just ahead of... Bordeaux.All the results on the National Rugby League website
Broke James' drop-goal, the most beautiful rugby memory I've been asked what my fondest rugby memory is. And I'm sure most of them will name a match. For me, it's a gesture. And the worst thing is that, in the end, my team still lost.That was in 2016. Top 14 semi-final in Rennes. On paper, my Clermont is perhaps the most exciting version of history. And even though Nalaga has left, what a squad. Stars galore, kids from the club, old hands, young hopefuls. The squad is so dense that some players who have been indisputable for years have lost their place. Such is the case with Brock James, the fly-half. Until now, he was untouchable. Unstoppable. But for the first time in 10 years, he is no longer ASM's starting fly-half. And frankly, who can blame the coach? Instead, a very talented young Frenchman has made his mark: Camille Lopez. And it's he, in particular, who has given my lads the second-best attack in France.But on the other side of the pitch, Brittany is also up against an armada. The Racing of Dan Carter, Rokocoko, Szarzewski, Dulin and Yannick Nyanga. It's simple: on the pitch this afternoon, of the 30 first-teamers, they are all internationals. Or will become so. It's star wars.The match was, as expected, very tense and close. Damien Chouly and Wesley Fofana score a try for Clermont. Joe Rokocoko and Johannes Goosen scored for Racing. In the 68th minute of the match, our new playmaker makes way for Brock James. It's funny, but I've always liked this Australian player. Probably because he's got mad talent. Or maybe it's because he's a normal-looking guy in the middle of the monsters. A normal guy who plays rugby. Or maybe it's because of his mittens, which he wears even when the weather's great. I don't really know. And then I've met him a few times, and he's a real nice guy. That doesn't explain everything, but it doesn't spoil anything.After 80 minutes of bitter fighting, regulation time ended in a draw. Then it was time for extra time. Everyone is tired. Even us in the stands are starting to get sore throats, hands and hearts. It's crazy to get into such a state. It must be passion that makes us travel 9 hours by bus to experience moments like this.And in this extra time, a gesture from elsewhere. Just as we had the ball away from the Racing in-goal, the ball came out of a ruck. Brock James takes the ball. The defence didn't go up. And, with a masterly drop-kick from over 50 metres out, in incredible silence, he catapults the ball upwards in slow motion. And it went between the posts. A real shotgun blast. The stadium could have been 20 metres further away and he would probably still have passed. And then it explodes! We're in the final, that's for sure!Only Racing had a lucky star that day. Kruger, a giant, intercepted the ball and gave it to Juan Imhoff. That run to the end zone still hurts a bit. Because, in hindsight, it gave Racing victory. A place in the final. And the title. But above all, that day was Brock James' last match with Clermont. His time in Auvergne was marked by a title, the first in history. And that drop-goal from somewhere else left a lasting impression on my memory.Testimonial from Damien Chouly, former captain of ASM ClermontHere's what former Clermont captain Damien Chouly had to say. He won 46 caps for "Les Bleus" and was French champion with Clermont and Perpignan.That day, he played the full 100 minutes of the match between Clermont and Racing. And he recounts:"I remember it very well. Because I'd already organised everything to go to Barcelona (laughs). I especially remember the cruel outcome of that match. We lose, we come back, we're leading... And then that drop goal. We were 6 points ahead. And then that match, especially the extra time: a 100-minute match. And at the end, that interception for offside... It was crazy. In a match like that, it's obviously very hard physically. But mentally it's even worse. You never give up. And when we're +6, we try to keep the pressure on Racing. I remember it well: there's this clearance that doesn't go into touch. We get the ball back in their half and we play. Then we intercepted a pass, but we didn't know how. After Juan Imhoff's try, we knew that Dan Carter wasn't going to miss the conversion. Damien Chouly - WikipediaWhat do I remember? The fatigue and mental wear and tear of this match. But I have to admit that when Brock passes that drop-goal, yes, I can see us winning. He made a fantastic entrance. He brings serenity and control. At ASM, Brock is the symbol of Clermont's best years. In a way, he's the player who ensured the club's revival. Along with coach Vern Cotter. And for 10 years, he ran the show. He brought his style of play to Clermont, which was recognised as being the most open and spectacular. He was a quiet but determined guy. He was quite precise in what he expected from the game and from others. He ran the game like a boss. Off the pitch, he was adorable. But on the pitch, he grumbled a lot. Above all, Brock was intelligent and demanding. That's why he was so consistent, particularly in his footwork. On that day, his kick was perfect. It's 40 metres out, a little off the mark. When the drop kick goes in, you know it's going to go in. But you wait and wait. And it goes over the top of the posts! He could have kicked even further.I have to admit that even today it's one of those games that's still hard to digest. Because the scenario is cruel, and because there's still the question of the last kick. And given the effort it takes to get to the semi-finals of the championship, given the commitment of an entire club, of all the players... Frankly, by the end of the match, everything was coming together. We knew it was Brock James' last game. But above all it was a collective disappointment. A few players were leaving. And the year before, we'd just lost two finals in the Top 14 and the Champions Cup. We really wanted to finish on a high note. And playing in Barcelona, at the Camp Nou, was a huge opportunity. It comes along once in a lifetime. Even today, there are only two clubs who can say they played there.
Top scorers in the TOP 14, season 21-22Which club does the top scorer in the TOP 14 play for? How many tries did the top scorers score in the 2021-2022 season?Discover the packs of the fifteen top scorers from last season in the Player collection. It includes all the try-scoring Plays from the 15 top scorers in the championship. Plays that let you relive the highlights of the 2021-2022 Top14 season, via the Start your collection spectrum.B.Couilloud (14): A real dynamo, Lyon's scrum-half had not waited until the 2021-2022 season to make a name for himself. But this year has confirmed his talent and qualities: speed, explosiveness and opportunism. Winner of the Six Nations with the French national team and decisive with Les Bleus during the tour of Japan, he should be at the World Cup in France. U.Seuteni (10):Sometimes a centre, sometimes an opener, always brilliant. Ulupano Seuteni is a diamond. A player who sometimes verges on genius, capable of unique gestures. And while Bordeaux may have missed out on the final, they can't blame their playmaker. J.Favre (9):He wasn't exactly option number 1 at the start of the season. But how can you do without a player like him? Jules Favre has all the attributes of a modern player: powerful, quick and efficient. But the young winger's main quality is certainly elsewhere: he fears no opponent. I'm not sure the opposite will be true after this season. J.Imhoff (9):At 34, Rosario's rocket is still as fast as ever. Juan Imhoff, Argentina's most racy winger, once again showed off his speed and punch. 9 tries in the league, 4 more in the European Cup, and the Racing man signs off one of his best seasons with the club. Just goes to show that good Argentinian wine also ages well.K.Hamdaoui (9):Kylan Hamdaoui will go down as one of Stade Français' rare satisfactions. In the middle of a team that was sometimes upside down, he always showed the way. His qualities? His speed, his sense of anticipation and his consistency. The Parisians may have missed their season, but not their full-back. W.Nayacalevu Vuidravuwalu (9):He's a UFO. A monster. A mutant. Give him a ball and he'll turn it into something better. The Fijian is a phenomenon. Revealed as a winger, it's now in the centre that he blossoms. Fast, powerful, technical, intelligent... Waisea Nayacalevu is a colossus (1m93, 105 kilos). But after 10 years in the Top 14, he has above all become a monument of the championship. A.Hastoy (8):Section's little prince has delighted his fans. Creative and inventive, Antoine Hastoy has become the French symbol of a triumphant generation. At 25, he had the best season of his career. It was enough to earn him his first cap for France. A.Luc (8):Aymeric Luc is proof that insouciance is a quality. And that's not the only quality he possesses. Fast and talented, the full-back is capable of trying (and succeeding) in rare ways, surprising defences with unusual moves, and he has established himself as one of Toulon's key players. A.Raka(8) :Aliverti Raka is a freight train. And I might as well tell you straight away: it's very difficult to derail him. A real ASM locomotive, when he gets going he takes his whole team with him. Despite his qualities, he hasn't convinced Fabien Galthié and his staff. But he is still dreaming of the World Cup. D.Leyds (8):South African elegance. It's silly to say it, but Dillyn Leyds is a player to behold. At La Rochelle, he delighted Deflandre with his lightning runs and acceleration. And his 8 tries prove that his style in no way detracts from his effectiveness. C.Reinach (7):Don't let Montpellier's scrum-half out of your sight, as there's a good chance you'll see him in the back of the net again. A real poison for defences, the Springbok is a predator. His absence from the finals could have been an insoluble headache for the MHR. D.Penaud (7):France's best winger for several years now. And this season has only confirmed it. Fast and powerful, the only downside is his relative fragility. He scores one out of every two games. Imagine if he had played more than 14 games...G.Moala (7):How do you stop the New Zealand tank? The question is the same every weekend, and the answer is simple: you can't. The Clermont-Ferrand native is one of the most powerful backs in the league. But to sum up Moala's talent in terms of power would be to offend him: the All-Black can do it all. And often very well. J.Mallia (7):In the space of 6 months, Juan Cruz Mallia went from unknown young Argentine hopeful to French and European champion. 6 more months will have made him a key player for Stade Toulousain and the Argentine team. As for his qualities? He can do it all. And in every position. A sort of little Juan Martin Hernandez. A flattering comparison. Antoine Dupont (6):Captain of the French national team, best player in the championship, and even... best player in the world. What more could you ask for? Antoine Dupont is a machine, combining instinct, power, speed and leadership. Initiating, building and finishing moves, he has had an exemplary season from start to finish. And while his attacking qualities need no further demonstration, the Toulouse scrum-half is also a formidable defender. His track record and his new status even offer him something rare in French rugby: the self-assumed image of a star of French sport. Whether you're a die-hard rugby fan or a lover of great sporting action, this collection will let you experience rugby like never before!
In 2021-2022, like every season, the Top 14 was full of emotion, but perhaps even more so!Remember the historic first times:Montpellier's first shieldCastres' first regular-season lead.Remember the last unforgettable momentsThe retirement of a historic generation, all together, 495 caps and 31 titles please.Guilhem Guirado,Louis Picamoles,François Trinh-Duc,Maxime Medard,Rory Kockott,Yoann Maestri,Damien Chouly,Wesley Fofana,Fulgence OuedraogoRemember Toulon's mad race for qualification:After a poor start to the season, Toulon qualified on the final day of the championship.Remember the qualifiers that were missed by a whisker, but which offered hope:Those of the Rochelais, Toulousain, Bordeaux and Racing teams from the Paris region, torn between the joy of the finals and the sadness of elimination.Remember the more contrasting resultsof Clermont, Lyon, Pau and Stade Français, never really in the running for the title.Last but not least, Perpignan and Brive will no doubt be relieved to be holding their own after a long battle. Not so the bottom of the class, Biarritz. The BO, who will be content with a moral victory: that of having thrilled the Basque fans with an ambitious game.What adjective would best describe this season? Exciting? No. Passionate!
Why don't we start at the beginning?Today, I'm delighted to tell you about LegendaryPlays.This platform allows you to collect Plays, video extracts from French rugby league matches, and thus own a bit of the history of your favourite club.All kinds of emotions run through you when you're a rugby fanYou experience it better than anyone: rugby is a sport that arouses intense emotions.The moments of glory, the collective exploits, the hard-fought victories, the painful setbacks, the high-level technical moves, the decisive actions, the intense physical contact, the tries scored at the end of the suspense are all elements that feed the passion of all rugby fans.Video, on the other hand, is a medium that allows you to experience the highlights of a match live or a little later. The images appeal to your memory. They let you experience or relive the emotions you felt on the pitch, in the stands or in front of your screen during the days of the championship, during traditional matches full of sporting stakes, through the monumental fixtures that are the derbies, right up to the play-off matches where the fate of the clubs is decided.And let's not forget the thrill of the final! I'm sure that as you read this you're already full of images.LegendaryPlays invites you to take your passion even further.For all supporters, this platform offers the chance to own a piece of your club's history, from the current season, last season or much longer ago.Thanks to LegendaryPlays and the National Rugby League, you have access to incredible archives, as well as images of upcoming matches.Plays are collectibles, digital objects that contain a video extract of a French rugby league game. Thanks to them, you can relive the exploits of your favourite team.Whether you're experiencing your favourite rugby moments with family or friends, defending the club colours or enjoying all forms of the beautiful game, register with LegendaryPlays and start your collection: your first Play is free.Official TOP 14 and PRO D2 video NFT platformIs it NFT? Yes, it's this technical format that allows you to own unique and unforgettable memories: authenticated on the blockchain. Plays cannot be falsified.This is your assurance that it is an official recording supplied by the National Rugby League. Unlike a registration in the form of a download, a collectible has the particularity of indisputably designating the owner of a digital asset. When you buy Plays, you become, in a way, the owner of the assets of your favourite club. This is enshrined in a registered contract that can be consulted on a block of the channel.You can visit the About page to find out more.Rugby like never beforeYou were there at the match! You remember the action as if it were yesterday... You lived that moment with your father, your son, your sister, your brother, your best mates... In fact, maybe it was yesterday :)With Plays, your memories have never been so real.As well as being able to collect your best moments and build up your gallery, you'll be able to play with your Plays and support your club in the Fans' Championship.You can start playing for free right now. LegendaryPlays is the official video NFT platform for the TOP 14 and PRO D2 rugby leagues, allowing you to collect Plays, video excerpts of French rugby league matches.Now you can own a piece of French rugby history.Don't hesitate, join the community of rugby fans on LegendaryPlays.Especially as I've learnt from video refereeing that there's a free Play when you sign up ...
Summing up Mathieu Bastareaud's career is a challenge. Because it is long, complex and incredibly rich.How can you look back over twenty years at the highest level, even if you were to fly over it in a hurry? So what can we take away from 'Basta's' career? Well, that's the magic of the boy: everyone will remember something about him. And, often, something different.A career that began at a very young ageSome will remember the precociousness of the kid from Massy. Barely 17 and already a regular with the big boys. He had just come of age and was hoping to play for the French national team. Because if Bastareaud is a kid, with a face covered in acne and teenage dreams that go with it, he is also and above all an absolute phenomenon.In the third division, he flies over the matches. Fast, powerful and mature, he caught the eye of Les Bleus coach Bernard Laporte. He is compared to Ma'a Nonu, the other world phenomenon, or to Tana Umaga, the captain of the All-Blacks. At the age of 18, the youngster was due to fly out to New Zealand to get his first international minutes, but a knee injury prevented him from touring. However, this has not deprived him of the immense exposure provided by the XV... and this is just the beginning. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MB🇫🇷🇬🇵 (@mathieubastareaud) Outstanding physique and power.Others will remember the power of Mathieu Bastareaud. A buffalo. A colossus. A player capable of taking out three, four or five opponents with a single charge. His tackles disintegrate his opponents, his charges are unstoppable. Because his adolescent body is gradually giving way to that of an atypical player: at 130 kilos, he is both the strongest centre in the world, and certainly not the least technical of the backs players in the championship. And whether in Lyon, Paris or Toulon, first in the centre and then in the third row, he destroyed everything in his path. One image that symbolises this unrivalled power is his try against Biarritz with the Stade Français, after a 30-metre charge and 5 opponents swept into his path.For some followers, it was the revelation of a phenomenon that exploded in 2009. He became a first-team regular with the Stade Français and made his mark with Les Bleus under Lièvremont. His first cap for the French national team came against Jamie Roberts (1.96m, 120kg). He was voted man of the match. At the age of 21, his future looks bright. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MB🇫🇷🇬🇵 (@mathieubastareaud) After a complicated period in 2009, Marc Lièvremont recalled him to the French team for the VI Nations. The tournament ended with a Grand Slam.In 2011, he signed for the RCT. There, Bernard Laporte made him his main man.With all the victories, all the titles, he was walking on Europe. Three consecutive European Cup victories as the only indisputable Frenchman. Laporte put in place a system in which he shone. As powerful and decisive as ever, he added a mental dimension. And since he won everything, since he proved that he was at international level, it was only logical that he should return to the Bleus. First on tiptoes. Then as the boss.The end of his career, however, was unexpected. Firstly, because Bastareaud is the first French international in the professional era to change positions. He moved from centre to third row. The colossus has aged and so have his knees. Can't go as fast as he used to? Then he'll go harder. But he got injured. Badly. Twice. And everyone imagined that was close. But Mathieu Bastareaud is not a player like the others. There's no way he was going to end up with an injury. So the native of the Var was back for one last challenge. To win one last title with the club he loved so much.From Jules-Ladoumègue to Jean-Bouin, from Mayol to Gerland, from the Stade de France to Auckland's Eden Park, the rugby gods have probably whispered his name. Then the wind carried it from village to village, changing room to changing room, grandstand to grandstand.An oval whisper that became a roar, a roar even. Thousands shouted his name, whole stadiums burst into flames as he charged madly. His percussion will continue to resonate long after this unique career has come to an end. No matter what we remember of the gifted kid, the terrifying destroyer, the colossus of the Rade. But no one will forget Mathieu Bastareaud, the man who shook the oval world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MB🇫🇷🇬🇵 (@mathieubastareaud)
VIP tickets for the Final with your +1 in Marseille on 28 June
Your pass to attend the post-Final press conference with journalists
Close encounters with the Brennus Shield at the National Rugby League
Shares a dinner with a former player in his restaurant
The Fans Championship enters a new phase!The first phase of the Fans Championship is over, but don’t worry—a new adventure begins soon! Get ready to join Phase 2, which will run from November 4 to January 12, 2025. This new phase, offered by LegendaryPlays, will highlight the derbies. Your goal? Collect as many Plays as possible from these historic matches to rack up points in your album!How does it work?The rule is simple: the more Plays you collect from a derby, the more points you earn! To help you maximize your score, here’s a list of matches that will grant you bonus points in your album. Don’t wait; start collecting your Plays now by clicking the button below to purchase your pack:I buy the packList of derbies to follow:- Bayonne-Biarritz- Racing-Stade Français- Dax-Biarritz- La Rochelle-Bordeaux- Lyon-Oyonnax- Oyonnax-Grenoble- Bayonne-Pau- Toulon-Montpellier- Bayonne-Bordeaux- Mont de Marsan-Bayonne- Colomiers-Toulouse- Castres-Colomiers- Toulouse-Castres- Clermont-Brive- Dax-Bayonne- Béziers-Perpignan- Lyon-Grenoble- Pau-Biarritz- Aurillac-Brive- Narbonne-Perpignan- Albi-Toulouse- Vannes-Rouen- Castres-AlbiBoost your collection!Don’t forget to participate regularly in Challenges available to take on extra challenges that let you earn even more Plays. This is the perfect chance to upgrade your album and assert your dominance in this competition!Win exclusive rewardsYou can win exclusive prizes, such as:- 6 match tickets for the TOP 14 Final- 20 match tickets for the TOP 14 Semi-Final- 3 signed TOP 14 jerseys- 3 official TOP 14 jerseys- 14 places to visit the LNR and see the Brennus Shield up close Below is a summary table of the rewards you can win based on your overall ranking:Overall RankingReward1-32 tickets for the TOP 14 Final at Stade de France*4-132 tickets for the TOP 14 Semi-Final at Groupama Stadium (Lyon)*14-66LegendaryPlays Pack*67-10050% discount code on a LegendaryPlays Pack You also have the chance to win prizes through your club ranking!Club #1Player PositionReward1stSigned club jersey + LNR visit*2ndClub jersey*3rdClub jersey*Club #2Player PositionReward1stSigned club jersey + LNR visit*2ndClub jersey*Club #3Player PositionReward1stSigned club jersey + LNR visit**subject to having at least 7 Plays in your album.For clubs ranked 4th to 14th, the top player in each will be rewarded with an LNR visit.Quick reminder:Your Phase 1 album has been closed, and your score has been reset.This is the perfect time to rewrite your story and climb to the top of the LegendaryPlays rankings.Ready to take on the challenge? It’s your move!
Join the Fans Championship with LegendaryPlays and win exclusive rewards from the world of Rugby!The 2024/2025 Fans Championship is here, so don’t wait and show everyone that you’re the biggest fan and that your favourite club has the best supporters.Play to win:50 unique VIP experiences, including:- A private visit to the champion team with access to the trophy;- An exclusive dinner or a guest appearance on the Rugby Legends show with a Rugby legend;- The right to attend a playoff match from the stadium pitch;- Participation in the post-final press conference. 400 match tickets Seats for the championship semi-finals and final, and annual subscriptions.200 collectible itemsRugby balls and jerseys signed by Rugby stars.Over 1,000 digital itemsExclusive Plays packs to collect and use in the game. How to Play :Create your “Fans Championship” album with your favorite club and fill it with your Plays:- Every album opened in the name of your club earns points for it and boosts its position in the club rankings. Spread the word!- Increase your album’s score by carefully selecting the Plays you include. Your points will also benefit your club.- Check out the detailed scoring mechanics for TOP 14 and URCThe championship is divided into 5 stages (clubs, derbies, international players, playoffs, and the grand finale) with new prizes to win at each stage. Discover the prizes for Stage 1, which ends in late October, for TOP 14 and URC To win these prizes, it’s simple :- Ensure your club ranks as high as possible on the club leaderboard.- Be at the top of the global and club-specific individual rankings.So, join LegendaryPlays and experience the excitement of Rugby like never before! It's your turn to play!
The 2023-2024 URC season saw the Glasgow Warriors crowned champions for the second time in their history. With a victory over the Bulls in the final, winning 16 to 21, the Scots achieved a remarkable feat, defeating Munster away in the semi-finals before overcoming the South Africans in their own backyard in the final. Let's take a look at the standout players of this 2023-2024 season.1) Jamie Osborne, a Four-Star CloverThe versatile back from Leinster showcased his immense talent this season. With 13 games in the championship and 4 in the Champions Cup, including the final against Stade Toulousain, Osborne became a key player for his franchise. Scoring 3 tries and displaying great promise, the Irishman earned his first caps for the Ireland national team at just 22 years old! A line-breaking force in Leinster's attack, Osborne is known for his excellent kicking game and remarkable game-reading skills. The challenge now is to secure his place as an undisputed starter in the green jersey, a significant task given the competition...Watch his opportunistic try against the Ospreys 2) Sacha Mngomezulu, a Debut with the SpringboksSacha Mngomezulu stood out this season with his club, the Stormers. Playing 11 matches and scoring 5 tries, 9 penalties, and 9 conversions, the South African center made a significant impact. A reliable kicker, solid defender, and sharp attacker, Mngomezulu's impressive season was rewarded with his first caps for the national team. He participated in all 4 summer test matches with the Springboks, scoring 17 points. At 22, the young Stormers center is a player to watch in the coming years... 3) Cameron Winnett, the New Welsh GemThis season marked a turning point in the career of the young Welsh fullback, Cameron Winnett. At 21 years old, Cardiff's number 15 had a remarkable season 2024! Delivering strong performances for his club, including two tries, Winnett earned his first call-up to the Wales national team. He even started in all the Six Nations matches for the Welsh team. His counter-attacking prowess and electric footwork have won over Welsh fans. 4) Mackenzie Martin, Cardiff's PowerhouseStanding at 1.96 meters and weighing 116 kilograms, these are not the dimensions of a refrigerator, but of Cardiff's flanker, Mackenzie Martin. After a stellar season with his club, featuring in 11 URC matches and 4 in the Champions Cup, Martin also earned his first caps for the Welsh national team. Appearing in three matches during the Six Nations and two test matches, Martin is experiencing a true breakthrough. With his powerful impact, the flanker has the potential to become a standout player in the URC and perhaps for the Wales national team... a player to keep an eye on.. Intégration Vidéo YouTube 5) Max Williamson, the Glasgow GiantThe lock with exceptional size, standing at 2.01 meters and weighing 120 kilograms, made a name for himself this season with the Glasgow Warriors. Crowned URC champion after playing in 15 matches, Williamson also featured in 5 Champions Cup games for his club. Known for his strong impact in both attack and defense, his performances earned him a place in the Scotland national team this summer, participating in 3 test matches. At only 22 years old, the lock had a fantastic season, which he now needs to build on to establish himself in the national team.
Glasgow Warriors Triumph in the 2023-24 URC SeasonThe 2023-24 URC season has concluded, with the Glasgow Warriors emerging as the champions. This marks their second victory in the competition, their first since 2015, after defeating the Bulls in the final with a score of 16-21. Let's take a look back at their remarkable season that led them to lift the trophy.WE ARE WARRIORS ⚔️🛡️WE ARE CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mGVXqsSP4b— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) June 22, 2024 Their PerformancesGlasgow finished the regular season in 4th place, boasting 13 wins and 5 losses, a commendable record. This secured them a spot in the quarterfinals, where they faced the South African Stormers for a place in the semi-finals.At Scotstoun Stadium, the Warriors convincingly beat the Stormers 27-10, advancing to the last four for a highly anticipated clash against the defending champions, Munster.The Scots arrived at Thomond Park as underdogs to challenge the Irish side, who had finished 1st in the regular season. In a tightly contested match, Glasgow pulled off an upset, winning 10-17, thus securing a spot in the final against the Bulls in South Africa.Scoring three tries and demonstrating heroic defense in the final moments, the Glasgow Warriors clinched their second title in history, after 2015, and were crowned the 2023-2024 URC champions.Match Winner 👏@GlasgowWarriors’ Grand Final winning try 🏆Power Angles from @BKTTires 🛞📹#BKTURC #URC | #BKTPowerAngles pic.twitter.com/K9uzuHux6Z— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 24, 2024 Championes, championes, ole ole ole 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lvrldgST7Z— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) June 23, 2024 The Benchmark MatchPerhaps their standout match was the very first of the season. Facing Leinster on the opening day, the Warriors overpowered the Irish team, scoring six tries. The final score? 43-25, setting the tone for their season. A champion’s spirit was likely born that day, foreshadowing their eventual triumph. Revisit the sensational try scored by winger Sebastien Cancelliere in this remarkable match. The Best TryIn the semi-final against Munster, the Warriors delivered an exceptional play that ended with a try. Tom Jordan launched an attack from his own 22 meters, passing to his flanker, who then set up Huw Jones in the gap. The Scottish international broke through, executing a perfect 2-on-1 to assist his winger. Sebastien Cancelliere, once again, completed the play by scoring a try. Player of the SeasonAchieving their second title, the Glasgow Warriors had a stellar season. One player who particularly stood out was hooker Johnny Matthews.Why? The choice is quite clear. In 18 matches, Matthews scored 14 tries, an extraordinary statistic for a hooker, making him the top try-scorer of the championship. Additionally, Matthews was the best line-out thrower in the league, with 162 successful throws, significantly ahead of the second-place thrower with 135.Given the importance of this aspect in rugby, the Scottish hooker truly deserves our admiration. Check out one of his tries.
He's a child of the club, who grew up among the volcanoes. Anthony Floch isn't just a Clermont player, he's a pure ASM product. After losing three finals (2007, 2008 and 2009), he was part of the generation that finally brought the Brennus back to the Place de Jaude. An unforgettable success for the man who, as a kid, simply dreamed of playing a match at Michelin. But he did more than that: he left an indelible mark on the history of his beloved club. A few words. At the start of the 2009 season, this team's history began with three consecutive lost finals (2007, 2008 and 2009). Before the 2009-2010 season, did you have any doubts?Inevitably, after 3 finals, doubts creep in. You're always afraid of stumbling on the last step. So it was paradoxical, because in those years, with Toulouse, we dominated the championship. But we couldn't close the deal. So maybe deep down we were a little apprehensive when we got to the final, because the weight of the past was unconsciously acting on us. But there was also this paradox, which was also the strength of our group, that as soon as we lost a final, the next day we got together and said “too bad, it's not that time, but we're going back. Next year we'll go again”. That shows the strength of character of the group we had. The band of mates we were... to be able to get up every time and go back.On paper, Clermont are a steamroller. What's the Cotter identity?We can't say it was all about attack. But let's just say that we had a group that had already been playing together for a few years. We already had a solid foundation. Every year, maybe one or two new recruits would join us. But each one added value to our squad. The strength of this group is that we've spent a lot of time together, and gone through hard times that have made us stronger and tougher. We had the thickest skin in the world. Because we took it in our stride.If you go back in time, we lost to Stade Français in 2007 (LINK) in the last minute. But before that year, we came out of nowhere. We weren't invited and it was Vern's first year. Nobody was expecting us, and maybe not even us at the time. In 2008, we came up against a great Toulouse team, and that was the only final where there was no contest. And then in 2009 against Perpignan, well... I don't know... Maybe the two previous finals weighed on us. I don't know, it's hard for me after all these years to diagnose the whys and wherefores. I'm not going to say that one team wanted it more than the other, because as soon as you get to the final you've got your teeth into it. But it turned out in USAP's favor, quite simply.At the helm of this team is a player who is, no offense to him, a complete unknown. It's Brock James. Do you remember when he first arrived?Basically, he's not the one to arrive. It was Cameron McIntyre who was due to arrive from the Crusaders, and in fact he signed for Castres. And we ended up with Brock James, who nobody knew. Even us, within the group, were thinking “olalala, the guy's a replacement at the Western Force, but who is he, we're going to get another guy... pfffff”. But then he got everyone to agree. Already when he arrived, during the first training sessions, we could see that technically, he was very strong. With his hands and feet, I said “wow”. Afterwards, I said to myself “maybe we'll wait for the matches”. Because some guys are good in training, but when it comes to the match, there's the management, the pressure and it's just not the same. But I have an anecdote about Brokie when he arrived: before he was here, I was still scoring a few goals. We played our first match in Biarritz. We got a penalty, and I went forward to take it, like in other years. And he comes forward and says, “Look, I've got a good feeling about this one, let me take it”. I said okay, take it. I never stumbled again (laughs)! And in the game?He wasn't just a goalscorer. He was a real strategist. I think he was the missing link in our team. He was the lad who was able to sublimate the team. He knew, along with Vern, that we were very powerful up front and very fast at the back, but we needed chemistry for all that and it was Brock who sorted out a lot of things.From a personal point of view, this 2009-2010 season is one of your most accomplished. You played 31 games. Was that the year you played your best rugby ?No. The year I had the most fun was the first year with Vern. In 2007. There, yeah... I really had a blast. Really, really, really had a blast. Because, once again, the years before weren't so good. And then everything changes. And then it's off to a flying start. And then I had Julien Malzieu, Aurélien Rougerie, I had my mates next to me, the Auvergnats, the kids from the club, a Michelin in fusion, invincibility... I don't know how many tries I scored this year, but it must have been the most prolific year in terms of tries and assists for my mates. For me, the best year, from a rugby point of view, is my best season. Afterwards, I preferred to stop scoring, because Aurelien blamed me - I was scoring too much, and that was preventing him from breaking records, so I preferred to give him the balls (laughs)!That year, you weren't as dominant as in previous seasons: you had to get past the play-offs. Then in the semi-final, you had to go through extra time against Toulon...(He cuts off) an anthology match. For me, it's the greatest match in the history of the Top 14. It played terribly. And I forgot to mention a player who is going to take us to the next level: Morgan Parra. His talent and his win have done us a world of good.It's funny, because he explains that in December, he went to see Vern Cotter to tell him he wanted to leave...Yes, I remember that very well. It was hard for him at first. It takes time to adapt to a new game plan and a new environment. Then there was Kevin Senio, who'd been there for one or two years and had a better grasp of things. And Morgan, he's a huge competitor, and he'd never known failure. So there were a few discussions with Vern (Cotter), with Aurélien (Rougerie), about him. And it's true, he almost dropped the ball. But it shows the character he has and the player he was. But he was an important stone in this club's success.What impressed you most: his composure, his talent or his thirst for victory?In training, we used to have penalty shoot-outs, or little games like that: he always wanted to win. When you play tennis with him, he always wants to win. What really stood out for me was his strong mental attitude. After that, there's everything that goes with it, talent and all. Don't forget that Morgan isn't the most physical player in the league. I told him! With your small body, he sacrificed himself in defense. He never hid. For me, there's one image that sums up Morgan, and that's when Clermont were champions in 2017, and it was he who scooped up the winning ball. He was a dog. It was a bit tough at first, but once he got into his stride and got the measure of his position, he really became a leader.It's strange because this finals campaign is a very tight play-off, a semi-final that goes into extra time, with 24 hours less recovery time. It's as if Clermont have never been in such dire straits before a final. How is the week leading up to the final going?It's weird, and I'm not the only one who felt that way: there was a serenity. The week, the day before, when we arrived at the match, that we didn't have in other years. There was no doubt. Maybe our route was harder. But there was no doubt that we were going to win. There was this bubble, this feeling that nothing could happen to us. And when I talk about it with my teammates at the time, we all felt that way. It was our year, it was for us, and nothing could happen to us. You can feel it in this final: it's controlled from start to finish. We were in a tough spot, but that freed us from something for this final. It's inexplicable, but we had that serenity.If you had to keep just one image from this final, what would it be?I have flashes that come back. Especially since my son is nine and plays rugby, and he's starting to take an interest in my career. So he asks me a lot of questions. So I tell him. It's quite moving. What I remember most are the last five minutes on the pitch. The score was up. So I took advantage. I enjoyed it, saying to myself, “At last”. At last we were going to be able to take it home and share it with these people, who have never given up on us. I could see all the fans jumping and dancing in the stands. And I just thought about enjoying that, those five minutes of happiness. It was the first time I'd left the Stade de France with a banana. Every time, I used to cry in the dressing room. But this was a pleasure... Rugby-wise, I've never experienced a pleasure like this before. Besides, I was born in Clermont, I'm a child of the club, my father is a supporter of the club. When I was three, I was in the stands at the MichelinIn this Top 14 final, you put in a drop. It's a lovely symbol. Did you dream of this when you were a kid?But when I was a kid, I never dreamed that far ahead. My dream was just to play a match at Marcel-Michelin. That was it. That was my dream. Just to play a match with the pros. I've played over 220, in full stadiums, with my mates... I've had some fabulous years.
Formed at Colomiers, where he had his finger on the pulse of a French championship title and a continental crown, the situation is strange. Despite his immense talent, at the dawn of 2006-2007, David Skrela had only won one title with Stade Français (2004) and had just one cap for Les Bleus. In 2007, after losing two finals, he finally returned to the thrill of victory. And settled in with the French national team. A look back at an immense season. And a hard-fought victory at the Stade de France.At the start of the season, Paris was one of the favorites. Did you quickly sense that this team could win a title?Ever since I arrived in Paris in 2003, we've always had a squad capable of going all the way. The year before, we lost to Toulouse in Lyon in the semi-finals. The year before that, we'd lost two finals in extra time. So we had a squad capable of going all the way in all competitions. We had talent everywhere, so yes. We had the profile.Since your arrival in 2003, the Stade Français has made a name for itself with its pink shirts, nude player calendars and matches at the Stade de France. How do you feel about this somewhat... extravagant team?It's true that it's a bit unsettling at first. I've been with Colomiers since I was a kid. It took me a little time to adapt and I had five or six months that were a bit complicated. Time to adapt to Paris, a new city, a new club, new teammates. Quite simply, a new life. But it's very different from other clubs. You're a bit of a household name when you're at Jean-Bouin. But after 300 meters, nobody knows you anymore. We're the capital's club, but apart from a few people like Christophe Dominici, in Paris we were quiet. That's what I liked about it. As soon as the match was over, we'd go and have a drink in Paris, and we'd relax. It was precisely to get away from that that Max had the idea of doing things that were a little... a little offbeat (smiles). The calendar, the pink shirts, the Stade de France with all those matches against Toulouse, the concerts, the fireworks. Rugby changed era then. We were an insiders' sport, and even if that's still the case, I think that thanks to Max, rugby has moved into another dimension.Once you've made that adjustment, you'll go on to play an impressive series of matches. It sounds crazy, but for example, you played 36 games in 2004/2005...I was young. It's the strength of age. Between the ages of 25 and 30, that's when you play the most, you're the fittest and you don't get too many injuries. And I played with some exceptional players. It's true that 36 games is a bit crazy. But we could handle them. We'd had two decent seasons, but without a title. And when you play for a club like Paris, you always need titles. Because that's the goal of every season. And to validate everything we've been working on for weeks, months and years. In 2006-2007, we really wanted to win a title. We had exceptional players like Domi, Juan-Martin (Hernandez), Agustin Pichot and Sergio Parisse, who was just arriving. We had top-level players, and we were ready for it.The Stade Français quickly became irresistible. What makes this team so strong?We have a lot of mature players, between 25 and 30. There were a few young players like Julien Arias. But a lot of the players had been here for a long time, and we knew each other very well. Fabien had taken over the club a year or two before, so Fabien's touch was starting to show. All the indicators were green for this team.And yet, there was a bit of a blip during the Tournament.Yes, that's true. Even if we were a bit used to seeing all the international players leave. I'm leaving that year too, and then it's the World Cup. We also had a huge squad... We had 35 or 40 top players. If a player got injured, the one who replaced him was sometimes just as good, or even better, depending on the circumstances. It's a bit like Stade Toulousain today. Even without the internationals, things were running smoothly. For example, at one point we had Pablo Lemoine to replace Sylvain Marconnet on the left. That's not too bad (smiles). That was our strength. The end of the season was marked by injuries to two major players: Sylvain Marconnet and Pieter De Villiers. Nani Corleto is also affected. So has Shawn Sowerby. So it's a young right-back who's going to have to hold down the fort for the finals. His name is Pedro Ledesma. It's true that Pedro came from nowhere. Unknown a few months before. But we had more Peter. But he did the job. He was well supported by everyone. It takes a bit of success to be a champion. So good for him, and good for us. The finals begin for you with a ½ final against Biarritz. Were they a scary team ?They'd been French champions the previous year, and had given Stade Toulousain a real thrashing... Biarritz were a big team, with Yachvili, Traille, Brusque and Peyrelongue. They were always special games against Toulouse or Biarritz. Two years earlier, we lost to them in extra time at the Stade de France. I think that night, Yach put in 30 points, while I put in 27 or 28... So yes, they were always special games. In the end, you're going to get rid of the BO. We're off to the Stade de France to take on ASM. Is Clermont the surprise team of the season?We didn't know too much about them yet. But we discovered James, Nalaga, Floch and Cotter. It was a team that was just coming together. It wasn't a surprise that they were in the final, because they'd had a great season. Behind them were Tony Marsh and Julien Malzieu. And up front, Elvis Vermeulen, Privat, Cudmore, they had a great team of tough guys (laughs)! I remember that at half-time, there wasn't a big gap (9-0 in favor of Clermont, editor's note). But I'm thinking “I don't know how we're going to beat this team”. I remember that we were being pummeled. They crossed with Nalaga, with Floch... They had three or four clear-cut chances. At half-time, in the dressing room, we didn't know where to start. Our heads were a bit upside down. And then, Fabien (Galthié) coaches early. Even I go out quickly. Brian Liebenberg comes in at center. Sergio comes in. The match evened out and we got back into the game. And then came that try.Can you tell us about it?Yes, I remember it very well. From a Clermont touchline, we spiked the ball into touch. Brian Liebenberg made a jump pass and we broke through with Julien Arias in midfield. And on the return, Radike Samo scores the try just like in the semi-final. We're two or three minutes from the end. It's strange because Radike Samo had arrived like a star. But he'd been struggling all season. What do you remember about this player?That he was a really nice guy. A bit cool too, not too headstrong. But he was really physical. He was a piece of wood. After that, he was very fragile, always aching in his muscles, his knees, his ankles. But his physique ... he ran fast, he did incredible things for a forward. After that, he went back to Australia and scored a crazy try against the Blacks, breaking through from 60 meters. He was a UFO. But it's true that he'd been a bit stagnant all season, and then he scored twice in 15 days to help us become champions.You have a special bond with Fabien Galthié, as he was your captain before becoming your coach. You knew him as a player before you knew him as a coach. What can you tell us about Fabien Galthié, the Stade Français coach? It's true that he was a very good technician who turned the club around after Nick Mallett's time at the helm. Nick was really the South African school, with a lot of physical preparation and rigor. But it worked, and he went on to become champion twice. So Fabien came up with principles of play that gave the players more freedom. There was a framework, but for each situation, we worked on two or three possibilities. That's when we started to see the tactician. After that... There were always things he had to work on. Managing people was rather complicated. Sometimes things got a bit heated, and there were some temperamental people at Stade Français. But he always knew how to remobilize us and get us back on the right track.To see the best moments of this interview on video, go to the networks! On X (ex-Twitter), Facebook, Tiktok and Instagram ! @legendaryplays_officiel Tu te souviens de cette finale ? 😍🥹 #rugby #sportstiktok ♬ son original - LegendaryPlays
Julien Candelon's story is a strange one. From the Stade Toulousain training center to winning a title in Catalonia, no one could have predicted such a destiny. A player who was too small to play at the highest level, not serious enough to make his mark... but who managed to convince even the coach of the French national team. Julien Candelon agreed to confide in us, between lucidity and humility. A look back at a historic 2008-2009 season and Perpignan's title! The season begins with a legacy. It's been 54 years since Perpignan last won a title. Can you talk about this “curse”? My seniority with the club was one season. What's clear is that the club's objectives were to be one of the potential teams to reach the final phases every year. But I didn't even know that it had been so long since the club had won the title. It wasn't a goal at the start of the season to say “this year we have to be champions”. We had to stay at the highest level and do better than in previous years. But I'd never felt the need to bring back something that hadn't been brought to Perpignan for a very long time. One of this team's strengths is something that happens off the pitch. It's the Catalan identity. Can you catch it? “Yes. Let's just say that when you arrive in Perpignan and you have this identity and these players, you have to get used to the identity and immerse yourself in it. My personal case is a little different, because I've been married to a Catalan woman for over 20 years. So in fact, I'd already been immersed in this culture for years. But it's true that integration into the group is as much down to the terrain as it is to character. It was important, when you weren't Catalan, to show or prove that you deserved to wear the jersey. In the summer, USAP was hit by a thunderbolt: the signing of Dan Carter, rugby's biggest star at the time. When did you realize you'd be playing with him?For me, there are two stages. The first is what happens the season before. Halfway through the season, we were ninth. It was a season that seemed like a nightmare. Then a rebound in the capital enabled the club to finish the season on a high. Against all the odds, we reached the semi-finals, where we lost to Clermont. But it was so unexpected that it's considered a successful season. We're going to finish the season on a high. After that, we're off on vacation. And while I'm on vacation, I open “L'Indépendant” and learn that Dan Carter has signed for Perpignan. And it's not even “going to sign”, because we know what it's like in the villages, the maybe. In this case, it was affirmative. There was no conditional. So the first thing you think of is “maybe I'll get the chance to play with the best player in the world”. After that, everyone feels differently. But for me personally, my career is about an individual who lives in the midst of his passion, in the midst of players he admires and respects. For most of my early career, I played against people I idolized. It was an attitude of support and pride. And a desire to participate in his arrival. When you know that Dan Carter is going to play for L'USAP, everyone steps up their game in terms of preparation and involvement. And we saw that when Dan arrived, there was an increase in power. And we were able to gain a certain confidence. And even when he was injured, that continued. Because we'd all raised our standards. And that showed on the pitch. Another player signed for USAP that year. Maxime Mermoz. A young player who “reeks of rugby” as they say...We already knew that Max was a talented player. He arrived with a lot of humility but also a lot of commitment. He was a man with a vindictive streak, because for him, not having made it big at Toulouse was something that mattered to him. He was a very serious, committed, hard-working player. And yes, he reeked of rugby. He had the support qualities of a handball player, because that was his first sport. He was a complete player. A complete player who also fitted in very well with the profile of the players we had. Whether it was David Marty, the identity carrier, or Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, who had the profile of a midfield striker. And the short association with Dan worked. And on the pitch that year, he was monstrous. Incidentally, I think he scored a crazy goal against Leicester? If I'm not mistaken, that was the day Dan joined the team. He intercepted the ball at the back of the line and scored a try from 90 meters. Today, when you listen to his comments, you can feel the tactical and technical side of him. With an assertive identity and some very talented players, you're having an excellent season. Are you happy with this team?It was difficult for me to integrate at first. I had a hard time finding my place in a new team. That season, we had very healthy competition in the winger's position, because thanks to our results, we were able to rotate players and thus keep the team fresh and competitive. Personally, I liked it because we had a very offensive ¾ line. We had a few butchers in midfield... I'm thinking of Gavin Hume, who was a destroyer, and David Marty, who let me loose some really good balls offensively. And on top of that, an extraordinary, extravagant crowd. It was pulsating. Those memories are still very strong today. As a winger, are you addicted to scoring tries? Yes, that was my leitmotiv. It was about making things happen. It was seeing the smiles on my partners' faces, because I was the last link in the chain to do my job. Because of my profile, I never exploded with joy because I managed to turn a guy around in defense. You can talk to any winger about the desire to get to the end line, and the satisfaction that comes from making something happen for your partners. It's not just happiness, it's something you want to share with others. For me, being the one who makes things happen for others is part of my character: I really enjoy pleasing others. This season is under control. Now the final stages are on the horizon. And above all, the final. Opposite you is Clermont. How are you preparing for this match? The last championship final we played was in 1998 against Stade Français. There weren't many participants in that final who were still at the club. So there was no feeling of revenge. And the last final played by the club was a European Cup final against Stade Toulousain in 2003. From memory, David Marty and Nicolas Mas were part of that adventure. So, at the time, there were a lot of experienced players, but few who carried the weight of the club's history in that respect. So yes, the spirit is liberated. Because when you get to the final, you can't ask yourself any more questions. And once again: all the spotlights were on Clermont. They had lost to Stade Toulousain and Stade Français in the previous finals. And everyone agreed that this was certainly the easiest final for them to play, given the quality of their opponents. Somehow, the pressure didn't get to us. What's more, the staff's decision to isolate us in Matemale meant we weren't caught up in the hype. Particularly when it comes to ticket sales. Because by training in public every day, we knew that we'd be able to appreciate the scale of the event. But when we went up to Cerdagne, apart from the cattle, the locals and a few goats that we roughed up a bit, we were quite isolated from the popular fervor. However, the start of the match in this final was not ideal.I played an important role in the start of the match, because right from the off, we lost a ball, I missed a tackle on Benoit Baby who gave me a cad-deb, and then the classic ruck, ball to Brock James, diagonal kick, Nalaga try. I couldn't have got this final off to a better start (smiles). And it's true that Clermont-Ferrand's confidence should have shifted quite quickly. But we're stuck at half-time, 10-6 up. And apart from that one move, nothing too dangerous was happening. So I helped to liven things up a bit in the first half. How do you find the resources to come back?I know that David Marty, speaking on Philippe Guillard's radio, was very confident when he announced that we would take control of the game. And it's true that when we got back to the dressing room, there was no panic, no feeling that the event was too big for us. And it was just like the rest of the season. There are years when your squad may not be the best in the league. But there was an atmosphere in the group that meant we were very close-knit. There was a lot of collective confidence. So at half-time, there was no panic in the dressing room. Nobody was looking at each other's shoes. There was a lot of determination. And even on a personal level: when you start a final like that, you think “I'm going to ruin the group”. But very quickly I felt that the group would be there for me. And that translated into the second half. It hit hard, but it was controlled and mastered... Incidentally, there's an anecdote about the pre-match... (laughs). We couldn't stop plugging away at the forwards. And on the day of the final, a L'Équipe magazine came out, with the whole Clermont pack in black-and-white photos, they were on Harley-Davidsons, with a “we were too nice, we've become nasty, we've understood” speech. And the ¾, spearheaded by David Marty, he threw the magazine on the table at breakfast, and said to the fat guy, “apparently, you're going to get your ass kicked tonight”. As we had a pack that knew how to be nasty, and that you didn't have to tell too many stories to get a rise, it stung them and helped kick-start the final a bit! The deliverance was a try from David Marty. Can you tell us about it?We were dominating the game, advancing into their camp. We tried to put them at fault, because we knew that Jérôme Porical wasn't shaking in his boots that day. And then it all started with this redouble between David Marty and Jérôme Porical. I said to myself “watch out, you're in for a treat, there's a redoubled”. Well, not served (laughs)! And then finally David Marty passed. I say to myself, “this could be our chance to make up for what happened at the start of the match”. David faked the pass and spiked inside, catching Napoleoni Nalaga off-guard, who was only waiting for me to be served and for him to split me to send me into the G block of the Stade de France stand. It was a great relief. Because the lock is broken. And then we're like crazy. Our batteries are recharged and our confidence soars. And that's when you tell yourself that it can't be taken away. Behind the barbed wire, you're less exposed... You only have to look at David's face when he scores. He's someone who doesn't really express his joy or his sorrow. And here, he expels it all. What image do you retain of this title?Strangely enough, everything that happens after the final whistle goes so fast... you don't realize what you've achieved, what you're sharing with the public. For me, what's most important is the return to Perpignan. The return is a reflection of what we used to be. The club didn't necessarily have the means or the ambition to hire a double-decker bus. So we arrived at Perpignan airport, where we took a closed bus. We set off down the road, exiting the airport under police escort. And on the inspiration of Henri Tuilagi, who opened the bus hatch, we all climbed onto the roof. Then, of course, the bus started moving at 10 or 15 km/h. Because otherwise, at the first skid, we'd all be sliding past the windscreen (laughs)! We were sitting on the edge, with our feet dangling in front of the driver. So from Perpignan airport to the Place du Castillet, that's quite a distance. It took us a little while to get there... And arriving at the Castillet was a real highlight for me. Because it was THE moment of sharing. There were those who had come up to Paris to experience the event with us. And then there were all the others. Family, friends, villages, all the people who made up our daily lives. There were 20, 25,000 people crammed in there for hours. We were supposed to arrive earlier, we arrived later... We arrived a little late, but that's when you connect with the passion, the passion of the people, and you share. If you don't share a track, there's not much left. Now, every time I talk about our arrival at the Castillet, I get emotional. It was exceptional. And that's something you experience once in a lifetime. Or maybe you spend your days at the Stade Toulousain and it happens to you every year (smile). Did the kid from Tournon dream all this up?No. The kid from Tournon didn't dream about all that. He dreamed of rugby. I dreamed of playing first grade in Tournon. But I always thought all that was out of reach. And every time I took a step forward in my life, I was always the atypical one, the one who had to prove himself, a bit too much of a joker, a bit too much of this, a bit too much of that. And each time, I had the curiosity to explore new things. I was telling you earlier. I feel like I've been living a dream, because I've played with or against players I admired. I played against guys I watched as a kid: Bennetton, Benazzi, I was lucky enough to be at Stade Toulousain and to have been in contact with Califano, Delaigue, Desbrosse, Ntamack... So no, it wasn't a dream. But I lived a dream.
Is there a player with more heart than Mauro Bergamasco? The emblematic flanker of the Italian XV experienced the first thrills of the Squadra Azzura and the finest hours of the Stade Français. The Italian centurion (106 caps) agreed to tell us about his most beautiful and painful memories. All with what has always characterized him : generosity. What is your fondest memory on a rugby field? It would be easy to say “victories.” There is no one moment in particular. There are several memories, each with their own importance. But if there is something more special, more touching, I would say the victory against Wales, in Rome, when I played center with my brother (Mirco). Why was it the most beautiful? Because it was our first victory against them, I played more than 40 minutes with my brother, it was at home, it was unexpected, we won in the 74th minute or something like that... Who is the best player you have played with? Listen, I had the chance to join Stade Français in 2003, which was full of great players everywhere. There were so many internationals that it was a team that could have played at international level. But hey, I had someone named Diego Dominguez. He was someone I followed, who was always next to me, because his role and my role were linked in a common space. There was Pichot, number 9, who was someone very intelligent, powerful on the pitch… but I could give you all the players! Marconnet and De Villiers for the pillars, Momo Blin at the heel, Auradou and Mike James in the second row, Tabacco, Martin, Moni, Rabadan… behind Dominici, Corleto, Liebenberg. There was a lot of talent. I had the chance to play with great players. I always liked the players who were around me, especially in Paris. But the most complete player? Hernandez. And maybe Dominguez. I could give you some names and forget others. Look, Brian Liebenberg for example! Another player who was very physical, but who could play with the hand, with the foot... Il était une fois...Photo de l’équipe du Stade Français Paris devant notre chère Notre-Dame...(saison 2006-2007 où nous sommes Champions de France avec le maillot à fleurs de lys) pic.twitter.com/fUmAvoLBUx— Max Guazzini (@MaxGuazzini) April 17, 2019 Who was the player you feared the most on the field? He didn't really scare me, but I always had this rivalry, when we played against Ireland, with Brian O'Driscoll. We had caught each other quite a few times. And each time, they were very aggressive encounters. And after the match, there was still this friendship, this conviviality of the third half. But it’s true that we only met on an international level. There was a little less possibility of being able to speak. And then I shouldn't have been the nicest player for him, so he wasn't the player I interacted with most easily (laughs) ! What is your best memory in Top 14? The one that comes to my mind was the try I scored in the 2004 final, against Perpignan. It was something we tried in training, but we didn't really believe in this combination. And at that moment, we looked into each other's eyes, I remember, and we said to each other "we're going to go there now". And this touch, this combination, it ends with a test as we wanted. And it was huge because I scored this try while I was coming back from injury, I was lucky to be there for the final stages... and behind it I scored a try, in the final, at the Stade de France, with my Stade Français, against USAP. It was wonderful. What is the most beautiful stadium you have played in? In Italy, I always preferred when we played in Flaminio. Because it was the beginning, because it was us, because it was our story. But I admit that the old Lansdown Road was magnificent. With the train... let's say that I like old stadiums, where there is no track around and where the stands are on the pitch. And then in 2009, when we played the All-Blacks at San-Siro, it was magnificent.
He was captain of the Scottish national team (76 caps) and scrum-half at Clermont for 3 seasons. Charismatic, humble and endearing, the Edinburgh striker agreed to share his VI fondest memories with us on the occasion of the launch of our "Internationals" collection. What is your fondest memory as a player? I'd have to say (he hesitates) ... Being captain of the Scottish team, that's my best memory. I don't really have a specific moment, but yes, being captain of Scotland. In France I also have some very good memories. In particular, playing in the Top 14 final. And even though we lost to Toulouse (24-18 in 2019, editor's note), which was very disappointing, it's still a great memory. Just to have had the opportunity to fuel the passion of the Clermont fans was incredible. What was your worst memory on the pitch? That's a very good question. I'm going to talk about Scotland again. Maybe against England in 2013 or something like that (2014). We lost 20-0 at home. It's one of my worst memories in a Scotland shirt. In the Top 14, I'd say it was my debut. Because I arrived in France in the summer after a Lions tour where I'd been injured. So my arrival was perhaps a little difficult. But after that, things fell into place and I loved it. What was the most stressful moment of your career? Oh there have been so many... (laughs). I'd say it's pretty much any game in England, especially when I was captain of Scotland. You have to deal with a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure. Congrats to Greig Laidlaw on one helluva international career. A captain who we’d always be right behind as he believed in us all. Brought the best out of everyone at every opportunity. Enjoy the family time mate. Legend 🏴❤️ pic.twitter.com/vw8kHEFOb7— Stuart W Hogg (@StuartWHOGG_) December 19, 2019 Who's the best player you've ever played with? I think I'd have to say Clermont. Isaia Toeava, a player from New Zealand. He was incredibly talented, a beast. Typically the player you want in your team but don't want to play against. He had it all: speed, strength, technique, tackling. An incredible player. And the player you feared most on the pitch? I'd have to say Sébastien Chabal. I remember playing against him when I was very young. I was playing for Edinburgh and he was playing for Racing-Métro. And he was such a huge guy. He too had everything: he was wide, fast, explosive and powerful. He's certainly the most intimidating player I've ever played against. Finally, what was your fondest memory of your time in France? I think it was the Challenge Cup final against La Rochelle. Or maybe the Top 14 semi-final against Lyon. We were playing in Bordeaux's football stadium, and it was a way of reminding me just how much our supporters, the Yellow Army, were prepared to do anything for the club. It was incredible. It's a moment I'll never forget.
He didn't really have the physique of a third row, he probably wasn't the most flashy of Toulon's galactic recruits, he didn't have the thickest CV in the RCT, nor the biggest list of honours in the Var dressing room. So yes, on paper, Steffon Armitage wasn't the biggest star in the red and black. But in reality ? He was Toulon's best player at the heart of the Var's best era. A Mayol icon who, to mark the release of the "Internationals" collection, agreed to look back on his best memories: from London Irish to Section Paloise, from England to the harbour via Biarritz. An immense career. And marked by the presence of a brother who is still a role model today. What is your fondest memory of playing on the pitch? There are so many that it's hard sometimes to put a number up front. There's my first match with the England team, with my brother. It was during the Tournament against Italy. It was something really special. Not just for me, but for my family, my friends, everyone. And of course there's Biarritz, the last kick of the match and the penalty shoot-out. That will stay with me for the rest of my life. What's the worst moment you've experienced on the pitch? The worst moment was when Martin Johnson, the England coach, came to see me after the Tournament. He told me "you're not good enough, you need to improve to play for England". I was nominated for best player in the league. I thought that was a bit unfair, because he didn't give me a chance. That was the worst moment, and the moment that actually created me. After that I left England. Because with London Irish, I was starting every game, but I'd given it everything I had. So I decided to leave the club a year before the end of my contract to go to Toulon and get some new competition. Who's the best player you've ever played with? I shouldn't really say, because he's already got a big head, but for me it's my brother, Delon. His character on and off the pitch... He was a guy who gave a lot on the pitch. Not everyone liked that, but that was his character. And it's thanks to him that I've always tried to do my best. So as not to disappoint my brother. His qualities? He could change a match. He was very solid in the air, he was quick off the mark and, above all, he had a great kick. He could kick penalties from over fifty metres. He did everything and was never afraid of anyone. Did he see guys twice his size? No problem: he'd put the ball in the back of the net.#MonSouvenirRCToulon2013 L'essai de Delon Armitage en finale de la #HCup ! #ChampionDEurope pic.twitter.com/TRQr5tGe9q— La #TeamRCT (@team_rct) December 31, 2013 Which opponent did you fear the most?I'd have to say Clermont. We've always had very close matches, very difficult matches. Back then, it was always Clermont-Toulon in the final or semi-final. It was always the match where you thought "now we're going to be sore" (laughs). After that, I wasn't scared of anyone. But when they were all together, from time to time they'd target me. I prepared myself for everyone! Julien Bonnaire, who was an excellent player, Cudmore, Benjamin Kayser, you had all these guys who wanted to rip my head off. And that turned me on. To think that, while you had all the players in our team who had done so much more than me in their careers, they were targeting me... It made me a bit proud (laughs)! Jamie Cudmore est prêt pour la finale Européenne contre Toulon - http://t.co/UYSBX0NSad pic.twitter.com/U7V41SOUqa— blog-rct.com (@Blog_RCT) April 30, 2015 What's the most beautiful stadium you've ever played in? And you're not allowed to answer Mayol?That's unfair ! So the most beautiful stadium... There again I could say Clermont. Michelin, compared to their supporters, was always full, you could only see yellow. It made you want to go. And then after that Twickenham. The home of rugby. What makes you most proud? A lot of people will say that doesn't count, but to have had a 13-year career with my brother. Doing everything with him, from the first championship I won to the last. That's what makes me the proudest. To have had this career with him. At Pau or Biarritz, I missed him. And even if today we live a bit far apart, he's really someone I've appreciated in my career and in my life. Maybe it would have been different in Biarritz with him.But frankly, listen, I can't complain about my career. There are millions of kids who would love to be in my shoes. So I have to be happy that I've had the chance to play for my country and win titles. I'm proud of my career. I could have done more. But I mustn't complain. I have no regrets.
