Top 14 club-by-club 2020/21 season preview: Toulouse
Head coach Ugo Mola has a return to European glory in his sights as he rebuilds Toulouse in his own image
James Harrington
02 Aug 2020, 9:35
Contributors
James Harrington
@Jamesonrugby
James Harrington is a freelance sports journalist and editor, based near Toulouse in southwest France, whose key focus is on the French rugby scene. He has worked with World Rugby, EPCR, RugbyPass, Rugby World, the Irish Examiner, SA Rugby Mag, Irish Independent, ESPN, and The Rugby Paper.
After the pandemic: blood on the streets as a new-look future for French pro rugby emerges
French pro rugby clubs have 'put an absolute brake' on recruitment and are seriously rethinking their finances
James Harrington
08 Apr 2020, 10:29
France and the evolution of the modern fly-half - and the rebirth of a prototype
Historically, France has had a love-meh relationship with its 10s - think Jules Plisson, David Skrela, Francois Trinh-Duc, Remi Ta…
James Harrington
14 Feb 2020, 5:27
Nathan Hines' radical idea to lighten the load on his Top 14 players
With Montpellier suffering from an academy depleted under former coach Jake White, their current assistant has a suggestion to bet…
James Harrington
18 Jan 2020, 4:23
'When I get the clips from the analysts and there's Leinster coming up, it's a worse feeling in the gut'
Lyon attack coach Kendrick Lynn on the injury crisis at the club ahead of the weekend's Champions Cup match against undefeated Lei…
James Harrington
11 Jan 2020, 4:24
Ma'a Nonu on verge of shock return to Toulon - reports
Blues' star Ma'a Nonu could make a dramatic return to the French club on a lucrative one-year deal, and boss Mourad Boudjellal is …
James Harrington
29 May 2019, 10:00
What's at stake and for who ahead of the final round of regular Top 14 season
Four Top 14 teams are battling it out for three play-off places as the gruelling French league enters the final weekend - here's h…
James Harrington
22 May 2019, 13:23
Four in frame for France role after Laporte rejects reports Galthie has the job
We list the candidates who could still be in the running to take over from Jacques Brunel after FFR President Bernard Laporte has …
James Harrington
18 Apr 2019, 13:08
Former All Black Simon Mannix has fallen on his own sword at struggling Top 14 outfit
Simon Mannix felt he was on to a good thing in France, but Pau's consistent struggles to break into the Top 14's higher reaches ha…
James Harrington
16 Apr 2019, 5:39
Raka nearly stopped French citizenship plans due to online abuse
Clermont winger Alivereti Raka has his sights set on going to the World Cup with France - but revealed vicious online comments mea…
James Harrington
15 Apr 2019, 8:23
Laporte explains why France said 'non' to a foreign coach
The results are in. They have been counted and verified. And they have told FFR President Bernard Laporte to stop looking beyond F…
James Harrington
12 Apr 2019, 5:40
Galthie to join France coaching set-up 'within days' - reports
Former international scrum-half Galthie to take on short-term role, despite not having been involved in coaching a senior men's si…
James Harrington
11 Apr 2019, 16:19
Fijian winger Filipo Nakosi 'to follow brother Josua Tuisova out of Toulon exit door'
Following months of rumours, Nakosi is set to be reunited with former Agen boss Mauricio Reggiardo at reigning Top 14 champions Ca…
James Harrington
04 Apr 2019, 15:47
New France coach 'will be appointed before 2019 World Cup'
FFR President Bernard Laporte plans to appoint next coach of France's national rugby side before the tournament in Japan - but two…
James Harrington
04 Apr 2019, 13:10
It's off - Dan Carter's return to Racing 92 has been stopped
"Dan Carter cannot play rugby in France," Racing 92 reveal after medical advice from experts at the Ligue National de Rugby
James Harrington
02 Mar 2019, 12:58
Parra and Lopez are the latest to be sacrificed on Brunel's bloody altar
At the start of the Six Nations, Clermont's Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez were France's first-choice halfbacks. Three games later…
James Harrington
27 Feb 2019, 13:45
Savea's not alone - the full scale of Boudjellal's fury at misfiring Toulon
All Black Julian Savea was not the only Toulon player to bear the brunt of club president Mourad Boudjellal's anger following the …
James Harrington
18 Feb 2019, 5:09
Dan Carter is returning to France to play rugby - reports
Dan Carter is set to return to Europe to play rugby again according to reports from France, as he seeks a temporary release from J…
James Harrington
15 Feb 2019, 6:05
'They hurt me, and they're going to have to explain themselves' - ex-France coach Noves
Noves - who turned 65 in early February - is claiming €2.9million in back pay on his reported €800,000-a-year contract, plus 1…
James Harrington
13 Feb 2019, 13:15
Boudjellal reveals leaving date as Toulon soap saga takes fresh twist
Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal reveals when he'll quit club and promises fireworks before he goes - including a sizeable player cul…
James Harrington
06 Feb 2019, 10:49
