Noves makes three France changes

Yes, sabbaticals are an answer. You can even view French players being rested from club and country alternatively as ‘sabbaticals’. Like this idea of Jordie taking a rest during the 6N (were some weeks there was still footy right?) was a sabbatical from his sabbatical lol

But yes, idea’s like introduced in the article widen and enhance the mean for a lot of nations. It really is the most hotly contested and shared sport on the world, and sabbaticals are just one strange way to try and make it work, make the sport succesful.

Lions win the tour 3-0 or we don’t let Farrell come back to the NH

Really? Matches aren’t played on paper, but I’m amazed you think the WBs have the edge. The backrow depth of the Lions is extraordinary. I’ve no idea how Farrell is going to sort out 6 of them (or 7) for the tour.

I’m also surprised you think the ‘outside backs’ of the 8th ranked WBs are better than what the Lions will be able to conjure up.

I did find a stat backing up the view expressed but have to say I was surprised. So rugby is popular in the south but if you draw an almost straight line through LaRochelle, Clermont and Lyon then the only tenured Pro14 teams north of that are in Paris (Vannes are a very recent addition).

Then take into account that UEFA champions league prize money is around €2.5bn and Ligue 1 €400m, with the French league winner paid €60m!

And ofc, there is the anomaly of Marseille, as the second largest city in in france (which couldn’t be further south!), not even having a top tier rugby team - interestingly the same also applies in England with Birmingham. By comparison that would be similar to no Crusaders, no Ospreys, no Edinburgh, no Munster, no Stormers. Italy and Aus are also exceptions on this one but for very different reasons ofc.