The 2024/2025 season of the French Pro D2 is about to start, and the number of international players keeps growing with the likes of Courtney Lawes, George North, Chris Farrell, and Curwin Bosch having joined it.
Inspired by Zimbabwe’s recent Africa Cup win, more ex-pat pro rugby players look set to join former Western Force captain Ian Prior in helping the Sables in their mission to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027.
Namibia will continue their Rugby Africa Cup title defence in Kampala this week and you can find out whether the Welwitschias can win the tournament for a seventh successive time live and for free with RugbyPass TV.
Olympique are a very different club these days from their Top 14 title-winning heyday of the mid-noughties, an era accompanied by two appearances in the Heineken European Cup final.
The Cameroon-born Spain prop has the most arresting back story of robbery, refugee camps and a quest for citizenship.
The French second tier provides a vital platform for emerging nations talent to flourish.
Ireland could narrow the gap with South Africa in the world rugby rankings to just 2.43 points from the current 3.97 if they secure a victory of more than 15 points against France in Marseille this Friday.
Little historical enmity exists between Les Bleus and the Springboks, but that won't dampen a phenomenal Rugby World Cup quarter-final
It would appear the title of the heaviest rugby player - competing in the sport at a professional level - has once again changed hands.
Two ex-internationals have tipped Fiji as the dark horses of next year's World Cup following their emphatic Pacific Nations Cup win over Tonga.