Le French Rugby Podcast

We analyse the Top 14 semi-finals in Bordeaux and look ahead to the final in Marseille in the company of All Black legend and now Top 14 commentator Andrew Mehrtens. We also hear how he got the nickname Don King from his time in France as a player, discuss Fabien Galthie's inexperienced squad for France's summer tour and look at the latest transfer gossip... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Stade Francais' England international centre Joe Marchant to discuss the timing of his move from Harlequins, adjusting to life in France, his England past and hopefully future, what Steve Borthwick said to him after the World Cup, being frozen out by Eddie Jones, Paul Gustard's use of certain imagery in meetings, his famous prospective father in law, the Top 14 play-offs and the potential of facing Bordeaux in Bordeaux despite finishing in the top two and much more. Plus, we discuss all the action from the final round of the regular season, look ahead to the Barrages and the access match and chat about Vannes' promotion from PRO D2... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look ahead to Super Saturday and a frantic final round of the Top 14 regular season, analyse the permutations and chat to Castres' Australian back rower Nick Champion de Crespigny about his French roots, Wallaby ambitions, contract situation, gratitude to Pierre-Henry Broncan, dream debut season, lack of Super Rugby recognition and much more. Plus, we round up the latest PRO D2 play-off action and discuss some wild transfer rumours... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Toulouse hero Manny Meafou to hear about an exhausting Champions Cup final win over Leinster, the nearly as tiring celebrations and how he's nailing fatherhood too as he introduces us to son Marcellus! We discuss whether Antoine Dupont's performance is the best ever in a final, if he's the greatest of all time, his new nickname of 'The Martian', Ugo Mola's influence and what makes Toulouse special. Plus, we discuss Manny's delayed international debut and initiation, look ahead to the penultimate round of Top 14 fixtures and assess the state of play in the PRO D2 play-offs... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by 63-cap Wallaby Reece Hodge to discuss his two tries that confirmed Bayonne are staying in the Top 14, the prospect of teaming up with Manu Tuilagi in the centres next season, the disappointment of being ditched by Eddie Jones after just one game, whether the door might still be ajar under Joe Schmidt, the magic of Stade Jean Dauger and much more. Plus, we look ahead to the Champions Cup final and round up a Top 14 weekend that saw Toulouse confirm a semi-final spot, Stade Francais make the play-offs and Montpellier already confirmed as the team to take part in the relegation play-off... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Bordeaux and Tonga prop Big Ben Tameifuna to chat about the club's Top 14 tilt, his journey from New Zealand to France, the World Cup experience, challenges for Pacific Island nations, law changes, the best scrummagers in the world and much more. Plus, we round up all the Top 14 action and discuss whether the play-off picture will become any clearer this weekend... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back to dive deep into the major incidents from the Champions Cup semi-finals, including some more sensational stuff from Toulouse and almost another phenomenal Quins comeback, and look ahead to an epic final between the best two teams in the tournament. Plus, we discuss who gets into a combined Toulouse-Leinster starting XV, Clermont's heartbreak at The Stoop and throw forward to a massive round of action in the Top 14... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Lyon attack coach AB Zondagh to discuss their completely stereotypically French campaign of winning almost every game at home but picking up nothing on the road, his coaching evolution and ambitions, the learnings from his time with Scotland and much more. Plus, we look ahead to the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals and Johnnie fills us in on his sit down with Antoine Dupont... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Australia international Tolu Latu to find out how he's ended up at the back-to-back Champions Cup winners La Rochelle, the role big Will Skelton played in the move, what sets the club apart, how Ronan O'Gara is as a coach, how he felt being spoken about publicly by Stade Francais owner Hans-Peter Wild and frozen out by Montpellier, whether he thinks there's any chance of winning more Wallaby caps and how exhausted he is after an epic journey to South Africa and on to Ireland. Plus, we round up all of the Champions Cup Round Of 16 action and look ahead to the quarter-finals this weekend... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We catch up with Clermont's Australian full back Alex Newsome to talk playing under Christophe Urios, nicknames, how to fix the issues in Australian rugby, if he qualifies for Scotland and whether there's a statue of him back home for playing a different sport! We also discuss all the latest action in the Top 14, go over a few transfer rumours and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back from a good weekend in Dublin, and watching France's final outing fuelled by Guinness and pizza, to pick the bones out of maybe the best Six Nations ever. We discuss France's resurgence and evolution and the tournament as a whole. Plus, we're joined by All Black Brad Weber to chat about settling into life in Paris, the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup, how players don't realise how good they have it in the Top 14, where rugby in the Southern Hemisphere goes from here and much more. And, we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by former England international and ex-Bordeaux, Clermont and Castres coach Joe Worsley to discuss England's epic win over Ireland, break down their new blitz defence and discuss how France will fare against them on Super Saturday. We also discuss his involvement with Georgia at the World Cup, whether they should be included in the Six Nations and how he's trying to bring the Top 14 to more viewers in the UK. Plus, we analyse France's win over Wales, discuss all the Round 5 permutations and selection debates and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wales international, British & Irish Lion and now Brive back rower Ross Moriarty joins us to discuss his international exile, the chances of a comeback, adjusting to life in France, Courtney Lawes coming to town next season and who's going to come out on top in Cardiff this weekend. He tells us where the game will be won and lost, gives a damning assessment of the 25-cap rule and fills us in on how he ended up in Brive. Plus, we analyse Fabien Galthie's likely team selection, Antoine Dupont's impact on the sevens scene and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by former Italy centre Michele Campagnaro to discuss the controversial end to France's draw with Italy in Lille, whether the kick should've been retaken, Italian improvements and whether they'll get a win or even two in the last couple of rounds. There's a full debrief on what's going wrong with France, discipline issues, attacking struggles, the dangers of a knee-jerk reaction, how it's far from the end of a golden generation and much more. Plus, we have a few transfer rumours, a round-up of the Top 14 action and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Oyonnax, Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop Rory Sutherland for a raw and honest chat about his time in France and the ups and downs of life as a professional rugby player, as well as to pick the bones out of a controversial end to the Scotland v France clash at Murrayfield and look forward to his return to Glasgow. Plus, we discuss potential law changes, France's failings and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by France legend Mathieu Bastareaud to pick the bones out of the battering Les Bleus suffered at the hands of Ireland in Marseille and discuss whether we're going to see a backlash at Murrayfield this weekend. We talk World Cup hangover, media pressure, Posolo Tuilagi and more. Plus, Basta looks back at his France career, tells us what it was like being part of the Galacticos at Toulon, fills us in on his new role at the club and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look ahead to what many are billing as a title decider already on the opening night of the Six Nations in Marseille and we're joined by Irish-born former France U20 captain Dany Brennan to look ahead to France v Ireland in depth and analyse where it'll be won and lost. Plus, we hear how a night at a beach bar started the success of this generation of French players, discuss whether Dany would consider playing for Ireland in future, get our full Six Nations predictions in and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Perpignan winger Ali Crossdale to hear how he's loving life in the south of France, his views on his former teammate Owen Farrell's switch to the Top 14, whether the RFU will change their selection rules, his time having Eddie Jones looking over his shoulder at the dinner table and much more. Plus, we discuss the climax to the Champions Cup pool stage, the flaw in the system that means the Round of 16 contains a number of pool repeats, we round up a whole host of big transfer rumours and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by the fastest man in the Champions Cup (we're calling it!), Lyon's Thaakir Abrahams, to talk leading the try scoring charts heading into the final round of pool games, swapping South Africa for France, international ambition, whether he's on Rassie's radar, Louis Rees-Zammit's attempt to crack the NFL, living in the culinary capital of France and much more. Plus, we look at who's going to make it through to the Champions Cup knockout stages, discuss Fabien Galthie's squad for the 2024 Six Nations in depth and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Bordeaux attack coach Noel McNamara to discuss his rise up the coaching ranks from a non-rugby background and how he goes about getting the best out of potentially the best backline in world rugby. He talks us through the characters of Damian Penaud, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Matthieu Jalibert, contrasts his experiences in Ireland, South Africa and France and tells us what he's learned along the journey. Plus, we look ahead to a huge couple of weeks in the Champions Cup, cast an eye back over the Top 14 action during the festive period and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week...Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.