French RUGBY CONNECTIONS with Veronique Landew & Bill Hooper

Toulouse is still at the top but is likely to lose their pole position as their key players will play in the autumn internationals, starting on 5th November! Tom Dickson and I review the moment of madness that gripped Reda Wardi which will prevent him now to join Les Bleus and the controversial red card handed out to Castres in the game against Toulon....and we have more news about wheelchair rugby, rugby league (yes;-) and the winner of the Gold trophy from the Oscars of Midi Olympique. Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the gallic flavour.

Another exciting week in the top 14 with a few surprises. Toulon low score against La Rochelle but Toulouse is still on a winning streak!  In the meantime, in the training camp in Marcoussis, 42 players have been selected in preparation for the Autumn internationals with 9 Toulouse players in that squad (the usual suspects). Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the rugby podcast with the gallic flair!

Listen to the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast to find out if the Top 14 is slowly morphing into football...What happened at Stade Francais last week wasn't very "rubylike" and Tom Dickson and I are really hoping it was an a one off. On the Pro D2 side, finally my Breton team, Vannes is at the top and we are pleased for the win of the French women's rugby against South Africa too, but next time, Les Bleus versus their nemesis, England. Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the gallic flair!

It's still early days in the Top 14 after 5 weekends of rugby, but Toulouse is still at the top, to the delight of my co-host, Tom Dickson, Toulouse aficionado, but it's already very tight.  We review last week's wins prediction and which teams might win this weekend. Also, there are only 337 days until the world cup starts in France but only 3 days to wait for the Women's Rugby World cup in South Africa! Will  France finally manage to get some silverware? Enjoy the French Rugby Connections podcast, the podcast with the gallic flair!

This week, The Rugy award night aka la nuit du rugby took place in Paris, in which the English Zach Mercer won the award for the best Top14 player and Antoine Dupont as the best international player. Quelle surprise....not! We review the top 14 and Pro D2 and talk about the latest Rugby news and Tom's homage to Jonny Wilkson on his roof. Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the podcast with the French flair!

This is a very succinct episode as Tom Dickson was on a wine tasting event with Didier Lacroix, Stade Toulousain CEO and French Rugby league vice-president. It's all about French rugby connections;-). Apologies for the sound quality.  We talk briefly about the top 14 next matches,  ranking, and last weekend's games; Tom also summarises the Pro D2 too.  On another note, Tom tells us about his old school, Winchester College which apparently "invented "rugby before Webb Ellis picked up that ball at his rugby school. Every day is a school day when you listen to the French Rugby Connections podcast! The French rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the gallic flair! 

This week,  we talk not only about French rugby, but also about anthems that will or could be played for the next 6 Nations tournament (that's what happens when your co-hosts are Welsh and Franco/English...;-). Mike Pearce is back and Tom Dickson shares his joy of seeing Antoine Dupont work his magic for Toulouse last Saturday and his tip on getting some RWC tickets - Disclaimer: No guarantee though and luck still plays a big part in getting tickets due to the high volume of demand. Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, podcast with the French flair!

One year to go! The countdown has started! Are you ready for the RWC 2023 in France? Join us for a quick summary (only 26 mins) of the Top 14 and Pro D2 too on the French rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast. This week, Veronique is joined by Toulouse rugby aficionado Tom Dickson who deep dives into the game between Stade Toulousain against Bordeaux and shares some amazing rugby stories too (with a few names dropped for good measures...;-). Enjoy the French rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the French and British flair! Vive l'entente cordiale!

This is the last episode of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast for season 2 and we've had a ball...pun intended, sharing the latest French Rugby news, from the top 14, the Heineken and Challenge cup, the 6 Nations, and Les Bleus, of course.  Mike Pearce, finally provides more details on his book "Les Bleus Brothers", perfect for your summer holiday and I have the pleasure to speak with Xavier Brissard,  who has written an excellent and thought-provoking book called "The art of the war of rugby". Enjoy the French RUGBY CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the gallic flair.

The Top14  competition started on 4th September and will finish in style in le Stade de France in Paris. Mike Pearce and I preview the final between Castres and Montpellier and we pay homage to the final game of a special rugby friend, Monsieur Guilhem Guirado! We share with you  the latest Rugby news and we discuss the FUN CRUNCH aka the Barbarians game at Twickenham last Sunday,
Enjoy the French RUGBY CONNECTIONS, the rugby podcast with the gallic flair!