French RUGBY CONNECTIONS with Veronique Landew & Bill Hooper

This week, I'm predicting Les Bleus squad (Nearly correct except for 3rd row & 13, 14) and I have an enthralling chat with Antonie Claassen from Racing 92 about his Rugby days in South Africa and in France at Brive, Castres, and Racing 92. He recalls his best rugby memories, speaking French with Finn Russell, and reflects on the importance of being prepared for life post-rugby. Mike and I also preview the 6 Nations and Top14 and thanks to my weekly French Rugby tuition, he will soon become fluent. Enjoy French Rugby Connections Podcast, the rugby podcast with a Gallic and European flair! 

This week, we talk about the 6 Nations official launch in which Mike and I took part and conversed with the 6 Nations team head coaches & their captains.  I have a chat with Thomas Lombard, former Racing Metro, Stade Français, and Worcester Warriors player about his rugby days in France and in England, and his current role at the head of a TOP14 club, in a challenging charged Covid era. He was also capped 13 times with Les Bleus! French Rugby Connections Podcast finishes with the ritual French lesson and Rugby joke. Enjoy! 

Kris Chesney recalls his time playing with Philippe Sella, Francois Pienaar, Michael Lynagh as a young Rugby player at Saracens and being mentored by Jason Leonard when he started playing for Barking at 18 years old. When he left Saracens to play for Toulon in 2009, he had played 338 games for Saracens. Life at Toulon was a dream and he lived by the beach and played with people like Bakkies Botha, Simon Shaw and Jonny Wilkinson.   
Mike and I talk about the latest news about the 6 Nations, Top 14, and as usual, we finish with a French lesson and a rugby joke (this time, even worse than usual). Enjoy French RUGBY CONNECTIONS Podcast! The Rugby podcast with a gallic twist.

A quick review of the selected French squad this week and reasons why the 6 Nations tournament will happen, whatever the cost. Mike and I review the Top14, in which only 5 teams competed last weekend and we both share a joke and I teach more useful expressions to use in French rugby. Enjoy! Vive Le Rugby!

UNMISSABLE!  What an honour it was for me to chat with Abdelatif Benazzi, who won 78 caps and scored 9 tries for France as a lock and back-row player. From Morocco to France, where he played with his rugby idol, Philippe Sella, in Agen to Saracens, his rugby career was sensational. He played in three World Cups for France and was part of the French squad that beat the All Blacks in the RWC semi final’s epic game, with Fabien Galthie, Olivier Magne, Christophe Dominici, etc. Mike and I will talk about the 6 Nations, the Heineken European, and the Top14, of course. We finish with my French lesson and another Rugby joke because we all need to have a laugh, rugby friends:-).  Enjoy!

Who remembers the Xmas film from Richard Curtis "Love Actually"? European rugby is so similar and getting so complicated right now with covid, internal politics, and transfers. In this episode, Mike and I narrate the European Champions cup, including the "Toulongate" & because it's Xmas, you will be spoiled with some dreadful Xmas Rugby jokes. Have a Joyeux Noel, behave;-) & enjoy your rugby shirts & Lynx's presents from your other halves. 
Speak to you all of you, next year, on FRENCH RUGBY CONNECTIONS! 

On this week's episode on French Rugby Connections Podcast, you can listen to Veronique and Mike's frank and uncensored point of view on the French RWC's draw, the European Cups, and concussion's matter. Our weekly rugby guest couldn't make it at the last minute but will be there next week.  Instead, here is a comment from charismatic Jean Dujardin on why he likes rugby. “It's synonymous with courage. It's about commitment, fraternity as well. Jean was present a the draw of the Rugby World Champion in Paris, on Monday. Enjoy! 

This week, we review the good, the bad, and the ugly part of Le Crunch and how rugby doubters should never EVER underestimate Les Bleus! Champions Cup is back on and we give you predictions on the teams likely to win their games during this first European rugby fest weekend. I also have a great interview with Lionel Quenardel,  PE & Rugby teacher at Diderot College in Massy, near Paris and who has trained Sekou Macalou, Cameron Woki & many other players. He works as a volunteer in an association, called "Rugby Recycling" that recycles rugby balls into handbags, key rings, sports bags, etc for the benefit of the "Serge Betsen Academy" which helps underprivileged children in Cameroon. INSPIRING & a great choice f you want to buy meaningful rugby-related presents for your dearest! We end the podcast with a French Rugby words refresher lesson and not one, but two Rugby jokes. Lucky you, rugby friends;-)

Another episode, another French Rugby Legend, this time Oliver Magne is our Rugby guest! Hear his thoughts about the Golden years of Rugby when he played in the Semi-final in 1999 against New Zealand and the Crunch in RWC2003, when France lost against England.
Mike and I review the Autumn Internationals and the Top 14 and it's exam time for French rugby words for Mike. Vive le Rugby! ENJOY!

In this week's episode, we pay tribute to  Christophe Dominici "Domi" who was a true Rugby legend and will be sorely missed by the French and Global Rugby family.  I have a great chat with Rory Teague, a former Bristol and Gloucester Player who played in France for Limoges, Aurillac, Grenoble and took on new coaching roles at Saracens, The RFU, and Bordeaux Begles.  Mike and I also review the Autumn Internationals and the top 14.Enjoy learning another French rugby word and Veronique cracks another dreadful "Rugby joke" again....sorry;-). Enjoy!