French RUGBY CONNECTIONS with Veronique Landew & Bill Hooper

Serge Betsen is our Rugby guest and reflects on his rugby days playing for Clichy, Biarritz, Les Bleus, and Wasps and explains how Les young Bleus have progressed under the French coach, Fabien Galthie et al. Mike and I review the Top 14 & Autumn Internationals for Men and Women.  As usual, you will learn a new French Rugby word and Veronique finishes with one of her "terrible" rugby jokes. Vive Le Rugby!

Unmissable! I had an insightful and moving chat with Philippe Sella reminiscing his time playing for Les Bleus and playing for Saracens at the beginning of the professional rugby era, with Michael Lynagh, Francois Pienarr, and learning English with Kieran Bracken on his drive to the training ground. Mike and I review the Top 14, share the latest Rugby News and we finish with a terrible Welsh and Rugby joke, as usual.
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Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce discuss how much Les Bleus have progressed under the French coach, Fabien Galthie et al and review the final round of the Six Nations for men and women. Mike reminisces about the first time he met Fabien Galthie and the philosophical answer he gave to Mike’s question. We also cover the latest Top 14 games, and we finish not by one, but 2 Rugby jokes & French Rugby words & a James Bond question. Enjoy! Vive le Rugby! Long live to Rugby!

Episode 9 trailer: Les Bleus are fast becoming la crème de la crème
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What a beautiful win for France! Great match to prepare against men in Green, on Saturday. My co-host and I  preview the 6 Nations games & le Top 14 too on French Rugby Connections with Veronique Landew & Mike Pearce, the Rugby podcast with a Gallic twist🇫🇷!  Vive le Rugby!

Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce are joined by Jamie Cudmore Canadian former Rugby player,  who looks back on playing in four Rugby World cups, his time spent in the Top 14  & Pro d 2 clubs such as Grenoble, Clermont, and Oyonnax and let's not forget Wales too,  Llandovery RFC, and the Scarlets. Jamie looks ahead at how much Rugby is growing in popularity in Canada and in recent years he’s become a strong advocate for player welfare, speaking out about concussion awareness.  UNMISSABLE! Veronique and Mike then review the European Cup and le TOP 14. French Rugby lesson and a Welsh rugby joke to finish off this episode.  ENJOY!

They both have a go at picking their Ireland XVse

On this week's podcast, we'll preview the Heineken and Challenge Cup and the Top 14. Veronique is joined by a Rugby Legend, Andrew Mehrtens to discuss his experience playing for the All Blacks, and then moving to Europe and playing for Harlequins, Toulon, Racing 92 and finally Beziers. "Mehrtz" shares his thoughts about what is great about French Rugby and what it needs to do to become an even better game, but keeping its French flair. UNMISSABLE! Vive le Rugby!

French Rugby Connections Podcast with Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce is back this week with a bang. We cover Top 14, French Rugby Politics, RWC2023 & Veronique has a chat with Anthony Hill former Australian Rugby player who played in France and worked for Michael Cheika, in the Wallabies coaching staff from 2014 to 2019. And as usual, we finish with a French lesson and a rugby joke. Long live Rugby! Vive le Rugby!  #Unmissable

Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce discuss last week in European Rugby, including the news regarding French Rugby Elections, Covid 19, and a major milestone from a rugby personality. Veronique is joined by Simon Gilham, Rugby Brive President, who provides an overview of what it means to be President of a TOP14 during this challenging time and how much he loves being the Brive Rugby Club President! Unmissable! We’ll look ahead at the TOP 14 games and we’ll finish with a French lesson and a "bad" rugby joke. Enjoy

Bristol Bears Full back Max Malins is the special guest and joins Rugby French Connections Podcast in what will be a huge occasion as Bristol have reached the Challenge Cup semi-final for just the second time, and their only previous appearance at this stage was a 51-27 defeat by Pau in 1999/2000.

Mike Pearce and Veronique Landew look ahead at the semi-final between Exeter vs Toulouse, as well as the Racing 92 vs Saracens European cup, while also looking back at the weekend's Champions Cup quarters.

Chris Baumber from Lincolnshire, who now lives in France, will explain why he fell for Stade Toulousain and reasons for their success. 

French Rugby politics and Bernard Laporte will be dissected by Mike Pearce.

Enjoy!