Rosbifs Rugby

The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup are underway, and despite the naysayers there were some cracking fixtures, surprises and the big boys didn't have it their own way.

In a weekend overshadowed by the tragic passing of Hyron Andrews, we reflect on a brave and fitting tribute in La Rochelle, report from Rob's trip to Pau and reflect on an all timer of a Pro D2 experience down in Dax.

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

And of course, if you want to see photos from our trips to France, make sure you FOLLOW us on instagram - we are @RosbifsRugby on there!

https://www.instagram.com/rosbifsrugby/

Chapters:

00:15 Entrées: Rob's French Stash Haul

05:10 Tribute to Hyron Andrews

07:30 Champions Cup Round 1: The Big Headlines & Big Issues

15:48 Gloucester vs Union Bordeaux Begles Review

19:06 Rob's Trip to Pau

27:06 Rob's Trip to Pau: Section Paloise vs Leicester Tigers Review

36:22 Bath vs Montpellier Review

40:07 Champions Cup Round 1: Round up

42:07 Toulouse vs Exeter Review

48:46 Challenge Cup Round 1: Round up

52:35 Top 14 Round 7 Preview

55:47 Rob's Trip to Dax

01:00:21 Rob's Trip: Dax vs Montauban Review

01:06:50 Pro D2 Round 7: Round up

01:09:46 Pro D2 Round 8 Preview

01:12:36 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

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The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup are back, and in spite of much shade throwing in recent times we're bloody excited for it! We're previewing what might lie ahead for the French sides, recapping a cracking round of Top 14 and Pro D2 action and playing a riveting games of 'Blind XVs' following something Rob saw on TikTok...

Rob & Rich have both been out and about on other podcasts doing specific previews of how the French teams will fare in this week's Champions Cup fixtures

Check out Rob previewing Pau vs Leicester on The Rolling Maul: https://therollingmaul.buzzsprout.com/1833874/episodes/19953560

Rob also previewed Clermont vs Leinster, Munster vs Racing 92 and more on The Inter Pro Show: https://youtu.be/OJQUm1W4e40?si=KrgLy_NoVt5KtWcc

Meanwhile Rich appeared on BBC Bristol's The Scrum with Dan Allbutt and Gareth Chilcott to preview the teams from the West Country against French opposition (Bath vs Montpellier, Gloucester vs Union Bordeaux Begles, and Toulouse vs Exeter): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00329tc

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

And of course, if you want to see photos from our trips to France, make sure you FOLLOW us on instagram - we are @RosbifsRugby on there!

https://www.instagram.com/rosbifsrugby/

Chapters

00:15 Entrées: Guns for (Free) Hire

04:06 Top 14 Round 6 Review

19:07 Champions Cup 2026-2027 Preview

20:24 Hopes for the Champions Cup in 2026-2027

25:52 Which Top 14 Teams care about the Champions Cup?

30:48 Champions Cup Top 14 Team Picks Game - Who are the Key Players for each French side?

41:22 Challenge Cup 2026-2027 Preview

45:35 Champions Cup Round 1 - Things to Look Out For

47:20 Pau vs Leicester Tigers: Trip Preview

48:34 Pro D2 Round 6 Review

54:00 Pro D2 Round 7 Preview & Potential Trips for British Fans

57:21 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

Note: Chapter timestamps don't take account of any adverts

Join the Rosbifs Rugby league in La Grand Mêlée here:

https://t.co/lMx8o3SYGo

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Journalist Francisco Isaac joins us for this bumper edition of the pod to give the inside line on Franco-Portuguese rugby relations, emerging nations in France and what has caught his eye in the French rugby-sphere this season to date!

We also have a round up of all the Top 14 action including drama in Vannes and Castres, Nationale marches on, and international a Rosbif of the year contender is leading international relations in the Petit-Fours...

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

And of course, if you want to see photos from our trips to France, make sure you FOLLOW us on instagram - we are @RosbifsRugby on there!

https://www.instagram.com/rosbifsrugby/

Chapters

00:15 Entrées: Itching in the Kitchen Once Again

03:26 Top 14 Round 5 Review

25:53 Top 14 Round 6 Preview

28:50 Francisco Isaac Interview

- Intro to Fransicso 28:50

- Spotlight on Rodrigo Marta: Top 14 Player of the Month 36:03

- Pathway for Portuguese Players into France 43:58

- Best Talent in Emerging Nations 55:03

- Emerging Nations Chances at 2027 Rugby World Cup 59:10

- Four Nations Alliance 01:05:00

- Pro D2 Season So Far 01:07:47

01:13:47 Pro D2 Round 6 Preview

01:16:27 Nationale Nibbles

01:18:05 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

Note: Chapter timestamps don't take account of any adverts

Join the Rosbifs Rugby league in La Grand Mêlée here:

https://t.co/lMx8o3SYGo

Rejoins sa ligue n°42147 : Rosbifs Rugby

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Rich is back from a trip to Beziers and Perpignan, where the only thing hotter than the weather itself were two pulsating Stadium atmospheres. We've got a full report from a belting derby against Narbonne, USAP overcome UBB, plus a round up of all the rest of the action including all the razzmatazz from 'La Nuit du Rugby' in Paris.

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

And of course, if you want to see photos from our trips to France, make sure you FOLLOW us on instagram - we are @RosbifsRugby on there!

https://www.instagram.com/rosbifsrugby/

Chapters

00:15 Entrées

02:16 Rich's Adventures in France: Perpignan

09:51 Match Day Review: USAP vs UBB

17:39 Perpignan Post-Match

21:17 Top 14 Round 4 Review: Pau vs La Rochelle

27:57 Top 14 Round 4 Round Up

31:28 Top 14 Round 4 Review: Toulouse vs Montpellier

36:23 Top 14 Round 5 Preview

37:36 Rich's Adventures in France: Béziers

45:16 Match Day Review: Béziers vs Narbonne

47:44 Béziers Post-Match

50:41 Pro D2 Round 5 Round Up

54:04 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

57:19 La Nuit du Rugby

Note: Chapter timestamps don't take account of any adverts

Join the Rosbifs Rugby league in La Grand Mêlée here:

https://t.co/lMx8o3SYGo

Rejoins sa ligue n°42147 : Rosbifs Rugby

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We have our first guest of the season, and it's a cracker with Cam Dodson talking us through all things Beziers, becoming a pro through the US College system, and the mythical allure of the Aurillac slope!

We also have the usual ramble through the Top 14, Pro D2, and there's disciplinary problems and questionable local sports in the petit-fours.

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It's rare that the world of French Rugby is the least chaotic thing taking place in our lives but with weddings, surgery and social media bans it's been a tasty time of it at Rosbifs Rugby!

Amidst all that, Toulouse laid down a marker against Bordeaux, Pau brought the pain to Bayonne, and Agen produced arguably the Pro D2 performance of the season to date down in the Alps.

We have an update on the great 'Nationale Points Mystery', there are new stash drops in the Cantal and Lot-et-Garonne, and it's the end of an era for an Toulouse Rugby Institution.

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

Chapters

00:15 Entrées: Surgery & Smoke Pits

06:30 Top 14 Round 2 Review

08:31 Toulouse vs UBB

15:43 Clermont v Stade Francais

20:03 Perpignan v Castres

23:18 Pau v Bayonne

27:26 Racing v Lyon: How good is Jiuta Wainiqolo?

34:52 Vannes v Montpellier

39:20 Toulon v La Rochelle

42:47 Top 14 Round 3 Preview

44:07 Pro D2 Round 3 Review

48:05 Pro D2 Round 4 Preview

50:41 Nationale Nibbles

53:17 Petit Fours & Digestifs

Note: Chapter timestamps don't take account of any adverts

Join the Rosbifs Rugby league in La Grand Mêlée here:

https://t.co/lMx8o3SYGo

Rejoins sa ligue n°42147 : Rosbifs Rugby

(Mot de passe : YPPTH)

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The Top 14 returned and there were plenty of nail biters, not least in a Sunday night blockbuster where La Rochelle squeaked past Toulouse at a raucous, and er, 'smoky' Stade Marcel Deflandre.

There were statement wins for Provence and Brive in Pro D2 as new boys Nissa and Narbonne got off the mark, and whilst Beziers may not have had the best start to the season, one of their players has been serving up some homeland inspired culinary creations.

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

Join the Rosbifs Rugby league in La Grand Mêlée here:

https://t.co/lMx8o3SYGo

Rejoins sa ligue n°42147 : Rosbifs Rugby

(Mot de passe : YPPTH)

00:15 Entrées: Return to Rugby & Return to the Dark Ages

03:07 Fantasy Rugby: La Grand Mêlée

09:01 Top 14 Round 1 Review: UBB vs Racing 92

12:21 Pau's Win over Montpellier

18:14 Castres vs Vannes: A Competitive Return

26:36 Clément Poitrenaud & His Delicious Cigarette

28:16 La Rochelle vs Toulouse: A Thrilling Finale

33:23 Top 14 Round 2 Preview

36:08 Pro D2 Round 2 Review

44:09 Pro D2 Round 3 Preview

51:08 Nationale Nibbles

53:09 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

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It's back! The Top 14 Returns and we're sitting down to preview what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons of recent years.

Can Vannes beat the drop on their return to the top tier? Can USAP avoid another Access Match? And can anyone stop Toulouse going 'Back 5 Back' in this 'Last Dance' season?

There's all that, plus a review of Round 1 of Pro D2, some surprises in Nationale and there's greasy pole developments in Dax...

00:15 Entrées: Festivals & Stash Watch

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Rosbifs Rugby is back for a fourth crack at trying to dissect the French oval ball game, and where better to start than with a bumper Pro D2 Season preview? We're already licking our lips at the prospect of plenty of Jouez, coaching chaos and some old fashioned scraps for good measure.

We run the rule over the 16 runners and riders in what is shaping up to be a fascinating season, reflect on round one down in Nationale and sneak a peek at some of the best new stash doing the rounds.

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

00:15 Entrées: Welcome Back to French Rugby!

04:26 Pro D2 2026/2027 Preview & Why We Love Pro D2

08:31 Pre-Season Update: Nissa Promotion Scandal

13:18 Pro D2 Title Contenders

17:43 Pro D2's Chasing Pack

25:49 Key Coaching Changes

31:46 Can Grenoble Bounce Back?

35:38 Pro D2's Squeezed Middle

41:05 Pro D2 Relegation Contenders

48:53 Pro D2 Table Predictions

50:34 Pro D2 Round 1 Preview

53:06 Nationale Nibbles

56:20 Petit Fours & Digestifs

Note: Chapter timestamps don't take account of any adverts

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We're bringing the curtain down on another stupendous year of French Rugby with the highlight in the English speaking, French rugby podcasting calendar... our End of Season Awards, the Golden Boeufs!

Try of the Season? Sorted. Player of the Season? Got it. Best Pro D2 fight in a car park? We've got you covered. Enjoy!

Look out for further deep dives from this season of French rugby over on our YouTube channel - SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out!

https://www.youtube.com/@RosbifsRugby

00:15 Entrées: The Rosbifs Year in Review

07:43 Rosbifs Trip of the Year

12:11 Pro D2 Player of the Year

17:05 Revelation of the Season

21:34 Shambles of the Season

29:04 Sartorial Excellence Award

31:15 France International of the Year

35:01 Try of the Season

41:36 Spy of the Season

42:29 Own Try of the Season

47:11 Best Stadium Food in France

50:10 Top of the FFTSE (Flair Fijian Try Scorers Extraordinaires Index)

55:49 Best Piece of French Rugby Stash

01:03:30 Top 14 Player of the Season

01:07:54 The Golden Boeuf: Rosbif of the Year

01:13:25 Petit-Fours & Digestifs: Series 3 Greatest Hits

01:20:11 Merci & Au Revoir!

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