It's Rugby | Telling the story of rugby: news and stats

“Everything he has, he owes to himself”: François Joly described by his coach and two friends

Following our interview with François Joly, It's Rugby asked Johann Authier, his coach at Niort and now at Oyonnax, as well as two friends and former teammates, Quentin Pilet and Benjamin Alçacèbe, to tell us about him. Thomas Larroquette · 11 November 2026

Avant-matchs Without Ramos, Ntamack or Flament: who are the France players tasked with beating the Springboks? Dupont at fly-half, Verhaeghe alongside Guillard, Attissogbe at full-back: the France side to host South Africa on Friday bears the marks of the injury list. Thirty players used since 2024 are injured, accounting for 34% of the minutes and 41% of the points. Yet the starting XV are in form for their clubs, and there is depth behind them. Félix Lapoussière · 11 November 2026

Ligne 22 François Joly (Oyonnax): “I didn’t even dare dream that rugby would become my job” Having come through Rochefort and Niort, two clubs hit by relegation and liquidation, François Joly is now living his dream: playing professionally, at Oyonnax, in Pro D2. He tells It's Rugby about his unique journey. Thomas Larroquette · 10 November 2026

Avant-matchs Beaten by Perpignan and Vannes, UBB struggle against the Top 14’s bottom sides Double European champions Union Bordeaux-Bègles lost 23-14 to Vannes, bottom of the Top 14, on Sunday, six weeks after a 38-25 defeat at Perpignan. Castres, the third side in the bottom three, host them on 26 December. Félix Lapoussière · 10 November 2026

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Du 24 octobre au 8 novembre 202624 October - 8 November

DaxPro D2 · R10 / 30 · 99 pts in total Meilleur marqueur4triesYanis CharcossetBrive · Pro D2 · J10 / 30 Top points scorer, all competitions26ptsLeny BroncanBrive · Pro D2 · J10 / 30

Biggest margin+59Italie vs Afrique du SudNations Championship · R4 / 6 Closest match0ptsServette Genève vs SallesNationale 2 · R8 / 22 Highest scoring competition68triesPro D2R10 / 30 Top kicker21ptsLeny BroncanBrive · Pro D2 · R10 / 30 Best run8WNantesNationale 2

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TransfersBench player at Bordeaux, Latterrade extends at ProvenceRomain Latterrade has signed a two-season extension with Provence Rugby, until 2029. Mostly a replacement at Bordeaux-Bègles, the 30-year-old hooker has started 22 of his 33 matches since moving to Provence, and the unbeaten Pro D2 leaders are keeping him.Félix Lapoussière · 12 November 2026

Après-matchsPro D2 (R10) – Provence top the table, record four-try burst for Charcosset7 November 2026

In briefLesgourgues gets France’s first hip-drop yellow card6 November 2026

Après-matchsAgen run in eight tries against Biarritz (52-17)6 November 2026

Avant-matchsPro D2 (R10) – Provence can knock Oyonnax off top spot5 November 2026

TransfersNevers sign Kamikamica as injury cover5 November 2026

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Nations Championship · Round 5Make my predictionsCloses in 22 h

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Élite 1 Féminine · Round 3Make my predictionsCloses in 1 d 18 h

Stade Toulousain WomenBobigny
La RochelleMontpellier
Grenoble AmazonesRomagnat
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BlagnacTPToulon Provence Mediterranee

Ligne 22Nicolas Acébès: “I’d love to do a season with my big brother”Thomas Larroquette · 5 December 2025Watch

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How the Haute-Vienne became a great development region… without managing to make its clubs winLeny-Huayna TIBLE · 30 June 2026

How is the Haute-Vienne, a land of rugby, losing its clubs?Leny-Huayna TIBLE · 23 June 2026

Is it serious, doctor (4/4) – Rugby, a patient in treatment: the diagnosis is yours to makeLaurent Depret · 22 May 2026

Is it serious, doctor? (3/4) – Rugby: the damage is no longer inevitableLaurent Depret · 22 April 2026

Is it serious, doctor (2/4) — Rugby, a patient getting treatmentLaurent Depret · 7 April 2026

Is it serious, doctor? (1/4) — A check-up on French rugby: the watchdogs, A2R (ex-DNACG)Laurent Depret · 23 March 2026