Barred from playing in France since 2022 because of a heart condition, Virimi Vakatawa is making an improbable return to the top level. At 34, the former France mainstay will wear the Fiji shirt for the first time on Saturday, against Scotland.
To close their summer tour, France take on Eddie Jones' Japan in Tokyo on Saturday (10.40am, TF1). With top spot in the northern pool in their sights and the Tokyo hothouse as the main trap.
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has been handed a two-match ban for criticising French referee Luc Ramos. He becomes the very first coach sanctioned under World Rugby's new process against abuse aimed at match officials.
Of the 42 players Fabien Galthié took to the southern hemisphere, seven did not play a single minute of the three Nations Championship matches. The hard law of elite sport, after thousands of kilometres swallowed up.
734 yellow cards, 28 reds, 36 twenty-minute reds: the LNR's 2025/2026 disciplinary review shows a sharp fall in the heaviest sanctions, against the backdrop of the debate over the 20-minute red card. What the numbers say.
The new Nations Championship imposes wildly unbalanced tours. Our calculations show it in black and white: distance travelled ranges from 1,081 km for South Africa to almost 40,000 for England, close to a lap of the planet. And by separating the journey to the region from the travel within the competition, we can tell the price of geography from the avoidable price of the calendar.
A mainstay of the France back row, Romane Ménager has announced the end of her career at 29. After two seasons spent trying to come back, the 68-cap player has chosen to protect her health, undermined by repeated concussions.
For their last match of the summer against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday, Fabien Galthié has named a XV with four changes. The Ntamack-Jalibert axis is retained, the front row is entirely new and Paul Graou can hope for a first cap.
Castres Olympique's most eagerly awaited signing, Dalton Papali'i, has injured his Achilles tendon on the very first day back in training. The initial diagnosis points to a rupture, and a very long lay-off.
At the U18 European Sevens Championships, France's boys beat Spain in the final for a sixth straight title, while the girls took their revenge on that same Spanish side. A double crown, and the same victim.
185m euros of revenue, 148m redistributed including a record 127m paid to the Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs: the LNR's annual report sets out a financial season at its peak. Pennylane, XPENG, In Extenso: the partners are queuing up too. We have read the numbers so you do not have to.
The third instalment of the It's Rugby holiday workbook, and a return to a playground classic: hangman. Well, almost. There is no gallows here — every mistake builds another piece…
The 2026 U20 World Championship semi-finals have delivered their verdict. France, who beat New Zealand, will face defending champions South Africa in the final. The full knockout round-up.
A year after being knocked out by New Zealand, France took their revenge in Tbilisi. Driven by their pack and an Adrien Drault try in the closing minutes, France U20 win 26-22 and qualify for the 2026 U20 World Championship final.
While the leading nations face each other in the Nations Championship, the Nations Cup brings together the best of the developing nations. This weekend, Georgia and Portugal made their mark, and Uruguay snatched a spectacular draw against Romania. The full round-up.
Pleased with his players' win in Australia, Fabien Galthié nonetheless used the aftermath to take aim at the organisation of the Nations Championship. The France head coach criticises "arrangements" and calendar imbalances within the new competition.
Unbeaten since the start of the tournament, France U20 face New Zealand U20 on Monday (4pm) in the World Championship semi-final. Two teams with three wins each, a place in the final at stake: this one promises to be fierce.
Round two of the Nations Championship delivered its share of certainties and one genuine shock. While England put 73 points on Fiji and New Zealand saw off Italy, France produced the result of the round by winning 42-26 in Australia. All six matches reviewed.
Trailing 21-12 at the break and under pressure for long spells, France produced a blistering second half to win 42-26 in Australia on Saturday. A brace for debutant Grandidier-Nkanang, tries from Meafou, Ntamack, Verhaeghe and Attissogbe, a flawless night off the tee for Lucu: the story and the analysis of a win of two halves, and a historic one.
We thought he had gone for good. At 40, Benjamin Urdapilleta has put off retirement after all and signed on for another season with Perpignan. Another stint for one of the finest overseas goal-kickers the Top 14 has known.
