Brits abroad

[Mikey Brown]

Look out Owen Farrell, there’s another guy in the league who also isn’t going to playing for England! What does that even mean?

Are Racing at the summit of the Top 14? I thought they were ambling around mid table?

Anyway. Good for Henry I guess? Sounds like a good guy with a great attitude, who’s been through some shit.

[FKAS]

Zack Henry always came across as a good bloke and a character at Tigers. Natural footballer you could say, played 10 and 15. Glad he's progressed nicely and liked his time at Welford Road. I thought it was a touch harsh to move him (and McPhillips though not as harsh) on so we could bring back Freddie Burns but it all worked out in the end.

I think it was on the Rugby Pass podcast with Lahiff where he talks about what it was like playing in the French lower leagues if anyone has a spare hour for an entertaining listen.

[Mellsblue]

Look out Owen Farrell, there’s another guy in the league who also isn’t going to playing for England! What does that even mean?

Are Racing at the summit of the Top 14? I thought they were ambling around mid table?

Anyway. Good for Henry I guess? Sounds like a good guy with a great attitude, who’s been through some shit.

He plays for Stade. Racing are third.

[Mikey Brown]

I know Henry plays for Stade. The summit bit was referring to Farrell though. I didn't think Racing were as high up the table as third, to be fair.

I guess I just don't get this article. There are a whole bunch of non-superstar English players in the Top 14.

[Mellsblue]

I know Henry plays for Stade. The summit bit was referring to Farrell though. I didn't think Racing were as high up the table as third, to be fair.

My bad.

[francoisfou]

Toulouse v Racing in the round of the last 16 in the Champions' Cup on Sunday has the makings of a cracker.

Blair Kinghorn will wear 15 and Jack Wills 6 for Toulouse, and for Racing, Henri Arundell 14, Will Rowlands 4 and Christian Wade 23

Dupont and Ntamack are the Toulouse half backs, but Racing won't have their first choice half backs Le Garrec and Gibert, due to injuries.

[francoisfou]

Sam and Joe Simmonds will on opposing sides in tomorrow's Top14 fixture, Pau v Montpellier and Dan Robson will be on the bench for Pau.
Harry Williams will be on the bench for Montpellier.

Another pair of brothers are in the Pau starting XV, Sam and Luke Whitelock.

Pau need a win to get back into the first 6 to qualify for the play offs and Montpellier are currently 13th, and the side in 13th place at the end of the season will travel to the runner-up in ProD2 with the winner playing in the Top14 next season.

[Puja]

Geoff Parling has joined the Australian coaching team under Joe Schmidt. Astute signing for Australia (especially with Schmidt picking up Laurie Fisher as well - looks like there's hope of a Wallabies renaissance) - hopefully he'll bring all this learning back to an English job as well at some point in the future.

Puja

[Puja]

Sam and Joe Simmonds will on opposing sides in tomorrow's Top14 fixture, Pau v Montpellier and Dan Robson will be on the bench for Pau.
Harry Williams will be on the bench for Montpellier.

Another pair of brothers are in the Pau starting XV, Sam and Luke Whitelock.

Pau need a win to get back into the first 6 to qualify for the play offs and Montpellier are currently 13th, and the side in 13th place at the end of the season will travel to the runner-up in ProD2 with the winner playing in the Top14 next season.

Was wondering whether that was perhaps why we haven't heard of a destination for the Vunipolae yet. They are famous for refusing to play against each other (with Mako refusing selection on the last time it was possible for them to be on opposite sides), but it's got to be much more difficult to sell an expensive double-act to a club than it is to sell just an 8 or just a loosehead.

Puja

[FKAS]

Geoff Parling has joined the Australian coaching team under Joe Schmidt. Astute signing for Australia (especially with Schmidt picking up Laurie Fisher as well - looks like there's hope of a Wallabies renaissance) - hopefully he'll bring all this learning back to an English job as well at some point in the future.

Puja

He's said that his family is settled and they consider Australia home so I doubt it'll be any time soon.

[Puja]

Geoff Parling has joined the Australian coaching team under Joe Schmidt. Astute signing for Australia (especially with Schmidt picking up Laurie Fisher as well - looks like there's hope of a Wallabies renaissance) - hopefully he'll bring all this learning back to an English job as well at some point in the future.

Puja

He's said that his family is settled and they consider Australia home so I doubt it'll be any time soon.

Aw piss. Always a risk and can't really blame him. Good luck to him over there in that case, although hopefully not too much luck when they play us.

Puja

[FKAS]

Geoff Parling has joined the Australian coaching team under Joe Schmidt. Astute signing for Australia (especially with Schmidt picking up Laurie Fisher as well - looks like there's hope of a Wallabies renaissance) - hopefully he'll bring all this learning back to an English job as well at some point in the future.

Puja

He's said that his family is settled and they consider Australia home so I doubt it'll be any time soon.

Aw piss. Always a risk and can't really blame him. Good luck to him over there in that case, although hopefully not too much luck when they play us.

Puja

He's been there since 2018 having retired at the Rebels and immediately started coaching there afterwards. Probably well settled by now.

[francoisfou]

This evening will see the last regular round of fixtures in ProD2 before the promotion and relegation play-offs, and several Brits (and honorary Brits) will be involved.
There's a chance that the once great club Biarritz Olympique, currently wallowing in 14th place and only three points above the 14th placed side Montauban could be relegated, and if Montauban win away to Aurillac and Biarritz lose to promotion-chasing Brive, then Biarritz will have to play the runner-up in tomorrow's Nationale final, either Nice or Narbonne - a sudden death match to be avoided at all costs. Agen, another great club of the past are in the wrong end of the table too in 13th. Provence, currently 1st will have a guaranteed home semi-final as will 2nd placed Vannes.

Brive v Biarritz - For Brive 12 Sam Johnson (ex Edinburgh and Scotland), 10 Stuart Olding, 8 Ross Moriarty. For Biarritz 5 Charlie Matthews, 10 Billy Searle, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 14 Zack Kibirige

Agen v Vannes - For Agen 4 Joe Maksymiw (ex Leicester)

Mont de Marsan v Rouen - For Rouen 5 Will Witty (ex Falcons and Chiefs)

Colomiers v Valence Romans - For VR 22 George Worth (ex Leicester)

Provence v Grenoble - For Provence 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 8 Teimana Harrison, 3 Tomas Francis. For Grenoble 4 Pierce Philips (ex Wuss and Edinburgh)

Angoulême v Béziers - For Angoulême 10 Ben Botica. For Béziers 15 Harry Glynn (ex Leicester)

[Mellsblue]

Funny how some of the traditional French powerhouses are struggling but the Top 14 is thriving more than ever. *insert thinking emoji here*

[Mikey Brown]

A lot of chat about prem wingers in great form at the moment, but I see Jack Nowell has just scored his first try for La Rochelle. Maybe we want to discuss selecting France based players again?

[Banquo]

A lot of chat about prem wingers in great form at the moment, but I see Jack Nowell has just scored his first try for La Rochelle. Maybe we want to discuss selecting France based players again?

[francoisfou]

Which France based players played for England before the regs were changed? Did Sir Jonny play for England when he was in Toulon? Didn’t Maurice Colclough get picked while he played for Angoulême?

[Puja]

Which France based players played for England before the regs were changed? Did Sir Jonny play for England when he was in Toulon? Didn’t Maurice Colclough get picked while he played for Angoulême?

Andy Goode, if memory serves. Jamie Noon as well? ETA - A google tells me Tom Palmer, James Haskell, Steve Thompson, Jonny Wilkinson, Riki Flutey, Jamie Noon were in the 2010 6N squad and Goode in the 2009 squad. ETETA - also the excellently named Perry Freshwater was in the 6N in 2006-2007 when playing for Perpignan, where we never quite got the best named front row of all time on the pitch simultaneously: Perry, Dorian, and Julian.

Jonny played in the 2011 RWC while at Toulon. It was only after re-signing with them after the policy was announced that he became ineligible.

Puja

[francoisfou]

The ProD2 relegation play-off between Montauban (who finished 15th in ProD2) and Narbonne (runners-up in Nationale) is currently under way in Narbonne (7-0 Narbonne after 10 minutes).
The winners will play ProD2 next season and the losers in Nationale.
Semesa Rokoduguni (36 years old) is at 15 for Montauban and ex Leicester Tigers and Australia centre Peter Betham wears 12 for Narbonne.

In this evening's Top14 games, Toulon are at home to La Rochelle at 18h00, and Toulon's Brits are: 4 Ribbans, 16 Singleton, 21 White, 22 Biggar, 23 Brookes.

Toulouse play La Rochelle at 21h05. For Toulouse who've picked a much changed team from that which thrashed Leinster; 20 Willis; and for La Rochelle; 14 Nowell.

[Puja]

Gallagher called into the Italy squad for the summer. Italy very quick to lock down their dual-qualified players the minute they accede to Azzuri interest.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Is it "locking down" or "having a first look"?
It's not like they're competing with anyone in a race to cap him

[FKAS]

Ireland had a look and decided against it. Possibly learning from capping Haley and Addison. Gallagher is a solid player, good club fullback. Not sure he's really required at international level.

[francoisfou]

The Top14 semifinals begin this evening with Toulouse v La Rochelle. Jack Nowell will be on the wing for La Rochelle and Jack Willis at 7 and Blair Kinghorn 14 for Toulouse. Tomorrow evening will see Stade Français play Bordeaux/ Bègles and the only Brit on show will be Marchant for SF.

[FKAS]

The Top14 semifinals begin this evening with Toulouse v La Rochelle. Jack Nowell will be on the wing for La Rochelle and Jack Willis at 7 and Blair Kinghorn 14 for Toulouse. Tomorrow evening will see Stade Français play Bordeaux/ Bègles and the only Brit on show will be Marchant for SF.

Is Zach Henry injured?

[francoisfou]

The Top14 semifinals begin this evening with Toulouse v La Rochelle. Jack Nowell will be on the wing for La Rochelle and Jack Willis at 7 and Blair Kinghorn 14 for Toulouse. Tomorrow evening will see Stade Français play Bordeaux/ Bègles and the only Brit on show will be Marchant for SF.

Is Zach Henry injured?

Don’t know, although the other fly half Segonds has been in impressive form recently.