Rosbifs Rugby

The Top 14 returned in breathtaking style, Bordeaux sweeping aside Toulouse as the Matmut Atlantique and some eye catching away wins from Stade Francais and Lyon in particular. We digest all of that, plus look ahead to the home straight in Pro D2, a fascinating Thursday night down in Provence and we're getting political in the Petit-Fours.

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

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An utterly astonishing ending to a remarkable in Paris, France claiming the spoils after an all timer in Le Crunch. We review that remarkable showdown at the Stade de France, take some time to mull over where France are after a tournament for the ages, as well as previewing the return of the Top 14. There's also Champions Cup weekend double-header options, some dodgy voting and suspect golf in the Petit-Fours.

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

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100 Episodes (sort of), and what better way to mark than an emphatic French loss! An incredible display from Scotland at Murrayfield puts French Grand Slam ambitions on ice, and we try and unpick what, if anything, they could have done better. We look ahead to Le Crunch, discuss why that new shirt isn't all that, and review some fiery action at Colomiers in Pro D2!

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

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We're back ahead of the return of the Six Nations, with France travelling to Murrayfield and all eyes on who will appear in the centres in what should be an epic tussle. That's after we discuss a cracking round in the Top 14 as Pau sweep aside Bordeaux and La Rochelle spoil the party at Castres. Plus there's squeaky affairs aplenty in Pro D2, possibly the rugby trip of the season, and Le Crunch on the catwalk.

00:15 Entrées: Lost Weekends & Lost Cinema Walking Tours

04:42 Top 14 Round 18

35:53 France v Scotland: Six N...

We are joined by analyst and author of 'Attacking The Space' Sam Larner, to get an expert view on the finer points of French rugby, discussing everything from France's contestable kicking game, to back row balance and favourite spots to take in Pro D2 alongside some heavy liquor! Rob gives us his recommendations for Lille, the Top 14 returns, and why high end kitchen gear might be flying off the shelves in La Rochelle.

You can get more from Sam Larner by

- Subscribing to his Substack newsletter: https://samlarner.substack.com

Battling an internet connection from 1996, we discuss France's impressive win over Wales in Cardiff & a mad round of Top 14 action with away wins aplenty! The Pro D2 table is starting to take shape, and Kylian Mbappé is enjoying the rugby...

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

OR

Read the articles we are writing for All Things Rugby at allthingsrugby.com or on The Rugby App!

00:15 Entrées: Dodgy Connections & Comedy De...

France are off to a flyer, and we're joined by Paris-based Welsh journalist Illtud Dafydd to discuss a blistering start to the 6 Nations for Fabien Galthié's men. We also get the lowdown on Top 14 club and country shenanigans, Red Star Rugby and the best coffee in Paris!

Plus, we preview a cracking weekend with internationals, Top 14 and Pro D2 action wall to wall.

You can hear more from Illtud in his weekly newsletter "Jouez: The French Rugby Dispatch" on Substack: https://illtuddafydd.substack.com/

Look out f...

We are but days from the start of the Six Nations, and we're discussing the France squad, Galthié's plan for evolution and of course some left over fireworks as we sneak towards the tournament opener against Ireland.

Plus we've got pandas, world leaders and Christina Aguilera amongst the serious business of cracking rounds of Top 14 and Pro D2 action, as well as an update on Spy School and an interesting option at fly-half for England.

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube c...

Back down to earth this week without a guest, but loads to discuss following France's Six Nations Squad announcement, fortresses breached in the Top 14 and some huge away wins in Pro D2.

Rob and Rich run through all of that, as well as a week of magic from Fijians in France, burgers in Lille, and it looks like someone is training to become a spy...

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

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We are joined by Section Paloise and former Gloucester, Wasps and England scrumhalf Dan Robson, ahead of their top of the table clash with Toulouse in this weekend's Top 14, discussing everything from Pau's league aspirations to France's halfback conundrum and pre-season in the Pyrenees.

There's also a full report from our trip to the stunning La Rochelle as Harlequins raid the Marcel Deflandre, and everything else French rugby in a hectic week on and off the field!

For snaps and highlights of our trip to La Rochelle, check out our @RosbifsRugby Instagram page: https://www...

We are joined this week by Zack Holmes, Top 14 and Champions Cup Winner to discuss his decade long career in France, life at the big guns of La Rochelle, Toulouse and Bordeaux, and Oyonnax's ambitions for Pro D2.

The Champions Cup produced fantastic moments, and we dive into all of that, review a wild time for the French in the Challenge Cup, and mark the pleasing return of the greatest prize in the French game, the Carcassonne Player of the Month Award...

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over...

Perpignan beat the Champions, La Rochelle waltzed past Toulon's kids and the maestro Mathieu Jalibert banged out another superhuman performance to turn a tight one against Racing 92 on it's head.

We review all of that, plus preview the return of the Champions and Challenge Cups, ProD2 is back and we have our hopes and fears for 2026.

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

00:15 Entrées: Rich in Richmond

03:15 Hopes & Fears for 2026

10:36 Top 14 R...

The Christmas leftovers have finally perished and the halfway point of both the Top 14 and Pro D2 seasons is upon us, and we have our teams of the season to date to run through, alongside a full round up of the 'Boxing Day' action.

There's also some wise words from a Pro D2 veteran and a spot of carnival in Castres...

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

Part 1: Entrées & Top 14 Round 13 R...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, where Rob devises a quiz to humble the most ardent of French rugby fans - The Rosbifs Rugby Christmas Quiz is back! Rich struggles for both reception (apologies) and answers, and there's the small matter of an on the ground report from a raucous Paris derby in the Top 14.

Apologies for the sound! We hope you appreciate the effort to get a podcast out for your enjoyment over Christmas - we will be back next week with a proper full episode with proper audio!

...

Amidst the Champions and Challenge cup pessimism there was loads to enjoy over the weekend, not least a couple of epics involving Toulon and Toulouse, as well as French fans bringing some much needed optimism even if their teams didn't! There's also all the news of Pro D2, the return of the Top 14, financial misdemeanours and crucially, a bit of Spotify Wrapped.

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

00:15 Entrées: West Country Invasion

The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup are one round in, and amidst a deluge of rugby - some awful, some stupendous - we're doing our best to unpack the cliches, the lows and the distinctly Bordeaux flavoured highs from a generally underwhelming round for the French sides.

There's also plenty to discuss from Pro D2, housing renovations in the Béarn, and plenty of gastronomic fare in the Petit-Fours.

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

00:15 Entrées...

The Champions Cup is back, and we're delighted to be joined Leicester Tigers fly-half Billy Searle before their trip to La Rochelle this weekend. Billy gives us the rundown on his move to Leicester following two fascinating seasons in France and how those experiences across the Top14 and PROD2 have shaped the player he is today.

We also have a full preview of the Champions and Challenge Cups, a rundown of a crazy round in the Top14, PROD2 and Beauden Barrett's great tour of Burgundy.

00:15 Entrées: Christmas Jumpers

02:07 Billy S...

The Autumn internationals are over, and other than the names and whereabouts of some excellent restaurants in Paris, what have we learned about France in November? We're reviewing a cracking game against the Wallabies as well as the campaign overall, and pondering what needs to change moving into the Six Nations, and whisper it, the World Cup.

There's also the usual round up of Top14 action including two brilliant wins on the road for Pau and Castres, unlikely crowdfunding and a live unboxing of some French rugby formalwear.

00:15 Entrées: Autumn Ailments

France flatter to deceive in their win over Fiji, but there’s so much more to discuss in this week’s episode, and not just the gloriously handsome return of Charles Ollivon. The back row band are getting back together, Pro D2 produced one of it’s greatest rounds in living memory, and there is ingenuity aplenty in the Petit-Fours with raclette machines, artisan cards tables making an appearance, and the small French club making waves with a big name signing...

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

https...

Back from Paris where France were served a cold hard slice of reality at the hands of an imperious South Africa side. We discuss where it went wrong through a haze of bière pêche, some shout outs to a few new spots in Paris, alongside a quick recap of PROD2 and Sebastian Chabal's footballing prowess.

Look out for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

00:15 Entrées: Weekend in Paris

09:02 France v South Africa Review

31:34 Top 14

32:22 Pro...

France face South Africa in their biggest game since bowing out of their home World Cup to the same side, and we're discussing all the big headlines ahead of it: spies in the building, securing new merch in the stash shop and Romain Taofifénua's mystery injuries. Plus: find out all about 'The Panda' in the France squad...

We have a round up of all the usual league action with a special nod to some intriguing results in both Pro D2 and Nationale, as well as Swedish dumplings, The Montpellier Swingometer and life saving vino.

It's been a typically mad week in French rugby, with the 42 man squad for the Autumn Series announced, an historic win for Montauban and an away win for the ages for Angouleme in ProD2. We discuss all that, as well as the fallout at Perpignan, some eye-catching transfer rumours and the evolution of the Rosbifs FTSE index.

Lookout for further previews of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

00:15 Entrées: Rosbifs Rugby's next venture?

02:57 Top 14 Round 8

30:16 T...

Plenty going on this week in French rugby, with oodles of late drama across both the Top14 and PROD2. We look ahead to the Autumn Internationals and piece together what a 42 man squad might look like with one or two potential surprise names, and Fabien Galthié is away on food-tasting duties...

Lookout for further preview of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

00:15 - Entrées: Green is the Colour

03:36 - Pau v Toulouse

12:43 - Top 14 Round 7 Round Up

25:13 - Pro D2...

We're joined this week on the podcast by former Newcastle Falcons, and now Vannes man Ben Stevenson, giving us the inside line on Vannes's plans to get back to the the Top14, some mad initiations and settling into life if Brittany.

We also have a summary of the action of a round of Top14 filled with late drama, a look ahead to the return of PROD2, and Nans Ducuing has only got his hands on a Creative Director role at Canal+...

00:15 Entrées

04:24 Top 14 Round 6

26:20 Ben Stevenson Interview

57:50 Pro D...

The Rosbif Revolution continues, with Jack Willis becoming the second Englishman to win the coveted Top14 Player of the Season Award! We're in reflective mood as we look back over all the awards at the annual La Nuit de Rugby, as well as reviewing the end of the first block of ProD2. There was late drama, coach sackings and blistering tries in the Top14, as well as a mask-based tribute to a returning legend.

Lookout for further preview of this weekend's games over on our YouTube channel:

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

We're back from a fabulous few days in France, indulging in incredible food, beautiful wine and raucous rugby stadia! There are updates from behind the scenes in Agen, frustration in Montauban and a bit of a hammering for Rich's boys Castres at the hands of Toulouse.

We've also got trip highlights, the usual round up from across the leagues and a couple of petit-fours...

00:15 Post Trip Blues

02:30 Trip Review: Day 4 - Lourdes & Return Flight

05:14 Trip Review: Day 1 - Bordeaux & Agen

20:30 Trip Review: Day 2 - Toulouse

23:03 Trip Review...

Ahead of a first trip to Agen, we catch up with their English Tighthead Beau Farrance, discussing all things injury comebacks, being a European Judo Champion and playing with your brother in PROD2.

There's also a whip through of all the action across the Top14, a bit of chat about retro Italian football shirts, and of course the mad weather down in Toulon!

0:15 Entrées: Or should it be Aperitivo?

05:28 Top 14 Round 3 Summary

19:18 Interview with Beau Farrance

48:38 Pro D2 Round 4

58:24 Petit Fours & Digestifs

L...

00:15 Entrées: Holiday Time

02:52 Women's World Cup: France v Ireland

05:19 Top 14 Round 2 Review

30:00 Top 14 Round 3 Preview

39:19 Pro D2 Round 3 Review

50:15 Pro D2 Round 4 Preview

53:10 Nationale Nibbles, Petit-Fours & Digestifs

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We're joined by Top14 new boys Montauban back rower Karl Wilkins to discuss how this season's underdogs are approaching being back in the top tier, as well as getting the inside line on their remarkable ProD2 Championship win last season.

We've also got the usual round up of all the action across the leagues, as well as some interesting burger concoctions in the petit-fours.

00:15 Entrées: Rich's trip to Women's World Cup

05:29 Return of the Top 14

11:05 Karl Wilkins Interview

42:30 Top 14 Round 1 Review

55:12 Pro D2 Round 2 Review

The Big Boys are back in town. The Top14 is back, and so are we with a special bumper edition to usher in the return of Europe's premier club competition. Can anyone topple Toulouse? Can Montauban muster the magic of last season and beat the odds to stay up? Just how much pressure are the big guns of Toulon and La Rochelle under to deliver silverwear? We run the rule over all the sides, signings and aspirations across the French top tier, as well as a full round of an incredible opening round of ProD2.

French rugby is back, and so is Rosbifs Rugby! And what a start to the season we have, with the small matter of the Women's World Cup, a full ProD2 preview covering all the runners and riders, and of course a look ahead into the crystal ball of mouth-watering French rugby excursions , all in our first episode of Series 3. Enjoy!

00:15 - Entrées: Renovations & NRL Innovations

05:58 - Women's Rugby World Cup: France v Italy

11:00 - Pro D2 Season Preview

18:03 - Pro D2 Preview: Play off contenders

29:40 - Pro D2 P...

Forget the Oscars, the Grammys, the BAFTAs... the most prestigious event in the awards calendar is here, the Rosbifs Rugby Golden Boeufs Awards. We're crowning everything from Players of the Season to the best scandals, accidental tries and best stadium food, recapping a crazy year as we go. 

Covering the Top14 to Federale 3, Brittany to the Basque Country and pretty much everything in between, join us to celebrate the conclusion of Series 2 and another remarkable year of French rugby.

00:15 - Entrées: Rosbifs Year in Numbers

04:03 - La Nuit du Rosbifs: Rosbifs Rugby's Awa...

We made it! The 24/25 is season is over, with a gallant French performance not quite enough to unseat the All Blacks in Hamilton, in a game of epic defence, attacking imperfection and criminal DJ interventions.

We take a look through the winners and losers from the tour, Rob gives us his ones to watch after a World Cup 4th place for the U20s, and there's weddings, giant jackets and transfer mayhem in the Petit-Fours.

00:15 - Entrées: Woke Yoghurt

03:13 - NZ v France - 3rd Test Review

17:35 - France in N...

France took a hammering down in Wellington, and having vociferously defended Galthie and co up now, those in Rosbif towers aren't happy about this one! A double dose of disappointment at the hands of New Zealand was confirmed in the U20s but in more exciting news, the fixture announcements are here, as are an angry swarm of bees in the Cantal...

02:15 - New Zealand v France 2nd Test Review

20:01 - 3rd Test Preview

22:46 - Other International Rugby

25:26 - France U20s v NZ U20s - U20...

Transpires there is depth in French rugby!

Les Bleus 2nds/3rds/Under 9s (depending on who you listen to) gave the All Blacks an almighty scare down in Dunedin. We get into all of that and why, despite such promise, things may be ominous for the rest of the series.

Then its the BIG ONE! The much awaited 'Rosbifs Rugby Top14 Team of the Season'. Which big hitters miss out and which unheralded favourites make the cut?

00:15 - Entrées: Hire Cars & Heaven

The curtain came down on the Top14 season is the most spectacular of fashion, Stade Toulousain and Union Bordeaux Bègles battling out a classic under the Parisian lights. We try and dissect an all-timer of final, with some incredible individual performances both on the pitch and in the bar afterwards.

For those of a lower league disposition, we have our PROD2 team of the season, plus transfer rumours and updates from both Albi and Les Albicestes.

00:15 - Entrées: Sweating, Seasides & Social Media dodging

05:47 - Top 14 Final

31:48 - Rosbifs Rugby's Pr...

The Demi-finales are done and dusted, leaving us to salivate over the showpiece in the French Rugby calendar this weekend, where it's Goliath vs Goliath as Stade Toulousain take on Union Bordeaux Bègles in Paris. We preview that, round up the action in Lyon, and take a look ahead to France touring New Zealand.

00:15 - Entrées: A Day to Forget

02:34 - Top 14 Semi Finals

03:33 - Toulouse v Bayonne Review

13:12 - Bordeaux v Toulon Review

22:48 - Preview: Top 14 Final

33:28 - England A v Fr...

It was heartbreak in the Alps, jubilation in the Basque Country and celebrations on the Med, as the Top14 reaches it's conclusion. We catch up on all things Barrage, Access Match and of course Federale 2, whilst looking ahead to some intriguing selections as a France XV travel to Twickenham this weekend.

00:15 - Entrées: Travels, Food & Sporting Heroics

05:00 - Top 14 Access Match: Grenoble v Perpignan Review

19:09 - Top 14 Barrage: Toulon v Castres Review

25:49 - Top 14 Barrage: Bayonne v Clermont Review

28:39 - Top 14 Semi Finals Preview

With Rob away enjoying some well earned sunshine, Rich is joined by former Northampton man and Bayonne lock, Alex Moon. Alex gives us the lowdown on Basque history lessons, the role of the unsung squad members at Stade Jean Dauger, and what it's like playing second row in the Top14 Land of Giants.

Enjoy this interview special! We'll be back later in the week to round off the Top14, Access Match and a few petit-fours to boot.

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Rich is back from a solo venture taking in pretentious dutchmen, a glorious market town and Brive's remarkable loss at the hands of Montauban and Jerome Bosviel, among other things.

We recap how the Stade Amédée-Domenech was stunned into silence, Grenoble's phenomenal performance in the Alps, and all the permutations heading into the last round of fixtures in the Top14. There's also emotional send offs a plenty as some recent legends of French club rugby play their final games on home turf.

00:15 - Entrées: Rich's trip to Franch

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