Brits abroad

[francoisfou]

Dan Biggar is at fly half for Toulon in this evening’s Top14 match against Lyon.

[Puja]

Starting a new thread for news on the diaspora so that we don't lose the transfers thread to it.

Anyone watch any of the T14 and can give a report on how people are doing? Is JWillis still as ridiculous there as he was in the Prem?

Puja

[francoisfou]

Starting a new thread for news on the diaspora so that we don't lose the transfers thread to it.

Anyone watch any of the T14 and can give a report on how people are doing? Is JWillis still as ridiculous there as he was in the Prem?

Puja

[francoisfou]

Round 13 of the Top14 is under way. Toulon beat Lyon last night 21-3 and Dan Biggar made his Top14 début for Toulon. Joël Kpoku plays for Lyon but wasn’t in last night’s squad. Zack Henry and Dan Robson are the half backs for Pau in today’s fixture at home to Bayonne. Kyle Hatherell is in La Rochelle’s starting XV at home to Bordeaux /Bègles, for whom Tom Willis is at 8. Jack Willis has impressed for Toulouse but isn’t in the squad against Castres as I’ve read he has a calf injury. Zach Mercer is at 8 for Montpellier against Perpignan, for whom Brad Shields is at wing forward.

[stepsider]

Good to see the English foreign legion getting involved. Maybe the RFU will see sense and allow them opportunity to play for our national team on a non-emergency basis.

Sorry. RFU and common sense. Won't happen.

[FKAS]

Good to see the English foreign legion getting involved. Maybe the RFU will see sense and allow them opportunity to play for our national team on a non-emergency basis.

Sorry. RFU and common sense. Won't happen.

Those that have moved due to club closure are available to the international team until after the world cup. The problem currently is that the Prem clubs aren't financially well off but the French clubs are. There would be a mini exodus if players playing in France were given the same selection criteria as those in the Prem. The England head coach would then also lose a number of the bigger names for training weeks etc.

[Puja]

Good to see the English foreign legion getting involved. Maybe the RFU will see sense and allow them opportunity to play for our national team on a non-emergency basis.

Sorry. RFU and common sense. Won't happen.

Those that have moved due to club closure are available to the international team until after the world cup. The problem currently is that the Prem clubs aren't financially well off but the French clubs are. There would be a mini exodus if players playing in France were given the same selection criteria as those in the Prem. The England head coach would then also lose a number of the bigger names for training weeks etc.

Nail -> Head.

Any short term benefit of having players in France (outside of the current circumstances) would be quickly overtaken by the league being asset stripped and becoming a second tier competition. If they're looking to relaunch the Prem and entice people to come and watch, that's going to be a lot easier if they can sell, "Come and watch Maro Itoje that you saw in the 6N", rather than, "Come and watch Harry Wells, he's now the highest profile player in the league!"

Puja

[Mellsblue]

#justic4harry
I’m sure a well produced mini-doc on his rugby education would have them flocking through the gates and perhaps give birth to a Netflix series - something along the the lines a mash-up of Drive to Survive and HUSTLE.

[francoisfou]

Paolo Odogwu is a replacement for Stade Français in this afternoon’s match away to Racing.

[stepsider]

Other international sides seem to thrive with their players not playing in domestic competitions, AI victors Argentina and South Africa among them.

Why not England?

[Puja]

Other international sides seem to thrive with their players not playing in domestic competitions, AI victors Argentina and South Africa among them.

Why not England?

Because the international game is not the be all and end all of rugby in this country. We are not like Argentina, where the domestic league is barely professional and heavily subsidised by the IRB, nor are we like South Africa, where rugby is one of the dominant sports and it is guaranteed a place in the national consciousness and thus a steady production line of talent.

We could, certainly, attempt to ape them and it would probably be good for the international side in the short run. However, it would turn the club game into something second rate, watched only by die-hards and suitable only for developing players that would be bought up by French sides. I would prefer that not to happen, for several reasons, not least of which is that I happen to like domestic rugby too.

Puja

[Peej]

Paolo Odogwu is a replacement for Stade Français in this afternoon’s match away to Racing.

Did Wade play as well? Joyeux Noël!

[francoisfou]

Paolo Odogwu is a replacement for Stade Français in this afternoon’s match away to Racing.

Did Wade play as well? Joyeux Noël!

No, he wasn’t in the match day squad. Joyeux Noël à vous tous

[Peej]

I see Odogwu nabbed a try in a big win for Stade

[francoisfou]

I see Odogwu nabbed a try in a big win for Stade

And here it is: (it may say video unavailable but just click and you should get it!)



Jeeeez, he's built like a mini prop forward!

[francoisfou]

Marland Yarde is to join Bayonne in the Top14 until the end of the season.

https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/rugby ... 91f323da70

[francoisfou]

Tom Willis will wear 8 for Bordeaux/Bègles in tonight’s opening match in round 14 of the Top14. Their opponents, Montpellier, must be resting Zach Mercer, who’s been, more or less, an ever-present this season.

And:

Lyon - Joël Kpoku 2nd row and Jordan Taufua (ok, he's not a Brit but he played for Tigers) wears 8 and is captain at home against Brive.

Racing - Finn Russell on the bench and no Christian Wade away to Castres

Perpignan - Brad Shields wears 6 against La Rochelle
La Rochelle - Kyle Hatherell at 7

Stade Français - Paolo Odogwu on the bench at home to Pau
Pau - Zack Henry outside half and Dan Robson on the bench

Toulon - Dan Biggar outside half away to Bayonne (no Marland Yarde for the moment)

Toulouse travel to Clermont on Sunday so we'll have to wait and see if Jack Willis is on the bus.

[francoisfou]

Tom Willis will wear 8 for Bordeaux/Bègles in tonight’s opening match in round 14 of the Top14. Their opponents, Montpellier, must be resting Zach Mercer, who’s been, more or less, an ever-present this season.

And:

Lyon - Joël Kpoku 2nd row and Jordan Taufua (ok, he's not a Brit but he played for Tigers) wears 8 and is captain at home against Brive.

Racing - Finn Russell on the bench and no Christian Wade away to Castres

Perpignan - Brad Shields wears 6 against La Rochelle
La Rochelle - Kyle Hatherell at 7

Stade Français - Paolo Odogwu on the bench at home to Pau
Pau - Zack Henry outside half and Dan Robson on the bench

Toulon - Dan Biggar outside half away to Bayonne (no Marland Yarde for the moment)

Toulouse travel to Clermont on Sunday so we'll have to wait and see if Jack Willis is on the bus.

[Timbo]

Isn’t Kyle Hatherall South African?

[francoisfou]

Isn’t Kyle Hatherall South African?

.. but English qualified? Wasn't Eddie thinking of including him in a training squad?

[Puja]

Isn’t Kyle Hatherall South African?

.. but English qualified? Wasn't Eddie thinking of including him in a training squad?

You're correct. I think he's half-English. Not that I think we particularly need him, given the conveyor-belt of back row talent currently available to England.

Puja

[FKAS]

Hatherhall wasn't that bothered by a possible England call up, he apparently refused to play for Wuss until their future was confirmed and was very much after the move to France. Can't blame him, La Rochelle is a nice play and he probably landed a substantial payrise having spent most of his career in the Championship.

He is EQ but with Ted Hill surely we have a younger player with similar qualities.

[francoisfou]

Jacob Umaga started at fly half for Benetton this afternoon.

[francoisfou]

First of all, a happy new year to you all, and a special happy new year to Joe Marler - may you learn to think before opening your mouth.

Brits abroad: no Jack Willis tonight at Clermont, he's unavailable for a couple of weeks apparently due to a calf injury, but the multi-talented Antoine Dupont deputises at outside half for Romain Ntamack, who's on holiday!

[francoisfou]

In this weekend's Top14 fixtures:

Paolo Odogwu starts for Stade Français at home to Castres
Kieran Brookes starts for Toulon away to Brive
Ali Crossdale and Brad Shields are both in Perpignan's starting XV away to Clermont
Zack Henry and Dan Robson are Pau's starting half backs at home to Lyon for whom Joel Kpoku is on the bench

In ProD2:

Richard Barrington was on the bench against Rouen
Nick Abendanon played fullback for Vannes away to Massy.