Packing down in France’s ProD2 is a rite of passage for forward play. Little wonder it’s delivering readymade talent for the national side, says James Harrington.

If you drive up from Spain the first three towns you hit in France along the A9 are three big rugby strongholds … Perpignan, Narbonne and Beziers.

Johnny Sexton’s two-year Parisian adventure could end abruptly tonight if he cannot steer his Racing Metro colleagues past city rivals Stade Francais in the French Top 14 play-offs.