Person: Eddy Ben Arous

Thomond braced for perfect storm

Batten down the hatches, there’s a tempest coming.

Sat, 21 Oct, 2017

Paris prepares for a ‘monster’ next season

French giants Stade Francais and Racing 92 will merge next season, forming an “absolute monster” Top 14 Paris super club.

Tue, 14 Mar, 2017

Super Johnny Sexton shows why he’s Joe Schmidt’s man

Given the close nature of this fixture in the Six Nations in recent years, a 10 point win is not to be sniffed at, writes Donal Lenihan.

Mon, 27 Feb, 2017

Coach Guy Noves maintains France’s three changes all ‘logical choices’

France coach Guy Noves says the three changes to Les Bleus’ starting line-up for the RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland are all logical choices.

Fri, 24 Feb, 2017

Tadhg Furlong’s crash course in dark arts of the scrum

Tadhg Furlong’s impact since assuming the role of first-choice tighthead with Ireland has been immense but he has some way to go before matching Mike Ross’ ability to dissect the scrum’s dark arts on behalf of your average Joe.

Thu, 23 Feb, 2017

Raphael Lakafia and Racing pair boost French squad

France have called up Stade Français back-row Raphael Lakafia to replace Damien Chouly ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland.

Tue, 21 Feb, 2017

Racing 92 v Munster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 Round 1 Refixture

Munster’s golden opportunity for a home quarter-final

Did it really matter what sort of team Racing 92 would send? The French champions could have brought a squad of U16s to Limerick for this evening’s Champions Cup pool finale at Thomond and there would still be no sign of a let-up from Rassie Erasmus’s players.

Sat, 21 Jan, 2017

Racing 92 v Northampton Saints - European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster must match Racing’s physicality

So much for the French unpredictability. The world and its mother knew Racing 92 would take a scalpel to the side that earned a losing bonus point away to Toulon in last week’s domestic fixture and the reigning Top 14 champions duly performed significant surgery.

Sat, 07 Jan, 2017

French tradition, Irish bottle and the new green wave

The thing with Ireland is they have to get angry, writes Ronan O’Gara

Sat, 25 Jun, 2016

Jack McGrath relishing battle of the power packs

Jack McGrath believes Ireland’s scrum has no choice but to face England’s heavyweight pack head on at Twickenham today and is relishing the prospect of a front row battle royale.

Sat, 27 Feb, 2016

Sean O’Brien ruled out of Ireland's clash with England

Ireland props Cian Healy and Mike Ross will join Joe Schmidt’s Six Nations squad this week but the head coach has confirmed Sean O’Brien is definitely out of the February 27 clash with England at Twickenham.

Tue, 16 Feb, 2016

Joe Schmidt admits Ireland's Six Nations dream is almost over

Joe Schmidt has admitted Ireland have only a "very, very outside chance" of now retaining their Six Nations title.

Mon, 15 Feb, 2016

Bludgeon first, flair later for new French supremo Noves

If Guy Noves has a grand plan to restore France to former glories, than the former Toulouse supremo is implementing one step and one game at a time.

Mon, 15 Feb, 2016

Injuries on top of insult for Joe Schmidt’s walking wounded

Last week, any possibility of a Grand Slam or Triple Crown was eliminated on the first outing. This week the potential for a historic third championship on the bounce has also gone west. With England next up in Twickenham, and the casualty rate rising by the day, Ireland are struggling.

Mon, 15 Feb, 2016

Guy Noves tells his young side to stay grounded

France coach Guy Noves has urged his young team to keep themselves grounded after winning their opening two Six Nations matches.

Mon, 15 Feb, 2016

Rory Best: We missed a massive opportunity

Rory Best admitted Ireland blew a "massive opportunity" for victory in France that could well end their hopes of a third consecutive RBS 6 Nations title.

Sat, 13 Feb, 2016

Ireland v Wales - RBS Six Nations Rugby Championship 2016

Three key issues as Ireland seek to capitalise on French weaknesses

Donal Lenihan looks ahead to Ireland's clash with France.

Sat, 13 Feb, 2016

How France and Ireland compare

FRANCE

Sat, 13 Feb, 2016

Double hit of Jefferson Poirot and Uini Atonio set to blast Ireland

France will blast Ireland with the “double hit” of new props Jefferson Poirot and Uini Atonio in tomorrow’s Six Nations battle in Paris, according to Guy Noves.

Fri, 12 Feb, 2016

Tadhg Furlong hoping to play part in Paris mission

Mike Ross has, at least, another week rehabbing at Leinster, Marty Moore is out with a hamstring injury for the entire Six Nations stretch and Nathan White suffered horribly in the scrum during last Sunday’s draw with Wales.

Thu, 11 Feb, 2016

Guy Noves: France will improve after ‘starting from the bottom’

France head coach Guy Noves will seek considerable improvements from his new team’s opening RBS 6 Nations win over Italy as he prepares for this Saturday’s visit of defending champions Ireland.

Tue, 09 Feb, 2016

Dan Carter kicks a conversion 12/12/2015

Racing tighten grip on Champions Cup pool with emphatic win over Glasgow

Dan Carter kicked 12 points as Racing 92 maintained their unbeaten run in the Champions Cup against Glasgow Warriors.

Sat, 09 Jan, 2016

We’ll need Sexton at his influential best

The issues and decisions that will impact tomorrow’s tournament-defining clash with France...

Sun, 11 Oct, 2015

Louis Picamoles 'tossed me aside as nonchalantly as a Parisian flicking a Gitanes butt onto the Champs d'Elysees’

France’s No 8 may be comparatively small, but Louis Picamoles has a habit of humiliating those who underestimate him

Fri, 09 Oct, 2015

French planning to ‘hunt down’ Johnny Sexton

He may have packed his bags and left Paris for good, but Jonathan Sexton continues to hold a fascination for the French, some of whom have made no secret of their intent to target the Ireland number ten ahead of Sunday’s Pool D meeting between the sides in Cardiff.

Thu, 08 Oct, 2015

Stuart Lancaster wants England fans to provide final push