Person: Maxime Médard

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

Champions Cup team news: Hanrahan returns for Munster as Bleyendaal ruled out; No Aki for Connacht

There are three changes to the team that defeated Ospreys.

rugby

Few do Rugby World Cup drama quite like the feuding French

James Harrington Pool C quarter-final qualification was decided last weekend but, with reports of another Rugby World Cup mutiny in the French camp, it’s easy to forget there’s still one key match to play, assuming it does not fall victim to Typhoon Hagibis.

rugby

France beat Tonga to reach Rugby World Cup's last eight

France secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 23-21 victory over Tonga at the Kumamoto Stadium.

rugby

Not the Nice warm-up Townsend was looking for

rugby

France thrash Scotland in Nice

columnists

Champions Cup Team of the Tournament: Furlong and Ryan stand tallest in adversity

Leinster rise impressively to the occasion on Easter Sunday

Leinster refuse to be a team that limits their eggs to the one basket.

Sun, 21 Apr, 2019

Toulouse earn semi-final date with Leinster following thrilling win over Racing

Toulouse overcame the first-half dismissal of Zack Holmes to beat Racing 92 22-21 in a thrilling Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final.

Sun, 31 Mar, 2019

Rebuilding an empire: How Toulouse are bidding to reclaim their place among European rugby royalty

Leinster fans - for one match at least - may not agree, but one of the great joys of European rugby this season has been the resurgence of Toulouse as a major force.

Sat, 12 Jan, 2019

Leinster must spread load to hold ‘special’ Kolbe, says Garry Ringrose

Garry Ringrose says no one player can be handed the task of stopping Cheslin Kolbe when Leinster face Toulouse on Saturday.

Thu, 10 Jan, 2019

Toulouse torment may only strengthen Leinster resolve

Sport retains the capacity to cut even the best of players and teams down to size, writes Donal Lenihan

Mon, 22 Oct, 2018

Leinster's European winning run over as Toulouse stun champions

Toulouse have held on to secure a one point one against reigning Champions Cup holders Leinster.

Sun, 21 Oct, 2018

Tomane to make first European start against Toulouse

Joe Tomane will make his first European start for Leinster against Toulouse in Sunday's Heineken Champions Cup clash.

Fri, 19 Oct, 2018

Jordan Larmour: ‘I still feel that there’s a lot more in me’

Jordan Larmour isn’t just blessed with fancy footwork. The man is a safe pair of hands as well.

Thu, 18 Oct, 2018

Peter Jackson: Freddie Burns' gaffe may sink Bath

An unholy trinity of ghastly misadventures in sport happened at three historic venues: Aintree; the old twin-towered Wembley; and St Andrews. That the misadventures are still talked of five decades later says everything about their enduring appeal, writes Peter Jackson.

Mon, 15 Oct, 2018

Racing pay heavy price for resting stars

Munster will go into Champions Cup semi-final weekend as the only one of Europe’s last four with a win behind them after their opponents this Saturday – Racing 92 – were defeated by Toulouse.

Mon, 16 Apr, 2018

Ireland shouldn’t be caught napping again

For all the unpredictably that comes with a Six Nations trip to Paris, there will be certain lessons learned over the past two championships that should put Ireland in control of their destiny when they face a France side under new management.

Sat, 03 Feb, 2018

Henshaw taking leadership in his stride

Some of Robbie Henshaw’s friends are still in college.

Wed, 31 Jan, 2018

Glasgow Warriors v Munster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 Round 5

Munster v Toulouse: How the sides compare

MUNSTER - Team news

Sat, 01 Apr, 2017

No April fools around at this stage of Champions Cup

Bernard Jackman and the talking points from this weekend’s rugby.

Sat, 01 Apr, 2017

James Hart is with Munster ahead of Toulouse tie

Scrum-half James Hart will have more than a passing interest in Munster’s clash with Toulouse as the side he will be joining in the summer battles it out in a Champions Cup quarter-final against the side he will face for Racing 92 in two weeks.

Thu, 30 Mar, 2017

Munster ‘firepower’ to decide it

Grenoble interim head coach Mike Prendergast believes that Munster hold too much firepower for Toulouse in Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park.

Wed, 29 Mar, 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

In-form Wales go top as France flop

Wales 19 France 10: Wales moved to the top of the RBS 6 Nations by beating France 19-10 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Sat, 27 Feb, 2016

Alun-Wyn Jones warns against attempts to blunt rugby’s physical edge

Wales warrior Alun-Wyn Jones has warned against the danger of any attempt to blunt Test rugby’s fierce physical edge.

Fri, 26 Feb, 2016

Robbie Henshaw: ‘I’ve let a few people down in Connacht’

It was his own decision. No-one else’s.

Sun, 21 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

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

Plenty for Ireland to stew over and little time to find recipe before England clash

France 10 Ireland 9: With a Six Nations championship defence all but over after two outings, Ireland’s ambitions no longer concern three titles in-a-row but how to avoid a third successive game without winning.

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

Six Nations TV View: Love for Paris in the springtime wavering

Paris in the spring. Formidable. (Try saying it with a French accent.) Oooh, and look which monsieur has popped up in the BBC studio at the Stade de France. Mais oui, it’s Paul O’Connell. Ireland’s loss is the Beeb’s gain.

Mon, 15 Feb, 2016

Peter Jackson: Officials turn a blind eye in miserable end to Ireland’s reign

When the Ireland management invited Marvin Hagler to give their players a fighting talk, The Marvellous One voiced fears for their collective safety.

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 lose by the slimmest of margins in France

Ireland's five-match unbeaten run against France came to a punishing end as Guy Noves' side edged home a tight Six Nations encounter at Stade de France today.

Sat, 13 Feb, 2016

French in confident mood as Phillipe Saint-Andre reshuffles pack

London’s Indian summer came to an abrupt end yesterday, but the slate skies and soft rain did little to dampen the sense of conviviality that permeated the mood around the French camp ahead of their second outing in Ireland’s Pool D tomorrow night.

Tue, 22 Sep, 2015

Thomas pays huge penalty for being late

Rising star Teddy Thomas has been dropped for tomorrow’s Test against Argentina by France manager Philippe Saint-Andre for missing a training session by arriving two hours late.

Fri, 21 Nov, 2014

Munster boost as O’Mahony given all-clear

Munster have been given a boost ahead of today’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse after captain Peter O’Mahony was included in Rob Penney’s team to face the four-time champions at Thomond Park (1:30pm).

Sat, 05 Apr, 2014

Potent Thomond cocktail can leave French reeling

Memo to Munster fans from Ronan O'Gara : Get into Thomond Park a good 45 minutes before tomorrow’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Fri, 04 Apr, 2014

Grunt in abundance, but Munster guile still missing

When news filtered into the press room 30 minutes before kick-off that Peter O’Mahony was a Munster absentee, the odds on a visitors’ success dropped a fathom.

Mon, 31 Mar, 2014

There’s going to be a Munster surge in the next two years

Derby day tomorrow in Paris and Dublin.

Fri, 28 Mar, 2014

Toulouse rest stars with Munster on the horizon

Toulouse coach Guy Noves looks to have prioritised the Heineken Cup over the Top 14 after deciding to give three of his French internationals a weekend off ahead of their quarter-final trip to Munster.

Thu, 27 Mar, 2014

Already, eyes are turning to the 2015 World Cup

RBS SIX NATIONS:

Mon, 17 Mar, 2014

France get the jump on Ireland - in the rankings

France jumped ahead of Ireland in the IRB’s World Rankings following Saturday’s narrow victory over Scotland.

Tue, 11 Mar, 2014

Sweeping change for France as seven players swapped

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made seven changes to his team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Thu, 06 Mar, 2014

No respite for flu-hit Connacht

Connacht 9 Toulouse 37

Mon, 16 Dec, 2013

Sweet revenge for Toulouse over Connacht

Connacht 9 Toulouse 37

Sat, 14 Dec, 2013

Connacht braced for Toulouse backlash

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

Sat, 14 Dec, 2013

All Blacks thrash France in Christchurch

New Zealand 30 France 0

Sat, 15 Jun, 2013

Scott has case for defence

France 23 Scotland 16

Mon, 18 Mar, 2013

France win and Ireland avoid the wooden spoon

France 23 Scotland 16

Sat, 16 Mar, 2013

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