French RUGBY CONNECTIONS with Veronique Landew & Bill Hooper

Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the gallic flair! 15 mins long! NO ADS Established in 2020! Véronique Landew and Bill Hooper recap Toulouse’s latest title win over a tenacious Montpellier and note Toulouse’s chance to break a 1990s-era record with a fifth consecutive Top 14 win next year. They then review the inaugural Nations Championship match in which New Zeal...

Top 14 Final Preview & French Rugby NEWS in 18 minutes! NO ADS.  Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the podcast with the French Flair! Established in 2020! Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper preview the Top 14 final at a hot, muggy Stade de France between regular-season top two Toulouse and Montpellier, noting an alcohol-free perimeter and mandatory hydration breaks for the players. The...

The French Rugby CONNECTONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the French flair! 17 mins long, no Ads. Established in 2020 Veronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper discuss French rugby, starting with Pro D2 champions Vannes returning to the Top 14. They preview the Top 14 barrages: Pau vs Racing 92 at Stade du Hameau, noting Pau’s long wait since their last title in 1964, their renaissance and France...

Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper recap the Pro D2 final in Toulouse at Ernest Wallon, where Vannes beat Philippe Saint-André’s Provence 18–14 to win the PRO D2 Final and earn direct promotion to the Top 14, praising the massive Breton support, tense finish, and key tries by Robin Taccola and Ben Stevenson, while noting Provence still face an access match vs Perpignan. They then review Top 14 round...

Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper preview the Champions Cup final in Bilbao between Union Bordeaux Bègles and Leinster, expecting a tight match where breakdown policing, heat, and Bordeaux’s pacey backline (Penaud, Bielle-Biarrey, Jalibert, Lucu) could be decisive, while warning of Leinster’s structure - Coach Nienaber-led defense, and Gibson-Park’s influence; both predict a Bordeaux win (around 25...

Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper preview Le Crunch as France, unbeaten in this Six Nations, face England’s Red Roses, unbeaten since losing to France in 2018, in the sold-out finale at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux, discussing France’s improved belief under their new coach, Francois Ratier, defensive strength, discipline, but aware of the threats posed by England.  They then review Top 14 Round...

Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper review the European Cup semi-finals, praising Toulon’s narrow 29–25 loss to Leinster in Dublin and Bordeaux Bègles’ high-intensity win over Bath at a sold-out Chaban-Delmas to set up a Champions Cup final vs Leinster in Bilbao. They highlight the fly-half duel between Matthieu Jalibert and Finn Russell,  and their unexpectedly strong defence, while criticising pund...

This episode features a concise conversation between French Veronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper (an English/French citizen), highlighting the pivotal games in the European Champions Cup this weekend, with a review of the TOP 14, Pro D2, and the latest rugby news!   20 Minutes Long and NO ADS! The French Rugby CONNECTIONS was Established in 2020! The First ENGLISH Podcast in English about the...

Top 14 Round 22 Preview: Playoff Race Tightens + Pro D2 Upsets & Women’s Six Nations In this French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast episode, Veronique Landewm, with co-host Bill Hooper preview Top 14 Round 22 as the battle for the top six intensifies, discussing recent results and key fixtures including Stade Français vs Pau, Bordeaux-Bègles vs Montpellier, and Toulouse vs Clermont, plus the impact...

Véronique Landew is joined with co-host Bill Hooper on the French Rugby Connections podcast to review a standout Top 14 “classico” week and look ahead to Round 21 with five rounds left, including La Rochelle vs Bordeaux, Clermont vs Lyon, Bayonne vs Pau, Montpellier vs Perpignan, Castres vs Toulouse, and Sunday’s Paris derby Racing 92 vs Stade Français. They discuss the Top 14 table with Toulouse...

Véronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper preview a major European rugby weekend as the Champions Cup returns, focusing on Glasgow vs Toulon and the headline quarter-final Bordeaux-Bègles vs Toulouse at Stade Chaban-Delmas, framed as a clash of top-level squads with key matchups and discipline likely decisive. They note Toulouse’s pursuit of another European title, Bordeaux’s ambition for a first,...

Top 14 Round 20 Preview: Playoff Push, Relegation Battle & Pro D2 Update | French Rugby CONNECTIONS Veronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper preview a pivotal Top 14 Round 20 as the league enters the final third of the regular season, with playoff spots, home semifinals to play for, and relegation on the line. They discuss Montpellier’s surge up the table, Toulouse’s need to maintain momentum,...

France Edge England as Ramos Seals Six Nations Drama | French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast in 22 Minutes. Veronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper recap a dramatic Six Nations finale where France beat England with Thomas Ramos’ last-gasp penalty, leaving them emotionally drained after a match decided by the final kick. They praise Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s record nine tries in a single tournament and no...

France Stunned by Scotland, Then La Crunch Preview: Can Les Bleus Still Win the Six Nations?  20 MINUTES LONG! In this episode of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, Veronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper react to France’s shock loss to Scotland at Murrayfield—ending Grand Slam hopes—while crediting Scotland’s intensity, France’s poor defense and discipline, and small disruptions in preparatio...

France Cruise Past Italy: Six Nations Momentum, Squad Depth & Top 14/Pro D2 Updates Veronique Landew nd co-host Bill Hooper recap France’s 38–8 win over Italy, noting three bonus-point wins from three, a high-pace attacking style, and a defense that has conceded five tries so far. They praise France’s tempo, power, and depth, highlighting a standout try-scorer’s pace and record run, DuPont’s i...

France vs Italy Preview: Squad Changes, Six Nations Weekend & Top 14 Updates | French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast! French Rugby in 22 mins! Veronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper preview France vs Italy in Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy with the roof closed, noting France’s last Lille match was a 13–13 draw with Italy in the 2023 World Cup. They discuss Fabien Galthié’s squad changes, including...

Six Nations Preview & Top 14 Roundup | French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast in 30 minutes! Véronique is joined by Bill Hooper, co-host of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS podcast, ahead of a major Six Nations weekend. They look back at France’s recent performance and discuss Fabien Galthié’s selections and tactical approach, including concerns about intensity, bench impact, and avoiding the same mista...

In this episode of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, hosts Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper dive into the exhilarating performance of the French rugby team against Ireland in the Six Nations opening game. They discuss the standout performances of players like Mickael Gaillard and the impressive halfback partnership of DuPont and Jaliber. The duo touches on the atmosphere at Stade de France, th...

17 mins long! French Rugby Express!!! Join Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper as they dive deep into the latest happenings in French rugby. This episode covers the wet and windy Six Nations Press Conference in Edinburgh, insights into the French squad and key players, and a detailed analysis of potential winners and teams to watch. The hosts also discuss Italy's progress and Wales' challen...

Join Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper in this episode of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast as we dive into the latest happenings in the rugby world. We discuss the upcoming 6 Nations opening match in Paris and the contribution of new and influential players in the 42 players selected by Fabien Galthie and his staff to train at Marcoussis.  We talked about Fabien Galthié's squad decisions,...

French Rugby CONNECTIONS: European Cup Strategies, Team Updates, and Behind the Scenes Join Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper in this episode of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast as they dive into the latest news and updates from the European Cup. They discuss the challenges faced by Toulouse, the unexpected player selections, and crucial match outcomes. The episode also covers the coaching stra...

We are back! Join Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper on the latest episode of the French Rugby Connection Podcast! This week, they dive into a detailed review of the recent Champions Cup matches, highlighting both triumphs and setbacks for French teams. They preview the upcoming games and discuss the challenges facing French clubs in the restructured championship. Also, catch up on the latest Top 14...

In this edition of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper discuss the performance of the French rugby team against Fiji, highlighting positives such as the return of key players and the impact on the game. They also address concerns about the intensity of training on player stamina and performance. The lineup for the upcoming match against Australia is analysed, and...

In this episode of the French Rugby Connections Podcast, Veronique Landew and co-host Bill Hooper delve into the recent France vs. South Africa match, analyzing what went wrong and what went right for the French team. They also preview the upcoming game against Fiji, discussing the team changes and the significance of this match for maintaining France's position in the World Cup seedings. The...

French Rugby Connection Podcast: France vs. South Africa Showdown In this episode of the French Rugby Connection Podcast, Veronique Landew and Bill Hooper discuss the upcoming clash between France and South Africa, a rematch of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. The episode features a deep dive into the French team selection, game strategies, and the animosity between the two sides. It also c...