French RUGBY CONNECTIONS with Veronique Landew & Bill Hooper

Toulouse is still at the top but is likely to lose their pole position as their key players will play in the autumn internationals, starting on 5th November! Tom Dickson and I review the moment of madness that gripped Reda Wardi which will prevent him now to join Les Bleus and the controversial red card handed out to Castres in the game against Toulon....and we have more news about wheelchair rugb...

Another exciting week in the top 14 with a few surprises. Toulon low score against La Rochelle but Toulouse is still on a winning streak!  In the meantime, in the training camp in Marcoussis, 42 players have been selected in preparation for the Autumn internationals with 9 Toulouse players in that squad (the usual suspects). Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the rugby podcast with the gallic fla...

Listen to the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast to find out if the Top 14 is slowly morphing into football...What happened at Stade Francais last week wasn't very "rubylike" and Tom Dickson and I are really hoping it was an a one off. On the Pro D2 side, finally my Breton team, Vannes is at the top and we are pleased for the win of the French women's rugby against South Africa t...

It's still early days in the Top 14 after 5 weekends of rugby, but Toulouse is still at the top, to the delight of my co-host, Tom Dickson, Toulouse aficionado, but it's already very tight.  We review last week's wins prediction and which teams might win this weekend. Also, there are only 337 days until the world cup starts in France but only 3 days to wait for the Women's Rugb...

This week, The Rugy award night aka la nuit du rugby took place in Paris, in which the English Zach Mercer won the award for the best Top14 player and Antoine Dupont as the best international player. Quelle surprise....not! We review the top 14 and Pro D2 and talk about the latest Rugby news and Tom's homage to Jonny Wilkson on his roof. Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the podcast with th...

This is a very succinct episode as Tom Dickson was on a wine tasting event with Didier Lacroix, Stade Toulousain CEO and French Rugby league vice-president. It's all about French rugby connections;-). Apologies for the sound quality.  We talk briefly about the top 14 next matches,  ranking, and last weekend's games; Tom also summarises the Pro D2 too.  On another note, Tom tells us about...

This week,  we talk not only about French rugby, but also about anthems that will or could be played for the next 6 Nations tournament (that's what happens when your co-hosts are Welsh and Franco/English...;-). Mike Pearce is back and Tom Dickson shares his joy of seeing Antoine Dupont work his magic for Toulouse last Saturday and his tip on getting some RWC tickets - Disclaimer: No guarantee...

One year to go! The countdown has started! Are you ready for the RWC 2023 in France? Join us for a quick summary (only 26 mins) of the Top 14 and Pro D2 too on the French rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast. This week, Veronique is joined by Toulouse rugby aficionado Tom Dickson who deep dives into the game between Stade Toulousain against Bordeaux and shares some amazing rugby stories too (with a few names...

This is the last episode of the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast for season 2 and we've had a ball...pun intended, sharing the latest French Rugby news, from the top 14, the Heineken and Challenge cup, the 6 Nations, and Les Bleus, of course.  Mike Pearce, finally provides more details on his book "Les Bleus Brothers", perfect for your summer holiday and I have the pleasure to speak...

The Top14  competition started on 4th September and will finish in style in le Stade de France in Paris. Mike Pearce and I preview the final between Castres and Montpellier and we pay homage to the final game of a special rugby friend, Monsieur Guilhem Guirado! We share with you  the latest Rugby news and we discuss the FUN CRUNCH aka the Barbarians game at Twickenham last Sunday, Enjoy the French...

The Top 14 season is officially over after 26 epic French rugby weekends! Mike and I give you a very quick review of this ultimate French rugby weekend and the latest rugby news regarding transfers, retirements, new jobs, and women's rugby in under 20 mins! Veronique has Covid and needs to look after her vocal cords. To be continued!  Next week:  Montpellier and ....Castres will play in the s...

Done and dusted! The Challenge and the Heineken Cup have been won by two French Rugby clubs and this weekend, both winners will meet in the very tight Top 14 last weekend of rugby before the playoffs aka "Les Barrages". Hear our thoughts on these hard-won European cups and what's in store in the final Top 14 weekend! Finally, you can listen to the final part of my chat with Eric Cha...

Tom Dickson,  English and French rugby friend from Stade Toulousain and highly valued translator in previous episodes with Fabien Pelous, Yannick Jauzion, Denis Charvet, and Eric Champ joins me in previewing the penultimate weekend of the crazy Top 14! Not a boring competition for sure, this year! We also talk about the Euro semis, Pain au chocolat or Chocolatine;-) and Rugby Sevens! Enjoy the Fre...

It feels good to be French when you're a rugby aficionado, following the phenomenal win from Toulouse against Munster and Racing 92 at the Stade de la Defense versus Sale!  This week, you can also listen part 2 of my chat  with former Bleus Eric Champ (42 caps), about his time as a rugby player and owner of the Toulon club and his thoughts about its current owner. Piece of warning, this week&...

Back with a bang! After a 4 week hiatus, the FRC is back on and the Top 14 is going mad, i.e. the points difference between the top 7 teams is minimal! Eric Champ is my guest this week (episode 1) and he reminisces that QF in 2011 against Les Anglais. but he would love to have a pint with Mickey Skinner 30 years later.  Mike Pearce and I review the Top14 and I rant over the six Nations Women final...

Only 5 more weekends of Top 14 rugby before the playoffs and the fight will be fierce as the race to the top 6  couldn't be tighter! Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce summarise the Top 14 as it stands and we deep dive into the Tik Tok 6 Nations! Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the French Flair!

Done and Dusted! Bravo les Bleus for your epic 6 Nations Grand Slam win! I also chat with twice grand slam winner, Jean Pierre Rives about his life post-rugby as a painter and sculptor and his involvement with the creation of the French Barbarians with Jacques Fourroux in 1979 and the rest is history! Mike Pearce, my co-host provides great stats about the 6 Nations, shares his sorrow about the Wel...

This week with Jean Pierre Rives, nicknamed Casque d’Or – Golden Helmet – Rives was the star of French rugby in the 1970s and 1980s and became French captain 34 times, playing alongside Jean-Claude Skrela and Jean-Pierre Bastiat in a legendary back row. His style was free-spirited, unpredictable, and entertaining.....in one word ....Very French. Mike Pearce and I review and preview the last crucia...

On this episode, we preview from a French and Welsh point of view that Pivotal game! Will it be third time lucky for Les Bleus or could the men from Wayne Pivac create a big upset?  Mike Pearce, my co-host goes back to memory lane where his love of Rugby started 52 years ago, when he first saw a valiant Welsh rugby team play on TV  and the rest is history.  Unmissable! French Rugby CONNECTIONS, th...

Mike Pearce and I review THAT phenomenal 6 Nations match between Wales vs France and what's been happening in the top 14 too. Your French rugby digest in 30 mins this week! Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the rugby podcast with the French flair!

Mike Pearce and I preview the pivotal match between Scotland against France. The last time, Les Bleus won at Murrayfield during the 6 Nations was in 2014, so payback time! I chat with another former international phenomenal player from the 80s and 90s, the talented and humble Denis Charvet about his rugby days, and I finish with the ritual French lesson! Enjoy the French Rugby Connections Podcast,...

Review and preview of the 6 Nations and especially THAT  game between the two strongest teams in the northern hemisphere, France and Ireland by Moi, Veronique Landew, and my co-host, Mike Pearce. We also discuss what's going wrong at Toulon and I finish my chat with the humble and magnificent former French International and co-creator of Eden Park luxury leisurewear, Franch Mesnel. Enjoy the...

Franck Mesnel recalls the crazy years or "the Showbizz years" when rugby was still amateur and facing Les Anglais in the QF in the Rugby World cup in 1991. He recollects how on the back of a bow tie, he created a business with his teammate, Eric Blanc. Fast forward to2022, Mike Pearce, my co-host, and I preview the 6 Nations and Les Bleus: will they finally win the 6 Nations this year? E...

This week, I have the immense privilege to speak to one of the best fly-half and Centre in the World, Franck Mesnel. He reminisces of his younger days playing rugby and the incredible "Show Biz" memories of playing with Eric Blanc, Jean Baptiste Lafond, Philippe Guillard, Brett Gosper, etc. My co-host, Mike Pearce and I review the "Euro Covid-plagued cup "and to finish off, I t...

In this week's short episode, Mike Pearce and I preview the European Championship games and we share with you the latest news regarding the top 14  and the Pro D2 rankings. As usual, I finish with my French rugby "lesson" and this time,  Mike raised his "Welsh" beret....Lol Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the French podcast with the Gallic flair.