French RUGBY CONNECTIONS with Veronique Landew & Bill Hooper

A very happy rugby weekend if you are ....French! I have a great chat with Mailys Traore, Loosehead prop, with 21 caps for France, on how she got into Rugby,  her love of being an egg chaser for Stade Toulousain and Les Bleus, and which character of Game of Thrones, she identifies with the most. Mike and I review the French teams who played last weekend, with a few controversies thrown in with Bor...

I am delighted this week to speak with  Serge Betsen who shares briefly his thoughts about Les Bleus and Women's 6 Nations on French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast. As promised, Mike Pearce sings "Flower of Scotland" (he's Welsh and he can certainly sing in tune) and Veronique and Mike provide the latest concise rugby news on Top 14, the women 6 Nations, and the European  Championsh...

I have a chat with Gavin Hastings aka Big Gav,  a two-time British & Irish Lion who appeared in three World Cups and in the Five Nations between 1986 to 1995. Gavin reminisces about his rugby memories playing against Les Bleus from his debut in 1986 in Murrayfield to the world Cup in 1995.  He was also pivotal particularly in Scotland’s impressive 1990 Grand Slam. Furthermore, he also shares h...

Did you know that  Scott Quinnell's name, Welsh Rugby Legend is of  French origin (yes, from quenelle which is the name of an egg-shaped dish - True! )? Scott tells us how he fell in love with French Rugby in the heyday of Jean Pierre Rives, shares his thoughts about France vs Wales game, and recalls his time playing against Les Bleus. Let's not forget that Scott Quinnell is the son of l...

ON FRENCH RUGBY CONNECTIONS this week! LE CRUNCH. Are you ready for it? Yann Delaigue, 20 caps reminisces the last time won against England in  2005 and his thoughts about Saturday's game. I also got a quote from Dimitri Yachvili , now Consultant at France Televisions about Le Crunch. Mike Pearce and I review the latest European and rugby news. Enjoy French Rugby Connections, the rugby podcas...

Veronique Landew talks with TMO, Rowan Kitt, arguably the most recognizable Television Match Official (TMO) in world rugby (Rowan Kitt, also called  "Kitty" by Wayne Barnes,) when looking to clarify a major officiating decision). In this episode, Rowan Kitt will provide his thoughts on the refereeing in the Wales England game at the Guinness 6 Nations last weekend at Twickenham, how the...

I had a great car ride with Ben Cohen, who was moving, philosophical, and recounted great stories of the rudimentary "toilets" used on the victory bus and the day he met Prince Harry stark naked! We talk about the rugby coaches who have inspired him and put him on the right track, after the tragic death of his beloved father.  He channeled all his energy and anger into becoming the best...

Where there's a will, there's a way! Six Nations leaders France will be without captain Charles Ollivon for Sunday's match against Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus along with four other players. A total of 11 France players from the 23 that faced Ireland in round two have now contracted the virus. Veronique Landew from the French Rugby Connections podcast elaborates o...

Dan Luger, MBE, former RWC 2003 Cup Winner entertained me with his stories of his rugby road leading to the RWC 2003  as well as camaraderie forged during “Table tennis” games and boxing matches between Austin Healey and  Brian O'Driscoll during the 2001 British and Irish Lions Tour. He highlights the importance of being prepared post-rugby and rubbing shoulders with royalty (no, not Mike Tin...

It's not every day that you have a Rugby World Cup Winner and a British and Irish Lions former player on your podcast. Ian Balshaw, MBE comments on the prowess of Les Bleus and the off day for England at the opening of the 6 Nations weekend,  reminisces his Rugby days in Bath, Leeds, Gloucester, lifting that iconic world cup in 2003 and his love of playing for Biarritz and his French life. He...

This week, I'm predicting Les Bleus squad (Nearly correct except for 3rd row & 13, 14) and I have an enthralling chat with Antonie Claassen from Racing 92 about his Rugby days in South Africa and in France at Brive, Castres, and Racing 92. He recalls his best rugby memories, speaking French with Finn Russell, and reflects on the importance of being prepared for life post-rugby. Mike and I...

This week, we talk about the 6 Nations official launch in which Mike and I took part and conversed with the 6 Nations team head coaches & their captains.  I have a chat with Thomas Lombard, former Racing Metro, Stade Français, and Worcester Warriors player about his rugby days in France and in England, and his current role at the head of a TOP14 club, in a challenging charged Covid era. He was...

Kris Chesney recalls his time playing with Philippe Sella, Francois Pienaar, Michael Lynagh as a young Rugby player at Saracens and being mentored by Jason Leonard when he started playing for Barking at 18 years old . When he left Saracens to play for Toulon in 2009, he had played 338 games for Saracens. Life at Toulon was a dream and he lived by the beach and played with people like Bakkies Botha...

A quick review of the selected French squad this week and reasons why the 6 Nations tournament will happen, whatever the cost. Mike and I review the Top14, in which only 5 teams competed last weekend and we both share a joke and I teach more useful expressions to use in French rugby. Enjoy! Vive Le Rugby!

UNMISSABLE!  What an honour it was for me to chat with Abdelatif Benazzi, who won 78 caps and scored 9 tries for France as a lock and back-row player. From Morocco to France, where he played with his rugby idol, Philippe Sella, in Agen to Saracens, his rugby career was sensational. He played in three World Cups for France and was part of the French squad that beat the All Blacks in the RWC semi fi...

Who remembers the Xmas film from Richard Curtis "Love Actually"? European rugby is so similar and getting so complicated right now with covid, internal politics, and transfers. In this episode, Mike and I narrate the European Champions cup, including the "Toulongate" & because it's Xmas, you will be spoiled with some dreadful Xmas Rugby jokes. Have a Joyeux Noel, behav...

On this week's episode on French Rugby Connections Podcast, you can listen to Veronique and Mike's frank and uncensored point of view on the French RWC's draw, the European Cups, and concussion's matter. Our weekly rugby guest couldn't make it at the last minute but will be there next week.  Instead, here is a comment from charismatic Jean Dujardin on why he likes rugby ....

This week, we review the good, the bad, and the ugly part of Le Crunch and how rugby doubters should never EVER underestimate Les Bleus! Champions Cup is back on and we give you predictions on the teams likely to win their games during this first European rugby fest weekend. I also have a great interview with Lionel Quenardel,  PE & Rugby teacher at Diderot College in Massy, near Paris and who...

Another episode, another French Rugby Legend, this time Oliver Magne is our Rugby guest! Hear his thoughts about the Golden years of Rugby when he played in the Semi-final in 1999 against New Zealand and the Crunch in RWC2003, when France lost against England. Mike and I review the Autumn Internationals and the Top 14 and it's exam time for French rugby words for Mike. Vive le Rugby! ENJOY!

In this week's episode, we pay tribute to  Christophe Dominici "Domi" who was a true Rugby legend and will be sorely missed by the French and Global Rugby family.  I have a great chat with Rory Teague, a former Bristol and Gloucester Player who played in France for Limoges, Aurillac, Grenoble and took on new coaching roles at Saracens, The RFU, and Bordeaux Begles.  Mike and I also...

Serge Betsen is our Rugby guest and reflects on his rugby days playing for Clichy, Biarritz, Les Bleus, and Wasps and explains how Les young Bleus have progressed under the French coach, Fabien Galthie et al. Mike and I review the Top 14 & Autumn Internationals for Men and Women.  As usual, you will learn a new French Rugby word and Veronique finishes with one of her "terrible" rugby...

Unmissable! I had an insightful and moving chat with Philippe Sella reminiscing his time playing for Les Bleus and playing for Saracens at the beginning of the professional rugby era, with Michael Lynagh, Francois Pienarr, and learning English with Kieran Bracken on his drive to the training ground. Mike and I review the Top 14, share the latest Rugby News and we finish with a terrible Welsh and R...

Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce discuss how much Les Bleus have progressed under the French coach, Fabien Galthie et al and review the final round of the Six Nations for men and women. Mike reminisces about the first time he met Fabien Galthie and the philosophical answer he gave to Mike’s question. We also cover the latest Top 14 games, and we finish not by one, but 2 Rugby jokes & French Ru...

Episode 9 trailer: Les Bleus are fast becoming la crème de la crème You can listen the full episode on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

What a beautiful win for France! Great match to prepare against men in Green, on Saturday. My co-host and I  preview the 6 Nations games & le Top 14 too on French Rugby Connections with Veronique Landew & Mike Pearce, the Rugby podcast with a Gallic twist🇫🇷!  Vive le Rugby!