banner
LightNews
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington
@jamesonrugby.bsky.social
940 followers 140 following 500 posts
Freelance journalist. There's rugby. And then there's French rugby. #Top14 #ProD2 #ChampionsCup #EPCRChallengeCup https://linktr.ee/jamesharringtonjourno
linktr.ee
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · Sep 4
It's here, ready or not.

The Great Big #Top14 Season Preview (TM).

Thousands of words. Many names. Arrivals. Departures. Staff updates. The state of play at every club, from Bayonne to Toulouse, heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Please read, like, share, etc

www.rugbypass.com/plus/top-14-...
Top 14 season preview: More Test stars head to France but can anyone topple Toulouse?
France's top-flight campaign kicks off again this weekend with at least 11 of the 14 clubs holding play-off ambitions.
www.rugbypass.com
1 3 9
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 58m
Yes. Yes they do. Can't have too many speedy outside backs.
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 1h
Rodrigo Marta to Pau next season a done deal, Rugbyrama reports

Which might be considered scary by some defence coaches

www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/10/10/t...
Le centre/ailier Rodrigo Marta vers la Section paloise
Facteur X de Colomiers rugby, l'international portugais Rodrigo Marta devrait quitter la Colombe pour rejoindre la Section paloise l'année prochaine.
www.rugbyrama.fr
1
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 1h
Oh look. Jeff Dubois joins #ProD2 side Grenoble as head coach

www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/10/10/g...
2
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 1d
I wonder, too, if this is the end of this saga at Grenoble
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 1d
fcgrugby.com/fr/articles/...

A terse-to-the-point-of-brusque statement from #ProD2 side Grenoble last night confirmed the departure of coach Nicolas Nadau.

No official news on a likely replacement, but all media eyes are firmly on ex-Dax coach Jeff Dubois
1 1 1
Reposted by James Harrington
amberleymuseum.bsky.social
Amberley Museum @amberleymuseum.bsky.social · 2d
This is Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron and considered to be the first person to write a computer programme which was for Babbage's Analytical Machine. She died in 1842
In her honour, today is Ada Lovelace Day and is all about encouraging women and girls in mathematics, science and engineering.
6 150 400
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 2d
Grenoble president Patrick Goffi tells Le Dauphiné Libéré: "Dubois has not received an offer from me."

www.ledauphine.com/sport/2025/1...
Rugby - Pro D2. Jeff Dubois vers le FCG pour remplacer Nicolas Nadau ? « Il n’a pas reçu de proposition de ma part », répond Patrick Goffi
Nicolas Nadau et le FCG, l’histoire va-t-elle se terminer ce mercredi ? La direction du club va communiquer cet après-midi sa décision à l’entraîneur des trois-quarts de Grenoble. En attendant, Rugbyr...
www.ledauphine.com
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 2d
Jeff Dubois to replace Nicolas Nadau at #ProD2 side Grenoble, according to Rugbyrama

www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/10/08/t...
Jeff Dubois en route vers Grenoble
Sans club depuis son départ de Dax cet été, Jeff Dubois a donné son accord pour devenir entraîneur de Grenoble, qui doit désormais acter officiellement la fin de mission de Nicolas Nadau.
www.rugbyrama.fr
1 1 1
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 4d
There's some twisty wording, but it reads a lot like a mutually agreed resignation helped by current agreements. Marty and Bastide were contracted through to the end of this season, while Azema's deal runs to 2028
1
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 4d
"... at their confirmed request" Marty and Bastide "decided to step aside for the good of the team".
1 1
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 4d
Whispers this weekend were that Pres Riviere preferred something less dramatic than chucking coaches, but - acc to the press release - "the staff ... in a spirit of responsibility and ... to create an electroshock in the locker room, proposed a change in the sporting organisation"
1 3
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 4d
Head coach David Marty and defence coach Gérald Bastide leave #Top14 basement side Perpignan, following a series of crisis talks after the club's fifth defeat in five games this season

www.usap.fr/articles/C4F...
Communiqué de presse
Ce dimanche, le président et le directeur général ont reçu longuement les représentants des joueurs, qui ont souhaité assumer pleinement leurs responsabilités face aux mauvais résultats sportifs de ce...
www.usap.fr
2 4 6
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 4d
Okay, then

www.thelocal.fr/20251006/bre...
Breaking: France's prime minister resigns, hours after new government revealed
Just 12 hours after naming his new government, French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned.
www.thelocal.fr
Reposted by James Harrington
irishexaminer.bsky.social
Irish Examiner @irishexaminer.bsky.social · 5d
Ronan O'Gara questions career choices after 'unacceptable' La Rochelle performance
La Rochelle have now won two and lost two games to start the Top 14 season.
dlvr.it
1 3 3
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 9d
I think you're right about Ortiz and Mignot, but they also deserve credit for rebuilding a lot of bridges after WRWC in NZ
1 1
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 10d
Or ... what France are belatedly doing to smash the semi-final glass ceiling. If they get it right, things may well get very interesting very quickly

www.rugbypass.com/news/here-an...
Here and no further: how France failed to hit new heights in 2025
Fourth is, by sporting consent, the worst tournament position — a so-near, so-far frustration of a finish.
www.rugbypass.com
2 5
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 10d
A coach suspended. A player walkout threat.

www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actual...
Nicolas Nadau mis à pied, menace de grève des joueurs de Grenoble
L'entraîneur des trois-quarts du FCG Nicolas Nadau a été mis à pied à titre conservatoire ce mardi. Les joueurs menacent de faire grève pour la réception de Provence Rugby ce vendredi soir (21 heures)...
www.lequipe.fr
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 12d
After last night, it looks like Enzo Herve will be pressed into match action for Castres very quickly following his medical joker move from Toulon

www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/...
Toulon’s Herve on his way to Castres
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULON fly-half Enzo Herve is on the move, a few months after he rejected a proposed swap deal that would have taken him to Stade Francais – passing on the way, somewher...
www.therugbypaper.co.uk
1 3
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 12d
An on whistle first draft of the fourth-round Saturday story of the 2025/26 #Top14

www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/...
Top 14: O'Gara's half-time rollicking pays off as La Rochelle storm to big win over Perpignan
La Rochelle had been clumsy with the ball, and repeatedly battered off it in the opening period. They were guilty, too, of over-ambition – repeatedly preferring in-vain penalty kicks to touch rather t...
www.irishexaminer.com
2
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 23d
Stade Francais
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 29d
Oh, this will be very good
samlstandsup.bsky.social
Sam Larner @samlstandsup.bsky.social · 29d
That big news I teased yesterday?

I've written a book!

Attacking the Space: Inside Rugby's Tactical and Data Revolution is the book I wanted to read as a rugby obsessive kid. It will be released on the 29th January 2026, the pre-order link is:

geni.us/AttackingThe...

1)
1 4
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · Sep 8
Shhhhhhhh

It's a secret
2
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · Sep 8
Not his fault Ramos wasn't where he should have been
1
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · Sep 8
"These are moves we do in training for fun" - Ramos

www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/09/07/t...
"Ce sont des gestes qu’on fait à l’entraînement pour s’amuser" : Ramos revient sur sa passe au pied
Sur la pelouse du Michelin, Thomas Ramos a marqué les esprits avec une monumentale passe au pied pour Dimitri Delibes, qui a terminé dans l’en-but. L’arrière toulousain est revenu sur ce geste après l...
www.rugbyrama.fr
1 2
jamesonrugby.bsky.social
James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · Sep 7
They became parents in the summer - a scrum-half squared...
thalamsutu.bsky.social
Thala Msutu @thalamsutu.bsky.social · Sep 7
Pauline Bourdon-Sansus being married to the other best 9 in the world a few years back is still an insane fact to me 😂
1 1 6