European Club Rugby

<p>In the French Top 14, Clermont tops the table and goes straight to the semi-finals, despite their loss to Toulouse yesterday. All thanks to Toulon losing to Montpellier without a bonus point.</p>
<p>Now 2nd placed Montpellier has the best chance to get the second direct semi-final spot, although Toulon and Racing92 can still overtake them. This is not pure theory, because Montpellier plays the last round-robin game (away) against 4th placed Racing92, while 3rd placed Toulon takes on 7th placed Bordeaux at home. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Going by the current rankings, Toulon, Racing92, Toulouse, and either Castres or Bordeaux will go to the play-offs to play for the two remaining semi-final spots.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>All in all, Toulon v Bordeaux and Racing92 v Montpellier will be the most important of the final round-robin games.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oyonnax and Agen can't escape relegation to the Pro D2. (Agen was only promoted to the Top 14 last season).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Lyon, which was relegated from the Top 14 to Pro D2 at the end of the 2014-15 season, has already earned automatic promotion back to the Top 14.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The second team to be promoted to the Top 14 will be the winner of Aurillac v Bayonne (also relegated from the Top 14 last season).</p>

<p>Madness. the T14 means 26 regular games plus any European involvement then play offs for the play offs (effectively), then the finals. That could be 29 games plus European stuff, plus any internationals. No wonder most of their players look shattered.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="584098" data-time="1464604264"><p>
Madness. the T14 means 26 regular games plus any European involvement then play offs for the play offs (effectively), then the finals. That could be 29 games plus European stuff, plus any internationals. No wonder most of their players look shattered.</p></blockquote>
<br>
And most of them don't fancy test matches afterwards. The club game has permanently eclipsed test rugby in France. The current schedules have to change.

<p>It was an interesting weekend for French rugby. Too bad we can't watch these games in NZ (except via dodgy streams). Coliseum/Lightbox have the online rights, but didn't stream one single game of the 2015/2016 season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As expected, Clermont finished on top of the table and goes straight to the semi-finals. They beat La Rochelle 57-8 at home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Toulon snatched the second direct semi-final spot from Montpellier by beating Bordeaux 44-3, while Montpellier lost to Racing 92 (25-40).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Castres earned the last play-off spot by downing last year's Top 14 champions Stade Francais Paris 35-14; SF finishing on a miserable 12th spot.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary of the games and try/points scorers here: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.planetrugby.com/news/top-14-wrap-clermont-toulon-into-semi-finals/'>http://www.planetrugby.com/news/top-14-wrap-clermont-toulon-into-semi-finals/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>While Clermont and Toulon have next weekend off, these <u>play-off matches</u> will be played for the two remaining semi-final spots:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Racing92 v Toulouse (Sun 12 June, 6.45am NZT). The winner of this game will play Clermont in the semis.</p>
<p>Montpellier v Castres (Mon 13 June, 2.15am NZT). The winner of this game will play Toulon.</p>

<p>And just like happened with Ben Te'o, the French and English clubs are now hovering over players like Bundee Aki.   It looks like the IRFU will have to try and sign him early to stay and play in Connacht.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799'>http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I can see this happening more and more with some players - Irish and foreign - that develop well, and then are going to get snapped up with massive money from either England or France.</p>

<p>Minimal sympathy sorry Pot Hale. From a NZ point of view if it's Connacht, Toulon or Wasps, it's still a talented NZ player moving overseas.<br><br>
I expect Aki to stay, given he's more Weshtie than the Connacht lads themselves. Or at least that was the angle taken this season. So you can relax, he will be impervious to money as his burning desire has always been to wear the green of Connacht & Ireland</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="585402" data-time="1465259437">
<div>
<p>And just like happened with Ben Te'o, the French and English clubs are now hovering over players like Bundee Aki.   It looks like the IRFU will have to try and sign him early to stay and play in Connacht.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799'>http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I can see this happening more and more with some players - Irish and foreign - that develop well, and then are going to get snapped up with massive money from either England or France.</p>
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</blockquote>
<p>PH, I find that article really quite ironic and just a bit funny too. Complaining about one's poaches being poached.  :think:</p>

<p>carl axtens had his debut  game for toulouse against  another bop rugby player tino nemaini playing for  grenoble</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="585486" data-time="1465281978"><p>
PH, I find that article really quite ironic and just a bit funny too. Complaining about one's poaches being poached. :think:</p></blockquote>
<br>
I agree. I'm not complaining. If this continues to happen, then it will kill off the notion of project players.

<p>Racing will play Toulon in the Nou Camp in the Top 14 final.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Racing had to win in extra time with Carter putting them ahead with a late conversion. Joe Rokocoko scored a fantastic try and looked to still have a lot of his old pace. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ma'a Nonu scored a try and assisted in another for Toulon.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="589612" data-time="1466290985">
<div>
<p>Racing will play Toulon in the Nou Camp in the Top 14 final.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Racing had to win in extra time with Carter putting them ahead with a late conversion. Joe Rokocoko scored a fantastic try and looked to still have a lot of his old pace. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ma'a Nonu scored a try and assisted in another for Toulon.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Racing was very lucky; controversial officiating much in favour of Racing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ma'a Nonu also got knocked out in that game. Fortunately, he tweeted afterwards that he's okay.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Will be an interesting final. Too bad we have to watch it via dodgy streams here in NZ because no one can be bothered to broadcast Top 14 games. It may not be the same level of rugby as Super Rugby, I still would like to be able to watch a few games now and then.</p>

Maori TV has the Top 14 doesn't it? Not live though.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="589632" data-time="1466298052">
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<p>Maori TV has the Top 14 doesn't it? Not live though.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Correct. One game per week and some highlights.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sunday, 1.30pm. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/rugby-show-french-top-14-rugby'>http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/rugby-show-french-top-14-rugby</a></p>

<p><strong>European Challenge Cup - pools 2016-17:</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmHio2rWAAA59ow.jpg" alt="CmHio2rWAAA59ow.jpg"></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>European Championship Cup - pools 2016-17:</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmHn3lQXEAIINrY.jpg" alt="CmHn3lQXEAIINrY.jpg"></p>

Ali Williams unretired for Racing 92

I assume the Nou Camp crowd was a record for a rugby game? It is was s sell out or near sell out.

<p>Perhaps for a club game.  The 2 Bledisloe Cup games at Stadium Australia in 1999 and 2000 had 100,000+ in attendance.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="592920" data-time="1467241777"><p>
Perhaps for a club game. The 2 Bledisloe Cup games at Stadium Australia in 1999 and 2000 had 100,000+ in attendance.</p></blockquote>
Oh yeah, of course.<br><br>
The reason I though this was last year during RWC the NZ v Arg game at Wembley was trumpeted as a record crowd, then broken by Ireland v Rumania.<br><br>
I don't recall any of the media I read about those records limiting the conditions to record World Cup crowds.

<p>The 2000 Bledisloe "Best Game Ever Played" was in front of 109,874.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/team/highest_attendance.html?id=1;type=class'>http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/team/highest_attendance.html?id=1;type=class</a></p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="592869" data-time="1467226746">
<div>
<p>Ali Williams unretired for Racing 92</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>They will have to rename it Nanterland soon if this keeps up</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Some interesting stats from the 2015-16 Top14 season in an AGM report adopted by the French rugby union:</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- the Top 14 final in Barcelona had a world record crowd for a <strong>club </strong>game of 99,124</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- the total number of spectators for the entire season was 2,620,870 for the Top 14 (an average of 13,425 per round robin game) and 1,197,000 for the Pro D2 (an average of 4,816 per round robin game)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- the average number of tries scored per match in the Top 14 was 4.5 (an increase of 36% since 2014) and in the Pro D2 4.1 (an increase of 12% since 2014)</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">They're also going to change the promotion-relegation procedure between the Top14 and Pro D2 from the 2017-18 season.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.lnr.fr/ligue-nationale-de-rugby/actualites-ligue-nationale-de-rugby/assemblee-generale-du-9-juillet-2016'>http://www.lnr.fr/ligue-nationale-de-rugby/actualites-ligue-nationale-de-rugby/assemblee-generale-du-9-juillet-2016</a></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Top 14 semi finals in 2017 (26, 27 or 28 May) will be played in Marseille. lâ€Orange VÃlodrome has 67,404 seats.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.lnr.fr/rugby-pro-d2/actualites-rugby-pro-d2/top-14-marseille-accueillera-les-demi-finales-2017'>http://www.lnr.fr/rugby-pro-d2/actualites-rugby-pro-d2/top-14-marseille-accueillera-les-demi-finales-2017</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Top 14 final will be played in Stade de France (Paris, 81,338 seats) on 4 June 2017.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.lnr.fr/ligue-nationale-rugby/actualites-ligue-nationale-rugby/top-14-finale-2017-places-en-vente'>http://www.lnr.fr/ligue-nationale-rugby/actualites-ligue-nationale-rugby/top-14-finale-2017-places-en-vente</a></p>

Would like to see a stats comparison of that data across all pro comps<br><br><br><br>
But I'm a lazy bugger...

<p>Interesting development, which will promote the development of local French players:</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Major rule change in Top 14 regarding young players</strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Date published: July 11 2016</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) have ruled that foreign players signed to youth contracts will no longer be considered as JIFF players from next season.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">JIFF players – <em>joueurs issus des filières de formation</em>, otherwise known as academy-trained players â€“ are required to have either been registered with the FFR for five years by the age of 23, or to have spent three years in an FFR-approved training centre by 21.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Each team last season was required to have 55 percent of their matchday squad (12 out of 23) made up of JIFF players.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">However the law change now means that the number of young French players featuring on a regular basis is set for a substantial increase, with those young players from overseas now set to be listed as foreigners rather than JIFF players from 2017, according to <em>Midi Olympique</em>.</span></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.planetrugby.com/news/major-rule-change-in-top-14-regarding-young-players/'>http://www.planetrugby.com/news/major-rule-change-in-top-14-regarding-young-players/</a></p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="595920" data-time="1468242487">
<div>
<p>Interesting development, which will promote the development of local French players:</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.planetrugby.com/news/major-rule-change-in-top-14-regarding-young-players/'>http://www.planetrugby.com/news/major-rule-change-in-top-14-regarding-young-players/</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>That has to be good news for French rugby.</p>

So the first player (Jourdain, 23) got red - as I understand it from the media - for punching Taumalolo. Taumalolo got red for lifting Jourdain in the scrum (by lifting his leg). And Hunt, did he punch someone as well?

I find it a bit strange how the ref and AR just watch it unfold and don't do anything. In NZ (and Oz), the refs blow their whistle (twice) and tell them to stop. Not that that always helps, and sometimes they repeat it several times, but these Frenchies don't do anything at all.

In more interesting NH club rugby news: the French Top 14 season is now 4 weeks underway and there have been some surprising results.

La Rochelle, the club of Victor Vito and Jason Eaton has won 3 and drew 1 of their 4 games. This sees them top the table, but they have only played one of the stronger teams - Clermont. That was the draw at home.

Clermont comes 2nd, with two wins and two draws. One of their wins was away against Nemani Nadolo's Montpellier, and the two draws were also in away games, including a game against 2015 Champions Stade Francais. On Sunday, they smashed Racing 92 (without Carter who has taken up sailing) 47-10. Hosea Gear and Isaia Toeava haven't played yet this season because of injury (knee and shoulder, respectively).

Stade Francais and Toulon come next on equal points, but Toulon already having lost two games, against lowly Bayonne (promoted from Pro D2; NZ players incl Tanerau Latimer, Adam Whitelock, Thom Donelly) and -at home- against Brive, and two away wins against Pau and Toulouse. Ma'a Nonu started for Toulon in all four games.

Racing 92 (Dan Carter, Chris Masoe, Ben Tameifuna, Casey Laulala) sits 8th on the table, also with two wins and two losses, but with fewer bonus points.

He's been given 13 weeks on first biting charge. Second charge was dismissed.

Some media saying he might appeal but that's conjecture for the moment.

Jaysus he seems to get into a lot of wierd trouble

Unlucky or perhaps a bit not right in the head (maybe just rugby gods karma for those ridiculous dives)

@Siam said in NH club rugby:

Jaysus he seems to get into a lot of wierd trouble

Unlucky or perhaps a bit not right in the head (maybe just rugby gods karma for those ridiculous dives)

He combines being very stroppy & excited on the pitch, with being a little bitch. So he gets done for cheap shots, eye gouges, biting, talking back to players / refs etc.

I've given up on my number 1 wish in rugby which was him swan diving in to win the world cup & dropping the fucking ball mid dive.

The video was not really conclusive and you could well ask questions of Waller with his hand and arm all over Ashton's face but to me it just looks like a rugby incident and nothing much to be concerned about. Having said that though, Ashton's growing rep as a tool cannot help him in circumstances like these and he is unlikely to get much sympathy. FWIW I thought the eye gouge last year was questionable too.

@Catogrande If that was the case, you'd think the other player would say it didn't happen?

@Bones
Not sure if you mean the biting or the gouging incident? Assuming it is the former, you would need to add context - the match itself was pretty brutal and there was a lot of niggle. Both sides were up for it and there was plenty of bitch play going on. In the context of the match it wouldn't surprise me that someone had got bitten or that someone could claim a bite when another time they might just wash it off as something and nothing. But yeah I would like to assume that if a guy had claimed he'd been bitten that there was some sound reason for doing so..

During the game Waller (not alone by any means) was playing the tool card at every opportunity and got yellowed himself for a stupid off the ball dump tackle at one point. In itself the tackle was not much of anything other than being plain stupid. Does that have a bearing on his claims? Who knows but the video posted below doesn't show much to me - certainly not 13 weeks.

@Catogrande It's a dirty filthy bite! 13 weeks is pretty sweet.

@Bones Well the judiciary certainly thought so and they're never wrong

you cant really accidentally bite someone, and having been bitten, you know you've been bitten, so I don't think you would confuse some other niggle with a bite.

The rumour on PR from someone who likes to think he is in the know is that Ashton is going to head back to league after the suspension.

@Smudge said in NH club rugby:

The rumour on PR from someone who likes to think he is in the know is that Ashton is going to head back to league after the suspension.

That's already been reported in media before today - e.g. Guardian newspaper

"“What I am hearing is absolutely not the Chris Ashton I know,” said the club’s chairman, Nigel Wray. “I very much hope that Chris is not forced out of English rugby because he is a very well-liked and respected member of our family, one of the hardest workers in the game. I am not a lawyer, but if this were a legal matter the case would not come to court.”

The implication was that the 29-year old Ashton would, once his suspension was completed, look at finishing his career in France or return to rugby league having left Wigan for Northampton in 2007."