Le French Rugby Podcast

We analyse the Top 14 semi-finals in Bordeaux and look ahead to the final in Marseille in the company of All Black legend and now Top 14 commentator Andrew Mehrtens. We also hear how he got the nickname Don King from his time in France as a player, discuss Fabien Galthie's inexperienced squad for France's summer tour and look at the latest transfer gossip...

We're joined by Stade Francais' England international centre Joe Marchant to discuss the timing of his move from Harlequins, adjusting to life in France, his England past and hopefully future, what Steve Borthwick said to him after the World Cup, being frozen out by Eddie Jones, Paul Gustard's use of certain imagery in meetings, his famous prospective father in law, the Top 14 play-offs and the potential of facing Bordeaux in Bordeaux despite finishing in the top two and much more. Plus, we discuss all the action from the final round of the regular season, look ahead to the Barrages and the access match and chat about Vannes' promotion from PRO D2...

We look ahead to Super Saturday and a frantic final round of the Top 14 regular season, analyse the permutations and chat to Castres' Australian back rower Nick Champion de Crespigny about his French roots, Wallaby ambitions, contract situation, gratitude to Pierre-Henry Broncan, dream debut season, lack of Super Rugby recognition and much more. Plus, we round up the latest PRO D2 play-off action and discuss some wild transfer rumours...

We're joined by Toulouse hero Manny Meafou to hear about an exhausting Champions Cup final win over Leinster, the nearly as tiring celebrations and how he's nailing fatherhood too as he introduces us to son Marcellus! We discuss whether Antoine Dupont's performance is the best ever in a final, if he's the greatest of all time, his new nickname of 'The Martian', Ugo Mola's influence and what makes Toulouse special. Plus, we discuss Manny's delayed international debut and initiation, look ahead to the penultimate round of Top 14 fixtures and assess the state of play in the PRO D2 play-offs...

We're joined by 63-cap Wallaby Reece Hodge to discuss his two tries that confirmed Bayonne are staying in the Top 14, the prospect of teaming up with Manu Tuilagi in the centres next season, the disappointment of being ditched by Eddie Jones after just one game, whether the door might still be ajar under Joe Schmidt, the magic of Stade Jean Dauger and much more. Plus, we look ahead to the Champions Cup final and round up a Top 14 weekend that saw Toulouse confirm a semi-final spot, Stade Francais make the play-offs and Montpellier already confirmed as the team to take part in the relegation play-off...

We're joined by Bordeaux and Tonga prop Big Ben Tameifuna to chat about the club's Top 14 tilt, his journey from New Zealand to France, the World Cup experience, challenges for Pacific Island nations, law changes, the best scrummagers in the world and much more. Plus, we round up all the Top 14 action and discuss whether the play-off picture will become any clearer this weekend...

We're back to dive deep into the major incidents from the Champions Cup semi-finals, including some more sensational stuff from Toulouse and almost another phenomenal Quins comeback, and look ahead to an epic final between the best two teams in the tournament. Plus, we discuss who gets into a combined Toulouse-Leinster starting XV, Clermont's heartbreak at The Stoop and throw forward to a massive round of action in the Top 14...

We're joined by Lyon attack coach AB Zondagh to discuss their completely stereotypically French campaign of winning almost every game at home but picking up nothing on the road, his coaching evolution and ambitions, the learnings from his time with Scotland and much more. Plus, we look ahead to the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals and Johnnie fills us in on his sit down with Antoine Dupont...

We're joined by Australia international Tolu Latu to find out how he's ended up at the back-to-back Champions Cup winners La Rochelle, the role big Will Skelton played in the move, what sets the club apart, how Ronan O'Gara is as a coach, how he felt being spoken about publicly by Stade Francais owner Hans-Peter Wild and frozen out by Montpellier, whether he thinks there's any chance of winning more Wallaby caps and how exhausted he is after an epic journey to South Africa and on to Ireland. Plus, we round up all of the Champions Cup Round Of 16 action and look ahead to the quarter-finals this weekend...