Explore every episode of the podcast Rosbifs Rugby

Astonishingly, the new Pro D2 season is already upon us! The Rosbifs welcome Illtud Dafydd, a Welshman living the dream of working in France and reporting on French Rugby for AFP. Illtud helps us run the rule over the contenders in the ‘Triple Ironman’ of domestic rugby leagues: Pro D2. Illtud brings the inside scoop on regional rivalries, crazy club Presidents and Siya Kolisi’s eating habits.

00:00 - 04:23 Entrées

04:23 - 51:04 Illtud Dafydd & Pro D2 preview

51:04 - 63:55 The Rosbifs Pro D2 debrief

The Rosbifs are back for Series 2! Whilst we eagerly await the start of the 2024-2025 season, what better time to chew the fat with The Times Sports Reporter, and all round French Rugby aficionado, Elgan Alderman. The task at hand for us in this, a Lions season: devising the perfect Lions Tour of France Itinerary. Enjoy!

00:00 - 07:20 Entrées

07:20 - 45:18 Elgan Alderman & Lions Tour to France itinerary

45:18 - 52:45 The Rosbifs Lions Tour debrief

52:45 - 55:55 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

It's all about them up-north this week, as Vannes make history securing their first promotion to the Top14, sparking wild scenes in the changing rooms of Toulouse and the ports of Brittany. The Top 6 are confirmed as we look ahead to the Barrage, and can Grenoble spring an upset and overturn the Montpellier Madness in the access match?

00:00 - 01:50 Intro

01:50 - 17:35 Pro D2 Final Review

17:35 - 27:24 Top 14 Access Match Preview

27:24 - 53:55 Top 14 Final Round Review

53:55 - 59:58 Top 14 Barrage Preview

59:58 - 62:54 France Summer Tour - mini preview

62:54 - 66:03 Petit Fours & Digestifs

The Top14 is back and we review an absolute cracker between La Rochelle and a half-cut Toulouse at le Stadium on a Super Sunday where Toulon hammered home their title credentials. The ProD2 Final is upon us after two breathless semi-finals and it's heartbreak for Narbonne in a historic first Nationale Access Match as Jerome Bosviel's redemption arc comes full circle. Plus there's tips on how not to write a best man's speech, and how to shoehorn in a bit of rugby into your wedding, if that's your thing.

00:00 - 04:30 Entrées

04:30 - 35:43 Top 14

35:43 - 46:16 Pro D2 Semi Finals

46:16 - 51:06 Pro D2/National Access Match

51:06 - 1:01:40 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

The Rosbifs dissect an astonishing Champions Cup final: Rich finds out whether Rob found it all a bit underwhelming, Toulouse add their 6th star, sparking city-wide celebrations for the ages. Meanwhile, Grenoble march on and Beziers confirm their place in the Pro D2 semi finals. There’s a first ever Pro D2/Nationale access match to chow down on, the Top 14 returns, and the Olympic torch pops up in Pau.

00:00 - 03:14 Entrées

03:14 - 34:41 Champions Cup Final Review

34:41 - 52:42 Pro D2: Barrage Review & Semi-Final Preview

52:42 - 1:00:29 Top 14: Round 25 Preview

1:00:29 - 1:10:49 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

The Rosbifs are back to review a pivotal round of Top14 action as the table begins to take shape. We preview what could be one of the all time Champions Cup Finals between Toulouse and Leinster and discuss the travails of following arguably the most dramatic round of PROD2 action ever via dodgy streams, whether you're a fan or a coach. Nice hit the ProD2 big time for the first time, but will any of this week's barrage hopefuls need to add them to their travel plans, or can they go one better?

00:00 - 04:35 Entrées 

04:35 - 30:21 Top 14

30:21 - 50:39 Pro D2: Final Round Drama

50:39 - 56:57 Nationale & Nice

56:57 - 1:06:15 Champions Cup Final Preview

1:06:15 - 1:09:59 Petit Fours & Digestifs

Rob is back from his latest trip to Beziers, Perpignan and Prades with tales of scorching scenery, scintillating rugby and straight-up sunburn. We discuss all the latest updates from the Top14 as the usual suspects soar and others falter. There's a full preview of the last full round of ProD2 fixtures after another incredible week at both ends of the table, Narbonne and Nice eye up an Alpine showdown to join the promised land, plus get the inside line on the 1200 year old beef between Wilfred the Hairy and er, Charles the Bald.

00:00 - 16:20 Entrées & Overview of Rob’s Catalan trip

16:20 - 38:47 Top 14

38:47 - 57:35 Pro D2 (& a little bit of Nationale)

57:35 - 1:07:27 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

The Rosbifs are joined by Agen lock Zak Farrance to discuss all things ProD2, from intensive eating at Oyonnax, to getting red carded by an away crowd and the pressures of Phillippe Sella peering over your shoulder. We review a Champions Cup classic between Toulouse and Harlequins and the epic events in Nationale, and there's some trophy diving served up for good measure.

00:00 - 06:10 Entrées

06:10 - 26:02 Champions Cup Semi Finals

26:02 - 29:45 Challenge Cup Semi Finals

29:45 - 1:02:42 Interview with Zak Farrance

1:02:42 - 1:13:35 Top 14 Previews

1:13:35 - 1:20:50 Pro D2 Previews

1:20:50 - 1:29:45 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

It's Champions Cup Semi-Final week, and with the feeding and watering needs of the travelling Harlequins faithful in mind, the Rosbifs run through their recommendations for a belting weekend in Toulouse, including a couple of potential detours to the Nationale Barrage games. After Clermont prove they can still mix it with the best in the league and Perpignan settle diplomatic squabbles on the pitch in Montpellier, we run through all of the Top14 action and ProD2 highlights including a famous win for Dax in the Landes derby. Find out why the Mont-Saint-Michel trophy may have found it's resting place for the foreseeable, and it's Buy One, Get One Free on Castres Olympique and err, Alice Cooper gig tickets...

00:00 - 07:00 Entrées 

07:00 - 39:15 Top 14

39:15 - 62:25 Quins in Toulouse

- 39:15 - 48:57 Rosbifs’ Recommendations for Toulouse

- 48:57 - 53:51 Trip Options - Nationale 1 Play Offs

- 53:51 - 1:02:25 Champions Cup Semi Final Preview

1:02:25 - 1:12:36 Pro D2

1:02:36 - 1:21:05 Petit Fours & Digestifs

Inspired by efforts of those partaking in the London Marathon the previous day, Rob embarks on a similarly torturous journey through the winding backstreets of the French JIFF rules, and the knock-on effect on the sharp end of the Top14 season. We recap all the weekend's action including an agonising defeat for Bayonne in France's premier division, and the end is in sight for ProD2 with just about every outcome still a possibility. Nationale approaches it's last round of the regular season, and a barber pays an unexpected visit to Normandy...

00:00 - 05:24 Entrées

05:24 - 16:45 JIFF Rules & Why Do We Care?

16:45 - 39:39 Top 14 

39:39 - 52:47 Pro D2

52:47 - 57:20 Nationale

57:20 - 1:07:56 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

Returning from Costa Rican exile and the Stade Chaban Delmas respectively, the Rosbifs are back to ask, Quins, what have you done?! Our man on the ground by the Garonne reports on a startling reverse for UBB at the hands of sunburnt south-west Londoners as La Rochelle's hopes of a hat-trick of titles fade to Leinster. Stade Toulousain look inspired despite Exeter borrowing Pierre Mignoni's clipboard, and the Challenge Cup is barely discussed whilst we probe instead how Homer Simpson would organise a Stag-Do. Find out why the locals are so impressed with Rob's ability to 'get the badge in', plus the usual previews of the Top14, ProD2 and a sombre but celebratory digestif.

00:00 - 02:15 Intro

02:15 - 09:17 Entrées - Bordeaux Trip

09:17 - 24:36 UBB v Harlequins

24:36 - 34:15 Leinster v La Rochelle

34:15 - 39:00 Northampton v Bulls

39:00 - 46:22 Toulouse v Exeter

46:22 - 59:34 Top 14 Previews

59:34 - 1:06:10 Pro D2

1:06:10 - 1:08:35 Nationale 1

1:08: 35 - 1:17:48 Petit-Fours & Digestifs 

We discuss a pulsating weekend of Champions Cup action and preview the best weekend in the rugby calendar: the Quarter Finals of the Champions Cup. Will any of the sides manage to pick up an away win? We also dissect the latest from Pro D2 and hear about what the hell is going on at the top of Nationale. In this week’s extraordinary Petit-Fours, we hear the unique way one coach will be preparing before his side’s quarter-final this weekend and discover how the film Platoon was recreated in the Basque Country.

00:00 - 04:20 Entrées

04:20 - 66:56 Champions Cup reviews and QF Previews

- 04:20 - 28:36 Harlequins v Glasgow | UBB v Saracens

- 28:36 - 47:56 Leinster v Leicester | Stormers v La Rochelle

- 47:56 - 51:44 Bulls v Lyon | Northampton v Munster

- 51:44 - 1:06:56 Exeter v Bath | Toulouse v Racing 92

1:06:56 - 1:13:15 Challenge Cup

1:13:15 - 1:21:52 Pro D2

1:21:52 - 1:24:54 Nationale

1:24:54 - 1:37:59 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

We bring the curtain down on 11 months of glorious French Rugby and Series 1 of our less glorious podcast. Join us for our finds of the season, favourite memories and the best petit-fours from the last 21 weeks. We'll be back in a couple of weeks for Series 2 with more guests, more tall tales and lots, lots more French Rugby. Merci!

Separate episode looking forward to one of the great weekends in the rugby calendar: the last 16 of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. We run through our predictions for the games, give recommendations of the long weekends you could have, and play a Challenge Cup edition of ‘Will the French team bother to turn up?’

01:35 Harlequins v Glasgow

5:13 Bulls v Lyon

7:48 Stormers v La Rochelle

12:14 Exeter v Bath

13:37 Bordeaux v Saracens

18:13 Leinster v Leicester

19:12 Northampton v Munster

19:52 Toulouse v Racing

28:00 Challenge Cup previews

After falling for our April Fools, we have a recipient of the ‘Poisson d’Avril’ filling in for Rich this week after and we talk Mullet Quotas being introduced to Pro D2, hear from our Costa Rican Correspondent, debate whether smoking bans lead to successful French rugby teams and investigate a mystery disappearance during a sin bin period.

10:22 Entrées - April Fools and other news

18:47 Top 14 Games review

18:50 Toulouse v Pau

26:06 Montpellier v Stade Francais

33:04 Bayonne v Toulon

46:43 Perpignan v Castres

49:17 Lyon v Bordeaux

51:56 Racing v Clermont

55:16 La Rochelle v Oyonnax

57:05 Pro D2 Roundup

67:24 Nationals 1 Roundup

74:05 Petit Fours & Digestifs

The Rosbifs dissect a bonkers round of TOP14 action including a game for the ages between Bordeaux Begles and Stade Toulousain at the Matmut Atlantique. Is Antoine Dupont human, and is Maxime 'the Man' Lucu even better? Plus we look ahead to the ProD2 run in, with Rugby's sexiest and most unpredictable league sure to serve up a feast of chaos in the remaining 6 rounds. Also find out why Rich is Castres and Castres is Rich, and Robins Tchale-Watchou and Perpignan's kitman get a shout out.

Welcome to Rosbifs Rugby! Join Rob and Rich for the inaugural Rosbifs Rugby Podcast. We'll be reviewing the end of France's Six Nations campaign and dissecting the state of play in the TOP14, as well as revealing which 1998 football World Cup winner has been inspiring Brive ahead of their ProD2 run-in. Plus find out our recommendations for a night to remember in Bordeaux, and what is the secret ingredient in a 'Sauce Paloise'...

A short pod for the short format... even with the Olympics in town, French rugby is the hottest ticket as the France Mens Sevens team claim an historic Gold Medal at the Stade de France, inspired by you-know-who. We discuss a day for the ages, GOATness, and just how good is this sporting storyline? 

00:00 - 02:33 Entrées

02:33 - 26:31 Olympics & The GOAT?

26:31 - 38:03 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

The Olympics are here and whilst a certain Tony D has the eyes of a nation on him, our attentions turn to the nerdy pursuit of picking our Top14 team of the year. Join us to see whether the vibes or spreadsheets win out in the final selection, and for a tribute to one of the departing greats of French rugby.

Entrées: 00:00 - 05:45

Olympic 7s: 05:45 - 11:40

U20s World Championships: 11:40 - 20:00

Top 14 Team of the Year: 20:00 - 54:35

Quiz - Rosbifs x Tour de France: 54:35 - 1:07:20

Petit Fours: 1:07:20 - 1:10:28

France's players finally wrap up their mammoth 2023/24 season with a cracker in Buenos Aires but the U20s fancy just one more game after an astonishing win against New Zealand in their bid to equal the Baby Blacks’ 4 successive World Cups. We review who shone in South America, whilst there's the small matter of all the new season fixtures to chow down on. If that's not enough, then listen to the very end for the job opportunity of a lifetime...

00:00 - 03:45 Entrées

03:45 - 27:32 France Tour of South America - Review

27:32 - 37:10 U20s World Championship

37:10 - 47:12 Fixture Frenzy: Champions Cup 

47:12 - 53:36 Fixture Frenzy: Top 14 & Pro D2

53:36 - 01:02:12 Petit Fours & Digestifs

In what has been a shocking few days for French Rugby, join us to reflect on some of the high points, namely a youthful France comfortably getting past Argentina and an even more youthful under 20s side making the U20s semi-finals. The Champions and Challenge Cup Pools have been drawn and there are potential mouthwatering trips aplenty on the horizon, and Sofiane Guitoune takes dental hygiene to admirable new levels.... 

00:00 - 04:40 Entrées - News headlines

04:40 - 07:00 Entrées

07:00 - 22:35 ARG v FRA - 1st Test Review

22:35 - 28:45 Uruguay & 2nd Test Preview

28:45 - 42:10 Under 20s World Championship

42:10 - 57:24 Petit-Fours & Digestifs (including Champions Cup 7 Challenge Cup Pools announcements (44:05 - 51:50))

We are joined by Section Paloise and soon to be Dragons Australian Second Row Steve Cummins, to discuss all things Pau: from Sam Whitelock mentoring the club's electric youngsters, to chance encounters with rowdy Brits in the city's bars. There's also the small matter of a Top14 final to digest, as Toulouse secure their 23rd Bouclier de Brennus in the most extraordinary fashion in Marseille on a night that few will ever forget.

00:00 - 17:45 Top 14 Final

17:45 - 50:05 Steve Cummins interview

50:05 - 53:01 France U20s

53:01 - 59:29 Petit Fours & Digestifs

With the denouement to the French rugby season nearly upon us, we dissect two cracking semi-finals in Bordeaux, including THAT headbutt from Reda Wardi and how it is linked to Rob’s haircut. With Stade Toulousain and UBB progressing to the Final, we preview Friday night’s game at the Stade Velodrome. There's also a preview of the updated France squad for their tour to South America, a fresh looking French U20s side is confirmed for the World Cup, there's transfers aplenty to tuck into, and find out what happened when a former French president stumbled upon a rugby club on the campaign trail...

00:00 - 05:40 Entrées

05:40 - 31:40 Top 14 Semi Finals Review

31:40 - 36:17 Top 14 Final Preview

36:17 - 52:05 France Squad for South America Tour

52:05 - 57:09 France U20s World Cup Squad

57:09 - 1:06:10 Petit Fours & Digestifs

It's heartbreak in the Isere as Grenoble are pipped in the Access Match, whilst Montpellier live to fight another day. The Barrages are done, with La Rochelle saving their best 'til last to tee up a Friday night feast under the lights against Toulouse, whilst UBB cruise past an increasingly ramshackle Racing 92. Rob dips into his spreadsheet to discuss the fresh faces in Fabien's preliminary squad for Argentina and Uruguay, and there's joy in Geneva and transfers aplenty in the petit-fours.

00:00 - 05:10 Entrées

05:10 - 26:40 Top 14 Barrage Review

26:40 - 36:54 Top 14 Semi Finals Preview

36:54 - 51:55 Top 14 Access Match Review

51:55 - 1:05:28 France Tour of South America

1:05:28 - 1:15:53 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

Join us to look ahead to another enthralling season of Top 14 action as we ramble through the teams, new recruits and potential fortunes of Rugby's premier club competition. Can Toulouse be toppled? Can Vannes beat the drop? Can Montpellier get even worse? We fail to answer all of these questions and more, plus there's Pro D2, Nationale, and celeb spotting down in Hyères... Strap in, the season's just getting started!

00:00 - 03:55 Entrées

03:55 - 51:47 Top 14 Season Preview

- 04:55 - 10:52 Can Toulouse be stopped?

- 10:52 - 23:35 Chasing pack

- 23:35 - 30:51 Racing 92 & Owen Farrell

- 30:51 - 38:55 Can Vannes beat the drop?

- 38:55 - 43:00 Relegation candidates

- 43:00 - 46:50 Can the Montpellier Madness get more Mad?

- 46:50 - 51:47 Best of the Rest

51:47 - 1:00:32 Pro D2 Round 1 Review

1:00:32 - 1:02:20 Nationale 1 Roundup

1:02:20 - 1:08:22 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

Round 1 of the Top 14 has been and gone and the delicious storylines (and bad alliteration) are back with Blistering Bordeaux, Valiant Vannes, and Miserable Montpellier all on show. Pro D2 serves up another dose of high drama as the Away Day win becomes flavour of the month, and there's bagpipes, butchers and boring wedding guests to discuss. 

00:00 - 05:05 Entrées

05:05 - 36:00 Top 14 Round 1 Review

36:00 - 39:20 Nationale Nibbles

39:20 - 50:30 Pro D2 Round 3 Review

50:30 - 57:50 Petit Fours & Digestifs

Another round of the Top 14 has been and gone and we examine the best of the action, as nerveless kicks and massive hits take centre stage across the weekend. Pro D2 continues to dazzle with tight results everywhere, and the Rosbifs look ahead to their upcoming French voyage to Brive and Castres in the only way they know how... a really nerdy quiz.

00:00 - 05:51 Entrées

05:51 - 36:32 Top 14 Round 2 Review

36:32 - 38:42 Nationale Nibbles

38:42 - 49:35 Pro D2 Round 3 Review

49:35 - 1:05:01 Petit-Fours & Digestifs: Brive & Castres Quiz Special

It's pure, unbridled rugby chat this week with an in-depth round up of the Top14 and ProD2, including reports from Castres and Brive where our Rosbifs report from on the ground. Elsewhere, there's a historic win for Vannes and a tough day out in Bordeaux for Owen Farrell and Racing 92. Join us tomorrow for a review of our first trip of the season into two proper rugby heartlands!

00:00 - 02:36 Entrées

Top 14 

02:36 - 11:10 Castres v Perpignan: Rosbifs Report

11:10 - 29:50 Top 14 Round 3 Review

29:50 - 33:05 Top 14 Round 4 Preview

Pro D2

33:05 - 40:45 Pro D2 Round 4 Review

40:45 - 50:20 Brive v Aurillac: Rosbifs Report

50:20 - 53:45 Pro D2 Round 5 Preview

53:45 - 55:44 Bonus Episode Preview

French Rugby Fun keeps on coming this week! In this bonus episode, the Rosbifs share the story of their trip last weekend to Brive & Castres to watch Pro D2 and Top14 rugby in the flesh! And it wouldn’t be Rosbifs without divulging the best of the food, drinks, towns and bars from their weekend.

We are also delighted to be joined by Charles Richardson, Rugby Reporter for The Telegraph and one of only a couple of English writers invited to French Rugby’s grand awards ceremony, La Nuit du Rugby. Charles gives us the inside scoop on Antoine Dupont, Champagne & Foie Gras, and dancing with King Mathieu Raynal…

00:00 - 16:05 Brive Boys & Castres Carnage: Rosbifs Trip Review

16:06 - 45:31 La Nuit du Rugby: Charles Richardson Interview

Fresh off the back of trips to Italy and err, Ipswich, Rob and Rich return to discuss UBB's stunning win over Toulouse, whilst Pau impress and Perpignan get off the mark in the Top 14. Storm clouds are gathering in Paris with Racing under pressure and Stade Francais the first to make big changes. Elsewhere, Biarritz are riding a Basque wave at the top of ProD2, and what connects Italian liqueurs, Damian Penaud's teeth and Martin Offiah? The Rosbifs Rugby Podcast of course…

00:00 - 06:25 Entrées

06:25 - 33:33 Top 14 Round 4 Review (inc. Stade Francais coaching changes 28:50 - 32:05)

33:33 - 36:45 Nationale Nibbles

35:45 - 51:50 Pro D2 Round 5 Review

51:50 - 57:50 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

Five rounds have passed in the Top 14, and we try and determiner who the movers and shakers are going to be. Castres as Champions? Crisis at Toulouse? Montpellier still mad? There's a deep dive on Mathieu Raynal's attempts to shake up the laws of the French game from behind his giant cigar, Antoine Dupont is getting into property and Pierre Mignoni may have finally lost it...

00:00 - 02:45 Entrées

02:45 Top 14

02:45 - 18:15 Castres v Toulouse

18:15 - 27:50 Vannes v Racing

27:50 - 30:30 Montpellier

30:30 - 34:00 La Rochelle

34:00 - 36:00 USAP v Pau

36:00 - 38:35 Bayonne

38:35 - 45:10 Clermont v Toulon

45:10 - 49:05 Round 6 Previews

49:05 - 50:55 Nationale Nibbles

50:55 - 58:50 King Mathieu’s Law Changes

58:50 - 1:05:58 Petit Fours & Digestifs

We are delighted to be joined by England, Toulon and now Perpignan tight head Kieran Brookes to discuss Perpignan's start to the season, his time on the Riviera and settling into French Catalonia. Plus there's the usual weekly digest of the Top 14, including tight wins in the Vunipola and Rosbif derbies, you-know-who is back with a bang, and ProD2 serves up a low scoring classic. 

00:00 - 03:40 Entrées

03:40 - 27:25 Top 14 Round 6

27:35 - 54:00 Interview with Kieran Brookes 

54:10 - 55:50 Top 14 Round 7 previews

55:50 - 1:02:45 Pro D2

1:02:45 - 1:04:40 Nationale Nibbles

1:04:40 - 1:04:45 Petit-Fours & Digestifs

Despite Rich dialling in from a tin can on the moon, we are delighted to be joined by Aurillac's Irish Hooker and all round gent Ronan Loughnane, to talk us through all things rugby in the Auvergne, with hurling, cows and Cantal cheese all on the menu…There's the usual round up of all the action including some magical tries in the Top 14, and we salivate at France's halfback options ahead of their Autumn International squad announcement on Wednesday.

00:00 - 06:05  Entrées

06:05 - 27:50 Top 14 Round 7 Review

27:50 - 31:00 Pro D2 Round 7 Review

31:00 - 1:02:25 Ronan Loghnane interview

1:02:25 - 1:04:35 Pro D2 Round 8 Preview

1:04:35 - 1:07:00 Nationale Nibbles

1:07:00 - 1:16:45 France Autumn Internationals Squad preview

1:16:45 - 1:21:55 Petit Fours & Digestifs

A midweek Hors d'Oeuvre you say? Fabien Galthie has announced his 42 man squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series tests against Japan, Argentina and the All Blacks, and after a tough old week at work we wanted to discuss a few points of interest...

Massive away wins, apocalyptic weather, and disgruntled former players hitting social media after a few glasses of vin rouge... it's just another typical week in the world of French rugby. We run through all the Top 14 action, try and work out where Pro D2 is at, and there's backflips and karaoke in the Petit-Fours.

00:00 - 05:10 Entrées

05:10 - 35:40 Top 14 Round 8 Review

35:40 - 51:10 Pro D2 Round 8 Review

51:10 - 1:00:37 Petit-Fours & Disgestifs

The Top 14 finally lets us pause for thought, but not after a round that saw front runners Toulouse and Bordeaux humbled away from home. Bayonne are cooking, Vannes struggling, and even Racing 92 are showing signs of proving the doubters wrong! Pro D2 continues to deliver, and there's small the matter of Valence's upset against mighty Brive as well as 24 (!) yellow cards in a single round. And in breaking news, the elusive Barber of Rouen has popped up in an unlikely location...

00:00 - 05:05 Entrées

05:05 - 31:45 Top 14 Round 9 Review

31:45 - 36:55 Nationale Nibbles

36:55 - 51:45 Pro D2 Round 9 Review

51:45 - 1:01:15 Petit-Fours & Digestifs