Gavin Mortimer French-based freelance rugby writer Few Anglophone rugby writers have such an intimate (and painful) knowledge of French rugby as Gavin Mortimer. Having been gouged, butted and stamped during two seasons as a player in the deep south of the country, Gavin now prefers the more sedate pastime of writing about the state of the game in France. Over the years he's interviewed the likes of Bernard Laporte, Frederic Michalak and Antoine Dupont, and he also provides co-commentary for Canal Plus's English language coverage of the Top 14.

French leave will broaden Arundell's horizons

Henry Arundell may be off limits to England in Paris but examples abound of young players boosting their careers by moving abroad.

Are the French falling out of love with Europe? 

Could the extra demands of the Top 14 be hindering the efforts of French sides in the Champions Cup?

You’re fired! Top 14 follows football’s trend of ‘musical chairs’

Montpellier's brutal replacement of Richard Cockerill with a 'journeyman' underlines the Top 14's policy of hiring and firing coac…

Antoine Dupont's Olympics dream divides France

The superstar's decision to forsake the Six Nations for Sevens has not been universally welcomed

Why do the French love a bit of argy bargy?

The sad passing of enforcer Alain Esteve has brought into spotlight the reputation for thuggery in France in the 1970s

Fabien Galthié's French honeymoon is over

As public and media attitudes cool towards him, which version of the French coach will we see next?

The night the French dream died

The devastation took hold at the final whistle but when the pain recedes, France have a young squad and will throw everything at A…

'The French respect South Africa but they don’t admire them the way they do New Zealand'

Little historical enmity exists between Les Bleus and the Springboks, but that won't dampen a phenomenal Rugby World Cup quarter-f…

Will the Dupont palaver and limited opposition leave France undercooked for the knockouts?

The injury to the talismanic French captain has distracted France from another absence they’ve experienced: meaningful oppositio…

Portugal are a work in progress that must be supported

Os Lobos have impressed with their ambitious play during the tournament and their development must continue

After the Dupont calamity, what happens next?

The world's best player faces a race against time to play a part in the World Cup but France have to hold their nerve

How France learnt to embrace winning ugly

While England are panned by the critics, France have dialled down their adventurous instincts and their fans have backed them

How France fell in love with rugby again

The renaissance of rugby in France has been a long-time coming and Bernard Laporte deserves credit for his vision

Why Jonathan Danty has become France's indispensable midfield lynchpin

A doubt for the World Cup opener against the All Blacks, the powerful La Rochelle centre has been key cog in the French revolution

A nation expects

Fabien Galthie has the backing of a country and despite the injury of Romain Ntamack, confidence remains high as the World Cup app…

The French star who could have been England’s saviour 

Émilien Gailleton is not a household name yet, but if the 20-year-old is parachuted into the French World Cup squad, he soon coul…

Why Antoine Dupont and a plethora of stars epitomise the soul of French rugby

Food, wine and rugby are inextricably linked in France and it is now de rigeur to swap the oval ball for a career in gastronomy

Will Les Bleus give Macron a boost?

The French President is under much pressure domestically and he is hoping that a French World Cup win give him an election fillip

Joe El-Abd: 'What a story it is to show little towns can compete against the biggest clubs in the world'

Little old Oyonnax have secured promotion to the riches of the Top 14 and Englishman Joe El-Abd is their inspiration

Can Leinster be classed as a true European great?

The Top 14 towers over the URC which is why a double is a far more meaningful feat in France

Jack the glad

England backrow star Jack Willis has swapped crestfallen Wasps for European royalty in Toulouse and he is loving his new life in F…

Why England needs its top players in the Top 14 

Relaxing the laws on English players playing in France may actually benefit the national team rather than hinder it

England meet their Waterloo at the hands of irresistible French

The significance of Les Bleus's thunderous victory over England at Twickenham cannot be emphasised enough with a World Cup just mo…

How Jonny Wilkinson killed off 'Le Crunch'

Anglo-French rivalry has lacked a little rancour since a certain English superstar seduced the heart of French rugby

France get a case of the pre-World Cup jitters

Ireland’s emphatic win in Dublin has exposed the Bleus’ deficiencies and opened up insecurities in the host nation 

Can France rid themselves of the Twickenham hex?

France should win their first Six Nations match in England since 2005 – if they can overcome the fear factor

France unites to ensure Bernie doesn't bring down Les Bleus

French rugby is determined disgraced FFR president Bernard Laporte won’t harm their chances of winning the World Cup 

The end of the line for Laporte?

Convicted of corruption by a court in Paris on Tuesday, the big question is, can Bernard Laporte remain a rugby powerbroker?

France torn over whether Ntamack or Jalibert partners Dupont at RWC

Fabien Galthie and the French nation are praying that Antoine Dupont stays fit but who partners him at No 10 is up for debate

November will show if injury-hit France have strength in depth to lift the World Cup

A raft of injuries and the burden of expectation on Les Bleus is ramping up with just 10 months to hosting a global jamboree

Why is French rugby flourishing while in England it flounders?

Across the channel, there is befuddlement at the crisis engulfing English rugby but if you dig deep enough, you can see why the To…

Wacky Racing: Will Stuart Lancaster finally help the enigmatic French club fulfil their potential?

The French disconnection

French referees are different to Anglophone ones – as Bernard Foley discovered to his, and Australia's cost

Dupont or Ollivon? The battle to be the boss of Les Bleus

French rugby is on a roll and head coach Fabien Galthie now has to choose his captain for the World Cup, it's a straight shoot-out…

Bernard Laporte: Influential, inspirational and in the dock

French rugby is back at the summit of world rugby but politics threatens to engulf its most influential individuals a year out fro…

Yoram Moefana: France's silent assassin

Hailing from Futuna, a tiny French-speaking South Pacific Island, the Bordeaux-Bègles centre is quietly making waves in Fabien Ga…

Zach Mercer has usurped Jonny as France's favourite Englishman

The former Bath No 8 has taken the Top 14 by storm with Montpellier and he's been tipped to go to another level

Will Fabien Galthie unearth more gold nuggets in Japan?

French rugby is on the crest of a wave and they know they can afford to take an understrength squad to Japan and rest their bigges…

French offer lukewarm response to South Africa's inclusion in the Champions Cup

There is disquiet in France about the inclusion of South African sides in the Champions Cup with some feeling it has been foisted …

Brain not brawn: the renaissance of Top 14 coaches

The traditional image of a hot-headed, combustible French coach has been replaced by a more reflective, intellectual coach that ha…

French rugby points to England's broken system as the gulf between the Top 14 and ProD2 widens

French rugby's second division dwarfs the Championship in England both in terms of revenue and crowd numbers but there are still c…

Return of the Saint

Philippe Saint-Andre was left battered and bruised from his experiences with Les Bleus but he has proved doubters wrong by guiding…

France gets its act together while England bemoans structural failings

French political infighting brought the game to its knees but after a period of stability, results have seen the public fall back …

Six Nations: Gael Fickou's ascendancy to French defensive lynchpin

The Racing 92 midfielder is the glue that knits a backline of superstars together and at 27, his best years lie ahead of him

Emmanuel Macron hoping for a Grand Slam election bounce

Sport and politics do mix, and sometimes decide elections, which is why Emmanuel Macron is praying for French success in the Six N…

Liberte, egalite, vaccine?

New laws state that professional rugby players in France are no longer free to play if they haven't been triple vaccinated

Warming the bench for a once-in-a-generation talent

The little-known players toiling in the shadows of giants.

Josh Brennan adds French accent to rich Irish heritage

The name and the accent are Irish but the heart of rising Toulouse star Josh Brennan belongs to France

France v All Blacks: Over the Rainbow?

When French secret service agents sunk Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour in 1985, they fuelled a long rivalry wit…

Antoine Dupont: Can Les Bleus' GOAT inspire 2023 glory?

Antoine Dupont is already the greatest player in French rugby history. Can he keep his focus as the spotlight intensifies?

Break down the language barrier

It’s not fair to France that referees speak only English but will World Rugby translate that into action?

Rags to riches

Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad has overcome a traumatic upbringing to become rugby's biggest powerbroker

The rise and fall of Toulon

The dynasty built by Mourad Boudjellal has crumbled since he opted out and it is a shadow of its former self

Baby Bleus widen Galthie's 2023 talent pool

France lost a tight series Down Under but there were enough longer-term positives to please coach Fabien Galthié

France's tour of hotel hell

A callow French squad prepare to embark on their grinding voyage to Australia

The empire strikes back

After a decade of decline, Toulouse are on the brink of a new era of European domination.

Bright Vannes man

Nick Abendanon is a shining example of how overseas players should adapt to life in France

French renaissance artist

Little-known coach Didier Retière has led the revival in France's fortunes

Singing the Bleus

For all France's development, they will not win the next World Cup without a top-class goal-kicker.

The French evolution

After a decade of turmoil, things are finally looking up for Les Bleus.

Fun and games

Bernard Le Roux has been given a new lease of life by France's youngsters

Love Islanders

Les Bleus are looking to Pacific territories for talent, but will it bring heartbreak for young players in France?

Seeing red

A rash of Top 14 red cards, has seen many French commentators call for more flair and less flare

French education

Gabriel Ibitoye left Harlequins for a new challenge and he's making headlines at Agen

Storm clouds gather

Bernard Laporte's arrest has led to claim and counterclaim to further muddy French political waters

Speed of light

A leap of faith has seen Cheslin Kolbe’s renaissance as a World Cup winner