Why France Have DROPPED Damian Penaud… | TOP 14 Digest

In this documentary I explore the rebuild at the Stormers that has seen them go from goof troop to title contenders. Along with insights from Damian Willemse and John Dobson, I will be using Opta's stats to break down the tactics and reveal the secrets of the Cape Town giants. I will also be deep diving their first defeat of the season against Harlequins and explaining what that performance tells us about their identity as a team and what they still need to fix to become a truly great side. Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Stats from: https://theanalyst.com/club-rugby-stats #stormers #southafrica #springboks #interview #analysis #highlights #rugby #vlog #URCgo Stormers Documentary: How Brains & Brutality Created A Monster. The Stormers Rebuild Is Genius... And Brutal. Why The Incredible Stormers Rebuild Should Scare You. How The Stormers Became Contenders Again. Goof Troop To Undefeated: Inside The Stormers Transformation. Why The Stormers Are Still On Track To Become Champions. Chapters 0:00 The Transformation 2:55 Brutal Defence 5:51 Stormers Rugby Identity 12:15 Attack Explained 14:41 World Class Pack 19:16 The SECRET Weapon 20:44 What Comes Next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LINK TO NEW AUDIO PLATFORM: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NGCYndQuXbXthxgmuPKQG Huw and Maz are back to discuss the rumours that Penaud is off to defend Greenland on his own, the rest of the French squad for the 6 Nations and how French teams faired in round 4 of the European Cups. #FrenchRugby #Top14 #EPCR #ChampionsCUp #ChallengeCup #france #rugby #podcast #sixnations Follow the pod on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters 0:00 French Results 3:30 La Rochelle vs Harlequins 4:30 Munster vs Castres 12:35 Fanny of the Week 17:25 Penaud Dropped? 30:10 Champions Cup Favourites? 34:15 Fijian of the Week 36:05 Next Week Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are still working on our new audio platform, a few admin issues causing delays unfortunately! As soon as it's set up you will be the first to know! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the HG Rugby podcast I was joined by rugby governance expert Nicks Johnston to learn how sporting governance works and what challenges those governing rugby union are currently facing. Nicks explained to me what governance is and how different countries go about their rugby governance. She debates with me on the latest developments regarding the English PREM restructuring and why rugby clubs make such huge losses. We then turn our attention to the WRU and their 'amateurish' proposals for restructuring the game in Wales - what have they gotten so wrong and why are they wasting so much money? Finally, we discuss the R360 start-up and what allowed this chaos even to occur - leading us on to talk about the growth of women's rugby and how best to capitalise on a record breaking World Cup. #rugby #money #government #Wales #England #womensrugby #fail #investing #business Why Club Rugby Doesn't Work. Why Rugby Is Such A MESS. Why Rugby Faces Financial Disaster. Why English Rugby Is DESPERATE For Money. Why Welsh Rugby's Problems Run DEEPER Than You Think... The PROBLEM With Welsh Rugby's Plans... Is English Rugby Financially DOOMED? Headed For Disaster? - Inside Rugby's Chaotic Boardrooms Can Club Rugby Survive? The 'Amateurish' Plan Destroying Welsh Rugby. Chapters: 0:00 What Is Rugby Governance 5:55 Is Rugby Being Held Back? 8:32 English PREM Finances 12:20 Exeter Huge Losses 16:20 Not Enough Games? 19:45 Player Wages Issue 22:30 Welsh Reforms 'Amateurish' 31:00 WRU Leadership Issues 38:15 Government Intervention? 42:50 Terrible CVC Deal 49:35 Why Is R360 Happening? 55:00 Mocking R360 1:00:00 Women's Rugby Is Different Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are having a few delays with the new audio platform! Bare with! I will update here when it's up! In the mean time you can also find this week's episode here - on the page for the URC podcast I also host :) https://open.spotify.com/episode/1L8HOpVe2d21LjaYySQUpf?si=kB78Q8FDSeSzQYk0me6YNA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A month show rounding up the biggest rugby union transfer news & gossip. This month we are talking about: - Sale Sharks transfer struggles - The WRU driving players away - French rumour mill round-up For all your rugby transfer news follow this twitter account: https://x.com/rugby_hub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we break down Anotine Duponts incredible performance against La Rochelle along with the rest of the TOP 14 action from round 14 including Bayonne vs Stade Francais and the relegation battle Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous What Antoine Dupont Just Did Was Terrifying. Antoine Dupont Just DESTROYED La Rochelle! (It Was Terrifying...). Chapters: 0:00 TOP 14 Results 7:25 Bayonne vs Stade Français 14:20 TOP 14 Table 20:10 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 22:55 Anotine Dupont Masterclass 30:50 Best Signing In France 33:40 Fijian of the Week 36:50 Round 14 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reviewing rugby in 2025 with Harry Jones. In this podcast my  @megafoonrugby  colleague to talk scrums, Springboks and South America - the biggest storylines of rugby in 2025. Harry leads the debate on how rugby tried to kill drums, but the Springboks said no. I then bring up the contrasting conversations between rugby in North America and South America - how does the sport solve this conundrum? Harry then brings up the Lions tour and, perhaps more poignantly, what it means for Australia. Are they a team in limbo under Joe Schmidt and will Les Kiss be any better? Was their revival anything more than a flash in the pan? Next we chat about rugby journalism, where is it headed? Will the old-school written press continue to dominate the press conferences and the media rooms, or will YouTubers and podcasters take over? Who is better, for the fans, players and the sport? Finally, Harry and I debate (fiercely) whether or not the current day Springboks have overtaken the mighty 2015 All Blacks? Harry thinks yes... I think no! Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugbyFollow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103Follow Harry on Twitter: https://x.com/haribaldijones Chapters 0:00 Swearing in Afrikaans 5:18 Scrums Fight Back 12:43 North vs South America 25:20 What Next For Australia? 34:09 Rugby Journalism Shift 46:25 Springboks Greatest Ever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we break down round 12 of the TOP 14 and talk about the older players who are still playing incredible rugby! From Levani Botia at La Rochelle to Benjamin Urdapilletta at Perpignan. Plus, we look at the Christmas offerings from Stade Francais... Welcome to the TOP 14 Digest! This weekly podcast captures all of the news and results in the world of rugby’s biggest club competition: the French Top 14 - Huw and Maz bring English language coverage of all of the biggest talking points in France: games, gossip, controversies and climaxes. From Paris to Perpignan, we’ve got it covered! What’s new with Toulouse? What did Dupont do this week? Is there trouble in Toulon? Has Ronan O’Gara gotten banned at La Rochelle again? Have UBB got what it takes? What did Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing 92 just say? Why are Stade Francais in the news this week? If you like the sound of that please consider giving the channel a subscribe and sharing a link with a mate. Those of you listening on audio formats can help out by giving us a 5 star review - that tells the money people we are liked! #top14 #france #rugby #toulouse #bordeaux #larochelle #stadefrancais #podcast #news #drama #highlights Follow Maz on twitter: https://x.com/mazmcm Follow Huw on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow the podcast on twitter: https://x.com/RugbyVous Chapters: 0:00 Paris Derby 7:35 Montpellier vs Castres 10:42 Xmas Shopping With Stade Francais 15:20 Perpignan vs Clermont 17:25 Fijian of the Week 18:35 Levani Botia 21:20 Top 14 R13 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's mini documentary I headed to Bordeaux to watch my Union Bordeaux-Begles (UBB) take on my team the Scarlets with a question: who is the most exciting rugby team in the world? I combine my experience at the stadium with some deep underlying stats to argue why I think UBB are the most exciting team in rugby. I compare them to Toulouse and, most importantly, I explain why Matthieu Jalibert is the most exciting player in the most exciting team. This rugby trip to Bordeaux was made during December 2025 for a Champions Cup match between UBB and the Scarlets. Follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580910041103 Chapters 0:00 Allez Le Team 1:28 Allez Le Rivalry 3:26 Allez Le Crowd 4:50 Allez Le Jalibert 6:23 HAT CHANGE 6:46 Allez Le Memories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices