A member of the victorious French team from 1967 once explained to me: “We are the only major rugby-playing nation that repulsed the British Empire. With such financial resources, French clubs wield enormous political power. For more than 15 years, the club’s power allowed them to sit above the national cause and they did not fully support the French team. When Fabien Galthié was appointed as the French national coach after the 2019 World Cup, his first task was political reform. In years gone by, the legendary Scottish commentator, Bill McLaren, asked, “Which French team will we see today?

Source: The Irish Times March 06, 2026 20:31 UTC