NPR

As per the thread title, the broadcast rights for this season's playoffs and all of next season's matches have been acquired by a team led by the Eggchasers guy and will be shown on YouTube gratis, sans frais, for nowt.



Here's the link to the channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6eZBm ... 0tS4JhEf1w

Excellent. That's good stuff to watch.

Thanks
Link saved. Will be good to see Courtney in action again!

Bit of background to the channel
https://archive.ph/CpTYa

I've followed Tim from eggchasers for a few weeks delighted they managed to pull this off.

Did i read it correctly that Courtney Lawes is on 35k a week?

ASMO wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 4:20 pm Did i read it correctly that Courtney Lawes is on 35k a week?

Can't be. He'd be the highest paid player in the world by a considerable distance.

ASMO wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 4:20 pm Did i read it correctly that Courtney Lawes is on 35k a week?

Thought it was along the lines of £600k plus accomodation and schooling for his kids

SaintK wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 5:04 pm

ASMO wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 4:20 pm Did i read it correctly that Courtney Lawes is on 35k a week?

Thought it was along the lines of £600k plus accomodation and schooling for his kids

According to this that would make him the fifth best rugby player in France. I find that hard to believe.

https://www.florugby.com/articles/14224 ... gest-stars

I generally think a lot of the numbers are hugely over reported.

Biffer wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 5:14 pm

SaintK wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 5:04 pm

ASMO wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 4:20 pm Did i read it correctly that Courtney Lawes is on 35k a week?

Thought it was along the lines of £600k plus accomodation and schooling for his kids

According to this that would make him the fifth best rugby player in France. I find that hard to believe.

https://www.florugby.com/articles/14224 ... gest-stars

I generally think a lot of the numbers are hugely over reported.

That would be 600k Euros but yes probably over reported. Think he was on about £450k at Saints

Just seen €35k per month which is roughly £350k annually
Brive trumped an offer he had received from Provence

SaintK wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 6:08 pm Just seen €35k per month which is roughly £350k annually
Brive trumped an offer he had received from Provence

I can just about believe that.

I don't believe the €25k/mknth average for ProD2 though. That's €300k/year, when the tenth best player in the top14 is on less than €600k. Doesn't seem to add up for me.

Where's the match have picked this up

https://www.wheresthematch.com/live-rugby-union-on-tv/

SaintK wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 11:23 am Thanks
Link saved. Will be good to see Courtney in action again!

If Brive go back up, you won't be watching for long!

Biffer wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 6:16 pm

SaintK wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 6:08 pm Just seen €35k per month which is roughly £350k annually
Brive trumped an offer he had received from Provence

I can just about believe that.

I don't believe the €25k/mknth average for ProD2 though. That's €300k/year, when the tenth best player in the top14 is on less than €600k. Doesn't seem to add up for me.

Could be falling into the same trap a lot of Premiership teams did when the salary cap was higher - spend way beyond your means in order to compete. I don't think they ever named names, but I've definitely heard people in rugby (David Flatman, the Eggchasers [before I dumped their podcast when it started involving their startlingly right wing and conspiratorial socio-political takes]) talk about the surprisingly large amounts pretty average players were being paid, I wouldn't be too shocked to see another league fall foul of the same thing.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 10:32 am

SaintK wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 11:23 am Thanks
Link saved. Will be good to see Courtney in action again!

If Brive go back up, you won't be watching for long!

Lost at home to Montauban so another season in Pro D2 for Lawes.
Grenoble looking favourites now

Playoff final is 1630 tonight uk time. Grenoble v Montauban.

The bottom of the Top14 is getting tight, if I can put it that way. Vannes, Perpignan and SF Paris could all finish last and face the immediate trap door, with the next rung facing a play off against the loser of the ProD2 final.

Perpignan face Toulouse who have, errr, nothing to lose, they will finish as top seed. Vannes and SF face UBB and Castres respectively who are all chasing points, all three bottom clubs are away from home.

SaintK wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 12:25 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 10:32 am

SaintK wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 11:23 am Thanks
Link saved. Will be good to see Courtney in action again!

If Brive go back up, you won't be watching for long!

Lost at home to Montauban so another season in Pro D2 for Lawes.
Grenoble looking favourites now

Yeah, that's really Brive's level these days. Too small. Ditto les Sapiacs who have defied the odds to reach the final.

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:16 am The bottom of the Top14 is getting tight, if I can put it that way. Vannes, Perpignan and SF Paris could all finish last and face the immediate trap door, with the next rung facing a play off against the loser of the ProD2 final.

Perpignan face Toulouse who have, errr, nothing to lose, they will finish as top seed. Vannes and SF face UBB and Castres respectively who are all chasing points, all three bottom clubs are away from home.

Perpignan and Stade are at home.

Toulouse will likely send a weakened team out as they have nothing to play for and would want to rest players before the playoffs I’d think. Bordeaux need to win to make sure they go straight into the semifinals, and Castres need a win to have a shot at home advantage in the first round.

Perpignan, at home against a potentially second string Toulouse (haven’t seen team sheets) might have a chance of steering clear of relegation today.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:32 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:16 am The bottom of the Top14 is getting tight, if I can put it that way. Vannes, Perpignan and SF Paris could all finish last and face the immediate trap door, with the next rung facing a play off against the loser of the ProD2 final.

Perpignan face Toulouse who have, errr, nothing to lose, they will finish as top seed. Vannes and SF face UBB and Castres respectively who are all chasing points, all three bottom clubs are away from home.

Perpignan and Stade are at home.

Toulouse will likely send a weakened team out as they have nothing to play for and would want to rest players before the playoffs I’d think. Bordeaux need to win to make sure they go straight into the semifinals, and Castres need a win to have a shot at home advantage in the first round.

Perpignan, at home against a potentially second string Toulouse (haven’t seen team sheets) might have a chance of steering clear of relegation today.

I was switching between ProD2 and Top14 sites, reading play off itineraries, league standings and today’s fixtures on my phone and it proved too much for me

I hope Perpignan survive, obviously due to Jamie Ritchie going there. I believe they are bringing in others too.

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:23 am

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:32 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:16 am The bottom of the Top14 is getting tight, if I can put it that way. Vannes, Perpignan and SF Paris could all finish last and face the immediate trap door, with the next rung facing a play off against the loser of the ProD2 final.

Perpignan face Toulouse who have, errr, nothing to lose, they will finish as top seed. Vannes and SF face UBB and Castres respectively who are all chasing points, all three bottom clubs are away from home.

Perpignan and Stade are at home.

Toulouse will likely send a weakened team out as they have nothing to play for and would want to rest players before the playoffs I’d think. Bordeaux need to win to make sure they go straight into the semifinals, and Castres need a win to have a shot at home advantage in the first round.

Perpignan, at home against a potentially second string Toulouse (haven’t seen team sheets) might have a chance of steering clear of relegation today.

I was switching between ProD2 and Top14 sites, reading play off itineraries, league standings and today’s fixtures on my phone and it proved too much for me

I hope Perpignan survive, obviously due to Jamie Ritchie going there. I believe they are bringing in others too.

Yeah, want Ritchie playing at top level. Less concerned with Cherry and Price being relegated with Vannes.

Also hoping that if I have a wee trip to the south of France that I’ll have Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Castres, Monatauban and Pau to choose from in that area (and Bayonne at a push).

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:11 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:23 am

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:32 am

Perpignan and Stade are at home.

Toulouse will likely send a weakened team out as they have nothing to play for and would want to rest players before the playoffs I’d think. Bordeaux need to win to make sure they go straight into the semifinals, and Castres need a win to have a shot at home advantage in the first round.

Perpignan, at home against a potentially second string Toulouse (haven’t seen team sheets) might have a chance of steering clear of relegation today.

I was switching between ProD2 and Top14 sites, reading play off itineraries, league standings and today’s fixtures on my phone and it proved too much for me

I hope Perpignan survive, obviously due to Jamie Ritchie going there. I believe they are bringing in others too.

Yeah, want Ritchie playing at top level. Less concerned with Cherry and Price being relegated with Vannes.

Also hoping that if I have a wee trip to the south of France that I’ll have Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Castres, Monatauban and Pau to choose from in that area (and Bayonne at a push).

Béziers play in the Pro D2, Narbonne have slipped away somewhat to the third tier, Carcassone play at that level too, the walled city is worth a wander around. I went to a couple of Carcasonne games many years ago

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:45 am

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:11 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:23 am

I was switching between ProD2 and Top14 sites, reading play off itineraries, league standings and today’s fixtures on my phone and it proved too much for me

I hope Perpignan survive, obviously due to Jamie Ritchie going there. I believe they are bringing in others too.

Yeah, want Ritchie playing at top level. Less concerned with Cherry and Price being relegated with Vannes.

Also hoping that if I have a wee trip to the south of France that I’ll have Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Castres, Monatauban and Pau to choose from in that area (and Bayonne at a push).

Béziers play in the Pro D2, Narbonne have slipped away somewhat to the third tier, Carcassone play at that level too, the walled city is worth a wander around. I went to a couple of Carcasonne games many years ago

Yeah, Beziers is really attractive to me as a place to base myself. Lovely old city, easy to get to Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Narbonne, etc etc. Have a vague idea post retirement to spend three or four weeks there in October / November most years, watching rugby and drinking red wine.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:48 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:45 am

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:11 am

Yeah, want Ritchie playing at top level. Less concerned with Cherry and Price being relegated with Vannes.

Also hoping that if I have a wee trip to the south of France that I’ll have Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Castres, Monatauban and Pau to choose from in that area (and Bayonne at a push).

Béziers play in the Pro D2, Narbonne have slipped away somewhat to the third tier, Carcassone play at that level too, the walled city is worth a wander around. I went to a couple of Carcasonne games many years ago

Yeah, Beziers is really attractive to me as a place to base myself. Lovely old city, easy to get to Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Narbonne, etc etc. Have a vague idea post retirement to spend three or four weeks there in October / November most years, watching rugby and drinking red wine.

Don't forget Lourdes !

I don't think they have a Rugby team, but you have to pick up some Holy Water for the physio's

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:48 am

Yeah, Beziers is really attractive to me as a place to base myself. Lovely old city, easy to get to Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Narbonne, etc etc. Have a vague idea post retirement to spend three or four weeks there in October / November most years, watching rugby and drinking red wine.

Sounds horrendous

I love that area, my boss lived in a wee place called Céret, about an hour and a half away from Béziers, I was further into the mountains, a village called Espezel.

The wee coastal town down towards the Spanish border are gorgeous - very popular with artists due to the light.

Was it here I read mention of a Lions game in France? Imagine following a full Lions tour in France, slowly moving from village to village, taking in the local wines and food - my idea of heaven.

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:52 am

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:48 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:45 am

Béziers play in the Pro D2, Narbonne have slipped away somewhat to the third tier, Carcassone play at that level too, the walled city is worth a wander around. I went to a couple of Carcasonne games many years ago

Yeah, Beziers is really attractive to me as a place to base myself. Lovely old city, easy to get to Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Narbonne, etc etc. Have a vague idea post retirement to spend three or four weeks there in October / November most years, watching rugby and drinking red wine.

Don't forget Lourdes !

I don't think they have a Rugby team, but you have to pick up some Holy Water for the physio's

One of the written lines that has stuck with me over the years came from Dominic Behan who described someone as having, “a face like a disappointed cripple returning from Lourdes”.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:11 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:23 am

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:32 am

Perpignan and Stade are at home.

Toulouse will likely send a weakened team out as they have nothing to play for and would want to rest players before the playoffs I’d think. Bordeaux need to win to make sure they go straight into the semifinals, and Castres need a win to have a shot at home advantage in the first round.

Perpignan, at home against a potentially second string Toulouse (haven’t seen team sheets) might have a chance of steering clear of relegation today.

I was switching between ProD2 and Top14 sites, reading play off itineraries, league standings and today’s fixtures on my phone and it proved too much for me

I hope Perpignan survive, obviously due to Jamie Ritchie going there. I believe they are bringing in others too.

Yeah, want Ritchie playing at top level. Less concerned with Cherry and Price being relegated with Vannes.

Also hoping that if I have a wee trip to the south of France that I’ll have Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, Castres, Monatauban and Pau to choose from in that area (and Bayonne at a push).

Where were Perpignan lying in the table when he signed?
You'd have hoped his agent had done some due diligence, though I guess money talks in the end (and a lifestyle choice)

Lovely try from Montauban. 11-6

Think there are more people at this game than were at Leinster v Glasgow.

And another, turnover, quick hands, speed, 19-6 to Montauban.

Montauban win from sixth place in ProD2!

Cracking game, really enjoyed that.

Grenoble lose the final for the third year in a row, and obviously they’ve lost the two previous playoffs against the second bottom of the Top14.

Much as I have a soft spot the Ultras (best fans in Fra maybe), this highlights the nonsense of a ko after a long season.

Grenoble finished 21 pts ahead of Montauban. It's one for the romantics and little guy cheerers (and I am one) but reality is Grenoble are resourced enough to have a chance of staying up. I'm afraid USM will be straight back.

And Pro2 is much better to watch than T14.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:58 pm Much as I have a soft spot the Ultras (best fans in Fra maybe), this highlights the nonsense of a ko after a long season.

Grenoble finished 21 pts ahead of Montauban. It's one for the romantics and little guy cheerers (and I am one) but reality is Grenoble are resourced enough to have a chance of staying up. I'm afraid USM will be straight back.

And Pro2 is much better to watch than T14.

I kind of agree, but I always think the other side of this is you get to the end of the season in a relegation dogfight and it’s about winning your last couple of games to stay up. So maybe a playoff is a reasonable parallel. Dunno.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:02 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:58 pm Much as I have a soft spot the Ultras (best fans in Fra maybe), this highlights the nonsense of a ko after a long season.

Grenoble finished 21 pts ahead of Montauban. It's one for the romantics and little guy cheerers (and I am one) but reality is Grenoble are resourced enough to have a chance of staying up. I'm afraid USM will be straight back.

And Pro2 is much better to watch than T14.

I kind of agree, but I always think the other side of this is you get to the end of the season in a relegation dogfight and it’s about winning your last couple of games to stay up. So maybe a playoff is a reasonable parallel. Dunno.

I'm old school. A league is a league and a cup a cup. The latter is for the underdogs and romantics. Which is why the FA Cup is so popular: it's really something of a lottery.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:13 pm

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:02 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:58 pm Much as I have a soft spot the Ultras (best fans in Fra maybe), this highlights the nonsense of a ko after a long season.

Grenoble finished 21 pts ahead of Montauban. It's one for the romantics and little guy cheerers (and I am one) but reality is Grenoble are resourced enough to have a chance of staying up. I'm afraid USM will be straight back.

And Pro2 is much better to watch than T14.

I kind of agree, but I always think the other side of this is you get to the end of the season in a relegation dogfight and it’s about winning your last couple of games to stay up. So maybe a playoff is a reasonable parallel. Dunno.

I'm old school. A league is a league and a cup a cup. The latter is for the underdogs and romantics. Which is why the FA Cup is so popular: it's really something of a lottery.

It’s fair to say that Grenoble have developed a habit of shitting the bed in big games though.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:44 pm It’s fair to say that Grenoble have developed a habit of shitting the bed in big games though.

It's a very French thing. Long way to go to catch Clermont.