French Evolution Is the Envy of Europe Gallic Clubs Operating On a Higher Plane

Summary

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FRENCH club rugby is flourishing. Last Saturday's league match between Stade Francais and Toulouse aroused such demand that it had to be switched to the Stade de France, and there were 10,000 more spectators than Murrayfield can hold when every seat is occupied. Not bad going when you consider Paris club Stade Francais were in the third division of the French leagues only a dozen years ago. They've done a lot right since. Maybe the SRU should send chief executive Gordon McKie over to Paris (budget airline fare of course) to talk with some Stade Francais officials, or rather to listen to what they have to say about how they have promoted the game.

Last season, there were three French clubs in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup. What's the betting there won't be three there this year too? Not good, according to Llanelli Scarlets' coach Gareth Jenkins. He says the French clubs have moved on to another level, and thinks another all-French final likely. The Scarlets are in Edinburgh's pool along with Wasps and Toulouse. It's one of the two toughest; the other is Pool 3 which is made up of Stade Francais, Leicester, Clermont-Auvergne and Neath-Swansea Ospreys. These pools are so tough only the winner is likely reach the quarter-finals, runners-up failing to collect as many points as clubs that come second in easier pools.

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French Evolution Is the Envy of Europe Gallic Clubs Operating On a Higher Plane

Even the English clubs are running shy of the French, and, in consequence, complaining that the salary cap imposed on them puts them at a disadvantage comp...

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