استمتع بـUnlimited مع Magzter GOLD

استمتع بـUnlimited مع Magzter GOLD

احصل على وصول غير محدود إلى أكثر من 9000 مجلة وصحيفة وقصة مميزة مقابل

$149.99
 
$74.99/سنة
The Perfect Holiday Gift Gift Now

Montauban heroes ascend the heights

June 15, 2025

|

The Rugby Paper

BRAVO Montauban, a team that are the living proof that promotion, relegation and its surrounding jeopardy are the lifeblood of rugby — well, French rugby anyway.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Montauban heroes ascend the heights

The small club from the Tarn region have always punched well above their weight and have endured — and enjoyed — the outrageous slings of fortune involved with proper league rugby without going bust and getting all negative about life.

Just last week they pulled off probably the biggest heist in their history by winning promotion back to the Top 14 after finishing just sixth in the regular season of ProD2.

That put them very much on the backfoot with away games all the way if they were to triumph and move up in the world again. Which they did. On successive weekends they won 26-23 at third-placed Colomiers, beat ProD2 favorites Brive on their own turf 29-13 and then last weekend accounted for mighty Grenoble who had dominated the regular season and finished 21 points clear of Montauban.

That counted for little, however, as an inspired Montauban tore into their opponents to record a famous 24-19 win at Toulouse’s ground Stade Wallon.

المزيد من القصص من The Rugby Paper

The Rugby Paper

Spain push Argentina all the way

ARGENTINA clinched a thrilling victory over Spain with a dramatic second half comeback.

time to read

1 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

When Alfie is always the star man

ALLAN Langer, the Queensland rugby league legend, is honoured with a statue outside Suncorp Stadium, in Brisbane, the venue for Wednesday's Lions game with the Reds.

time to read

1 min

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

The Rugby Paper

Ireland miss chance to get past Italians

IRELAND'S bid to reach the semifinals suffered a damaging setback as they slipped to a heartbreaking defeat against hosts Italy in Viadana.

time to read

1 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

The Rugby Paper

O'Brien is quick to take charge for Ireland

IRELAND secured a confident and controlled victory in Tbilisi, propelled by a try-double from debutant wing Tommy O'Brien and one from first-time captain Craig Casey.

time to read

1 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

The Rugby Paper

Wingers to the fore for England

ENGLAND began their U20s World Championship title defence with a commanding 56-19 victory over Scotland in Verona.

time to read

2 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

Gibson-Park and Russell happy as they fall into step

JAMISON Gibson-Park passed his Lions Test match audition with dance partner Finn Russell and admitted the pair had hardly rehearsed.

time to read

1 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

The Rugby Paper

Woeful Wales are humiliated one more time

WALES' embarrassment knows no bounds as they surrendered a 19-7 lead to chalk up their 18th consecutive defeat, easily a record for a Tier 1 nation in the professional era.

time to read

2 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

Bordeaux & Saints are set for Cup rematch

EUROPEAN champions Bordeaux-Begles and last season’s finalists Northampton have been drawn in Pool 4 for the 2025-26 Champions Cup.

time to read

1 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

Farrell's call-up shouldn't cause discord

THE furore surrounding Owen Farrell being brought into the Lions squad as a replacement for Elliott Daly has stirred the nepotism bad genie.

time to read

1 mins

July 06, 2025

The Rugby Paper

Scotland hold on to deny brave Māori

SCOTLAND claimed a first-ever win over the Māori All Blacks with a thrilling victory in Whangõrei to kick off their Pacific tour in style.

time to read

1 min

July 06, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size

Holiday offer front
Holiday offer back