Jamie's French class is not lost on Toony

Ritchie rises above Perpignan chaos

- BY GRAEME MacPHERSON

GREGOR TOWNSEND reckons Jamie Ritchie's tough start to life in France could be the making of him.

The former Scotland captain left Edinburgh after 11 years this summer for a new challenge with Perpignan.

But the Catalan club have opened their Top 14 campaign with seven straight defeats to leave them rock bottom of the table heading into this weekend's fixtures.

Assistant coaches David Marty and Gerald Bastide have quit in recent weeks to add to the sense of chaos.

And it has left the 2009 champions up against it to salvage their season.