Spain get helping hand from French

A weekly look at the game's other talking points

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

THERE will be no quarter asked or given in Verona this evening at the Payanini Stadium when France - who have won three of the last four tournaments - take on Spain in the opening round of the 2025 Junior World Cup. France will ruthlessly be going in for the kill against the competition minnows, but nothing can detract from the remarkable support French rugby and its senior clubs have been offering to Spain as they attempt to grow and develop as a rugby nation.

No less than 12 of Spain’s squad currently play in France on Espoir contracts with those clubs not only paying a small wage or retainer but, more importantly, at this stage of their careers, providing approved accommodation away from home and arranging the continuation of their education at schools and universities. It’s the great unseen contribution France makes to young players from across the globe, all countries, and without it rugby would be a much smaller and inward-looking game.

And of course it’s an investment in the future as well. A while back those French clubs clocked that there were some outstanding rugby talents - albeit very raw-south of the border worth tapping into. Why not get ahead of the game?

Toulouse, as you might well guess, have been leading the way, and no less than four of their outstanding Espoirs team that recently won the French U20 championship will be on duty for Spain.