Veronique Landew Podcasts

Tom Dickson, English and French rugby friend from Stade Toulousain and highly valued translator in previous episodes with Fabien Pelous, Yannick Jauzion, Denis Charvet, and Eric Champ joins me in previewing the penultimate weekend of the crazy Top 14! Not a boring competition for sure, this year! We also talk about the Euro semis, Pain au chocolat …

It feels good to be French when you're a rugby aficionado, following the phenomenal win from Toulouse against Munster and Racing 92 at the Stade de la Defense versus Sale! This week, you can also listen part 2 of my chat with former Bleus Eric Champ (42 caps), about his time as a rugby player and owner of the Toulon club and his thoughts about its …

Back with a bang! After a 4 week hiatus, the FRC is back on and the Top 14 is going mad, i.e. the points difference between the top 7 teams is minimal! Eric Champ is my guest this week (episode 1) and he reminisces that QF in 2011 against Les Anglais. but he would love to have a pint with Mickey Skinner 30 years later. Mike Pearce and I review the …

Only 5 more weekends of Top 14 rugby before the playoffs and the fight will be fierce as the race to the top 6 couldn't be tighter! Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce summarise the Top 14 as it stands and we deep dive into the Tik Tok 6 Nations! Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the rugby podcast with the French Flair!…

Done and Dusted! Bravo les Bleus for your epic 6 Nations Grand Slam win! I also chat with twice grand slam winner, Jean Pierre Rives about his life post-rugby as a painter and sculptor and his involvement with the creation of the French Barbarians with Jacques Fourroux in 1979 and the rest is history! Mike Pearce, my co-host provides great stats ab…

This week with Jean Pierre Rives, nicknamed Casque d’Or – Golden Helmet – Rives was the star of French rugby in the 1970s and 1980s and became French captain 34 times, playing alongside Jean-Claude Skrela and Jean-Pierre Bastiat in a legendary back row. His style was free-spirited, unpredictable, and entertaining.....in one word ....Very French. Mi…

On this episode, we preview from a French and Welsh point of view that Pivotal game! Will it be third time lucky for Les Bleus or could the men from Wayne Pivac create a big upset? Mike Pearce, my co-host goes back to memory lane where his love of Rugby started 52 years ago, when he first saw a valiant Welsh rugby team play on TV and the rest is hi…

Mike Pearce and I review THAT phenomenal 6 Nations match between Wales vs France and what's been happening in the top 14 too. Your French rugby digest in 30 mins this week! Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the rugby podcast with the French flair!Door Veronique Landew & Mike Pearce

Mike Pearce and I preview the pivotal match between Scotland against France. The last time, Les Bleus won at Murrayfield during the 6 Nations was in 2014, so payback time! I chat with another former international phenomenal player from the 80s and 90s, the talented and humble Denis Charvet about his rugby days, and I finish with the ritual French l…

Review and preview of the 6 Nations and especially THAT game between the two strongest teams in the northern hemisphere, France and Ireland by Moi, Veronique Landew, and my co-host, Mike Pearce. We also discuss what's going wrong at Toulon and I finish my chat with the humble and magnificent former French International and co-creator of Eden Park l…

Franck Mesnel recalls the crazy years or "the Showbizz years" when rugby was still amateur and facing Les Anglais in the QF in the Rugby World cup in 1991. He recollects how on the back of a bow tie, he created a business with his teammate, Eric Blanc. Fast forward to2022, Mike Pearce, my co-host, and I preview the 6 Nations and Les Bleus: will the…

This week, I have the immense privilege to speak to one of the best fly-half and Centre in the World, Franck Mesnel. He reminisces of his younger days playing rugby and the incredible "Show Biz" memories of playing with Eric Blanc, Jean Baptiste Lafond, Philippe Guillard, Brett Gosper, etc. My co-host, Mike Pearce and I review the "Euro Covid-plagu…

In this week's short episode, Mike Pearce and I preview the European Championship games and we share with you the latest news regarding the top 14 and the Pro D2 rankings. As usual, I finish with my French rugby "lesson" and this time, Mike raised his "Welsh" beret....Lol Enjoy the French Rugby CONNECTIONS, the French podcast with the Gallic flair.…

Games are still back on as far as we are aware and Bordeaux is still topping the Top 14! The 6 Nations are just round the corner and I can't help myself recalling THAT spell-binding game between France vs Wales last year to Mike... We both review the numerous and high-profile transfers and I chat with Yannick Jauzion, former Bleus (73 caps) and Tou…

On French Rugby CONNECTIONS, listen to part 2 of my chat with Yannick Jauzion, 73 caps playing with Les Bleus, and 12 years spent with Stade Toulousain. Regarding the Top 14, it was a brief rugby weekend as only 3 games were played last weekend, because of the new Covid variant. Enjoy French rugby CONNECTIONS with moi, Veronique Landew and Mike Pea…

On the French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, this week, I chat with International Centre and former Toulouse player, Yannick Jauzion about his phenomenal try and that win against the All Blacks in the RWC in 2007 and also the "not so great match" playing against Les Anglais in Telstra Park in 2003 in the RWC semi-final . Part 1 is unmissable and more r…

An early Xmas present has arrived for the French Rugby CONNECTIONS podcast! We have reached the grand number of 10,000 listeners! A big thank you to all of our listeners as it means a lot to us! In this episode, we review the European Cup weekend and Mike comes up with some really interesting rugby stats from the first round. All quiet-ish on the F…

Mike and I preview the first Heineken and Challenge European 2021 tournament and focus our attention on Bordeaux vs Leicester and Cardiff vs Toulouse. ONLY 18 MINUTES LONG THIS WEEK! We discuss the players "to watch "in this competition. Enjoy this concise and joyful episode of French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast, the Rugby podcast with a gallic twist…

I speak with France's most capped player, Fabien Pelous, The lock who made 118 appearances for Les Bleus and He captained his country 42 times and won four Five or Six Nations grand slams in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2004 and the Heineken Cup with Toulouse in 2003 and 2005. Fabien never won the World Cup, although he made it to the final in 1999, losin…

Sean Fitzpatrick is our guest on French Rugby CONNECTIONS and previews the epic game between Les Bleus vs the All Blacks on Saturday. He recalls his time playing in France in the same team as Philippe Saint Andre and the famous battle of Nantes. Double dose of French lessons for Mike Pearce and we provide our thoughts on the must-watch game in Stad…

Unmissable! Kyran Bracken is eloquent, loquacious, and reminisces with great fondness the wild initiations games that he had to take part in Glasgow, teaching French to Philippe Sella and how great and solid the England team was in 2003. He reflects on Rugby used to be played and its changes since the professional era and the use of ....mobile phon…

This week, the episode is short and sweet (just like me;-) containing a summary of the Top 14, and Mike and I preview this weekend's games too. French lesson about essentials on how to order a beer in French before a rugby game. No rugby guest this week, as I experienced technical difficulties during my chat with my mystery guest but he'll be back …

Finally, mystery Rugby guest, David Campese aka Campo is on French Rugby CONNECTIONS. Charming, direct, and a great storyteller about his phenomenal career and playing against Les Bleus. He also shares his thoughts about the Modern Rugby and RWC2023! Mike Pearce and I also review the Top14, and there is a BRAND new section to the French Rugby Lesso…

Mike and I review and comment, the 3rd day of the Top 14 on this episode. Last weekend was highly charged and with ups and downs for some French teams. This weekend will be a cracker as there are lots at stake! French Rugby lesson included in this episode, but our Rugby guest was unable to be there due to work commitments but will be there and squa…

This week, this episode is a short and sweet episode (just like me;-), with no Mike Pearce.....but instead I converse with Luke Pearce about the travails of becoming one of the talented International referees at such a young age: 33 years old and the importance of speaking French when officiating a European game in order to create better connection…

Rugby Friends, Mike and I are back ! You will be served a quick overview of the Top 14, the latest news about French Rugby, and a bit of a banter *really ;-). All in 20 mins. Enjoy!Door Veronique Landew & Mike Pearce

Last episode of Season 1 of French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast. Enjoy the Rugby stories narrated by Christian Califano, about his fiercest opponent in the England Team, playing for The Blues in New Zealand with Shaun Fitzpatrick, etc...and completing the Paris Dakar! Speak to you next year and if you've enjoyed listening to the French Rugby CONNECTIO…

I have a chat with the loquacious Christian Califano (part 1) aka Cali, 72 caps for Les Bleus, 6 French Championships, and Heineken Cup, winner. A true French Rugby Legend who reminisces about his best rugby memories playing for Les Bleus, Toulouse for 10 years and in the UK for Saracens and Gloucester. He shares some great anecdotes about Thomas C…

A FIRST! French Rugby CONNECTIONS episode under 20 mins! Enjoy with Moi, Veronique Landew, and Mike Pearce from the English Riviera, La cote D'azur Anglaise talk about the play-offs, the semi-finals, the access game won by Biarritz and a bit of ....Welsh football. Nearly the end of the season for the TOP 14 and....for the French Rugby CONNECTIONS P…

So much passion and wisdom with Emile Ntamack about his time playing for Les Bleus, with Sella, Blanco, Benazzi, Galthie, Dominici, Castaignede, et al, and his time at Stade Toulousain and lifting the first Heineken Cup in 1996. Of course, we talk about his son, Romain who is currently extremely busy and focused and preparing for his next game. Mik…

I have a great time chatting with Bruce Reihana, Rugby Legend, about his career in New Zealand, Northampton, and Bordeaux and coaching for Bristol Bears, his best rugby memory, and about his new role at Montpellier. I really liked how he compares rugby strategy with a chess game! What a great and true metaphor. Robbie Nock, an erudite rugby comment…

Rugby Friends, I had the great pleasure to speak with the talented Alex Lozowski about what it meant for him and his teammates to win the Challenge Cup, his life in La Belle France, embracing the French life by growing a moustache to look like a Frenchman (LOL) and the main differences between playing Rugby in the Top14 versus the Gallagher Premier…

French Rugby CONNECTIONS episode is focused on the European Rugby Cup with the ever eloquent, loquacious, and passionate Martyn Hindley, PR and Communications Director at EPCR, who details what the European Cup is all about, the passion it stirs for its fans and players, the fights between the Samson and Goliath teams and that hard-won semi-final w…

Rugby Friends, a short and sweet 25 mins episode this week (just like me;-) about the exhilarating battle happening in the Top 14 right now and the latest news about French Rugby. Mike talks about his forthcoming book "Hard men of French Rugby" and meeting with Guilhem Guirado which will feature in chapter 2 of his book and bumping into Lawrence Da…

Rugby friends, Rugby Legend, Philippe Saint Andre is now back to being Director of Rugby for Montpellier and looking forward to the Challenge cup final with his stellar team. Philippe reminisces his best rugby memory and living and coaching in Gloucester and Sale too. Mike and I review the Euro weekend and the catch-up games for the last few games …

More French and European Rugby news about the oval ball on French Rugby Connections Podcast with Veronique Landew and Mike Pearce, all in 30 mins! ENJOY the Welsh and the French Rugby banter, and yes we do talk about sheep, snails, and frogs too....Oh la la.Door Veronique Landew & Mike Pearce

This week, we focus on Le Crunch at the Women's six nations. You will not believe how forceful and vigorous the Elite women Rugby players are on the pitch. England vs France final at the 6 women's six Nations will be live this Saturday, on BBC 2 at 2 pm. It will be a feat of grit and brutality and a massive cracking game. France has to win to repai…

BonjourFriends! RUGBY CONNECTIONS Podcast is here! Mike Pearce and I review the Champions Cup, 6 Womens' s Nations Cup, Top 14, and David Beresford who wrote a book "Brothers in arms" about his love for French Rugby Legends from the 70s and 80s takes me back to memory lane on a journey full of French Regional history and lots of wine and epicurean …

A very happy rugby weekend if you are ....French! I have a great chat with Mailys Traore, Loosehead prop, with 21 caps for France, on how she got into Rugby, her love of being an egg chaser for Stade Toulousain and Les Bleus, and which character of Game of Thrones, she identifies with the most. Mike and I review the French teams who played last wee…

I am delighted this week to speak with Serge Betsen who shares briefly his thoughts about Les Bleus and Women's 6 Nations on French Rugby CONNECTIONS Podcast. As promised, Mike Pearce sings "Flower of Scotland" (he's Welsh and he can certainly sing in tune) and Veronique and Mike provide the latest concise rugby news on Top 14, the women 6 Nations,…

I have a chat with Gavin Hastings aka Big Gav, a two-time British & Irish Lion who appeared in three World Cups and in the Five Nations between 1986 to 1995. Gavin reminisces about his rugby memories playing against Les Bleus from his debut in 1986 in Murrayfield to the world Cup in 1995. He was also pivotal particularly in Scotland’s impressive 19…

Did you know that Scott Quinnell's name, Welsh Rugby Legend is of French origin (yes, from quenelle which is the name of an egg-shaped dish - True! )? Scott tells us how he fell in love with French Rugby in the heyday of Jean Pierre Rives, shares his thoughts about France vs Wales game, and recalls his time playing against Les Bleus. Let's not forg…

ON FRENCH RUGBY CONNECTIONS this week! LE CRUNCH. Are you ready for it? Yann Delaigue, 20 caps reminisces the last time won against England in 2005 and his thoughts about Saturday's game. I also got a quote from Dimitri Yachvili , now Consultant at France Televisions about Le Crunch. Mike Pearce and I review the latest European and rugby news. Enjo…

Veronique Landew talks with TMO, Rowan Kitt, arguably the most recognizable Television Match Official (TMO) in world rugby (Rowan Kitt, also called "Kitty" by Wayne Barnes,) when looking to clarify a major officiating decision). In this episode, Rowan Kitt will provide his thoughts on the refereeing in the Wales England game at the Guinness 6 Natio…

I had a great car ride with Ben Cohen, who was moving, philosophical, and recounted great stories of the rudimentary "toilets" used on the victory bus and the day he met Prince Harry stark naked! We talk about the rugby coaches who have inspired him and put him on the right track, after the tragic death of his beloved father. He channeled all his e…

Where there's a will, there's a way! Six Nations leaders France will be without captain Charles Ollivon for Sunday's match against Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus along with four other players. A total of 11 France players from the 23 that faced Ireland in round two have now contracted the virus. Veronique Landew from the French Rug…

Dan Luger, MBE, former RWC 2003 Cup Winner entertained me with his stories of his rugby road leading to the RWC 2003 as well as camaraderie forged during “Table tennis” games and boxing matches between Austin Healey and Brian O'Driscoll during the 2001 British and Irish Lions Tour. He highlights the importance of being prepared post-rugby and rubbi…

It's not every day that you have a Rugby World Cup Winner and a British and Irish Lions former player on your podcast. Ian Balshaw, MBE comments on the prowess of Les Bleus and the off day for England at the opening of the 6 Nations weekend, reminisces his Rugby days in Bath, Leeds, Gloucester, lifting that iconic world cup in 2003 and his love of …

This week, I'm predicting Les Bleus squad (Nearly correct except for 3rd row & 13, 14) and I have an enthralling chat with Antonie Claassen from Racing 92 about his Rugby days in South Africa and in France at Brive, Castres, and Racing 92. He recalls his best rugby memories, speaking French with Finn Russell, and reflects on the importance of being…

This week, we talk about the 6 Nations official launch in which Mike and I took part and conversed with the 6 Nations team head coaches & their captains. I have a chat with Thomas Lombard, former Racing Metro, Stade Français, and Worcester Warriors player about his rugby days in France and in England, and his current role at the head of a TOP14 clu…