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Australia’s Max Jorgensen, right, pounces on the ball to score a try during the rugby union Nations Series match between France and Australia in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

‘They’ll be sending their best’: Waugh confident of French force as demand for Wallabies rolls on

Australian interest in Super Rugby may be dwindling but public hunger to watch Test rugby shows no signs of abating, with another Wallabies Test already sold out.

  • Iain Payten

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Mitchell Pearce, coaching the Catalans Dragons in France.

Whatever happened to Mitchell Pearce? Well, he moved to Europe, gave up the grog and converted to Islam

The former NRL hellraiser has resettled in France, where he is assistant coach at the Catalans Dragons rugby league team.

  • Peter FitzSimons
Lehopa Leota, who plays for Racing 92 in France.

How the French will be paying to develop the next generation of Wallabies

The niggly relationship between Australian and French rugby has taken another twist that could one day pay off for the Wallabies.

  • Paul Cully
Lehopoame Leota, who plays for Racing 92 in France.

France-based giants picked for Junior Wallabies in major RA policy shift

In response to dozens of talented young Aussies joining French academies, Rugby Australia will now pick players from offshore for its biggest junior rep team.

  • Iain Payten
Antoine Dupont during France’s gold medal win in the Paris Olympics.

The $2.4m megastar of French rugby has never played in the south. Will that change in July?

Antoine Dupont is the highest-paid rugby player in history. But will the French superstar travel to play the Wallabies in Brisbane in July?

  • Iain Payten
Tom Staniforth playing for Castres

He’s an Aussie footy player with a wild mullet. And he was just called up by France

Tom Staniforth is a Canberra boy who is now a member of the French rugby squad. He could debut for Les Bleus against the Wallabies.

  • Iain Payten
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Heinz Lemoto playing in his first u21 game for Toulouse.

More than 30 rising stars have been poached by French academies. This is how Australian rugby is fighting back

They are the ‘lost boys’ of Australian rugby: two teams worth of talented youngsters who have been poached by French clubs, and many are the giant forwards so sorely need by the Wallabies.

  • Iain Payten
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has experienced pressure in Dublin as a coach with Leinster and Ireland.

‘I’ve never done anything like that before’: Inside the Wallabies’ brutal spring tour

The Wallabies went winless in Europe for the first time since 1958. But coach Joe Schmidt is motivated by revenge in July.

  • Jonathan Drennan
France celebrate Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s try in another missed opportunity for Australia.

The three (pointed) reasons why Wallabies botched chance to prosper in Paris

Up against a beatable French team, the Wallabies played better at Stade de France. But their decision-making under pressure was not good enough to finish the job.

  • Paul Cully
Australia’s Filipo Daugunu, left, is challenged by France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey during the rugby union Nations Series match between France and Australia in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Don’t believe the swipe: Wallabies have flaws but they are still a team to believe in

Yes, the Wallabies cost themselves a chance of victory in Paris. And yes, they finished up with a record of 5-10 for the year. But they have also shown the ability to beat anyone in the world.

  • Peter FitzSimons