Interesting choice to go to Brive. It's a rugby mad city indeed, but the problem they're having is the same as the likes of e.g. Agen: they are a relatively small city, meaning not enough big local sponsors / economic activity to allow them a competitive Top 14 budget vs. bigger cities like Bordeaux, Toulouse, Paris, Clermont etc. Which is why they keep doing the yoyo between Top 14 and Pro D2. In any event, I wish Mr Lawes all the best in France. He's a great servant of the game and role model.
Great interview Tim, glad you mentioned it on the Eggchasers pod otherwise might have missed it. Good luck Courtney in France 🇫🇷 I am sure you will be a big hit (lol) and you leave a big whole in the Saints 😇 squad.
As a french rugby fan, I am glad that Courtney is importing in our competition the grandiose exemple he his in a tackling technique matter. I'm delighted too, to discover that channel and Tim's, Joe's and UK players' insights and analysis on our rugby culture.
Well done great interview. I hope the English marketing people start listening to him. The premiership has been great viewing this year, we need to get more people viewing. Good luck Courtney , you have been a great servant to Saints and England (and Northampton Old Scouts), All the best in France
Great gig! Tim, you deserve this! Interviewing arguably England's most loved athletic forward. How many people pick big Courts as their favourite ever (I do).
Idk how I stumbled on this channel but boy am I glad I did! Top notch quality show with interviews, previews, reviews, etc. I'll be following the Top 14 more closely this year, cuz this is the type of content I've been needing and can't really find elsewhere. Plus, Top 14 is the pinnacle of pro rugby currently.
I am a 71 year old old school second rower who relished the physical and social aspects of rugby. I remember the first time I saw Courtney playing second row for England I said he would be the best player England would ever have. His physicality and hardness in the beginning was proper ‘old school’ he didn’t take any rubbish from anyone! Top man. Big loss to Northampton and England
Tbh I wouldn't put him above martin johnson at second row , in the back row u can't dismiss Dallaglio n Richard Hill, they were all amazing for england and their clubs
@@kingkongsson1 totally agree it’s such a tough call for second row with Jono, we also can’t forget Wade Dooley. The point I was trying to make was that people often forget is that Courts started out as a second row who didn’t take any nonsense! As for the back row, fully agree with Hilly, but Dallallio was a great number 8. Another phenomenal back rower was Peter Winterbottom. But I think we can both agree as rugby fans, it’s been an honour and pleasure watching Courts playing for England, the Lions and Northampton
@@romainviry3185 thé supporter contact may shock him a bit, here in France the panthers are very accessible, it’s not like at quins where only certain supporters get to go to that bar in the stand.
As a SAfrican I’m glad to hear English rugby folk endorse the contact side of rugby. Always feel that WR ( whoever they are?) are determined to water down the impact side of the sport. They will only destroy the game if they do. It’s amazing really that folk in the UK are so taken by soccer, just tradition I assume, it is a spectacularly boring sport.
Tim and Courtney love to talk about this gladiator aspect of rugby but it’s not that, that’s not what attracts fans. Even the rugby fans who watch it don’t watch it for gladiator aspect. Otherwise rugby fans and boxing/ufc fans would have a huge crossover but there isn’t at all. Rugby fans are fans because they know the game, they understand the game. They’ve played it and appreciate how hard it is, they appreciate a wonderful pass, a huge shot or an incredible bit of attacking play. But even more they appreciate the nuances, like jackaling, rucking, set piece. This is what casual fans don’t understand because a lot of them never played it because it’s a private school sport. So that’s one barrier, but it’s not the only one. Because even state schools don’t have boxing and ufc, so why are they popular? It’s because they’re cool, it’s because they’re trendy. Boxing, f1, ufc, football, none of these sports are more exciting than rugby. You could argue any of all those 5 are the most exciting. But 4 are doing brilliantly, one is failing. And it’s because the other 4 are cool. The young demographic watches them and young people get interested in what other young people watch, especially when these other sports are popular among any background, whether that be social or racial. That’s where rugby gets to left behind. It hurts the sport. You comment on sportbible where’s the rugby news. You’ll get comments about boring, upper class or changing room activities. Young people reading these comments and seeing these comments over and over again are the single biggest thing that hurts rugby, because the narrative is then set even if it’s not true. Why would you start watching a new sport when you’d get made fun of. While everyone else in your class is watching the ufc or boxing. Rugby has to move away from its roots and go with the times. Invest HEAVILY in state schools. Pay popular sports pages to promote the game. Get working class rugby players or big popular characters more out there. Cause some drama and news. Invite popular RUclipsrs into clubs, like the London broncos rugby league team recently did, the comments were very positive. Get any working class, cool rugby pundits to collaborate with football pundits, preferably Keane, Neville, carragher, Micah Richards etc. Do these things regularly for a few years and within a decade you’ll have done more for the image and popularity of rugby than anything from 2004 to now
French wife (born in Toulon, so some history...) - there is a bigger cultural/race/social status divide in France than "even" in the UK. As such, there are elements of French society that are 100% football fans and another, separate, but still large element of society that don't connect with football, so choose rugby...
How much do Gallagher pay for the premiership & TNY too. No where near, The fans, stadia & viewing way above. RFU have failed vs the Irish who have better too. Italian rugby growing in fans & viewings.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
Interesting choice to go to Brive. It's a rugby mad city indeed, but the problem they're having is the same as the likes of e.g. Agen: they are a relatively small city, meaning not enough big local sponsors / economic activity to allow them a competitive Top 14 budget vs. bigger cities like Bordeaux, Toulouse, Paris, Clermont etc. Which is why they keep doing the yoyo between Top 14 and Pro D2. In any event, I wish Mr Lawes all the best in France. He's a great servant of the game and role model.
A great player and a lovely person apparently. It's good to have him in the Top 14. Can't wait seeing him against Willis!
Great interview Tim, glad you mentioned it on the Eggchasers pod otherwise might have missed it. Good luck Courtney in France 🇫🇷 I am sure you will be a big hit (lol) and you leave a big whole in the Saints 😇 squad.
This channel deserves more viewers!
As a french rugby fan, I am glad that Courtney is importing in our competition the grandiose exemple he his in a tackling technique matter.
I'm delighted too, to discover that channel and Tim's, Joe's and UK players' insights and analysis on our rugby culture.
Great interview!
What a level-headed, pragmatic and good bloke Courts is.
He's a great ambassador the sport, thanks for the video
Well done great interview. I hope the English marketing people start listening to him. The premiership has been great viewing this year, we need to get more people viewing. Good luck Courtney , you have been a great servant to Saints and England (and Northampton Old Scouts), All the best in France
Good insight from Courtney, the English game can learn from the french, mon dieu!!
Great gig! Tim, you deserve this!
Interviewing arguably England's most loved athletic forward. How many people pick big Courts as their favourite ever (I do).
Idk how I stumbled on this channel but boy am I glad I did! Top notch quality show with interviews, previews, reviews, etc. I'll be following the Top 14 more closely this year, cuz this is the type of content I've been needing and can't really find elsewhere. Plus, Top 14 is the pinnacle of pro rugby currently.
The best interview man really cool.
Love this. Great content Tim!
The enthusiasm for rugby in France owes as much to the beauty of the sport as to its values. Parents are confident taking their children to rugby.
I am a 71 year old old school second rower who relished the physical and social aspects of rugby. I remember the first time I saw Courtney playing second row for England I said he would be the best player England would ever have. His physicality and hardness in the beginning was proper ‘old school’ he didn’t take any rubbish from anyone! Top man. Big loss to Northampton and England
Tbh I wouldn't put him above martin johnson at second row , in the back row u can't dismiss Dallaglio n Richard Hill, they were all amazing for england and their clubs
@@kingkongsson1 totally agree it’s such a tough call for second row with Jono, we also can’t forget Wade Dooley. The point I was trying to make was that people often forget is that Courts started out as a second row who didn’t take any nonsense! As for the back row, fully agree with Hilly, but Dallallio was a great number 8. Another phenomenal back rower was Peter Winterbottom. But I think we can both agree as rugby fans, it’s been an honour and pleasure watching Courts playing for England, the Lions and Northampton
I'll be watching brive games to see how he gets on.
I’m only an hour and a half from Brive, so it now comes into me “local” clubs bracket.
Massive signing for Brive, hoping Courtney will enjoy his rugby over there ! Good man they ll welcome him properly
@@romainviry3185 thé supporter contact may shock him a bit, here in France the panthers are very accessible, it’s not like at quins where only certain supporters get to go to that bar in the stand.
Great interview, you need to promote this channel more on egg chasers! Subbed
Missing him already!
As a SAfrican I’m glad to hear English rugby folk endorse the contact side of rugby. Always feel that WR ( whoever they are?) are determined to water down the impact side of the sport. They will only destroy the game if they do.
It’s amazing really that folk in the UK are so taken by soccer, just tradition I assume, it is a spectacularly boring sport.
Why did you create this new channel Tim ? Looks cool but it’s surprising :-)
Tim and Courtney love to talk about this gladiator aspect of rugby but it’s not that, that’s not what attracts fans. Even the rugby fans who watch it don’t watch it for gladiator aspect. Otherwise rugby fans and boxing/ufc fans would have a huge crossover but there isn’t at all. Rugby fans are fans because they know the game, they understand the game. They’ve played it and appreciate how hard it is, they appreciate a wonderful pass, a huge shot or an incredible bit of attacking play. But even more they appreciate the nuances, like jackaling, rucking, set piece. This is what casual fans don’t understand because a lot of them never played it because it’s a private school sport. So that’s one barrier, but it’s not the only one. Because even state schools don’t have boxing and ufc, so why are they popular? It’s because they’re cool, it’s because they’re trendy. Boxing, f1, ufc, football, none of these sports are more exciting than rugby. You could argue any of all those 5 are the most exciting. But 4 are doing brilliantly, one is failing. And it’s because the other 4 are cool. The young demographic watches them and young people get interested in what other young people watch, especially when these other sports are popular among any background, whether that be social or racial. That’s where rugby gets to left behind. It hurts the sport. You comment on sportbible where’s the rugby news. You’ll get comments about boring, upper class or changing room activities. Young people reading these comments and seeing these comments over and over again are the single biggest thing that hurts rugby, because the narrative is then set even if it’s not true. Why would you start watching a new sport when you’d get made fun of. While everyone else in your class is watching the ufc or boxing. Rugby has to move away from its roots and go with the times. Invest HEAVILY in state schools. Pay popular sports pages to promote the game. Get working class rugby players or big popular characters more out there. Cause some drama and news. Invite popular RUclipsrs into clubs, like the London broncos rugby league team recently did, the comments were very positive. Get any working class, cool rugby pundits to collaborate with football pundits, preferably Keane, Neville, carragher, Micah Richards etc. Do these things regularly for a few years and within a decade you’ll have done more for the image and popularity of rugby than anything from 2004 to now
Agreed on all of that. Rugby is a complex sport.
Luvin the Brolly 😅
French wife (born in Toulon, so some history...) - there is a bigger cultural/race/social status divide in France than "even" in the UK. As such, there are elements of French society that are 100% football fans and another, separate, but still large element of society that don't connect with football, so choose rugby...
British and Irish Lions Captain 2025!
Hes got 2 premierships as well 😎
What we get right with rugby in france, is everything that England get wrong.
Not Provence??
But where’s the South African angle ??
What is happening to you????
How much do Gallagher pay for the premiership & TNY too. No where near, The fans, stadia & viewing way above. RFU have failed vs the Irish who have better too. Italian rugby growing in fans & viewings.
Ireland doesn’t have football to compete with. Rugby is the only sport they are remotely competitive at. Kickball dominates English sport