Four tries in two Pro D2 games have made Montauban’s new Scottish hooker one of the stories of the opening month. Talking Rugby Union has been watching Matthews do it for more than a decade.

Oyonnax, Provence and Brive remain unbeaten, Montauban are flying again and Colomiers looked to have found their spark. As Pro D2 reaches the last weekend of its opening block, TRU looks at what we've learned and what's to come next.

Pro D2 after three rounds sees Oyonnax, Brive and Provence stay unbeaten, while Grenoble, Montauban and Colomiers show how unpredictable the league can be.

Mark Ashcroft reflects on a summer visit to Montauban, Johnny Matthews’ latest rugby chapter and US Montauban’s unbeaten start back in Pro D2.

Mark Ashcroft previews Pro D2 Round Two as Provence, Grenoble, Montauban, Narbonne and Nissa face important early tests in the promotion race.

Pro D2 is drawing record crowds, major investment and growing British and Irish talent as France’s second tier becomes a rugby competition in its own right.

Johnny Matthews joins Montauban as France’s Pro D2 begins another brutal season of big budgets, fierce crowds and promotion pressure.

The 21-year-old was part of Portugal’s memorable 2026 Rugby Europe Championship triumph, 12 months on from a difficult period in his young career.

The back-row forward is one of several ex-Northampton stars now playing across the Channel and as Harrison prepares to potentially lock horns with former teammate Courtney Lawes on Friday night, he tells TRU about his time in France.

With Stuart Lancaster revealing Racing 92 have been in touch with Owen Farrell and Kyle Sinckler rumoured to moving to Toulon, what makes crossing the Channel so appealing?

After leaving Leicester Tigers for US Carcassonne at the end of last season, Johnny McPhillips spoke to TRU’s Joe Harvey about his move to Pro D2 and reflects on working with Steve Borthwick and his time at Mattioli Welford Road.

After an 18-month period that has seen the England Sevens programme discontinued, Team GB’s Harry Glover spoke to Joe Harvey about his time in Pro D2, the selection process and his future in the Top 14.

As he prepares for his latest challenge, this time in Pro D2, former Ireland forward Robin Copeland speaks to TRU's Joe Harvey.

Beziers has been at the centre of much media speculation in the past couple of months, but star centre Jeff Williams is still enjoying his time on the French south coast.

In February, Daniel Tuohy made headlines by describing rugby as ‘rotten to its core’. Now, just over five months on from that statement, Tuohy spoke to TRU's Joe Harvey about his feelings towards the game.

In recent seasons, Rouen Normandie have risen through French Rugby and now led by former Bath and England scrum-half Richard Hill, new signing Peter Lydon is excited about what the Pro D2 side can achieve.