Raphaël Jucobin
@rafajuc.bsky.social
Freelance journalist (Guardian, BBC, GFFN, L'Équipe/France 24) and translator
The latest chapter in one of international’s rugby’s great rivalries – Les Bleus out for revenge against the world champions
November 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The latest chapter in one of international’s rugby’s great rivalries – Les Bleus out for revenge against the world champions
It might seem like an unassuming mid-table Ligue 1 match, but tonight’s Paris FC v Rennes game is also one of the richest in football - a clash between billionaires and long-time industry rivals in luxury goods
The Arnault family (LVMH) take on the Pinaults (Kering) on the pitch for the first time
The Arnault family (LVMH) take on the Pinaults (Kering) on the pitch for the first time
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It might seem like an unassuming mid-table Ligue 1 match, but tonight’s Paris FC v Rennes game is also one of the richest in football - a clash between billionaires and long-time industry rivals in luxury goods
The Arnault family (LVMH) take on the Pinaults (Kering) on the pitch for the first time
The Arnault family (LVMH) take on the Pinaults (Kering) on the pitch for the first time
Nolann Le Garrec confirms Gaël Fickou will be France’s captain against South Africa:
"He has a lot of experience. He’s seen it all with this team, through the highs and lows."
"It’s great that he has the chance to be captain. He guided a very young team in New Zealand this summer."
"He has a lot of experience. He’s seen it all with this team, through the highs and lows."
"It’s great that he has the chance to be captain. He guided a very young team in New Zealand this summer."
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Nolann Le Garrec confirms Gaël Fickou will be France’s captain against South Africa:
"He has a lot of experience. He’s seen it all with this team, through the highs and lows."
"It’s great that he has the chance to be captain. He guided a very young team in New Zealand this summer."
"He has a lot of experience. He’s seen it all with this team, through the highs and lows."
"It’s great that he has the chance to be captain. He guided a very young team in New Zealand this summer."
David Hubert unveiled as Union Saint-Gilloise’s new head coach this afternoon, and immediately taking charge of his first training session
The former Anderlecht and OH Leuven manager was appointed this morning, a day after Sébastien Pocognoli’s departure to Monaco was made official
The former Anderlecht and OH Leuven manager was appointed this morning, a day after Sébastien Pocognoli’s departure to Monaco was made official
October 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
David Hubert unveiled as Union Saint-Gilloise’s new head coach this afternoon, and immediately taking charge of his first training session
The former Anderlecht and OH Leuven manager was appointed this morning, a day after Sébastien Pocognoli’s departure to Monaco was made official
The former Anderlecht and OH Leuven manager was appointed this morning, a day after Sébastien Pocognoli’s departure to Monaco was made official
Lucas Chevalier getting a warm reception here from his former fans ahead of Lille v PSG
Both sides coming off major away wins in Europe, PSG's injury crisis forcing Luis Enrique to name four teenagers in the lineup (including a first senior start for Ndjantou)
Both sides coming off major away wins in Europe, PSG's injury crisis forcing Luis Enrique to name four teenagers in the lineup (including a first senior start for Ndjantou)
October 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Lucas Chevalier getting a warm reception here from his former fans ahead of Lille v PSG
Both sides coming off major away wins in Europe, PSG's injury crisis forcing Luis Enrique to name four teenagers in the lineup (including a first senior start for Ndjantou)
Both sides coming off major away wins in Europe, PSG's injury crisis forcing Luis Enrique to name four teenagers in the lineup (including a first senior start for Ndjantou)
The PSG fans’ tifo tonight celebrating Ousmane Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or win
“The prince of the city who became king of the world”
“The prince of the city who became king of the world”
September 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The PSG fans’ tifo tonight celebrating Ousmane Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or win
“The prince of the city who became king of the world”
“The prince of the city who became king of the world”
Their flight was delayed until this morning due to an air conditioning issue, but Monaco have made it for their Champions League opener here in Bruges - Denis Zakaria misses out due to an adductor injury, while Ansu Fati is called up for the first time since arriving this summer.
September 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Their flight was delayed until this morning due to an air conditioning issue, but Monaco have made it for their Champions League opener here in Bruges - Denis Zakaria misses out due to an adductor injury, while Ansu Fati is called up for the first time since arriving this summer.
PSG kick off their title defence against Atalanta here tonight - surprisingly, it’s Mayulu who starts up front rather than Gonçalo Ramos, in a revamped frontline due to injuries to Doué and Dembélé
September 17, 2025 at 6:58 PM
PSG kick off their title defence against Atalanta here tonight - surprisingly, it’s Mayulu who starts up front rather than Gonçalo Ramos, in a revamped frontline due to injuries to Doué and Dembélé
Paris Saint-Germain’s first home game since the Treble here tonight - Dembélé and Neves among those returning to the starting lineup after last week’s stuttering win in Nantes
Potentially a last appearance as an Angers player for the Rennes-linked striker Esteban Lepaul
Potentially a last appearance as an Angers player for the Rennes-linked striker Esteban Lepaul
August 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Paris Saint-Germain’s first home game since the Treble here tonight - Dembélé and Neves among those returning to the starting lineup after last week’s stuttering win in Nantes
Potentially a last appearance as an Angers player for the Rennes-linked striker Esteban Lepaul
Potentially a last appearance as an Angers player for the Rennes-linked striker Esteban Lepaul
A Coupe de France final where both sides will have one eye on other upcoming games - PSG on the Champions League final, Reims on their relegation play-off
Nevertheless a chance for the Parisians to go one step closer to the Treble and for the Champagne side to end a long trophy drought
Nevertheless a chance for the Parisians to go one step closer to the Treble and for the Champagne side to end a long trophy drought
May 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A Coupe de France final where both sides will have one eye on other upcoming games - PSG on the Champions League final, Reims on their relegation play-off
Nevertheless a chance for the Parisians to go one step closer to the Treble and for the Champagne side to end a long trophy drought
Nevertheless a chance for the Parisians to go one step closer to the Treble and for the Champagne side to end a long trophy drought
It’ll be hard to top yesterday’s match - and PSG will be hoping tonight is as uneventful as possible in any case, as they look to qualify for their second Champions League final here tonight
Ousmane Dembélé starts from the bench, Thomas Partey returns for Arsenal
Ousmane Dembélé starts from the bench, Thomas Partey returns for Arsenal
May 7, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It’ll be hard to top yesterday’s match - and PSG will be hoping tonight is as uneventful as possible in any case, as they look to qualify for their second Champions League final here tonight
Ousmane Dembélé starts from the bench, Thomas Partey returns for Arsenal
Ousmane Dembélé starts from the bench, Thomas Partey returns for Arsenal
The travelling PSG fans - 2500 of them - making their presence felt in North London tonight. Just under half an hour to go until kick-off.
April 29, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The travelling PSG fans - 2500 of them - making their presence felt in North London tonight. Just under half an hour to go until kick-off.
Luis Enrique reaches a century of matches in charge of PSG tonight - he’s picked Kvaratskhelia, Doué and Dembélé as his front 3 to face Aston Villa, with Barcola starting from the bench
The Asturian takes on Unai Emery for the first time since *that* remontada…
The Asturian takes on Unai Emery for the first time since *that* remontada…
April 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Luis Enrique reaches a century of matches in charge of PSG tonight - he’s picked Kvaratskhelia, Doué and Dembélé as his front 3 to face Aston Villa, with Barcola starting from the bench
The Asturian takes on Unai Emery for the first time since *that* remontada…
The Asturian takes on Unai Emery for the first time since *that* remontada…
A high-stakes Derby du Nord tonight - hosts Lille looking to bounce back from defeat in Nantes and draw level with 4th place, Lens looking to stay in the race for Europe
Lens’ 17-year-old defender Kyllian Antonio is thrown into the starting XI for his senior debut following Gradit’s injury
Lens’ 17-year-old defender Kyllian Antonio is thrown into the starting XI for his senior debut following Gradit’s injury
March 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
A high-stakes Derby du Nord tonight - hosts Lille looking to bounce back from defeat in Nantes and draw level with 4th place, Lens looking to stay in the race for Europe
Lens’ 17-year-old defender Kyllian Antonio is thrown into the starting XI for his senior debut following Gradit’s injury
Lens’ 17-year-old defender Kyllian Antonio is thrown into the starting XI for his senior debut following Gradit’s injury
Bordeaux-Bègles have just become the first #Top14 team - on the eve of their top-of-the-table clash against Toulouse, no less - to leave Twitter
March 22, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Bordeaux-Bègles have just become the first #Top14 team - on the eve of their top-of-the-table clash against Toulouse, no less - to leave Twitter
The #SixNations title (and records for Ramos, Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey) in sight for Les Bleus here tonight
March 15, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The #SixNations title (and records for Ramos, Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey) in sight for Les Bleus here tonight
A club statement from Bordeaux today (indirectly) criticises Oliver Kahn’s takeover bid and the local officials who have met with the German
Its financial backing is dismissed as “unverified, even dubious”
Bordeaux mayor Pierre Hurmic had praised the bid as “serious” after meeting Kahn on Friday
Its financial backing is dismissed as “unverified, even dubious”
Bordeaux mayor Pierre Hurmic had praised the bid as “serious” after meeting Kahn on Friday
February 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A club statement from Bordeaux today (indirectly) criticises Oliver Kahn’s takeover bid and the local officials who have met with the German
Its financial backing is dismissed as “unverified, even dubious”
Bordeaux mayor Pierre Hurmic had praised the bid as “serious” after meeting Kahn on Friday
Its financial backing is dismissed as “unverified, even dubious”
Bordeaux mayor Pierre Hurmic had praised the bid as “serious” after meeting Kahn on Friday
The 19 French players who will be rested during this weekend’s Top 14 action, before the #SixNations Ireland match
Barré notably left off the list - presumably Ramos will move back to full-back with Ntamack’s suspension now over
Penaud also returns (over Attissogbé) but not UBB teammate Jalibert
Barré notably left off the list - presumably Ramos will move back to full-back with Ntamack’s suspension now over
Penaud also returns (over Attissogbé) but not UBB teammate Jalibert
February 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The 19 French players who will be rested during this weekend’s Top 14 action, before the #SixNations Ireland match
Barré notably left off the list - presumably Ramos will move back to full-back with Ntamack’s suspension now over
Penaud also returns (over Attissogbé) but not UBB teammate Jalibert
Barré notably left off the list - presumably Ramos will move back to full-back with Ntamack’s suspension now over
Penaud also returns (over Attissogbé) but not UBB teammate Jalibert
John Textor after Lyon v PSG, on the TV rights crisis:
“My issue is about competitive parity. I’ll let the people who have been in French media fight that one out. I’m probably the only owner who built his wealth in football streaming, so I do think I have something to contribute to the debate.”
“My issue is about competitive parity. I’ll let the people who have been in French media fight that one out. I’m probably the only owner who built his wealth in football streaming, so I do think I have something to contribute to the debate.”
February 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
John Textor after Lyon v PSG, on the TV rights crisis:
“My issue is about competitive parity. I’ll let the people who have been in French media fight that one out. I’m probably the only owner who built his wealth in football streaming, so I do think I have something to contribute to the debate.”
“My issue is about competitive parity. I’ll let the people who have been in French media fight that one out. I’m probably the only owner who built his wealth in football streaming, so I do think I have something to contribute to the debate.”
At Lyon-PSG tonight, where the main storyline is once again the tension between the two clubs’ presidents
John Textor has appeared pitchside wearing a cowboy hat, after this week’s leak of a TV rights meeting from last summer in which Nasser Al-Khelaifi labelled him a “cowboy from who knows where”
John Textor has appeared pitchside wearing a cowboy hat, after this week’s leak of a TV rights meeting from last summer in which Nasser Al-Khelaifi labelled him a “cowboy from who knows where”
February 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
At Lyon-PSG tonight, where the main storyline is once again the tension between the two clubs’ presidents
John Textor has appeared pitchside wearing a cowboy hat, after this week’s leak of a TV rights meeting from last summer in which Nasser Al-Khelaifi labelled him a “cowboy from who knows where”
John Textor has appeared pitchside wearing a cowboy hat, after this week’s leak of a TV rights meeting from last summer in which Nasser Al-Khelaifi labelled him a “cowboy from who knows where”
🏉 Léo Barré is back in the France starting XV to play Italy
I interviewed the full-back for Rugby World's latest issue, to discuss his #SixNations debut last year, Stade Français' struggles this season, and learning from the similarly versatile Thomas Ramos
You can get a copy here: bit.ly/4i9tqap
I interviewed the full-back for Rugby World's latest issue, to discuss his #SixNations debut last year, Stade Français' struggles this season, and learning from the similarly versatile Thomas Ramos
You can get a copy here: bit.ly/4i9tqap
February 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
🏉 Léo Barré is back in the France starting XV to play Italy
I interviewed the full-back for Rugby World's latest issue, to discuss his #SixNations debut last year, Stade Français' struggles this season, and learning from the similarly versatile Thomas Ramos
You can get a copy here: bit.ly/4i9tqap
I interviewed the full-back for Rugby World's latest issue, to discuss his #SixNations debut last year, Stade Français' struggles this season, and learning from the similarly versatile Thomas Ramos
You can get a copy here: bit.ly/4i9tqap
Vitinha, who was once again named man of the match, on PSG’s 10-0 aggregate win over Brest:
“When you have that advantage from the first leg, you might unconsciously relax a bit, but that’s exactly what we didn’t do today. We put in the work in defence and attack, that was the key tonight.”
“When you have that advantage from the first leg, you might unconsciously relax a bit, but that’s exactly what we didn’t do today. We put in the work in defence and attack, that was the key tonight.”
February 20, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Vitinha, who was once again named man of the match, on PSG’s 10-0 aggregate win over Brest:
“When you have that advantage from the first leg, you might unconsciously relax a bit, but that’s exactly what we didn’t do today. We put in the work in defence and attack, that was the key tonight.”
“When you have that advantage from the first leg, you might unconsciously relax a bit, but that’s exactly what we didn’t do today. We put in the work in defence and attack, that was the key tonight.”
At the Parc des Princes for what will in all likelihood be the final night of Brest’s European adventure (especially considering their rotated XI)
Kvaratskhelia makes his 1st Champions League start for PSG, Dembélé looking to add to the 5 (!) goals he’s already scored against Brest this month alone
Kvaratskhelia makes his 1st Champions League start for PSG, Dembélé looking to add to the 5 (!) goals he’s already scored against Brest this month alone
February 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
At the Parc des Princes for what will in all likelihood be the final night of Brest’s European adventure (especially considering their rotated XI)
Kvaratskhelia makes his 1st Champions League start for PSG, Dembélé looking to add to the 5 (!) goals he’s already scored against Brest this month alone
Kvaratskhelia makes his 1st Champions League start for PSG, Dembélé looking to add to the 5 (!) goals he’s already scored against Brest this month alone
The LFP - the governing body of French football’s two professional leagues - announces it will use its reserve funds to pay clubs amid its legal battle with DAZN, which has withheld part of its latest payment for the Ligue 1 broadcasting rights
February 17, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The LFP - the governing body of French football’s two professional leagues - announces it will use its reserve funds to pay clubs amid its legal battle with DAZN, which has withheld part of its latest payment for the Ligue 1 broadcasting rights
PSG announce the contract extensions of Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi as well as Luis Enrique (until 2027) with a pre-match ceremony
February 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
PSG announce the contract extensions of Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi as well as Luis Enrique (until 2027) with a pre-match ceremony