14 Oct 2023

Former player Daniel Browne on the 'Wild West' of French club rugby

From Māpuna, 12:12 pm on 14 October 2023

As the Rugby World Cup in France enters the knockout stages, Māpuna talks to a former rugby professional, Daniel Browne, who lifts the lid on the way it used to be in French club rugby. After leaving New Zealand in 2000 he spent several seasons at Grenoble where he experienced free for all fighting, eye gouging, testicle pulling in what he describes as the 'Wild West'. Players would fall asleep during video analysis sessions and a cigarette or two travelling to matches wasn't unusual. Browne, of Samoan and Irish whakapapa, was once courted by Munster until an Irish monsoon gave him second thoughts. On top of that he shares his thoughts on concussion, the World Cup and hilarious tales of life on tour including jealous boyfriends drawing handguns in Georgia.