Rugby vocabulary to know if watching the Six Nations in France
From un tampon to une cathédrale, learn the meaning of key French rugby terms
England will take on France in Le Crunch on March 14
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The 2026 Six Nations rugby championship is underway, with France claiming a 36-14 victory against Ireland in the opening match last Thursday (February 5).
Whether listening to French commentators on TV or watching games in a French bar with friends, The Connexion gives the rundown on key rugby terms to know.
French rugby terms
While some French rugby terms are borrowed from the English language, there are still plenty that are worth learning.
Let us start with the rugby positions. The team is composed of arrières (backs), ailliers (wingers) who are nicknamed ‘les gros’, demi d’ouverture (fly-half), demi de mêlée (scrum-half or half-back).
Next, some of the most dangerous – and sometimes forbidden – moves.
They include un tampon (huge tackle), une cuillère (ankle tap), when a diving player touches the feet of a running opponent to make him lose balance, une cravate (high tackle), when a player slams the upper body of an opponent with his arms and une cathédrale when a player is thrown upside down and lands on his head.
Antoine Dupont did a cuillère on Finn Russell when France faced Scotland in 2023.
However forbidden, a cathédrale was witnessed in 1998 when Philippe Carbonneau lifted winger David Rees.
Depending on how much pressure the opposing team are putting on France, you can expect to hear some French people asking players to botter la balle en touche (kick the ball in touch), lâcher la balle (give the ball) or make excessive use of chandelle (up and under).
Others may ask the referee to bring out la biscotte (yellow card).
Other terms you might hear are French supporters marvelling at moves such as a crochet (side-step), passe après contact (off-load), quadrage-débordement - also shortened as quad-deb (fend-off), croisée (cross pass) or raffût, when a player stops another in a one-arm move.
Read also: Scotland and Ireland, then France, top readers’ support in Six Nations
What is Le Crunch?
The term Le Crunch is used to refer to a France-England match.
In 2026, Le Crunch is set to take place on Saturday, March 14, at 21:10 - the final match of the championship - and will be broadcast on France 2.
Defending champions France will be looking to retain their title this year.
