Ollie Phillips column: Losing the plot, future uncertainty and James Haskell's versatility

By Ollie Phillips, 11 March 2011

[FRC columnist, IRB Sevens Player of the Year, Stade Francais winger and this season's third-highest try-scorer in Top 14, Ollie Phillips talks about losing at home to Perpignan, why James Haskell should be a World Cup shoe-in, and what his future plans are beyond this season...]

Judging by some of the press coverage this week you might have thought Stade Francais were on the edge of collapse after our home defeat by Perpignan, but it?s not suicide watch or anything like that ? although everyone is a bit frustrated and keen to get back on track.

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Ollie Phillips column: 'I'm gutted to miss out for England, but my first loyalty is to Stade'

By Ollie Phillips, 22 May 2010

[FRC columnist Ollie Phillips, IRB Sevens Player of the Year, Stade Francais winger and  FRC columnist Ollie Phillips talks about missing out on playing fort England, reflects on his first season in France and looks ahead to the arrival of Michael Cheika].

The season may be over as far as Stade Francais are concerned ? indeed, it finished two weeks ago - but until Friday I thought I still had a few games left to play, but this time for England?s sevens team. Unfortunately that opportunity to play a couple of IRB tournaments, including this weekend at Twickenham, has now been taken away from me due to an ongoing player-release dispute in France. Essentially it involved four players who were not released by their clubs to play for the France sevens team, and who have now been dropped from the full French side to tour South Africa and Argentina this summer.

It didn?t really have anything to do with me, but with the clubs hardening their stance after the four players were dropped I have now been told by Stade Francais that I can?t play over the next two weekends either.

It is extremely frustrating, because I love playing for my country and I think it is the highest honour you can have as a sports professional, but at the same time I have to stress that my first loyalty at the moment is to my club, especially as Stade Francais have been so good to me.

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Ollie Phillips column: 'We're not broke, and we still think we can win the Heineken Cup'

By Ollie Phillips, 01 April 2010

[FRC columnist Ollie Phillips, IRB Sevens Player of the Year, Stade Francais winger and  FRC columnist Ollie Phillips talks about finance, injury, Max Guazzini, the Heineken Cup and birthday boy James Haskell].

Much has been written and said about Stade Francais in recent weeks but as far as we?re concerned what?s happened has happened and all we can do is try and win our remaining four games ? starting with Clermont Auvergne at the Stade de France on Saturday.

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Ollie Phillips column: Snow, injuries and playing away - all in a day's work at Stade

By Ollie Phillips, 08 December 2010

[FRC gives a big welcome to Stade Francais winger and friend of the site Ollie Phillips. The IRB Sevens Player of the Year has agreed to join our columnists to give you the inside track on life at Stade, being an Englishman in Paris, and having a calendar model as your house-mate. This week he recaps on a hectic festive period, the frustrations of being injured and the amazing help of club supporters who saved Stade's Heineken Cup hopes].

The New Year has kicked off with a bang in Top 14 with three games in nine days, but unfortunately I?ve not been able to take any part so far due to an annoying injury that I picked up back in November. I didn?t really know what it was but it was getting progressively worse, and then before the two Ulster games in the Heineken Cup I couldn?t train all week ? I just literally turned up and played the games because I couldn?t walk on my foot it was so painful.

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