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David Ribbans will captain Toulon against Saracens in Saturday’s knockout tie - Getty Images Europe/David Rogers
Among the banners waved by fervent Toulon fans is one that proclaims “God save Ribbans”, featuring the image of their captain sketched over a St George’s Cross.
Stade Mayol is one of the most vibrant venues in European rugby union, so to be regarded as its king, even implicitly, represents a formidable feat. The nickname “Ribeye” did not follow Dave Ribbans from Northampton Saints, but Toulon supporters adore him.
The 29-year-old is rightly proud of the affection his performances have earned. And despite being unavailable to England head coach Steve Borthwick, he could well muscle himself into contention for a trip to Australia with the British and Irish Lions. Locks that weigh more than 20st, stand 6ft 8in and contribute around the pitch are rare.
Having arrived on Côte d’Azur in 2023, following a World Cup campaign that brought his tally of caps to 11, Ribbans has excelled. On the back of an impressive debut campaign, he was asked to share the captaincy with Charles Ollivon.
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Fans in Stade Mayol show their appreciation for Ribbans
Ollivon suffered a serious knee injury three months ago, leaving Ribbans as the main man for the rest of the season. He will lead Toulon in their Champions Cup knockout tie against Saracens on Saturday.
Lying third in the Top 14, Pierre Mignoni’s team are chasing two trophies. It recalls the golden galactico period that yielded three Champions Cup titles in succession, between 2013-15, while a recent documentary commemorated a decade since the 2014 double. Ribbans, though, wants to “create our own history”.
“It’s a massive part of the club’s tradition, that period,” he tells Telegraph Sport. “But it was a different time, and the game has changed a lot. There are JIFF rules [on home-grown players], financial rules.
“France isn’t just a Wild West in terms of what you can and can’t do. It’s slightly wilder than the Premiership, maybe, but that all-star team wouldn’t be possible in today’s era.”
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Ribbans has put on 4-5kg in weight to cope with the physical demands of the Top 14 - Icon Sport
Ribbans speaks functional French and prefers to stay level-headed. Though he “can get fiery in training”, Ribbans defers to natives for “emotional” speeches. Matthias Halagahu and Selevasio Tolofua are identified as two of Toulon’s tub-thumpers, and Mignoni is not shy, either.
“We know how to fire rockets every now and then,” Ribbans adds with a laugh. “I would say that Pierre, our head coach, is probably the number one culprit for that. You can see him on the sideline and be rest assured that he’ll be flying into us. It’s southern France, man, it’s just different. Maybe the temperature heightens everything.”
The climate certainly suits Ribbans. He and his partner, Charlotte, live in a small town called Carqueiranne, a 20-minute drive to the east of Toulon. “Laid-back, beach lifestyle, slow pace,” is how Ribbans describes it. “It’s perfect for me. I’m not a city boy.”
French league is ‘war of attrition’
You will not hear Ribbans criticise Northampton, to whom he remains immensely grateful, but he is making a huge success of his move by embracing the grind. Even with a week off, during which Toulon lost 28-26 away to Castres, Ribbans is already up to 21 appearances this term and offers a stark description of the demands upon him.
“Until you play here, you can’t really realise what it entails,” he says. “This isn’t to shade the Premiership at all. With 10 teams, the Premiership has changed a lot. Here, the rugby isn’t always as structured or as exciting. It can be helter-skelter, but it’s week on week. This year in particular, I haven’t missed many games, and have played 80 minutes in most of them. It’s been a war of attrition.
“In the front five, you are playing against guys who are 130-140kg. Out in the backs, there are giant Fijians who weigh 120kg-plus. And there’s no stepping in this league. Everyone is running straight at you and it’s a real – excuse the language – c--k-off as to who is beating who one on one. Every time you go into a scrum or a maul, it’s 100 per cent and the opposition are striving to win a penalty. That’s the mindset.”
After figuring out his ideal playing weight last season, Ribbans has settled between 128-129kg. “I’ve probably put on another 4-5kg more than I was carrying at Saints,” he explains. “It’s a fine balance. In this league, you need to have some weight behind you to make an impact in the tight carries and tough collisions. I’m involved in all the line-outs, calling those, so I still want to be explosive and have that as a strong point in my game.”
Asked for a highlight so far, Ribbans proposes a general appetite for the sport in France that has supporters brandishing flares and slamming team buses with their hands to welcome their heroes. He mentions the “eye-opening” prominence of Pro D2, the French second tier, which is televised and played at packed stadiums. The decision to re-sign at Toulon until 2028 was straightforward.
Fellow England internationals Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlam have joined Ribbans and, over the past fortnight, the 42-year-old Ma’a Nonu has rocked up at Toulon as a “medical joker”, or short-term injury replacement. Ribbans shakes his head at the absurdity of it all, revealing that the double World Cup winner has been both remarkably humble and immensely hard-working. “To say I have played with someone of his calibre is unbelievable,” he admits.
Weeks on from a Six Nations that finished with Chandler Cunningham-South alongside Maro Itoje as an emergency second row for an hour in Cardiff, there is a strong argument that Ribbans should be the first man that Borthwick would call if eligibility rules were relaxed. While open about how England frustrations spurred him across the Channel, Ribbans does not harbour resentment.
“Of my seven years in Northampton, I felt like I was putting in really solid performances for at least four of them,” he says. “I’ve come to realise that selection is one person’s opinion. I wasn’t one of the favourites and others got their chance. With Eddie, I never really got a look-in. That was a major reason for the change. I had been in and out, making squads but not getting enough caps, attending broader training camps without getting a shot.
“When Steve took over, to be honest, it was more of the same. He had worked with the Leicester boys and the Saracens boys, so they had a nudge on me. It was great that he took me to the World Cup when he knew I was coming here, but I was sat on the sidelines for it. Ultimately, in terms of playing, I don’t look back that fondly on it. I wanted to be more involved and thought I could kick on, but it wasn’t to be.”
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Ribbans (held aloft) was frustrated that he was restricted to a fringe role with England - Geoff Caddick /AFP via Getty Images
Ribbans was used just twice at the 2023 tournament, starting the 71-0 thrashing of Chile and coming off the bench in the third-place play-off against Argentina. Given the lack of Test experience below Itoje, Ollie Chessum and George Martin in Borthwick’s current set-up, he would surely be involved.
“When I look back now, I’ve got to be careful,” Ribbans says. “I could think ‘I should be involved’ but it isn’t always like that. I think the team is going through a development phase after losing people like Owen [Farrell] and Courtney [Lawes], but they’re going well. I still watch England games and hope they do well. Most of the players are now my ex-Saints team-mates, and it’s been brilliant to see them come through.
“I haven’t heard from Steve since I left and I don’t expect to. There wasn’t much of a relationship there. If the rules were to change, of course I would put my hand up. I want to represent England and play international rugby – who doesn’t? But I knew what the rules were when I signed and I’m not going to complain about them.”
Playing for two countries is ‘a bit strange’
It is a shame that Itoje will be rested for this weekend, depriving us of a tussle between Ribbans and the England captain. To delve into another theoretical scenario, because he was born in Somerset West just outside Cape Town, Ribbans could re-qualify for the Springboks in 2026.
“Would I consider it? You never say never with these things and South Africa was my home originally, but England has become my second home and I was super proud to play for them. I find it a bit strange when players play for two countries,” he explains.
“This is no slight on the Springboks, who are an amazing team. It’s just my view and I’m a bit stubborn in it. I’d put aside the potential glory for that because it wouldn’t be right towards England.”
Speaking of potential glory, Ribbans is among several members of Toulon’s cosmopolitan squad who will be on Andy Farrell’s 75-man longlist for the Lions regardless of logistical constraints. Ben White, the Scotland scrum-half, is right in contention and tighthead prop Sinckler will be eager for a third tour to supplement 2017 and 2021.
“It’s been spoken about a little bit,” Ribbans shrugs. “If we have a good Champions Cup, then we’d like to think that the coaches would be watching. If we can go deep into the Top 14, which is one of the best if not the best competition in the world, we’d like to think we’d be in contention.
“Honestly, I don’t see my chances as being high. I don’t think I’ve been spoken about much and rightly so, because I wasn’t in the Six Nations. If it was on my club form, I might be in the conversation. I don’t know. It would be a dream to be involved in that team, but I’m realistic. There are some great locks. You never know. If we do well as a team, maybe individual accolades will come with that.”
Shine brightly enough with Toulon to force Farrell’s hand and there may be new banners at the Mayol for next season. “Ribbans the lion heart” has a good ring to it.
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