Paul McNally – World Radio Paris

Scrum on down: Where to enjoy the Rugby Six Nations in Paris

31 January 2026 by Paul McNally

An Englishman, a Frenchman, a Scot, a Welshman, an Irishman and an Italian walk into a bar.

It’s not the start of a cheesy joke – it’s the 2026 Rugby Six Nations, which kicks off with Ireland v France at the Stade de France here in Paris this Thursday evening (5 February).

It’s one of two chances to see live rugby action in Paris during this year’s tournament. The other Stade de France match is the closing game, France v England on Super Saturday, 14 March.

France are the Six Nations holders, led by inspirational captain Antoine Dupont, and Les Bleus are, for many, clear favourites to defend their title and get their 2027 World Cup campaign off to a flying start with 18 months to go.

Last-minute tickets for the Stade de France fixtures are on sale on the official France Rugby Ticketing website.

Better still… for a great Six Nations experience, our friends at Frog Pubs will be screening every game, in each of their eight Paris pubs, live on big screens – but be sure to turn up early to get a table with the best views, as it’ll get busy!

To enjoy the thrill of the Rugby Six Nations at Frog Pubs – with great beers, great food and great times – find your nearest at https://www.frogpubs.com/

All the fixtures in full (all kick-off times are Paris time)

Thursday 5 February 9.10pm – France v Ireland

Saturday 7 February 3.10pm – Italy v Scotland
Saturday 7 February 5.40pm – England v Wales

Saturday 14 February 3.10pm – Ireland v Italy
Saturday 14 February 5.40pm – Scotland v England

Sunday 15 February 4.10pm – Wales v France

Saturday 21 February 3.10pm – England v Ireland
Saturday 21 February 5.40pm – Wales v Scotland

Sunday 22 February 4.10pm – France v Italy

Saturday 6 March 9.10pm – Ireland v Wales

Sunday 7 March 3.10pm – Scotland v France
Sunday 7 March 5.40pm – Italy v England

Saturday 14 March 3.10pm – Ireland v Scotland
Saturday 14 March 5.40pm – Wales v Italy
Saturday 14 March 9.10pm – France v England

Blue Sparks - Paris interior design in English

Interior Design in English: Create Your Paris Dream Home with Blue Sparks

20 November 2025 by Paul McNally

General

So you’ve fallen for Paris and now you’re dreaming of a home here, somewhere you can return to again and again.

But how do you begin — finding the right property, navigating the purchase, and transforming it into the home you’re imagining?

For many, the process can feel daunting. How do you turn the dream of a Paris home into a reality that feels effortless and entirely your own?

That’s where Blue Sparks comes in. Led by English-speaking interior designer Antonia Mahon, an Irish national who has called Paris home since 1999, Blue Sparks offers property search and full-service design for international clients — managing every stage of the journey from property search to the final styling.

“My clients are busy people who want to enjoy the process, not get lost in it,” says Antonia.

“I guide them through finding, buying, renovating, and furnishing their Paris home so that, when they arrive, everything is ready — right down to the chilled bottle of champagne.”

With a background of 20 years in the French corporate world, Antonia combines creativity with rigorous project management.

Since renovating her first Paris apartment in 2004 (a very, very steep learning curve in itself!), she’s built a trusted network of realtors, notaries, contractors, cabinetmakers, and artisans who share her exacting standards.

Clients describe her as proactive, imaginative, and deeply reliable — a designer who listens, solves problems, and turns complex projects into smooth, enjoyable experiences.

Whether you’re reimagining a historic apartment in Saint-Germain-des-Prés or transforming a Haussmannian gem near the Marais, Blue Sparks provides an A-to-Z experience:

Property search and purchase support
Space planning and design concepts
Renovation management and contractor coordination
Sourcing of furniture, fixtures, and finishes
Final installation and styling

If you’ve already found your Paris home, Antonia also offers comprehensive interior design to bring your vision to life.

Each project is uniquely tailored — inspired by your lifestyle, your story, and your connection to Paris.

“Paris apartments have their quirks,” Antonia says, “I love reworking layouts to make them practical and beautiful. And because most of my clients aren’t here during the process, I manage every stage personally, keeping them updated so they can relax and look forward to moving in.”

In this Blue Sparks project, Antonia created a warm, contemporary kitchen within a classic Parisian dining room. The antiqued mirror splashback expands light and space, while the soft oval lampshades bring an organic counterpoint to the room’s clean lines.

Antonia has earned a reputation for transforming spaces (some challenging) into timeless, livable homes filled with character. Her designs balance modern comfort with Parisian charm.

And the results speak for themselves: “Antonia has a magic wand,” says Marlene, a recent client who entrusted her 16th arrondissement apartment to Blue Sparks.

“She really listens and makes sure she understands the wishes and personality of her client. She is very creative, not only for the design of the apartment, but also in finding solutions to any problems that arise.”

If you’re ready to start, or have already started your Paris home journey, Blue Sparks can help you whichever phase you’re at— from the first viewing to the final reveal.

Contact Blue Sparks — your English-speaking property expert and interior designer in Paris — at antonia@bluesparks.paris to schedule a consultation or visit www.bluesparks.paris to explore Antonia’s latest projects.

Listen back to Antonia’s full interview with WRP from 2024 here:

Study at Paris’s World-Famous Sorbonne This Summer

4 March 2025 by Paul McNally

Practical Tips

Because it’s never too early to look forward to summer in Paris, here’s an opportunity to do something unique during the summer break – come and study at the world-famous Sorbonne university.

The Sorbonne Summer University offers 17 multidisciplinary courses – each consisting of 15 hours of lessons in one week – and focused on themes including history, literature, philosophy, French culture and topical issues, all taught by world-class teachers and researchers at the Sorbonne’s faculty of arts and humanities.

Most of the courses are in French, but there are also two modules taught in English – and they offer French as a Foreign Language courses at a range of different levels.

Participants from all over the world will be coming to Paris for this academic journey and cultural exchange in the historic Sorbonne building in Paris’s Latin Quarter. Courses run from late June until late July, and there is a choice of morning and afternoon slots to fit around your other commitments.

Whether you are a student, a cultural lover, or simply looking to experience the City of Light in a new way, the Sorbonne Summer University is open to anyone aged 16 or over who wants to learn something new or improve their knowledge in a particular field.

Find out more on the Sorbonne website and register soon to take advantage of their reduced rates.

Common financial mistakes to avoid when moving to France

15 July 2024 by Paul McNally

General

Anyone watching the Tour de France or Paris Olympics on TV from abroad this summer will know – France is a beautiful place to live.

However, relocating can bring various challenges and risks. We asked the experts at Kentington’s tax and investment consultants for some common mistakes to avoid.

Prospective movers to France must be open-minded regarding their financial arrangements. Along the way, while some aspects of a given person’s tax and financial management in France might be slightly different from what you may be accustomed to, others might be in total contrast to what you are familiar with.

Financial mistakes can have severe consequences for expats in France. They could lead to overpayment of taxes, fines, and even investigations by the tax authorities. Understanding and avoiding these mistakes is crucial to maintaining financial stability and peace of mind.

So, what are some of the most frequent mistakes that people make regarding their finances in France?

Misunderstanding French tax residency. This is a crucial financial aspect for anyone planning to move to France. It’s a common source of confusion and can significantly impact your financial arrangements.

Facing unexpected tax liabilities when transferring assets. With effect from January 2018, a new wealth tax – Impôts sur le fortune immobilière (IFI) – was introduced in France. This is a tax on an individual’s real estate assets. Both non-residents and residents are assessable to this tax on their property assets.

Mismanaging pensions and retirement funds. Given each individual’s unique circumstances, it’s crucial to seek expert advice to navigate the intricacies of this financial aspect. This will enable them to assess the full implications of any move their actions for their long-term income and tax payable, and also provide a sense of reassurance and confidence in their financial planning.

Poor inheritance and gift tax planning. A key element of French inheritance law is the concept of forced heirship. This requires a portion of a deceased individual’s estate in France to be passed to their children and, in some cases, their spouse, irrespective of whatever wishes the deceased might have communicated in their will.

Ineffective handling of currency exchange and banking. It might be a sound decision to introduce some level of diversification to your assets, including concerning currencies. Shopping around for the best possible money transfer rates may also be sensible.

Putting all your investment into property. While property can certainly be an excellent investment, this is likeliest to be the case if it forms just one part of a balanced estate.

Not being prepared before moving to France. All too often, expats make the move without adequately organised financial affairs and miss out on opportunities to mitigate their tax liabilities.

Conclusion

Expats moving to France can help ensure they get the most out of their new life in France by taking financial advice from French-regulated advisers, understanding the tax residency rules in France, and getting their financial affairs in order ahead of their move.

Need individual advice? Find out more at kentingtons.com

28 summer book recommendations for the holidays in Paris

12 July 2024 by Paul McNally

General

Whether you’re fleeing the capital to travel and explore, or enjoying summer in Paris during the Games, you’ll need some quality reading material. We asked the English-language booksellers at Smith & Son what books will be accompanying them on holiday this summer.

Here are some to be starting with:

Shelley Noble – The Tiffany Girls
In 1899, a young French girl flees Paris, leaves her father, an art forger wanted by the police, and goes to New York to try to start a new life. As an artist in the Women’s Division of the Tiffany Glass Company, she finds friendship and respect for her talent. This well researched novel , based on real facts and people, will charm anyone interested in art, history and strong female characters.

Oscar Wilde – The Decay of Lying
A pearl of Oscar Wilde, one of his best essays. Wilde here defends the lie as an element superior to the truth for artistic creation, with the famous motto that it is life that imitates art. A false dialogue in a library that will become one of the main arguments of modern art. The volume contains also The critic as Artist.

Raymond Chandler – The Big Sleep and Other Novels
Smoke-filled, quick-witted and downright hypnotic, the three novels in this collection are among Chandler’s best. Philip Marlowe is a down-on-his-luck private eye who often finds himself entangled in an intricate web of lies, deception and blurry morals. Each novel is a radiography of Los Angeles’ seedy underground, where everyone is trying to get by, in any way they can – no matter the cost.

Hernan Diaz – Trust
A literary tour de force by Hernan Diaz, this novel masterfully takes the reader for a ride, betting on their intelligence through four interwoven narratives. The authors of these narratives do not all possess the same level of skill, but they all revolve around the same story. Beyond the critique of the American dream, in the vein of Philip Roth or Tom Wolfe, Hernan Diaz succeeds in giving this book, which gradually becomes a real page-turner, a poignant, bittersweet feminist tone.

Click here to discover all 28 books in this summer’s reading selection, carefully picked by the booksellers at Smith & Son, independent English bookshops in Paris and now Versailles.

paul

Scrum on down: Where to enjoy the Rugby Six Nations in Paris

Interior Design in English: Create Your Paris Dream Home with Blue Sparks

Study at Paris’s World-Famous Sorbonne This Summer

Common financial mistakes to avoid when moving to France

28 summer book recommendations for the holidays in Paris

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