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2025–26 Top 14 season

French rugby union season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Top 14 season was the 127th French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). Toulouse retained the championship, their fourth title in a row.

Countries France
Date6 September 2025 – 27 June 2026
ChampionsToulouse (25th title)
Runners-upMontpellier
Quick facts Top 14 season, Countries ...
2025–26 Top 14 season
Countries France
Date6 September 2025 – 27 June 2026
ChampionsToulouse (25th title)
Runners-upMontpellier
RelegatedMontauban
Matches played188
Attendance3,212,877
(average 17,090 per match)
Top point scorerHarry Plummer, Clermont (295)
Top try scorerJiuta Wainiqolo, Clermont (18)
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Format

The top six teams at the end of the regular season (after all the teams played one another twice, once at home, once away) enter a knockout stage to decide the Champions of France. This consists of three rounds: the teams finishing third to sixth in the table play quarter-finals (hosted by the third and fourth placed teams). The winners then face the top two teams in the semi-finals, with the winners meeting in the final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The LNR uses a slightly different bonus points system from that used in most other rugby competitions. It trialled a new system in 2007–08 explicitly designed to prevent a losing team from earning more than one bonus point in a match,[1] a system that also made it impossible for either team to earn a bonus point in a drawn match. LNR chose to continue with this system for subsequent seasons.[2]

France's bonus point system operates as follows:[2]

  • 4 points for a win.
  • 2 points for a draw.
  • 1 bonus point for winning while scoring at least 3 more tries than the opponent. This replaces the standard bonus point for scoring 4 tries regardless of the match result.
  • 1 bonus point for losing by 5 points (or fewer). The margin had been 7 points until being changed prior to the 2014–15 season.

From the 2017–18 season onwards, only the 14th placed team is automatically relegated to the Pro D2. The 13th placed team play the runner-up of the Pro D2 play-off, with the winner taking up the final place in the Top 14 for the following season.[3]

Teams

Locations of clubs competing in the 2025–26 Top 14.

Fourteen clubs will compete in the 2025–26 Top 14 season, 12 of them returning. Vannes were relegated to Pro D2 after finishing at the bottom of the table the previous season. Montauban is the sole promoted club, finishing sixth in the Pro D2 the previous season and winning the Pro D2 playoffs. Perpignan, who finished 13th in the previous Top 14 season, defeated Grenoble in the relegation playoffs to retain their place.

More information Club, City ...
2025–26 Top 14 clubs
ClubCityStadiumCapacityPrev
Bayonne Bayonne Stade Jean Dauger 16,934 4th
Bordeaux Bègles Bordeaux Stade Chaban-Delmas[a] 33,500 2nd
Castres Castres Stade Pierre-Fabre 12,500 6th
Clermont Clermont-Ferrand Stade Marcel-Michelin 19,022 5th
La Rochelle La Rochelle Stade Marcel-Deflandre 17,900 7th
Lyon Lyon Matmut Stadium de Gerland 25,000 11th
Montauban Montauban Stade Sapiac 9,210 6th (D2)
Montpellier Montpellier Altrad Stadium 15,697 9th
Pau Pau Stade du Hameau 14,588 8th
Perpignan Perpignan Stade Aimé Giral 14,593 13th
Racing Nanterre Paris La Défense Arena 30,681 10th
Stade Français Paris Stade Jean-Bouin 20,000 12th
Toulon Toulon Stade Mayol[b] 18,200 3rd
Toulouse Toulouse Stade Ernest-Wallon[c] 18,754 1st
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  1. [a]
    In recent years, Bordeaux Bègles has taken occasional home matches to Matmut Atlantique.
  2. [b]
    In recent years, Toulon has taken occasional home matches to Stade Vélodrome in Marseille and Allianz Riviera in Nice.
  3. [c]
    Toulouse often takes high-demand home matches to the city's largest sporting venue, Stadium de Toulouse.

Table

More information Pos, Team ...
2025–26 Top 14 Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Toulouse 26 18 0 8 981 617 +364 134 73 13 3 86[a] Qualification for playoff semi-finals and European Rugby Champions Cup
2 Montpellier 26 17 1 8 824 587 +237 101 69 8 4 82
3 Stade Français 26 15 1 10 869 664 +205 113 83 11 6 79 Qualification for playoff semi-final qualifiers and European Rugby Champions Cup
4 Pau 26 17 0 9 817 665 +152 98 82 7 3 78
5 Racing 92 26 16 1 9 828 723 +105 101 91 6 2 74
6 La Rochelle 26 15 0 11 824 634 +190 106 73 8 4 72
7 Clermont 26 15 0 11 812 708 +104 103 87 8 3 71 Qualification for European Rugby Champions Cup
8 Bordeaux Bègles 26 14 0 12 822 719 +103 113 90 8 6 70
9 Toulon 26 12 1 13 714 820 −106 96 103 8 1 59 Qualification for European Rugby Challenge Cup
10 Castres 26 11 0 15 660 751 −91 81 96 3 8 55
11 Lyon 26 11 1 14 734 774 −40 92 101 3 3 52
12 Bayonne 26 11 0 15 747 869 −122 94 113 4 3 51
13 Perpignan 26 6 0 20 550 797 −247 64 99 1 4 29 Qualification for relegation play-off
14 Montauban 26 1 1 24 495 1349 −854 61 197 0 1 7 Relegation to Pro D2
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Updated to match(es) played on 17 May 2026. Source: Top 14
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Toulouse received a two-point deduction due to irregularities around the transfer of their former player Melvyn Jaminet[4]

Match grid

The following are the fixtures and results for the 2025–26 Top 14 regular season:

More information BAY, BOR ...
ᐁ Home \ Away ᐅ BAY BOR CAS CLE LYO MTB MPR SFR PAU PER RAC LAR TLN TLS
Bayonne —38 – 4010 – 1344 – 1722 – 2049 – 726 – 2335 – 3422 – 5452–736 – 4126 – 1535 – 3240 – 26
Bordeaux Begles 41 – 12—57 – 3231–3432 – 2071 – 2421 – 2328 – 3333 – 3437 – 3262 – 2023 – 1846 – 744 – 20
Castres 48 – 1726 – 28—28 – 2336 – 2249 – 1733 – 3629 – 2415 – 1723 – 720 – 1626 – 3138–2125 – 42
Clermont Auvergne 38 – 1534 – 1963 – 14—41 – 2384 – 3117 – 2036 – 3250 – 2745 – 1713-4132 – 2727 – 1024 – 34
Lyon OU 42 – 3517 – 2126 – 2143 – 24—73 – 1225–2842 – 3722 – 1744 – 1932 – 719 – 3613 – 1319 – 41
Montauban 26 – 6016 – 3128 – 3219 – 3418 – 25—22 – 2225 – 7317 – 5329 – 2210 – 5915–7122 – 477 – 49
Montpellier 62 – 2228 – 2433 – 317 – 935 – 1359 – 7—44 – 728–1842 – 3141 – 1737 – 1317 – 2744 – 14
Stade Français 38–2128 – 733 – 1564 – 2057 – 1747 – 2435 – 12—34 – 3242 – 2120 – 2026 – 2451 – 249 – 13
Pau 47 – 2439 – 1727 – 1524 – 1940 – 1571–3535 – 3334 – 10—27 – 2327 – 1753 – 3332 – 1230 – 26
Perpignan 19 – 2612 – 2729–2726 – 2028 – 3231 – 80 – 2811 – 2840 – 24—15 – 2829 – 3136 – 2030 – 27
Racing 92 47 – 2744 – 3252 – 2143 – 3135 – 3461 – 1632 – 2547 – 2015 – 1037 – 31—24 – 2643 – 2831–20
La Rochelle 49 – 1745 – 1517 – 1934 – 1624 – 4454 – 1933 – 4327–2220 – 631 – 833 – 6—66 – 038 – 10
Toulon 52 – 2627–2216 – 1214 – 3454 – 2154 – 2830 – 2727 – 4633 – 1731 – 1645 – 2139 – 14—27 – 51
Toulouse 31 – 1056 – 1359 – 1224 – 2739–3168 – 1345 – 2929 – 1759 – 2231 – 1348 – 2460 – 1459 – 24—
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Colours: Green: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win; Blue: upcoming matches

Relegation play-off

The team finishing in 13th place in the Top 14 faces the loser of the Pro D2 playoff final, with the winner of this match playing in the 2026–27 Top 14 and the loser in the 2026–27 Pro D2.

14 June 2026
18:00 UTC+2
Provence24–47Perpignan
Try: Jalagonia 20' m
Zafra [es] 25' m
Drouet 59' c
Bituniyata [fr] 74' c
Con: Vareiro [fr] (2/4) 60', 75'
Cards: Zafra [es] Yellow card 36'
Bituniyata [fr] Yellow card 42'		ReportTry: Yato (2) 36' c, 50' c
Forner 37' c
Oviedo (2) 43' c, 77' c
Ruiz 64' m
de la Fuente 80' c
Con: Allan (5/6) 36', 39', 43', 51', 78'
Urdapilleta (1/1) 80'
Cards: Tetrashvili Yellow card 15'
Malolo Red card 32'
Stade Maurice David, Aix-en-Provence
Referee: Vincent Blasco-Baqué
More information Team details ...
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Perpignan won and therefore both clubs remained in their respective leagues.

Playoffs

Bracket

Semi-final Qualifiers Semi-finals Final
1 Toulouse 71
4 Pau 31 5 Racing 92 17
5 Racing 92 33 1 Toulouse 28
2 Montpellier 20
2 Montpellier 25
3 Stade Français 45 3 Stade Français 15
6 La Rochelle 5

Semi-final Qualifiers

13 June 2026
21:05 UTC+2
Pau (4)31–33(5) Racing 92
Try: Auradou 10' c
Simmonds 31' c
Gorgadze 56' c
Rey 72' c
Con: Simmonds (4/4) 11', 32', 57', 73'
Pen: Simmonds (1/1) 5'		ReportTry: Carbonneau (2) 2' c, 53' c
Fickou 50' c
Con: Gilbert (3/3) 2', 50', 54'
Pen: Gilbert (4/4) 26', 37', 41', 45'
Stade du Hameau, Pau
Attendance: 14,999
Referee: Jérémy Rozier [fr]
More information Team details ...
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14 June 2026
21:05 UTC+2
Stade Français (3)45–5(6) La Rochelle
Try: Briatte (3) 6' c, 29' c, 81' c
Barré 34' m
Marchant (2) 60' c, 71' c
Ward 65' c
Con: Carbonel (5/7) 7', 29', 61', 66', 72'		ReportTry: Favre 52' m
Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris
Attendance: 19,500
Referee: Kevin Bralley
More information Team details ...
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Semi-finals

19 June 2026
21:05 UTC+2
Toulouse (1)71–17(5) Racing 92
Try: Thomas 7' c
Cros 13' c
Meafou 19' c
Willis 30' c
Dupont 36' c
Gourgues 43' c
Lebel 45' c
Marchand 54' c
Mauvaka 68' c
Capuozzo 75' m
Con: Ntamack (8/8) 8', 14', 20', 31', 37', 44', 46', 55
Kinghorn (1/2) 69'
Pen: Ntamack (1/1) 23'		ReportTry: Joseph 70' c
Spring 77' c
Con: Seunes [fr] (2/2) 71', 77'
Pen: Gilbert (1/1) 3'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 66,491
Referee: Pierre Brousset
More information Team details ...
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20 June 2026
21:05 UTC+2
Montpellier (2)25–15(3) Stade Français
Try: Banks 10' c
Con: Miotti (1/1) 11'
Pen: Miotti (5/5) 2', 22', 27', 45', 53'
Coly (1/1) 72'		ReportTry: Kerr-Barlow 13' c
Dakuwaqa 15' m
Con: Carbonel (1/2) 14'
Pen: Carbonel (1/1) 7'
Cards: Alo-Emile Yellow card 33'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 66,384
Referee: Ludovic Cayre [fr]
More information Team details ...
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Final

27 June 2026
21:00
Toulouse (1)28–20(2) Montpellier
Try: Mauvaka (2) 6' c, 33' c
Dupont 37' m
Con: Ntamack (2/3) 7', 34'
Pen: Ntamack (3/3) 26', 40', 53'
Cards: Lebel Yellow card 43'		ReportTry: Piccardo 42' c
Coly 63' c
Con: Miotti (1/1) 42'
Coly (1/1) 64'
Pen: Miotti (2/2) 24', 30'
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 78,411
Referee: Luc Ramos
FB15Scotland Blair Kinghorndownward-facing red arrow 70'
RW14France Teddy Thomas
OC13France Pierre-Louis Barassidownward-facing red arrow 64'upward-facing green arrow 79'
IC12Argentina Santiago Chocobaresdownward-facing red arrow 79'
LW11France Matthis LebelYellow card 43'downward-facing red arrow 54'upward-facing green arrow 70'
FH10France Romain Ntamackdownward-facing red arrow 70'
SH9France Antoine Dupontdownward-facing red arrow 65'upward-facing green arrow 70'
N88France Alexandre Roumat
OF7England Jack Willis (c)
BF6France François Cros
RL5France Emmanuel Meafoudownward-facing red arrow 65'
LL4France Joshua Brennandownward-facing red arrow 38'
TP3Spain Joel Merklerdownward-facing red arrow 51'
HK2France Peato Mauvakadownward-facing red arrow 51'
LP1France Rodrigue Netidownward-facing red arrow 51'
Replacements:
HK16France Julien Marchandupward-facing green arrow 51'
PR17United States David Ainuʻuupward-facing green arrow 51'
LK18France Clément Vergé [fr]upward-facing green arrow 65'
LK19France Thibaud Flamentupward-facing green arrow 38'
SH20France Paul Graouupward-facing green arrow 65'
CE21France Kalvin Gourguesupward-facing green arrow 64'
WG22France Thomas Ramosupward-facing green arrow 54'
PR23France Dorian Aldegheriupward-facing green arrow 51'
Coach:
Ugo Mola
FB15Australia Tom Banks
RW14France Gabriel N'Gandebedownward-facing red arrow 53'
OC13France Arthur Vincentdownward-facing red arrow 15'
IC12France Auguste Cadot [fr]
LW11France Donovan Taofifénua
FH10Argentina Domingo Miottidownward-facing red arrow 58'
SH9Scotland Ali Price
N88England Billy Vunipoladownward-facing red arrow 61'
OF7France Alexandre Bécognée
BF6France Lenni Nouchi (c)
RL5France Tyler Duguiddownward-facing red arrow 62'upward-facing green arrow 70'
LL4France Florian Verhaeghedownward-facing red arrow 70'
TP3France Mohamed Haouasdownward-facing red arrow 51'
HK2Australia Jordan Uelesedownward-facing red arrow 8'upward-facing green arrow 20'downward-facing red arrow 57'
LP1France Baptiste Erdociodownward-facing red arrow 53'
Replacements:
HK16France Christopher Tolofuaupward-facing green arrow 8'downward-facing red arrow 20'upward-facing green arrow 57'
PR17France Enzo Forlettaupward-facing green arrow 53'
LK18Wales Adam Beardupward-facing green arrow 62'
N819Scotland Alex Masibakaupward-facing green arrow 61'
SH20France Léo Colyupward-facing green arrow 58'
CE21Argentina Justo Piccardoupward-facing green arrow 15'
FH22France Thomas Darmonupward-facing green arrow 53'
PR23Senegal Wilfrid Hounkpatinupward-facing green arrow 51'
Coach:
Joan Caudullo [fr]

See also

References

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