
Toulouse and Montpellier Set Up Top 14 Final Showdown in Paris
Toulouse and Montpellier will contest the Top 14 final in Paris after the holders demolished Racing 92 and Montpellier ground out a win over Stade Francais.

Toulouse and Montpellier will contest the Top 14 final in Paris after the holders demolished Racing 92 and Montpellier ground out a win over Stade Francais.

Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle stormed into the Top 14 play-offs while Champions Cup winners Bordeaux missed out, as the quarter-finals kick off in France this weekend.

Harry Plummer's late drop goal handed Clermont a 34-31 win and dumped back-to-back European champions Bordeaux out of the Top 14 play-off race, their first finals miss since 2019.

Toulouse face Bayonne and Bordeaux meet Toulon in the Top 14 semi-finals, with Champions Cup winners Bordeaux chasing a historic European and domestic double.

Toulon have farewelled two-time World Cup winner Ma'a Nonu with a haka after his final home game at 44, with the All Blacks legend's playing future still undecided.

Former All Black and England centre Jamie Salmon tells the DSPN podcast that the French Top 14's depth and TV money have left every rival club competition behind, and predicts a wave of New Zealand stars heading north after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Union Bordeaux-Begles claimed a significant home victory over Stade Toulousain at Stade Matmut-Atlantique in the Top 14 2026 season, finishing first with Toulouse classified second. With limited event data available, the result points to a composed and effective performance from the hosts, who made home advantage count against one of French rugby’s biggest names.

Lyon claimed the classified victory over RC Toulon at Matmut Stadium de Gerland in this Top 14 2026 fixture, making home advantage count to finish first ahead of the visitors. With limited event data available, the result points to a composed and effective Lyon performance, while Toulon remained competitive but ultimately had to settle for second place.

Stade Toulousain lead the 2025-26 Top 14 standings on 81 points, just three ahead of La Rochelle in a tightening title race. While the top two have opened a significant gap over the chasing pack, the battle for playoff positioning is intense, with only six points separating third-placed Lyon from seventh-placed Toulon. Further down, the mid-table remains congested, while Perpignan and Brive are under pressure near the bottom. The championship is shaping into a two-team fight for first, with every point now crucial.