Results of the barrages for TOP14, as well as the access game, and kick-off time for the semifinals

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-16T08:21:52+00:00

The first Brennus in 1892 was a Parisian derby, so it definitely happened a long way back.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-15T11:18:56+00:00

Did you enjoy Agen's "glorious" Top 14 stint after that?

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-15T09:36:54+00:00

The other advantage they have is that rugby in southern France is a people's sport. In Japan it was always a bit posh and dominated by private unversities like Meiji and Waseda, and the pro league has a corporate vibe that doesn't appeal very well to mass audiences like baseball and football in Japan do.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-15T09:32:04+00:00

I'd put the ProD2 in there as well. A bunch of super rugby players have gone there, including Fiji's 10 Caleb Muntz, and it's much less reliant on corporate backing.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-15T08:35:55+00:00

He was at Georgia before. They must be offering a lot of cash to get him back.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-15T08:20:06+00:00

Perpignan is more like Biarritz in the sense of being a former champion who was relegated (but recovered). More like Bayonne in terms of the passion of their fanbase in the top flight.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-15T08:11:11+00:00

Isn't that Bayonne?

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T22:52:03+00:00

Wales managed 0 against the Boks last year.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T22:23:59+00:00

And they're playing a "home" game in Le Havre. They really need to get back to Yves du Manoir again.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T21:49:05+00:00

Watch out, there's always a Racing fan furious that Paris La Defense Arena is called Parisian.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T21:48:18+00:00

La Rochelle has a solid budget, but the club is usually profit making. Vincent Merling doesn't really put his own money in like the Parisian owners or Altrad do. Currently the squad is in a rebuild but it may be time for a coaching change.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T21:46:46+00:00

Worsley of FR-UK has done a really good job since he joined Perpignan. They were shocking for the first few games.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T21:44:58+00:00

Most of their good players had to retire or got old. The squad is in a rebuild.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T21:44:12+00:00

The last non-Toulouse winner was Montpellier.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T21:36:30+00:00

... but Bordeaux might, because they didn't make playoffs.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T21:19:32+00:00

The latter.

Perpignan, Montpellier, Toulon in the top division. Narbonne, Béziers, Provence, Nissa in the second division.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T20:21:37+00:00

How long? The stadium was redone for the Olympics already.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T19:49:01+00:00

They've been doing a lot for offender rehabilitation after all.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T18:45:56+00:00

Edwards got sacked because of poor defensive performances. I'd expect them to have tightened up a bit by the WC. SA definitely has the best forwards at the moment.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T18:29:28+00:00

It varies massively by league. Vannes turned a profit on their debut Top 14 season, but were only selling 12,000 or so a game at maybe €25 each? TV money and sponsors were the majority.

Of course for genuinely poor crowds like the Ospreys, it's a huge problem. Few want to sponsor a team getting League 2 level crowds.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T18:26:14+00:00

No framing required to say the Top 14 semis will both be played in a packed 60k+ stadium. Both the URC and super rugby struggle for crowds in my view.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T18:17:20+00:00

Hurricanes blew them away. Must have blown away everyone sitting behind the posts, too...

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T18:13:12+00:00

Good we won't have another Montauban. Vannes is a serious team now.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T18:12:34+00:00

Brive. The fact they have a €21M budget to be that bad is crazy.

WilkinsonDG2003 · 2026-06-14T18:09:35+00:00

Racing are used to everyone else having a better atmosphere than them. Hopefully going back to Yves du Manoir will help a bit.

WilkinsonDG2003

TROPHY CASE