View source for 2024–25 Top 14 season

{{Short description|French rugby union season}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby union season
| name               = 2024–25 [[Top 14]]
| countries          = {{flag|France}}
| date               = 7 September 2024 – 28 June 2025
| champions          =
| runnersup          =
| relegated          =
| matches            =
| attendance         =
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance  =
| tries              =
| top point scorer   =
| top try scorer     =
| prevseason         = [[2023–24 Top 14 season|2023–24]]
| nextseason         = ''[[2025–26 Top 14 season|2025–26]]''
}}
The '''2024–25 Top 14''' competition is the 126th [[France|French]] domestic [[rugby union]] club competition operated by the [[National Rugby League (France)|Ligue Nationale de Rugby]] (LNR).
== 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, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]. The LNR uses a slightly different [[rugby union bonus points system|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,<ref name="NewBonus">{{cite web|url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_2450951,00.html |title=French try out new bonus point system |website=Planet-rugby.com |date=27 June 2007 |access-date=13 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120105/http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0%2C18259%2C3559_2450951%2C00.html |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="LNR bonus bylaw">{{cite web|url=http://www.lnr.fr/omm/upload/3%20-%20Titre%20II%20-%20Reglement%20sportif%202008%20-2009.pdf |title=Article 330, Section 3.2. Points "terrain" |work=Règlements de la Ligue Nationale de Rugby 2008/2009, Chapitre 2 : Règlement sportif du Championnat de France Professionnel |publisher=[[National Rugby League (France)|LNR]] |language=fr |access-date=27 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217084857/http://www.lnr.fr/omm/upload/3%20-%20Titre%20II%20-%20Reglement%20sportif%202008%20-2009.pdf |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref>
France's bonus point system operates as follows:<ref name="LNR bonus bylaw"/>
* '''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 [[Rugby Pro D2|Pro D2]]. The 13th placed team play the runner-up of the [[Rugby Pro D2|Pro D2]] play-off, with the winner taking up the final place in the Top 14 for the following season.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rugbyworld.com/news/french-rugby-enjoys-a-popularity-boom-68018 |title=French rugby enjoys a popularity boom as it looks to the future |first=Gavin |last=Mortimer |magazine=Rugby World |date=18 August 2016 |access-date=10 May 2017}}</ref>
== Teams ==
{{CSS crop|Location=right|bSize=400|cWidth=340|cHeight=340|oTop=5|oLeft=20|Description=Locations of clubs competing in the 2024–25 Top 14.|Content=
{{location map+|France|float=right|width=400|places=
{{location map~|France|lat=43.485|long=-1.479|label_size=75|label=[[Aviron Bayonnais|Bayonne]] |position=left }}
{{location map~|France|lat=44.838|long=-0.578|label_size=75|label=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]] |position=left}}
{{location map~|France|lat=43.610|long= 2.252|label_size=75|label=[[Castres Olympique|Castres]] |position=top }}
{{location map~|France|lat=45.789|long=3.106 |label_size=75|label=[[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]] |position=top }}
{{location map~|France|lat=46.157|long=-1.178|label_size=75|label=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]] }}
{{location map~|France|lat=45.766|long=4.834 |label_size=75|label=[[Lyon OU|Lyon]]|position=right}}
{{location map~|France|lat=43.593|long=3.849 |label_size=75|label=[[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]] }}
{{Location map~|France|lat=43.30 |long=-0.37 |label_size=75|label=[[Section Paloise|Pau]] |position=bottom }}
{{Location map~|France|lat=42.715|long=2.891 |label_size=75|label=[[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]|position=right }}
{{location map~|France|lat=48.929|long=2.248 |label_size=75|label=[[Racing 92|Racing]]}}
{{location map~|France|lat=48.843|long=2.252 |label_size=75|label=[[Stade Français]]|position=left }}
{{location map~|France|lat=43.118|long=5.936 |label_size=75|label=[[RC Toulon|Toulon]] }}
{{location map~|France|lat=43.621|long=1.415 |label_size=75|label=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|position=bottom  }}
{{Location map~|France|lat=47.651944|long=-2.761111|label_size=75|label=[[Rugby Club Vannes|Vannes]]|position=top }}
}}}}
Fourteen clubs will compete in the 2024–25 Top 14 season, 13 of them returning. [[Oyonnax Rugby|Oyonnax]] were relegated to [[Pro D2]] after finishing at the bottom of the table the previous season. [[Rugby Club Vannes|Vannes]] is the sole promoted club, finishing second in the Pro D2 the previous season and winning the Pro D2 playoffs. [[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]], who finished 13th in the previous Top 14 season, defeated [[FC Grenoble|Grenoble]] in the relegation playoffs to retain their place.
{| class='wikitable sortable' style='font-size:90%; width:60%'
|+ 2024–25 Top 14 clubs
|-
! Club !! City !! Stadium !! Capacity !! {{Abbr|Prev|Position in previous season}}
|-
| [[Aviron Bayonnais|Bayonne]]
| [[Bayonne]]
| [[Stade Jean Dauger]]
| align=center | 16,934
| {{Sort|12|12th}}
|-
| [[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]
| [[Bordeaux]]
| [[Stade Chaban-Delmas]]{{efn|name=a}}
| align=center | 33,500
| {{Sort|3|3rd}}
|-
| [[Castres Olympique|Castres]]
| [[Castres]]
| [[Stade Pierre-Fabre]]
| align=center | 12,500
| {{Sort|7|7th}}
|-
| [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]]
| [[Clermont-Ferrand]]
| [[Stade Marcel-Michelin]]
| align=center | 19,022
| {{Sort|8|8th}}
|-
| [[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]
| [[La Rochelle]]
| [[Stade Marcel-Deflandre]]
| align=center | 16,700
| {{Sort|5|5th}}
|-
| [[Lyon OU|Lyon]]
| [[Lyon]]
| [[Stade de Gerland|Matmut Stadium de Gerland]]
| align=center | 25,000
| {{Sort|11|11th}}
|-
| [[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]]
| [[Montpellier]]
| [[Altrad Stadium]]
| align=center | 15,697
| {{Sort|13|13th}}
|-
| [[Section Paloise|Pau]]
| [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]]
| [[Stade du Hameau]]
| align=center | 14,588
| {{Sort|9|9th}}
|-
| [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]
| [[Perpignan]]
| [[Stade Aimé Giral]]
| align=center | 14,593
| {{Sort|10|10th}}
|-
| [[Racing 92|Racing]]
| [[Nanterre]]
| [[Paris La Défense Arena]]
| align=center | 30,681
| {{Sort|6|6th}}
|-
| [[Stade Français]]
| [[Paris]]
| [[Stade Jean-Bouin (Paris)|Stade Jean-Bouin]]
| align=center | 20,000
| {{Sort|2|2nd}}
|-
| [[RC Toulon|Toulon]]
| [[Toulon]]
| [[Stade Mayol]]{{efn|name=b}}
| align=center | 18,200
| {{Sort|4|4th}}
|-
| [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]
| [[Toulouse]]
| [[Stade Ernest-Wallon]]{{efn|name=c}}
| align=center | 18,754
| {{Sort|1|1st}}
|-
| [[Rugby Club Vannes|Vannes]]
| [[Vannes]]
| [[Stade de la Rabine]]
| align=center | 11,500
| {{Sort|2|2nd ([[2023–24 Rugby Pro D2 season|D2]])}}
|-
|}
{| class='wikitable' style='text-align:center; font-size:90%; width:60%'
|+ 2024–25 Top 14 clubs by region
|-
! Teams
! [[Regions of France|Region]]
! Team(s)
|-
|rowspan="2"|4
|align="left"|{{flag|Nouvelle-Aquitaine}}||[[Aviron Bayonnais|Bayonne]], [[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]], [[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]], [[Section Paloise|Pau]]
|-
|align="left"|{{flag|Occitanie}}||[[Castres Olympique|Castres]], [[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]], [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]], [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2
|align="left"|{{flag|Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes}}||[[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]], [[Lyon OU|Lyon]]
|-
|align="left"|{{flag|Île-de-France}}||[[Racing 92|Racing]], [[Stade Français]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|1
|align="left"|{{flag|Brittany}}||[[Rugby Club Vannes|Vannes]]
|-
|align="left"|{{flag|Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur}}||[[RC Toulon|Toulon]]
|}
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=a|In recent years, Bordeaux Bègles has taken occasional home matches to [[Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux|Matmut Atlantique]].}}
{{efn|name=b|In recent years, Toulon has taken occasional home matches to [[Stade Vélodrome]] in [[Marseille]] and [[Allianz Riviera]] in [[Nice]].}}
{{efn|name=c|Toulouse often takes high-demand home matches to the city's largest sporting venue, [[Stadium de Toulouse]].}}
}}
==Table==
<section begin="table" />
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=Rugby
| title = 2024–25 Top 14 Table
<!-- Team names, do not change; exceptions: after the final, add '''(RU)''' after the name of the losing finalist -->
|name_BAY=[[Aviron Bayonnais|Bayonne]]
|name_BOR=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]
|name_CAS=[[Castres Olympique|Castres]]
|name_CLE=[[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]]
|name_LAR=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]
|name_LYO=[[Lyon OU Rugby|Lyon]]
|name_MON=[[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]]
|name_PAU=[[Section Paloise|Pau]]
|name_PER=[[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]
|name_R92=[[Racing 92]]
|name_SFR=[[Stade Français]]
|name_TLN=[[RC Toulon|Toulon]]
|name_TOU=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]
|name_VAN=[[Rugby Club Vannes|Vannes]]
<!-- Classification: update team positions here -->
|team_order=TOU, BOR, LAR, BAY, TLN, CLE, CAS, R92, PER, LYO, MON, PAU, SFR, VAN
<!-- Update results here and then (if needed) classification below. Don't forget to update the date below (in the update parameter in the footer) -->
|win_BAY=6 |draw_BAY=0 |loss_BAY=3 |pf_BAY=245 |pa_BAY=221 | tf_BAY=30 | ta_BAY=29 |tb_BAY=1 |lb_BAY=1
|win_BOR=6 |draw_BOR=0 |loss_BOR=3 |pf_BOR=304 |pa_BOR=209 | tf_BOR=42 | ta_BOR=28 |tb_BOR=3 |lb_BOR=2
|win_CAS=5 |draw_CAS=0 |loss_CAS=4 |pf_CAS=271 |pa_CAS=239 | tf_CAS=31 | ta_CAS=25 |tb_CAS=1 |lb_CAS=2
|win_CLE=5 |draw_CLE=0 |loss_CLE=4 |pf_CLE=214 |pa_CLE=245 | tf_CLE=28 | ta_CLE=27 |tb_CLE=3 |lb_CLE=0
|win_LAR=6 |draw_LAR=0 |loss_LAR=3 |pf_LAR=229 |pa_LAR=206 | tf_LAR=30 | ta_LAR=22 |tb_LAR=3 |lb_LAR=0
|win_LYO=4 |draw_LYO=0 |loss_LYO=5 |pf_LYO=245 |pa_LYO=261 | tf_LYO=28 | ta_LYO=30 |tb_LYO=1 |lb_LYO=1
|win_MON=3 |draw_MON=0 |loss_MON=6 |pf_MON=191 |pa_MON=194 | tf_MON=18 | ta_MON=21 |tb_MON=0 |lb_MON=3
|win_PAU=3 |draw_PAU=0 |loss_PAU=6 |pf_PAU=199 |pa_PAU=244 | tf_PAU=24 | ta_PAU=33 |tb_PAU=2 |lb_PAU=1
|win_PER=4 |draw_PER=0 |loss_PER=5 |pf_PER=178 |pa_PER=222 | tf_PER=17 | ta_PER=24 |tb_PER=2 |lb_PER=1
|win_R92=5 |draw_R92=0 |loss_R92=4 |pf_R92=238 |pa_R92=228 | tf_R92=27 | ta_R92=25 |tb_R92=0 |lb_R92=2
|win_SFR=3 |draw_SFR=0 |loss_SFR=6 |pf_SFR=185 |pa_SFR=252 | tf_SFR=20 | ta_SFR=31 |tb_SFR=1 |lb_SFR=1
|win_TLN=5 |draw_TLN=0 |loss_TLN=4 |pf_TLN=193 |pa_TLN=201 | tf_TLN=22 | ta_TLN=23 |tb_TLN=1 |lb_TLN=2
|win_TOU=6 |draw_TOU=0 |loss_TOU=3 |pf_TOU=268 |pa_TOU=145 | tf_TOU=33 | ta_TOU=18 |tb_TOU=3 |lb_TOU=3
|win_VAN=2 |draw_VAN=0 |loss_VAN=7 |pf_VAN=226 |pa_VAN=319 | tf_VAN=27 | ta_VAN=41 |tb_VAN=0 |lb_VAN=3
| res_col_header=Q | result1=SF | result2=SF | result3=QF | result4=QF | result5=QF | result6=QF | result7=SF1 | result8=SF1 | result9=SF2 | result10=SF2 | result11=SF2 | result12=SF2 | result13=PO | result14=R
| col_SF=green2  | text_SF=Qualification for [[#Playoffs|Playoff semi-finals]] and [[2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup|European Rugby Champions Cup]]
| col_QF=yellow1 | text_QF=Qualification for [[#Playoffs|Playoff semi-final qualifiers]] and [[2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup|European Rugby Champions Cup]]
| col_SF1=blue1  | text_SF1=Qualification for [[2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup|European Rugby Champions Cup]]
| col_SF2=white1 | text_SF2=Qualification for [[2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup|European Rugby Challenge Cup]]
| col_PO=red2    | text_PO=Qualification for [[#Relegation play-off|Relegation play-off]]
| col_R=red1     | text_R=Relegation to [[2025–26 Rugby Pro D2 season|Pro D2]]
<!-- Update after the final -->
<!-- | status_xxx=C -->  <!-- Unhide status after the final; in the status parameter, change xxx to the acronym of the team that has won the final -->
<!-- | status_text_C =Champions; '''(RU)''' Runners-up; --> <!-- Unhide status_text_C after the final; do not change -->
<!-- Footer -->
| update      = 3 November 2024
|source= [https://top14.lnr.fr/classement Top 14]
}}
<section end="table" />
==Playoffs==
===Bracket===
{{6TeamBracket
| RD1=Semi-final Qualifiers
| RD2=Semi-finals
| RD3=Final
| RD1-seed1= 4
| RD1-team1=
| RD1-score1=
| RD1-seed2= 5
| RD1-team2=
| RD1-score2=
| RD1-seed3= 3
| RD1-team3=
| RD1-score3=
| RD1-seed4= 6
| RD1-team4=
| RD1-score4=
| RD2-seed1= 1
| RD2-team1=
| RD2-score1=
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=
| RD2-score2=
| RD2-seed3= 2
| RD2-team3=
| RD2-score3=
| RD2-seed4=
| RD2-team4=
| RD2-score4=
| RD3-seed1=
| RD3-team1=
| RD3-score1=
| RD3-seed2=
| RD3-team2=
| RD3-score2=
}}
== Leading scorers ==
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under [[World Rugby]] eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
''As of 12 October 2024''<ref>{{cite web |title=Les joueurs du Top 14 |url=https://top14.lnr.fr/joueurs |publisher=Top 14, Ligue National de Rugby |access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
===Most points===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Rank
! Player
! Club
!style="width:50px"| Points
|-
| 1 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Thomas Ramos (rugby union)|Thomas Ramos]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]}} || 96
|-
| 2 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Matthieu Jalibert]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]}} || 65
|-
|rowspan=2| 3 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Léo Berdeu]] ||align=left| [[Lyon OU Rugby|Lyon]] ||rowspan=2| 62
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nolann Le Garrec]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Racing 92]]}}
|-
| 5 ||align=left| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Simmonds]] ||align=left| [[Section Paloise|Pau]] || 52
|-
| 6 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Louis Le Bruin]] ||align=left| [[Castres Olympique|Castres]] || 48
|-
| 7 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Antoine Aucagne]] ||align=left| [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]] || 43
|-
| 8 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Maxime Lafage]] ||align=left| [[RC Vannes|Vannes]] || 39
|-
| 9 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Léo Coly]] ||align=left| [[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]] || 38
|-
| 10 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Joris Segonds]] ||align=left| [[Aviron Bayonnais|Bayonne]] || 36
|}
{{Col-2}}
=== Most tries ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!| Rank
!| Player
!| [[List of English rugby union teams#Premiership|Club]]
! style="width:50px;"| [[Try (rugby)|Tries]]
|-
|rowspan=3| 1 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Damian Penaud]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]}} ||rowspan=3| 5
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Baptiste Couilloud]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Lyon OU Rugby|Lyon]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Sireli Maqala]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Aviron Bayonnais|Bayonne]]}}
|-
|rowspan=5| 4 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Louis Bielle-Biarrey]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]}} ||rowspan=5| 4
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Romain Buros]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nicolas Depoortère]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Thomas Ramos (rugby union)|Thomas Ramos]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Dillyn Leyds]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]}}
|-
|rowspan=7| 9 ||align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Antoine Dupont]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]}} ||rowspan=7| 3
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Emilien Gailleton]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Section Paloise|Pau]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Matthieu Jalibert]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nolan Le Garrec]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Racing 92]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sekou Macalou]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Stade Français]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Peato Mauvaka]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]}}
|-
|align=left| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Salesi Rayasi]] ||align=left| {{nowrap|[[RC Vannes|Vannes]]}}
|-
|}
{{Col-end}}
== See also ==
* [[2024–25 Rugby Pro D2 season]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Top 14}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2024-25 Top 14 season}}
[[Category:2024–25 in French rugby union leagues]]
[[Category:Top 14 seasons]]
[[Category:2024–25 Top 14 season| ]]