French rugby 2023/24

[Tigersunited]

Reading about the new tv deal over there - about 3 times what the prem receives.

[Rugbygramps]

Reading about the new tv deal over there - about 3 times what the prem receives.

Chalk and cheese though. Football isn’t covered anywhere near as much over there, very little rugby league, no cricket, so less sports to negotiate on.
Their Pro de deux is also a hugely superior product in terms of quality and support. Robespierre put up some figures showing the top 4 highest average attendances are higher than both Sale and Falcons

[Tigersunited]

Indeed, big gulf in money and difficult to see when we will seriously compete again.

[Robespierre]

Here are the results of the ProD2 playoffs:

Grenoble 58 Dax 10
Béziers 33 Brive 31 (Sadly, Courtney Lawes, who'll be joining Brive next season, won't be playing in the Top14, but it should ensure that Brive will be serious contenders for promotion)

So, the semi final matches will be:-

Thursday May 30th - Provence v Grenoble
Friday May 31st - Vannes v Béziers

I'd like to see Jimmy Gopperth (Provence) have a season in the Top14, but Grenoble have really come into form and may spoil that wish.
In the other semi, home advantage should count for Vannes.

[Rugbygramps]

Grenoble win at Provence by a single point 22-23. Gopperth missed the conversion of their last try from wide on the right that would have won the game

[Robespierre]

Grenoble win at Provence by a single point 22-23. Gopperth missed the conversion of their last try from wide on the right that would have won the game

Tough, but the level of ProD2 is high. So Jimmy Gopperth, at the tender age of 41, is now unlikely to play in the Top14. George North will join Provence in the close season so they’ll surely be in contention for promotion next year.

[Rugbygramps]

Grenoble win at Provence by a single point 22-23. Gopperth missed the conversion of their last try from wide on the right that would have won the game

Tough, but the level of ProD2 is high. So Jimmy Gopperth, at the tender age of 41, is now unlikely to play in the Top14. George North will join Provence in the close season so they’ll surely be in contention for promotion next year.

It’s going to take a very good side to beat Grenoble. Even if they loose in the final Montpellier aren’t going to fancy playing them in the Top14 play off

[Robespierre]

Ex Tiger, Sione Kalamafoni is at 8 for Vannes in this evening’s second semifinal at home to Béziers.

[Robespierre]

Ex Tiger, Sione Kalamafoni is at 8 for Vannes in this evening’s second semifinal at home to Béziers.

Vannes 27 Béziers 21

Next Saturday's final at Toulouse's Ernest Wallon stadium will be between Vannes and Grenoble, the winner will play in the Top14 next season, the runner-up will be at home to Montpellier the following weekend.

[Robespierre]

The penultimate round in the Top14 was played at the weekend and qualification for the playoffs is still to be decided.

Round 25 results:

Toulon 52 Clermont 10 (Toulon are in majestic form and thrashed a disappointing Clermont side)
Toulouse 31 La Rochelle 31 (a much changed Toulouse and a more or less full strength La Rochelle drew in the sold-out Toulouse football stadium)
Racing 24 Pau 15 (Pau's chances of reaching the playoffs are now extremely low)
Castres 27 Stade Français 18 (Castres could still qualify)
Montpellier 41 Lyon 26
Oyonnax 27 Bayonne 20
Perpignan 37 Bordeaux/Bègles 30 (Perpignan have surprised everyone this season and could even qualify for the playoffs)

1 Toulouse 76
2 SF 71
3 Toulon 68
4 B/B 64
5 La Rochelle 62
6 Racing 61
7 Perpignan 58
8 Castres 58
9 Pau 56
10 Clermont 56
11 Bayonne 52
12 Lyon 51
13 Montpellier 44
14 Oyonnax 34

Round 26 will kick off at 21h05 French time next Saturday evening the 8th:

Clermont v Montpellier
Bayonne v Castres
La Rochelle v Racing (a key match in which the loser could lose their playoff place to either Perpignan or Castres)
Lyon v Toulouse
Pau v Perpignan
SF v Toulon
B/B v Oyonnax

The playoffs will take place on Friday 14th when 3rd play 6th and 4th play 5th.
The first semifinal will be on Friday 21st and the second the following day. Both matches will be in Bordeaux.
On Sunday 16th, Montpellier will travel to either Vannes or Grenoble to play for their Top14 survival.
The grand final will be at the Stade Vélodrôme in Marseille on Saturday 29th.

[Robespierre]

Vannes are promoted to the Top14 having beaten Grenoble 16-9.
They're making history as the first club from Brittany to play in the Top14.
Former Tiger Sione Kalamafoni has been a regular in the starting XV.

Grenoble will have a second chance of promotion when they'll play Montpellier at home on Sunday the 16th at 18:00.

[sam16111986]

Vannes are promoted to the Top14 having beaten Grenoble 16-9.
They're making history as the first club from Brittany to play in the Top14.
Former Tiger Sione Kalamafoni has been a regular in the starting XV.

Grenoble will have a second chance of promotion when they'll play Montpellier at home on Sunday the 16th at 18:00.

Always nice to have a new name at the top table.

Are they staying at their current home ground as it's not that big?

[Robespierre]

Vannes are promoted to the Top14 having beaten Grenoble 16-9.
They're making history as the first club from Brittany to play in the Top14.
Former Tiger Sione Kalamafoni has been a regular in the starting XV.

Grenoble will have a second chance of promotion when they'll play Montpellier at home on Sunday the 16th at 18:00.

Always nice to have a new name at the top table.

Are they staying at their current home ground as it's not that big?

I’d assume so. According to their website, the capacity of their ground is 11,865, which’ll undoubtedly be sold out for most home games next season.

[Robespierre]

The last round of the Top14 was played yesterday evening:

Bayonne 17 Castres 28
Bordeaux/Bègles 40 Oyonnax 7
Clermont 52 Montpellier 15
La Rochelle 24 Racing 19
Lyon 40 Toulouse 28
Stade Français 23 Toulon 20
Pau 36 Perpignan 24

Castres failed by a gnat's cock to make the playoffs, despite an impressive win away to Bayonne, due to Racing scoring a converted try in the last minute away to la Rochelle and securing a losing bp.
Clermont's demolition of Montpellier means that they'll qualify for next season's Champions' Cup, and few would've thought that possible after their iffy form this season.

1 Toulouse 76
2 SF 75
3 B/B 69
4 La Rochelle 66
6 Racing 62
7 Castres 61
8 Clermont 61
9 Pau 60
10 Perpignan 58
11 Lyon 55
12 Bayonne 52
13 Montpellier 44
14 Oyonnax 34

The playoff fixtures (with home advantage)
Saturday 15th June: Toulon v La Rochelle
Sunday 16th June: Bordeaux/Bègles v Racing

Both semis will be played in Bordeaux:
Friday 21st June: Toulouse v Toulon or La Rochelle
Saturday 22nd June: Stade Français v Bordeaux/Bègles or Racing

The final will be at the Stade Vélodome in Marseille on Friday evening 28th June

[Robespierre]

Here are this weekend's playoff results:

Bordeaux/Bègles 31 Racing 17
Toulon 29 La Rochelle34

So these are the semi-final fixtures (both in Bordeaux):

Friday June 21st - Toulouse v La Rochelle
Saturday 22nd June - Bordeaux/Bègles v Stade Français

Montpellier have just survived in the Top14 having narrowly beaten Grenoble 20-18 thanks to a penalty goal in the 76th minute, so Vannes are promoted from ProD2 and Oyonnax relegated from the Top14.