The Top 14 is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the France National Rugby League, also known by its French initialism of LNR. There is promotion and relegation between the Top 14 and the next level down, the Pro D2. The fourteen best rugby teams in France participate in the competition, hence the name Top 14. The competition was previously known as the Top 16.
Ronan John Ross O'Gara is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. O'Gara played as a fly-half and is Ireland's second most-capped player and second highest points scorer. He is currently head coach of La Rochelle in the French Top 14.
Martín Leandro Castrogiovanni is an Italian-Argentine retired rugby union player. He was born in Paraná, Argentina, but qualified for Italy through his heritage. Castrogiovanni moved to Italy as a teenager and represented the Italian national team 119 times over 14 years. In Italy he played for Calvisano between 2001 and 2006, before moving to England to play for Leicester Tigers where he played 145 games over seven seasons, winning four Premiership Rugby titles. In 2013 he moved to Toulon where he won a Heineken Cup, before finishing his career with Racing 92 in Paris.
Racing 92 is a French professional rugby union club based in the Hauts-de-Seine department, Paris' western inner suburbs that competes in Top 14. The club plays its home matches at the 30,681-capacity domed stadium Paris La Défense Arena, located near the La Défense business district.
Carlo Festuccia is an Italian rugby union footballer. He started playing for L'Aquila Rugby, then moved to Gran Rugby. With both teams he competed in the Super 10 in Italy. His usual position is at hooker.
Donnacha Ryan is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. Ryan spent most of his career representing his native province Munster, spending 13 seasons at the club, before moving to French club Racing 92 in 2017, where he spent the final four seasons of his playing career before retiring and joining the coaching team at La Rochelle ahead of the 2021–22 season. He played primarily as a lock, but could also play as a flanker.
Marc Andreu is a French rugby union player. Andreu, who is a wing, plays his club rugby for La Rochelle having previously been at Racing 92. He made his debut for France against Wales on 26 February 2010. He scored his first international try against Italy in a 2010 Six Nations Championship match on 14 March 2010.
Simon Zebo is an Irish former rugby union player who played as a wing or fullback for clubs Munster and Racing 92, and for Ireland.
Stuart William Hogg is a Scottish professional rugby union player, who plays for Montpellier of the French Top 14.
Ben Volavola is a Fijian Australian international rugby union player who plays for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. He has previously played for Agen in the French Pro D2 competition; for Bordeaux Bègles, Racing 92 and Perpignan in the Top 14; Super Rugby clubs such as the Waratahs, Crusaders, and the Rebels. Volavola typically plays as either a fly-half or full back.
Virimi Vakatawa is a New Zealand-born French professional rugby union player who plays as a centre or a wing for Bristol Bears and the French national team.
The 2016 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2016 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by The Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 17th series of the Six Nations Championship, the annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship.
Dominic Edward Barrow is an English former rugby union player who played as a lock. He played for Yorkshire Carnegie in the RFU Championship, Newcastle Falcons, Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints in Premiership Rugby and La Rochelle in France's Top 14. After initially retiring from the game in 2020 Barrow returned in February 2022 to finish his career with Sale Sharks.
Paul Jedrasiak is a French rugby union player. His position is Lock and he currently plays for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. He was named in the French squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship, and made his debut on 6 February against Italy.
Jefferson Poirot is a French rugby union player. His position is prop and he currently plays for Bordeaux Bègles in the Top 14. He was named in the French squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship.
Regan Grace is a Welsh professional dual-code rugby footballer who plays as a wing for Cardiff Rugby.
Samuel Ezeala is a Spanish-born rugby union player. He plays on the wing for Stade Français in the Top 14.
Teddy Baubigny is a French rugby union player. His position is hooker, and he currently plays for Toulon in the Top 14. He was named in the French squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.
Georges-Henri Colombe Reazel is a French rugby union player. His position is tighthead prop and he currently plays for La Rochelle in the Top 14.
Ange Capuozzo is a professional rugby union player who plays as a full-back or a wing for French Top 14 club Toulouse and the Italian national team.
