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 Rugby 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.
Castres Olympique is a French rugby union club located in the Occitanian city of Castres and is currently competing in the top level of the French league system.
Yannick Jauzion is a French former rugby union footballer.
Juanne Hugo Smith is a South African former professional rugby union player who represented South Africa in international test rugby, the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition, and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. He mainly played as a blindside flanker, although he has also played number eight.
Olivier Brouzet is a French rugby union footballer. His usual position was at lock. He has played over 70 internationals for France, including being a part of numerous Rugby World Cup squads for France. He has also played for a variety of French and English clubs.
Mario Ledesma Arocena is an Argentine rugby union coach and a former international rugby player. He played in Argentina's successful 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign and had a professional playing career in France spanning 10 years. Since retiring he has coached at the highest level in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and was most recently the head coach of the Argentine national team.
Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne is a French professional rugby union club that was founded in 1904 and currently play in the Rugby Pro D2, the second division of French rugby. Aurillac`s home matches are mostly played at the Stade Jean Alric, which has a capacity of around 9,000.
Benjamin Kayser is a French former rugby union player. He most recently played at hooker for Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14.
Alexandru Manta is a Romanian former rugby union footballer.
Rory Kockott is a South African-born French professional former rugby union player who played for Castres in France's Top 14 and played for the France national team. He was born in East London, South Africa, and qualified to play for France through residency; he won 11 caps for France in 2014 and 2015. A scrum-half, he previously played in Super Rugby for the Sharks and the Lions, and for the Golden Lions and the Sharks in South Africa's Currie Cup.
Olivier Merle is a former French rugby union player. He played as a lock. He was known by several nicknames, including "La Merluche" and "Le Massif Central". He was known for his violent play and after headbutting Ricky Evans the Welsh prop in Paris causing a ruck to collapse on him breaking his ankle, resulted in his being sued successfully in the courts for damages. This was the first case of its kind and BBC video evidence was used in court. After that he never played for France again.
Theuns Andries Willem Kotzé is a Namibian international rugby union player, currently playing with the Welwitschias in South African domestic rugby. He is a utility back that can play as a scrum-half, fly-half or fullback, but is best known for playing as a fly-half for Namibia in the Rugby World Cup tournaments in 2011 and 2015.
Antonie Delport Claassen is a French and South African rugby union player. His position is Flanker and he currently plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14. He began his career with Blue Bulls in his native South Africa before moving to CA Brive in 2006. His father, Wynand Claassen was a South African international and Springboks captain in 1981–82. Claassen made his debut for France in the 2013 Six Nations Championship, qualifying on residency grounds.
Romain Cabannes is a French rugby union player. His position is centre and he currently plays for Castres Olympique in the Top 14. He began his career with his home town club, Stade Montois, before moving to Pau and on to Biarritz before settling at Castres in 2009.
Rémi Talès is a French rugby union player. His position is fly-half and he currently plays for Mont-de-Marsan in the Pro D2. He began his career with Stade Montois before moving to La Rochelle. He established himself as a key player at La Rochelle, helping them to promotion to the Top 14 in the 2009–10 season. After La Rochelle's relegation in 2011, he moved to Castres.
Jaun Kotzé. He has 1 sibling and 3 half sibling. His father's name is Tinus Kotze.His biological sister's name is Marisa Kotze. And three half siblings by the name of: Markus Kotze La-Rochelle Kotze AJ Kotze He is currently married to Gizela Kotze Juan is a South African rugby union player, playing with Beaune in the Fédérale 1 in France. His regular position is fly-half.
Laurent Labit is a retired French rugby union footballer, and current head coach of Top 14 side Stade Français.
Reece Hewat is a South African-born Australian rugby union player who plays for Section Paloise in the Top 14 competition. His position of choice is loose forward.
Vano Karkadze is a Georgian rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Aurillac. He was called into the Georgia U20 squad for the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. In 2019, Karkadze made his debut for the Georgia national rugby union team at the age of 18, during the 2019 Rugby Europe Championship. He is the youngest player at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Christophe Urios is a French rugby union player and coach. He is currently the head coach of Top 14 club ASM Clermont Auvergne.
