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.
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque, usually known simply as Biarritz, is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine which competes in the Pro D2, the second division of French rugby. Biarritz plays its home matches at the Parc des Sports Aguiléra, which is a multi-use stadium in Biarritz and which has a capacity of around 13,500 people, though for games that need a larger capacity, Biarritz may play at the Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastián. Biarritz play in red and white colours. Biarritz won a number of major honors, including the French championship on five occasions.
Rugby Club Toulonnais, also referred to as Rugby Club Toulon or simply Toulon, is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon and competing in the Top 14. Located on the French Riviera, in the Provence region, the club plays its home games at the 17,500-capacity Stade Mayol.
Paul Henry Sackey is a retired English rugby union footballer who played on the wing, most recently for Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership.
Chris Masoe is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, who last played for Racing Metro 92 in the Top 14 and a current professional boxer. He is the brother of boxer Maselino Masoe. He was born on the island of Savai'i
Rugby union in France is a popular team sport. Rugby union was first introduced in the early 1870s by British residents, which makes the country one of the few early exponents of the sport. Elite French clubs participate in the professional domestic club league, the Top 14. Clubs also compete in the European knock-out competition, the European Rugby Champions Cup, which replaced the Heineken Cup from 2014 to 2015.
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.
Stade Montois Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently is playing in Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system.
Mathieu Bastareaud is a French former rugby union player. Originally a centre, he played for RC Massy, Stade Français, and then eight seasons for Toulon with whom he won three European Cups and a French Championship. In 2019, he moved to Lyon Olympique Universitaire for one season, where he changed position to number 8. In 2020, he left for the United States where he played for Rugby United New York, before returning to Lyon. In 2022 he returned to Toulon, still as a number 8. He retired in 2023 and is now team manager of Toulon.
Steffon Armitage is an English professional rugby union player who currently plays for French club Stade Niçois.
André Lourenço da Silva is a French-born Portuguese rugby union player, who plays as a prop. Born in Paris, he had his debut in French rugby for Racing Club de France, aged 17.
The 2008–09 Top 14 Competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). It ran from late August 2008 through the final at Stade de France on June 6, 2009, in which Perpignan lifted the Bouclier de Brennus with a 22–13 win over Clermont.
Damien Tussac is a rugby union player for Castres Olympique in the Top 14 and the German national rugby union team. He is a French citizen but qualifies to play for Germany because of a German grandmother.
Yoann Maestri is a former French rugby union international footballer who played for Toulon, Toulouse, and Stade Français all in the Top 14.
Mikaele Tuugahala is a French rugby union player. He plays at the Prop position and currently plays for Racing Métro 92. He is the cousin of Toulon Loose forward Jocelino Suta.
The 2011–12 Top 14 competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). Home-and-away play began on August 26, 2011. Two new teams from the 2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 season were promoted to Top 14 this year, Lyon and Bordeaux Bègles in place of the two relegated teams, La Rochelle and Bourgoin.
David Gérard, is a former French rugby union player. He played as a lock.
The 2012–13 Top 14 competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). Two new teams from the 2011–12 Pro D2 season were promoted to Top 14 this year, Grenoble and Stade Montois in place of the two relegated teams, CA Brive and Lyon OU. Home-and-away play began on 17 August 2012 and continued through to 5 May 2013. The regular season was followed by a three-round playoff involving the top six sides. The final was contested at the Stade de France between Toulon and Castres; the match was won 19–14 by Castres to earn them their first title since the controversial final in 1993.
Xavier Chiocci, born 13 February 1990 in Toulon, France, is a French rugby union player who represents Toulon in the Top 14.
Alexandre Menini is a retired French rugby union player, who played prop for Top 14 side Toulon. He previously played for Oyonnax, Béziers, Pays d'Aix RC, Stade Montois and Biarritz.
