Round 19 of the Top 14 delivered a weekend packed with drama, determination, and razor-thin margins. From Bordeaux’s explosive first half against Toulouse to Joe Simmonds’ ice-cold drop goal for Pau, this round reminded fans why the French league remains one of the most unpredictable competitions in world rugby. La Rochelle’s winless run stretched on with a frustrating home draw, Stade Français flirted with disaster but held firm in Paris, and Racing 92 pulled off a gritty win at Clermont to halt their own skid.
Whether chasing playoff spots or battling relegation, every team had something to prove—and some delivered in thrilling fashion.
LA ROCHELLE HELD TO DRAW BY RESILIENT CASTRES IN TENSE TOP 14 CLASH
La Rochelle 12 – 12 Castres (HT: 12-6)
La Rochelle’s struggles in 2025 continued on Saturday as they were held to a frustrating 12-12 draw at home by Castres Olympique in Round 19 of the Top 14. Despite two first-half tries from Jack Nowell and Paul Boudehent, the Maritimes let a commanding lead slip, extending their winless streak to seven matches in all competitions. Under pressure to bounce back after six consecutive defeats, La Rochelle came out firing in front of a packed Stade Marcel Deflandre. Nowell struck first in the 10th minute, finishing off a brilliant aerial contest won by Dillyn Leyds, with Ihaia West adding the extras. Just five minutes later, Boudehent, fresh off France’s Six Nations triumph, latched onto a clever inside ball from Mathis Brunet to score La Rochelle’s second try. Jérémy Fernandez kept Castres in touch with two penalties, trimming the halftime deficit to 12-6, but the second half proved to be a battle of attrition as rain and nerves set in. With both sides committing errors and losing set-piece control, points were hard to come by. The visitors’ persistence was rewarded when Fernandez landed a third penalty in the 54th minute after a breakdown infringement by substitute Levani Botia. Ten minutes later, Louis Le Brun nailed a long-range penalty from 50 meters to draw Castres level. Despite one final chance for La Rochelle after the siren, their last attacking lineout was spoiled by the Castres defense, sealing a stalemate.
The draw lifts La Rochelle to 7th place on the table with 40 points, still outside the playoff positions, while Castres remain 5th with 44 points, walking away with two hard-earned away points.
LA ROCHELLE
- Tries: Nowell (10’), Boudehent (15’)
- Conversions: West (11’)
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE
- Penalties: Fernandez (13’, 21’, 54’), Le Brun (70’)
RACING 92 EDGE CLERMONT IN DRAMATIC FINISH AT STADE MICHELIN
Clermont 21 – 23 Racing 92 (HT: 15-13)
Racing 92 secured a much-needed Top 14 victory with a nail-biting 23-21 win over Clermont at the Stade Marcel-Michelin, ending a poor run of form with a gutsy performance built on bench impact and second-half resilience. Clermont started brightly, looking to snap their own four-game losing streak. After Daniel Lancaster opened the scoring with an early penalty, the hosts responded instantly. Scrum-half Barnabé Massa exploited a defensive lapse to dive over under the posts in the 6th minute, with Benjamin Urdapilleta converting for a 7-3 lead. But the visitors struck right back through Max Spring, who beat Bautista Delguy down the wing to score a sharp finish in the corner. Lancaster converted and added another penalty minutes later, pushing Racing ahead 13-7. The high-tempo clash saw Massa yellow-carded at the 12-minute mark for killing a try-scoring opportunity. Clermont capitalized on the numerical advantage with a well-executed maul try from Folau Fainga’a. Urdapilleta added a late first-half penalty to give the home side a narrow 15-13 lead at the break. In the second half, Patrice Collazo’s decision to deploy his powerful bench paid immediate dividends. After slick buildup play from Nolann Le Garrec, winger Donovan Taofifenua powered over for Racing’s second try in the 60th minute. Lancaster added the extras to reclaim the lead. Clermont clawed their way back with two penalties from replacement fly-half Anthony Belleau, nudging the hosts ahead 21-20 with just under 10 minutes to play. But with five minutes remaining, Racing earned a decisive penalty, and Antoine Gibert coolly slotted it from long range to snatch the win.
Despite a tense final sequence featuring five reset scrums inside Racing’s 22, the Parisians held firm to clinch their fourth away win of the season and keep their survival hopes alive. Clermont, meanwhile, are left to rue another missed opportunity in front of their home fans and drop to 9th in the standings.
ASM CLERMONT
- Tries: Massa (6’), Fainga’a (21’)
- Conversions: Urdapilleta (7’)
- Penalties: Urdapilleta (38’), Belleau (67’, 73’)
RACING 92
- Tries: Spring (8’), Taofifenua (60’)
- Conversions: Lancaster (9’, 61’)
- Penalties: Lancaster (4’, 14’), Gibert (76’)
LYON FINISH STRONG TO OVERPOWER VALIANT VANNES SIDE
Lyon 36 – 21 Vannes (HT: 19-14)
Lyon returned to winning ways with a 36-21 bonus-point victory over bottom-placed Vannes at Matmut Stadium Gerland, though the scoreboard didn’t reflect the scare the Bretons gave them for over an hour. The match started with fireworks as Vincent Rattez scored in the opening minute, finishing off a dazzling move initiated by Monty Ioane and Semi Radradra. But Vannes responded confidently, with powerhouse prop Thomas Moukoro Abouem scoring a brace—his first after a strong carry from Sione Kalamafoni, and his second showcasing his power close to the line. Maxime Lafage converted both, giving Vannes a surprise 14-5 lead by the 23rd minute. Lyon, however, regrouped. Rattez completed his double in the 26th minute thanks to a sharp counterattack from Baptiste Couilloud, and Félix Lambey powered over just before the break to give the hosts a 19-14 halftime lead. Vannes struck back after the break through Pierre Boudehent, who broke through Lyon’s defense to score under the posts, momentarily putting the visitors ahead 21-19. But Lyon’s physicality and experience proved too much. Replacement hooker Camille Chat made an immediate impact, bulldozing his way over for the bonus-point try in the 63rd minute. A Léo Berdeu penalty and a second try for Chat in the final minute sealed the deal for Lyon, who claimed their seventh home win of the season. Despite the loss, Vannes once again showed grit and character, led by an inspired Moukoro Abouem, but discipline proved costly with captain Francisco Gorrissen receiving a late yellow card.
Lyon climbs to 5th place in the Top 14 standings with 44 points, while Vannes remain bottom with 28 points, still hunting for a lifeline in the relegation battle.
LYON
- Tries: Rattez (1’, 26’), Lambey (37’), Chat (63’, 79’)
- Conversions: Berdeu (27’, 38’, 64’, 80’)
- Penalty: Berdeu (74’)
VANNES
- Tries: Moukoro Abouem (9’, 23’), Boudehent (58’)
- Conversions: Lafage (10’, 24’, 59’)
SIMMONDS DROP GOAL SEALS EPIC WIN FOR PAU OVER MONTPELLIER
Pau 40 – 38 Montpellier (HT: 24-18)
Pau edged out Montpellier 40-38 in one of the most thrilling finishes of the Top 14 season, thanks to a clutch drop goal from Joe Simmonds after the final siren at Stade du Hameau. The Béarnais came from behind multiple times in a pulsating, end-to-end contest that saw eleven tries, two yellow cards, and momentum swings from start to finish. Montpellier were the better side early on, taking a 15-3 lead after a penalty from Hugo Reus and quick tries from Cobus Reinach and Gabriel Ngandebe. But Pau hit back through Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang and Romain Ruffenach, before a dominant scrum in first-half stoppage time earned them a penalty try and a 24-18 halftime advantage. The visitors were down to 13 men during that spell following yellow cards to Tyler Duguid and captain Yacouba Camara. Pau extended their lead just after the break with a brilliant cross-kick from Simmonds that set up Fabien Brau-Boirie, but Montpellier refused to go away. Viliami Vunipola and Arthur Vincent both dotted down to bring the visitors within a point, and Ngandebe added his second in the 66th minute to put them ahead 35-34. Simmonds responded with a penalty, only for Montpellier to briefly regain the lead through a long-range strike from Anthony Bouthier in the 80th minute. But with the final play of the match, Pau regained possession and calmly worked their way into drop goal position. Simmonds—cool under pressure—slotted the winner from in front, sending the home crowd into raptures and securing Pau’s eighth home win of the campaign.
Pau climb to 7th in the standings with 42 points, overtaking Montpellier, who drop to 10th despite collecting a losing bonus point.
PAU
- Tries: Grandidier-Nkanang (28’), Ruffenach (37’), Penalty try (40’), Brau-Boirie (46’)
- Conversions: Simmonds (29’, 38’, 47’)
- Penalties: Simmonds (14’, 65’, 78’)
- Drop goal: Simmonds (80’)
MONTPELLIER
- Tries: Reinach (16’), Ngandebe (26’, 66’), Vunipola (52’), Vincent (61’)
- Conversions: Reus (27’), Coly (52’)
- Penalties: Reus (8’, 34’), Bouthier (80’)
STADE FRANÇAIS HOLD OFF BAYONNE DESPITE LATE DRAMA IN PARIS
Stade Français Paris 31 – 27 Aviron Bayonnais (HT: 18-17)
Stade Français Paris claimed their eighth home win of the season with a nervy 31-27 victory over Aviron Bayonnais at Stade Jean-Bouin, despite ending the match with only 12 players on the field. In a contest filled with lead changes and yellow cards, both sides showcased grit, but it was the Parisians who managed to hold on for four crucial points. Paris started brightly, capitalizing on early Bayonne mistakes. Joseph Marchant opened the scoring in the 4th minute after a handling error deep in Bayonne’s 22, and scrum-half Paul Abadie followed ten minutes later following a clean linebreak from fullback Léo Barré. The visitors responded with a penalty from Joris Segonds and a penalty try from a powerful maul. Swan Cormenier then crossed after another dominant drive to put Bayonne ahead 17-15, but a Zack Henry penalty just before the break gave Stade Français a narrow halftime lead. The second half began with two more penalties from Henry, but the game’s momentum swung wildly after a flurry of yellow cards. Bayonne were temporarily reduced to 12 men following infractions by Chouzenoux, Rouet, and Germain—yet remarkably managed to score through Lucas Martin from yet another maul to close the gap to 24-22. Thibaut Motassi then responded for Paris, exploiting a quick tap penalty to dive over under the posts and restore breathing space. However, the closing stages saw the hosts suffer their own discipline collapse, losing Alo-Emile, Turagacoke, and Halaifonua in rapid succession. Bayonne struck again through Arnaud Erbinartegaray in the 76th minute to bring the score to 31-27, but Stade Français held on in a tense finish.
Bayonne leave with a losing bonus point and remain 4th in the standings on 48 points. Stade Français, now with 36 points, stay in 11th but continue to build momentum in their push away from the relegation zone.
STADE FRANÇAIS PARIS
- Tries: Marchant (4’), Abadie (14’), Motassi (62’)
- Conversions: Henry (15’, 63’)
- Penalties: Henry (20’, 30’, 42’, 54’)
AVIRON BAYONNAIS
- Tries: Penalty try (18’), Cormenier (25’), Martin (56’), Erbinartegaray (76’)
- Conversion: Segonds (26’)
- Penalty: Segonds (9’)
TOULON PUNISH PERPIGNAN TO CLAIM BONUS-POINT WIN AT MAYOL
RC Toulon 40 – 19 USA Perpignan (HT: 16-9)
Toulon extended their unbeaten home run with a dominant 40-19 win over Perpignan, securing a vital bonus point thanks to a last-minute try from Melvyn Jaminet. The fullback was the star of the night, tallying 25 points in a clinical performance that helped push Toulon up to second place in the Top 14 standings. In windy and wet conditions at Stade Mayol, both teams struggled for fluidity early on. Toulon took the initial lead with two penalties from Jaminet, but Perpignan’s Valentin Delpy responded in kind to level the score at 6-6 by the 28th minute. Toulon finally found a breakthrough through Facundo Isa, who powered over from a driving maul, and with Jaminet’s conversion and a late first-half penalty, the hosts went into the break 16-9 ahead. Perpignan also suffered a blow with Giorgi Tetrashvili sent to the bin for repeated scrum infringements. The second half saw Toulon up the tempo. Jaminet added another penalty before Swan Rebbadj finished off a sweeping move down the left to stretch the lead to 26-12. Replacement hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi then bashed over from short range to give the hosts their third try. Perpignan’s Joaquin Oviedo responded with a late score off a tapped penalty, but Toulon capped their evening in style with Jaminet collecting his own try in the final moments to secure the offensive bonus point. Toulon were ruthless in key moments, with their maul, scrum, and backline execution shining in tough conditions. Perpignan, who had rotated several starters ahead of next week’s crucial clash against Vannes, were competitive in patches but lacked the cohesion to trouble a full-strength Toulon side.
Toulon now sit second in the Top 14 table with 62 points. Perpignan, still winless away this season, remain 13th and firmly in the relegation fight.
RC TOULON
- Tries: Isa (31’), R. Rebbadj (52’), Lucchesi (65’), Jaminet (80’)
- Conversions: Jaminet (32’, 53’, 66’, 80’)
- Penalties: Jaminet (11’, 17’, 40’, 44’)
USA PERPIGNAN
- Try: Oviedo (71’)
- Conversion: Ecochard (72’)
- Penalties: Delpy (19’, 28’, 37’, 50’)
BORDEAUX HOLD OFF TOULOUSE COMEBACK IN THRILLING FINISH
Union Bordeaux-Bègles 32 – 24 Stade Toulousain (HT: 29-0)
Bordeaux-Bègles produced a scintillating first-half performance before surviving a ferocious Toulouse fightback to win 32-24 at the Matmut Atlantique. After racing to a 29-0 halftime lead, UBB were made to sweat in the final minutes as Toulouse’s young side mounted a late surge, falling just short of a miracle comeback. UBB came out firing in front of their home crowd, scoring four tries in a flawless opening 40 minutes. Röhan Janse van Rensburg opened the scoring after a slick sequence down the right flank, before Matthieu Jalibert added a penalty and then created the second try with a perfectly judged kick chase that set up Nicolas Depoortere. A long looping pass from Jalibert then found Louis Bielle-Biarrey in space for the third, and Damian Penaud rounded off a flowing counterattack to give Bordeaux a commanding 29-0 lead at the break. Toulouse, fielding a largely rotated side, came alive in the second half. Mathis Castro Ferreira intercepted and ran 50 meters to get the visitors on the board, followed by powerful finishes from Joshua Brennan and Clément Vergé that brought the score to 29-21. Juan Cruz Mallía then slotted a penalty to bring Toulouse within five points with just minutes remaining. But Jalibert had the final word, slotting a penalty in the 77th minute to seal Bordeaux’s ninth home win of the season. Though Toulouse walk away with a losing bonus point, UBB’s perfect first half was just enough to keep them ahead.
The win keeps Bordeaux in second place with 64 points, just one behind leaders Toulouse (65), who still top the table despite the defeat.
UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
- Tries: Janse van Rensburg (6’), Depoortere (14’), Bielle-Biarrey (32’), Penaud (37’)
- Conversions: Jalibert (7’, 33’, 38’)
- Penalties: Jalibert (12’, 77’)
STADE TOULOUSAIN
- Tries: Castro Ferreira (53’), Brennan (60’), Vergé (63’)
- Conversions: Mallía (54’, 61’, 64’)
- Penalty: Mallía (75’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 19
With just a handful of rounds remaining, the Top 14 playoff race is heating up. Bordeaux, Toulon, and Stade Français all picked up critical wins, while La Rochelle and Montpellier were left to stew over missed opportunities. The pressure is mounting at both ends of the table, and consistency will be key heading into the final stretch. Buckle up—this title race (and relegation battle) is far from over.
What do you think of this weekend’s action? Which team impressed you the most? Share you thoughts in the comments below.
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