Round 22 of the 2025 Top 14 season delivered major drama across the board with Toulouse making a huge statement against Castres, Clermont winning a thriller over Lyon, and La Rochelle reigniting their playoff hopes with a crucial road win over Bordeaux-Bègles.
From blowout victories to last-minute battles, the playoff race tightened while relegation fears deepened for others.
- Toulouse 52 – 6 Castres
- Clermont 39 – 31 Lyon
- Bayonne 27 – 22 Pau
- Montpellier 19 – 13 Perpignan
- Vannes 29 – 19 Toulon
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 10 – 21 La Rochelle
- Racing 92 49 - 24 Stade Français
Here’s a full breakdown of the action:
TOULOUSE DOMINATE CASTRES IN DERBY ROUT
Toulouse 52 – 6 Castres (HT: 31–6)
Toulouse delivered a stunning performance to crush Castres 52–6 at the Stadium Municipal, extending their lead at the top of the Top 14 table and sending a strong warning ahead of their Champions Cup semifinal. Despite conceding an early penalty to Castres’ Luka Matkava, the reigning French champions quickly found their stride. Dimitri Delibes opened the try-scoring after a brilliant setup from Thomas Ramos and Santiago Chocobares. Minutes later, Matthis Lebel created another opportunity, setting up Théo Daroque for his first professional try. With Castres reeling, Toulouse kept piling on the pressure. Antoine Zeghdar saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on, and Lucas Hawkes powered over for his first Top 14 try. Just before halftime, Lebel again broke the line and gifted Alexandre Roumat an easy finish to send Toulouse into the break with a commanding 31–6 lead. The second half followed the same script. Despite Castres’ resistance, they suffered another blow when Levan Chilachava was sent off for a head clash. Julien Marchand added another try from close range before Pierre-Louis Barassi, brilliant after replacing Blair Kinghorn, carved through for a solo score. Castro Ferreira finished the job with Toulouse’s seventh try. Toulouse not only tightened their grip on first place but also gained serious momentum ahead of their Champions Cup clash with Bordeaux-Bègles. Meanwhile, Castres face a nervous wait as the playoff race heats up.
TOULOUSE
- Tries: Delibes (18’), Daroque (21’), Hawkes (29’), Roumat (37’), Marchand (58’), Barassi (65’), Ferreira (75’)
- Conversions: Ramos (19’, 22’, 30’, 38’, 59’, 66’, 76’)
- Penalties: Ramos (26’)
CASTRES
- Penalties: Matkava (9’, 24’)
CLERMONT EDGE OUT LYON IN THRILLING TOP 14 BATTLE
Clermont 39 – 31 Lyon (HT: 17–10)
Clermont boosted their playoff hopes with a vital 39–31 victory over Lyon at Stade Marcel-Michelin, climbing back into the Top 6 after a wild, high-scoring encounter. In rainy conditions, both sides showed ambition to attack from the outset. Benjamin Urdapilleta opened the scoring for Clermont with a penalty (3-0), but Lyon hit back through a powerful maul finished by Sam Matavesi (3-7). Alivereti Raka sparked Clermont’s response, finishing a superb break initiated by Baptiste Jauneau to retake the lead (10-7). Although Noa Méliande quickly equalized (10-10), Raka wasn’t done. The winger scored his second try moments later with a powerful finish after an acrobatic offload from Darricarrère (17-10). Clermont took that advantage into halftime. The second half was a rollercoaster. Fritz Lee’s relentless forward pressure set up Killian Fischer to extend the lead (24-10). Lyon struck back through Ethan Dumortier, chasing a clever chip from Méliande (24-17). Clément Tauzin added another for Clermont after a stolen lineout (32-17), but Lyon wouldn’t go away. Quick-fire tries from Beka Saginadze and Regard brought Lyon within a point (32-31), setting up a thrilling finale. However, Urdapilleta crashed over with five minutes left to secure the win and deny Lyon a late comeback. With this result, Clermont leap over Lyon into the Top 6, keeping their playoff dream alive, while Lyon will need to rebound quickly ahead of their upcoming Challenge Cup semifinal against Racing 92.
CLERMONT
- Tries: Raka (30’, 35’), Fischer (44’), Tauzin (64’), Urdapilleta (76’)
- Conversions: Urdapilleta (31’, 36’, 45’, 77’)
- Penalties: Urdapilleta (10’, 61’)
LYON
- Tries: Matavesi (28’), Dumortier (50’), Saginadze (68’), Regard (71’)
- Conversions: Méliande (29’, 51’, 69’, 72’)
- Penalties: Méliande (33’)
BAYONNE HOLD OFF PAU TO STAY UNBEATEN AT HOME
Bayonne 27 – 22 Pau (HT: 17–10)
Bayonne protected their perfect home record with a 27–22 victory over Pau in a tense Top 14 clash at Anoeta Stadium. Despite a slow start and early pressure from Pau, Bayonne found their rhythm to stay firmly inside the Top 6. Pau struck first through Lucas Rey, who finished off a powerful rolling maul (0–7). Bayonne answered immediately when Sireli Maqala broke the line and Arthur Iturria crashed over (7–7). Manu Tuilagi then powered over after a well-executed combination move to hand Bayonne the lead (14–10). Joris Segonds added a penalty goal to give the hosts a seven-point advantage at halftime (17–10). Rain soaked the second half, turning the contest into a tactical battle. Pau narrowed the gap through the boot of Axel Desperes (17–16), but Bayonne responded boldly. Opting for a lineout instead of a penalty, they were rewarded when Rodrigo Bruni stormed over for a decisive try (24–16). Pau remained in the fight and earned a late penalty goal after the siren to secure a losing bonus point, but Bayonne’s discipline and composure sealed an important home win. With this result, Bayonne stay fourth, while Pau pick up a valuable bonus point in their fight to avoid relegation.
BAYONNE
- Tries: Iturria (10’), Tuilagi (26’), Bruni (63’)
- Conversions: Segonds (11’, 27’), Lopez (64’)
- Penalties: Segonds (31’), Lopez (70’)
PAU
- Tries: Rey (5’)
- Conversions: Desperes (6’)
- Penalties: Desperes (22’, 44’, 60’, 66’, 80’)
MONTPELLIER GRIND PAST PERPIGNAN TO STAY IN PLAYOFF HUNT
Montpellier 19 – 13 Perpignan (HT: 16–10)
Montpellier kept their Top 6 hopes alive with a hard-fought 19–13 victory over Perpignan at GGL Stadium. In a low-tempo, gritty affair, the home side did just enough to stay within touching distance of the playoff places. Stuart Hogg set the tone early, slotting a penalty and then adding a brilliant 45-meter drop goal (6–3). After a missed try opportunity from Gabriel Moustin, Montpellier struck when Léo Nouchi pounced on a poor Perpignan lineout to score the first try (13–3). Hogg converted to extend the lead, but Perpignan hit back before halftime as Ignacio Velarte finished a sweeping move to narrow the gap (16–10). The second half saw Montpellier dominate territory without pulling away. Hogg missed a rare penalty, but Anthony Bouthier added another three points to give the MHR some breathing room (19–10). Perpignan stayed in the fight thanks to the boot of Tommaso Allan but lacked precision when it mattered most. In a scrappy finish, Montpellier’s defense held firm, and they sealed the win with a crucial turnover in the dying seconds. With this result, Montpellier climb to seventh, just one point outside the Top 6, while Perpignan remain dangerously close to the relegation battle.
MONTPELLIER
- Tries: Nouchi (25’)
- Conversions: Hogg (26’)
- Penalties: Hogg (9’, 16’), Bouthier (66’)
- Drop goal: Hogg (22’)
PERPIGNAN
- Tries: Velarte (32’)
- Conversions: Allan (33’)
- Penalties: Allan (12’, 68’)
VANNES STUN TOULON WITH BONUS-POINT WIN TO BOOST SURVIVAL HOPES
Vannes 29 – 19 Toulon (HT: 15–6)
Newcomers Vannes produced a sensational performance to defeat third-placed Toulon 29–19 at La Rabine, earning a vital bonus-point victory to boost their Top 14 survival chances. Toulon struck first through a Melvyn Jaminet penalty (0–3), but Vannes hit back immediately when Théo Béziat crashed over after a relentless series of pick-and-goes (7–3). Maxime Lafage added a penalty to extend the lead (10–3) before Toulon’s discipline crumbled. Mako Vunipola saw yellow for a high tackle, and Toulon were soon down to 13 men after yellow cards for Matthias Halagahu and Swan Rebbadj. Taking full advantage, Thomas Moukoro powered over for his eighth try of the season (15–3). Jaminet reduced the gap slightly with a penalty before halftime (15–6). Toulon came out firing after the break, with Dany Priso scoring a quick try (15–13) and Jaminet’s penalty briefly putting the visitors ahead (15–16). But another Toulon yellow card — this time for Marius Domon — swung the momentum again. Stephen Varney sniped over from close range (22–16), and although Jaminet cut the lead with another penalty (22–19), Toulon’s attack faltered. After Jaminet left the field injured, Varney grabbed his second try to seal a remarkable result (29–19). With this heroic victory, Vannes stay firmly in the fight to avoid relegation, while Toulon slip further behind in the race for automatic Top 14 semifinals.
VANNES
- Tries: Béziat (10’), Moukoro (37’), Varney (47’, 64’)
- Conversions: Lafage (11’, 48’, 65’)
- Penalties: Lafage (20’)
TOULON
- Tries: Priso (42’)
- Conversions: Jaminet (43’)
- Penalties: Jaminet (8’, 40’, 45’, 51’)
LA ROCHELLE STUN BORDEAUX-BÈGLES TO REIGNITE PLAYOFF HOPES
Bordeaux-Bègles 10 – 21 La Rochelle (HT: 3–8)
La Rochelle reignited their Top 14 playoff push with a dominant 21–10 victory over Bordeaux-Bègles at a rainy Stade Chaban-Delmas, suffocating their rivals with intensity, power, and clinical execution. After an early penalty from Antoine Hastoy (0–3), Matthieu Jalibert quickly leveled the scores (3–3), but that was one of the few moments of relief for the home side. La Rochelle asserted control when Dillyn Leyds produced a brilliant through-the-legs pass to set up Jack Nowell for the first try (3–8). Despite a yellow card to Reda Wardi, Bordeaux squandered multiple opportunities near the tryline and trailed at halftime. The second half saw Bordeaux’s problems worsen. Jefferson Poirot’s yellow card opened the door for Paul Boudehent to intercept Maxime Lucu’s loose pass and score (3–13), before Levani Botia powered over from a driving maul minutes later (3–18). Bordeaux finally broke through with a superb try crafted by Jalibert, finished by Boniface (10–18), but it was too little too late. Even reduced to 14 after Ulupano Seuteni’s yellow card, La Rochelle’s defense held firm, with Botia producing a crucial turnover at the death. With this statement victory, La Rochelle climb level on points with Clermont and Lyon, while Bordeaux-Bègles must regroup quickly ahead of their crucial Champions Cup semifinal against Toulouse.
BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
- Tries: Boniface (61’)
- Conversions: Jalibert (62’)
- Penalties: Jalibert (9’)
LA ROCHELLE
- Tries: Nowell (14’), Boudehent (49’), Botia (55’)
- Penalties: Hastoy (3’, 66’)
RACING 92 DOMINATE STADE FRANÇAIS TO BOOST PLAYOFF HOPES
Racing 92 49 – 24 Stade Français (HT: 8–10)
Racing 92 roared to a dominant 49–24 derby victory over Stade Français at Paris La Défense Arena, delivering a crushing blow to their rivals’ Top 14 survival hopes. Stade Français struck first through Ignacio Ezeala but Racing found their rhythm late in the first half with a try from Jordan Baudonne. Straight after the break, Le Garrec crossed to give Racing the lead, and from there they never looked back. Guram Gogichashvili powered over, Josua Tuisova added his 71st Top 14 try, and Le Garrec grabbed his second as Racing secured the bonus point. Paul Alo-Emile and Matteo Garcia crossed late for Stade Français, but it was not enough to spoil the hosts’ party. Ibrahim Diallo and Gaël Fickou added late tries to seal a statement win for Racing, who moved closer to playoff contention, while Stade Français remain in deep relegation trouble with a crucial clash against Perpignan looming.
RACING 92
- Tries: Baudonne (37’), Le Garrec (43’, 65’), Gogichashvili (50’), Tuisova (60’), Diallo (74’), Fickou (77’)
- Conversions: Le Garrec (51’), Farrell (66’, 75’, 78’)
- Penalties: Farrell (10’, 57’)
STADE FRANÇAIS
- Tries: Ezeala (6’), Alo-Emile (70’), Garcia (79’)
- Conversions: Henry (7’, 71’, 80’)
- Penalties: Henry (19’)
(highlights coming soon)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 22
With just four rounds remaining, the race for the Top 6 — and survival at the bottom — is heating up.
Toulouse look unstoppable heading into the Champions Cup semifinals, while teams like Vannes, Clermont, and La Rochelle have thrown the playoff picture wide open. Expect even more twists and battles as the 2025 Top 14 season hits its final stretch.
Who impressed you most in Round 22? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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