2007-08 Top 14 season

This article documents a current sports-related event. Information may change as the event progresses.

The 2007-08 Top 14 Competition is a French domestic rugby union club competition, operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). Because France hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the competition did not begin at its normal time of August, but instead started on the last weekend in October 2007, one week after the Rugby World Cup final. The league will make up for the late start by playing on several weekends that it normally skips, namely the weekends of the 2008 Six Nations Championship and the semifinals and final of the 2007-08 Heineken Cup. The season will end in late June 2008. The defending champions are Stade Français. This year's edition of the Top 14 welcomes Auch and Dax, who earned promotion from Rugby Pro D2.^[1] Agen and Narbonne were relegated from the Top 14. As in previous seasons, the top four clubs at the end of the home-and-away season will advance to a single-elimination playoff. The semifinals will be held at neutral sites, with the final at Stade de France. The winner of the final will lift the Bouclier de Brennus as Top 14 champions. All of the top six clubs will receive berths in the 2008-09 Heineken Cup, with the possibility of a seventh depending on the performance of French clubs in the 2007-08 Heineken Cup. The bottom two teams will be relegated to Pro D2. This season, LNR will trial a modification to the bonus point system in both the Top 14 and Pro D2. The system to be used this season will be:^[2]

• 4 points for a win.
• 2 points for a draw.
• 1 "bonus" point for winning while scoring at least 3 more tries than the opponent. This replaces the standard bonus point for scoring 4 tries regardless of the match result.
• 1 "bonus" point for losing by 7 points (or less).

This system is explicitly intended to prevent a losing team from earning two bonus points, as is possible under the standard system.^[2]

• Second division: 2007-08 Rugby Pro D2 season

Contents 1 Popularity 2 Table 3 Schedule and results 3.1 Rounds 1 to 5 3.2 Rounds 6 to 10 3.3 Rounds 11 to 15 3.4 Rounds 16 to 20 3.5 Rounds 21 to 26 4 Notes and references 5 See also 6 External links

Popularity

The league has seen a major increase in attendance in recent years. In 2006-07, per-game attendance averaged 10,549,^[3] up from 9,288 in 2005-06^[4] and 7,255 in 2004-05,^[5] when the league consisted of 16 teams instead of its current 14. The 2005-06 and 2006-07 totals are skewed to some degree because Stade Français drew over 79,000 fans to each of the two fixtures they played at Stade de France in both seasons. However, even if the Stade de France fixtures are not included, per-game attendance was 8,549 in 2005-06^[4] and 9,267 in 2006-07,^[3] both well above the 2004-05 figures.

Table

Key to colors
	Top four advance to playoffs, and receive places in the 2008-09 Heineken Cup.
	Fifth and sixth place also receive Heineken Cup berths
	Seventh place receives a Heineken Cup berth if a French club advances farther in the 2007-08 Heineken Cup than any club from England or Italy.
	Bottom two places relegated to Rugby Pro D2.

2007-08 Top 14 Table
	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points for	Points against	Bonus points	Points
1	Clermont	6	5	0	1	129	86	2	22
2	Toulouse	5	4	0	1	111	58	3	19
3	Biarritz	6	4	1	1	74	69	0	18
4	Stade Français	6	4	0	2	149	100	1	17
5	Montauban	6	3	0	3	111	80	4	16
6	Bayonne	6	3	0	3	110	104	4	16
7	Montpellier	6	4	0	2	98	107	0	16
8	Bourgoin	6	3	1	2	77	89	1	15
9	Albi	6	2	1	3	92	102	2	12
10	Perpignan	6	2	1	3	78	97	2	12
11	Castres	5	2	0	3	78	85	1	9
12	Brive	6	1	0	5	93	128	4	8
13	Dax	6	1	0	5	81	121	3	7
14	Auch	6	1	0	5	70	115	2	6

If clubs are level on competition points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Head-to-head competition points earned.
2. Points differential in head-to-head matches.
3. Difference between tries scored and tries conceded in head-to-head matches.
4. Points differential in all matches.
5. Difference between tries scored and tries conceded in all matches.
6. Number of points scored in all matches.
7. Number of tries scored in all matches.
8. Final classification in the last Top 14 regular season.
9. Fewer red cards issued during the season.

Schedule and results

From the official Top 14 site. Within each weekend, matches are listed in the following order:

1. By date.
2. If matches are held on the same day, by kickoff time.
3. Otherwise, in alphabetic order of home club.

Rounds 1 to 5

Round 1

• 26 October Dax 10 - 15 Toulouse
• 27 October Stade Français 23 - 17 Clermont (at Stade de France)
• 27 October Biarritz 15 - 15 Albi
• 27 October Bourgoin 10 - 8 Montauban
• 27 October Brive 21 - 22 Bayonne
• 27 October Castres 25 - 12 Auch
• 27 October Montpellier 19 - 12 Perpignan

Round 2

• 2 November Brive 7 - 12 Biarritz
• 3 November Toulouse 28 - 9 Stade Français
• 3 November Albi 21 - 16 Perpignan
• 3 November Auch 13 - 14 Bourgoin
• 3 November Clermont 33 - 20 Montpellier
• 3 November Montauban 15 - 12 Castres
• 3 November Bayonne 27 - 0 Dax

Round 3

• 23 November Stade Francais 46 - 6 Bayonne
• 24 November Biarittz 6 - 18 Toulouse
• 24 November Dax 16 - Auch
• 24 November Mountuban 43 - 14 Brive
• 24 November Montpellier 25 - 9 Castres
• 24 November Perpignan 3 - 3 Bourgoin
• 25 November Albi 6 - 12 Clermont

Round 4

• 30 November Stade Francais 22 - 19 (1 BP) Dax
• 1 December Bayonne (1 BP) 10 - 14 Biarittz
• 1 December Auch 19 – 13 (1 BP) Montauban
• 1 December Brive (1 BP) 6 – 9 Montpellier
• 1 December Castres 0 – 16 Perpignan
• 1 December Toulouse (1 BP) 33 – 12 Albi
• 1 December Bourgoin (1 BP) 14 – 20 Clermont

Round 5

• 21 December Auch (1 BP) 11–17 Biarritz
• 21 December Clermont 21–17 (1 BP) Toulouse
• 22 December Bayonne (1 BP) 35–8 Perpignan
• 22 December Castres 32–17 Bourgoin
• 22 December Dax 19–27 Brive
• 22 December Montpellier 19–14 (1 BP) Albi
• 22 December Montauban 24 - 16 Stade Français

Rounds 6 to 10

(all times CET) Round 6

• 4 January, 20:30 — Biarritz 10–8 (1 BP) Montauban
• 5 January, 17:30 — Albi 24–17 (1 BP) Dax
• 5 January, 17:30 — Bourgoin 15–10 (1 BP) Bayonne
• 5 January, 17:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 26–6 Auch
• 5 January, 17:30 — Perpignan 23–19 (1 BP) Brive
• 5 January, 20:30 — Stade Français 33–6 Montpellier
• 6 January, 21:00 — Toulouse v Castres

Round 7

• January 25 Auch v Toulouse
• January 25 Brive v Albi
• January 26 Biarritz v Perpignan
• January 26 Bourgoin v Stade Français
• January 26 Castres v Clermont
• January 26 Montauban v Dax
• January 26 Montpellier v Bayonne

Round 8

• 1-2 February Albi – Stade Français
• 1-2 February Bayonne – Auch
• 1-2 February Brive – Castres
• 1-2 February Clermont – Biarritz
• 1-2 February Dax – Bourgoin
• 1-2 February Perpignan – Montauban
• 1-2 February Toulouse – Montpellier

Round 9

• 8-9 February Auch – Albi
• 8-9 February Biarritz – Dax
• 8-9 February Bourgoin – Montpellier
• 8-9 February Castres – Bayonne
• 8-9 February Montauban – Toulouse
• 8-9 February Perpignan – Clermont
• 8-9 February Stade Français – Brive

Round 10

• 15-16 February Albi – Bourgoin
• 15-16 February Bayonne – Montauban
• 15-16 February Brive – Clermont
• 15-16 February Dax – Castres
• 15-16 February Montpellier – Biarritz
• 15-16 February Stade Français – Auch
• 15-16 February Toulouse – Perpignan

Rounds 11 to 15

Round 11

• 22-23 February Bayonne – Albi
• 22-23 February Bourgoin – Biarritz
• 22-23 February Castres – Stade Français
• 22-23 February Clermont – Montauban
• 22-23 February Montpellier – Dax
• 22-23 February Perpignan – Auch
• 22-23 February Toulouse – Brive

Round 12

• 29 February-1 March Albi – Castres
• 29 February-1 March Auch – Brive
• 29 February-1 March Biarritz – Stade Français
• 29 February-1 March Bourgoin – Toulouse
• 29 February-1 March Clermont – Bayonne
• 29 February-1 March Montauban – Montpellier
• 29 February-1 March Perpignan – Dax

Round 13

• 7-8 March Albi – Montauban
• 7-8 March Bayonne – Toulouse
• 7-8 March Brive – Bourgoin
• 7-8 March Castres – Biarritz
• 7-8 March Dax – Clermont
• 7-8 March Montpellier – Auch
• 7-8 March Stade Français – Perpignan

Round 14

• 14-15 March Albi – Biarritz
• 14-15 March Auch – Castres
• 14-15 March Bayonne – Brive
• 14-15 March Clermont – Stade Français
• 14-15 March Montauban – Bourgoin
• 14-15 March Perpignan – Montpellier
• 14-15 March Toulouse – Dax

Round 15

• 21-22 March Biarritz – Brive
• 21-22 March Bourgoin – Auch
• 21-22 March Castres – Montauban
• 21-22 March Dax – Bayonne
• 21-22 March Montpellier – Clermont
• 21-22 March Perpignan – Albi
• 21-22 March Stade Français – Toulouse

Rounds 16 to 20

Round 16

• 28-29 March Auch – Dax
• 28-29 March Bayonne – Stade Français
• 28-29 March Brive – Montauban
• 28-29 March Bourgoin – Perpignan
• 28-29 March Castres – Montpellier
• 28-29 March Clermont – Albi
• 28-29 March Toulouse – Biarritz

Round 17

• 11-12 April Albi – Toulouse
• 11-12 April Biarritz – Bayonne
• 11-12 April Clermont – Bourgoin
• 11-12 April Dax – Stade Français
• 11-12 April Montauban – Auch
• 11-12 April Montpellier – Brive
• 11-12 April Perpignan – Castres

Round 18

• 18-19 April Albi – Montpellier
• 18-19 April Biarritz – Auch
• 18-19 April Bourgoin – Castres
• 18-19 April Brive – Dax
• 18-19 April Perpignan – Bayonne
• 18-19 April Stade Français – Montauban
• 18-19 April Toulouse – Clermont

Round 19

• 25-26 April Auch – Clermont
• 25-26 April Bayonne – Bourgoin
• 25-26 April Brive – Perpignan
• 25-26 April Castres – Toulouse
• 25-26 April Dax – Albi
• 25-26 April Montauban – Biarritz
• 25-26 April Montpellier – Stade Français

Round 20

• 2-3 May Albi – Brive
• 2-3 May Bayonne – Montpellier
• 2-3 May Clermont – Castres
• 2-3 May Dax – Montauban
• 2-3 May Perpignan – Biarritz
• 2-3 May Stade Français – Bourgoin
• 2-3 May Toulouse – Auch

Rounds 21 to 26

Round 21

• 9-10 May Auch – Bayonne
• 9-10 May Biarritz – Clermont
• 9-10 May Bourgoin – Dax
• 9-10 May Castres – Brive
• 9-10 May Montauban – Perpignan
• 9-10 May Montpellier – Toulouse
• 9-10 May Stade Français – Albi

Round 22

• 16-17 May Albi – Auch
• 16-17 May Bayonne – Castres
• 16-17 May Brive – Stade Français
• 16-17 May Clermont – Perpignan
• 16-17 May Dax – Biarritz
• 16-17 May Montpellier – Bourgoin
• 16-17 May Toulouse – Montauban

Round 23

• 23-24 May Albi – Bayonne
• 23-24 May Auch – Perpignan
• 23-24 May Biarritz – Bourgoin
• 23-24 May Brive – Toulouse
• 23-24 May Dax – Montpellier
• 23-24 May Montauban – Clermont
• 23-24 May Stade Français – Castres

Round 24

• 30-31 May Bayonne – Clermont
• 30-31 May Brive – Auch
• 30-31 May Castres – Albi
• 30-31 May Dax – Perpignan
• 30-31 May Montpellier – Montauban
• 30-31 May Stade Français – Biarritz
• 30-31 May Toulouse – Bourgoin

Round 25

• 6-7 June Bayonne – Clermont
• 6-7 June Brive – Auch
• 6-7 June Castres – Albi
• 6-7 June Dax – Perpignan
• 6-7 June Montpellier – Montauban
• 6-7 June Stade Français – Biarritz
• 6-7 June Toulouse – Bourgoin

Round 26

• 14 June Auch – Montpellier
• 14 June Biarritz – Castres
• 14 June Bourgoin – Brive
• 14 June Clermont – Dax
• 14 June Montauban – Albi
• 14 June Perpignan – Stade Français
• 14 June Toulouse – Bayonne

FINALS Semi-finals

• June 21 1st v 4th Bordeaux
• June 22 2nd v 3rd Lyon

Final

• 28 June The Final Stade De France

Notes and references

• (French) "Ligue Nationale de Rugby". lnr.fr. Accessed August 13, 2007.

See also

• 2007-08 Heineken Cup
• 2007-08 Rugby Pro D2 season

External links

• (French) Ligue Nationale de Rugby - Official website
• Top 14 on Planetrugby.com

Preceded by 2006-07

Top 14 season 2007-08

Succeeded by 2008-09

•  • e Top 14
Teams 2007-08	Albi • Auch • Bayonne • Biarritz • Bourgoin • Brive • Castres • Clermont • Dax • Montauban • Montpellier • Perpignan • Stade Français • Toulouse
Seasons	2004-05 • 200506 • 2006-07 • 2007-08 • 2008-09

•  • e Rugby union in France
Governing body	Fédération Française de Rugby
National teams	France • A • 7's • France amateur • U-20 • U-19 • U-18 • U-17 • U-16 • Women's
Competitions	Ligue Nationale de Rugby (Top 14 • Pro D2) • Fédérale 1 • Fédérale 2 • Fédérale 3 • Challenge Yves du Manoir • Espoirs • Reichel A • 1er Division Féminine  • 2ème Division Féminine