2006–07 Top 14 season


The 2006–07 Top 14 competition was the 108th French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and the 2nd using the name Top 14. Biarritz were out to defend their crown, after their defeat of Toulouse in the 2005–06 Top 14 final. New teams to the league included Albi and Montauban who were promoted from 2004–05 Pro D2, replacing relegated sides Toulon and Pau. During the season attendance records in the league were once again broken with 79,741 attending the Round 19 clash between Stade Français and Toulouse at the Stade de France, and over 2 million supporters attended games across the campaign.
In the league Stade Français jumped out to an early lead, winning their first nine matches. Although they faded somewhat as the season went on, they held on to top the regular-season ladder. Toulouse and [ASM ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont Auvergne|Clermont] each entered the final week with a chance to top the ladder, but Stade Français' win over Agen made it impossible for Clermont to overtake them, while Toulouse failed to secure the bonus point in their win over Bourgoin that would have made it possible for them to pip the Parisians for the top seed. The last playoff berth came down to the last round between Biarritz and Perpignan, with Biarritz securing fourth place in style with a bonus-point win over Castres.
The final Heineken Cup berth came down to the last round as well, with Bourgoin holding off the challenge of Top 14 newcomers Montauban. The relegation battle came down to the last week. Narbone had been assured of the drop after Round 25, while any of six other clubs were in mathematical danger of the drop going into the final week. In the end, Agen, who were next-to-last entering the final week, were consigned to the drop by league leaders Stade Français. Both clubs would be relegated to the 2007–08 Pro D2.
The play-offs saw Stade Français and Clermont win their respective semi-finals to qualify for the final. In the end it was Stade Français who lifted the Bouclier de Brennus as Top 14 champions for the 13th time in the club's history, beating Clermont 23–18 at the Stade de France.

Teams

ClubCity StadiumCapacityPrevious season
AgenAgen Stade Armandie13,0005th
AlbiAlbi Stadium Municipal d'Albi12,000Promoted from Pro D2
BayonneBayonne Stade Jean Dauger16,93412th
BiarritzBiarritz Parc des Sports Aguiléra15,000Champions
BourgoinBourgoin-Jallieu Stade Pierre Rajon9,4416th
BriveBrive-la-Gaillarde Stade Amédée-Domenech15,0009th
CastresCastres Stade Pierre-Fabre11,5007th
ClermontClermont-Ferrand Stade Marcel-Michelin16,3348th
MontaubanMontauban Stade Sapiac11,500Promoted from Pro D2
MontpellierMontpellier Stade Sabathé8,00011th
NarbonneNarbonne Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié12,00010th
PerpignanPerpignan Stade Aimé Giral16,593Semi-finals
Stade FrançaisParis, 16th arrondissementStade Jean-Bouin12,000Semi-finals
ToulouseToulouse Stade Ernest-Wallon19,500Runners up

Table

The seventh-place team would have received a Heineken Cup place if a French club had advanced farther in that season's Heineken Cup than any club from England or Italy. However, the quarterfinal losses of Biarritz and Stade Français, the last two remaining French sides in the 2006–07 Heineken Cup, to English sides Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, meant that the "extra" Heineken Cup place would go to England.
The 2007–08 Heineken Cup was in doubt earlier this season. French clubs announced plans to boycott the competition, and the English PRL clubs joined them, demanding a financial stake in the competition from the RFU. However, recent negotiations have ensured that top teams from both countries will now play.

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Round 4

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Round 5

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Round 6

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Round 7

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Round 8

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Round 9

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Round 10

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Round 11

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Round 12

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Round 13

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Round 14

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Round 15

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Round 16

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Round 17

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Round 18

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Round 19

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Round 20

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Round 21

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Round 22

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Round 23

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Round 24

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Round 25

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Leading scorers

  • Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Top points scorers

RankPlayerClubPoints
1

Attendances

  • Attendances do not include the semi-finals or final as these are at neutral venues.
ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Agen1397,6627,51211,2935,32158%
Albi1388,2526,7899,6905,05457%
Bayonne13146,61811,27813,9267,96967%
Biarritz13121,5839,35313,0136,71162%
Bourgoin1387,1776,70616,9144,55361%
Brive13122,1459,39612,7476,90863%
Castres1390,9326,9959,2935,65261%
Clermont13151,95011,68813,6858,94372%
Montauban1394,0077,2319,0535,66963%
Montpellier1378,4426,0346,5455,44975%
Narbonne13100,154 7,7049,7566,23664%
Perpignan13162,57612,50613,86011,11675%
Stade Français13313,01524,07879,7416,69875%
Toulouse13243,10018,70033,66113,55781%