Top 14 (France) 2026/27

The Top 14 is the highest level of professional rugby union in France. It serves as the primary domestic competition for club teams within the national structure. The tournament operates under the governance of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby.

The format begins with a double round-robin phase where every club plays each other twice, resulting in 26 matches per side. The top six finishers advance to the knockout stages. Quarter-finals pit the third-placed team against the sixth, and the fourth against the fifth. The victors proceed to semi-finals at neutral grounds, joined by the top two sides from the regular season. The championship decider takes place at the Stade de France in Paris.

Relegation rules distinguish the division from others. The bottom club drops directly to the second tier, known as Pro D2. The team in thirteenth position enters a one-off playoff match against the runner-up of the Pro D2 playoffs. The winner of this contest earns promotion to the Top 14 for the following season. This system ensures a direct link between the two professional levels.

Financial regulations set the league apart from its English counterpart. The salary cap is higher than that of the Premiership. Additionally, the competition includes a specific bonus for homegrown French players, which is added to the total cap limit. This contrasts with the English model, which relies on marquee player exemptions. The league also enforces quotas based on JIFF status to manage foreign player numbers and support domestic talent development.

Stade Toulousain holds the record for the most titles won in the competition's history. They were also the reigning champions in the 2023–24 season. The tournament has retained its current name since 2005, having previously operated under different titles including Top 16. It remains the central stage for French club rugby.