Castres Olympique — Benetton: 18:9, Challenge Cup

Castres Olympique beat Benetton 18-9 in the Challenge Cup on 18 October 2026. The hosts opened their campaign with a win, while the visitors suffered their first defeat of the season.

The home side dominated from the start, controlling territory and possession. Benetton struggled to find their rhythm against a disciplined Castres defence.

I had tipped Castres to win at 73% confidence, and that prediction held up. The hosts' recent form—particularly their 29-27 victory over Toulon—gave me reason to back them. Benetton, by contrast, had lost five of their last six matches and were finding it hard to break through organised defences.

The visitors came close at one stage but could not convert their chances. Castres made their superiority count when it mattered, and the margin reflected the match's progression.

The result puts Castres top of the table with a perfect record, while Benetton sit fifth after their opening loss. The hosts have already collected four points, and the gap between them and the visitors opened early.