Clermont 26 made a statement on the opening day of the Super Sevens tournament in France, beating La Rochelle 7 26-5 on Thursday. The result came as part of a double-header in the competition, with both sides also winning their other fixtures on the same day. La Rochelle 7 had earlier seen off Section Palau 7 5-0, while Clermont 26 dispatched Stade Français Paris 21-0.
The victory tipped the scales for Clermont 26, who had been finding wins harder to come by over recent months. They beat Bordeaux-Béglais 34-31 in June and had taken on Racing 92, Section Palauz and USAP Perpignan in May, losing two and winning three of those five matches. La Rochelle 7's form has been patchier, with heavy defeats to Toulon and Lyon in August 2025 before picking up wins against Toulon 7 and Section Palau 7.
Twenty-six points is a serious score in sevens rugby, and the margin told the story of the game. La Rochelle 7 kept their defensive shape for parts of the match, but they were out-thought at crucial moments. The visitors switched off at set pieces and paid for it, while their own attacking moves found space where La Rochelle's defence had not yet recovered.
By then, the result was no longer in doubt. Clermont 26 are weighing up a move to build momentum from here, and this kind of performance gives them confidence. La Rochelle 7 cannot afford another slip if they want to stay competitive in the tournament standings.