108th domestic rugby union competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby
The 2006–07 Top 14 competition was the 108th French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) 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 .[ 1] 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 Clermont each entered the final week with a chance to top the ladder, but Stade Français' win over Agen (without a bonus point) 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
Club
City (department)
Stadium
Capacity
Previous season
Agen
Agen (Lot-et-Garonne )
Stade Armandie
13,000
5th
Albi
Albi (Tarn )
Stadium Municipal d'Albi
12,000
Promoted from Pro D2 (runners up)
Bayonne
Bayonne (Pyrénées-Atlantiques )
Stade Jean Dauger
16,934
12th
Biarritz
Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques )
Parc des Sports Aguiléra
15,000
Champions (1st in league)
Bourgoin
Bourgoin-Jallieu (Isère )
Stade Pierre Rajon [ a 1]
9,441
6th
Brive
Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze )
Stade Amédée-Domenech
15,000
9th
Castres
Castres (Tarn )
Stade Pierre-Fabre
11,500
7th
Clermont
Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme )
Stade Marcel-Michelin
16,334
8th
Montauban
Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne )
Stade Sapiac
11,500
Promoted from Pro D2 (champions)
Montpellier
Montpellier (Hérault )
Stade Sabathé
8,000
11th
Narbonne
Narbonne (Aude )
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié
12,000
10th
Perpignan
Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales )
Stade Aimé Giral
16,593
Semi-finals (4th in league)
Stade Français
Paris , 16th arrondissement
Stade Jean-Bouin [ a 2]
12,000
Semi-finals (2nd in league)
Toulouse
Toulouse (Haute-Garonne )
Stade Ernest-Wallon [ a 3]
19,500
Runners up (3rd in league)
Locations of the 2006–07 Top 14 teams
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 remaining two semifinalists were another English side, eventual winners London Wasps , and Welsh side Llanelli Scarlets .)
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
Biarritz 29–24 Clermont (1 BP)
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 12,631[ 2]
(1 BP) Stade Français 52–20 Montpellier
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,150[ 3]
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 5,088[ 4]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 7,164[ 5]
(1 BP) Montauban 41–20 Narbonne
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,403[ 6]
Perpignan 20–16 Castres (1 BP)
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,860[ 7]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 12,747[ 8]
Round 2
Castres 16–26 Stade Français
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,669[ 9]
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 5,449[ 10]
(1 BP) Bourgoin 42–17 Brive
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,080[ 11]
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 16,548[ 12]
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 9,815[ 13]
Narbonne 25–18 Biarritz (1 BP)
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 7,299[ 14]
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 10,556[ 15]
Round 3
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 5,054[ 4]
(1 BP) Montauban 19–24 Toulouse
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 9,053[ 6]
(1 BP) Biarritz 54–0 Bayonne
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 13,013[ 2]
(1 BP) Perpignan 45–6 Narbonne
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,826[ 7]
(1 BP) Stade Français 45–13 Clermont
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,935[ 3]
Montpellier 20–16 Castres (1 BP)
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 5,807[ 10]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 6,515[ 5]
Round 4
(1 BP) Bourgoin 35–22 Montauban
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,050[ 11]
Stade Muncipal Attendance: 28,955[ 16]
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 7,969[ 13]
Narbonne 24–33 Stade Français
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 7,332[ 14]
(1 BP) Clermont 55–7 Montpellier
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 9,791[ 15]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 6,908[ 8]
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 5,784[ 9]
Round 5
Biarritz 12–6 Bourgoin (1 BP)
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,355[ 2]
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,250[ 7]
(1 BP) Stade Français 48–29 Bayonne
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,455[ 3]
(1 BP) Montpellier 33–10 Narbonne
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 5,825[ 10]
Castres 13–9 Clermont (1 BP)
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 5,850[ 9]
Montauban 21–20 Brive (1 BP)
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,014[ 6]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 6,776[ 5]
Round 6
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,839[ 11]
(1 BP) Toulouse 12–16 Stade Français
Stade Muncipal Attendance: 33,661[ 16]
Bayonne 25–20 Montpellier (1 BP)
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 9,481[ 13]
(1 BP) Narbonne 39–17 Castres
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 6,236[ 14]
(1 BP) Brive 14–21 Biarritz
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 7,817[ 8]
Albi 12–10 Montauban (1 BP)
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,373[ 4]
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 9,892[ 15]
Round 7
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 6,545[ 10]
(1 BP) Stade Français 41–27 Bourgoin
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,485[ 3]
(1 BP) Castres 39–15 Bayonne
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 5,918[ 9]
(1 BP) Clermont 43–0 Narbonne
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 8,943[ 15]
(1 BP) Perpignan 24–13 Brive
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,454[ 7]
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 7,592[ 2]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 7,171[ 5]
Round 8
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 4,553[ 11]
(1 BP) Toulouse 35–3 Castres
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 14,535[ 12]
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 9,568[ 13]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 9,629[ 8]
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,431[ 4]
Montauban 19–13 Biarritz (1 BP)
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,216[ 6]
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 6,266[ 14]
Round 9
Stade Armandie Attendance: 7,245[ 5]
Castres 18–16 Bourgoin (1 BP)
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,211[ 9]
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 7,033[ 14]
(1 BP) Montpellier 12–17 Brive
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 5,540[ 10]
(1 BP) Perpignan 13–18 Montauban
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,824[ 7]
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,549[ 3]
(1 BP) Clermont 46–9 Toulouse
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 13,376[ 15]
Round 10
Montauban 15–9 Stade Français (1 BP)
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 9,046[ 6]
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,326[ 2]
Albi 15–9 Montpellier (1 BP)
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 5,623[ 4]
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 10,539[ 13]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 7,461[ 8]
Toulouse 40–34 Narbonne (1 BP)
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 14,232[ 12]
(1 BP) Bourgoin 22–28 Clermont
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne[ 17] Attendance: 16,914
Round 11
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 12,858[ 13]
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,091[ 9]
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 12,264[ 15]
Montpellier 19–17 Montauban (1 BP)
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 5,877[ 10]
(1 BP) Narbonne 20–23 Bourgoin
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 7,016[ 14]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 6,386[ 5]
Stade Français 22–16 Biarritz (1 BP)
Stade de France Attendance: 79,619[ 18]
Round 12
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,882[ 4]
Perpignan 11–10 Stade Français (1 BP)
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,116[ 7]
(1 BP) Biarritz 44–11 Montpellier
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 7,740[ 2]
(1 BP) Bourgoin 39–10 Bayonne
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,139[ 11]
Brive 23–21 Narbonne (1 BP)
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,487[ 8]
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,497[ 6]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 11,293[ 5]
Round 13
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 13,557[ 12]
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,356[ 3]
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 9,385[ 13]
(1 BP) Castres 12–16 Biarritz
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,299[ 9]
(1 BP) Montpellier 12–15 Perpignan
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 6,417[ 10]
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 6,825[ 14]
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 10,066[ 15]
Round 14
Montpellier 25–13 Stade Français
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 5,846[ 10]
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 12,865[ 15]
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 10,540[ 13]
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 4,740[ 11]
Narbonne 37–33 Montauban (1 BP)
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 7,265[ 14]
(1 BP) Toulouse 26–29 Brive
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 13,902[ 12]
Castres 19–13 Perpignan (1 BP)
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 5,652[ 9]
Round 15
(1 BP) Stade Français 43–18 Castres
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 6,698[ 3]
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 8,555[ 4]
Agen 14–9 Montpellier (1 BP)
Stade Armandie Attendance: 5,321[ 5]
(1 BP) Biarritz 42–14 Narbonne
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 6,711[ 2]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,077[ 8]
(1 BP) Montauban 17–18 Bayonne
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,675[ 6]
(1 BP) Perpignan 32–15 Clermont
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,838[ 7]
Round 16
(1 BP) Bayonne 11–15 Biarritz
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 13,841[ 13]
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 4,816[ 11]
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 17,752[ 12]
(BP) Narbonne 15–19 Perpignan
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 9,483[ 14]
Clermont 29–17 Stade Français
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 13,685[ 15]
(1 BP) Castres 51–13 Montpellier
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 5,768[ 9]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 10,098[ 8]
Round 17
Stade Armandie Attendance: 5,680[ 5]
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,066[ 6]
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 6,048[ 10]
(1 BP) Perpignan 36–30 Bayonne (1 BP)
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,051[ 7]
(1 BP) Stade Français 41–0 Narbonne
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,263[ 3]
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 5,453[ 4]
(1 BP) Biarritz 16–21 Toulouse
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 11,667[ 2]
Round 18
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,833[ 11]
Toulouse 16–12 Perpignan (1 BP)
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,914[ 12]
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,408[ 4]
(1 BP) Brive 11–16 Montauban
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,814[ 8]
Clermont 30–23 Castres (1 BP)
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 11,185[ 15]
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 7,648[ 14]
Bayonne 29–27 Stade Français (1 BP)
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 12,821[ 13]
Round 19
(1 BP) Montpellier 39–17 Bayonne
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 6,049[ 10]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 7,196[ 5]
(1 BP) Castres 62–14 Narbonne
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,667[ 9]
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 7,296[ 2]
(1 BP) Montauban 15–19 Albi
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,841[ 6]
Perpignan 16–9 Bourgoin (1 BP)
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,102[ 7]
Stade Français 22–20 Toulouse (1 BP)
Stade de France Attendance: 79,741[ 18]
Round 20
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 7,411[ 4]
Bourgoin 19–19 Stade Français
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 8,057[ 11]
Bayonne 19–12 Castres (1 BP)
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 12,496[ 13]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 11,978[ 8]
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,975[ 6]
(1 BP) Toulouse 28–10 Montpellier
Stade Muncipal Attendance: 19,551[ 16]
Narbonne (1 BP) 26–29 Clermont (1 BP)
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 8,870[ 14]
Round 21
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 6,144[ 10]
Castres 19–35 Toulouse (1 BP)
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,293[ 9]
Stade Français 18–13 Brive (1 BP)
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,960[ 3]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 7,433[ 5]
(1 BP) Clermont 61–24 Bayonne (1 BP)
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 12,307[ 15]
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,246[ 7]
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,889[ 2]
Round 22
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,562[ 2]
(1 BP) Albi 16–21 Stade Français
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 8,183[ 4]
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 13,379[ 13]
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,786[ 11]
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 8,731[ 6]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 10,526[ 8]
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 14,003[ 12]
Round 23
Narbonne 10–41 Toulouse (1 BP)
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 9,756[ 14]
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,643[ 7]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 9,258[ 5]
(1 BP) Clermont 40–9 Bourgoin
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 13,517[ 15]
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 6,404[ 10]
Stade Français 24–17 Montauban (1 BP)
Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,999[ 3]
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,108[ 9]
Round 24
(1 BP) Perpignan 31–18 Agen
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,116[ 7]
Biarritz 22–13 Stade Français
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 11,704[ 2]
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 9,690[ 4]
(1 BP) Bourgoin 44–11 Narbonne
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,272[ 11]
Montauban 13–12 Montpellier (1 BP)
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 5,669[ 6]
(1 BP) Toulouse 47–28 Bayonne (1 BP)
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,722[ 12]
Brive 28–22 Clermont (1 BP)
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 11,704[ 8]
Round 25
Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,768[ 12]
Bayonne 18–11 Bourgoin (1 BP)
Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 13,926[ 13]
Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 8,622[ 9]
Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 13,503
Narbonne 21–42 Brive (1 BP)
Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 9,125[ 14]
(1 BP) Montpellier 39–29 Biarritz (1 BP)
Stade Sabathé Attendance: 6,491[ 10]
Stade Français 12–11 Perpignan (1 BP)
Stade de France Attendance: 69,805[ 18]
Round 26
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 7,101[ 4]
Stade Armandie Attendance: 10,224[ 5]
(1 BP) Biarritz 32–17 Castres
Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 9,097[ 2]
(1 BP) Bourgoin 20–21 Toulouse
Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 8,098[ 11]
Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 7,899[ 8]
(1 BP) Montauban 19–21 Clermont
Stade Sapiac Attendance: 5,821[ 6]
Perpignan 14–9 Montpellier (1 BP)
Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,250[ 7]
Knock-out stages
Semi-finals
Stade Français 18–6 Biarritz
Final
Leading scorers
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
[ 20]
Top try scorers
[ 20]
Attendances
Attendances do not include the semi-finals or final as these are at neutral venues.
Club
Home Games
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Agen
13
97,662
7,512
11,293
5,321
58%
Albi
13
88,252
6,789
9,690
5,054
57%
Bayonne
13
146,618
11,278
13,926
7,969
67%
Biarritz
13
121,583
9,353
13,013
6,711
62%
Bourgoin
13
87,177
6,706
16,914
4,553
61%
Brive
13
122,145
9,396
12,747
6,908
63%
Castres
13
90,932
6,995
9,293
5,652
61%
Clermont
13
151,950
11,688
13,685
8,943
72%
Montauban
13
94,007
7,231
9,053
5,669
63%
Montpellier
13
78,442
6,034
6,545
5,449
75%
Narbonne
13
100,154
7,704
9,756
6,236
64%
Perpignan
13
162,576
12,506
13,860
11,116
75%
Stade Français
13
313,015
24,078
79,741
6,698
75%
Toulouse
13
243,100
18,700
33,661
13,557
81%
See also
Notes
References
External links
Governing body National teams
Other notable teams Competitions
International Professional clubs Hosted events
Related articles