The final poster for the Top 14, the French rugby championship, will be played this Friday, June 28. This is a unique opposition for the occasion: Union Bordeaux-Bègles facing Stade Toulousain.
Lineups, favorite, TV broadcast, time… Here is everything you need to know about this Top 14 final.
A 2023-2024 season like no other
For once, the Top 14 took a break for an international window. And what a window: that of the World Cup in France. The seven-week break between the third day, at the beginning of September, and the fourth, at the end of October, made this season unique. Usually, in a World Cup year, the National Rugby League maintains duplicates.
But this is not the only particularity since again, once again, the final will not be played at the Stade de France. The usual setting, used for the Olympic Games, will give way to the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille. This is the first time since 2016, and the relocation of Racing 92-RC Toulon to Camp Nou in Barcelona, that the final does not take place in Saint-Denis. And this is the first time that it has taken place in Marseille.
Thirtieth final for Toulouse, first for UBB
Twenty-nine finals, twenty-two titles: Stade Toulousain, the most successful club in French rugby, is used to major events. Reigning French champion, crowned three times (2019, 2021, 2023) during the last four editions (the Brennus Shield was not awarded in 2020 due to Covid), the Rouge et Noir tilt the weight of the history in their favor.
Semi-finalist of Top 14 in 2021, 2022 and 2023, semi-finalist of the European Challenge in 2020, semi-finalist of the Champions Cup in 2021, the Union Bordeaux-Bègles had developed the unfortunate habit of falling before the last step. This final, which will be the first in the club’s history at this level, will also be an opportunity to win a title since the Aquitaine club does not even have a Pro D2 crown on its record (vice-champion of France in 2011). ).
A victory everywhere in the regular season
One everywhere, oval ball in the center. In the regular phase, each team won at home. First the Stade Toulousain, on October 29, for the fourth day (29-22), the post-World Cup, then the Union Bordeaux-Bègles, on March 24, for the nineteenth day (31-28 ).
Bru, the most Toulouse of the Bordelais
Manager of Union Bordeaux-Bègles since 2023, Yannick Bru has long been a member of the club opposite, Stade Toulousain. First, as a player (197 matches), winning two European Cups in 2003 and 2005, as well as two French championships, in 1999 and 2001. But also as a coach as assistant to 2007 to 2012.
To be sacred while passing through a dam, difficult
Leader of the regular season, like last year, Stade Toulousain did the job to avoid a play-off and attack its final phase with a semi-final (against La Rochelle, in Bordeaux, victory, 39-23). On the other hand, failing to finish in the first two, UBB had to contend with a play-off at home against Racing (31-17 victory), before struggling to get out of Stade Français (second in the regular season) in the semi-final (20-22).
READ ALSO. Top 14. UBB wins the first final in its history after its victory against Stade Français
We have to go back to 2018, and the victory of Castres, to find traces of a team capable of lifting the Brennus shield by not finishing in the first two and therefore going through a jump-off. With this match more closely contested, the Bordelais arrive in a more advanced state of fatigue. And as if that wasn’t enough, Toulouse played on Friday, the day before the UBB semi-final, and will therefore benefit from an additional day of rest.
Stade Toulousain for a triple-double
Winner of the Champions Cup in the final against Leinster (22-31), Toulouse can further enter the history of French rugby by achieving a triple-double. Already winner of the European Cup and the championship in the same year, in 1996 and in 2021, the Haut-Garonnais club has the opportunity to achieve a new double. Enough to further establish the supremacy of Stade Toulousain at the national… and European level (already six European Cup titles, a record).
What time to see the Top 14 final between UBB and Stade Toulousain?
The Top 14 final will kick off at 9:05 p.m.
On which TV channel can you watch the final between Stade Toulousain and UBB?
The match between UBB and Stade Toulousain will be broadcast on Canal+ and France 2, from 9:05 p.m. A live commentary will also be available on our site ouest-france.fr.
