Rugby: final of the top 14, two players from the Pacific shine during the victory of Toulouse

It’s the culmination of a fantastic season. Already crowned European champions on May 26 after defeating Leinster in overtime (31-23), the Toulouse residents completed the 2023-2024 financial year in style.

In the final of the French elite championship, the Top 14, the players set the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille alight with a record number of points: 59. This is the biggest gap ever recorded (+56) and with an unprecedented number of 9 tries. The final took place on June 28 (Paris time).

At kick-off, the Pacific players are in the front row: center Yoram Moefana starts for Bordeaux-Bègles and the front rows, Peato Mauvaka and Rodrigue Neti, two former URC Dumbéa players, are for Stade Toulousain .

Reigning French champions, the Red and Blacks struck from the start with a try from Dupont in the 6th minute^th minute. Less than a quarter of an hour later, on an action started on the right side, hooker Mauvaka repositioned himself along the touchline and received a ball at the end of the line to flatten in the corner. Ramos missed the penalty that followed, but Dupont, a few moments later, added additional points after a solo run. He tapped in for himself, just above an opponent, and scored his team’s third try after only 23 minutes of play.

Mauvaka, just before the break, was denied the fourth try after the referee noticed on video that Bordeaux players Lucu and Tameifuna touched the ball on his attempt. We remain at 22-3.

Three tries from Ramos, Marchant and Kinghorn in the space of six minutes after the hour mark, and two more from Ramos and Ainu’u at the end of the match. Final success 59-3. Bordeaux could only score one penalty in this match. It was the 4th^th French champion title with Stade Toulousain for Peato Mauvaka. The 3^th for Rodrigue Neti. Two former teammates at Dumbéa, still inseparable in their rugby adventure.

Martin Charmasson’s report

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