Toulouse need extra-time to beat Bordeaux to Top 14 title

Stade Toulousain and Union Bordeaux-Bègles met once again in the Top 14 final, a rematch of last year’s one-sided affair won comfortably by the former.

With French president Emmanuel Macron in attendance, Maxime Lucu opened the scoring with an early penalty to give UBB a 3–0 lead.

Thomas Ramos responded just two minutes later, before Lucu landed an audacious effort from halfway to edge the Girondins back in front.

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The two full-backs then traded further penalties before Argentina lock Guido Petti was shown a yellow card, leaving UBB down to 14 men until the final minute of the half.

Toulouse took full advantage, finally breaking down the Bordeaux defence when Anthony Jelonch powered over for the first try of the final. But Jalibert and co refused to sit back. UBB upped the pressure at scrum time, and Lucu produced a clever grubber for Damian Penaud to dot down out wide.

Fixture

Top 14

Toulouse

39 - 33

Full-time

Bordeaux

All Stats and Data

But Jack Willis had the final word of the half, peeling off the back of an unstoppable maul to score Toulouse’s second and send his side into the break 20–16 up.

The second half descended into classic Top 14 chaos. Just three minutes in, Matthieu Jalibert sliced through the Toulouse line to score, only for Willis to strike again moments later with his second try of the night.

Ramos added two more penalties to stretch Toulouse’s lead to 10 points with 20 minutes remaining.

But UBB were far from done. They clawed their way back with a third try, finished by Petti after a sweeping team move.

With momentum firmly on their side, the Girondins went for broke. Their final driving maul forced an eighth Toulouse infringement, and Lucu – as composed as ever – slotted the resulting penalty to level the match at 33–33 and send it into extra-time.

With both sides running on fumes, it was Toulouse who kept their composure. Two more kicks from Ramos proved decisive, as they edged ahead for the final time.

Toulouse claimed their 24th Bouclier de Brennus – and third consecutive title since regaining the crown in 2023. They haven’t lost a final since 2006, and remain the dominant force in French rugby.