The 2025-26 season is safely in the trophy cabinet, and the next one does not start until the end of summer. To pass the time without losing your touch, It’s Rugby is launching its holiday workbook. On the menu for this first instalment: a 100% French rugby crossword, with all 30 professional clubs of the 2026-27 season to slot in. The 14 Top 14 residents and the 16 in Pro D2 — nobody stays in the changing room.

The rules

Each clue points to a club playing in the Top 14 or Pro D2 in 2026-27, to be written into the grid under the name of its town (or its region, in some cases). The badge in front of each clue tells you the division. Watch out for the off-season traps: a promoted Brittany side has returned to the elite through the front door, a club from Sapiac has dropped out of it, and a Riviera club is discovering Pro D2.

For compound names, only the first word goes into the grid: the “La” of La Rochelle, the “Romans” of Valence Romans and the “Rugby” of Provence Rugby are already supplied in the clue. Click a square to enter a letter, click a crossing square again to switch direction. The “Check” button marks your work, and “Solution” is reserved for heatwave days.

Over to you

00:00

Tip: switch your phone to landscape mode to see the full grid.

Across

  • T14 1. Le « … 92 », ciel et blanc des Hauts-de-Seine
  • T14 5. Les Jaunards de Marcel-Michelin
  • D2 8. « … Romans », le VRDR drômois
  • D2 10. Les Oyomen, dans l'Ain
  • T14 11. Le club breton, champion de Pro D2 et de retour dans l'élite
  • T14 13. La … , port charentais du double champion d'Europe
  • D2 17. Le BO, rouge et blanc basque
  • T14 20. L'USAP, sang et or, sauvée au barrage d'accession
  • D2 22. Le SUA, capitale du pruneau
  • T14 24. La ville des soldats roses du Stade Français
  • T14 25. La Ville rose, le Stade le plus titré, encore champion en 2026
  • T14 28. Le LOU, entre Rhône et Saône
  • T14 29. L'UBB, championne d'Europe 2025
  • D2 30. « … Rugby », les Aixois finalistes malheureux de Pro D2

Down

  • D2 2. L'USON, dans la Nièvre
  • D2 3. Le FCG, au pied des Alpes
  • T14 4. Le RCT et sa rade, triple champion d'Europe
  • D2 6. Le CAB, champion d'Europe 1997
  • D2 7. L'US landaise, ville thermale
  • D2 9. Le voisin ovale de Toulouse, finaliste européen 1999
  • D2 12. Le RC audois, orange et noir
  • T14 14. Le CO, l'ogre du Tarn
  • T14 15. La Section béarnaise
  • D2 16. L'ASBH aux onze Brennus
  • D2 18. L'USM de Sapiac, redescendue après une saison dans l'élite
  • T14 19. Le MHR, finaliste du Top 14 en juin dernier
  • T14 21. L'Aviron, au bord de la Nive
  • D2 23. Le Stade Aurillacois, dans le Cantal
  • D2 26. « …-Angoulême », le SA XV charentais
  • D2 27. Le promu azuréen, tombeur de Mont-de-Marsan en barrage

So, 30 out of 30? The sharpest among you will have recognised everyone without looking at the badges. If a few Pro D2 names held out, now is the time to revise: the season restarts at the end of August and those sixteen fully intend to make themselves heard. See you in the next instalment of the holiday workbook to carry on the summer preparation.