A week before the restart, Top 14 clubs play their final rehearsal. Some of the fixtures are nothing new.
The league resumes on Saturday 5 September. Clubs are therefore using this Friday for a last run-out, and the schedule has produced a few fixtures that look more like league matches than summer friendlies.
Two Top 14 classics as a dress rehearsal
Castres host Montpellier at Lacaune, as part of the Challenge Vaquerin. The two clubs have already met 107 times, with 55 wins for Castres, 49 for Montpellier and 3 draws. Their last meeting was on 16 May.
Toulon take on Clermont at Issoire, in the Challenge Auvergne, and it is Toulon’s only pre-season match this summer. This time the record favours the Auvergne side: 57 Clermont wins, 43 for Toulon and 2 draws in 102 meetings.
| Fixture | Meetings | Record | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castres – Montpellier | 107 | 55 v. 49, 3 draws | 16/05/2026 |
| Toulon – Clermont | 102 | 43 v. 57, 2 draws | 14/02/2026 |
| Pau – Bordeaux-Bègles | 65 | 33 v. 31, 1 draw | 01/03/2026 |
Pau host Union Bordeaux-Bègles in what remains the closest head-to-head of the lot: 33 wins for Pau against 31 for Bordeaux in 65 matches. Bordeaux go into the new season without Jefferson Poirot for six to eight weeks.
Two Irish provinces visiting
Stade Rochelais host Munster at Marcel-Deflandre on Friday at 7.30pm, to round off a pre-season that began with a 40-38 win over UBB. The two clubs have met only once in our records, in April 2025, with the Irish side coming out on top. La Rochelle then return to league action on 6 September against Stade Toulousain.
Lyon welcome Leinster, with a starting XV featuring no new signings according to the local press. The two sides have met only twice, and Leinster won both times, most recently in January 2020.
Finally, Vannes host Connacht at La Rabine at 7pm. The Irish side trained for several days at d’aucy Park before the match, and Jeremy Davidson, Vannes forwards coach and an Irishman himself, has made it a matter of principle: “Win this match at home to build a fortress.”
What is really at stake
Eight days before the restart, these matches are mainly about settling pecking orders. USAP wrapped up their preparation on Thursday with a 53-42 win over Bath, with seven new signings in the starting line-up. Bayonne host Stade Toulousain in their final test, the most lopsided head-to-head of the weekend: 64 Toulouse wins to 31 for Bayonne in 97 meetings.
Stade Toulousain, for their part, will present the Bouclier de Brennus to their supporters on 2 September at Ernest-Wallon, during a training session open to the public, more than two months after winning the title.
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