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With the French summer coming to a close the new rugby season is upon us. The 2018-2019 Top 14 season kicks-off on Saturday, August 25.
The long and highly challenging season will culminate with the Top 14 Final less than four months before RWC 2019. With this being the final season before the RWC it is mandatory for rugby followers to keep an eye on players who will play in Japan 2019.
The 2018-2019 season sees Brive and Oyonnax gone from the previous season. They were relegated and have been replaced by Perpignan and Grenoble, both of whom won promotion from the Pro D2.
The 2018-2019 Top 14 season will see the 14th placed team automatically relegated to the Pro D2. The 13th placed team will face the runner-up of the Pro D2 play-off, with the winner of that play-off taking up the final place in Top 14 for the subsequent season.
Predicting both he winner and the relegated team(s) is no easy task. Below is the prospects per club as analyzed by Americas Rugby News for the 2018-2019 season.
Agen
The fighting spirit of Agen saw the club avoiding relegation last season. Betting on a similar outcome this season would be wise. The club has Pumas great Mauricio Reggiardo on the coaching staff. On the playing roster is current Pumas hooker Facundo Bosch, former fly half Ignacio Mieres and the USA-eligible Dave Ryan.
Prospects: Lower-table
Bordeaux
One of the under achievers in France is Bordeaux. The club has the means of pushing for titles but has shown a tendency of fading away as the season develops. For the 2018-291 season the club has started badly before a match has been played. French test fly half Matthieu Jalibert will not play until at least February.
Prospects: Mid-table
Castres
Could the Cinderella story of Castres repeat itself? The club’s miraculous road to glory last season was an indication of the unpredictability of the league. Back for another season are Canadian Taylor Paris, Uruguayan Rodrigo Capó Ortega and Argentine Benjamín Urdapilleta. All are prospective players for RWC 2019, with Paris’ Canada having a date with destiny in November’s repechage tournament.
Prospects: Mid-Table
Clermont
The 2017-2018 season was disastrous for Clermont. The entire backline was injured for a lengthily period. This saw the club missing out on qualifying for this season’s Champions Cup. It is to boost the club’s Top 14 ambitions with one less title to pursue. Fly half Patricio Fernández is looking to impress to get a call-up for Los Pumas for the Rugby World Cup.
Prospects: Champions
Grenoble
Back from the Pro D2 is Grenoble. The club does not have a deep roster to rival that of most in the league but Grenoble is a notoriously difficult place to win in. Gaining home wins at all costs will be the recipe for Grenoble to remain in the Top 14. A failure to do so will spell relegation.
Prospects: Relegation
La Rochelle
A 7th place finish last season was underwhelming for La Rochelle. The club had been placed far higher in the mid-season and was the top played side at the completion of the 2016-2017 regular season. The the 2018-2019 season the club is well placed to do well. With a full house for all home matches the club is extremely well positioned as both a rugby team and a business model.
Prospects: Semi Finals
Lyon
A 5th place finish in the 2017-2018 Top 14 season was a success for Lyon. The club can aim higher and is in a position to do so. Pumas Francisco Goméz Kodela, and Manuel Carizza have not earned caps for a number of years but are names in consideration for a place on the plane to Japan. Colombia’s first professional player, Andrés Zafra is at the club. Smart recruitment from Lyon makes the club one to follow closely.
Prospects: Barrage
Montpellier
A year ago Americas Rugby News predicted Montpellier to win the Top 14. It looked like an accurate prediction only for Castres to put on an amazing performance in the final. For the upcoming season the club is again to be in a strong position and joins Clermont, La Rochelle, and Toulouse are the four tipped to feature in this season’s Semi Finals.
Prospects: Semi Finals
Pau
With a quest of becoming the Clermont of the south, Pau has upgraded both the playing roster and stadium. The club produced a number of upsets last season and is certain to achieve more this season. On the roster are two props from the Americas – Matt Tierney (Canada) and Ignacio Calles (Argentina). Former Puma Andrés Bordoy is on the coaching staff.
Prospects: Mid-table
Perpignan
After a long wait Perpignan is back in the Top 14. The goal for the 2018-291 season is simple – avoid relegation. The club has a restricted roster compared to opponents. Finding a means to avoiding relegation will require home wins at all costs.
Prospects: Play-off vs Pro D2 runner-up
Racing 92
One of France’s premier teams, Racing 92 had the opportunity to win both the Top 14 and Champions Cup last season. Yet with so much to play for the club ultimately fell short. A similar scenario is likely for the 2018-2019 season. Expect Racing 92 to be highly competitive in both and require expert planning to juggle the season. Argentine flier Juan Imhoff will again be one of the speedsters to follow closely in France this season.
Prospects: Barrage
Stade Français
A club with extensive development capabilities this season is Stade Français. Strong player recruitment and coaching investment makes the club one which could surprise many. Argentine players Ramiro Herrera, and Nicolás Sánchez are both at the club while Argentine-Italian Sergio Parisse continues as captain. His long career in Paris dates back to 2005.
Prospects: Lower-Table
Toulon
Powerhouses Toulon have a stacked player roster and will be competing for both titles this season. The club has some of the finest payers in the league though it is far from being the force that won three Champions Cup titles back-to-back. Puma Facundo Isa will miss the early months of the season through injury while Samu Manoa has departed to continue his career in Wales. Pumas legend Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe has gone from Toulon player to coach.
Prospects: Mid-Table
Toulouse
The most successful team of all-time in France is Toulouse. The club has a history of recruiting the finest French youth and turning them into super stars in the Top 14. The past few seasons have been quiet though there are signs that the club’s roster is close to where it needs to be moving forward. Many players loom as being France’s finest for seasons to come.
Prospects: Finalists
