The 2007-08 Top 14 Competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition, operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). Because France hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the competition did not begin at its normal time of August, but instead started on the last weekend in October 2007, one week after the Rugby World Cup final. The league compensated for the late start by playing on several weekends that it normally skips, namely the weekends of the 2008 Six Nations Championship and the semifinals and final of the 2007-08 Heineken Cup. The season ended on June 28, 2008, with Toulouse defeating regular-season league leader Clermont 26–20 in the final and thereby lifting the Bouclier de Brennus.
This year's edition of the Top 14 welcomed Auch and Dax, who earned promotion from Rugby Pro D2. Agen and Narbonne were relegated from the Top 14.
As in previous seasons, the top four clubs at the end of the home-and-away season advanced to a single-elimination playoff. The semifinals were held at neutral sites, with the final at Stade de France. Going into the season, the top six clubs were guaranteed of berths in the 2008-09 Heineken Cup. Since Toulouse advanced to the 2007-08 Heineken Cup final against Irish club Munster, thereby assuring a higher finish for a French team in that competition than for any team from England or Italy, the seventh-place club also earned a berth in the 2008-09 Heineken Cup. The bottom two teams were provisionally relegated to Pro D2, with the possibility of one or both of the bottom teams to be reprieved if a team above them failed a postseason financial audit. This happened in 2007-08, as Albi failed the audit, ultimately giving a reprieve to second-from bottom Dax.
This season, LNR trialled a modification to the bonus point system in both the Top 14 and Pro D2. The system to be used this season was:
4 points for a win.
2 points for a draw.
1 "bonus" point for winning while scoring at least 3 more tries than the opponent. This replaces the standard bonus point for scoring 4 tries regardless of the match result.
1 "bonus" point for losing by 7 points (or less).
This system was explicitly intended to prevent a losing team from earning two bonus points, as is possible under the standard system.
Second division: 2007-08 Rugby Pro D2 season
The league has seen a major increase in attendance in recent years. In 2006-07, per-game attendance averaged 10,549, up from 9,288 in 2005-06 and 7,255 in 2004-05, when the league consisted of 16 teams instead of its current 14. The 2005-06 and 2006-07 totals are skewed to some degree because Stade Français drew over 79,000 fans to each of the two fixtures they played at Stade de France in both seasons. However, even if the Stade de France fixtures are not included, per-game attendance was 8,549 in 2005-06 and 9,267 in 2006-07, both well above the 2004-05 figures.
The final average attendance for the 2007-08 regular season was 10,966, another increase from the previous season. The LNR also reported that league-wide season ticket sales were up by 11% from 2006-07. The most-attended matches were the three Stade Français matches played at Stade de France, each of which drew more than 75,000, and Toulouse's home opener in Round 2 against Montpellier, which drew 34,791 at Stadium Municipal.
If clubs are level on competition points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Head-to-head competition points earned.
- Points differential in head-to-head matches.
- Difference between tries scored and tries conceded in head-to-head matches.
- Points differential in all matches.
- Difference between tries scored and tries conceded in all matches.
- Number of points scored in all matches.
- Number of tries scored in all matches.
- Final classification in the last Top 14 regular season.
- Fewer red cards issued during the season.
Due to financial irregularities, SC Albi were relegated to the Pro D2 for 2008-09. This saved Dax from relegation and gave them what had been Albi's place in the Challenge Cup.
Schedule and results
From the official Top 14 site. Within each weekend, matches are listed in the following order:
- By date.
- If matches are held on the same day, by kickoff time.
- Otherwise, in alphabetic order of home club.
All times CET.
Round 1
26 October, 20:30 — Dax (1 BP) 10 - 15 Toulouse
27 October, 15:00 — Stade Français 23 - 17 (1 BP) Clermont (at Stade de France)
27 October, 17:30 — Biarritz 15 - 15 Albi
27 October, 17:30 — Bourgoin 10 - 8 (1 BP) Montauban
27 October, 17:30 — Brive (1 BP) 21 - 22 Bayonne
27 October, 17:30 — Castres 25 - 12 Auch
27 October, 20:30 — Montpellier 19 - 12 (1 BP) Perpignan
Round 2
2 November, 19:30 — Brive (1 BP) 7 - 12 Biarritz
3 November, 15:00 — Toulouse (1 BP) 28 - 9 Stade Français
3 November, 17:30 — Albi 21 - 16 (1 BP) Perpignan
3 November, 17:30 — Auch (1 BP) 13 - 14 Bourgoin
3 November, 17:30 — Clermont 33 - 20 Montpellier
3 November, 17:30 — Montauban 15 - 12 (1 BP) Castres
3 November, 20:30 — Bayonne (1 BP) 27 - 0 Dax
Round 3
23 November, 20:30 — Stade Français (1 BP) 46 - 6 Bayonne
24 November, 15:00 — Biarritz 6 - 18 Toulouse
24 November, 17:30 — Dax 16 - 6 Auch
24 November, 17:30 — Montauban (1 BP) 43 - 14 Brive
24 November, 17:30 — Montpellier 25 - 9 Castres
24 November, 17:30 — Perpignan 3 - 3 Bourgoin
25 November, 20:30 — Albi (1 BP) 6 - 12 Clermont
Round 4
30 November, 20:30 — Stade Français 22 - 19 (1 BP) Dax
1 December, 15:00 — Bayonne (1 BP) 10 - 14 Biarritz
1 December, 17:30 — Auch 19 – 13 (1 BP) Montauban
1 December, 17:30 — Brive (1 BP) 6 – 9 Montpellier
1 December, 17:30 — Castres 0 – 16 Perpignan
1 December, 17:30 — Toulouse (1 BP) 33 – 12 Albi
1 December, 20:30 — Bourgoin (1 BP) 14 – 20 Clermont
Round 5
21 December, 19:00 — Auch (1 BP) 11–17 Biarritz
21 December, 21:00 — Clermont 21–17 (1 BP) Toulouse
22 December, 17:30 — Bayonne (1 BP) 35–8 Perpignan
22 December, 17:30 — Castres 32–17 Bourgoin
22 December, 17:30 — Dax 19–27 Brive
22 December, 17:30 — Montpellier 19–14 (1 BP) Albi
22 December, 20:30 — Montauban 24 - 16 Stade Français
Round 6
4 January, 20:30 — Biarritz 10–8 (1 BP) Montauban
5 January, 17:30 — Albi 24–17 (1 BP) Dax
5 January, 17:30 — Bourgoin 15–10 (1 BP) Bayonne
5 January, 17:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 26–6 Auch
5 January, 17:30 — Perpignan 23–19 (1 BP) Brive
5 January, 20:30 — Stade Français 33–6 Montpellier
6 January, 21:00 — Toulouse (1 BP) 44–23 Castres
Round 7
25 January, 20:30 — Auch 3–34 (1 BP) Toulouse
25 January, 20:30 — Brive (1 BP) 25–6 Albi
26 January, 15:05 — Biarritz 21–8 Perpignan
26 January, 17:30 — Bourgoin 16–31 Stade Français
26 January, 17:30 — Castres 15–14 (1 BP) Clermont
26 January, 17:30 — Montauban 12–11 (1 BP) Dax
26 January, 17:30 — Montpellier 37–13 Bayonne
Round 8
1 February, 20:30 — Perpignan 23–3 Montauban
2 February, 17:30 — Bayonne 25–10 Auch
2 February, 17:30 — Brive 26–13 Castres
2 February, 17:30 — Dax 15–14 (1 BP) Bourgoin
2 February, 17:30 — Toulouse (1 BP) 35–13 Montpellier
2 February, 20:30 — Albi (1 BP) 18–23 Stade Français
3 February, 21:00 — Clermont 12–9 (1 BP) Biarritz
Round 9
8 February, 20:30 — Stade Français 36–7 Brive
9 February, 15:00 — Auch (1 BP) 14–19 Albi
9 February, 15:00 — Biarritz 13–7 (1 BP) Dax
9 February, 15:00 — Bourgoin 23–17 (1 BP) Montpellier
9 February, 15:00 — Castres (1 BP) 37–17 Bayonne
9 February, 15:00 — Perpignan 18–17 (1 BP) Clermont
9 February, 20:30 — Montauban (1 BP) 12–16 Toulouse
Round 10
15 February, 20:30 — Montpellier (1 BP) 14–18 Biarritz
16 February, 15:05 — Toulouse (1 BP) 41–15 Perpignan
16 February, 17:30 — Albi 33–8 Bourgoin
16 February, 17:30 — Bayonne 25–18 (1 BP) Montauban
16 February, 17:30 — Dax 8–17 Castres
16 February, 17:30 — Stade Français 15–12 (1 BP) Auch
16 February, 20:30 — Brive (1 BP) 9–11 Clermont
Round 11
22 February, 20:00 — Castres 16–47 (1 BP) Stade Français
23 February, 17:30 — Bayonne 31–13 Albi
23 February, 17:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 40–13 Montauban
23 February, 17:30 — Montpellier 18–13 (1 BP) Dax
23 February, 17:30 — Perpignan 28–23 (1 BP) Auch
23 February, 17:30 — Toulouse (1 BP) 51–3 Brive
24 February, 15:00 — Bourgoin 35–15 Biarritz
Round 12
29 February, 20:30 — Montauban 14–6 Montpellier
1 March, 15:00 — Biarritz 9–6 (1 BP) Stade Français
1 March, 17:30 — Albi 6–33 (1 BP) Castres
1 March, 17:30 — Auch 20–30 Brive
1 March, 17:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 27–3 Bayonne
1 March, 17:30 — Perpignan 10–10 Dax
1 March, 20:30 — Bourgoin 30–23 (1 BP) Toulouse
Round 13
7 March, 20:30 — Castres 26–19 (1 BP) Biarritz
8 March, 17:30 — Albi 15–25 (1 BP) Montauban
8 March, 17:30 — Brive 29–13 Bourgoin
8 March, 17:30 — Dax 22–40 (1 BP) Clermont
8 March, 17:30 — Montpellier 29–24 (1 BP) Auch
8 March, 18:30 — Bayonne 10–25 Toulouse
8 March, 21:00 — Stade Français 12–23 Perpignan
Round 14
14 March, 20:30 — Albi 13–8 (1 BP) Biarritz
15 March, 15:00 — Auch 15–36 (1 BP) Castres
15 March, 15:00 — Bayonne 20–18 (1 BP) Brive
15 March, 15:00 — Montauban 16–11 (1 BP) Bourgoin
15 March, 15:00 — Toulouse (1 BP) 58–5 Dax
15 March, 20:30 — Perpignan (1 BP) 27–6 Montpellier
16 March, 15:00 — Clermont (1 BP) 50–12 Stade Français
Round 15
21 March, 20:30 — Biarritz 10–0 Brive
22 March, 17:30 — Bourgoin (1 BP) 36–0 Auch
22 March, 17:30 — Castres 21–7 Montauban
22 March, 17:30 — Dax 11–6 (1 BP) Bayonne
22 March, 17:30 — Perpignan (1 BP) 45–7 Albi
22 March, 18:30 — Montpellier 17–56 (1 BP) Clermont
22 March, 21:00 — Stade Français (1 BP) 29–0 Toulouse (at Stade de France)
Round 16
28 March, 20:30 — Toulouse 12–6 (1 BP) Biarritz
29 March, 15:05 — Bayonne 14–36 (1 BP) Stade Français
29 March, 17:30 — Auch 16–10 (1 BP) Dax
29 March, 17:30 — Brive 14–7 (1 BP) Montauban
29 March, 17:30 — Castres (1 BP) 12–17 Montpellier
29 March, 17:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 52–17 Albi
29 March, 20:30 — Bourgoin (1 BP) 9–10 Perpignan
Round 17
11 April, 20:30 — Dax (1 BP) 9–13 Stade Français
12 April, 15:00 — Perpignan 20–18 (1 BP) Castres
12 April, 17:30 — Albi (1 BP) 13–20 Toulouse
12 April, 17:30 — Biarritz (1 BP) 20–0 Bayonne
12 April, 17:30 — Montauban 30–19 Auch
12 April, 17:30 — Montpellier 20–14 (1 BP) Brive
12 April, 20:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 36–7 Bourgoin
Round 18
18 April, 20:30 — Bourgoin (1 BP) 12–14 Castres
19 April, 15:00 — Toulouse 11–23 Clermont
19 April, 17:30 — Albi (1 BP) 25–12 Montpellier
19 April, 17:30 — Biarritz (1 BP) 26–3 Auch
19 April, 17:30 — Brive 30–0 Dax
19 April, 17:30 — Perpignan (1 BP) 38–13 Bayonne
19 April, 20:30 — Stade Français 25–18 (1 BP) Montauban
Round 19
25 April, 20:30 — Montpellier (1 BP) 9–12 Stade Français
26 April, 17:30 — Auch 15–36 (1 BP) Clermont
26 April, 17:30 — Bayonne 19–19 Bourgoin
26 April, 17:30 — Dax 12–9 (1 BP) Albi
26 April, 18:30 — Montauban 19–13 (1 BP) Biarritz
26 April, 20:30 — Brive 7–16 Perpignan
7 May, 18:30 — Castres 6–16 Toulouse (rescheduled because of Toulouse's appearance in the Heineken Cup semifinals on 26 April)
Round 20
2 May, 20:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 28–35 (1 BP) Castres
2 May, 20:30 — Toulouse (1 BP) 73–12 Auch
3 May, 15:05 — Perpignan 16–3 Biarritz
3 May, 17:30 — Albi 21–18 (1 BP) Brive
3 May, 17:30 — Bayonne 19–16 (1 BP) Montpellier
3 May, 17:30 — Dax 20–16 (1 BP) Montauban
3 May, 20:30 — Stade Français 34–20 Bourgoin
Round 21
9 May, 21:00 — Biarritz (1 BP) 11–16 Clermont
10 May, 15:00 — Auch (1 BP) 19–23 Bayonne
10 May, 15:00 — Stade Français 43–20 Albi
10 May, 17:30 — Bourgoin (1 BP) 50–14 Dax
10 May, 18:30 — Montauban 28–22 (1 BP) Perpignan
11 May, 17:00 — Castres (1 BP) 41–10 Brive
11 May, 19:00 — Montpellier 17–15 (1 BP) Toulouse
Round 22
16 May, 20:30 — Brive 11–3 Stade Français
17 May, 15:00 — Clermont 29–15 Perpignan
17 May, 17:30 — Albi (1 BP) 29–0 Auch
17 May, 17:30 — Bayonne 27–16 Castres
17 May, 17:30 — Montpellier 12–6 (1 BP) Bourgoin
17 May, 17:30 — Toulouse (1 BP) 28–6 Montauban
17 May, 18:35 — Dax 17–12 (1 BP) Biarritz
Round 23
23 May, 20:30 — Clermont (1 BP) 38–7 Brive
24 May, 15:05 — Biarritz 20–0 Montpellier
24 May, 20:30 — Auch 9–6 (1 BP) Stade Français
24 May, 20:30 — Bourgoin 18–13 (1 BP) Albi
24 May, 20:30 — Castres (1 BP) 38–16 Dax
24 May, 20:30 — Montauban 15–12 (1 BP) Bayonne
3 June, 21:00 — Perpignan (1 BP) 50–6 Toulouse (rescheduled due to Toulouse's appearance in the Heineken Cup final on 24 May)
Round 24
30 May, 19:00 — Auch 13–25 Perpignan
30 May, 21:00 — Brive 15–12 (1 BP) Toulouse
31 May, 15:05 — Stade Français (1 BP) 44–15 Castres
31 May, 17:30 — Albi 13–6 (1 BP) Bayonne
31 May, 17:30 — Biarritz (1 BP) 30–10 Bourgoin
31 May, 17:30 — Dax 16–36 (1 BP) Montpellier
31 May, 20:30 — Montauban 18–16 (1 BP) Clermont
Round 25
6 June, 20:30 — Montpellier 12–8 (1 BP) Montauban
7 June, 15:05 — Stade Français 22–18 Biarritz (1 BP) (at Stade de France)
7 June, 17:30 — Bayonne 36–8 Clermont
7 June, 17:30 — Brive (1 BP) 40–26 Auch
7 June, 17:30 — Castres 20–16 (1 BP) Albi
7 June, 17:30 — Toulouse (1 BP) 57–17 Bourgoin
7 June, 20:30 — Dax 10–21 Perpignan
Round 26
14 June, 15:15 — Auch 12–23 Montpellier
14 June, 15:15 — Biarritz (1 BP) 30–34 Castres
14 June, 15:15 — Bourgoin 22–19 (1 BP) Brive
14 June, 15:15 — Clermont (1 BP) 95–7 Dax
14 June, 15:15 — Montauban 24–17 (1 BP) Albi
14 June, 15:15 — Perpignan 23–19 (1 BP) Stade Français
14 June, 15:15 — Toulouse 35–28 (1 BP) Bayonne