JAMES HARRINGTON
FRENCH COLUMN

The 2022/23 Top 14 season is done. Toulouse are champions for the 22nd time, after pipping ambitious La Rochelle to the title in dramatic Romain Ntamack style at Stade de France last weekend. Neither of last year’s finalists reached the play-off phase for the first time ever, with Castres finishing ninth, and Montpellier 11th after difficult seasons.
At the other end of the table, Brive were relegated, Oyonnax promoted, and Perpignan survived the promotion-relegation play-off and live to fight another campaign in the French top flight.
Now the on-pitch fire...