COMPETITIONS

- TOP 14

A group of 14 Clubs plays a total of 26 games from August 18 th to May 26 th 2007. The first four teams of the group will progress to the semi-final round. The first six teams will automatically qualify to play the European Cup. The last two teams will fall back to the ‘PRO D2’ league Match points system : Win : 4 points Draw : 2 points 4 or more tries : 1 point Loss by 7 points or less : 1 point Semi-finals : Scheduled on the first weekend of June 2007 : matches will be played on a guest stadium Photo : Serge Blanco, President of Top 14

Special arrangements for the 2006-2007 calendar : 2007 will be an exceptional year for Rugby !

The French National Federation has signed specific agreements with Clubs, players, coaches and sponsors in order to arrange the calendar to favour the French National Team preparation for the 2007 World Cup.

• From August 18 th to September 30 th 2006
  First 9 matches including 2 games played mid week on Wednesday, August 30 th and on Tuesday, September 26 th

• From 11 th - 25 th November 2006
  There will be 3 Top 14 matches during the test match France national team will play against Argentina and New-Zealand

• From January 28 th to March 23 rd 2007
  The national championship will be suspended during the RBS Six Nations : 40 players will be selected to meet at Marousis, the French national rugby headquarter

• From 1 st- 10 th June 2007
  Top 14 knockout matches and last games for the players selected for the pre World Cup summer training camp

- EUROPEAN CHALLENGE

Welcome all for this 11 th edition of the European Challenge Cup

This year, 20 teams from seven different countries ( England, Scotland, France Ireland, Italy, Wales, Roumania) will play in the ERC European Challenge Cup. The Tournament will be organised in four pool tables of four teams each.

Last year Gloucester Rugby was the eighth team that grabbed the prestigious European Cup title. Gloucester won the London Irish after a very exiting tournament.

This year again the tournament promises to be very exalting : the winners and best runner-up in each pool will progress to the quarter-final round, scheduled in April 2007.

Also this season the tournament welcomes two new Premium partners : EDF and FedEx

Other good news : broadcasting companies ERC in the United Kingdom and Sky Sports in Ireland will largely cover the event and will broadcast live, some of the knockout semi-finals and final games.