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unusual facts about Top 14


Martin Gillingham

Martin is regarded as an expert on French rugby having worked for three seasons as lead commentator on ESPN's coverage of the Top 14 until they lost the rights at the end of the 2011/12 season.


2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 season

Carcassonne and Saint-Étienne, last year's Fédérale 1 two finalists, gained promotion to Pro D2 for the first time in their history, whilst Agen and La Rochelle, respectively champions and promotion play-offs winners, were promoted to the Top 14.

Addison Lockley

On 25 April 2013, Lockley would leave Moseley to join top French club Biarritz Olympique in the Top 14 on a two-year contract from 2013/14 season.

Alberto Di Bernardo

After bouncing back between the top and second division, he decided to leave Leeds behind and take on the challenge of playing for Bourgoin in the Top 14.

Alex Tulou

Alex Tulou (born 21 March 1987,Faga'alu, American Samoa) is a rugby union footballer, currently playing in the top French professional rugby competition, the Top 14, for Montpellier.

Apisai Naikatini

In December 2013, he signed a short term deal with French Top 14 side, Brive for the remainder of the 2013–14 Top 14 season, filling in for lock, Olivier Caisso who is fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Francis Fainifo

Francis Fainifo (born 25 November 1983) is a rugby union player for Stade Français in the Top 14.

Old Collegians Rugby Club

Brock James represented Australia as an under 16, 19 and 21 and played for both the Queensland Reds and the Western Force in Super Rugby before going on to be the top points scorer in the Top 14 in France with Clermont Auvergne, appearing in numerous grand finals and the Heineken Cup.

Steffon Armitage

Steffon Armitage (born 20 September 1985 in San Fernando, Trinidad) is a rugby union player for RC Toulon in the Top 14.


see also

2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 season

Albi, who had become the first team to gain promotion back to the Top 14 only one year after being relegated in 2008, got immediately relegated again at the end of the previous Top 14 season.

Alex Tulou

He played 15 Top 14 matches (9 starts and 6 as a replacement) for the club in the 2010/11 season, scoring 3 tries, and 4 matches in the European Challenge Cup, scoring one try.

Hernán Senillosa

In December 2010, he was suspended by 52 weeks, after a semi-final of the Top 14, in a game with La Plata Rugby Club, after altercations with the referee.

Matthew Clarkin

Under Clarkin's captaincy, UBB finished 5th in the 2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 season and went on to win the play-offs to gain promotion to the Top 14.

Opeti Fonua

Opeti Fonua (born 26 May 1986) is a Tongan rugby union player who plays number 8 for French Top 14 club Bayonne, having transferred from Agen after Agen were relegated.