# 2008–09 Top 14 season

The 2008–09 Top 14 Competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). It ran from late August 2008 through the final at Stade de France on June 6, 2009, in which Perpignan lifted the Bouclier de Brennus with a 22–13 win over Clermont.
This year's edition of the Top 14 welcomed Toulon, winners of the 2008 title in the second-level Pro D2, and Mont-de-Marsan, victors in the 2008 promotion playoffs between the second- through fifth-place teams in Pro D2. They took the place of Auch and Albi, relegated at the end of the 2007–08 Top 14. Auch, which had been promoted to the Top 14 for 2007–08, finished bottom of the table and went down. The other newly promoted team in 2007–08, Dax, finished second-from-bottom, but were reprieved when French sporting authorities forcibly relegated 12th-place Albi to Pro D2 due to financial issues.

## Competition format

Each club plays every other club twice. The second half of the season is conducted in the same order as the first, with the club at home in the first half of the season away in the second. 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 on May 29 and 30, with the final at Stade de France on June 6.
Going into the season, the top six clubs were guaranteed of berths in the 2009–10 Heineken Cup, with the possibility of a seventh if a French club had advanced further in the 2008–09 Heineken Cup than any team from England or Italy. However, the seventh French berth did not materialize this season, as the only Top 14 club to make the knockout stage, Toulouse, were eliminated in the quarterfinals, while England's Leicester Tigers reached the final (where they lost to Irish side Leinster). The sixth-place team would have been relegated to the 2009–10 European Challenge Cup if 11th-place Bourgoin had won the 2008–09 Challenge Cup final on 22 May; however, Bourgoin were defeated by English side Northampton Saints.
The bottom two teams are provisionally relegated to Pro D2, with the possibility of one or both of the bottom teams to be reprieved if a team above them fails a postseason financial audit (mandatory for all clubs in the league).
The LNR uses a slightly different bonus points system from that used in most other rugby competitions. It trialled a new system in 2007-08 explicitly designed to prevent a losing team from earning more than one bonus point in a match, a system that also makes it impossible for either team to earn a bonus point in a drawn match. LNR chose to continue with this system for 2008-09.
France's bonus point system operates as follows:
* 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).

## Season synopsis

While the four playoff teams—Perpignan, Toulouse, Clermont, and Stade Français—separated themselves from the pack fairly early in the season, it was Toulouse who were the form team in the first half of the season; they had a Top 14-record streak of 11 wins from Round 5 through Round 15. However, Perpignan surged in the second half of the season, finishing level with Toulouse on the season log; the Catalans claimed the top seed on the first tiebreaker of head-to-head competition points. Biarritz used a late-season surge to claim fifth place, while the final Heineken Cup berth was ultimately decided in the final round, when Brive's draw with Bourgoin combined with Bayonne's win over Stade Français without a bonus point left Brive and Bayonne level on the log; Brive won on the second tiebreaker of head-to-head scoring.
At the other end of the ladder, Mont-de-Marsan were rarely competitive and finished bottom. The second relegation place finally fell on Dax, after Bourgoin, Castres, and the highly ambitious Toulon spent time in relegation trouble.
For much of the season, Bourgoin faced another type of relegation trouble—financial. At the end of each season, all teams in both divisions of LNR must pass a financial audit conducted by DNACG (Direction nationale d'aide et de contrôle de gestion), LNR's financial arm, to be able to keep their professional licenses. The club were able to satisfy DNACG that they had sufficient financial guarantees to participate in Top 14 and were thus allowed to stay in the top flight.
* Second division: 2008–09 Rugby Pro D2 season

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | B | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Perpignan (C) | 26 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 615 | 374 | +241 | 10 | 92 | Advance to playoffs Qualified for the 2009–10 Heineken Cup |
| 2 | Toulouse (SF) | 26 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 594 | 324 | +270 | 8 | 92 | Advance to playoffs Qualified for the 2009–10 Heineken Cup |
| 3 | Clermont (F) | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 754 | 367 | +387 | 17 | 83 | Advance to playoffs Qualified for the 2009–10 Heineken Cup |
| 4 | Stade Français (SF) | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 622 | 430 | +192 | 12 | 78 | Advance to playoffs Qualified for the 2009–10 Heineken Cup |
| 5 | Biarritz | 26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 516 | 398 | +118 | 11 | 71 | Qualified for the 2009–10 Heineken Cup |
| 6 | Brive | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 481 | 481 | 0 | 6 | 66 | Qualified for the 2009–10 Heineken Cup |
| 7 | Bayonne | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 475 | 481 | −6 | 6 | 66 | |
| 8 | Montauban | 26 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 485 | 572 | −87 | 9 | 53 | |
| 9 | Toulon | 26 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 409 | 488 | −79 | 11 | 51 | |
| 10 | Montpellier | 26 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 408 | 568 | −160 | 6 | 50 | |
| 11 | Bourgoin | 26 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 451 | 599 | −148 | 10 | 46 | |
| 12 | Castres | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 473 | 537 | −64 | 10 | 44 | |
| 13 | Dax (R) | 26 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 375 | 634 | −259 | 7 | 37 | Relegated to the 2009–10 Rugby Pro D2 |
| 14 | Mont-de-Marsan (R) | 26 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 325 | 730 | −405 | 7 | 29 | Relegated to the 2009–10 Rugby Pro D2 |
* 1 2 Perpignan finished first on the ladder, ahead of Toulouse, based on a 5–4 edge in head-to-head competition points; Toulouse scored a regular win against Perpignan in Round 6, while Perpignan picked up a bonus-point win in the return match in Round 19.
* 1 2 Brive edged out Bayonne for sixth place, and ultimately the final Heineken Cup berth. In Round 8, Bayonne defeated Brive 14–9 at home. In the return match in Round 21, Brive won 13–6 at home. Since both losing teams picked up bonus points, the tiebreaker went to head-to-head point differential, in which Brive had a two-point edge.

## Fixtures & Results
### Round 1

* 26 August 2008 19:00
| Biarritz | 29 - 22 | Bourgoin (1 BP) |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 10,133
* 26 August 2008 19:00
| (1 BP) Castres | 26 - 27 | Bayonne |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,717
* 26 August 2008 19:00
| Dax | 9 - 31 | Stade Français (1 BP) |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 9,110
* 26 August 2008 19:00
| (1 BP) Montauban | 37 - 19 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,844
* 26 August 2008 19:00
| Montpellier | 16 - 11 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 14,248
* 26 August 2008 19:00
| Perpignan | 34 - 18 | Brive |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,890
* 26 August 2008 21:00
| Toulon | 22 - 16 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,835

### Round 2

* 30 August 2008 14:30
| Bayonne | 22 - 20 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 11,412
* 30 August 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 43 - 20 | Montpellier |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 12,207
* 30 August 2008 14:30
| Stade Français | 27 - 22 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,777
* 30 August 2008 14:30
| Toulon | 3 - 3 | Brive |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,351
* 30 August 2008 14:30
| Toulouse | 25 - 20 | Dax (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 15,665
* 30 August 2008 16:45
| Biarritz | 32 - 17 | Castres |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 7,667
* 30 August 2008 20:30
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 16 - 22 | Perpignan |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,283

### Round 3

* 5 September 2008 20:30
| Bayonne | 17 - 6 | Clermont |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 11,841
* 6 September 2008 14:30
| Brive | 16 - 16 | Castres |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 7,893
* 6 September 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Dax | 6 - 9 | Montpellier |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 5,057
* 6 September 2008 14:30
| Montauban | 18 - 14 | Bourgoin (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 5,068
* 6 September 2008 16:30
| Perpignan | 11 - 26 | Stade Français |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,671
* 6 September 2008 20:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 25 - 18 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 6,851
* 7 September 2008 20:00
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 20 - 6 | Biarritz |
* Stadium Municipal Attendance: 24,722

### Round 4

* 12 September 2008 20:30
| (1 BP) Toulon | 13 - 19 | Stade Français |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,916
* 13 September 2008 14:30
| Bourgoin | 18 - 6 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 4,428
* 13 September 2008 14:30
| Castres | 11 - 19 | Dax |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,907
* 13 September 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 32 - 10 | Montauban |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 10,263
* 13 September 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 38 - 10 | Bayonne |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,671
* 13 September 2008 16:30
| Clermont | 16 - 6 | Toulouse |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 14,701
* 13 September 2008 20:30
| Biarritz | 24 - 5 | Brive |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,101

### Round 5

* 19 September 2008 20:30
| Dax | 30 - 18 | Biarritz |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 8,004
* 20 September 2008 14:30
| Bayonne | 19 - 15 | Mont-de-Marsan (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 12,827
* 20 September 2008 14:30
| Castres | 12 - 6 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,103
* 20 September 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 37 - 16 | Brive |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 9,250
* 20 September 2008 14:30
| Toulon | 15 - 9 | Bourgoin (1 BP) |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,557
* 20 September 2008 16:30
| Montauban | 10 - 41 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 9,049
* 20 September 2008 20:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 3 - 5 | Perpignan |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 14,182

### Round 6

* 26 September 2008 20:30
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 25 - 32 | Stade Français |
* Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Attendance: 18,014
* 27 September 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Brive | 41 - 9 | Dax |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 7,893
* 27 September 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 32 - 6 | Biarritz |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 14,498
* 27 September 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Mont-de-Marsan | 16 - 22 | Montpellier |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 6,237
* 27 September 2008 14:30
| Montauban | 24 - 23 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 5,844
* 27 September 2008 16:30
| Toulouse | 30 - 20 | Perpignan |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,739
* 27 September 2008 20:30
| Bayonne | 19 - 15 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 13,902

### Round 7

* 3 October 2008 20:30
| Castres | 10 - 28 | Toulouse |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,451
* 4 October 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 46 - 3 | Montpellier |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 7,000
* 4 October 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Brive | 53 - 11 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,208
* 4 October 2008 14:30
| Perpignan | 37 - 12 | Toulon |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,061
* 4 October 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 34 - 16 | Montauban |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,357
* 4 October 2008 16:30
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 23 - 30 | Clermont |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,872
* 4 October 2008 20:30
| Dax | 27 - 17 | Bayonne |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 10,204

### Round 8

* 24 October 2008 20:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 6 - 33 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 7,064
* 25 October 2008 14:30
| Bayonne | 14 - 9 | Brive (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 11,441
* 25 October 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 25 - 30 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 12,940
* 25 October 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 12 - 19 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 10,007
* 25 October 2008 14:30
| Perpignan | 17 - 6 | Dax |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,705
* 25 October 2008 16:30
| Stade Français | 13 - 26 | Toulouse |
* Stade de France Attendance: 78,782
* 25 October 2008 20:30
| (1 BP) Toulon | 17 - 21 | Castres |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,144

### Round 9

* 31 October 2008 18:30
| (1 BP) Montauban | 42 - 20 | Toulon |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,291
* 1 November 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Castres | 28 - 31 | Montpellier |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,279
* 1 November 2008 14:30
| Dax | 32 - 10 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 6,978
* 1 November 2008 14:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 7 - 31 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 6,140
* 1 November 2008 14:30
| Toulouse | 21 - 15 | Brive (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,708
* 1 November 2008 16:30
| Clermont | 22 - 6 | Stade Français |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,724
* 1 November 2008 20:30
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 12 - 14 | Bayonne |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 13,104

### Round 10

* 14 November 2008 20:30
| Montpellier | 26 - 13 | Stade Français |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 14,570
* 15 November 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 9 - 13 | Bayonne |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,325
* 15 November 2008 14:30
| Castres | 26 - 3 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,615
* 15 November 2008 14:30
| Dax | 20 - 20 | Montauban |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 5,703
* 15 November 2008 14:30
| Toulouse | 19 - 18 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,701
* 15 November 2008 16:30
| Brive | 18 - 16 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 11,708
* 15 November 2008 20:45
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 27 - 12 | Biarritz |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,942

### Round 11

* 21 November 2008 19:00
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 12 - 18 | Toulouse |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 7,989
* 21 November 2008 21:00
| Stade Français | 19 - 12 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 7,443
* 22 November 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 42 - 9 | Montpellier |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 10,938
* 22 November 2008 14:30
| Brive | 33 - 28 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 7,892
* 22 November 2008 14:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 12 - 6 | Dax (BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 8,832
* 22 November 2008 14:30
| Toulon | 10 - 5 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,357
* 22 November 2008 16:30
| Clermont | 29 - 9 | Perpignan |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 14,364

### Round 12

* 28 November 2008 20:35
| Toulouse | 32 - 11 | Bayonne |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,701
* 29 November 2008 14:30
| Castres | 9 - 23 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,851
* 29 November 2008 14:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 12 - 11 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 5,507
* 29 November 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Montauban | 6 - 9 | Perpignan |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,965
* 29 November 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Toulon | 6 - 13 | Dax |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 11,482
* 29 November 2008 16:30
| Biarritz | 13 - 32 | Stade Français (1 BP) |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 9,923
* 29 November 2008 20:45
| Montpellier | 9 - 22 | Brive |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,517

### Round 13

* 19 December 2008 20:35
| (1 BP) Dax | 16 - 20 | Clermont |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 5,983
* 20 December 2008 14:30
| Brive | 20 - 12 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,529
* 20 December 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 33 - 8 | Toulon |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 11,707
* 20 December 2008 14:30
| Perpignan | 16 - 9 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,102
* 20 December 2008 14:30
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 27 - 6 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,654
* 20 December 2008 16:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 35 - 8 | Bayonne |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 9,395
* 20 December 2008 20:35
| Montauban | 19 - 12 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,402

### Round 14

* 2 January 2009 20:35
| Bayonne | 13 - 13 | Castres |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 12,665
* 3 January 2009 14:30
| Bourgoin | 15 - 14 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,430
* 3 January 2009 14:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 16 - 13 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 5,771
* 3 January 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 32 - 5 | Toulon |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,102
* 3 January 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 56 - 15 | Dax |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 9,248
* 3 January 2009 16:30
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 34 - 0 | Montpellier |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,725
* 3 January 2009 20:45
| (1 BP) Brive | 15 - 18 | Perpignan |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 9,613

### Round 15

* 9 January 2009 20:35
| Dax | 9 - 25 | Toulouse |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 8,325
* 10 January 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Castres | 9 - 10 | Biarritz |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,753
* 10 January 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Mont-de-Marsan | 6 - 13 | Stade Français |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 7,921
* 10 January 2009 14:30
| Montauban | 15 - 13 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,288
* 10 January 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 40 - 14 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,811
* 10 January 2009 16:30
| Montpellier | 3 - 30 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 13,182
* 10 January 2009 20:35
| Brive | 19 - 9 | Toulon |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,660

### Round 16

* 30 January 2009 20:35
| (1 BP) Toulon | 38 - 22 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,316
* 31 January 2009 14:30
| Biarritz | 17 - 13 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 11,018
* 31 January 2009 14:30
| Bourgoin | 25 - 15 | Montauban |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,441
* 31 January 2009 14:30
| Castres | 11 - 11 | Brive |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,304
* 31 January 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 44 - 10 | Bayonne |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,806
* 31 January 2009 14:30
| Montpellier | 23 - 14 | Dax |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,552
* 31 January 2009 16:30
| Stade Français | 13 - 13 | Perpignan |
* Stade de France Attendance: 79,122

### Round 17

* 20 February 2009 20:35
| Stade Français | 22 - 12 | Toulon |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 9,167
* 21 February 2009 14:30
| Brive | 19 - 15 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 10,154
* 21 February 2009 14:30
| Dax | 16 - 32 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 6,738
* 21 February 2009 14:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 16 - 16 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 5,734
* 21 February 2009 14:30
| Montauban | 27 - 19 | Montpellier |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 5,734
* 21 February 2009 16:30
| Bayonne | 19 - 12 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 15,125
* 22 February 2009 16:30
| Toulouse | 20 - 13 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stadium Municipal Attendance: 34,932

### Round 18

* 27 February 2009 19:00
| Bourgoin | 12 - 23 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,672
* 28 February 2009 14:15
| Brive | 26 - 11 | Stade Français |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 11,106
* 28 February 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 44 - 13 | Dax |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,031
* 28 February 2009 14:30
| Clermont | 43 - 20 | Castres |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 13,919
* 28 February 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Mont-de-Marsan | 30 - 37 | Bayonne |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 7,201
* 28 February 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 50 - 13 | Montpellier |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,690
* 28 February 2009 20:35
| Toulouse | 9 - 6 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,649

### Round 19

* 6 March 2009 21:00
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 32 - 8 | Toulouse |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 14,578
* 7 March 2009 14:30
| Castres | 31 - 19 | Montauban |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,668
* 7 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Dax | 15 - 17 | Brive |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 5,514
* 7 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 33 - 6 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,503
* 7 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 53 - 3 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,401
* 7 March 2009 16:30
| Biarritz | 18 - 14 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,708
* 7 March 2009 20:35
| Toulon | 3 - 3 | Bayonne |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,888

### Round 20

* 13 March 2009 20:35
| Montauban | 22 - 16 | Stade Français (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 12,589
* 14 March 2009 14:15
| Toulouse | 26 - 11 | Castres |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 17,984
* 14 March 2009 14:30
| Bayonne | 14 - 9 | Dax (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 12,589
* 14 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 57 - 23 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 13,936
* 14 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Mont-de-Marsan | 16 - 18 | Brive |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 8,099
* 14 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Toulon | 29 - 32 | Perpignan |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,415
* 14 March 2009 20:35
| Montpellier | 12 - 9 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 10,627

### Round 21

* 27 March 2009 20:35
| Castres | 25 - 9 | Toulon |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 8,497
* 28 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 37 - 7 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 7,192
* 28 March 2009 14:30
| Bourgoin | 22 - 3 | Montpellier |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,847
* 28 March 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Dax | 13 - 16 | Perpignan |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 6,333
* 28 March 2009 14:30
| Montauban | 19 - 19 | Clermont |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,724
* 28 March 2009 16:30
| Brive | 13 - 6 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 10,762
* 29 March 2009 20:35
| Toulouse | 15 - 11 | Stade Français (1 BP) |
* Stadium Municipal Attendance: 34,993

### Round 22

* 3 April 2009 20:35
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 43 - 6 | Dax |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,418
* 4 April 2009 14:30
| Brive | 10 - 42 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 14,066
* 4 April 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 21 - 23 | Castres |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 10,547
* 4 April 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 44 - 3 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,211
* 4 April 2009 14:30
| Toulon | 33 - 20 | Montauban |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,491
* 4 April 2009 16:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 19 - 21 | Clermont |
* Stade de France Attendance: 79,842
* 4 April 2009 20:35
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 15 - 19 | Biarritz |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 16,930

### Round 23

* 17 April 2009 20:35
| Biarritz | 12 - 10 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 10,243
* 18 April 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 61 - 10 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 11,624
* 18 April 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 52 - 7 | Brive |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,853
* 18 April 2009 14:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 21 - 15 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 5,445
* 18 April 2009 14:30
| Stade Français | 24 - 15 | Montpellier |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,651
* 18 April 2009 16:30
| Toulon | 14 - 6 | Toulouse |
* Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 56,953
* 18 April 2009 20:35
| (1 BP) Montauban | 15 - 20 | Dax |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,614

### Round 24

* 24 April 2009 20:35
| (1 BP) Castres | 16 - 21 | Stade Français |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 8,891
* 25 April 2009 14:30
| Biarritz | 19 - 12 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,257
* 25 April 2009 14:30
| Montauban | 15 - 10 | Brive (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,897
* 25 April 2009 14:30
| Montpellier | 20 - 11 | Bayonne |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 12,497
* 25 April 2009 14:30
| Perpignan | 20 - 16 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 14,499
* 25 April 2009 16:30
| Toulouse | 13 - 6 | Bourgoin (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,666
* 25 April 2009 20:35
| Dax | 12 - 8 | Mont-de-Marsan (1 BP) |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 9,725

### Round 25

* 8 May 2009 20:35
| Dax | 12 - 22 | Toulon |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 8,030
* 9 May 2009 14:30
| Bourgoin | 31 - 23 | Castres |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,402
* 9 May 2009 14:30
| Brive | 28 - 18 | Montpellier |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 9,272
* 9 May 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 66 - 3 | Mont-de-Marsan |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,745
* 9 May 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 19 - 9 | Montauban |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,798
* 9 May 2009 16:30
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 9 - 12 | Toulouse |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 18,840
* 10 May 2009 20:45
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 12 - 16 | Biarritz |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 9,104

### Round 26

* 16 May 2009 16:30
| Bayonne | 31 - 27 | Stade Français (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 15,248
* 16 May 2009 16:30
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 38 - 10 | Montauban |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,774
* 16 May 2009 16:30
| Bourgoin | 19 - 19 | Brive |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,558
* 16 May 2009 16:30
| (1 BP) Castres | 26 - 32 | Perpignan |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,039
* 16 May 2009 16:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 75 - 3 | Dax |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,827
* 16 May 2009 16:30
| Mont-de-Marsan | 8 - 60 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 10,468
* 16 May 2009 16:30
| (1 BP) Toulon | 23 - 3 | Montpellier |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,926

## Knock-out stages
### Semi-finals

* 29 May 2009 20:45 CEST
| Toulouse | 9 – 19 | Clermont |
| Pen: Elissalde (3/3) 21', 26', 31' | Report | Try: James 12' c Con: James (1/1) Pen: James (2/3) 4', 63' Baby (2/2) 28', 45' |
* Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 32,824 Referee: Christophe Berdos
* 30 May 2009 16:30 CEST
| Perpignan | 25 – 21 | Stade Français |
| Tries: Porical 24' c Mermoz 48' c Candelon 62' m Con: Porical (2/3) Pen: Porical (2/6) 5', 36' | Report | Tries: Beauxis 50' m Parisse 69' c Con: Beauxis (1/2) Pen: Beauxis (2/4) 33', 55' Drop: Beauxis 12' |
* Stade de Gerland, Lyon Attendance: 40,377 Referee: Jérôme Garces

### Final

* 6 June 2009 20:45 CEST
| Perpignan | 22 – 13 | Clermont |
| Try: Marty 45' c Con: Porical (1/1) Pen: Porical (4/4) 40', 49, 61', 64' Drop: Hume 15' | Report | Try: Nalaga 10' c Con: James (1/1) Pen: James (2/3) 19', 55' |
* Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 79,205 Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu
| FB | 15 | Jérôme Porical |
| RW | 14 | Farid Sid |
| OC | 13 | David Marty | 75' |
| IC | 12 | Maxime Mermoz |
| LW | 11 | Julien Candelon | 78' |
| FH | 10 | Gavin Hume | |
| SH | 9 | Nicolas Durand | 75' |
| N8 | 8 | Damien Chouly | |
| OF | 7 | Jean-Pierre Pérez | |
| BF | 6 | Grégory Le Corvec | 57' |
| RL | 5 | Olivier Olibeau | 65' |
| LL | 4 | Rimas Álvarez Kairelis |
| TP | 3 | Nicolas Mas (c) | 78' |
| HK | 2 | Marius Țincu | 59' |
| LP | 1 | Perry Freshwater | 59' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Guilhem Guirado | 59' |
| PR | 17 | Kisi Pulu | 59' |
| LK | 18 | Guillaume Vilaceca | 65' |
| FL | 19 | Gerrie Britz | 57' |
| SH | 20 | David Mélé | 75' |
| CE | 21 | Jean-Philippe Grandclaude | 75' |
| WG | 22 | Philip Burger | 78' |
| PR | 23 | Sebastian Bozzi | 78' |
| | Coach: Jacques Brunel |
| FB | 15 | Anthony Floch |
| RW | 14 | Benoît Baby |
| OC | 13 | Aurélien Rougerie (c) |
| IC | 12 | Gonzalo Canale |
| LW | 11 | Napolioni Nalaga | 77' |
| FH | 10 | Brock James |
| SH | 9 | Pierre Mignoni |
| N8 | 8 | Julien Bonnaire |
| OF | 7 | Alexandre Audebert |
| BF | 6 | Jamie Cudmore | 50' |
| RL | 5 | Thibaut Privat | 55' |
| LL | 4 | Julien Pierre |
| TP | 3 | Martín Scelzo | 30' |
| HK | 2 | Mario Ledesma | 65' |
| LP | 1 | Thomas Domingo | 74' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Benoît Cabello | 65' |
| PR | 17 | Laurent Emmanuelli | 74' |
| LK | 18 | Loïc Jacquet | 55' |
| N8 | 19 | Elvis Vermeulen | 50' |
| SH | 20 | John Senio |
| FH | 21 | Seremaia Bai | 77' |
| CE | 22 | Pierre-Emmanuel Garcia |
| PR | 23 | Davit Zirakashvili | 30' |
| | Coach: Vern Cotter |

## Leading scorers

* Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

## Attendances

* Attendances do not include the semi-finals or final as these are at neutral venues.
| Club | Home Games | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
| Bayonne | 13 | 175,382 | 13,491 | 18,840 | 10,938 | 79% |
| Biarritz | 13 | 118,151 | 9,089 | 13,104 | 7,000 | 61% |
| Bourgoin | 13 | 91,679 | 7,052 | 18,014 | 4,428 | 67% |
| Brive | 13 | 125,756 | 9,674 | 14,066 | 7,892 | 64% |
| Castres | 13 | 103,075 | 7,929 | 9,451 | 6,615 | 69% |
| Clermont | 13 | 190,622 | 14,663 | 15,853 | 12,207 | 88% |
| Dax | 13 | 95,704 | 7,362 | 10,204 | 5,057 | 46% |
| Mont-de-Marsan | 13 | 91,270 | 7,021 | 10,468 | 5,445 | 32% |
| Montauban | 13 | 91,309 | 7,024 | 12,589 | 5,068 | 56% |
| Montpellier | 13 | 150,402 | 11,569 | 14,570 | 9,503 | 73% |
| Perpignan | 13 | 166,629 | 12,818 | 14,578 | 11,671 | 77% |
| Stade Français | 13 | 325,539 | 25,041 | 79,842 | 7,443 | 79% |
| Toulon | 13 | 206,631 | 15,895 | 56,953 | 11,482 | 91% |
| Toulouse | 13 | 277,839 | 21,372 | 34,993 | 15,665 | 93% |