# 2009–10 Top 14 season

The 2009–10 Top 14 competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). It began on August 14, 2009 with a match between Toulon and Stade Français at Stade Mayol in Toulon, and continued through to the final at the Stade de France on May 29, 2010.
This year's edition of the Top 14 welcomed Racing Métro, winners of the 2009 title in the second-level Pro D2, and Albi, victors in the 2009 promotion playoffs between the second- through fifth-placed teams in Pro D2, thus becoming the first team to achieve promotion to the Top 14 only one year after being relegated. They took the place of the two clubs from Landes, Dax and Mont-de-Marsan, relegated at the end of the 2008–09 Top 14. Mont-de-Marsan, which had been promoted to the Top 14 for 2008–09, finished bottom of the table and went down. The other newly promoted team in 2008–09, Toulon, finished ninth, sending Dax, who had already finished second-to-bottom the previous season before being allowed to stay in the Top 14 due to Albi's financial troubles, to Pro D2.
The two teams promoted for 2009–10 had very different results. Albi finished bottom of the table by a wide margin and went directly back to Pro D2. Racing Métro, on the other hand, finished sixth, giving them a berth in the newly expanded playoffs and a place in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup. Bayonne finished in the other relegation spot of 13th place, but were reprieved due to the financial problems of 12th-place Montauban.
The season ended with Clermont winning their first French national title in their nearly century-long history, defeating defending champions Perpignan 19–6 in a rematch of last season's final. This result ended decades of frustration for Les Jaunards and their supporters, who had previously tasted defeat in all 10 of their previous final-game appearances.

## Teams
### Managerial changes

* On 8 September, Stade Français sacked head coach Ewen McKenzie and his assistant Christophe Dominici after a disastrous start to the season put the Parisians in the drop zone. Jacques Delmas and Didier Faugeron were named as co-head coaches. Dominici, who owns a small stake in the club, was expected to remain in some capacity. (Stade Français quickly exited relegation danger, scoring bonus-point wins in three of their next four matches.)
* On 26 October, struggling Brive, lying just above the drop zone at the time, sacked head coach Laurent Seigne. The move came a week after honorary club president Patrick Sébastien resigned. Ugo Mola, previously backs coach for Brive, was promoted to the head coaching position.
* On 7 November, Richard Dourthe resigned at Bayonne after a run of defeats put them in the drop zone. Club president Francis Salagoïty announced later that day that Thierry Mentières and Jean-Philippe Coyola would serve as co-head coaches.
* On 19 March, Stade Français announced a reorganisation effective at the end of the 2009–10 season. Michael Cheika, whose contract with Celtic League side Leinster expires at the end of this season, signed a three-year deal to become Director of Rugby and effective head coach from 2010–11.

### Captains and head coaches

| Club | Captain | Head Coach |
| Albi | Vincent Clément | Jean Christophe Bacca Philippe Laurent |
| Bayonne | Rémy Martin | Christian Gajan |
| Biarritz | Jérôme Thion | Jack Isaac Jean-Michel Gonzalez |
| Bourgoin | Julien Frier | Éric Catinot Xavier Péméja |
| Brive | Fabrice Estebanez | Ugo Mola Christophe Laussucq |
| Castres | Alexandre Albouy Sébastien Tillous-Borde | Laurent Labit Laurent Travers |
| Clermont | Aurélien Rougerie | Vern Cotter |
| Montauban | Matthew Clarkin | Sébastien Calvet Marc Raynaud |
| Montpellier | Fulgence Ouedraogo | Warren Britz |
| Perpignan | Nicolas Mas | Jacques Brunel |
| Racing Métro | Lionel Nallet | Pierre Berbizier |
| Stade Français | Rodrigo Roncero | Jacques Delmas Didier Faugeron |
| Toulon | Joe van Niekerk | Philippe Saint-André |
| Toulouse | Thierry Dusautoir | Guy Novès |

## Competition format

Each club played 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. This season introduced a new format for the knockout stage: the top two teams qualify directly to the semifinals, while teams ranked from third to sixth qualify for a quarterfinal held at the homeground of the higher-ranked team. The semifinals are then held at neutral sites, with the final being played at the Stade de France. This replaced the classical format consisting of semifinals between the top four teams held at neutral sites.
Going into the season, the top six clubs were guaranteed of berths in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup. The winners of the 2009–10 Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup are assured of berths in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup regardless of their league standing. This means that if a club finishes in the top six and wins one of the European competitions, the seventh-place team will gain a Heineken Cup berth. However, if French clubs win both competitions, only five clubs will qualify for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup via their league position because France is capped at seven Heineken Cup places. France can also secure a seventh berth if clubs from England's Guinness Premiership, also capped at seven Heineken Cup places, win both Cup competitions, and the top club in the European Rugby Club Rankings among those not already qualified for the Heineken Cup is from the Top 14. As it turned out, France earned a seventh berth when Toulouse won the Heineken Cup; because Toulouse had finished fourth on the regular-season table, the extra berth went to seventh-place Biarritz, who were also their opponent in the Heineken Cup final.
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 used 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 made it impossible for either team to earn a bonus point in a drawn match. The LNR chose to continue with this system for subsequent seasons.
France's bonus point system operated 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).

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | B | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Perpignan (F) | 26 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 582 | 412 | +170 | 12 | 80 | Advance to playoff semi-finals Qualified for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup |
| 2 | Toulon (SF) | 26 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 541 | 456 | +85 | 6 | 80 | Advance to playoff semi-finals Qualified for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup |
| 3 | Clermont (C) | 26 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 644 | 414 | +230 | 12 | 78 | Advance to playoff quarter-finals Qualified for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup |
| 4 | Toulouse (SF) | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 524 | 359 | +165 | 12 | 74 | Advance to playoff quarter-finals Qualified for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup |
| 5 | Castres (QF) | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 542 | 398 | +144 | 11 | 73 | Advance to playoff quarter-finals Qualified for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup |
| 6 | Racing Métro (QF) | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 518 | 530 | −12 | 6 | 64 | Advance to playoff quarter-finals Qualified for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup |
| 7 | Biarritz | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 471 | 442 | +29 | 11 | 59 | Qualified for the 2010–11 Heineken Cup |
| 8 | Stade Français | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 600 | 572 | +28 | 10 | 58 | |
| 9 | Brive | 26 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 459 | 513 | −54 | 10 | 58 | |
| 10 | Montpellier | 26 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 453 | 574 | −121 | 3 | 55 | |
| 11 | Bourgoin | 26 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 407 | 591 | −184 | 4 | 50 | |
| 12 | Montauban (R) | 26 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 422 | 525 | −103 | 5 | 49 | Relegated to the 2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 |
| 13 | Bayonne | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 492 | 490 | +2 | 11 | 47 | |
| 14 | Albi (R) | 26 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 349 | 728 | −379 | 8 | 24 | Relegated to the 2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 |
* 1 2 Perpignan finished first on the ladder, ahead of Toulon, based on a 5–4 edge in head-to-head competition points.
* ↑ It was possible that the sixth-place team on the table would not qualify for the Heineken Cup. However, it would occur only if French teams won both the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, and both of these teams finished outside the top six on the league table. This did not happen in 2009–10 because only one of the European cups was won by a French team (the Heineken Cup by Toulouse). Conversely, if the only French team to win a European trophy finished in the top six, or if both European trophy winners finished in the top six, the seventh-place finisher would receive a Heineken Cup berth. Since Toulouse finished fourth, Biarritz claimed the extra French berth.
* 1 2 Stade Français finished eighth on the ladder, ahead of Brive, based on a 5–4 edge in head-to-head competition points.
* 1 2 Normally, the bottom two teams are relegated. However, on 1 April, the LNR's financial watchdog, DNACG, called Bourgoin, Montauban, and Stade Français for a financial review. No action was taken against Bourgoin or Stade Français, but DNACG announced that Montauban would be relegated because the club could not assure that they could clear their €1.7 million financial shortfall, which reportedly stemmed from a loan the club took out to improve their ground, Stade Sapiac. Montauban could have appealed at the next DNACG meeting on 4 May, but the club wound up filing for bankruptcy on 26 April. The bankruptcy filing confirmed their relegation from the Top 14. They could potentially have been relegated to Fédérale 3, the fifth level of the French rugby pyramid, but ultimately were relegated to the third-level Fédérale 1. These developments meant that Bayonne, who finished second from bottom, escaped the drop.

## Fixtures & Results
### Round 1

* 14 August 2009 20:45
| Toulon | 22–22 | Stade Français |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 13,480
* 15 August 2009 16:00
| (1 BP) Albi | 13–19 | Racing Métro |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 8,233
* 15 August 2009 16:00
| Biarritz | 12–24 | Castres |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 11,530
* 15 August 2009 16:00
| Bourgoin | 28–37 | Clermont |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,577
* 15 August 2009 16:00
| (1 BP) Montauban | 16–17 | Toulouse |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 10,622
* 15 August 2009 16:25
| Perpignan | 28–20 | Bayonne |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,714
* 15 August 2009 20:35
| (1 BP) Brive | 30–9 | Montpellier |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 10,098

### Round 2

* 21 August 2009 20:35
| Bayonne | 38–24 | Stade Français |
* Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain Attendance: 24,411
* 22 August 2009 16:00
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 39–6 | Albi |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 9,850
* 22 August 2009 16:00
| (1 BP) Clermont | 37–16 | Montauban |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 14,333
* 22 August 2009 16:00
| Montpellier | 18–12 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 11,991
* 22 August 2009 16:00
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 38–0 | Brive |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,458
* 22 August 2009 16:25
| Toulon | 27–13 | Racing Métro |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 13,499
* 22 August 2009 20:35
| Castres | 29–9 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,171

### Round 3

* 28 August 2009 19:00
| Brive | 9–9 | Clermont |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 11,289
* 29 August 2009 16:00
| Montauban | P–P | Castres |
* Stade Sapiac
* Postponed after six Castres players were diagnosed with H1N1 flu. Game rescheduled to 16 September 2009.
* 29 August 2009 16:00
| Racing Métro | 18–9 | Bayonne |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 7,638
* 29 August 2009 16:00
| Stade Français | 43–26 | Montpellier |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,068
* 29 August 2009 16:25
| Bourgoin | 22–17 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,063
* 29 August 2009 16:25
| Perpignan | 17–15 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,696
* 29 August 2009 20:35
| (1 BP) Albi | 9–15 | Toulon |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 7,241

### Round 4

* 2 September 2009 19:30
| Albi | P–P | Castres |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi
* Game postponed due to the H1N1 outbreak in the Castres side. Game to be rescheduled for 29 September 2009.
* 2 September 2009 19:30
| Bourgoin | 17–13 | Racing Métro (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 7,542
* 2 September 2009 19:30
| Montpellier | 22–18 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,826
* 2 September 2009 19:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 35–40 | Montauban |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 7,008
* 2 September 2009 19:30
| Toulon | 26–21 | Clermont |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 13,115
* 2 September 2009 19:30
| Toulouse | 21–17 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,639
* 2 September 2009 20:30
| Perpignan | 21–9 | Brive |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,240

### Round 5

* 6 September 2009 15:00
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 53–6 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 11,140
* 6 September 2009 15:00
| (1 BP) Brive | 39–6 | Albi |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,824
* 6 September 2009 15:00
| (1 BP) Castres | 33–18 | Montpellier |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 6,953
* 6 September 2009 15:00
| Montauban | 21–18 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,444
* 6 September 2009 15:00
| (1 BP) Racing Métro | 14–18 | Perpignan |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 7,910
* 6 September 2009 17:00
| Biarritz | 30–22 | Stade Français |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 9,921
* 6 September 2009 21:00
| Clermont | 19–12 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,803

### Round 6

* 11 September 2009 20:35
| Bourgoin | 17–6 | Perpignan |
* Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Attendance: 14,062
* 12 September 2009 14:30
| Montauban | 23–20 | Brive (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,766
* 12 September 2009 14:30
| Montpellier | 21–20 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 11,825
* 12 September 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 44–18 | Castres |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,585
* 12 September 2009 14:30
| Toulouse | 19–13 | Albi (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 15,581
* 12 September 2009 16:25
| Biarritz | 12–6 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
* Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain Attendance: 28,933
* 12 September 2009 20:35
| Clermont | 30–22 | Racing Métro |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,701

### Round 3 (rescheduled game)

* 16 September 2009 19:30
| Montauban | 18–18 | Castres |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,353
* Game rescheduled from 29 August 2009.

### Round 7

* 19 September 2009 14:30
| Albi | 8–40 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,408
* 19 September 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 20–6 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,401
* 19 September 2009 16:25
| (1 BP) Brive | 12–15 | Biarritz |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,507
* 20 September 2009 14:30
| Castres | 9–6 | Racing Métro (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,485
* 20 September 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 28–9 | Montauban |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,593
* 20 September 2009 16:05
| Toulon | 18–13 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 55,091
* 20 September 2009 17:00
| Bayonne | 26–3 | Montpellier |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 11,023

### Round 8

* 25 September 2009 19:30
| Albi | 19–14 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,351
* 25 September 2009 20:35
| Brive | 11–9 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,255
* 26 September 2009 14:15
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 19–3 | Clermont |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,691
* 26 September 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 23–9 | Toulon |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 9,434
* 26 September 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Montauban | 12–15 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,332
* 26 September 2009 14:30
| Racing Métro | 18–14 | Montpellier (1 BP) |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 6,846
* 26 September 2009 16:25
| Toulouse | 9–9 | Stade Français |
* Stadium Municipal Attendance: 32,176

### Round 4 (rescheduled game)

* 29 September 2009 19:30
| (1 BP) Albi | 21–25 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 8,704
* Game rescheduled from 2 September 2009.

### Round 9

* 2 October 2009 20:45
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 44–16 | Brive |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,892
* 3 October 2009 14:30
| Castres | 21–19 | Toulon (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 8,149
* 3 October 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 38–13 | Bayonne |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 14,827
* 3 October 2009 14:30
| Montpellier | 12–30 | Toulouse |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 14,261
* 3 October 2009 14:30
| Racing Métro | 17–12 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 6,446
* 3 October 2009 16:25
| Biarritz | 27–12 | Perpignan |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 10,016
* 3 October 2009 20:45
| Bourgoin | 28–16 | Albi |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,465

### Round 10

* 23 October 2009 20:45
| Bayonne | 6–15 | Castres |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 10,419
* 24 October 2009 14:15
| Toulouse | 23–3 | Biarritz |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,690
* 24 October 2009 14:30
| Brive | 10–18 | Racing Métro |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,476
* 24 October 2009 14:30
| Montauban | 20–6 | Albi |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,908
* 24 October 2009 14:30
| Montpellier | 16–9 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 12,292
* 24 October 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Toulon | 46–28 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,774
* 24 October 2009 16:25
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 14–20 | Perpignan |
* Stade de France Attendance: 76,972

### Round 11

* 30 October 2009 20:45
| Perpignan | 17–15 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,948
* 31 October 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Albi | 15–18 | Montpellier |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,461
* 31 October 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 8–14 | Toulon |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 15,095
* 31 October 2009 14:30
| Bourgoin | 14–14 | Brive |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,269
* 31 October 2009 14:30
| Racing Métro | 27–20 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 13,140
* 31 October 2009 16:25
| Clermont | 19–19 | Stade Français |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,854
* 31 October 2009 20:45
| Montauban | 14–5 | Biarritz |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 8,579

### Round 12

* 5 November 2009 19:30
| Biarritz | P–P | Racing Métro |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra
* Postponed due to unplayable pitch. Game rescheduled to 2 December 2009.
* 5 November 2009 19:30
| Brive | 19–14 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,167
* 5 November 2009 19:30
| Castres | 9–9 | Clermont |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,492
* 5 November 2009 19:30
| Montpellier | 19–0 | Montauban |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,094
* 5 November 2009 19:30
| Stade Français | 23–18 | Albi (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 7,220
* 5 November 2009 19:30
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 41–3 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 15,695
* 5 November 2009 21:00
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 25–9 | Toulon |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,539

### Round 13

* 20 November 2009 19:00
| Albi | 24–23 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,731
* 21 November 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 38–13 | Montauban |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 11,174
* 21 November 2009 14:30
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 20–23 | Montpellier |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 5,350
* 21 November 2009 14:30
| Racing Métro | 20–18 | Stade Français (1 BP) |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,756
* 21 November 2009 14:30
| Toulon | 19–10 | Brive |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 12,675
* 21 November 2009 16:05
| (1 BP) Castres | 30–10 | Toulouse |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,878
* 21 November 2009 20:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 13–16 | Biarritz |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,187

### Round 14

* 27 November 2009 19:45
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 18–22 | Toulon |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 8,787
* 27 November 2009 21:00
| (1 BP) Castres | 34–6 | Biarritz |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,635
* 27 November 2009 21:00
| Racing Métro | 9–6 | Albi (1 BP) |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 6,354
* 28 November 2009 14:30
| Montpellier | 3–25 | Brive (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,004
* 28 November 2009 14:30
| Toulouse | 17–12 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 17,390
* 28 November 2009 16:25
| Bayonne | P–P | Perpignan |
* Stade Jean Dauger
* Game postponed after Perpignan reported that seven of their traveling party (including both players and coaches) were diagnosed with H1N1 flu. Game to be rescheduled for 5 February 2010.
* 28 November 2009 19:00
| (1 BP) Clermont | 32–8 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 12,131

### Round 12 (rescheduled game)

* 2 December 2009 19:00
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 19–23 | Racing Métro |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,977
* Game rescheduled from 5 November 2009.

### Round 15

* 4 December 2009 20:45
| Montauban | 20–16 | Clermont (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 6,581
* 5 December 2009 14:30
| Bourgoin | 15–9 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 4,976
* 5 December 2009 14:30
| Perpignan | 29–3 | Montpellier |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,410
* 5 December 2009 16:25
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 34–10 | Bayonne |
* Stade de France Attendance: 69,850
* 6 December 2009 15:00
| Albi | 20–9 | Biarritz |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,617
* 6 December 2009 15:00
| Brive | 27–21 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 10,638
* 6 December 2009 17:05
| Racing Métro | 28–15 | Toulon |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 8,728

### Round 16

* 30 December 2009 18:45
| Montpellier | 25–23 | Stade Français (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 11,936
* 30 December 2009 19:00
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 19–23 | Racing Métro |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 14,138
* 30 December 2009 19:00
| Biarritz | 23–6 | Bourgoin |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,786
* 30 December 2009 19:00
| Castres | 30–7 | Montauban |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 8,052
* 30 December 2009 19:00
| (1 BP) Clermont | 52–10 | Brive |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,741
* 30 December 2009 19:00
| Toulon | 41–13 | Albi |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 13,502
* 30 December 2009 20:45
| Toulouse | 22–11 | Perpignan |
* Stadium Municipal Attendance: 33,414

### Round 17

* 3 January 2010 15:00
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 26–10 | Montpellier |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,461
* 3 January 2010 15:00
| (1 BP) Brive | 29–9 | Perpignan |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 8,622
* 3 January 2010 15:00
| (1 BP) Castres | 41–10 | Albi |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,485
* 3 January 2010 15:00
| Montauban | 6–6 | Stade Français |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,094
* 3 January 2010 15:00
| (1 BP) Racing Métro | 17–18 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 8,834
* 3 January 2010 17:00
| (1 BP) Clermont | 39–3 | Toulon |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,409
* 3 January 2010 20:45
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 13–15 | Toulouse |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 13,503

### Round 18

* 8 January 2010 20:45
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 31–12 | Racing Métro |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 12,425
* 9 January 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Albi | 15–17 | Brive |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 5,835
* 9 January 2010 14:30
| Bourgoin | P–P | Bayonne |
* Stade Pierre Rajon
* Postponed due to unplayable conditions. Game rescheduled to 27 February 2010.
* 9 January 2010 14:30
| Montpellier | 15–0 | Castres |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,633
* 9 January 2010 14:30
| Toulon | 18–7 | Montauban |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 11,518
* 9 January 2010 16:25
| Stade Français | 25–15 | Biarritz |
* Stade de France Attendance: 76,879
* 10 January 2010 20:45
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 15–16 | Clermont |
* Stadium Municipal Attendance: 24,000

### Round 19

* 27 January 2010 19:00
| Brive | 19–14 | Montauban (1 BP) |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 7,996
* 27 January 2010 19:00
| Racing Métro | 33–24 | Clermont |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 7,993
* 27 January 2010 19:00
| (1 BP) Toulon | 31–19 | Montpellier |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 11,169
* 28 January 2010 20:45
| Castres | 32–14 | Stade Français |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 8,040
* 28 January 2010 19:00
| Albi | 6–24 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 7,726
* 28 January 2010 19:00
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 49–20 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,535
* 28 January 2010 20:45
| Bayonne | 15–0 | Biarritz |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 15,407

### Round 14 (rescheduled game)

* 5 February 2010 20:45
| Bayonne | 13–30 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 13,449
* Game rescheduled from 28 November 2009.

### Round 20

* 19 February 2010 20:45
| Biarritz | 12–6 | Brive (1 BP) |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 8,013
* 20 February 2010 14:15
| Racing Métro | 24–24 | Castres |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,556
* 20 February 2010 14:30
| Bourgoin | 13–22 | Stade Français |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,886
* 20 February 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 45–18 | Albi |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 14,368
* 20 February 2010 14:30
| Montauban | 16–13 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,718
* 20 February 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 16–22 | Bayonne |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 10,390
* 20 February 2010 16:25
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 3–6 | Toulon |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,699

### Round 18 (rescheduled game)

* 27 February 2010 20:45
| Bourgoin | 12–6 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 8,000
* Game rescheduled from 9 January 2010.

### Round 21

* 5 March 2010 20:45
| Clermont | 22–17 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,815
* 6 March 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 46–13 | Albi |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 12,041
* 6 March 2010 14:30
| Bourgoin | 22–14 | Montauban |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 4,813
* 6 March 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Castres | 35–10 | Brive |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 7,944
* 6 March 2010 14:30
| Toulon | 21–20 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 13,630
* 6 March 2010 16:25
| Stade Français | 0–29 | Toulouse |
* Stade de France Attendance: 78,254
* 6 March 2010 20:45
| Montpellier | 22–19 | Racing Métro (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 12,032

### Round 22

* 12 March 2010 19:00
| Albi | 7–17 | Bourgoin |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 5,680
* 12 March 2010 19:00
| Bayonne | 22–13 | Clermont |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 13,357
* 12 March 2010 19:00
| Brive | 26–14 | Stade Français |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 9,677
* 12 March 2010 19:00
| Toulon | 19–6 | Castres |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 13,040
* 12 March 2010 19:00
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 34–3 | Montpellier |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 15,001
* 12 March 2010 20:45
| Perpignan | 19–14 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 13,252
* 13 March 2010 20:45
| Montauban | 45–31 | Racing Métro |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 8,014

### Round 23

* 26 March 2010 20:45
| (1 BP) Bourgoin | 9–13 | Toulon |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 7,970
* 27 March 2010 14:15
| Racing Métro | 25–18 | Brive (1 BP) |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 10,792
* 27 March 2010 14:30
| Albi | 12–26 | Montauban |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,569
* 27 March 2010 14:30
| Castres | 26–10 | Bayonne |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 8,216
* 27 March 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Clermont | 41–3 | Montpellier |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,740
* 27 March 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 44–23 | Stade Français |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 14,345
* 27 March 2010 16:25
| Biarritz | 26–10 | Toulouse |
* Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain Attendance: 21,948

### Round 24

* 2 April 2010 20:45
| Toulouse | 28–23 | Racing Métro (1 BP) |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,574
* 3 April 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 42–13 | Montauban |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 11,000
* 3 April 2010 14:30
| Brive | 25–15 | Bourgoin |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 9,360
* 3 April 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 62–15 | Albi |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 11,456
* 3 April 2010 14:30
| (1 BP) Toulon | 31–13 | Bayonne |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 13,805
* 3 April 2010 16:25
| Stade Français | 19–10 | Clermont |
* Stade de France Attendance: 72,877
* 3 April 2010 20:45
| (1 BP) Castres | 11–17 | Perpignan |
* Stade Pierre-Fabre Attendance: 9,943

### Round 25

* 16 April 2010 20:45
| Clermont | 25–19 | Castres (1 BP) |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 15,852
* 17 April 2010 14:30
| Albi | 38–24 | Stade Français |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi Attendance: 6,996
* 17 April 2010 14:30
| Bayonne | 33–25 | Brive |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 16,883
* 17 April 2010 14:30
| Montauban | 6–19 | Montpellier |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 7,500
* 17 April 2010 14:30
| Bourgoin | 15–13 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
* Stade Gerland, Lyon Attendance: 29,876
* 17 April 2010 16:25
| Toulon | 33–23 | Perpignan |
* Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 57,392
* 17 April 2010 20:45
| Racing Métro | 29–22 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
* Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 13,425

### Round 26

* 24 April 2010 16:25
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 19–26 | Clermont |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 11,017
* 24 April 2010 16:25
| (1 BP) Brive | 21–26 | Toulon |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 13,847
* 24 April 2010 16:25
| Montauban | 22–8 | Bayonne |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 9,198
* 24 April 2010 16:25
| Montpellier | 34–27 | Bourgoin (1 BP) |
* Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 13,346
* 24 April 2010 16:25
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 44–0 | Albi |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 14,256
* 24 April 2010 16:25
| (1 BP) Stade Français | 41 -17 | Racing Métro |
* Stade Sébastien Charléty Attendance: 19,508
* 24 April 2010 16:25
| Toulouse | 25–17 | Castres |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,732

## Playoffs

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Perpignan | 21 | | | |
| 4 | Toulouse | 35 | 4 | Toulouse | 13 | | | |
| 5 | Castres | 12 | | | | 1 | Perpignan | 6 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Clermont | 19 |
| | | | 2 | Toulon | 29 | | | |
| 3 | Clermont | 21 | 3 | Clermont (a.e.t.) | 35 | | | |
| 6 | Racing Métro | 17 | | | | | | |
All times are in Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).

### Quarter-finals

* 7 May 2010 21:00
| Clermont | 21–17 | Racing Métro |
| Pen: James (2/4) 3', 21' Parra (5/5) 48', 60', 64', 70', 75' | Report | Try: Cronjé 38' m Pen: Wisniewski (1/2) 41' Steyn (1/1) 46' Drop: Wisniewski 53' Steyn 62' |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand Attendance: 15,811 Referee: Pascal Gauzere
* 8 May 2010 16:30
| Toulouse | 35–12 | Castres |
| Try: Médard 2' c Clerc (2) 15' c, 64' m David 69' c Con: Élissalde (2/2) Fritz (1/2) Pen: Élissalde (3/4) 26', 52', 59' | Report | Pen: Teulet (4/4) 20', 31', 41', 55' |
* Stadium Municipal, Toulouse Attendance: 34,594 Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu

### Semi-finals

* 14 May 2010 21:00
| Perpignan | 21–13 | Toulouse |
| Pen: Porical (7/8) 9', 17', 22', 42', 51', 62', 78' | Report | Try: Bézy 7' c Con: Skrela (1/1) Pen: Skrela (2/2) 18', 26' |
* Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 32,204 Referee: Romain Poite
* 15 May 2010 16:30
| Toulon | 29–35 (a.e.t.) | Clermont |
| Try: Williams 73' c Cibray 96' c Con: Wilkinson (2/2) Pen: Wilkinson (4/6) 3', 32', 63', 77' Drop: Wilkinson (1/1) 14' | Report | Try: Zirakashvili 69' c Malzieu 93' c Con: Parra (1/1) James (1/1) Pen: Parra (4/5) 27', 47', 49', 58' James (1/1) 89' Drop: Floch (1/1) 6' James (1/2) 91' |
* Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 33,609 Referee: Jérôme Garces

### Final

* 29 May 2010 21:00
| Perpignan | 6–19 | Clermont |
| Pen: Porical (2/6) 21', 27' | Report | Try: Nalaga 17' c Con: Parra (1/1) Pen: Parra (3/6) 12', 29', 63' Drop: Floch (1/1) 69' |
* Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 79,262 Referee: Christophe Berdos
| FB | 15 | Jérôme Porical |
| RW | 14 | Christophe Manas |
| OC | 13 | David Marty |
| IC | 12 | Maxime Mermoz |
| LW | 11 | Adrien Planté |
| FH | 10 | Gavin Hume | 53' |
| SH | 9 | Nicolas Durand | 59' |
| N8 | 8 | Henry Tuilagi | 45' 52' 56' |
| OF | 7 | Jean-Pierre Pérez | 52' |
| BF | 6 | Ovidiu Tonița |
| RL | 5 | Robins Tchale-Watchou | 69' |
| LL | 4 | Olivier Olibeau |
| TP | 3 | Nicolas Mas (c) | 73' |
| HK | 2 | Guilhem Guirado | 54' |
| LP | 1 | Perry Freshwater | 63' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Marius Țincu | 54' |
| PR | 17 | Jérôme Schuster | 63' |
| LK | 18 | Guillaume Vilaceca | 56' |
| FL | 19 | Grégory Le Corvec | 45' |
| SH | 20 | David Mélé | 59' |
| CE | 21 | Jean-Philippe Grandclaude | 69' |
| FH | 22 | Nicolas Laharrague | 53' |
| PR | 23 | Kisi Pulu | 73' |
| Coach: ||
| Jacques Brunel ||
| FB | 15 | Anthony Floch |
| RW | 14 | Napolioni Nalaga |
| OC | 13 | Aurélien Rougerie (c) |
| IC | 12 | Marius Joubert |
| LW | 11 | Julien Malzieu |
| FH | 10 | Brock James |
| SH | 9 | Morgan Parra |
| N8 | 8 | Elvis Vermeulen |
| OF | 7 | Alexandre Lapandry | 59' |
| BF | 6 | Julien Bonnaire |
| RL | 5 | Thibaut Privat | 52' |
| LL | 4 | Jamie Cudmore |
| TP | 3 | Martín Scelzo | 43' 72' |
| HK | 2 | Mario Ledesma | 70' |
| LP | 1 | Thomas Domingo |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Benoît Cabello | 70' |
| PR | 17 | Vincent Debaty |
| LK | 18 | Julien Pierre | 52' |
| FL | 19 | Alexandre Audebert | 59' |
| SH | 20 | Kevin Senio |
| FH | 21 | Tasesa Lavea |
| CE | 22 | Gonzalo Canale |
| PR | 23 | Davit Zirakashvili | 43' 72' |
| Coach: ||
| Vern Cotter ||

## Leading scorers

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

## Awards
### Player of the Month

Players were selected by fan vote from a three-player shortlist on the official LNR site, and the results are posted roughly in the middle of the following month.
| Month | Player of the Month | Club |
| August | Joe van Niekerk | Toulon |
| September | Jonny Wilkinson | Toulon |
| October | Julien Candelon | Perpignan |
| November | Not awarded — Test window | Not awarded — Test window |

## Attendances

* Attendances do not include the semi-finals or final as these are at neutral venues.
| Club | Home Games | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
| Albi | 13 | 89,552 | 6,889 | 8,704 | 5,680 | 53% |
| Bayonne | 13 | 182,040 | 14,003 | 24,411 | 10,419 | 77% |
| Biarritz | 13 | 157,886 | 12,145 | 28,933 | 8,013 | 67% |
| Bourgoin | 13 | 113,849 | 8,758 | 29,876 | 4,813 | 68% |
| Brive | 13 | 123,756 | 9,520 | 13,847 | 7,996 | 63% |
| Castres | 13 | 106,443 | 8,188 | 9,943 | 6,953 | 71% |
| Clermont | 14 | 212,572 | 15,184 | 15,854 | 12,131 | 92% |
| Montauban | 13 | 100,109 | 7,701 | 10,622 | 6,332 | 61% |
| Montpellier | 13 | 147,086 | 11,314 | 14,261 | 9,004 | 72% |
| Perpignan | 13 | 170,644 | 13,126 | 14,345 | 11,535 | 79% |
| Racing Métro | 13 | 117,418 | 9,032 | 13,425 | 6,354 | 65% |
| Stade Français | 13 | 451,301 | 34,715 | 78,254 | 7,008 | 79% |
| Toulon | 13 | 254,690 | 19,592 | 57,392 | 11,169 | 92% |
| Toulouse | 14 | 299,643 | 21,403 | 34,594 | 15,001 | 89% |