competitiveness, attractive environment… How the Top 14 established itself as the best championship in the world

The French championship saw the arrival of many renowned players this season. A phenomenon which symbolizes the attractiveness of the championship, often considered the best in the world.

That evening, in the Ile-de-France Arena, it was he who attracted all eyes. For his first in the Racing 92 jersey, on November 26, Siya Kolisi was the main attraction of his new club’s match against La Rochelle. Crowned with his second world champion title acquired a few weeks ago, the South African captain is one of the new darlings of the Top 14.

With Siya Kolisi at Racing 92, there is also the great hope Henry Arundell, the All Black Sam Whitelock in Pau, and even the Welsh legend George North at Provence Rugby, in Pro D2… For several years, the French championship has attracted the most big names in international rugby, and the post-World Cup at home is no exception. But how did the Top 14 assert itself, and does it continue to assert itself, as the best league in the world?

“The talent league”

The Top 14 first became a reference thanks to the level on the field. “It’s extremely complicated to win the championship, to maintain since almost all teams can go down. There is no easy match. The average level has really increased”, analyzes Lionel Maltese, specialized in sports management. Over the last ten seasons, seven different clubs have sought the title and only one has managed to keep it for two years in a row (Toulouse 2019-2021). “Having made five finals and only won one, I can tell you that it’s very hard.”agrees Mourad Boudjellal, former president of RC Toulon (2006-2020), who saw the trophy escape his Toulonnais in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017.

Sportingly, the Top 14 is a real “talent league” at all levels, believes Lionel Maltese. “French training is very recognized in rugby. The Top 14 teams bring young people into play, which reinforces competitiveness. There is a real dynamic in terms of sporting quality, the quality of training, and the quality of the staff too”he lists. This competitiveness attracts players and fuels a virtuous circle that pulls all of French rugby to the top. “It allowed a lot of French players to flourish. They learned rigor alongside foreign players, and all that kind of thing”Mourad Boudjellal deepens.

On the European scene, you have to go back to the 2020 season not to see the name of a French club on the list of winners of one of the two European cups, the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. These last three seasons have been marked by three doubles (Toulouse and Montpellier in 2021, La Rochelle and Lyon in 2022, La Rochelle and Toulon in 2023). Despite a delicate start to the 2023-2024 campaign (10 victories in 28 matches), French clubs remain benchmarks.

A solid and attractive structure

But the Top 14 has also established itself as an attractive championship thanks to a global context. That of a particular organization and structure, first of all, with the financing of numerous clubs by private patrons who do not seek profitability. “They keep rugby alive at a super-powerful economic level compared to the local economy or the natural economy”deciphers Lionel Maltese. The French championship also benefited from an increase in TV rights, which contributes to this good economic health. “There are more than 100 million euros in TV rights, so it affects salaries and the club economy”explains Mourad Boudjellal, who himself worked for better visibility and attractiveness when he arrived in Toulon in 2006, when the club was in Pro D2.

Enough to make the Top 14 financially interesting for players. “Today, it is the championship that pays the best, after Japan”says Mourad Boudjellal. “Due to the salary cap, salaries are much less attractive than in the past, but they are correct, with a relatively protective system for the players”specifies Pascal Forni, player agent. Economically, the Top 14 also enjoys a certain financial strength, where, for example, the English Premiership has been in difficulty since the Covid crisis, with the relegation of three clubs in one year for economic reasons. “QWhen we look for what could compete with the Top 14 in terms of attractiveness of salaries or investments, we will go to the southern hemisphere which remains made up of much less powerful markets.develops Lionel Maltese.

The French championship is finally based on an environment that pleases. “Foreigners like to live in France, raise children in France, have families in France. It’s a country where life is good, there is territorial attractiveness […] I would say it’s more attractive than the UK, for example.”, explains the sports management specialist. Foreigners try their luck in France quite to draw a line under the national team, because certain selections only call on players playing on their soil. This is particularly the case of Henry Arundell, whose arrival at Racing 92 made him ineligible for England, at only 21 years old. This is also the case for Leicester Fainga’anuku, who gave up the All Blacks to join Toulon for the good eyes of the Top 14.