French rugby: Bayonnais suffer heavy defeat while Agen secures comeback win

In French rugby action, Aviron Bayonnais suffered a heavy defeat against Section Paloise, conceding 70 points and ten tries. Rugby director Laurent Travers criticized the team's defensive lapses, particularly during periods of numerical inferiority, describing the ease with which opponents breached their line as being like ‘saloon doors’. Despite the scoreline, Travers noted the positive offensive response in the second half, where the team managed to score 28 points.

Meanwhile, Agen secured a significant victory against Grenoble at the Stade des Alpes. Following a previous loss to Brive, manager Mauricio Reggiardo implemented fourteen changes to the starting lineup, including seven players making their Pro D2 debuts. Coach Guillaume Jan stated the rotation was intended to build group momentum and trust rather than signaling doubt in the squad. Player Damien Bozic emphasized the team's homogeneity and their ability to perform despite the recent roster reshuffle.