Bordeaux-Bègles miss Top 14 playoffs after Clermont defeat
Union Bordeaux‑Bègles (UBB), fresh double Champions Cup winners, were eliminated from the Top 14 race on the final day of the 2025‑26 season. Playing at home in Bordeaux on 6 June 2026, the Girondins lost 31‑34 to ASM Clermont Auvergne, finishing eighth with 70 points, one spot below the top‑six playoff threshold. It is the first time since 2019 that the club has missed the postseason.
The defeat followed a season hampered by injuries and a congested calendar. UBB president Laurent Marti said the side “lacks depth to compete on all fronts,” while coach Yannick Bru described the second half as “catastrophic.” Both clubs ended the season without qualifying for the playoffs, Clermont finishing seventh.
The loss sparked internal debate about whether a French club can realistically aim for both European glory and the domestic title, with UBB’s management indicating a strategic review for future seasons.