The 2025-26 Top 14 season promises to be even more intense, with players looking to confirm, others returning from injury, and several big moves on the transfer market. There is one player to watch at each club.
Aviron Bayonnais | Sireli Maqala The Serial Try-scorer
Third-best try scorer last season, Maqala remains one of the main attacking threats in the Top 14. He has also extended his contract with Bayonne until 2030, which shows how much the Basque project is being built around his ability to swing games.
Union Bordeaux-Bègles | Louis Bielle-Biarrey The Bordeaux Bullet
At just 22, Bielle-Biarrey has already put together two full seasons at the highest level. He comes off a campaign with a high try tally in all competitions, making him one of the most prolific finishers in the league. He’s obviously our Bordeaux player to watch this year.
Castres Olympique | Tom Staniforth The Tackle Machine
The Australian returns after a season wiped out by injury and will once again take on a central role in the Castres pack. Before getting sidelined, he had twice finished among the top tacklers in the Top 14, underlining both his work rate and defensive importance.
ASM Clermont | Baptiste Jauneau The Yellow Army Maestro
At 21, Jauneau is already one of the leaders of the Yellow Army and recently extended his contract with Clermont. A future captain in the making, he embodies the new Clermont generation and injects tempo into a club in the middle of a rebuild. Moreover he has been recently selected with the French Team.
Stade Rochelais | Nolann Le Garrec The Missing Piece
A headline signing this summer, Le Garrec arrives from Paris to become La Rochelle’s new on-field general after Tawera Kerr-Barlow’s departure. As a France international, he will quickly be expected to run one of the most ambitious sides in Europe. Is this finally his breakout season? That’s what we’re hoping for him.
LOU Rugby | Mickaël Guillard The Lyon Locomotive
Guillard has gone from surprise package to key figure at Lyon while also breaking into the French national team. His power, mobility and work rate with ball in hand make him a focal point of the LOU pack for the 2025-26 season
US Montauban | Jérôme Bosviel The Pro D2 Sniper
A true Pro D2 legend, Bosviel finally discovers the Top 14 at 35. As the all-time leading points scorer in France’s second division, he will be the strategist tasked with steering the promoted side toward survival thanks to his deadly goal-kicking.
Montpellier HR | Maël Moustin The Montpellier Meteor
Trained at Bordeaux but revealed at Montpellier, Moustin is coming off a season with 15 matches and 6 tries, capped by a France call-up and a contract extension. An explosive winger, he is clearly one of the recent breakout players and can reshape Montpellier’s attacking identity.
Stade Français Paris | Sekou Macalou The Paris Swiss Army Knife
At the club since 2015, Macalou has been through it all with Stade Français and remains one of the most spectacular players in the Top 14. His versatility, being able to play both in the back row and on the wing, makes him a unique weapon and a key factor in Paris’ push for the playoffs. This despite the bad season of Stade Français last year.
Section Paloise | Théo Attissogbe
At just 20 years old, Attissogbe is already regarded as one of the leaders in the Pau squad. His maturity in game management and his pace make him a modern fullback, able to counterattack from anywhere and change the course of a match.
USA Perpignan | Jordan Petaia The Redemption
A major summer signing, Australian international Jordan Petaia joins Perpignan with strong Test-level experience and the ability to play both centre and wing. His power in contact and knack for breaking tackles make him a natural candidate to become USAP’s attacking leader and to energise a backline in search of consistency. After a long season injured in NFL Petaia needs to get back to his best if he wants to be part of the World Cup in his home country.
It is also worth keeping an eye on Hugo Reus, newly arrived from Montpellier to bolster the Catalan half-back options. A fly-half with high potential and a strong tactical kicking game, he could quickly establish himself as the on-field general if the coaches put their trust in him.
Racing 92 | Léo Carbonneau / Ugo Seunes The Twins Halfs
At Racing 92, the 9–10 axis will be one of the most closely watched in the league, with a young duo to monitor: Léo Carbonneau at scrum-half and Ugo Seunes at fly-half. Carbonneau, signed from Brive, brings slick skills, sharp decision-making around the rucks and an already mature territorial kicking game.
Ugo Seunes, operating at fly-half, offers the profile of a playmaker capable of steering the Parisian attack, balancing pressure kicks with bold attacking calls with ball in hand. Together, they could form a long-term half-back partnership, and their chemistry will be one of the key storylines to follow in Racing’s 2025-26 season.
RC Toulon | David Ribbans The Mayol Mountain
Signed in 2023, the South African-born, England international lock has quickly become a fan favourite at Mayol. With his imposing frame, he fits perfectly into Toulon’s tradition of dominant “big men” and rules both the line-out and close-contact battles.
Stade Toulousain – Kalvin Gourgues The rising starlet
At Toulouse, Kelvin Gourghes is a centre to keep a close eye on, representing the new generation emerging from one of the most competitive environments in Europe. Strong on the carry, well-positioned in defence and capable of hitting the right lines, he can rapidly become a key piece in Toulouse’s attacking structure.
His game time is likely to increase, especially during international windows. How he handles fierce competition and the club’s high standards will provide a good indication of his medium‑term ceiling.
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