Overview

• Toulouse travel to Clermont on Sunday to begin their bid for a fourth consecutive French title.
• Center Paul Costes says Toulouse are "the hunted" after setting a standard that rivals aim to meet.
• Bordeaux-Bègles are viewed as the chief challengers, opening against La Rochelle on Saturday with stars Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, who says he is focused on the season opener.
• Promoted Montauban return to the top flight for the first time since 2010 with the league’s smallest budget at €14 million, and captain Fred Quercy cites squad cohesion as a survival asset.
• France’s Top 14 continues to pair ambitious spending by wealthy owners with strict financial oversight, underpinned by a Canal+ TV deal running to 2032 that also supports the second tier.