The 19 British and Irish players in the Top 14 play-offs

The deciding few weeks of the season is upon us, as the Top 14 is fast approaching the championship play-offs!

Will a new champion arise in the Top 14, displacing Toulouse on the throne? Or will Ugo Mola’s brigade clinch the Bouclier de Brennus for a 25th time?

As we can’t see the future to provide you with answers to those questions, let us tell you what British and Irish players will be involved in the Top 14 play-offs!

Toulouse
Would Toulouse have won the 2025 Top 14 final without that heroic effort from Jack Willis? The English flanker delivered what was one of the most spectacular performances in a Top 14 final, jackaling the ball left, right and centre, scoring tries and knocking down tacklers at will.

The loose forward has been in exceptional form, having successfully completed 87 per cent of his tackles, 13 jackals, six line breaks and four tries in 17 games. The former Wasps loose forward is as determined as the Terminator, who doesn’t and won’t give up until he pushes Toulouse over the line.

Fixture

Top 14

Pau

12:05

13 Jun 26

Racing 92

All Stats and Data

Willis will be involved in Toulouse’s attempt to clinch a fourth consecutive Bouclier de Brennus, with Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn also expected to play an important role in the campaign.

The Scotsman is enjoying his best season since arriving in France, having played 18 regular-season games, scoring one try and 40 points from the tee.

Pau
Can Pau do the ‘impossible’ and win the Top 14 for the first time in 62 years? After what has already been a spectacular last season, Pau were in the fight to claim a home semi-final, with Joe Simmonds being crucial for the club’s title aspirations.

Although the fly-half was out between November and February due to an injury, he has made a successful return to form in the last few weeks, adding 40 points from the tee in the last two games.

Alongside the former Exeter Chiefs player are Gloucester-bound Dan Robson and Carwyn Tuipulotu, who have also contributed to Pau’s excellent season in the Top 14.

Regarding Robson, Pau’s fate will be partially in the hands of the scrum-half; when he’s at his best, he can untangle any game, no matter how difficult.

Montpellier
The most British and Irish team of the sides involved in the Top 14 play-offs, Montpellier are potentially this season’s dark horse, as they have quietly taken down UBB twice in the last six months, with Scotland’s Ali Price playing a critical role in it.

Price has enjoyed a stellar first season abroad, having been an active member of the Montpellier squad, scoring two tries and four assists in 17 games. The Scotsman has been a cerebral operator for the Les Cistes, with his deep knowledge of the game adding an extra layer of threat to Joan Caudullo’s side.

Alongside the scrum-half, Ireland’s Ken Martin, Wales’ Adam Beard, England’s Lennox Anyanwu and Scotland’s Stuart Hogg are the other Home Nations players who have played a part in Montpellier’s promising campaign.

Montpellier’s stellar season has come under he leadership of former England No.8 Billy Vunipola, whose form has been so remarkable that it has sparked calls for a return to the national team.

Stade Français
It will be a different Stade Français when Joe Marchant leaves this summer, but the Englishman still has time to push the Pink Army towards the most coveted piece of silverware in French rugby.

The 29-year-old has only missed a few rounds of this year’s Top 14, highlighting his value to Paul Gustard’s team that goes far beyond just scoring tries or beating defenders at every corner.

Marchant’s versatility and ability to make the best of every opportunity allow Stade Français to have a wider range of solutions when going on the attack.

In addition to him, Stade Français have another Englishman on their roster, namely utility back Zack Henry. The former Leicester Tigers fly-half has spent most of the season on the sidelines, but there might be a chance for him to get a few more minutes before the play-offs start.

Racing 92
The 23-cap English international, Jonny Hill, has been in blazing hot form this season for Racing 92, as the lock has been called to action 24 times, helping Racing 92 qualify for the quarter-finals.

Hill adds physicality and aggression to the Ciel et Blanc’s set-piece, always looking for a way to spoil the opposition’s lineout, driving maul or scrum. However, Hill’s antics around the breakdown and ruck have been as crucial as his set-piece expertise, applying the right pressure on the opposition to force a mistake.

Former Sale Sharks player Sam James has also been looking good for the Parisian side, having earned 17 starts throughout the season, scoring two tries and making three assists to date.

Wales’ Will Rowlands hasn’t been as active as his two English team-mates, featuring only in eight games.

La Rochelle
They had been written off a few months ago, but Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle pulled off an amazing comeback, bagging six wins in the last six games. While most didn’t believe that ROG could guide Les Maritimes back to more promising tides, the Irish coach was capable of turning the corner with England’s Jack Nowell as one of his main stars.

The former Exeter Chiefs speedster has scored seven tries in 17 games, adding several exciting layers to La Rochelle’s attacking strategy. Stats-wise, Nowell has completed 20 line breaks, 30 defenders beaten, and 1363 carrying metres, remarkable numbers for the winger.

Irish utility forward Ultan Dillane is the second and final Home Nations player representing the yellow-and-black jersey. Although he has been on the sidelines with injury since December, he enjoyed significant game time during the opening quarter of the season.