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French club rugby has a proud history, and the best of the best in France play in the Top 14 league. The first champions were declared in 1892, although back then it was a one-off final (so technically the Top 2) between Stade Francais and Racing Club de France. The final score was 4-3 to Racing Club, so you didn't miss much by not attending. The match was officiated by none other than Pierre de Coubertin, who is now better known as the father of the modern Olympic Games.
These days supporters cannot be kept away from Top 14 matches, and as a consequence Top 14 betting is also brisk. In 2007 a crowd of 79,741 packed in to watch Stade Francais (still going strong) against hated rivals Toulouse. The attendance record is the most for a regular season league game in any sport in the country, beating football records by more than 20,000 spectators.
The critics of the Top 14 league feel that there are too many club teams in this premier division and that it should be reduced to 12 in order to reduce the sheer number of games that need to be played in a season. Some French administrators believe that the Top 14 club rugby league is more important than anything else, including playing for the national team, and are averse to any changes.
Currently there are a whopping 26 games for each team in the league, so plenty of opportunities to bet Top 14 games. The top six teams in the league earn a berth in the Heineken Cup, which features the best European rugby clubs.
As of 2010 Clermont were the most recent champions, but the club with the most Top 14 titles remains Stade Toulousain who have won it all a record 17 times.
Top 14 odds are featured by all top online bookmakers on a weekly basis between August and June, which is when league games take place.
