The Top 14 is the top level of club rugby union in France and the standard is high, with French sides regularly winning the European Rugby Champions Cup (as it is now called). Indeed, French sides have made the final of the continental showpiece on 19 occasions, compared to 21 for England, Ireland and Wales combined. That shows just how strong the Top 14 is and for those that like the rugby fast with a great blend of skill and power, the Top 14 is perfect, both for watching and betting on.
The current regular season, for the 2015-16 campaign, is drawing to a close and with the play-offs not too far away, now is a perfect time to look at the Top 14 outright winner betting. Our live odds comparison brings you the biggest and best odds for both the outright winner market and also the individual games of Top 14, both in the regular season and the impending play-offs. Odds comparison will save you time AND bring you the best odds, so if you intend to bet on the Top 14, rugby generally or indeed any of the many sports and leagues we provide odds for, be sure to compare odds here before you bet.
When it comes to the Top 14, it looks like Franck Azéma's Clermont should top the table after the 26 games of the regular season (there are 14 clubs who play each other home and away). After 20 games they have a six point lead over Montpellier and Racing, with Toulon a further two points back and then a decent gap back to Bordeaux and Toulouse.
Those unfamiliar with the exact format of the Top 14 and who are unaccustomed to betting on it may be surprised to see that it's actually Toulon who are the outright winner favourites, with Clermont Auvergne second favourites.
That pair are priced at odds of 2/1 (Ladbrokes) and 5/2 (BetVictor) respectively and although Toulon actually trail the second favourites by a significant - though not insurmountable - eight points, there are a number of reasons why the bookies are predicting it will be they and not Clermont that end as the outright winners.
Toulon are a formidable unit and boast not only the best points difference in the Top 14 but they have also accumulated the most bonus points. They have bags and bags of experience and won the Top 14 crown in 2014, ending a 22-year championship drought. Things will be a little trickier for them if they are unable to make the top two at the end of the regular season but even so, they would still back themselves if they were forced to play in the quarters.
Behind the two that head the outright winner betting come Racing at 3/1 with many firms, although as our odds comparison shows, 13/4 with Unibet. The only other realistic contender is Montpellier at 5/1 with Coral, with the field 22/1 bar.
On balance we have to side with the experience and class of RC Toulon. They have been crowned champions of Europe for the past three years in a row and that is testament to their ability to win the big games. Any of the other three sides that head the outright market could, perhaps, cause an upset but we predict it will be Bernard Laporte's men who are crowned Top 14 champions later in the year and odds of 2/1 look more than fair given their pedigree in what is, effectively, a four-horse race.