Babes Against the Machine: La Rochelle face Toulouse in Top 14 clash

A new stadium-capacity 16,689 fans will see O’Gara’s La Rochelle, sixth in the Top 14 heading into their first match of 2025, take on New Year table-toppers

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara has every reason to be confident of a home win against Toulouse as they named a young side. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Nine years ago, almost to the day, La Rochelle beat Top 14 rivals Castres 25-21 at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

That meeting, on January 2, 2016, wasn’t particularly important in the grand scheme of the season. La Rochelle went on to finish ninth. The visitors that day reached the play-offs but lost in the barrage round to Montpellier.