Top 14: Grenoble slump to third promotion-relegation play-off loss in a row against gamely Perpignan

The Catalans had been plotting their route to Top 14 survival via this match for several weeks — and had a morale-boosting victory over Toulouse on the final night of the regular season to lean on for belief

Grenoble have lost yet another promotion-relegation play-off

Cruelty, thy name is ‘Top 14 Access Match’. ProD2 side Grenoble have now hosted — and lost — the last three of these annual winner-takes-all promotion-relegation play-offs against the side that finished 13th in the Top 14, each one coming a week after they lost the ProD2 final.

They may have had home advantage on the day, but all the other positives were in favour of opponents Perpignan.