La Rochelle thrash Bayonne with festival of attacking rugby

Josh Brennan, son of former Ireland international Trevor Brennan, was one of six different try-scorers in a 41-19 win for Toulouse

Jack Nowell and Nathan Bollengier both score two tries for La Rochelle in their victory over Bayonne. Pic: XAVIER LEOTY / AFP via Getty Images)

Veteran winger Jack Nowell and his youthful counterpart on the other side of the pitch Nathan Bollengier each scored twice as La Rochelle handed manager Ronan O’Gara and their fans an early seven-try Christmas present by beating an abject Bayonne 49-17.

In their last outing at Stade Marcel Deflandre of 2025, La Rochelle ended a three-match Top 14 losing streak in emphatic style, climbing provisionally into the top six for the holidays. Bollengier and Nowell touched down in each half, while Levani Botia — who came on as a first-minute replacement for the unfortunate Matthias Haddad — Reda Wardi and Nika Sutidze also crossed, as they put on a festival of attacking rugby, leading 30-3 at half-time.