Montpellier defeated Pau 26-18 in the 25th round of Top 14 rugby on Saturday, May 30, 2026, to move back into second place in the standings and strengthen its claim for direct qualification to the semifinal stage. The match was played in a festive atmosphere as Montpellier marked the 40th anniversary of the club and celebrated its recent Challenge Cup triumph in front of its home supporters.
The first half was tightly contested, with both sides controlling long periods of possession but struggling to break down the opposing defense. The score remained level for much of the opening period until Montpellier was reduced to 14 men when Billy Vunipola was shown a yellow card for an illegal tackle on Guram Papidze. Pau took advantage through a penalty from Axel Desperes, but Montpellier responded quickly. Léo Coly equalized with a penalty after Pau conceded pressure in defense, then added another three points before halftime to give the hosts a 9-6 lead at the break.
Pau came out strongly after the restart and struck first in the second half. Grégoire Arfeuil finished a well-worked attacking move on the left wing to score the visitors’ only try, putting Section Paloise ahead by one point despite the missed conversion. Montpellier answered almost immediately, however, when Coly kicked his third penalty of the evening after a scrum infringement by Pau.
As both teams turned to their benches, Montpellier began to gain the upper hand. Gabriel Ngandebe scored the home side’s first try after being set up by Coly, who also converted the effort. During that sequence, Pau hooker Julian Montoya was sent to the sin bin, though Pau briefly stayed in touch with a penalty from Joe Simmonds. The visitors remained within reach at 17-12 heading into the final quarter.
Montpellier’s power in the forwards then proved decisive. Another Coly penalty pushed the gap beyond one converted try, forcing Pau into a desperate chase. Stuart Hogg, making his return after four months out, then finished a late move to extend the lead and effectively seal the result. Pau continued to fight until the final whistle and scored a last-gasp try through Loïc Credoz after a move started by Arfeuil, with Simmonds converting after the 80-minute mark, but the effort only reduced the margin.
The victory sends Montpellier back above Stade Français into second place, while Pau’s defeat leaves its hopes of direct qualification for the semifinals over. The evening ended with further celebration for Montpellier, as the players shared the moment with fans after a landmark week for the club.
