After a scintillating weekend of European action - Toulouse defeating La Rochelle 22-17 to lift their record-breaking fifth European crown and Montpellier overcoming Leicester Tigers 18-17 in a thrilling contest to decide the Challenge Cup winner - attention turned to the close of the domestic campaign in France.

Toulouse ensured they remained top of the domestic league table with one game remaining as they defeated ASM Clermont Auvergne 36-27 at Stade Ernest Wallon.

EPCR European Player of the Year Antonie Dupont was amongst the try scorers as Toulouse went toe-to-toe with three-time Heineken Champions Cup runners-up Clermont, who were within three points of their counterparts until the final ten minutes.

Beaten Heineken Champions Cup finalists La Rochelle remain in close pursuit at the summit of the TOP 14 table – the sides have the same number of points with Toulouse shading the bonus points column.

They outpowered and out-finessed Pau 51-27, with Gregory Alldritt – another of the EPOTY nominees – crossing the whitewash twice as La Rochelle amassed a breathtaking seven tries in victory.

Meanwhile, Challenge Cup winners Montpellier sneaked past Bayonne in a battle for mid-table supremacy, 23-19 the final score.

Tries apiece for blindside flanker Alexandre Becognee and inside centre Jan Serfontein set the platform for victory in the early stages of the contest with Bayonne unable to overcome the early deficit.

Heineken Champions Cup victors Toulouse and European Rugby Challenge Cup winners Montpellier did not suffer a European hangover as both secured victories in the latest round of TOP 14 action.