Chris Masoe turned from hero to villain at Stade Felix Mayol as his late try earned Racing 92 a 27-22 victory at the home of the triple European Cup winners RC Toulon on the opening weekend of the Top 14 season.

Former All Blacks back row man Masoe joined the Parisian outfit from Toulon in the summer after helping his former club win a hat-trick of European titles. His 66^th minute try, converted by Maxime Machenaud, was enough to earn a big away win for Racing.

Machenaud scored 17 points, while new Toulon scrum half Jonathan Pelisse was responsible for all his side’s points on his debut. Toulon were missing 19 players on World Cup duty.

ASM Clermont Auvergne, last season’s Champions Cup runners-up, were the only other away winners on the opening weekend of the Top 14 as they crushed La Rochelle 44-6. The visitors ran in five tries and outside half Camille Lopez scored 19 points.

Newly crowned French champions, Stade Francais Paris, who will be returning to the top table of European action this season after a five-year gap, kicked off their campaign with a 34-18 home win over last season’s PROD2 winners, Pau. Jules Plisson kicked 14 points to add to four tries for the champions.

Uga Mola’s reign as coach of Toulouse got off to a winning start as his side won 24-7 against Brive. The home side outscored their rivals by three tries to one, while Montpellier ran in five in their 35-19 win over Oyonnax, and Grenoble scored six in a 38-23 triumph over Agen.

Top 14 Round 1 Results

Friday
RC Toulon 22, Racing 92 27

Saturday
La Rochelle 6, ASM Clermont Auvergne 44
Begles-Bordeaux 19, Castres Olympique 16
Toulouse 24, Brive 7
Montpellier 35, Oyonnax 19
Grenoble 38, Agen 23

Sunday
Stade Francais Paris 34, Pau 18