Perpignan rubber-stamped their place in next season’s Top 14 with a dominant 33 – 19 victory over Grenoble.
Unique in its format, the Top 14 and the second division Pro D2 run a promotion and relegation series at the end of each regular season.
Automatically relegating the last-place team in the Top 14 whilst guaranteeing promotion for the winners of the Pro D2, the leagues ensure there will always be a fresh face each season.
In addition to the automatic promotion, there is the potential that two sides can be promoted as the second-place Pro D2 side face-off with the 13th-place Top 14 side.
This fixture clearly carries with it significant ramifications for the two sides involved, not least financial incentives.
From a player's perspective, the opportunity to play in the top league is a major carrot to chase, given the higher profile of the league globally.
Thus, putting in big performances in the play-off game is a must for any aspiring young star.
One such player who showed his true potential in this past weekend’s clash was Perpignan star Posolo Tuilagi.
Son of the iconic Henry and nephew to England powerhouse Manu, the 6’4” and 145kg 18-year-old is a force to be reckoned with.
Displaying otherworldly strength, Tuilagi opened Perpignan’s account with a try that very few players in the world could pull off.
Claiming the ball from the line-out, Tuilagi peeled off around the edge before battering through four Grenoble defenders.
Making the play even more impressive was the position from which he received the ball seven meters out from the line with the full Grenoble pack in front of him.
Whilst it is still early days for the secondrow, there is an air of inevitability that he will be a global star just like the rest of his rugby-playing family.
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