Pau surge to Top 14 summit as Attissogbe scores double

Attissogbe crossed the line twice as Pau rolled over Bayonne to clinch a top‑four finish in the French Top 14. The win, Pau’s second of the season, followed a dominant display at Montpellier the previous weekend.

Match highlights and early drama

Bayonne managed four tries, all converted by South Africa fly‑half Robert du Preez, but a sluggish first half left them trailing. The game turned chaotic when full‑back Yohan Orabe was sent off after just four minutes for a high tackle on Attissogbe, leaving the winger with stitches under his eye.

"It shows what the team is capable of, scoring easily and quickly," said head coach Sébastien Piqueronies.

Pau surged to a 35‑7 lead at the break, with Attissogbe’s first try underscoring his form after missing national selection this year. The momentum continued after the interval as he added a second try, contributing to a total of ten tries for the three‑time French champions.

Other results and what lies ahead

Across the league, Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo also recorded a double as Lyon thumped Racing 92 48‑31, propelling the club to second place. In a tight Mediterranean clash, ex‑England winger Jack Nowell opened his season account for La Rochelle with a try that secured a 21‑20 win over Toulon. The match also saw 18‑year‑old scrum‑half Valentin Bouju make his senior debut, playing the full ninety minutes under coach Ronan O'Gara.

Looking forward, title‑holders Toulouse will host two‑time Champions Cup winners Bordeaux‑Begles in a repeat of the 2024 and 2025 French finals, a fixture that could reshape the championship narrative.

With Pau now perched at the summit, the next few weeks will test whether the side can sustain its attacking flair and fend off challenges from the league’s established giants.