The final is then played on neutral ground, and the winner earned the second ticket to the next Top 14.

It trialled a new system in 2007–08 explicitly designed to prevent a losing team from earning more than one bonus point in a match,[1] a system that also made it impossible for either team to earn a bonus point in a drawn match.

[2] France's bonus point system operates as follows:[2] Normally, the teams that finish in 15th and 16th places in the table are relegated to Fédérale 1 at the end of the season.

However, 7th placed Carcassonne were under threat of demotion due to "financial reasons".

The semi–finals follow a 2 v 5, 3 v 4 system - with the higher ranked team playing at home.