The final is then played on neutral ground, and the winner earns 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,[5] a system that also made it impossible for either team to earn a bonus point in a drawn match.

[6] France's bonus point system operates as follows:[7] Previously, the teams that finish in 15th and 16th places in the table are relegated to Fédérale 1 at the end of the season.

In certain circumstances, "financial reasons" may cause a higher-placed team to be demoted instead, or prevent one of the two finalists in Fédérale 1 from promotion.

Following the 2014–15 season, 15th-place Dax was spared relegation after Fédérale 1 runner-up Lille was denied promotion due to excessive debt[8] and failed in an appeal of the decision.