Find out who made the European Rugby XV as we pick our final Team of the Week for the 2024-25 season, using the data-powered Opta Index.
With the TOP 14 reaching the conclusion of its regular season at the weekend, the three major European domestic competitions have now all seen their final full set of fixtures for 2024-25 take place.
Unsurprisingly, with more games played in the TOP 14 than in any other league at the weekend, over half of our team this week is made up of France-based players.
Union Bordeaux-Begles have the highest representation in our lineup after a resounding win against Vannes in which their international stars shone brightly.
Opta’s Star Player of the Week
Matthieu Jalibert was at his creative best in Bordeaux-Begles’ win against Vannes, registering the most line-break assists of any player across the TOP 14, Premiership or URC at the weekend (4).
Not only did he put his teammates through gaps in the defensive line, but he also helped get them across the try line, registering an incredible five try assists.
What is even more remarkable is that up until the last two rounds, no player had recorded as many as five assists in a TOP 14 game (since Opta have recorded this data) and now it has been done twice in two weeks, with last weekend’s star player Baptiste Jauneau managing it in Matchday 25.
5 – Matthieu Jalibert assisted five tries for @UBBrugby against Vannes, just one week after Baptiste Jauneau assisted five for Clermont against Stade Français – previously no player had assisted as many in a @top14rugby match since Opta have recorded this data. Buses. t.co/arBsEalBmL
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) June 9, 2025Jalibert’s five assists included three with the boot, making him the first player to manage that feat in a European club competition in 2024-25, with Billy Burns the last man to achieve it, doing so for Ulster against Leinster on New Year’s Day in 2024.
The number 10 was evasive when he decided to run with the ball too. He was one of seven players to make a weekend-high three line breaks and the only half-back to make more than one.
The Best of the Rest
Two men who benefitted from Jalibert’s heroics were Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud. All three of Jalibert’s kicked assists ended up in the hands of one of the two in-form wingers with Penaud having his teammate to thank for both of his tries against Vannes.
Penaud also assisted one himself and there are no prizes for guessing who was on the end of that decisive pass, as Bielle-Biarrey notched up his 33rd try of the season for club and country, the most of any European-based player in 2024-25 and eight more than second-placed Penaud (25).
Like Jalibert, the wing duo also registered a joint-high three line breaks, a reminder that they know how to ignite attacking moves and not just finish them – if that was ever needed.
Like the two flying French wingers, Dan Sheehan is another man who knows his way to the try line. The top try-scoring forward in Men’s Six Nations history grabbed a brace for Leinster as they booked a spot in the URC final. Teammate Jamie Osborne also found his way over the try line on a couple of occasions to ensure he took the No. 13 jersey in our Team of the Week.
Pita Gus Sowakula made 18 carries for Clermont Auvergne against Montpellier, a tally only two players across the big three European leagues could better. However it was his offloading which really caught the attention at the weekend.
The No. 8 made 10 offloads in total, the most by any player in a TOP 14, Premiership or URC game since Opta have recorded this data. In fact, taking into account the Champions and Challenge Cup, it’s a joint record, tied with with Leone Nakarawa; he’s made 10 in a game twice and is the only other player to hit double figures.
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Opta’s European Rugby Team of the Week: 6-7 June Opta Analyst.
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