Clermont Auvergne head coach Franck Azema expressed disappointment after the team’s elimination from both the Champions Cup and the Top 14 playoffs, stating, “I didn’t take much pleasure this season” in a recent interview. The club’s exit from European competition and failure to secure a Top 14 playoff spot marked a turbulent campaign for the French rugby powerhouse, which finished the regular season with a 10-6 record in the league.
Champions Cup Struggles and Top 14 Disappointment
Clermont’s European campaign ended in the Challenge Cup quarterfinals, where they lost 28-24 to Ulster in a tightly contested match at Parc des Sports de la Tour. The defeat followed a group stage that saw the team finish third in their pool, failing to advance to the knockout rounds of the Champions Cup. In the Top 14, Clermont secured the eighth and final playoff spot but were eliminated in the play-off quarterfinals by Toulon, who won 34-29 in a physical clash at Stade Municipal.
Azema acknowledged the team’s inconsistency, saying, “We had moments of brilliance, but overall, we didn’t perform at the level required to compete with the top teams.” The coach’s comments come as Clermont faces questions about its long-term strategy, with several key players nearing the end of their contracts.
Season Highlights and Low Points
The 2023
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