A seven-try bonus-point win could not save Bayonne from Top 14 relegation on a day that Toulon emphatically claimed top spot.

Bayonne defeated La Rochelle 45-12 at Stade Jean Dauger but it was not enough for the Basque country side, who will join Biarritz and Lyon in the ProD2 next season. The home side finished level on 52 points with Castres, but a losing bonus point for Grenoble at Lyon ensured the home side went down.

Guillaume Rouet Piffard, Charles Ollivon, Jean Monribot, Lucas Pointud, Joe Rokocoko, Christophe Loustalot and Marvin O'Connor all crossed the whitewash for Bayonne while Julien Berger and Alofa Alofa scored for the visitors.

Brive completed the great escape with a brilliant 27-0 victory over Stade Francais at Stade Amedee Domenech, thanks to tries from Sisa Koyamaibole, Arnaud Mignardi, Malakai Bakaniceva Radikedike and Riaan Swanepoel. Despite the defeat, Stade Francais will host Racing Metro in their play-off on Friday.

Toulon finished top after an emphatic 46-17 victory at home to Oyonnax. Drew Mitchell weighed in with two tries, while Sébastian Tillous-Borde, Chris Masoe, Bryan Habana and Alexandre Menini also crossed over. Jody Jenneker and Hemani Paea scored late for Oyonnax.

Grenoble narrowly avoided the drop despite a 29-24 loss at Lyon, thanks to a losing bonus point. Charl Mcleod and Rory Grice touched down for the visitors while Romain Loursac and Deon Fourie crossed for the hosts during an action-packed first half, but Lyon recovered to claim victory.

Clermont secured a 29-17 win at Montpellier, which included tries from Fritz Lee and Jonathan Davies, to keep their title hopes alive. Racing Metro completed a 53-10 win against Castres, with Juan Imhoff touching down twice. Teddy Thomas, Antoine Claassen, Alexandre Dumoulin and Luc Barba also scored for the home side, with Marc-Antoine Rallier and Rory Kockott on song for Castres.

It was a nightmare return for Lionel Beauxis at the Stade Ernest Wallon as the former Toulouse star missed a last-minute conversion that would have earned Bordeaux-Begles victory and a play-off place.

Francisco Gomez Kodela and Julien Rey tries had the visitors ahead, before Census Johnston was sent off for the home side following a clash with Metuisela Talebula. However, Yoann Huget and Sébastien Bézy hit back as the home side rallied to a 23-22 victory, with Blair Connor crossing late for Bordeaux.