Wainiqolo dashes La Rochelle’s hopes

A lethal counter-attack by Lyon winger Jiuta Wainiqolo dashed the hopes of La Rochelle at their home turf. 

Wainiqolo scored their final try in the 74th minute to seal the win. 

He started from behind the ruck, beat a defender and kicked ahead behind the defense before he dribbled the final thirty meters, showing off his football skills to score his 12th try of the season.

Lyon walked away with the victory, 44-24, at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle. 

The win allowed them to catch up with the competition, even if they remain in 12th place.

In other Top 14 matches, Castres beat Clermont 28-23, as did Bordeaux-Bègles in Montauban, 31-16. Racing 92 narrowly defeated Perpignan, 37-31. 

Crowd pays tribute to prop Atonio

The La Rochelle crowd paid tribute to Uini Atonio in the 3rd minute of the match against Lyon

The Stade Rochelais prop forward, who suffered a heart attack earlier this week and was forced to end his career, was applauded by the Marcel-Deflandre crowd.

The yellow and black supporters applauded and chanted “Here, here, this is La Rochelle! “

At the same time, Lyon scored the first try of the match after Gabin Lorre’s break. Seemingly indifferent to the game, the La Rochelle crowd continued to chant for Atonio. On the stadium’s giant screens, the prop’s portrait appeared, along with the message “ All with Uini”.

Earlier this week, the National Rugby League (LNR) relayed this initiative from the supporters of Stade Rochelais, inviting spectators at all Top 14 stadiums to applaud Atonio in the 3rd minute of the various matches.