The French D1 Elite is heading into the fifth weekend of the 2025 regular season and patterns are already beginning to emerge.
The La Courneuve Flash while not looking invincible, keep finding ways to win games and sit unbeaten on top of the rankings with four straight victories. The defending champion Thonon Black Panthers have likewise not dominated but still found ways to win except for a one point loss to the Flash. For the first time in several years, the Marseille Blue Stars find themselves in the position of underdogs.
Let’s take a look at the rankings.
1 La Courneuve Flash – 4-0-0
While the Flash have not dominated their opponents so far, they have beaten perhaps their three toughest rivals in the A Conference, the Thonon Black Panthers, Asnieres Molosses and the Villepinte Diables Rouges.
Next up: Saint-Ouen Cougars
2 Thonon Black Panthers – 3-1-0
Thonon find themselves behind the Flash by virtue of a narrow 6-5 defeat at the hands of La Courneuve in the opening game. Their next biggest test looms against the Asnieres Molosses.
Next up: Asnieres Molosses
3 Asnieres Molosses – 3-1-0
The Molosses have opened the season in solid fashion with only one loss, to the Flash, and a decisive win over the Diables Rouges. They definitely belong in the Top 3.
Next up: Thonon Black Panthers
4 Toulouse Ours – 3-0-0
Toulouse has won their first three games in the B Conference including a 15-14 victory over perennial favorites the Marseille Blue Stars.
Next up: Nice Dauphins
5 Cannes Iron Mask – 3-0-0
Like the Ours, Cannes has opened the season by winning three in a row and sit right behind Toulouse in the Conference B standings.
Next up: Marseille Blue Stars
5 Marseille Blue Stars – 1-1-1
Marseille has not looked like the team we are used to seeing early in the season but the 27-0 blanking of the Nice Dauphins is maybe a sign that they are finding themselves again.
Next up: Cannes Iron Mask
7 Grizzlys Catalans – 0-2-1
The Grizzlys have opened the season like they finished the last five games of the 2024 campaign, without any wins. Still, they have time to turn this around.
Next up: Aix Argonautes
8 Aix Argonautes – 1-2-0
The Argonautes could possibly be ranked ahead of the Grizzlys but their one win came against the winless Nice Dauphins.
Next up: Grizzlys Catalans.
9 Villepinte Diables Rouges – 1-3-0
The Diables Rouges have won one game but it was against the lowly Saint-Ouen Cougars. However, they could possibly be ranked slightly higher due to close losses to the Flash and Black Panthers.
Next up: Rouen Leopards
10 Nice Dauphins – 0-3-0
The Dauphins have lost their three opening games but came close against the Argonautes which put them ahead of the Leopards and Cougars.
Next up: Toulouse Ours
11 Rouen Leopards – 1-3-0
The Leopards have suffered three lopsided losses and their lone win came against the Cougars and it was a close game.
Next up: Villepinte Diables Rouges
12 Saint-Ouen Cougars – 0-4-0
The Cougars have lost all four opening games, three in lopsided fashion. They have given up a league-worst 313 points. They have a steep hill to climb to regain respectability.
Next up: La Courneuve Flash