Élite 1

Axa Élite 1
Current season, competition or edition:
2025–26 Élite 1 season
FormerlyTop 8 (2015–2018)
SportRugby union
Founded1971 (1971)
First season1972
No. of teams10
CountryFrance
Most recent
champion
Stade Bordelais
(2025)
Most titlesToulouse Femina Sports (9)
Level on pyramidLevel 1
Relegation toÉlite 2 Féminine
Official websiteÉlite 1

Élite 1 Féminine (since 2018, known as Axa Élite 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the top national league for women's rugby union clubs in France. It was founded from the 1971–1972 season under the aegis of the French Women's Rugby Association before being taken over by the French Women's Rugby Federation, it has been organized by the French Rugby Federation since 1989. The first season was won by the ASVEL Rugby women's team.

Ten teams play each other in a double round robin, with 4 teams qualifying for the final phase, and 1 team being relegated to Élite 2.

As with the men's competition, the most successful club in France was Toulouse Fémina Sports, they subsequently merged with Avenir Fonsorbais women's rugby union club in 2014 and became Stade Toulousain Women. They have won nine French championship titles, in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1985. Montpellier RC is the second most successful team with eight titles (2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019).

ASM Romagnat won the Élite 1 title in 2021. Stade Bordelais are the most recent champions, winning three consecutive titles (2023, 2024, 2025).