By TOM RICHARDSON

DEFENDING champions Stade Francais were knocked out of the Challenge Cup in a thrilling quarter-final by Top 14 rivals Pau.
Stade are battling against relegation from France’s top flight in the midst of a miserable campaign, but came close to pulling off a remarkable fightback against a Pau side jockeying for a play-off spot in the same division.
Pau reached the quarters as the top seed having won all six of their pool matches and they led 27-14 at the break thanks to tries from Jale Vatubua, Benson Stanley and Thibault Daubagna.
Jules Plisson converted a penalty a...