Since the beginning of the season, Nice Rugby Côte d’Azur has been playing in Federal 1, having admittedly had a difficult start with four losses but with three away games. On Sunday, it’s Romans who will come to challenge the men of President Baldacchino, whom Nice Premium met for a team review of Rugby in Nice and on the Côte d’Azur.
“The start was laborious, but we must not forget our objective, which is staying in the league.” Christian Baldacchino is not worried about the difficult season start of his men and hopes for a great victory this Sunday at Arboras against a Romans team that was already a member of the Nice pool last year in Federal 2. “We had the misfortune of combining the discovery of a new level of play, a team that is being built, and some shortcomings in our kickers. Hard to hope for better.” Certainly, the Azureans have not been lucky at the start of the season, but there is no doubt that with a little more precision in penalty and drop attempts, greater cohesion on the field, and lessons learned from the first matches, the Nice club should shake more than a few on their turf by the Var as well as away.
“We are in a construction phase, and it is important not to rush things. We are currently working on the creation of a SASP, which should be established in the coming weeks, and we are strengthening our policy towards the youth.” President Baldacchino, a real estate professional, knows well that it is useless to run, but that in rugby too, it’s preferable to start just in time!
“But it is not with a budget of €25,000 from the General Council, which gives €75,000 to Grasse that competes in a lower division, that we will be able to stabilize the future of our 700 members who make Nice the flagship club of the Alpes-Maritimes. Therefore, we must find partners who, like us, want to see high-level rugby in Nice and on the Côte d’Azur again.” With a partners’ club that grows every month, President Balda’s dreams might become a reality in a city that has experienced great oval years during the days of the late Racing Rugby Club de Nice.
“We hope that the public will be numerous this Sunday to support the team against Romans in a match that will certainly be difficult but could very well be the spark to finally start our season.” So it’s at Arboras that you should find yourself this Sunday to support the Nice XV in its race to the first victory in a well-leveled Federal 1.
