With lackluster sports results and chronic backstage instability, Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur is still in a state of artistic confusion, forcing the club to make do with the limited resources at their disposal.
Tied for last place in the championship with their Marseille neighbors and with coffers desperately empty, this is the meager record of the new team that came to power a few months ago with much more ambitious goals. The result of another local mess that’s hard to swallow!
“We’re in for a great season!” This was the phrase heard in Arboras stands after the latest defeat of the Azuréens against Bourg en Bresse in the last day of the championship, with a resounding score of 16-30. Even the defensive bonus point slipped away from the Nice team, which sinks further into the depths of the rankings after this new setback. It’s clear that with only 3 points earned in 6 games, the sports record is rather skinny, but it could almost be considered passable compared to the extra-sporting situation, which leaves much more to be desired.
Indeed, there is still no trace of financial contribution from the new management structure, which had nevertheless promised an initial budget of over 2 million euros, not to mention the obvious dysfunctions that further tarnish an already bleak picture at the start of the season. And what about the two forfeits by the reserve team that place the club in a bad position, where the next forfeit could well lead to relegation to a lower league. That is probably why the new leaders have finally called upon the club’s veterans, gathered around the Ciappacan. This section, once considered “a thorn in the side” or even the “cancer” of the club, which does not receive any equipment allocation and had recently even had their Friday field slot taken away, is now being offered free licenses for its voluntary members to come play with the B team.
Once again, it’s a makeshift solution being considered while the problem is much deeper, and while the financial aspect is vital for the survival of RNCA, the human aspect is just as important for its sustainability. From crisis meetings to last-minute solutions, the future of Nice rugby is being built on air, but how could it be otherwise since this new project was built on a lie!
Anne, my sister Anne, do you see anything coming?
