Relegated to the Nationale after a difficult season, the Nice club has changed its name, renewed its squad, and laid the foundations for an ambitious project. The arrival of renowned recruits aims to secure a quick return to the Pro D2.
The Stade Niçois is no more. From now on, it is under the name of Nissa Rugby that the club from the French Riviera plans to push forward. The relegation, confirmed in June after the decision to keep Biarritz in Pro D2, concluded a grueling season. Bottom of the league, the Niçois never found the right momentum. It was a tough blow, but it paved the way for a complete transformation.
Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, former president of Biarritz, has taken over the reins of the club and initiated a total overhaul. Twenty-seven departures, over twenty signings, a completely renewed staff: Nissa Rugby has changed face in just a few weeks. The stated goal: to return to the Pro D2 this season and establish itself firmly among professional clubs.
Key recruits to lead the group
The recruitment was the first strong signal. The list of arrivals clearly shows the ambition. Among them, Waisea Nayacalevu, the Fijian center who played for the Ospreys, and Guillaume Rouet, Bayonne’s top point scorer. Jean-Pascal Barraque, the French international with a rich career, has also signed on. He can play in the center, at the back, or as an opener.
At 34, he embodies experience and should serve as a link between young players and confirmed leaders. “I come with the desire to share my experience and contribute to this reconstruction project. The group is new, but it has potential,” he said upon arrival.
Second-row Adrian Motoc, the Romanian international, adds density to the pack. He knows President Aldigé well, his former president in Biarritz, which eases his integration. Rayne Barka, a 26-year-old hooker, completes the reinforcements with an explosive profile. Under-20 World Champion with the French team in 2019, he already has experience in Pro D2 and rugby sevens.
Around them, the squad has significantly expanded: Farai Mudariki, Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Pat Leafa, Josh Tyrell, Christiaan van der Merwe, Bilel Taieb, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, and Inoke Nalaga. A varied recruitment, combining internationals, Pro D2 veterans, and emerging talents.
An experienced staff to guide the transition
The projects are not limited to players. Jean-Baptiste Aldigé has entrusted the sports direction to Matthew Clarkin, former captain of Union Bordeaux-Bègles. The main manager is Gareth Baber, known for leading the Fiji sevens team to Olympic gold.
The duo aims to give a playing identity to a deeply reshuffled group. The challenge is significant: integrating more than twenty new players requires time and consistency. Finding the right lines, establishing automatisms, and defining shared leadership.
“The group is heterogeneous in terms of backgrounds but homogeneous in the desire to succeed,” Matthew Clarkin remarked at the start of the preparation.
A successful start
The first test took place at the beginning of August with a friendly match against Soyaux-Angoulême, a former Pro D2 team. Result: victory (33-14). A week later, for the opening of the Nationale championship, the Niçois triumphed (42-6) in Tarbes.
Rouet, Williams, Egiziano, Barraque, and Duhau were in the starting XV, while several major recruits were still absent: Nayacalevu, Motoc, Nalaga, Thompson-Stringer, and Mudariki. Enough to foretell significant room for progress.
The next match, scheduled this Friday against CA Périgueux, will provide more insight into the advancement of the Nice project. The supporters expect confirmations.
A season under pressure
The equation is simple: promotion is the sole objective. With such a robust squad, remaining in the Nationale for more than a season would be a setback. The management embraces this pressure. So do the players.
The club has also specified that the strategy is not only sporting. By changing its name and embracing a “Nissa” identity, it seeks to strengthen its local roots. The ambition is to attract more spectators and economic partners.
At Maurice-Vollot stadium, the atmosphere is expected to be lively. The French Riviera dreams of top-level rugby and hopes this reconstruction will serve as a springboard to the Pro D2, and eventually, the Top 14.
The question of time remains. Building a competitive team requires patience. Integrating profiles from different leagues with varied playing cultures is a challenge for the staff. The appointed leaders will need to facilitate this chemistry.
The Nice project is already intriguing beyond regional borders. Some observers see this reconstruction as a risky bet, others as an opportunity to revive a club that has long been in the shadows.
In any case, the 2025-2026 season will be closely watched. Nissa Rugby has scaled up. Now it just needs to convert the try.
