At Espinassou Stadium, Nissa Rugby clinched a victory over Niort (16-20) in the final minutes of play. The team from Nice solidifies their lead in the Nationale ranking after this fifth matchday.
The Niort crowd was out in force this Saturday, September 27, 2025. Nearly 3,000 people filled the Espinassou Stadium. Damien Neveu’s players were hosting Nissa Rugby, relegated last season and determined to quickly return to Pro D2. The fixture was therefore a real test for the newly promoted team.
The kickoff was taken by Anthony Fuertes. Niort attacked immediately, but Nice quickly established their game. After twenty minutes, Masivesi Dakuwaga received a yellow card. This did not slow down the visitors. Even with a player down, Jules Gimbert found an opening and scored the first try for Nice. Jean-Pascal Barraque made the conversion (0-7, 29th minute). Immediately after, Niort responded with a penalty from Anthony Fuertes (3-7, 31st minute). But before the break, Inoke Nalaga broke through the defense to score a try. Jean-Pascal Barraque added the extra points (3-14, 38th minute).
Niort pressed just before halftime. Rather than attempting the penalty, they chose to go for it by hand. Bougerol grounded the ball. Anthony Fuertes made the conversion (10-14, 40th minute +2). The match was back on just before the break.
Back from the locker room, the game became tighter. The two teams exchanged kicks. The home kicker brought Niort within one point (13-14, 60th minute). Jean-Pascal Barraque extended the lead for his team (13-17, 63rd minute). Four minutes later, Anthony Fuertes kept his perfect record and maintained the pressure (16-17, 67th minute). But Jean-Pascal Barraque answered back again (16-20, 71st minute). The last few minutes were tense, with some skirmishes between players. Nice held firm and secured a four-point victory.
A victory for a pragmatic team
After the match, Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, president of Nissa Rugby, shared his analysis with our colleagues at Midi Olympique: “We are happy with this victory. The trap was absolutely huge, and we got out of it. I believe it all started during the warm-up. We encountered the folklore of what the Federal level can sometimes offer. We were even asked to warm up on a different field than the one for the match. We did so in surprise. Otherwise, the match went as we expected, with the local team trying to impose their rhythm. We managed to escape this trap, even though we struggled to impose our own rhythm. I think we won thanks to our set-pieces and scrums, the coldness and clinical spirit of the team. We had to find a way out, so hats off to Niort. The result is what matters.”
His words summarize the match well. Nice didn’t always dominate but managed to remain effective. The set-pieces and scrums were significant. Jean-Pascal Barraque’s kicks ensured they maintained the lead in crucial moments.
Niort did not falter. The new team showed resilience, bolstered by their kicker, who also played a great match. But the locals lacked continuity. The choice to play by hand rather than attempt a penalty at the end of the first half paid off, but other opportunities were not capitalized on.
With this victory, Nice solidifies their status. After five matchdays, the Azuréens stand alone at the top with 19 points, ahead of Chambéry with 16 points. Niort remains in touch with the middle of the table, sticking to their objective of retaining their league status.
Nice, a playing style that pays off
Beyond the result, Nice confirms its identity of play. The team kicks rarely, averaging only 14.5 times per match. This statistic makes them the least reliant on kicking in Nationale.
This risky choice is based on the individual and collective quality of the Nice players. With players capable of breaking through at any moment, the team relies on line breaks. And the statistics support this approach. Nice has the best attacking performance in terms of broken lines, averaging 7.5 line breaks per match.
At Espinassou, this approach was confirmed. The tries by Gimbert and Nalaga came from quick initiatives close to the line. This type of play perfectly illustrates the Azuréens’ philosophy.
For Niort, this encounter offers plenty of lessons. The newly promoted side held their own against the leaders. They managed to score at key moments and maintained the intensity until the end. The rest of the season will provide other opportunities to turn these efforts into points.
The season is still long, but Nissa Rugby is already making a strong impression. The next match is on Saturday at home. Nice will host their runner-up Chambéry for a high-level duel.
